PBPK模型在苯并[α]芘健康风险评估中的应用探讨

苯并[α]芘〔benzo[α]pyrene,BaP〕是环境中广泛存在的一种致癌多环芳烃,带来的健康风险受到普遍关注. 基于生理的药代动力学(physiologically based pharmacokinetic, PBPK)模型是一种预测污染物在生物体内部剂量的数学模型,近年来在健康风险评估中应用广泛. 本文介绍了BaP对生物体的健康危害,概述了BaP的PBPK模型研究进展,指出了BaP人体PBPK模型存在BaP及代谢物的代谢机理尚未完全明确、代谢参数可靠性不高、模型还需继续完善等问题,并探讨了PBPK模型在BaP健康风险评估中的应用. 一方面,PBPK模型在阐明内暴露监测结果及补充完善污染物在人体内的代谢机理方面具有明显优势,基于PBPK模型分析完善了BaP生物标志物3-羟基苯并[α]芘在肾小管重吸收的肾脏排泄机制;另一方面,PBPK模型作为外推工具,通过种间外推可以量化污染物的种间药代动力学差异,减小动物健康剂量水平外推至人体基准值的不确定性;通过体外到体内的外推可以关联内外暴露剂量,利用反剂量学推导人体健康基准值. 这两种外推方法的应用均可以提高人体健康基准值推导的科学性、准确性. 并以BaP为例剖析了PBPK模型不确定性来源,提出了提高模型精确性的方法. 最后,为了进一步推动完善BaP的人体健康风险评估方法体系,本文探讨总结了3个重点研究方向:一是探索PBPK模型应用于BaP健康风险评估的方法体系;二是探索可靠性更高的BaP健康风险评估概率模型;三是开展BaP的生物标志物用于人体健康风险评估可行性研究.      

我国新化学物质生态风险评价数据外推技术探讨

在进行新化学物质生态环境效应评价时,需应用毒理学数据外推得出环境预测无效应浓度(PNEC),国外通常使用的外推法有评价系数法和统计外推法. 着重分析了国外进行新化学物质生态风险评价主要采用的数据外推技术,并提出我国开展新化学物质生态环境风险评价推荐使用评价系数外推法. 针对不同环境系统的测试终点外推系数,其推荐值分别确定为:水生系统,1 000,100,50和10;陆生系统,1 000,100,50和10;沉积物系统,100,50和10;污水处理系统微生物,100,10和1;次生毒性,3 000,300,90和30.      

Hyperechoic fetal bowel: The perinatal consequences

A number of publications have reported an association between the finding of hyperechoic fetal bowel on prenatal sonogram and disorders such as aneuploidy and cystic fibrosis. To define more precisely the significance of this finding, we systematically reviewed the published material on the subject. Based on a total of 357 reported cases, we documented a high prevalence of cystic fibrosis (25·6 per cent) and chromosome abnormality (12·4 per cent) associated with increased bowel echogenicity in the fetus. High rates of intrauterine growth retardation (14·9 per cent), fetal demise (9·0 per cent), and prematurity (15·3 per cent) were also found. The data were obtained from a population at high a priori risk for aneuploidy and included fetuses at 1 in 4 risk for cystic fibrosis reported in two studies. This increased the bias towards an adverse outcome. The rate of complications when a hyperechoic abdomen is noted in a low-risk fetal population has so far not been delineated. Although the high frequency of complications found is of concern and warrants investigation, extrapolation of these risk figures to a fetal population at low a priori risk may not be appropriate.     

