Molecular level toxicological evaluation of a dental composite implanted in albino rats

Dental composite (DC) resins are synthetic resins which are used as restorative material or adhesives in dentistry. Monomers and other components released into the oral environment from the DC material even after polymerization might affect the surrounding tissues and even the whole body gradually. Biocompatibility of DC has to be stringently evaluated since the fillings are in close contact with mucosa, tooth, and pulp. Common difficulties with various current dental materials include allergies, chemical leakage from the material, and pulpal irritation which are due to the byproducts of chemical reactions during different stages of material hardening. Dental Products Laboratory of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology developed a new BIS-GMA-based DC. In this study the oxidative stress induced by this DC material in vivo was tested for a period of 1, 4, 8, 26, or 52 weeks in albino rats. Dental materials were implanted intramuscularly into the gluteus muscle and oxidative biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration, and total glutathione content analyzed. Data showed no significant changes in antioxidant defense system and 8-OHdG levels in nuclear DNA of the tissue. Serum biochemical results confirmed that animals were in normal functioning physiological state.     

太湖背角无齿蚌组织中8-羟基脱氧鸟苷的含量及在水体污染评价中的初步应用

对2003—2008年间采集自太湖不同水域的9个背角无齿蚌(Anodonta woodiana)样品组织中的DNA损伤产物—8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine,8-OHdG)的水平进行了分析,同时研究了蚌体组织中重金属Cd2+和有机污染物PCBs的蓄积残留量,以探明水体污染和DNA损伤的相关性。研究结果显示,9个样本中的8-OHdG的含量在1.021～8.886ng·g-1之间,尤其以无锡三山岛和宜兴大浦这2个水域的样本最为突出,差异显著,表明上述水域已受到较严重的污染。PCBs在9个样本中有7个检出,但含量无明显差异(P0.05),表明PCBs并非引起背角无齿蚌体内DNA损伤的主要污染因素。而背角无齿蚌组织中的Cd2+残留量与8-OHdG水平间存在显著的剂量—效应关系,呈正相关。这一结果与实验室内的模拟试验相吻合,提示重金属Cd2+是引起水体中背角无齿蚌DNA受损的主要污染因素。研究显示,背角无齿蚌机体组织中的8-OHdG具有稳定性强、测定方法简单快速、在一定的范围内具有显著的剂量—效应关系、实验室与野外分析相吻合等特点,因此可作为分子生物标志物来评价生物体受水环境持久性污染物污染而导致的DNA损伤效应。     

Management of prenatally detected trisomy 8 mosaicism

We report on ten pregnancies with trisomy 8 mosaicism. Nine cases were prenatally detected in chorionic villi (n=6), amniotic fluid (AF) cells (n=2) or fetal blood (FB) lymphocytes (n=1). Follow-up laboratory investigations showed confined placental mosaicism (CPM) or pseudomosaicism in eight cases. In one case with ultrasound abnormalities, trisomy 8 mosaicism was detected in FB cells although cultured AF cells showed normal cells only. Another case of mosaic trisomy 8 was prenatally missed; cytogenetic analysis of short-term cultured villi revealed a normal male karyotype, while postnatally, trisomy 8 mosaicism was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts of the affected child. These findings indicate the difficulties in the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 8 mosaicism. When found in chorionic villi, it mostly represented CPM, while in a case of true fetal trisomy 8 mosaicism, the cytotrophoblast cells showed a normal karyotype. So, the cytotrophoblast compartment of chorionic villi is a poor indicator of the presence or absence of fetal trisomy 8 mosaicism. Follow-up investigations including amniocentesis and especially fetal blood sampling are required to come to a definite prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 8 mosaicism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toxic effects of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide on the wheat seedlings

The toxic effects of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide ([C8mim]Br) on wheat seedlings were evaluated. Wheat seedlings were cultivated in aqueous solution with [C8mim]Br at di erent concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 mg/L). The contents of photosynthetic pigment and proline, peroxidation of membrane lipid, and activities of antioxidation enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase) in leaves were measured on day 7 after treatment with [C8mim]Br. The results showed that [C8mim]Br significantly decreased the contents of photosynthetic pigments, activities of antioxidant enzymes in the wheat leaves and in dry weight of seedlings, while increased the proline content and membrane lipid peroxidation. The results suggested that [C8mim]Br can inhibit photosynthesis and lead to oxidative stress to wheat seedlings.     

