Ultrasonographic diagnosis of a fetal abdominal mass: A case of a mesenchymal liver hamartoma and a review of the literature

A case of a prenatally recognized hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma is presented and the literature reviewed. These tumors are benign and usually present in early infancy with symptoms that are related to the mass effect on adjacent organs. Radiologic methods used in the past to image this tumor include angiography and ultrasound. However, there is no specific radiologic finding, and, therefore, the diagnosis is usually made during surgery. Once the tumor is removed, the prognosis is generally good. With the increasing use of high resolution ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis, this rare tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any multicystic mass found in the fetal abdomen. The recognition of a mass should then alert the physician to the need for early neonatal intervention.     

代谢活化的N-苯基-2-萘胺与细胞核大分子的结合

本实验研究N-苯基-2-萘胺经微粒体代谢活化后与分离的大鼠肝、肺细胞核内DNA、RNA、组蛋白与非组蛋白的结合水平。[~3H]P2NA与分离的肝核和NADPH共温育,能与细胞核的各成分结合。经3-MC和Aroclor1254处理的大鼠,能诱导肝细胞核内酶活力,使其与致癌物的结合力增加。大鼠肝微粒体的加入并不明显增高其与DNA的结合力。以肺微粒体代替肝微粒体的实验效果较差。与核内RNA的结合水平明显高于核DNA,而尤以肺核实验时为甚。 该实验系统系体内研究与用微粒体和纯化的DNA实验研究之间的中间型式。结果认为可能是存在于大鼠肝、肺细胞核膜的酶足以活化致癌物,并使之与核大分子结合。     

微囊藻毒素-LR致小鼠肝细胞DNA-蛋白质交联作用的研究

为探讨微囊藻毒素-LR致小鼠肝细胞的DNA-蛋白质交联作用,将20只昆明雄性小鼠随机分为4组:1个对照组和3个染毒组,采用腹腔注射进行染毒7d,染毒剂量分别为3.0、6.0和12.0μg·kg-1,检测小鼠肝细胞DNA-蛋白质交联程度.结果显示,3.0、6.0和12.0μg·kg-1微囊藻毒素-LR均可导致小鼠肝细胞显著的DNA-蛋白质交联作用(与对照组相比,p<0.01,p<0.01,p<0.05),当微囊藻毒素为6.0μg·kg-1时,这种作用最明显.     

内质网应激在PFOS致大鼠肝损伤中的作用

通过全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)28 d大鼠经口染毒评价PFOS肝损伤效应,探讨内质网应激在PFOS毒效应中的作用。Wistar大鼠随机分组,分别以0 mg·kg~(-1)、5 mg·kg~(-1)和10 mg·kg~(-1)PFOS灌胃染毒28 d。HE染色观察大鼠肝脏形态改变。ELISA法测定各组丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和淀粉酶(AMY)含量变化。紫外分光光度法测定肝组织匀浆中丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性变化。RT-PCR检测肝脏内质网应激标志蛋白表达水平。结果表明,PFOS造成大鼠体重降低、肝重增高(P0.05),组织切片显示肝细胞出现脂质沉积。PFOS不同剂量组大鼠ALT随暴露浓度增加,分别为(50.96±10.02)U·L~(-1)、(71.73±11.55)U·L~(-1),显著高于对照组(P0.05),AST、ALP含量与对照组相比显著上升(P0.05),高剂量组AMY水平为(833.46±63.05)U·L~(-1),与对照组相比显著降低(P0.05)。GSH-Px和SOD水平随PFOS浓度增加出现了显著降低(P0.05),而MDA水平显著升高(P0.05)。内质网应激标志蛋白表达均较对照组显著上升(P0.05)。以上结果说明PFOS可导致大鼠肝细胞损伤,其机制可能与内质网应激调控有关。     

菲、3-甲基菲和菲醌对河鲀(Takifugu rubripes)幼鱼肝组织损伤的比较研究

原油毒性主要源于多环芳烃(PAHs),而烷基化多环芳烃是PAHs的主要组分,氧化衍生物是PAHs降解和代谢过程所产生的重要产物。为评估比较烷基PAHs和氧化PAHs与其母体化合物对海洋生物的毒性,本研究以菲、3-甲基菲和菲醌为研究对象,对海洋经济鱼种——红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)幼鱼进行了肝损伤评价。结果显示,线粒体、内质网是对上述3种化合物最为敏感的细胞器;3种化合物对肝损伤的表现形式不同:1.菲导致线粒体数量增加形态改变、内质网减少纹理模糊、出现脂滴、细胞空泡化、出血,2.3-甲基菲导致内质网减少、出现脂滴、细胞空泡化、出血,3.菲醌导致线粒体和内质网水肿、出现脂滴及细胞空泡化;随化合物浓度升高,肝损伤程度加重;同一浓度下,不同化合物损伤程度也有差异,总体趋势为菲醌3-甲基菲菲。上述结果表明,PAHs衍生物的毒性可能强于其母体化合物;除浓度外,化合物的结构可能对其毒性有重要影响。     