Ionizing radiation for maternal medical indications

Ionizing radiation should be considered an avoidable exposure although all pregnant women receive some radiation from their environment. The potential effect of ionizing radiation on the fetus is determined by the dose and the timing of the exposure with growing interest in the potential risks of transgenerational effects of radiation as an epigenetic phenomenon. High dosage exposure is very unlikely in routine situations such as occupational, diagnostic, or therapeutic exposures. Individual diagnostic radiation procedures (fetal dosage <50 mGy), are not associated with any increase in lethality (miscarriage or stillbirth), genetic damage, teratogenicity, growth impairment, mental retardation, or sterility. More recent modeling has suggested that a 10 mGy fetal dose is associated with an excess risk of childhood cancer risk as low as 1 in 4545, well below historical estimates.When the mother's condition necessitates diagnostic radiation it is necessary to balance the risks of the procedure with the benefits to be gained. As almost all diagnostic imaging involves doses below the 50 mGy threshold, clinically indicated investigations should not be withheld because of concerns regarding fetal radiation exposure. Even radiotherapy directed away from the abdomen or pelvis may be considered during pregnancy, if the benefits outweigh the risks and no suitable alternative is available.     

Implications of 'low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels: Are maternal age risk criteria obsolete?

An association has been reported between “low” maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) and fetal chromosome abnormalities, notably Down syndrome. We suggest the predictive value be used for genetic counselling when a “low” MSAFP is found, and present an illustrative risk table. It can also be seen that normal MSAFP in a woman may lower her age-related risks below that previously defined as “high risk”. However, until good estimates of sensitivity and specificity are available from prospective, population based studies, patients should be told that any risk estimates are rough approximations. When good estimates are available, use of age risks alone may become obsolete.     

Neue Ergebnisse zur Linearität der Dosis/Wirkung-Beziehung strahleninduzierter Mutationen

Mutations induced by ionizing radiation in germ cells may affect future generations; mutations induced in somatic cells may damage the irradiated persons themselves, because radiation carcinogenesis is assumed to result from genetic damage induced in somatic cells. Since we are exposed mainly to low doses of ionizing radiation, both from natural and artificial sources, especially the dose dependence of radiation-induced mutations in the low-dose range is of interest. A review of recent studies on the induction of mutations by X-rays in human cells (in vitro) favors the hypothesis that in the low-dose range the dose dependence is linear, without a "threshold."     

Incidence of fetal chromosome abnormalities in 2264 low-risk women

Among a population of 6305 pregnant women, aged 25 to 34 years and estimated to be at no increased risk of genetic disease in the fetus, 4606 women participated in a randomized controlled trial of genetic amniocentesis between 1980 and 1984. In the study group having amniocentesis (2264 women), 23 fetal chromosome abnormalities (1.0 per cent) were found: eight autosomal aneuploidies, seven sex chromosome aneuploidies, seven balanced structural rearrangements and one case of a marker some. The structural rearrangements and the marker chromosome were all shown to be inherited. The study group seemed representative for the whole population of younger women at low genetic risk. Therefore, a 1.0 per cent total rate of fetal chromosome abnormalities, consisting of one-third autosomal aneuploidies, one-third sex chromosome aneuploidies and one-third structural rearrangements, may be expected in the second trimester in younger low-risk women. In the same period of time, 562 women in the same age group were offered amniocentesis because of an estimated increased risk of fetal genetic disease. The total rate of fetal chromosome abnormality in this ‘high-risk’ group was 0.9 per cent and thus no different from the rate in the low-risk group.     

Minimum Infective Dose of the Major Human Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Transmitted Through Food and the Environment

Viruses are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Determining the minimum dose of virus particles that can initiate infection, termed the minimum infective dose (MID), is important for the development of risk assessment models in the fields of food and water treatment and the implementation of appropriate infection control strategies in healthcare settings. Both respiratory and enteric viruses can be shed at high titers from infected individuals even when the infection is asymptomatic. Presence of pre-existing antibodies has been shown to affect the infectious dose and to be protective against reinfection for many, but not all viruses. Most respiratory viruses appear to be as infective in humans as in tissue culture. Doses of <1 TCID₅₀ of influenza virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus were reported to infect 50% of the tested population. Similarly, low doses of the enteric viruses, norovirus, rotavirus, echovirus, poliovirus, and hepatitis A virus, caused infection in at least some of the volunteers tested. A number of factors may influence viruses’ infectivity in experimentally infected human volunteers. These include host and pathogen factors as well as the experimental methodology. As a result, the reported infective doses of human viruses have to be interpreted with caution.     

