Semilobar holoprosencephaly prenatal diagnosis: an unexpected complex rearrangement in a de novo apparently balanced reciprocal translocation on karyotype

We report a semilobar holoprosencephaly (HPE) in a post-intracytoplasmic-sperm-injection pregnancy. It was suggested by ultrasonography (US), documented on karyotype, identified with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), established after birth and confirmed on post-mortem autopsy. An amniocentesis revealed a de novo apparently balanced reciprocal translocation 46,XY, t(7;8) (q31.3;q12). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identified a deletion in the region of the Sonic Hedgehog gene (SHH) on der(8); nevertheless, the subtelomeric regions for chromosomes 7 and 8 were present. The parents decided to continue the pregnancy; a boy was born and survived for 3 days. The brain autopsy confirmed the semilobar HPE previously noted on US and MRI. Further, band-specific FISH revealed, in addition to SHH deletion, the presence of an inversion in the 7q translocated material on der(8). The parents' karyotypes were normal. An unexpected complex rearrangement was present in a de novo apparently balanced reciprocal translocation in a semilobar HPE. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

松花江吉林段土壤有机组分的雄激素干扰效应

利用重组AR(雄激素受体)基因酵母,结合土壤样品索氏提取、富集和净化方法,开展松花江流域吉林段土壤有机组分雄激素干扰效应及其分布特征研究. 结果表明:所有样品均未检测出显著的AR诱导活性;部分样品检测出AR抑制活性,检出率为62.50%,最大抑制率为61.74%;采用RIC20(抑制率为20.00%时,96孔板每孔所需要的土壤当量,单位为mg/well)表征样品的抑制活性,RIC20在1.01~9.03 mg/well之间, 表明松花江吉林段土壤中存在AR抑制活性物质,可能具有潜在的环境危害. 研究区土壤雄激素干扰效应的分布特征表明,干扰效应分布与产业布局呈一定的相关性;工业区的AR抑制活性明显高于农田区,表明化工原料及产品的生产和使用及工业废水的排放可能是该地区土壤中AR抑制活性的重要来源.      

苯系物联合暴露仿刺参管足转录组差异表达基因分析

为了分析苯系物(BTEXs)联合暴露后仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)管足转录组差异表达基因,采用Illumina Hi SeqTM2000测序技术,对1.0 mg·L~(-1)苯系物(B)联合暴露12 h后和对照组(C)的仿刺参管足组织分别进行转录组测序。经Trinity软件进行de novo组装,获得了145 675条unigenes。利用公共数据库进行同源比对,共注释了35 330条unigenes。对比分析苯系物联合暴露组和对照组的转录组测序结果,获得了2 418个差异表达基因(DEGs)(|Log2Fold changes|≥1且FDR≤0.001),其中,上调表达和下调表达基因分别为1 049和1 369个。GOseq分析结果显示,158个DEGs显著富集在149个GO terms中,包括103个生物学过程、17个细胞组分和29个分子功能(P0.05);KEGG代谢通路分析结果显示994个差异基因映射到268条代谢通路,这些差异表达基因参与的生理过程与其他生物的同源基因参与的信号传导、癌症、外源性化合物的生物降解代谢等过程相类似。上述结果为在转录组水平筛选苯系物的生物标志物,解析苯系物对仿刺参毒性作用的分子机制提供了科学参考。     

苯并（a）芘对雄性罗非鱼肝脏Vtg mRNA表达的影响

卵黄蛋白原（Vitellogenin,Vtg）是检测环境雌激素的重要生物标志物,雄性鱼类VtgmRNA是检测环境雌激素的新兴生物标志物。为研究BaP是否具有环境雌激素效应,本试验对罗非鱼Oreochromis niloticus Vtg mRNA进行研究,用总RNA提取试剂盒提取得到雌鱼肝脏总RNA,以转录得到的cDNA为模板,以Primer设计得到的引物,得到422bp的罗非鱼卵黄蛋白原特异性eDNA扩增片段;采用荧光定量PCR法检测10、50Hg-L。的BaP暴露对罗非鱼肝脏Vtg基因表达的影响,结果发现4d、17d时雄性罗非鱼肝脏内VtgmRNA表达量与对照组无差异（P〉0．05）,10d时10、50ug·L-1 2个剂量组VtgmRNA表达量显著高于对照组（P〈0．01）,分别是对照组的113．18倍和121．79倍。结果意味着BaP可能具有环境雌激素效应。     

Effects of nonylphenol on the brain development-associated gene expression profiles of F1 generation rats

To explore the effects of nonylphenol on brain development-associated gene expression profiles of F1 generation rats by means of microarray technique. The mRNA were extracted respectively from the brain of 2-day-old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation were tested with and without nonylphenol, respectively, then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with cy5 and cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently,the cDNA probes were hybridized to the Mouse40S cDNA microarray and the fluorescent signals of cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen identified genes expressed differently, including 13 down-regulated in which five were related to brain function and development. Nonylphenol can effect the brain function in many ways, mainly disturb metabolism, development and differentiation of neurocyte, and synthesis and release of neurotransmitter.     

Effects of nonylphenol on endocrine regulation-associated gene expression profiles in whole brain of F1 generation male rats

In order to determine the effects of nonylphenol (NP) on endocrine regulation-associated gene expression profiles in whole brain of F1 generation rats, mRNA extracted from the brain of 2-day old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation was treated with NP. The mRNA was then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with cy5 and cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently, cDNA probes were hybridized to the Mouse40S cDNA microarray and the fluorescent signals of cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen genes were identified which expressed differently, including 13 that were down-regulated in which 4 were related to brain regulation of endocrine function. Data suggest that NP mainly affects metabolism and synthesis of steroid hormone in various ways and disturbs the reproductive function of male rats when administered perinatally.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

纳米二氧化钛暴露人胚肺细胞差异表达基因分析

为探讨纳米二氧化钛(Nano-TiO2)颗粒对人胚肺(HPF)细胞基因表达和基因功能的影响,使用粒径10nmTiO2暴露体外培养的人胚肺细胞24h,提取RNA,应用基因芯片方法,寻找差异表达基因,并对差异基因进行基因本体(GeneOntology,GO)分类.结果表明,纳米TiO2暴露人胚肺细胞,导致514条肺中表达的基因发生差异表达,基因分类显示400条基因涉及生物学过程;415条基因涉及分子学功能;391条基因涉及细胞构成.纳米TiO2作为外界刺激物质,与细胞膜上的受体结合,影响钙、钾离子通道,上调细胞免疫和炎症反应相关的细胞因子TNF、IL1B、IL1A等基因表达.