Biological effect monitoring in dab (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Limanda limanda</Emphasis>) using gene transcript of CYP1A1 or EROD—a comparison

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Gene expression analyses with real-time (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gains importance in marine monitoring. This new technique has to be compared to the classical approaches like the well known biomarker ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) to test their suitability for monitoring programmes. The goal of the present study is to compare EROD activity and CYP1A1 mRNA expression in the important monitoring fish species dab (Limanda limanda) and to answer the question of whether these parameters reflect the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination of the fish. Further on, glyceraldehyd-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was investigated as a potential housekeeping gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female dab were caught in the summer of 2004 in the North Sea and in the Baltic. EROD activity was determined in liver samples by a kinetic fluorimetric assay according to a standard protocol. The gene expression of CYP1A (cytochrome P450 1A) and GAPDH were determined by means of RT-PCR. Results were compared to gonado somatic index and to the concentration of PAH metabolite 1OHPyr (1-hydroxypyrene) analysed in the bile fluids of the fish, respectively. RESULTS: Dab from all stations showed a considerable individual variation in the levels of both CYP1A mRNA and EROD. Highest mean values for CYP1A mRNA and EROD were detected in the northern part of the sampling area. In contrast, the PAH metabolite 1OHPyr was found at the highest concentration in fish caught near the German coast. CYP1A mRNA and EROD showed only a minor but significant correlation (r = 0.32, p < 0.05, n = 123). 1OHPyr in bile correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with the amount of GAPDH mRNA content in the liver. DISCUSSION: The significant but low correlation of CYP1A mRNA and EROD activity on an individual basis illustrates that these two parameters are apparently not closely linked. However, maximum EROD values correspond with maximum CYP1A mRNA concentrations when station means are regarded. Because EROD and CYP1A mRNA in dab follow different physiological principles, their application will lead to related but not identical monitoring results. This should be taken into account when future marine monitoring programmes are designed. The results also indicate that PAH are not the crucial factor for CYP1A and EROD levels in dab from the off-shore areas in the North Sea. This is remarkable because the PAH metabolism is known to be CYP1A-dependent and the widely used biomarker EROD has been recommended for monitoring PAH-related effects in fish from the North Sea. Due to a correlation between GAPDH and 1OHPyr, GAPDH was not suitable as housekeeping gene for dab. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the results from EROD nor from CYP1A1 mRNA measurements in dab reflected their exposure to PAH as measured by the PAH metabolite 1OHPyr. Thus, the question arises of whether EROD or CYP1A mRNA is a suitable biomarker at all to indicate PAH exposure in dab from the open North Sea. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: For future biological effect monitoring, it is advisable to measure more and predominately independent parameters by RT-PCR and to incorporate more components of the detoxification system.     

Prenatal diagnosis in three cases of iniencephaly with unusual postmortem findings

Iniencephaly is a rare and lethal congenital malformation of the neural tube characterized by occipital bone defect, cervical dysraphism, fixed retroflexion of the fetal head and severe lordosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The etiology is unknown. Prenatally diagnosed cases of iniencephaly are rare because careful and early ultrasonographic evaluation is necessary. We present three cases of iniencephaly prenatally diagnosed by sonography at 20–22 weeks' gestation in which therapeutic abortion was induced. The sonographic findings were compatible with the postmortem findings. The present cases of iniencephaly were found to carry unusual associated malformations such as two lobes in the right lung and chorangiosis of the placenta. Only hypoplastic lungs have been reported by previous authors. We also studied the 677C→T mutation on the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in the parents in one of the present cases. The mother was found to be heterozygous for the 677CT polymorphism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

关于综合成形指标F值的评价

简要介绍了 F_(81)、F_(835)、F_(838)、F_(881)和F_(882)的定义及测试方法,并用具体数据加以说明。F 值是薄钢板的成形性优劣性指标,具有方向性。其中,F_(81)在评定不同板厚、不同冲压级别的薄钢板成形性能时,显得更为敏感;而F_(83)系列(包括 F_(881)、F_(882)),由于采用同一结构形式的公式,只是因 A 的测试方法不同,对 F 值有微小的影响。F_(88)测试方法简便、准确并易于实现自动化,具有在大生产中应用的前景。     

Differences in Evaporation Between a Floating Pan and Class A Pan on Land1

Abstract: Research was conducted to develop a method for obtaining floating pan evaporation rates in a small (less than 10,000 m²) wetland, lagoon, or pond. Floating pan and land pan evaporation data were collected from March 1 to August 31, 2005, at a small natural wetland located in the alluvium of the Canadian River near Norman, Oklahoma, at the U.S. Geological Survey Norman Landfill Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Site. Floating pan evaporation rates were compared with evaporation rates from a nearby standard Class A evaporation pan on land. Floating pan evaporation rates were significantly less than land pan evaporation rates for the entire period and on a monthly basis. Results indicated that the use of a floating evaporation pan in a small free‐water surface better simulates actual physical conditions on the water surface that control evaporation. Floating pan to land pan ratios were 0.82 for March, 0.87 for April, 0.85 for May, 0.85 for June, 0.79 for July, and 0.69 for August.     

