First-trimester screening for Down syndrome; the role of nasal bone assessment in the Korean population

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nasal bone assessment in first-trimester screening for Down syndrome (DS) in the Korean population. Methods From July 2004 to March 2006, we prospectively evaluated the fetal nasal bones at 11–14 weeks' gestation in the Korean population. Results A successful evaluation was possible in 6490 of 6787 fetuses (95.6%). Absent, hypoechoic, and short nasal bones were seen in 4 (26.7%), 4 (26.7%), and 1 (6.7%) of 15 fetuses with DS, respectively, whereas in 5 (0.1%), 11 (0.2%), and 246 (3.8%) of 6456 normal fetuses. The incidence of absent and hypoechoic nasal bone showed significant differences between normal fetuses and fetuses with DS (P < 0.0005, both). Screening for DS using an absent or hypoechoic nasal bone resulted in a sensitivity of 53.3%, a specificity of 99.8%, a positive likelihood ratio of 215.2, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.5. Conclusion Our study showed that nasal bone abnormality at 11–14 weeks of gestation had a high association with DS in the Korean population. This suggests that nasal bone assessment can be used to supplement the current first-trimester screening for DS in the Korean population. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trends in concentration of ground-level ozone and meteorological conditions during high ozone episodes in the Kao-Ping Airshed, Taiwan

This work analyzes the variations in daily maximum 1-hr ozone (O3) concentrations and the long-term trends in annual means of hourly ambient concentrations of O3, nitrogen oxides (nitrous oxide + nitrogen dioxide), and nonmethane hydrocarbons in the three administrative regions of Kao-Ping airshed in southern Taiwan over a recent 8-yr period. The annual or monthly means of all maxima, most 95th percentiles, and some 90th percentiles of the daily maximum 1-hr O3 concentrations exceed the daily limit of 120 parts per billion by volume in all three regions, namely, Kao-hsiung City, Kso-hsiung County, and P'ing-tung County. The monthly means of daily maximum 1-hr O3 concentrations exhibit distinct seasonal variations, with a bimodal form with the maxima in autumn and late winter to the middle of spring and a minimum in summer. The long-term variations in the annual means of hourly O3 concentrations in the three regions exhibit increasing trends. These increases in O3 are associated with the decline in ambient concentrations of nitrogen oxides and nonmethane hydrocarbons. High O3 episodes occur most often in autumn and most rarely in summer. The seasonal mean mixing heights in descending order follow the order of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Meteorological parameters in autumn and winter indicate that the ground-level O3 tends to accumulate and trigger a high O3 episode on a warm day with sufficient sunlight and low wind in a high-pressure system, consistent with the low mixing heights in these two seasons.     

Enhanced anaerobic biodegradability and inactivation of fecal coliforms and Salmonella spp. in wastewater sludge by using microwaves.

During continuous operation of three mesophilic-anaerobic digesters, the effect of microwave irradiation, as sludge thermal pretreatment (60 to 65 degrees C), was studied. The fecal coliforms log inactivation for microwaved/digested sludge was 4.2 +/- 0.4, whereas for conventionally heated/digested sludge and control were 2.9 +/- 0.5 and 1.5 +/- 0.5, respectively. In the case of Salmonella spp., no colonies were detected in 85% of the microwaved/digested samples. Considering the detection limit, the log inactivation of these samples was greater than 2.0 +/- 0.3. The conventionally heated/digested sludge and control showed log inactivations of 1.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.1 +/- 0.3, respectively. At the 95% confidence level, microwaved/digested sludge increased the biogas production by 16.4 +/- 5.6% and 6.3 +/- 2.4%, as compared to control and conventionally heated/digested sludge, respectively. When thermally treated sludge was analyzed for soluble chemical oxygen demand, microwaved waste-activated sludge showed considerable solubilization between 37 and 60 degrees C. Microwaved/digested sludge showed a reduction of capillary suction times by 11.1 +/- 5.9% and 10.7 +/- 5.6%, as compared to control and conventionally heated/digested sludge, respectively.     

