Radiographic and genetic diagnosis of sporadic hypochondroplasia early in the neonatal period

Hypochondroplasia is an autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia expressing postnatal onset of short stature with mild rhizomelic shortening of the limbs. This manifestation leads to restricted prenatal diagnosis of the disorder. We report here on a sporadic case of a hypochondroplastic baby, whose prenatal sonographic measurements were serially recorded from 19 weeks of gestation. Mild shortening of the limbs became manifest after 26 weeks of gestation. Biparietal diameter was within the normal range throughout gestation. Both parents were of average stature. A tentative diagnosis of a nonlethal short-limb skeletal dysplasia was made. At birth, the clinical manifestations of the neonate were not characteristic, but the radiographic features raised the possibility of hypochondroplasia. Molecular analyses revealed a C to G mutation at nucleotide 1659 of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene, a common mutation in hypochondroplasia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

碘化阶层孔氧化硅纳米球对水中典型有机氯污染物的吸附性能研究

采用共缩聚法,成功地原位合成了碘改性的阶层多孔氧化硅纳米球（SiO₂-I）,研究了其基于卤键作用对典型有机氯污染物六六六的吸附性能,并考察了改性剂I-硅烷含量和pH值对吸附效果的影响.实验结果表明,该纳米材料对六六六表现出优异的吸附富集性能,吸附速率快,60 min内对六六六的去除率为71.6%,240 min内达到吸附平衡,去除率可达98.3%,最大吸附量为178.6 mg·g^-1;吸附动力学符合拟二级动力学模型;碘物种的加入提高了阶层多孔氧化硅的吸附速率和吸附效率.另外,为了便于纳米吸附材料的分离,本研究对SiO₂-I纳米球进行了磁性化.研究发现,磁性化修饰后,SiO₂-I纳米材料仍然保留对六六六优异的吸附富集性能,240 min时的吸附去除率达90.3%.     

Prenatal diagnosis of Pfeiffer syndrome type II

Pfeiffer syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by coronal craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, broad thumbs and great toes. On the basis of clinical findings, three subtypes have been delineated. The clinical variability of Pfeiffer syndrome as well as other causes of craniosynostosis can make a prenatal diagnosis based on sonography alone difficult. We describe a fetus in whom sonographic findings (including 3D ultrasound) suggested a Pfeiffer syndrome type II and in which subsequent molecular analysis verified the diagnosis by identifying a de novo mutation in the FGFR2 gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a prenatal molecular diagnosis of Pfeiffer syndrome in a patient without family history. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non-invasive prenatal detection of achondroplasia in size-fractionated cell-free DNA by MALDI-TOF MS assay

Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism in humans and is caused by mutations in the FGFR3 gene. Currently, prenatal diagnosis of this disorder relies on invasive procedures. Recent studies have shown that fetal single gene point mutations could be detected in cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) from maternal plasma by either the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) assay with single allele base extension reaction (SABER) approach or the size fractionation of cf-DNA in maternal plasma. Here, we combined the two approaches to non-invasively examine the fetal G1138A mutation in maternal plasma. cf-DNA was extracted from maternal plasma samples obtained from two pregnant women at risk for achondroplasia. The fetal G1138A mutation was determined by the analysis of size-fractionated cf-DNA in maternal plasma using MALDI-TOF MS with SABER approach and homogenous MassEXTEND (hME) assay, respectively. The fetal G1138A mutation was detectable in the two achondroplasia-affected pregnancies by the analysis of cf-DNA in maternal plasma using MALDI-TOF MS. However, the size-fractionation approach led to a more precise detection of the fetal mutation in both analyses. This analysis would be suitable for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of diseases caused by fetal single gene point mutations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital mesoblastic nephroma in mid-second trimester by sonography and magnetic resonance imaging

Although congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) is a rare benign congenital renal tumor, it is the most common solid renal tumor in the newborn period. The most common presentation of congenital mesoblastic nephroma is polyhydramnios, and only one case with prenatal fetal hydrops has been previously reported. Prenatal diagnosis of CMN has previously been made on the basis of the findings of sonography in the third trimester, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–based diagnosis has been reported recently. Here we report a case of prenatally diagnosed classical type CMN diagnosed at 22 + 3 weeks of gestation based on the findings of sonography and magnetic resonance imaging. The characteristic imaging findings in this case were fetal hydrops and polyhydramnios. To our knowledge, this is the youngest reported gestational age for prenatal diagnosis of CMN and it is the second case of CMN associated with fetal hydrops detected prenatally. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

广西岩溶洞穴大气中有机氯农药分布与传输

以广西桂林大岩洞穴为例对岩溶洞穴大气环境中有机氯农药污染进行研究.结果表明,洞外大气中OCPs含量为1.82~2.01 ng.m-3,远高于洞内大气中总OCPs含量(范围为0.27~0.83 ng.m-3).大气中有机氯农药浓度呈现从洞口到洞内逐渐降低的趋势,尤其HCHs表现更为明显,表明外界大气传输对洞内污染贡献占主导作用.洞内大气OCPs浓度与两极相当,可作为有机氯农药的背景点.洞穴大气中HCH同系物浓度分布与其本身降解速率大小相吻合,表明在洞穴特有的原始环境下HCH类化合物可较好地反映出自身性质的差异.同时,异构体分布表明周围有新近使用的三氯杀螨醇,HCH类农药以历史残留为主.     

