Prenatal diagnosis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung by fetal lung biopsy

A case of type III congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung was successfully diagnosed prenatally by fetal lung biopsy. We performed this procedure at 22 weeks of gestation, using a biopsy gun system under ultrasound guidance. The pregnancy was undisturbed by the procedure but as the condition was incompatible with life, an abortion was performed. The diagnosis was confirmed at post-mortem examination. Fetal lung biopsy appears to be a useful method for prenatal diagnosis of fetal lung disorders.     

Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex

We have earlier shown that radio frequency electromagnetic fields can cause significant leakage of albumin through the blood–brain barrier of exposed rats as compared to non-exposed rats, and also significant neuronal damage in rat brains several weeks after a 2 h exposure to a mobile phone, at 915 MHz with a global system for mobile communications (GSM) frequency modulation, at whole-body specific absorption rate values (SAR) of 200, 20, 2, and 0.2 mW/kg. We have now studied whether 6 h of exposure to the radiation from a GSM mobile test phone at 1,800 MHz (at a whole-body SAR-value of 13 mW/kg, corresponding to a brain SAR-value of 30 mW/kg) has an effect upon the gene expression pattern in rat brain cortex and hippocampus—areas where we have observed albumin leakage from capillaries into neurons and neuronal damage. Microarray analysis of 31,099 rat genes, including splicing variants, was performed in cortex and hippocampus of 8 Fischer 344 rats, 4 animals exposed to global system for mobile communications electromagnetic fields for 6 h in an anechoic chamber, one rat at a time, and 4 controls kept as long in the same anechoic chamber without exposure, also in this case one rat at a time. Gene ontology analysis (using the gene ontology categories biological processes, molecular functions, and cell components) of the differentially expressed genes of the exposed animals versus the control group revealed the following highly significant altered gene categories in both cortex and hippocampus: extracellular region, signal transducer activity, intrinsic to membrane, and integral to membrane. The fact that most of these categories are connected with membrane functions may have a relation to our earlier observation of albumin transport through brain capillaries.     

渤海江豚组织中钠,钙,锶,镁,磷,钾的研究

１９９０年，作者于辽东湾采集了１０头江豚标本，分别测定了其骨骼、皮肤、肌肉、肝脏、肺、肾、心、胃、肠、胰、脾、肾上腺及生殖腺等１３种组织中Ｃａ、Ｓｒ、Ｍｇ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｎａ６种元素的含量，详细分析了骨骼及其他各组织中的Ｃａ／Ｍｇ值、Ｃａ／Ｋ值、Ｃａ／Ｐ值、Ｃａ／Ｎａ值和Ｃａ／Ｓｒ×１００值。结果表明，Ｃａ、Ｓｒ、Ｍｇ、Ｐ，Ｋ在骨骼中累积率最高，钾在肌肉中具有高累积，Ｓｒ、Ｃａ在肌肉中累积率最低；Ｍｇ累积率最低的组织是生殖腺，Ｐ累积率最低的组织是肠，而Ｋ在骨骼中，Ｎａ在肌肉中的累积率均高于其他组织。分析结果还显示，Ｃａ／Ｍｇ值最高的是骨骼，最低为肌肉，Ｃａ／Ｐ值最高的是骨骼，最低的是肌肉和胰脏，Ｃａ／Ｋ值最高为骨骼，最低为脾Ｃａ／Ｓｒ×１００值最高为肺、最低为肠，而Ｋ／Ｎａ值最高为肌肉，最低为骨骼，在骨中Ｃａ／Ｐ值大约为１，类同于猫和人类。     

Relationship between abundance of rodents and damage to agricultural crops

Developing a relationship between pest abundance and damage to crops is essential for the calculation of economic injury levels (EIL) leading to informed management decisions. The crop modelling framework, APSIM, was used to simulate the impact of mouse damage on yield loss on wheat where a long-term dataset on the density of mice was available (1983–2003). The model was calibrated using results from field trials where wheat plants were hand clipped to imitate mouse damage. The grazing effect of mice was estimated using the population density, daily intake per mouse and the proportion of wheat grain and plant tissue in the diet to determine yield loss. The mean yield loss caused by mice was 12.4% (±5.4S.E.; range −0.5 to 96%). There were 7/21 years when yield loss was >5%. A damage/abundance relationship was constructed and a sigmoidal curve explained 97% of variation when accounting for different trajectories of mouse densities from sowing to harvest. The majority of damage occurred around emergence of the crop when mouse densities were >100 mice ha⁻¹. This is the first time that field data on mouse density and a crop simulation model have been combined to estimate yield loss. The model examines the efficacy of baiting and how to estimate EILs. Because the broadscale application of zinc phosphide is cheap and effective, the EIL is very low (<1% yield loss). The APSIM model is highly flexible and could be used for other vertebrate pests in a range of crops or pastures to develop density/damage relationships and to assist with management.     

Gelatin embedding and diagnostic ultrasound in the examination of the fetal and neonatal brain

We describe a new method for the post-mortem examination of the fetal central nervous system. The brain is immobilized in gelatin prior to ultrasonic examination. Correlation with prenatal ultrasound is excellent and subsequent pathological examination is enhanced and facilitated.     