Selective removal of organic contaminants from sediments: a methodology for toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs)

Aqueous slurries of a test sediment spiked with dibenz[a,h]anthracene, 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, p,p'-DDE, or phenanthrene were subjected to decontamination experimentation. The spiked sediments were agitated at elevated temperatures for at least 96 h in the presence of either of the two contaminant-absorbing media: clusters of polyethylene membrane or lipid-containing semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The effects of treatment temperature and surface area of media on the removal of contaminants were explored. This work is part of a larger methodology for whole-sediment toxicity identification evaluation (TIE). A method is being sought that is capable of detoxifying sediments with respect to organic contaminants while leaving toxicity attributable to inorganic contaminants unaffected.     

Chemical and microbiological qualities of The East River (Dongjiang) water,with particular reference to drinking water supply in Hong Kong

Currently, about 80% of drinking water in Hong Kong is abstracted from The East River (Dongjiang) that is located in the mainland side of China. Literature records and monitoring results of 2000-2001 confirmed that the lower section of the Dongjiang had been contaminated by organic and inorganic pollutants. Statistical analyses showed that the increases of total cadmium, copper and zinc in the surface layer of sediment of Hong Kong reservoirs from 1994 to 2001 were positively correlated (significant at p<0.05) with those in the surface layer of sediments of the lower Dongjiang. Recent microbiological survey revealed that pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Vibro spp., Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum appeared occasionally in water samples of the Dongjiang and Hong Kong reservoirs. While analytical results found that currently most of the heavy metals, trace organics and microbes were removed by the drinking water treatment plants in Hong Kong, the long-term health risk of drinking water contamination should not be overlooked. The Water Supplies Department of Hong Kong is recommended to intensify its water quality monitoring program to cover pathogenic bacteria and parasites in watercourses and reservoirs.     

Elevated levels of lead and other metals in roadside soil and grass and their use to monitor aerial metal depositions in Hong Kong

The Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cd contents in roadside soils and grass from 36 sites on the Island of Hong Kong were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed that both soil and grass contained elevated levels of the metals studied. Linear regression analysis between the logarithmic concentration of the metals in the samples and the logarithmic traffic volume of the sites revealed that, apart from Cd in soil, the two were strongly related (variance ratios' P values <0.001), thus indicating that the motor vehicle forms a major source of these metals in the roadside. The regional distribution of Pb and Cu in roadside soil and grass (presented in maps herein) shows high levels of contamination occurring mainly in the highly urbanised northern part of the Island where most of the traffic is concentrated. Apparently, both soil and grass could be utilised to reflect the extent of aerial deposition of metals in the roadside.     

马尾松种实病虫害防治研究

湖南马尾松种实害虫有七种,松梢小巷蛾和微红班螟是主要害虫。主要危害二年生球果,被害率高达46.49-47.76％。害虫天敌有三种。种实病害主要表现在一年生幼果大量脱落,落果率达33.35-36.12％。发病原因经室内病原茵诱发试验和分离培养,尚未获得致病茵,初步诊断为一种生理病害。病虫发生高峰期均在4-6月份,此时为防治关健时期。氧化乐果等防治马尾松种实害虫效果可达70％以上。无性乐间搞虫性略有差异。九二0生长激素和钼酸钠微肥防治生理落果有较明显防治效果。     

Early amniocentesis: Experience of 222 consecutive patients, 1987–1988

Early amniocentesis from 9 to 14 weeks' gestation provides a safe and accurate method of prenatal diagnosis of cytogenetic and biochemical disorders. There was a 100 per cent success rate in culturing the amniotic cells from 222 samples obtained between 9 and 14 weeks' gestation. Follow-up of the patients to delivery revealed an abortion rate of 1·4 per cent. Among the 207 live- and stillborn infants, only one had a congenital abnormality (bilateral talipes equino-varus) and no infant had respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia. Eleven pregnancies were terminated following the detection of a chromosomal, biochemical, or congenital abnormality (5·0 per cent). However, before the procedure of early amniocentesis becomes routine clinical practice, it requires appraisal by a randomized clinical trial.     

Gastroenteric Viruses Detection in a Drinking Water Distribution-to-Consumption System in a Low-Income Community in Rio de Janeiro

Food and Environmental Virology - The availability of drinking water is one of the main determinants of quality of life, disease prevention and the promotion of health. Viruses are important agents...