Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of extra-structurally abnormal chromosomes (ESACs) found prenatally: outcome and follow-up

A 40-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 15.3 weeks of gestation. Chromosome analysis performed using QFQ, DA-DAPI and CBG banding revealed two de novo extra-chromosomal markers (ESACs) in 11 of the 16 colonies analysed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that both chromosomes came from the Yq11.22.1 region of the Y chromosome. PCR analysis of genes and STS localized on the Y chromosome excluded the Yp presence specifically of the SRY gene, and most of the euchromatic region of Yq. After extensive genetic counselling and considering both laboratory and second-level ultrasound data, the couple decided to continue the pregnancy. At 37.4 weeks of gestational age, a girl weighing 2750 g was born with an Apgar score of 9/10. A blood sample taken from the umbilical cord showed three cellular lines:mos47,XX, +mar1 ish.der (Y)(wcpY+) [21%]/48,XX, +mar1 ish.der (Y)(wcpY+), +mar2 ish.der (Y)(wcpY+) [41%]/46,XX [38%]. One year after birth, the baby was developing normally and had normal psychomotorial activity. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular biomarkers of energy metabolism in mussels under anthropogenic pollution of Peter the Great Bay, the Sea of Japan

The functional state of the indicator species, the Gray mussel Crenomytilus grayanus (Bivalvia), has been analyzed in five areas of Peter the Great Bay exposed to anthropogenic pollution. The following indices of the state of mussels have been used: molecular biomarkers of energy metabolism—Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, and total ATPase activity—as well as the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione concentration in the hepatopancreas, gills, and gonads of mussels. The activity of ATPases, LPO level, and glutathione concentration significantly change in mussels from polluted areas relative to those in mussels from a conventionally unpolluted area (a bay in the Far Eastern State Marine Reserve). The molecular biomarkers used in the study provide reliable information on animal metabolism in impact areas. With consideration of the data obtained, it is concluded that the state of mussels in polluted areas is impaired.     

Estimation of the maximal population frequency of “alien” biotypes taking into account a priori data

A method is described for calculating the probability that the percentage of alien biotypes is higher than a specified threshold (e.g., 5%) in a population in which a certain number of alien biotypes has been found preliminarily. The method is based on the Bayesian approach; it assumes that the researcher has preliminary (a priori) information on the frequency of these biotypes. This a priori information makes it possible to estimate the aforementioned probability more accurately than is possible with the use of the standard binomial estimation. The method is illustrated by the results of the estimation of cultivar purity in batches of stock and foundation seeds of spring barley with the use of protein markers.Translated from Ekologiya, No. 2, 2005, pp. 106–109.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Zhivotovsky, Pomortsev, Lyalina, Kalabushkin, Pukhalskii.     

臭氧活性炭工艺中卤乙酸生成潜能与相对分子质量分布关系的研究

通过臭氧生物活性炭和微曝气生物活性炭(O₃/BAC和micro-aeration/BAC)2套工艺研究其对不同相对分子质量有机物去除特点和不同相对分子量有机物生成的卤乙酸及其去除特性.结果表明,O₃/BAC工艺对相对分子质量区间>30×10³的有机物去除率超过90%.O₃/BAC与micro-aeration/BAC出水中,UV₂₅₄值表示相对分子质量<103的有机物超过50%,相对分子量区间在10×10³～30×10³的有机物占20%～30%;在O₃/BAC和微曝气/BAC工艺出水中,以相对分子质量<10³的有机物生成的卤乙酸最多,生成DCAA、TCAA、DBAA分别为97.00、38.55、2.10μg/L和104.00、42.75和2.92μg/L;采用各处理单元不同分子量有机物与氯反应生成的DCAA、TCAA、DBAA和THAAs与相对应的UV₂₅₄值进行线性拟合,相关系数分别为0.827、0.851 3、0.815 7和0.878.UV₂₅₄与臭氧生物活性炭处理工艺出水中的卤乙酸生成潜能具有较好的线性关系.     

恶臭物质的嗅觉阈值与致臭机理研究概况与展望

嗅阈值是表征气味物质特性的重要指标,对认识异味污染的形成机理、恶臭评估及污染控制有重要意义.围绕嗅阈值的测定方法、嗅阈值与分子结构的关系及复合臭气评估模型,论述国内外相关研究的概况,在指出现有研究不足的同时,提出有待解决的关键问题及重点研究内容.     

