Immediate prenatal diagnosis of Zellweger syndrome by direct measurement of very long chain fatty acids in chorionic villus cells

We report a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method which allows the very long chain fatty acids content of trophoblastic tissue to be directly measured in samples collected by biopsy between 8 and 11 weeks of gestation. This method has been successfully applied to the detection of fetal Zellweger syndrome in two pregnant women who had previously delivered affected infants. In one of them, increased concentrations of C26:0 (0.254 versus 0.108±0.035 μ/mg proteins) and C24:0 (1.32 versus 0.815±0.325 μ/mg proteins) in trophoblast indicated that the fetus had Zellweger syndrome, a diagnosis confirmed by pathological findings after abortion. In the second case, the pregnancy was allowed to proceed, on the basis of normal concentrations of very long chain fatty acids in trophoblastic tissue, and its outcome was actually a healthy newborn.     

SO2污染对小鼠骨髓细胞微核的诱发作用

在SO2吸入慢性染毒条件下,小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞（PCE）的微核细胞率与微核率均显著增加,且雌雄差异显著。结果也表明,SO2对阳性致突变剂乌拉坦航发微核的作用有显著抑制效应。本研究模拟SO2空气污染,从整体水平直接证实了SO2是哺乳类细胞染色体断裂剂、SO2与阳性致突变剂的联合作用是复杂的结论。     

Detection of fetal HLA-DQα sequences in maternal blood: A gender-independent technique of fetal cell identification

The objective of this study was to detect fetal HLA-DQα gene sequences in maternal blood. HLA-DQα genotypes of 70 pregnant women and their partners were determined for type A1. We specifically sought couples where the father, but not the mother, had genotype A1. In 12 women, maternal blood samples were flow-sorted. Candidate fetal cells were isolated and amplified by using PCR primers specific for a paternal HLA-DQα A1 allele. Fetal HLA-DQα A1 genotype was predicted from sorted cells; amniocytes or cheek swabs were used for confirmation. Six of twelve sorted samples had amplification products indicating the presence of the HLA-DQα A1 allele; 6/12 did not. Prediction of the fetal genotype was 100 per cent correct, as determined by subsequent amplification of amniocytes or cheek swabs. We conclude that paternally inherited uniquely fetal HLA-DQα gene sequences can be identified in maternal blood. This system permits the identification of fetal cells independent of fetal gender, and has the potential for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of paternally inherited conditions.     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy from uncultured amniotic fluid cells using five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization

In this paper we describe the use of five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization for prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy using uncultured amniotic fluid cells. The analysis is based on ratio mixing of dual-labelled probes and digital imaging for the detection and visualization of five different probes specific for the five target chromosomes, 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. A retrospective blind analysis of 30 coded uncultured amniotic fluid samples correctly detected fetal sex and five trisomy 21 cases. Multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization used in this way allows rapid and simultaneous detection of the most frequent aneuploidies.     

硝基芳烃化合物诱发细胞微核的比较研究

利用蚕豆根法细胞和人在淋巴细胞的微核试验对６种硝基芳烃化合物的致突变性进行比较研究，结果表明，邻二硝基苯、间二硝基苯、２，４－二硝基甲苯，２，６－二硝基甲苯，对硝基氯苯和对硝基溴苯均能诱发两咱细胞的微核率增加，除了对硝基溴苯外均具有明显剂量一效应关系。引进标准剂量概念比较５种硝基芳烃人合物的致突变性，结果表明，致突变性强弱依次为２，４－二硝基甲苯〉对硝基氯苯〉间二硝基苯〉２，６－二硝基甲苯〉邻二硝     

大气飘尘对大鼠肺细胞的毒性比较

采用大白鼠气管内注入飘尘后分析肺灌洗液的方法，比较了上海不同地区飘尘对大鼠肺细胞的毒性；再运用毒性指数及效应指数，综合评价了上海市不同地区大气飘尘污染的状况。研究表明：从肺灌洗液的生化成份分析及细胞分类显示，以彭浦新村、隆昌路平凉路、康定路胶州路３个点的飘尘毒性较大。综合评价结果，彭浦新村的效应指数最大，以后依次为康定路胶州路、鲁班路斜土路、青云路、隆昌路平凉路等。     

Microbial fuel cells: Advances in electrode modifications for improvement of system performance

There is an increasing trend to conduct the researches related to Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) in the recent years. Limited power output has been the major obstacle for the practical application and upscaling of MFCs. Attempts have been made on electrode modifications such as anode treatments, cathode modifications with catalysts and bio cathodes developments to produce varying degrees of improved output current depending upon the types of modifications. Power density and Coulombic efficiency have been considered as the important parameters to analyze the system performances. This paper overviews on the advances made in MFCs’ researches focusing on different types of electrodes modifications along with the involved methodology. Furthermore, the system performances of different modified MFCs are compared in terms of the power density and the Coulombic efficiency.     

邻苯二甲酸酯类雌激素活性联合作用模型分析

环境雌激素对生命健康影响受到广泛关注,现行污染物环境标准制订和风险评价只针对单一化合物而非混合物效应,不足以保护生命安全与人类健康。为探讨环境雌激素的混合物效应,选择对雌激素敏感的人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖实验,检测雌二醇(E2)、邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物(DBP和DEHP)的单一及其联合雌激素活性;基于单一化合物的浓度-反应曲线,运用浓度相加(CA)和独立作用(IA)模型对混合物的毒性进行预测,并将模型预测结果与混合物实验数据进行比较分析。结果表明,E2、DBP、DEHP对MCF-7细胞的单一作用数据可通过Weibull方程拟合,由拟合方程得到的半数效应浓度(EC50)及95%置信区间分别为3.450×10-6(2.373×10-6~1.675×10-5)、5.138(1.489~1.082×10)、1.186(4.478×10-1~2.24)μmol·L-1;3种化合物的混合物数据亦可通过Weibull、Logistic和Exp Gro1方程进行有效拟合,混合物效应与化合物单独作用产生的效应具有显著性差异;3种化合物表现非相似联合作用,利用独立作用(IA)模型预测混合物效应较为可靠,外源性环境雌激素与内源性雌激素联合作用产生的混合效应显著。环境雌激素混合物毒性可以通过相加作用模型预测,为环境复合污染的风险评价和管理提供基础数据。     

The response of soil Arthrobacter agilis lush13 to changing conditions: Transition between vegetative and dormant state

This work was aimed at studying the response of soil non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain Arthrobacter agilis Lush 13 to changing natural conditions, such as nutrient availability and the presence of degradable and recalcitrant aliphatic and aromatic substrates. The A. agilis strain Lush13 was able to degrade octane, nonane, hexadecane, benzoate, phenol, and 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-dichlorophenols, but not grew on 3,4-dichlorophenol, 2,3,4-, 2,4,5-, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2-chlorobenzoate, 3-chlorobenzoate, 3,5-dichlorobenzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate. Under growth-arresting conditions due to nitrogen- or multiple starvation or recalcitrant (non-utilizable) carbon source, the studied strain preserved viability for prolonged periods (4–24 months) due to transition to dormancy in the form of conglomerated small and ultrasmall cyst-like dormant cells (CLC). Dormant cells were shown to germinate rapidly (30 min or later) after removal of starvation stress, and this process was followed by breakdown of conglomerates with the eliberation and further division of small multiple actively growing daughter cells. Results of this study shed some light to adaptive capabilities of soil arthrobacters in pure and polluted environments.