不同浓度甲醛致大鼠肝细胞DNA氧化损伤作用

为了探讨外源性化合物暴露致内脏细胞DNA氧化损伤程度的定量检测方法,尝试以8\|羟基脱氧鸟苷（8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG）为分子生物标志物,以甲醛为模式外源性化合物,以丙二醛（malondialdehyde, MDA）为参考指标,应用大鼠肝细胞悬液进行体外染毒实验研究.同时,实验设置甲醛染毒的终浓度分别为0、5、15、45μmol
83; L-1,在大鼠肝细胞悬液染毒1h后,分别测量了肝细胞悬液中的8-羟基脱氧鸟苷（8-OHdG）和丙二醛（MDA）含量.研究结果显示,随着甲醛浓度升高,大鼠肝细胞中8-OHdG和MDA含量均呈升高趋势（F=59.55,p<0.01;F=75.82,p<0.01）,高浓度组（45μmol
83;L-1）8-OHdG和MDA含量与对照组的差异均具有显著性（p<0.01）,中浓度组（15μmol
83;L-1）的这种差别也具有显著性（p<0.05, p<0.01）,低浓度组（5μmol
83;L-1）的这种差异没有显著性（p>0.05）.因此,8-OHdG不但可以用于血液和尿液样品的检测,而且采用本项研究摸索出的前处理方法可以很好地定量测定内脏细胞DNA氧化损伤的程度.     

介孔涂层SPME- HPLC联用测定水样中的多环芳烃

以辛基键合SBA- 15为固相微萃取(SPME)的吸附涂层,考察了吸附和解吸时间、萃取温度、搅拌速率对SPME效率的影响,该方法的线性范围分别为0.4-300μg/L、4.0-450μg/L,检出限为0.3μg/L、0.10μg/L,以此方法测定了环境水样中萘、蒽的含量.该方法具有灵敏度高和精密度好的特点.     

Social capital and food security in post-conflict rural Lira District,northern Uganda

While a strong relationship has been established between social capital and food security in the research literature, it is uncertain whether this holds in post-conflict situations. This study examines associations between social capital and food security in post-conflict Lira District, northern Uganda. Since factors affecting food security are complex, we explored the roles of households' characteristics in food security outcomes. Data were collected from March to July 2011 through face-to-face interviews with 221 heads of household in rural Lira. Using multinomial logistic regression, a strong positive association was identified between social capital and household food security. The study also found significant associations of food security with sex, education of household head, amount of cultivated land, and farm and home possessions. The results of this analysis can aid the design of food security programmes that empower poor people while targeting the most vulnerable groups, thereby promoting sustainable development in post-conflict communities.     

汶川8.0级地震都江堰市天然气系统震害分析及救灾过程

四川都江堰市地处龙门山主山前边界大断裂上,在汶川8.0级地震烈度分布图中属于Ⅸ度区,是地震受灾最严重的城市之一。作为城市生命线的天然气供应链在本次地震中遭遇了一定的破坏。通过对都江堰市天然气系统的基本构成、震害情况以及应急救灾过程等的调查与整理,对都江堰燃气系统中门站、CNG加气站、中压配气管网及低压配气支管各组成部分在地震中的震害情况进行了分析,对震后的应急处置措施、供气恢复策略及灾后重建工作进行了综述,总结了汶川地震中都江堰天然气系统的应灾经验及救灾环节中的不足之处,并就如何提高燃气系统的抗震应灾能力提出建议。     

汶川8.0级地震非承重墙体震害调查分析

通过对汶川8.0级地震发生后西安、成都地区(地震烈度为Ⅵ～Ⅶ度区)的高层建筑震害调查,以某小区震后建筑物非承重墙体裂缝为实例,给出了高层建筑震害易发生的部位和楼层,分析了非承重墙体裂缝产生的原因。震害调查表明:汶川地震中,在抗震设防烈度为Ⅵ～Ⅷ度区,当地震烈度为Ⅵ～Ⅶ度时,非承重墙抗震性能的表现不尽如人意。提出了应对非承重墙体制定设防目标,且非承重结构构件的抗震设防目标应与主体结构设防目标相适应,使建筑结构设计,对非承重墙的抗震设防有据可依,使灾后有可能对设计与施工的质量进行评估,通过有区别地加强非承重墙的抗震构造措施,减小建筑物的震害损失。     

城市有机垃圾焚烧烟气中氮氧化物生成特性的研究

本文对城市有机垃圾经模化后,在一小型固定床燃烧炉中进行了燃烧试验,研究了燃烧温度、炉内停留时间、过剩空气系数、垃圾粒径等因素对NOx生成的影响。研究表明,NOx在燃烧温度为600－800℃的范围内生成量最大,且随着停留时间的延长、过剩空气系数的增大、粒径的减少而增大。添加CaCO3、CaO对NOx的生成有不同程度的影响。