Preimplantation diagnosis: A patient perspective

A new dimension in the prevention of birth defects will be achieved when genetic diseases can be routinely diagnosed in embryos prior to implantation. The impressions and attitudes towards preimplantation diagnosis were studied in prospective patients, women at high reproductive risk for a genetic disease. Their perspective highlighted not only the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach, but also those changes necessary in order for preimplantation diagnosis to become a useful and practical technique. The data presented are based on information obtained by a mailed questionnaire answered by 58 women. The main benefit of preimplantation diagnosis for these high-risk women would be the ability to undertake a pregnancy without having to be subjected to the physical and/or emotional trauma of elective termination. Their major concerns related to possible damage to the embryo following biopsy, the cost of the procedure, and the low success rate of completed pregnancies. Other issues to be addressed before preimplantation diagnosis could begin to compare favourably with existing forms of prenatal testing were that the methods of obtaining oocytes or embryos should be simple, well tolerated, highly efficient, and low in maternal risk, and that the genetic analysis of embryonic or extraembryonic cells should be unequivocally accurate.     

Second trimester ultrasound screening for chromosomal abnormalities

The use of prenatal ultrasound has proven efficacious for the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities. The first sonographic sign of Down syndrome, the thickened nuchal fold, was first described in 1985. Since that time, multiple sonographically-identified markers have been described as associated with Down syndrome. The genetic sonogram, involving a detailed search for sonographic signs of aneuploidy, can be used to both identify fetuses at high risk for aneuploidy and, when normal, can be used to decrease the risk for aneuploidy for a pregnancy when no sonographic markers are identified. Combining the genetic sonogram with maternal serum screening may be the best method of assessing aneuploidy risk for women who desire such an assessment in the second trimester. Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, and triploidy are typically associated with sonographically identified abnormalities and have a high prenatal detection rate. The use of the described sonographic signs in low-risk women requires further investigation, however, patients at increased risk for aneuploidy due to advanced maternal age or abnormal serum screening can benefit from a genetic sonogram screening for sonographic signs of aneuploidy to adjust their baseline risk of an affected fetus. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Die Strahlengefahr — realistisch gesehen

It is evident that ionizing radiation at high doses is able to damage living organisms and may induce cancer and leukemia in man. At low doses, however, biopositive effects appear possible too, for which examples are given. The mechanism of such effects can be explained as a general stimulation of the natural immune system. In conclusion, radiation at low doses is thus not as dangerous as often assumed but is rather essential for life and the maintenance of health.     

Quantifizierung des chemogenetischen Risikos

Associated with technical advances of our civilization is the possibility of an increase of radiation- and chemically induced germ-cell mutations in man. This would result in an increase in the frequency of genetic diseases and would be detrimental to future generations. It is the duty of our generation to keep this risk as low as possible. In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to identify, evaluate and quantify the genetic risk of chemical mutagens. The possibilities and the shortcomings of the quantification of radiation- and chemically induced mutations are discussed. The discrepancy between the high safety standards for radiation protection and the low level of knowledge for the toxicological evaluation of chemicals is emphasized.     

Getting ready for the manned mission to Mars: the astronauts’ risk from space radiation

Space programmes are shifting towards planetary exploration and, in particular, towards missions by human beings to the Moon and to Mars. Radiation is considered to be one of the major hazards for personnel in space and has emerged as the most critical issue to be resolved for long-term missions both orbital and interplanetary. The two cosmic sources of radiation that could impact a mission outside the Earth’s magnetic field are solar particle events (SPE) and galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Exposure to the types of ionizing radiation encountered during space travel may cause a number of health-related problems, but the primary concern is related to the increased risk of cancer induction in astronauts. Predictions of cancer risk and acceptable radiation exposure in space are extrapolated from minimal data and are subject to many uncertainties. The paper describes present-day estimates of equivalent doses from GCR and solar cosmic radiation behind various shields and radiation risks for astronauts on a mission to Mars.     

