Prenatal diagnosis of infantile hypophosphatasia

Prenatal diagnosis was attempted in a pregnant Japanese woman whose son had died of infantile hypophosphatasia, using chorionic villi sampled at 10 weeks of gestation. Southern blot analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism was used as a guide, with cDNA for the human liver-type alkaline phosphatase as a probe, and BclI as a restriction enzyme. The fetus was found to be a heterozygote; the pregnancy was allowed to continue; and the baby born was phenotypically normal.     

骨炭对铅的吸附性能研究

文章旨在研究骨炭对铅的吸附性能,为利用骨炭修复铅污染的土壤做出有意义的探索。研究了骨炭对铅的吸附等温线、吸附动力学以及砷、镉和其它因素对吸附的影响。结果表明:骨炭能在短时间内吸附大量的铅离子,实验用浙江骨炭和英国骨炭对铅的饱和吸附量分别为222.2mg/g和227.3mg/g,均高于有报道的其他类型炭;骨炭对铅的等温吸附符合兰格缪尔方程;在pH2.5～6之间,英国骨炭对铅的吸附量随pH的升高略有下降,浙江骨炭对铅的吸附量随pH的升高变化不大;当支持电解质KNO3的浓度在0.005～0.1mg/L范围内逐渐增大时,英国骨炭对铅的吸附量略有减小,而浙江骨炭的吸附量变化不大;100mg/L的砷和200mg/L的镉对骨炭吸附铅离子没有显著影响;骨炭对水溶液中铅离子的吸附过程是一个复杂的非均相固液反应。     

Investigation of methods for estimating hand bone dimensions using X-ray hand anthropometric data

This study examined two conversion methods, M1 and M2, to predict finger/phalange bone lengths based on finger/phalange surface lengths. Forty-one Korean college students (25 males and 16 females) were recruited and their finger/phalange surface lengths, bone lengths and grip strengths were measured using a vernier caliper, an X-ray generator and a double-handle force measurement system, respectively. M1 and M2 were defined as formulas able to estimate finger/phalange bone lengths based on one dimension (i.e., surface hand length) and four finger dimensions (surface finger lengths), respectively. As a result of conversion, the estimation errors by M1 presented mean 1.22?mm, which was smaller than those (1.29?mm) by M2. The bone lengths estimated by M1 (mean r?=?0.81) presented higher correlations with the measured bone lengths than those estimated by M2 (0.79). Thus, the M1 method was recommended in the present study, based on conversion simplicity and accuracy.     

垃圾填埋场渗滤液诱发小鼠骨髓细胞微核效应

研究了垃圾填埋场渗滤液诱发小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞(PCE)微核(MN)效应.结果表明,渗滤液可诱发微核的形成,且呈明确的浓度(渗滤液COD_Cr)-效应关系.在亚急性染毒条件下,渗滤液COD_Cr为10mg/L时,可诱发微核率和微核细胞率显著高于阴性对照(n=16,P<0.001);在亚慢性染毒条件下,渗滤液COD_Cr为5mg/L时,即可诱发微核率和微核细胞率显著高于阴性对照(n=16,P<0.001).这一结果从整体水平上证明了垃圾填埋场渗滤液对哺乳动物具有遗传损伤效应,同时提示可以以小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验结果作为渗滤液生物监测指标.渗滤液处理时间越长,引起细胞遗传损伤所需的最低浓度越低,意味着长期接触环境低浓度渗滤液污染有引起体内细胞遗传物质损伤的潜在危险.     

The effect of in utero exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls on reproductive development in eight year-old children

We have previously reported on the effects of in utero exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on thyroid function and growth hormone concentrations at birth and in two and five year-old children. Herein, we present our most recent follow-up examination findings for the same cohort of children at eight-years of age. A total of 56 children (23 boys, 33 girls) were examined. Bone age (BA), hormone concentrations, and indicators of reproductive development including Tanner, breast, genital, and armpit stages were assessed. Estradiol concentrations were significantly lower in children exposed to higher levels than median of PCDD/Fs + PCBs TEQ compared to the children exposed to levels lesser than median (P = 0.003). Girls exposed to higher levels than median of indicator PCBs had a significantly greater proportion in genital stage 1 and shorter fundi and uteri lengths, as compared to those exposed to low levels (P = 0.025 and P < 0.05, respectively). There was a significant negative relationship between estradiol concentrations and PCDD/Fs + PCB exposure level (P = 0.005). After adjusting for BA, there was a significant association between fundus length and indicator PCB exposure level (P = 0.034). Exposure to both high levels of ΣPCDD/Fs + PCBs TEQ and high levels of total PCBs was associated with decreased fundus length (P = 0.016) and uterus length (P = 0.016). In utero exposure to high levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs may result in lower estradiol concentrations in eight year-old children and impaired reproductive development in girls.