Prenatal diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. Use of magnetic resonance imaging and its implications for prognosis

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a high rate of de novo mutation. The real difficulty is to ascertain the diagnosis and to give the neurological prognosis in each case. Prenatal diagnosis of TS is generally based on ultrasonographic signs of multiple cardiac tumours, i.e. rhabdomyomas. Recent progress in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables the diagnosis in a large proportion of cases based on typical brain lesions. It may have a role in the prenatal management of TS, although MRI images seem to underestimate the anatomical findings. Two cases in which TS was diagnosed prenatally are presented with reference to the value of MRI in the prenatal management and comparison with anatomical findings.     

某农药厂废弃场地六六六和滴滴涕污染分布特征及风险评价

研究了某农药厂废弃场地土壤中六六六（α,β,γ,δ-HCH）和滴滴涕（p,p＇-DDT,o,p＇-DDT,p,p＇-DDD,p,p＇-DDE）的污染分布特征,并对其进行了风险评价.从该场地72个点位的0～400 cm深度土壤中共采集了232个样品,分析表明六六六残留含量为2.6～80 130μg/kg,滴滴涕残留含量为...     

有机黏土对污染土中HCH的固定及黑麦草生长的影响

在温室条件下,利用黑麦草盆栽实验研究了有机黏土对污染土壤中六六六的吸附固定效果及其对黑麦草生长的影响.结果表明, 添加有机黏土可以有效固定污染土中的六六六,降低其移动性和生物有效性,减少六六六在黑麦草中的积累.与对照相比,添加1%~8%有机黏土可固定土壤中50.4%~78.5%的六六六,当添加比例为8%时,黑麦草地上部分和根系中六六六的含量分别降低了53.9%~87.6%和37.4%~56.6%,各种处理的效果与对照相比均达到显著差异(P < 0.05).添加1%~4%有机黏土,能有效促进黑麦草茎叶部分的生长.     

Adsorptive removal of hydrophobic organic compounds by carbonaceous adsorbents: A comparative study of waste-polymer-based, coal-based activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes

Adsorption of the hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (DCB), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) on five different carbonaceous materials was compared. The adsorbents included three polymer-based activated carbons, one coal-based activated carbon (F400) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). The polymerbased activated carbons were prepared using KOH activation from waste polymers: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and tire rubber (TR). Compared with F400 and MWNT, activated carbons derived from PVC and PET exhibited fast adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacity toward the HOCs, attributed to their extremely large hydrophobic surface area (2700 m²/g) and highly mesoporous structures. Adsorption of small-sized TCE was stronger on the tire-rubber-based carbon and F400 resulting from the pore-filling effect. In contrast, due to the molecular sieving effect, their adsorption on HCH was lower. MWNT exhibited the lowest adsorption capacity toward HOCs because of its low surface area and characteristic of aggregating in aqueous solution.     

松叶中有机氯农药HCH、DDT的研究

利用气相色谱-电子捕获检测(GC-ECD)方法对我国华北、华东、华南和西南地区松叶中六六六(HCH)和滴滴涕(DDT)的残留量进行了测定,结果表明,松叶中HCH 4种异构体(a,b,g,d)的含量以b-HCH为最高,占HCH总量的38%～46%.HCH、DDT和滴滴伊(DDE)的含量范围分别为24.7～35.5ng/g干重,2.4～7.0ng/g干重,2.4～2.8ng/g干重.DDE的含量趋势为华北>华东>华南>西南.总HCH为华东>华北>华南>西南.华北和华东地区DDE/DDT>1,华南和西南地区DDE/DDT<1,这表明在华南和西南地区大气中新近有DDT的输入.     