预氯化对铝盐混凝铜绿微囊藻过程中溶解性有机物和残余铝的影响

以铜绿微囊藻为对象,研究了预氯化过程中藻胞内代谢物释放及铝盐混凝除藻过程中残留铝的变化规律.结果表明,氯投量对胞内物质释放量和释放有机物特征有重要影响.与未投加氯的对照体系相比,在较低氯投量时(1~2 mg·L-1),水中有机物浓度升高26%~31%,UV254值升高46%~49%,且有机物主要为中等分子量(2191、2830和3168 Da)和高芳香度的有机物.增大氯投量至3~4 mg·L-1,水中有机物浓度和UV254值有所下降;就不同分子量有机物而言,大分子量有机物(16304 Da)浓度升高而中等分子量有机物(2830、3168和6163 Da)浓度下降,且出现少量小分子量有机物(180 Da).分子量较大或芳香度较高的溶解性有机物在铝盐混凝中可被优先去除.释放到水中的蛋白质能与铝盐形成可溶性蛋白质-混凝剂复合物,从而导致出水铝浓度升高,但增大铝投量可在一定程度上降低残留铝浓度.     

三峡库区主要水域典型抗生素分布及生态风险评估

为评价三峡库区主要水域典型抗生素的污染状况和生态风险,利用固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱联用法（SPE-HPLC-MS/MS）,分析三峡库区长江干流和6条支流表层水体中6类28种抗生素的质量浓度,根据欧盟环境风险评价方法计算RQ_S（风险商值）及RQ_sum（联合风险商值）,并按照Hernando等提出评级方法评价研究区域的生态风险等级.结果表明:三峡库区7条河流共检出4类10种抗生素,质量浓度范围为0.6~218.0 ng/L,其中除OFX（氧氟沙星）和CAP（氯霉素）外,其余8种[SDI（磺胺嘧啶）、SMX（磺胺甲唑）、SMZ（磺胺二甲嘧啶）、ERM（红霉素）、ROM（罗红霉素）、TYL（泰乐菌素）、FF（氟苯尼考）、LIN（林可霉素）]均为畜禽药品,并且FF、LIN在我国畜禽药品中使用量排名居前五位.7条河流抗生素RQ_sum由高到低依次为濑溪河>琼江>綦江>碧溪河>嘉陵江>长江>乌江,其中,濑溪河RQ_sum高达5.532,SMX、ERM和OFX均为高风险,说明其对濑溪河水体中相应的水生生物表现出较高的毒性风险;琼江、綦江、碧溪河和嘉陵江的RQ_sum均处于1~2之间,表现出较高生态风险,但4条河流检出抗生素的单个RQ_S均小于1,处于低风险;长江的RQ_sum为0.605,检出抗生素中TYL、ERM和ROM处于中风险,其余为低风险;乌江的RQ_sum为0.013,检出抗生素均处于低风险,说明水体受人类活动干扰最小.研究显示,三峡库区主要水域中抗生素含量略低于其他水域,但应进一步强化对畜禽养殖行业抗生素使用的监管,开展畜禽粪污还田技术规范中抗生素含量限制的相关研究.      

The role of DNA microarrays in the evaluation of fetal death

Fetal death occurs in 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Cytogenetic abnormalities are present in 50% of spontaneous abortions (fetal deaths < 20 weeks) whereas the rate is 6% to 13% for stillbirths (fetal deaths ≥ 20 weeks). Microarray has been demonstrated to increase the diagnosis of genetic abnormalities by providing coverage of the entire genome at a higher density, detecting as small as 50 to 100 kb deletions or duplications, known as copy number changes. Microarray is particularly suited for evaluation of fetal death because DNA can still be analyzed in macerated fetuses and nonviable tissue, two situations where culturing and karyotyping is known to have low yield. Microarray has already proven successful in providing additional genetic information beyond karyotype in spontaneous abortion. The few studies on the use of microarray in stillbirth evaluation have been promising, demonstrating an increase in the diagnosis of clinically relevant genetic abnormalities when compared with karyotype. As the cost and technology improve, microarray may ultimately become the first line screen for genetic abnormalities in stillbirth. The accurate diagnosis of a genetic abnormality as the cause for fetal death may provide closure for families, prevent unnecessary treatments, and enable clinicians to more accurately counsel and manage subsequent pregnancies. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Current knowledge of prenatal diagnosis of mosaic autosomal trisomy in amniocytes: karyotype/phenotype correlations

