目前廣泛應用于胎兒醫學的唐氏綜合症篩查法，即結合早孕期胎兒頸項透明層的超聲檢查，及母體血清生化指標的綜合篩查法。頸項透明層是指在早孕期利用超聲檢測到的胎兒頸后的皮下積水，其作為預測胎兒異常的一項重要“軟指標，其臨床意義，尤其是與胎兒染色體異常及器官結構異常之間的關係，逐漸得到深入的認識，但其形成機制尚未明確。現在已知有一百餘種畸形及遺傳綜合征與胎兒頸項透明層增厚相關，但其染色體異常譜系，尤其是亞顯微的染色體異常仍有待明確。大部分頸項透明層增厚但核型正常的胎兒預後良好，但約3-10%的這部分胎兒會伴有畸形或出生后的神經智力發育缺陷。而傳統核型分析無法檢測到亞顯微的染色體異常，從而無法判斷這部分核型正常卻伴有缺陷的胎兒是否因為這類染色體異常而致病。 / 微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片作為檢測兒童發育遲緩者及器官結構異常原因的重要手段已廣泛應用于臨床。在染色體核型正常的胎兒中，若伴有器官結構異常的胎兒，5-12%被檢出與該畸形相關的微缺失及微重複；若僅伴有孕婦高齡或唐氏篩查高危，則微缺失及微重複檢出率約1%。 / 該課題旨在研究頸項透明層增厚但核型正常的胎兒中，染色體拷貝數變異發生的頻率及頻譜；評估微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片在協助臨床判斷胎兒預後中的作用。因此，我們開展該多中心隊列研究，通過納入449例頸項透明層厚度≧3.5 mm但正常核型胎兒的，檢測其染色體拷貝數變異，監測并記錄其圍產、產後及新生兒期情況。微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片總共檢出2.8%的異常拷貝數變異，其大小範圍為0.1 kb至18Mb。在伴有器官結構異常的胎兒組中，異常拷貝數變異檢出率達7.8%。對於頸項透明層厚度≧4.0 mm的胎兒，異常拷貝數變異檢出率可達7.3%。 / 對於頸項透明層增厚的胎兒，致病拷貝數變異暫未發現特定的頻譜。但，該研究中發現重複的致病拷貝數變異，如22號染色體長臂1區1帶的微重複或微缺失，2號染色體長臂2區2帶的微缺失。未在3號、7號、12號、13號、18號、20號、21號或Y染色體上發現與胎兒頸項透明層增厚相關的致病拷貝數變異。 / 頸項透明層增厚的胎兒79.3%預後良好；若經微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片未檢出致病拷貝數變異，則81.2%預後良好。如果僅頸項透明層增厚不伴有結構異常的胎兒，經微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片未檢出致病拷貝數變異，則93.5%預後良好。 / 綜上所述，微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片顯著提高了致病拷貝數變異的檢出率。可考慮將微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片作為頸項透明層厚度≧4.0 mm的胎兒染色體異常檢查的首要方法。對於僅頸項透明層增厚不伴有結構異常的胎兒，且經微陣列比較基因組雜交芯片未檢出致病拷貝數變異，絶大部分預後良好。對於頸項透明層增厚的胎兒，致病拷貝數變異暫未發現特定的頻譜，但發現重複出現的致病拷貝數變異。通過初步的基因本體分析及基因通路分析，神經嵴細胞的分化遷徙功能異常可作為今後研究頸項透明層增厚的病理生理機制的方向。 / Measurement of nuchal translucency (NT) has been recognized as a sensitive marker for fetal chromosomal disorders for more than a decade, and is presently used as a routine first-trimester screening test. Although over 100 abnormalities and genetic syndromes have been reported to be associated with increased NT, these associations have not been fully explored and the relevant spectrum of associated submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities has not been sufficiently investigated. The majority of euploid fetuses with increased NT have a good outcome, but around 3-10% of fetuses present with structural or neurodevelopmental abnormalities postnatally. A range of genetic syndromes has been reported, many of which are linked to submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities that are typically missed by conventional karyotyping. / Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) has been applied as the first-tier diagnostic tool for the evaluation of developmental delay and structural malformations in children. In fetuses with a normal karyotype, microarray analysis revealed clinically relevant deletions or duplications in 5-12% with a structural anomaly and in about 1% of those whose indications were advanced maternal age or positive screening results. / The objectives of this study were to delineate the frequency and spectrum of pathogenic chromosome copy number variants (CNVs) among fetuses with increased NT and normal karyotype; to evaluate the role of arrayCGH to predict the prognosis of the high NT fetuses; to explore the genotype-phenotype correlations of increased NT. Therefore, a multi-centre cohort of 449 fetuses with NT ≧3.5 mm and normal karyotype were further investigated by arrayCGH. Antenatal surveillance, pregnancy outcome and paediatric follow up were documented. ArrayCGH detected abnormal CNVs in 2.8% (14 of 449) of the fetuses with high NT; the size of CNVs ranged from 0.1 kb to 18Mb. Among fetuses with major congenital abnormalities the incidence of abnormal CNV reached 7.8% (4 of 51). By adjusting the NT to ≧4.0 mm as the referral indication, 7.3% (14 of 192) of the fetuses would have abnormal arrayCGH results. The spectrum of pathogenic CNVs found associated with increased NT was diverse. However, there were recurrent ones such as the deletions or duplications at chromosomal region 22q11, and deletions in ZEB2. There was no pathogenic CNV related with increased NT found in chromosomes 3, 7, 12, 13, 18, 20, 21, or Y. The total normal outcome rate of euploid fetuses with an increased NT was 79.3%; for fetuses with normal arrayCGH results 81.2% had a normal outcome. In fetuses with isolated increased NT, normal arrayCGH results predict a favorable prognosis of 93.5%. / In conclusion, arrayCGH significantly increased the diagnostic yield of pathogenic CNVs. In clinical practice arrayCGH may be considered as the first tier investigation in fetuses with an increased NT more than 4.0 mm. In cases with an isolated increased NT with normal arrayCGH results the pregnancy outcome is likely to be favorable. The spectrum of abnormal CNVs found by arrayCGH is diverse but there are recurrent cases such as del/dup 22q11 and del ZEB2. Our preliminary gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that gene pathways related to neural crest cells may be considered as a future study for physiopathologic mechanisms of NT. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Huang, Jin. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-120). / Abstracts also in Chinese.

