Accumulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the polychaete Paraprionospio sp. from the Yodo River mouth,Osaka Bay,Japan

This study presents the levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) accumulated by Paraprionospio sp. from the Yodo River mouth, Osaka Bay. Since high concentrations of nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BP), octylphenol (OP), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estrone (E1) have been measured in sediment from Osaka Bay, some bioaccumulation could be expected particularly in benthic animals. EDCs were analysed in Paraprionospio sp., a dominant benthic species in Osaka Bay. The results showed that Paraprionospio sp. had accumulated varying concentrations (wet weight; w.w.) of NP at 1,460–4,410 ng/g; BP at 22.5–39.6 ng/g; OP at 18.9–45.4 ng/g; E2 at 0.89–4.35 ng/g; and E1 at 0.06–2.50 ng/g. Accumulation of NP and OP were highest among the samples gathered in summer (July 2008), while concentrations of BP, E2, and E1 did not much differs within 3 years. EDC levels in Paraprionospio sp. were apparently greater than those in sediments showing bioaccumulation.     

Isolation and sequence of cDNA encoding a 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible cytochrome P450 from wild red sea bream,Pagrus major

We have isolated a cDNA clone of mRNA for the cytochrome P450 from a 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-treated red sea bream,Pagrus major, using a cDNA fragment for rat P4501A2 as a probe. The cloned cDNA is ca. 1.8 kb long and contains an open reading frame of 1545 nucleotides for polypeptides of 515 amino acids. The deduced N-terminal amino acid sequence of the cDNA is very similar to that for purified cytochrome P450 protein from the marine fish scup, which was reported previously (Klotz et al. 1983). A conserved amino acid sequence containing a putative heme-binding cysteine is present in the equivalent position proximate to the C-terminus of the molecules. The deduced amino acid sequence shows more than 50% positional identity with known members of the mammalian aromatic hydrocarbon-inducible P450 family. RNA blot analysis indicates that P450 mRNA (s) is expressed in the liver, kidney, gill and gut of the MC-treatedP. major.     

Successful outcome following prenatal intervention in a female fetus with bladder outlet obstruction

Bladder outlet obstructions are a diverse and heterogeneous group of developmental abnormalities that generally involve obstruction of the proximal urethra in the male fetus. Indications for prenatal intervention are few and are usually restricted to the male fetus because bladder outlet obstruction in female fetuses is usually caused by complex cloacal development anomalies. We report on a female fetus with an enlarged bladder and a dilated proximal urethra (known as typical keyhole sign). A vesicoamniotic shunt was performed despite non-reassuring prognostic factors, but the procedure resulted in a successful outcome. We propose that in selected cases of bladder outlet obstruction, fetal intervention should be considered even when the fetus is female. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital epulis by three-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

Congenital epulis is a benign intraoral tumor that has rarely been diagnosed prenatally. We report a fetus with congenital epulis diagnosed by three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 35 weeks' gestation. We show an image of congenital epulis using a new ultrasound technique, the 3-D multislice view, which shows images similar to CT or MRI. This is a short case report of congenital epulis diagnosed prenatally by 3-D ultrasound using multislice view and MRI. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction between Cu2+ and different types of surface-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron during their transport in porous media

This study investigated the interaction between Cu²⁺ and nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) coated with three types of stabilizers (i.e., polyacrylic acid [PAA], Tween-20 and starch) by examining the Cu²⁺ uptake, colloidal stability and mobility of surface-modified NZVI (SM-NZVI) in the presence of Cu²⁺. The uptake of Cu²⁺ by SM-NZVI and the colloidal stability of the Cu-bearing SM-NZVI were examined in batch tests. The results showed that NZVI coated with different modifiers exhibited different affinities for Cu²⁺, which resulted in varying colloidal stability of different SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu²⁺. The presence of Cu²⁺ exerted a slight influence on the aggregation and settling of NZVI modified with PAA or Tween-20. However, the presence of Cu²⁺ caused significant aggregation and sedimentation of starch-modified NZVI, which is due to Cu²⁺ complexation with the starch molecules coated on the surface of the particles. Column experiments were conducted to investigate the co-transport of Cu²⁺ in association with SM-NZVI in water-saturated quartz sand. It was presumed that a physical straining mechanism accounted for the retention of Cu-bearing SM-NZVI in the porous media. Moreover, the enhanced aggregation of SM-NZVI in the presence of Cu²⁺ may be contributing to this straining effect.     

Investigation of the hemolytic effects of various organophosphoric acid triesters (OPEs) and their structure‐activity relationship

The hemolytic effects of various organophosphonc acid triesters (OPEs) were investigated and they showed strong hemolyic toxicity except triethyl phosphate and tris(chloroethyl)phosphate. 2‐Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDP) showed the strongest toxicity. By quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) study, one‐parameter regression equation to estimate hemolysis was not obtained. But, two‐parameter regression equations were obtained which were enought to estimate EC₅₀ and EC₂₀. The correlation coefficients with the two‐parameter regression equations were 0.939 for log(l/EC₅₀) and 0.946 for log(l/EC₂₀).