美洲商陆和籽粒苋对接种伯克氏菌的生理生化响应及其对富集铯的影响

利用盆栽试验研究一株具有重金属耐性的伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia sp.D54)对美洲商陆和籽粒苋生长及对铯富集的影响.结果表明,接种菌株D54,美洲商陆和籽粒苋总干物重分别比对照处理增加19.8%～33.4%和22.9%～76.6%,美洲商陆和籽粒苋地上部铯含量分别增加4.9%～22.4%和8.1%～19.4%,根中铯含量分别增加6.8%～15.7%和1.1%～10.8%.同时,接种微生物还增加了植物对钾的吸收,提高供试植物的光合反应速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用率,增加铯胁迫条件下植物的抗氧化酶CAT、POD、SOD的活性,降低了MDA的含量.     

城市污水处理厂内分泌干扰物浓度分布和去除规律

采集南方某城市3个污水处理厂进出水及各工艺单元的水样,通过固相萃取-衍生化过程对水样进行预处理,并用气相色谱-质谱联用仪定量检测水样中的17α-雌二醇(17α-E2)、雌酮(E1)、雌二醇(E2)、雌炔醇(EE2)、雌三醇(E3)、辛基酚(OP)、正壬基酚(NP)和双酚A(BPA)等8种内分泌干扰物(EDCs).连续4个季度的分析结果显示,3个污水厂进出水及各工艺单元中均有EDCs检出,EE2和BPA是含量最高的两种EDCs,出水中最高浓度分别达到498.9ng.L-1和2652.5ng.L-1,其他6种EDCs浓度均不超过100ng.L-1;生物处理工艺对EE2、E3、NP、OP和BPA有较高的去除率,平均去除率约为57%～85%,但对于E1、E2和17α-E2的去除率较低且不稳定;一级处理工艺对EDCs仅有低于18%的去除率;紫外辐照消毒工艺对EDCs的去除没有明显效果;EDCs浓度季节差异显著,由于雨水的稀释作用,旱季浓度约为雨季的2.5～7.8倍.本文对于了解我国南方地区污水处理工艺中EDCs类物质的分布和转化特点有一定的参考意义.     

乙腈和正己烷对环境特征污染物免疫传感分析的影响

利用前期研发的倏逝波全光纤免疫传感系统,使用间接竞争免疫模式对双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)进行了定量分析,其检测灵敏度可达0.2μg·L~(-1),线性检测区间为0.3~33.4μg·L~(-1).重点考察了乙腈和正己烷两种常用有机溶剂对双酚A免疫传感分析的影响,初步探讨了有机溶剂对免疫传感分析的影响机制.结果表明,正己烷含量高达10%都不会对双酚A免疫传感分析产生明显影响,而乙腈的影响比较大.当乙腈含量较低时,可用于双酚A的定量检测;而当乙腈含量较高时,可完全抑制均相溶液中抗体抗原之间的亲和反应,不能用于双酚A的定量分析.其原因可能是乙腈取代了一部分结合在抗体表面的水分子,导致抗体构象改变或者抗体与抗原的亲和力变化而造成的.     

电磁波加载回流污泥对A2O厌氧池功能的影响

基于电磁波加载污泥的生物效应和溶出效应,将A²O系统的回流污泥进行电磁波加载,以期从微生物群落结构变化角度考察其对系统中厌氧池功能的影响.结果表明,电磁波加载回流污泥后,污泥絮体分解,细胞破壁;回流污泥中C、N、P的溶出效应显著.与加载前对比,厌氧池中TP富集效果更明显,富集率由122.9%增至152.2%;TN、COD去除率分别由7.3%、58.8%上升为32.1%和65.4%.MiSeq焦磷酸测序分析表明,回流污泥经电磁波加载后,厌氧池微生物群落的丰度增加,但其微生物多样性降低.碳源得到补充,厌氧池中微生物的代谢活性明显提高,活菌数量增加.厌氧池中富集了Zoogloea、Tolumonas、Dechloromonas等菌属.     

四溴双酚A和镉复合污染对不同生物体的安全阈值

以赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）、斑马鱼（Zebrafish）作为受试生物,进行急性毒性试验,死亡率、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）为效应指标,采用基准剂量（BMD）法推导四溴双酚A （TBBPA）和镉（Cd）单一及联合暴露对不同生物体的安全阈值.结果表明,在本研究的试验剂量范围内,蚯蚓、斑马鱼TBBPA、Cd暴露剂量与死亡率、SOD、CAT活性效应指标存在明显剂量-效应关系.单一暴露下,CAT、SOD活性指标最敏感,蚯蚓和斑马鱼的TBBPA安全阈值分别为0.95,0.44mg/L,Cd安全阈值分别为71.17,0.42mg/L.联合暴露下安全阈值小于单一暴露.蚯蚓、斑马鱼TBBPA安全阈值分别为0.33,0.024mg/L,Cd为6.45,0.176mg/L.