by Chan Chuek Kee. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-201). / Abstract --- p.i / Table of Content --- p.iv / List of Abbreviations --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.x / List of Figures --- p.xii / Acknowledgement --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1. --- Discovery and historical events --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- General characteristics of rotavirus --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Virus morphology --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Physicochemical properties --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Virus stability and inactivation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.4. --- Genome structure --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.5. --- Rotavirus proteins --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.6. --- Morphogenesis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3. --- Characteristics of rotavirus infection --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- Morbidity and mortality --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Clinical features --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- Pathogenesis --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.4. --- Seasonal variation of rotavirus infection --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.5. --- Nosocomial rotavirus infection --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.6. --- Route of transmission --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4. --- Classification and epidemiology of rotaviruses --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- Rotavirus groups --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Rotavirus subgroups --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- Rotavirus serotypes --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.4. --- Rotavirus electropherotypes --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.5. --- "Relationship between subgroup, serotype and electropherotype" --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4.6. --- Mechanisms contributing to strain variations --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5. --- Detection of rotavirus --- p.28 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Electron microscopy (EM) --- p.28 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Virus isolation --- p.29 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Serological methods --- p.30 / Chapter 1.5.4. --- RNA analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 1.5.5. --- Nucleic acid hybridization --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6. --- Prevention and control of rotavirus infection --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- Host resistance --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.2. --- Vaccine development --- p.33 / Chapter 1.6.3. --- Passive immunization --- p.35 / Chapter 1.7. --- Objectives of this study --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Materials and methods / Chapter 2.1. --- Materials --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Reagents for tissue culture work --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Reagents for electropherotyping --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Reagents for ELISA --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Reagents for hybridization assay --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2. --- Methods / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Collection of specimens --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Rotavirus strains --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Monoclonal antibodies --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Detection of rotavirus antigen by ELISA --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Rotavirus electropherotyping --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.6. --- Serotyping of rotavirus by fluorescent foci neutralization --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.7. --- Serotyping of rotavirus by oligo- nucleotide probes hybridization --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.8. --- Rotavirus serotyping by ELISA --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.9. --- Rotavirus subgrouping by ELISA --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Results / Chapter 3.1. --- Age and sex distribution of the study population --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2. --- Detection of rotavirus by ELISA --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3. --- Seasonal distribution of rotavirus infections --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4. --- Genetic diversity of human rotaviruses --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5. --- Subgroup determination by ELISA --- p.99 / Chapter 3.6. --- Rotavirus serotypes by fluorescent foci neutralization (FFN) --- p.102 / Chapter 3.7. --- Rotavirus serotypes by ELISA --- p.107 / Chapter 3.8. --- Rotavirus serotypes as determined by oligonucleotide probes --- p.110 / Chapter 3.8.1. --- Dot hybridization --- p.110 / Chapter 3.8.2. --- Northern blots of electrophoresed RNAs --- p.118 / Chapter 3.9. --- Temporal distribution of rotavirus serotypes --- p.124 / Chapter 3.10. --- "Association between serotype, subgroups and electropherotypes" --- p.128 / Chapter 3.11. --- Unusual rotavirus strains --- p.135 / Chapter 3.12. --- Nosocomial rotavirus infection --- p.135 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1. --- Seasonal variation of rotavirus infection --- p.141 / Chapter 4.2. --- Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infection --- p.143 / Chapter 4.3. --- Subgrouping of human rotavirus strains --- p.146 / Chapter 4.4. --- Serotyping rotaviruses by ELISA --- p.147 / Chapter 4.5. --- Serotyping rotaviruses by oligonucleotide probe hybridization --- p.150 / Chapter 4.6 --- Advantage and disadvantage of different methods for serotyping of rotaviruses --- p.152 / Chapter 4.7. --- Distribution of rotavirus serotypes --- p.153 / Chapter 4.8. --- Association between rotavirus serotype and electropherotype --- p.156 / Chapter 4.9. --- Nosocomial rotavirus infection --- p.158 / Chapter 4.10. --- Unusual rotavirus strains --- p.159 / Chapter 4.11. --- Concluding remark --- p.162 / Chapter 4.12. --- Future studies --- p.164 / References --- p.165