Drosophila glue protein gene expression

The primary targets of steroid hormones are genes. For the ecdysone-controlled genes of Drosophila larval glue proteins proximal and distal control elements were identified by mutagenesis and sequence comparison. Their presence is required for the correct stage- and tissue-specific expression of these genes. The supposed function of these elements is described in a working model.     

污水处理厂中雄激素分布及行为的研究进展

人类及生物体内在自然代谢及药物使用过程中产生的甾醇类激素如果在污水处理厂中未能完全去除或是未加处理直接排放,则会污染受纳水体,并对其中的鱼类等生物造成影响,其中人体内产生的雄激素睾酮的浓度比雌激素雌二醇要高1~3个数量级.本文比较了当前各地污水处理厂中的雄激素分布,阐述了污水处理工艺对雄激素的去除效果;其中,格栅、初沉池等初级处理工艺基本不去除雄激素;厌氧-缺氧-好氧等二级处理工艺通过生物降解等作用可以有效去除80%~100%的雄激素;氯消毒、臭氧等三级处理工艺对雄激素的去除效率相差较大,在-66.7%~70%范围内波动;同时也对去除雄激素的新型材料研究及未来研究方向进行了展望.     

甾体激素在污水处理厂中的赋存特征和行为归趋

污水处理厂是控制甾体激素环境排放的重要屏障之一,研究不同种类甾体激素在不同工艺污水处理厂中的赋存特征和行为归趋是提高污水处理厂对甾体激素处理效能的重要基础.对无锡市两个污水处理厂各工艺段中22种甾体激素的赋存情况进行8个月的监测,比较了厌氧-缺氧-好氧工艺(A²/O)和倒置A²/O工艺的处理效果.结果表明,甾体激素的进出水总浓度分别为27.7~256.8 ng ·L^-1和5.7~211.0 ng ·L^-1,剩余污泥中激素总含量为36.3~123.6 ng ·g^-1,主要检出雄酮、雄烯二酮、雌酚酮、雌三醇和孕酮.进出水中大多数激素的浓度随降雨量和温度的升高而略有降低的趋势,而冬夏的季节差异未对甾体激素的去除率产生显著影响.污水厂的二、三级处理工艺对激素的去除效果优于一级处理,倒置A²/O和传统A²/O相比对甾体激素的去除并未表现出明显的优势.甾体激素在污水和污泥间的分配系数lg Koc为2~4.5,在厂A中的lg Koc略高于厂B,激素的泥水分配可能影响其处理效果.     

中国南海流沙湾中雄激素、糖皮质激素和孕激素的污染特征及其生态风险评价

近年来,类固醇激素在淡水水体中不断被检出,但是其在海水中的污染特征研究相对较少.本文对中国南海流沙湾进行样品采集,通过高效液相色谱与质谱联用技术(UPLC-MS/MS),研究了33种类固醇激素的污染特征及空间分布.结果表明,在海水和沉积物中均检出7种类固醇激素,含量范围为0. 003(甲羟孕酮,MP)～9. 023(去氢孕酮,DGT) ng·L~(-1)和0. 017(1,4-雄烯二酮,ADD)～9. 281(雄烯二酮,AED) ng·g~(-1).在海水中,类固醇激素浓度高低顺序为合成类高于天然类,丰水期高于枯水期,养殖区高于非养殖区.在沉积物中,类固醇激素在时空分布上无明显差异.海洋环境中类固醇激素的主要来源为水产养殖人为饲料添加和废水排放.生态风险评价结果表明,AED处于低风险,其他类固醇激素处于无风险.相关性分析表明,海洋环境中类固醇激素的含量分布规律与盐度、水温、颗粒物(SS)和化学需氧量(COD)有关.本研究有助于认识流沙湾地区类固醇激素的污染特征,并为其生态风险评价和管控提供科学依据.     

水体类固醇雌激素污染现状研究进展

类固醇雌激素被认为具有极强的内分泌干扰性和生物活性,在极低浓度下就能引起人体或动物生殖障碍、行为异常和幼体变异等.由于水体中的类固醇雌激素的生态环境效应最为直接,因此,本文综述了近年来关于水环境中几种常见的类固醇雌激素的基本特征、污染现状、来源及迁移过程的研究,以期为类固醇雌激素的水处理技术研究提供基础信息.     