不同分子量的腐殖酸存在下2种无机砷的生物毒性效应研究

水环境中天然有机质会与砷形成络合物,进而影响砷的迁移、转化和生物毒性。研究利用超滤方法将腐殖酸(humic acid, HA)分为5个不同分子量的组分,以大型溞为受试生物,探究了不同分子量HA存在下砷对大型溞的毒性效应。结果表明,不同分子量的HA均缓解了As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)对大型溞的氧化应激损伤和细胞膜损伤,并降低了砷对MT的诱导量。其中1～30 k Da的HA对砷的缓解效果最好,1 k Da的HA毒性缓解效果最差,可能的原因是HA与砷的络合增加溶液中络合态砷的含量,而络合态砷难以进入细胞并被生物利用。不同分子量的HA对砷毒性的缓解差异与其跟砷的络合比例不同有关。     

快速溶剂萃取-分子筛脱水净化-气质联用法测土壤有机氯农药

用丙酮和正己烷(体积比为1∶1)作溶剂,在100℃和1 500 psi的压力下,用快速溶剂萃取仪从土壤中萃取出有机氯农药,用分子筛进行脱水和净化,GC-MS进行分析,对土壤中有机氯农药进行测定。方法的检出限为0.000 4~0.000 7 mg/kg,曲线的相关系数在0.998以上。对进口标准土进行测定,回收率为77.1%~105.2%,相对误差为-22.9%~5.2%,测定结果在证书允许误差范围内。用硅藻土制成高、中、低3个浓度级别的加标回收和精密度实验,加标回收率为84.3%~101.5%,相对标准偏差为0.6%~11.4%,表明方法准确可靠,方法用于实际土壤测定时发现土壤有不同程度的有机氯农药污染。     

Meta-analysis of the differential effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is a key factor for population survival and evolution. However, anthropogenic habitat disturbance can erode it, making populations more prone to extinction. Aiming to assess the global effects of habitat disturbance on plant genetic variation, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 92 case studies obtained from published literature. We compared the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant allelic richness and gene diversity (equivalent to expected heterozygosity) and tested whether such changes are sensitive to different life-forms, life spans, mating systems, and commonness. Anthropogenic disturbance had a negative effect on allelic richness, but not on gene diversity. Habitat fragmentation had a negative effect on genetic variation, whereas habitat degradation had no effect. When we examined the individual effects in fragmented habitats, allelic richness and gene diversity decreased, but this decrease was strongly dependent on certain plant traits. Specifically, common long-lived trees and self-incompatible species were more susceptible to allelic richness loss. Conversely, gene diversity decreased in common short-lived species (herbs) with self-compatible reproduction. In a wider geographical context, tropical plant communities were more sensitive to allelic richness loss, whereas temperate plant communities were more sensitive to gene diversity loss. Our synthesis showed complex responses to habitat disturbance among plant species. In many cases, the absence of effects could be the result of the time elapsed since the disturbance event or reproductive systems favoring self-pollination, but attention must be paid to those plant species that are more susceptible to losing genetic diversity, and appropriate conservation should be actions taken.     

Validation of Bacteroidales-based microbial source tracking markers for pig fecal pollution and their application in two rivers of North China

• Pig feces is the predominant excrement produced by animal husbandry in China. • The PF, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan MST assays showed better performance. • The pig-specific MST assays can contribute to managing the pig fecal pollution. In China, pig feces is the predominant source of excrement produced by animal husbandry. Improper use or direct discharge of pig feces can result in contamination of natural water systems. Microbial source tracking (MST) technology can identify the sources of fecal pollution in environmental water, and contribute to the management of pig fecal pollution by local environmental protection agencies. However, the accuracy of such assays can be context-dependent, and they have not been comprehensively evaluated under Chinese conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of five previously reported pig-specific MST assays (PF, Pig-Bac1^SYBR, Pig-Bac2^SYBR, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan, which are based on Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene markers) and apply them in two rivers of North China. We collected a total of 173 fecal samples from pigs, cows, goats, chickens, humans, and horses across China. The PF assay optimized in this study showed outstanding qualitative performance and achieved 100% specificity and sensitivity. However, the two SYBR green qPCR assays (Pig-Bac1^SYBR and Pig-Bac2^SYBR) cross-reacted with most non-pig fecal samples. In contrast, both the Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays gave 100% specificity and sensitivity. Of these, the Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assay showed higher reproducibility. Our results regarding the specificity of these pig-specific MST assays differ from those reported in Thailand, Japan, and America. Using the PF and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays, a field test comparing the levels of pig fecal pollution in rivers near a pig farm before and after comprehensive environmental pollution governance indicated that pig fecal pollution was effectively controlled at this location.     

Investigation on the interaction between triclosan and bovine serum albumin by spectroscopic methods

Abstract

Multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking methods were used to study the interaction between triclosan (TCS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results indicated that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by TCS was due to the formation of TCS–BSA complex through static quenching. This result was also demonstrated by time-resolved fluorescence experiment. The binding constants and number of binding sites between TCS and BSA were 1.30?×?10⁵ M^?1 and 1.17 at 298?K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters were studied in detail which suggested that hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bond played major roles in the TCS–BSA interaction. Moreover, the site marker competitive experiments and docking studies revealed that TCS could bind BSA into site I in subdomain IIA. All the results of UV–vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy showed that interaction between TCS and BSA induced conformation changes of BSA.