A screening of liver,kidney, and thyroid gland morphology in organochlorine-contaminated glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from Svalbard

Concentrations of organochlorine (OC) contaminants and histomorphology of liver, kidney, and thyroid tissues were studied in nine adult and one subadult glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) collected at Svalbard on 2 August 2011. Concentrations of liver polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; range: 150–2820?ng?g^?1 ww), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT; range: 58–724?ng?g^?1 ww), and chlordanes (CHL; range: 11–126?ng?g^?1 ww) dominated the OC profile followed by hexachlorobenzene (HCB; range: 11–42?ng?g^?1 ww), mirex (range: 2–52?ng?g^?1 ww), and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH; range: 1–7?ng?g^?1 ww). Histological examination of the liver showed mononuclear cell infiltrations and granulomas in 10 and 6 gulls, respectively, while intense intrahepatic lipid accumulation (steatosis) was found in two and focal necrosis in one gull. In kidney, glomerular sclerosis and adhesions was found in five and one gull, respectively. Thickening of the glomerular basement membranes and tubular necrosis was found in four and seven gulls, respectively, while mononuclear cell infiltrations were found in two individuals. In the thyroid gland, a high density of small follicles accompanied by follicular epithelial cell proliferation was observed in five glaucous gulls. Gulls with hepatic steatosis had significantly higher ΣDDT levels than the gulls without hepatic steatosis and a similar trend was found for ΣPCB. When normalizing OC concentrations for lipid content in liver, gulls with lipid granulomas had significantly lower β-HCH and significantly higher mirex levels, respectively, than gulls without lipid granulomas. Also; gulls with thickening of the glomerular basement membranes had non-significantly higher ΣPCB levels than gulls without. The histological findings were similar to those of controlled laboratory studies and OC-contaminated wildlife (e.g., polar bears; Ursus maritimus) and the data of this study therefore suggest that OC exposure may be a co-factor in the development of organ alterations in glaucous gulls. However, other environmental factors such as age, element exposure, and infectious micropathogens cannot be ruled out as co-factors, and it is uncertain if the tissue changes found exert adverse health effects on the population of Svalbard glaucous gulls.     

Enzymatic and cellular level effects of chromium∗

Exposure of Cr to four hepatic enzymes activities of tilapia, viz. acid‐ and alkaline phosphatases, catalase and glucose‐6‐phosphatase, was contrary to the results obtained for Cd and Ni. This is the only heavy metal investigated thus far that dramatically augmented glucose‐6‐phosphatase by approximately 83% at a concentration of 12 mg L^‐1 in vivo in lieu of the fact of an initial inhibition of approximately 45 % at a lower concentration of Cr; 6 mg L^‐1. In the case of acid phosphatase and catalase activities progressive increment was observed up to 50 and 217% respectively at a concentration of 12 mg L^‐1 Cr. On the other hand, in contrast to all the investigated enzymes interestingly alkaline phosphatase was inhibited continuously at all concentrations up to 46% at 12 mgL^‐1 Cr. In vitro experiments were contrary to the above mentioned results, whereby all hepatic enzymes were inhibited with major inhibition observed for acid phosphatase of approximately 60% from 5 mgL^‐1 Cr onwards in the system.

At cellular level, Cr exposure at a lethal dose of 12 mgL^‐1 demonstrated similar effects to that of Cd. In general, the glycogen and fat reserves were depleted while lysosomal activity is increased. As compared to the effects of Cd, the mitochondria did not indicate any prominent reflection in the formation of intramitochondrial bodies. Further, similar to Cd, the cell membrane as well as nucleus were not affected.     

Extraction of 17β-estradiol in water using non-imprinted polymer submicron particles in membrane filters

17β-Estradiol (E2) is an endocrine disrupting chemical of harm to both animals and human beings at a low concentration level (ng/L). It cannot be completely removed by wastewater treatments, and is often detected in both environment and drinking waters. The purpose of this feasibility study, towards environmental engineering in the field of water analysis and treatment, was to remove E2 by extraction using non-imprinted polymer (NIP) submicron particles. Experimental results showed that 0.5 mg/L of E2 could be completely extracted by adding 10 mg of NIP particles directly into 10 mL of water. However, the extraction efficiency decreased to 64% for 100 mL of water. prefilling the NIP particles inside a membrane filter showed a potential for water treatment of a large volume, requiring no effort to distribute the particles uniformly in the water. High extraction efficiency (80 ± 10)% for E2 was achieved for 100 mL of water. A total mass of 0.29 mg E2 was extracted from 1000 mL of water containing 0.8 mg/L E2 (by using only 10 mg of NIP particles). Both efficiency and mass capacity can be increased, by scaling up the amount of NIP particles, towards environmental engineering applications.