粗胡敏素对粪固醇的吸附及其影响因素

采用批量震荡法模拟粪固醇在粗胡敏素-水两相中的迁移,研究了粪固醇在粗胡敏素上的吸附行为,同时考察了温度、盐度、pH对吸附行为的影响。结果表明:温度升高不利于吸附进行,温度升高可增加粪固醇的溶解度,粗胡敏素中亲水性基团向水中释放都不利于吸附的进行。盐度升高有利于吸附,而pH的改变对吸附影响不大,当pH在10.0左右,粪固醇吸附量最低。正交实验显示,温度、盐度、pH对吸附都有影响,影响顺序依次为:温度>pH>盐度。温度、盐度、pH的改变对粪醇/(粪醇+二氢胆固醇)[5β/(5β+5α)-C27]、粪醇/24-乙基粪醇(Coprostanol/24-ethylcoprostanol)、粪醇/胆固醇(coprostanol/cholesterol)、24-乙基粪醇/谷甾醇(24-ethyl coprostanol/sitosterol)、24-乙基粪醇/(24-乙基粪醇+加氢谷甾醇)[5β/(5β+5α)-C29]5个比值指标影响较小,其比值指标可以作为粪便污染的指示物。     

应用重组孕激素基因酵母测定饮用水中内分泌干扰物的方法

研究了用重组孕激素受体基因酵母测定饮用水中内分泌干扰物的方法,并利用该种方法检测了南方某水厂不同处理工艺过程水样对孕激素受体活性的抑制水平.结果表明,重组孕激素受体基因酵母能够与孕激素专一性的结合,诱导产生明显的剂量-效应关系,EC₅₀值为0.5 nmol/L,具有较高灵敏度;环境内分泌干扰物五氯酚和壬基酚具有孕激素受体抑制活性,其IC₅₀值分别为2.4μmol/L和3.7μmol/L;重组孕激素受体基因/报道基因的酵母技术是一种筛选和定量分析具有孕激素受体抑制活性的内分泌干扰物的快速、有效方法.结合固相萃取的前处理技术,重组孕激素受体基因酵母对水厂不同处理工艺水样检测出明显的孕激素受体抑制活性,抑制率均大于58%,表明重组孕激素受体基因酵母检测技术能够快速监测和鉴别水样中具有抑制孕激素受体活性的物质.     

天然类固醇雌激素源解析、环境行为及其污染控制

天然类固醇雌激素是一种在生物体内具有极强雌激素效应的内分泌干扰物,其在环境中的广泛存在严重影响野生动物尤其是鱼类的正常生长和发育,对环境生态系统所产生的破坏也日趋严重,然而其危害依然没有引起足够的重视。文章研究在阐述天然类固醇雌激素基本理化性质和环境存在形态的基础上,解析其在人类和畜禽的环境来源,分析其在地表水和地下水的污染状况以及环境迁移和生物积累等环境行为,并综合探讨了现今较为常见的如活性污泥法、光降解法以及微滤、纳滤和反渗透等与天然类固醇雌激素相关的污染控制技术,以期为天然类固醇雌激素的毒理性质、污染现状及相关控制方法的深入研究提供支撑。在此基础上,提出深入天然类固醇雌激素微量检测技术研究、加强国家行政管理层面上的污染控制等已十分急迫。     

Offspring sex in a TSD gecko correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones

We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17??-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24?°C and 32?°C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28?°C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32?°C than at 24?°C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28?°C than at 24?°C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G. japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones.     

液相色谱质谱法测定水体及土壤中的类固醇激素

建立了水体和土壤中类固醇激素的液相色谱质谱分析方法。水样采用固相萃取方法富集,土壤样经加速溶剂萃取后由固相萃取净化和富集。处理好的样品经丹磺酰衍生化后上仪器分析。结果表明,类固醇激素在水体和土壤中的检出限分别为0.01~0.6ng/L和0.01~0.19ng/g,回收率分别为77%~97%和62%~119%,RSD小于6.04%和15.5%。该方法具有较高的准确度和精密度,适用于环境水体及土壤中类固醇激素残留的分析。     

Does the mechanism of sex determination constrain the potential for sex manipulation? A test in geckos with contrasting sex-determining systems