Gridded inventories of historical usage for selected organochlorine pesticides in Heilongjiang River Basin, China

Introduction O rganochlorine pesticides (O C Ps) is a com m on nam e of a group of pesticides consisting of benzene and chlorine. Som e of O C Ps belong to persistent organic pollutants (PO Ps) that are sem i-volatile, bioaccum ulative, persistent and toxic (V allack et al., 1998; Jones and de V oogt, 1999). O CPs are ubiquitous pollutants due to their long-range transport potential. These chem icals have even been found in rem ote areas like the A rctic (M acdonald etal., 2000; A M A …     

A 50-year record of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes and hexachloro-cyclohexanes in lake sediments and penguin droppings on King George Island, Maritime Antarctic

Since the ban on the use of organochlorine pesticides （OCPs） such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane （DDT） and hexachlorocyclohexane（HCH） in agriculture, their levels have generally dropped. In a number of cases, however, the levels of these OCPs were found to be unchanging or even increasing after the ban. With the aim to unveil the possible causes of these exceptions, we collected two lake cores from King George Island, West Antarctica, and determined their accumulation flux profiles and temporal trends of these OCPs. In the lake core sediments with glacier meltwater input, the accumulation flux of DDT shows an abnormal peak around 1980s in addition to the expected one in 1960s. In the lake core sediments without glacier meltwater input, the accumulation flux of DDT shows a gradual decline trend after the peak in 1960s. This striking difference in the DDT flux profiles between the two lake cores is most likely caused by the regional climate warming and the resulted discharge of the DDT stored in the Antarctic ice cap into the lakes in the Antarctic glacier frontier. Furthermore, to investigate the change of OCPs loadings in the Antarctic coastal ecosystem, we reconstructed the HCH and DDT concentration profiles in penguin droppings and observed a gradual increase for the former and a continuous decrease for the latter during the past 50 years. The increase of HCH seems to be due to the regional warming from the early 1970s and the resulted HCH discharge to the coastal ecosystem by glaciers＇ meltwater and the illegal use of HCH in the Southern Hemisphere in the recent decade. The different temporal trends of HCH and DDT accumulation rate in the lake core with glacier meltwater input and the aged penguin droppings can be explained by their different water-soluble property.     

On the spatial and temporal variations in atmospheric concentrations of hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers at several locations in the province of Ontario,Canada

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), as well as α- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) have been measured at seven sites in Ontario, Canada during the years 1985–1989. While two of the locations were close to a suspected source of the organochlorines, five were sites that reflected the non-urban airshed loadings which are considered to be regionally representative of the Great Lakes. At the non-urban locations, the γ-HCH (lindane) and α-HCH concentrations ranged from 15 to 190 pg m⁻³ (mean of 47 pg m⁻³) and 50 to 660 pg m⁻³ (mean of 240 pg m⁻³), respectively. The HCB concentrations varied from 20 to 310 pg m⁻³ (mean of 94 pg m⁻³). At the suspected source locations, the α:γ HCH ratio was less than unity while at locations distant from known or suspected sources, the α:γ ratio was usually greater than 7. At the non-urban locations, the highest concentrations of the α- and γ-HCH isomers were observed during the summer and the lowest concentrations were seen during the winter. The concentration of HCB, however, remained relatively constant throughout the year.     

典型污染场地六六六残留特征分析

在历史上受某六六六(HCH)生产企业污染的场地采集土壤样品,分析和研究土壤中HCH的污染水平和污染分布趋势.结果表明,∑HCH值最大为271.72 mg·kg-1,HCH污染主要集中在表层(深度:0～20 cm)、亚表层(深度:20～40 cm)土壤,表层、亚表层土壤中HCH含量远高于深层(深度:40～150 cm)土壤中HCH含量;β-HCH含量最高,远高于其他3种异构体;通过Kriging法插值,画出表层土壤中∑HCH的等值线图,可清晰地看出HCH的分布趋势.本污染场地表层的硬化阻止了雨水的浸润作用,使HCH向下迁移缓慢,HCH含量随深度增加而降低,HCH污染深度较浅.     

广州市农业土壤中六六六(HCH)的残留特征

用GC-ECD内标法分析了广州市郊区农业土壤表层土中α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、δ-HCH四种有机氯农药的残留情况,并对该地区六六六(HCH)的残留特征进行了分析评价。结果表明,在该地区农业土壤中HCH四种异构体均有不同程度的检出,∑HCH残留量介于5.28～174.94ng/g,平均值为62.07ng/g,其中β-HCH残留量的最大值达到了111.18ng/g;∑HCH残留量在不同农业土壤中有明显差异,菜地土壤为54.93ng/g,作物土壤为113.84ng/g,林地土壤为17.42ng/g;HCH各异构体在不同农业土壤中的累积分布比例β-HCH均为最高,分别为菜地土壤73.1%,林地土壤63%,作物土壤53.1%;广州市各类农业土壤中α-/γ-HCH比值均接近于1,指示该地区土壤环境已经发生变化,可能有新的污染源存在。     