Genetic counseling for prenatal diagnosis of autosomal trisomy is complex because of the uncertainty of outcome, which is important for management decisions. Compilation of cases of prenatally diagnosed autosomal trisomies in amniocytes has been done previously in an attempt to elucidate the clinical phenotype of these pregnancies. It has been greater than a decade since these studies were completed. To update this work, we reviewed cases reported in the literature since that time. These cases are correlated with the prior reports to increase knowledge about outcomes and to hopefully improve the data available for genetic counseling. The risk of abnormal outcome can be summarized as: very high risk (>60%) for 47,+2/46; 47,+9/46; 47,+16/46; 47,+20/46; and 47,+22/46; high risk (40–59%) for 47,+5/46; 47,+14/46; and 47,+15/46; moderately high risk (20–39%) for 47,+7/46 47,+12/46; and 47,+17/46; moderate risk (up to 19%) for 47,+6/46 and 47,+8/46, and none were low risk. 47,+6/46 was originally indeterminate, 47,+7/46 was originally moderate risk, 47,+9/46 was originally high risk, and 47,+17/46 was originally low risk. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal exclusion of X-linked hydrocephalus-stenosis of the aqueduct of sylvius sequence using closely linked DNA markers

X-linked hydrocephalus-stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius sequence (H-SAS, MIM number 307 000) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hydrocephalus, macrocephaly, adducted thumbs, spasticity, mental retardation, and cerebral malformations. This regularly lethal condition is usually diagnosed at birth or prenatally by ultrasound, but hydrocephalus may be moderate or even undetectable on fetal ultrasound examination. Moreover, since heterozygous women are asymptomatic, carrier detection is at present impossible before the birth of an affected son. Therefore, mapping the H-SAS locus to distal Xq (Xq28) was of primary importance for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. Here, we report prenatal exclusion of H-SAS with a probability of 97.6 per cent in two male fetuses with a 50 per cent a priori risk of being affected using closely linked Xq28 DNA markers.     

Maternal genetic disorders and fetal development

With improvements in early diagnosis and management of genetic diseases, more women with genetic disorders are reaching reproductive age and becoming pregnant. While pregnancy can have a significant impact on a woman's health when there is an underlying genetic disorder, there can also be fetal effects, including embryopathy, fetal growth restriction, and brain injury. Some maternal genetic disorders are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including a high risk of perinatal loss and preterm birth. In this article, we review several maternal genetic disorders associated with fetal risk that are important for clinicians and patients to understand and manage appropriately. These include phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency and other inborn errors of metabolism, tuberous sclerosis complex, myotonic dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, Turner syndrome, sickle cell disease, and connective tissue disorders.     

Mating behaviour in a slave-making ant, Rossomyrmex minuchae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The mating behaviour of the ant Rossomyrmex minuchae, a rare, protected slave-making species in Spain, seems to be significantly affected by its particular life history and patchy habitat. The mating behaviour of the entire genus Rossomyrmex is virtually unknown. We present here the results of a 3-year study of mating behaviour in R. minuchae.Behavioural observations and limited nest excavations revealed that R. minuchae does not produce sexuals every year, the number of sexuals is low, and the sex ratio tends to be female biased. Females typically exhibit two distinct activity periods. The first, the mating period, takes place in early afternoon: the ants call near the natal nest, mate and then return to their nest. The second, the dispersal period takes place in late afternoon: the mated females exit their nest and fly in search of a new, non-parasitized Proformica longiseta host nest. Males are highly active during the mating period, but will remain inactive in the dispersal period even if experimentally presented with virgin females. It appears that females are monogamous, while males are polygamous. When males are late arriving at the female calling site, the females will frequently congregate presumably calling in chorus.The low reproductive efficiency exhibited by R. minuchae, coupled with the postulated low genetic variation in the population, as sisters may mate with the same male, could result in a low survival rate and risk of eventual extinction. The observed decrease in nest density we observed during the 2004 season may be indicative of such a process.