SO2污染对小鼠骨髓细胞微核的诱发作用

在SO2吸入慢性染毒条件下,小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞（PCE）的微核细胞率与微核率均显著增加,且雌雄差异显著。结果也表明,SO2对阳性致突变剂乌拉坦航发微核的作用有显著抑制效应。本研究模拟SO2空气污染,从整体水平直接证实了SO2是哺乳类细胞染色体断裂剂、SO2与阳性致突变剂的联合作用是复杂的结论。     

Fun ride or risky transport: Golf cart-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments from 2007 through 2017

Introduction: Golf cart-related injuries constitute a substantial source of morbidity, most notably in pediatric populations. Despite the high rate of injuries, there have been no meaningful changes in golf cart design or legislation to reduce the overall burden of these injuries. This study sought to characterize the epidemiology of golf cart-related injuries treated in United States hospital emergency departments. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted by using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for patients of all ages who were treated in emergency departments (EDs) (2007–2017) for a golf cart-related injury. Results: From 2007 through 2017, an estimated 156,040 (95% CI = 102,402–209,679) patients were treated in U.S. EDs for golf cart-related injuries. The average rate of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in children (1.62 per 100,000 children) was more than three times that of TBIs in adults (0.52 per 100,000 adults; rate ratio = 2.38; 95% CI = 2.36–2.41) and nearly twice that of TBIs in seniors (1.11 per 100,000 seniors; rate ratio = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.19–1.22). The rate of injuries in seniors increased significantly by 67.6% from 4.81 per 100,000 seniors in 2007 to 8.06 per 100,000 seniors in 2017 (slope = 0.096; p = 0.041). Conclusions: Golf cart use remains an important source of injury for people of all ages, especially in children. As use continues to increase, it is unlikely that golf cart-related injuries will decrease without substantial changes to product design, regulation, and/or legislation. Practical Applications: Use of golf carts pose a considerable risk of injury and morbidity; safety recommendations should be followed.     

Brain myelination in rats treated with ionizing radiation in utero

Abstract

Effects of ionizing radiation on brain myelination and some physical development parameters were studied in laboratory rats (Fisher F‐344 inbred strain). Rats were treated with three different doses of radiation (150 rad, 15 rad, and 6.8 rad) delivered on the 20th day of prenatal life. Exposure to 150 rad reduced body, brain, ovary, kidney, heart and spleen weights. Prenatal exposure to 150 rad of radiation reduced the cerebral cortex weight by 22 percent at 30 days of age, and 20 percent at 52 days of age which caused a reduction in cerebral cortex myelin content by 20 and 23 percent at the ages of 30 and 52 days respectively. This dose did not affect the myelin content of the cerebellum or the brain stem, or the myelin concentration (mg myelin/g brain tissue) of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebral cortex weight of the 15 rad treated rats was reduced at the age of 30 days. Exposure to 15 rad, and 6.8 rad did not affect either the myelin content or the myelin concentration of these brain areas.     

镉胁迫对虾夷扇贝抗氧化防御系统的影响

实验研究了虾夷扇贝在96 h的急性毒性效应,以及不同浓度Cd2+(0,0.005,0.025,0.050,0.150和0.300 mg/L)对虾夷扇贝内脏团超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽-过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活力的影响,以探讨其用于污染暴露的生物标记的可行性。结果表明:虾夷扇贝96 h的LC50为1.73 mg/L;其95%的置信区间是1.58～1.90 mg/L;安全浓度为0.0173 mg/L。酶活力:0.025 mg/L及以上的各实验组SOD活力先上升后下降,在第3 d时达到峰值,与对照组呈显著差异(P<0.05);处理第6 d,各浓度组SOD活力有所下降,到第9 d时受到抑制;CAT活力在处理0.5 d时,0.025mg/L0、.150 mg/L和0.300 mg/L三个浓度组均受到显著诱导(P<0.05),处理第6 d时,各实验组酶活力开始受到抑制。两种酶对实验设计的Cd2+浓度反应敏感,呈现出"诱导-抑制"规律,对海洋Cd2+早期污染具有指示作用。GSH-PX对Cd2+污染没有SOD和CAT那样敏感,GSH-PX的各个实验组与对照组相比差异均不显著,因而它作为对海洋Cd2+早期污染指示物的意义不大。     

四溴双酚A在5种巢湖鱼类体内的组织分布与生物浓缩因子研究

利用SPE-HPLC法,分析了四溴双酚A（TBBPA）在巢湖5种经济鱼类体内的组织分布及生物浓缩因子.结果表明,TBBPA在5种鱼体内的平均含量（以干重计）为4.70～11.20 ng.g-1,高低排序为白鱼〉白鲢〉鳙鱼〉鲤鱼〉长吻鮠.不同器官中,白鱼、鳙鱼、鲤鱼和长吻鮠的肾脏中TBBPA含量最高,其次为肝脏和鳃,腹部和背部组织含量较低,无显著脂肪蓄积效应.白鲢体内肝脏的TBBPA含量最高,肾脏和鳃次之.对白鱼各组织中TBBPA含量与体重间的相关关系分析表明,肝脏、肾脏和鳃中TBBPA浓度随体重的增加而增大,而背部、腹部无显著相关关系.同时测得巢湖水体中TBBPA平均浓度为0.52μg.L-1,计算得到5种鱼的生物浓缩因子为9.56～22.64,表明TBBPA在巢湖鱼体中的浓缩效应不显著.