The concentration of yolk steroids was suggested to influence offspring gender in oviparous animals subject to both temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genotypic sex determination (GSD). However, the proposed mechanisms of steroid effects are thought to differ between TSD and GSD: a direct effect of oestrogens on gonad feminisation in TSD species vs a differential induction of male-producing or female-producing gametes in GSD species. Geckos offer an ideal opportunity for testing these suggested mechanisms. Closely related gecko species differ in their modes of sex determination. They lay clutches of two synchronously formed eggs; both eggs share equal steroid levels. If identical hormonal composition and environment during vitellogenesis, gravidity and incubation determine the sex of the progeny, siblings should share the same gender in both TSD and GSD geckos. We found strong support for this prediction in a TSD gecko species. Among clutches that were incubated at the temperature that produced both sexes, there were no clutches with siblings of the opposite sex. On the other hand, about half of the clutches yielded siblings of the opposite sex in four GSD species. These results suggest that sex-determining systems constrain the ability of the female to produce single-sex siblings and, hence, it seems that the GSD mechanism constrains the opportunities for sex ratio manipulation in geckos via yolk steroid manipulation.     

甾体类药物发酵菌渣的无害化与资源化研究进展

我国为甾体类原料药的生产大国,微生物转化法生产甾体药物的过程中产生的发酵菌渣是一种非常宝贵的资源,但发酵菌渣中仍存在少量有毒的甾体类残留物,在我国被列入《国家危险废物名录》。目前,甾体药物发酵菌渣的处理仍存在一定困难,严重制约着制药企业的健康发展,为此很多研究者针对药物发酵菌渣的无害化与资源化途径开展了广泛的研究。从甾体类药物发酵菌渣的来源、污染属性及国家相关管理要求等方面入手,分别综述了目前包括水热处理、碱热处理、微波处理等预处理技术,燃料化、肥料化、材料化等资源化利用技术,焚烧处置、安全填埋等处置技术在内的甾体药物发酵菌渣无害化与资源化方面的研究现状与最新进展,并对不同处理处置技术的可行性与可操作性进行了综合分析,最后对该领域未来的研究方向进行展望。     

污染场地健康风险评价中多介质模型的优选研究

综合考虑了参数不确定性、模型不确定性对风险评价结果可信度的影响差异和国内实际污染场地健康风险评价中对已有模型的不当选择可能带来的负面效应,提出相对于参数不确定性的控制,针对目标情景的适当模型选择应成为提高风险评价结果可信度的更重要环节.本研究选取了模型理论架构上符合案例情景的美国环境保护署研发的3MRA、MMSOILS和美国劳伦斯伯克力国家实验室研发的CalTOX 3个被广泛使用的污染场地健康风险评价多介质模型,并与蒙特卡洛模拟相结合,载入污染厂址案例,并对特定受体进行了风险评价,由此定量分析了参数不确定性和模型选择不确定对评价结果可信度的影响程度,并通过对比3个模型的内在架构分析了不确定性的可能来源,最后总结提出了“6步综合评价模式”,该模式能有效提高污染场地健康风险评价的可信度及经济可行性.     

二噁英暴露对成年男性血清类固醇激素的影响

为了解二噁英（PCDD/DFs）对成年男性类固醇激素水平的影响,采用高分辨气相色谱法/高分辨质谱联用法（HRGC/HRMS）及液相色谱-质谱联用法（LC-MS/MS）分析二噁英污染地区成年男性（n=50）及非污染地区成年男性（n=48）血清中9种类固醇激素水平和17种二噁英同类物浓度.结果显示成年男性血清中双氢睾酮、睾酮、雌二醇的水平与部分二噁英同类物浓度存在显著性相关.污染地区成年男性双氢睾酮、睾酮、雌二醇的水平与年龄呈显著性正相关.以上结果表明二噁英暴露导致成年男性类固醇激素中的性激素变化异常.     

二次有机气溶胶估算方法研究进展

我国区域复合污染日趋严重,二次有机气溶胶(SOA)是细颗粒物PM2.5的重要组成之一.本研究总结了当前国内外定量估算SOA的主要方法,包括EC示踪法、WSOC法、受体模型法、示踪物产率法、数值模拟法等.通过对各种方法的原理介绍与比较,指出1)EC示踪法、WSOC法、受体模型法简单易行,与在线连续观测数据结合可估算高时间分辨率的SOA浓度,但受限于对当地源谱和特定物种的了解;2)示踪物产率法虽分析技术难度高,但可针对不同来源的SOA估算;3)数值模拟可获得大尺度SOA的空间分布.针对国内外的最新研究成果进行简单概述,不同方法的研究表明中国二次有机气溶胶是总有机气溶胶的重要部分,人为源VOCs对二次有机气溶胶发挥着重要贡献.本文旨在为未来我国二次有机气溶胶的研究提供基础信息和研究思路.     