挖掘扰动对污染场地空气中六六六、滴滴涕分布的影响

以某废弃有机氯农药厂污染场地的修复过程为对象,应用被动空气采样技术研究了挖掘扰动对污染场地及周边区域空气中ρ(HCHs)(HCHs为六六六)、ρ(DDTs)(DDTs为滴滴涕)分布的影响. 结果表明:在挖掘扰动过程中污染场地及周边空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)显著增加,其中污染场地挖掘区空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)抬升最大, ρ(HCHs)为23.36~494.39 ng/m3,平均值为(141.54±114.54)ng/m3;ρ(DDTs)为14.78~539.09ng/m3,平均值为(201.69±143.88)ng/m3. 居民区空气中ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)抬升最小, ρ(HCHs)为(4.36~29.00 ng/m3),平均值为(13.59±7.75)ng/m3;ρ(DDTs)为3.03~42.88 ng/m3,平均值为(13.37±11.53)ng/m3. 挖掘扰动增强了空气流动,使空气中扬尘增加,从而改变了空气中污染物单体的组成比例,其中β-HCH、δ-HCH、o,p′-DDT、p,p′-DDT所占比例升高,而其余单体所占比例降低. 空气中污染物ρ(HCHs)和ρ(DDTs)与温度呈正相关,与风速呈负相关. 因此,在对该类污染场地修复过程中,应该尽量避免在高温或强对流气候条件下挖掘施工,施工时应减少扬尘,以降低二次污染风险.      

Apert syndrome: what prenatal radiographic findings should prompt its consideration?

Apert syndrome was diagnosed in a newborn with typical facial and digital features whose only detected prenatal abnormality had been agenesis of the corpus callosum. This prompted a review of the central nervous system findings in all cases of Apert syndrome treated at the Craniofacial Center Boston Children's Hospital between 1978 and 2004. Two of 30 patients with Apert syndrome had prenatal identification of mild dilatation of the lateral cerebral ventricles and complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) documented with both ultrasound and MRI. Both had the common S252W mutation of FGFR2. Though cranial and orbital malformations typical of Apert were eventually seen in these fetuses in the third-trimester, even in retrospect, these were not detectable at mid second-trimester, ultrasound screening for congenital malformations. Hand malformations also went undetected in the second-trimester despite extensive imaging by experienced radiologists. We conclude that prenatal ultrasonographic identification of mild ventriculomegaly or ACC should stimulate a careful search for features of Apert syndrome and prompt follow-up imaging to look for bony abnormalities that have later onset. Prenatal molecular testing for Apert mutations should be considered in cases of mild ventriculomegaly and ACC. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of sewage sludge and intermittent aeration strategy to the bioremediation of DDT-and HCH-contaminated soil

Adding organic amendments to stimulate the biodegradation of pesticides is a subject of ongoing interest. The effect of sewage sludge on the bioremediation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane（DDT） and hexachlorocyclohexane（HCH） contaminated soil was investigated in bench scale experiments,and intermittent aeration strategy was also used in this study to form an anaerobic–aerobic cycle. Bioremediation of DDT and HCH was enhanced with the addition of sewage sludge and the intermittent aeration. The removal rates of HCH and DDT were raised by 16.8%–80.8% in 10 days. Sewage sludge increased the organic carbon content from 6.2 to218 g/kg,and it could also introduce efficient degradation microbes to soil,including Pseudomonas sp.,Bacillus sp. and Sphingomonas sp. The unaerated phase enhanced the anaerobic dechlorination of DDT and HCH,and anaerobic removal rates of β-HCH,o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT accounted for more than 50% of the total removal rates,but the content of α-HCH declined more in the aerobic phase.     

Novel mutation and prenatal sonographic findings of glutaric aciduria (type I) in two Taiwanese families

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA I) is an autosomal recessively inherited inborn error with a defect of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH), which has never been diagnosed prenatally in Taiwanese patients. We present the prenatal sonographic findings and mutational analysis data of three children in two Taiwanese families. One patient from each family was diagnosed postnatally due to macrocephaly and neurological deterioration at 4 months and 10 months, respectively. The third child, sister of the first patient, was diagnosed prenatally at 11 weeks' gestation through chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Molecular analysis revealed that the fetus and child in Family 1 were homozygous for a common mutation, IVS10 -2A>C, which has not been reported in the Caucasian population. The patient in Family 2 was a compound heterozygote for IVS10 -2A>C and a novel mutation 749T>C (L238P). After genetic counseling, the couple decided to continue the second pregnancy. However, dilatation of quadrigeminal cistern (QC) and suspicious macrocephaly were noted at 30 weeks. Progressive dilatation of the QC associated with macrocephaly, fronto-temporal atrophy and wide space of perisylvian fissure were found in the follow-up scans. The affected girl was delivered at 37 weeks' gestation by cesarean section. Postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies confirmed the prenatal sonographic findings. With prenatal sonographic findings and mutational analysis presented in the present cases, the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis of GA I in high-risk pregnancy can not be overlooked. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.