Constraints on temperature-dependent sex determination in the leopard gecko (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eublepharis macularius</Emphasis>): response to Kratochvil et al.

Kratochvil et al. (Naturwissenschaften 95:209–215, 2008) reported recently that in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) of the family Eublepharidae with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produce only same-sex siblings. Interpreting this result in light of studies of sex steroid hormone involvement in sex determination, they suggested that maternally derived yolk steroid hormones could constrain sex-determining mechanisms in TSD reptiles. We have worked extensively with this species and have routinely incubated clutches at constant temperatures. To test the consistency of high frequency same-sex clutches across different incubation temperatures, we examined our records of clutches at the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 2001. We observed that clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same incubation temperature produced mixed-sex clutches as well as same-sex clutches. Furthermore, cases in which eggs within a clutch were separated and incubated at different temperatures produced the expected number of mixed-sex clutches. These results suggest that maternal influences on sex determination are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin promotes migration ability of primary cultured rat astrocytes via aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Emerging evidence showed that 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could induce expression of certain reactivation-associated genes in astrocytes, however, the consequent cellular effects and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. During the process of astrocyte reactivation, migration is a critical cellular event. In the present study, we employed wound-healing assay and Transwell® motility assay to explore the effects of TCDD on cell migration in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. We found that upon TCDD treatments at relative low concentrations (10^? 10 and/or 10^? 9?mol/L), the ability of primary astrocytes to migrate horizontally and vertically was promoted. In line with this cellular effect, the mRNA expression of two pro-migratory genes, including cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was induced by TCDD treatment. Dioxin exerts its toxic effects mainly through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. So the role of AhR pathway in the pro-migratory effects of TCDD was examined using an AhR antagonist, CH223191. We found that application of CH223191 significantly reversed the pro-migratory effects of TCDD. Interestingly, the basal ability of horizontal migration as well as basal levels of CDC42 and MMP2 expression were dramatically reduced suggesting a possible physiological role of AhR in maintaining the endogenous migration ability of the primary astrocytes. These findings support the notion that dioxin promotes astrocyte reactivation at molecular and cellular levels.     

High Pressure Processing and its Application to the Challenge of Virus-Contaminated Foods

High pressure processing (HPP) is an increasingly popular non-thermal food processing technology. Study of HPP’s potential to inactivate foodborne viruses has defined general pressure levels required to inactivate hepatitis A virus, norovirus surrogates, and human norovirus itself within foods such as shellfish and produce. The sensitivity of a number of different picornaviruses to HPP is variable. Experiments suggest that HPP inactivates viruses via denaturation of capsid proteins which render the virus incapable of binding to its receptor on the surface of its host cell. Beyond the primary consideration of treatment pressure level, the effects of extending treatment times, temperature of initial pressure application, and matrix composition have been identified as critical parameters for designing HPP inactivation strategies. Research described here can serve as a preliminary guide to whether a current commercial process could be effective against HuNoV or HAV.     

北京市城市污水雌激素活性的研究

采用重组酵母雌激素筛检法(YES法)对北京市3个城市污水处理厂工艺流程污水样品的雌激素活性进行了评价,并采用GC/MS分析了样品中8种内分泌干扰物(EDCs),以进一步阐明城市污水雌激素活性的变化.结果表明,污水处理厂能较好地降低污水雌激素活性,降低率为82.2%～97.0%,但出水仍具有一定的雌激素活性,雌二醇(E2)当量浓度(EEQ)为2.6～16.0 ng/L.GC/MS检测显示,污水处理厂并不能完全去除目标化合物,出水中平均浓度最低的是17α-E2,为13.5 ng/L,最高的是BPA,为106.4 ng/L;出水的雌激素活性主要来自类固醇雌激素.污水厂的出水排放具有潜在的环境风险,在污水处理过程中,应特别关注对类固醇雌激素的去除.     

Prenatal diagnosis and investigation of a fetus with chondrodysplasia punctata,ichthyosis, and Kallmann syndrome due to an Xp deletion

We report the prenatal diagnosis of a male fetus with X-linked recessive chondrodysplasia punctata (CDPX), steroid sulphatase (STS) deficiency, X-linked Kallmann syndrome (KAL), and a chromosome deletion at Xp22.31. Biochemical analysis of bone from this case indicates that CDPX is not a defect of vitamin K metabolism. Immunocytochemical study of the brain suggests that KAL is a defect in neuronal migration.