Ultrastructure of first trimester chorionic villi with regard to the prenatal diagnosis of genodermatoses

Hopes are held out for chorion villus sampling, a technique which is gaining more and more importance for the first trimester prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aberrations and metabolic abnormalities. A variety of inherited skin diseases can be diagnosed postnatally and prenatally (in the second trimester) by ultrastructural diagnostic markers. For evaluation of prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester, we investigated chorionic villi derived from the trophoblast layer of the early pregnancy by light microscopy and conventional electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of the cellular layers covering the villi, i.e., the inner cytotrophoblast and the outer syncytiotrophoblast, as well as that of the connective tissue of the inner extraembryonic mesoderm, are thoroughly described in relation to the ultra-structural changes in certain genodermatoses including epidermolyses and keratinization disorders. We found that chorionic villi have only a few of the characteristics differentiated in skin, and none of the structures which are relevant to the diagnosis of genodermatoses. In our view, the ultrastructural approach is not suitable for first trimester prenatal diagnosis of genodermatoses in chorionic villi.     

Skin lipids of the striped plateau lizard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sceloporus virgatus</Emphasis>) correlate with female receptivity and reproductive quality alongside visual ornaments

Sex pheromones can perform a variety of functions ranging from revealing the location of suitable mates to being honest signals of mate quality, and they are used in the mate selection process by many species of reptile. In this study, we determined whether the skin lipids of female striped plateau lizards (Sceloporus virgatus) can predict the reproductive quality of females, thereby having the potential to serve as pheromones. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we identified 17 compounds present in skin lipids of female lizards. Using principal component analysis to compare the skin lipid profile of receptive and non-receptive females, we determined that an uncharacterized compound may allow for chemical identification of receptive mates. We also compared extracted principal components to measures of female fitness and reproductive qualities and found that the level of two 18 carbon fatty acids present in a female’s skin lipids may indicate her clutch size. Finally, we compared the information content of the skin lipids to that of female-specific color ornaments to assess whether chemical and visual cues transmit different information or not. We found that the chroma of a female’s orange throat patch is also related to her clutch size, suggesting that chemical signals may reinforce the information communicated by visual ornamentation in this species which would support the “backup signals” hypothesis for multiple signals.     

Prenatal diagnosis of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

This paper reports on successful prenatal diagnosis of X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) by means of light and electron microscopy on fetal skin biopsies obtained under fetoscopy. In the present family two brothers of the proband were severely affected with the full symptomatology of AED, the pregnant female and her mother revealed minor symptoms with patches of skin lacking vellus hair. Control of lesional skin of the affected family members by electron microscopy revealed no ultrastructural abnormalities. However, all biopsies lacked skin appendages including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. The lack of pilosebaceous follicles can be used as a diagnostic criterion since these structures are fully developed in normal fetuses of 20 weeks whereas the development of sweat glands does not start before week 20 to 24 of fetal life. Skin biopsies were taken from various regions of the fetus at risk via fetoscopy in week 20 and processed for light and electron microscopy. All samples revealed complete absence of all skin appendages in contrast to a total of 61 non-AED fetuses. Thus positive prenatal diagnosis of AED was made and the pregnancy was terminated. Control investigations after abortion confirmed the diagnosis.     

过电位抛光增材制造双极板流道结构及性能研究

目的 研究过电位抛光对不锈钢异形截面微流道内壁成形性及双极板性能的影响。方法 采用电化学实验、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、粗糙度测试分别对激光粉末床熔融技术成形异形截面微流道进行测试分析,研究抛光时间对微流道内壁表面形貌、典型缺陷、表面粗糙度及双极板耐腐蚀性的影响。结果 在抛光前10 min,微流道内壁的质量得到有效提升,随着抛光时间的延长,其表面粗糙度达到稳定值,同时典型缺陷也由黏粉、半熔金属颗粒等局部缺陷逐渐变化到球化、挂渣、阶梯效应等大范围缺陷,直至出现点蚀现象。抛光时间在5～15 min内,LPBF成形316L不锈钢表面质量提升,随着抛光时间的增加,其耐腐蚀性下降。结论 采用过电位抛光工艺并选择适当的过电位抛光时间,能有效提升微流道内壁成形质量及双极板耐腐蚀性能。     

一株茎点霉菌的抗镉机制

从矿区土壤筛选到一株对镉具有较强抗性和富集能力的丝状真菌,编号为F2,根据其形态主要是分生孢子器的特征鉴定为茎点霉菌.对不同镉浓度液体培养下菌体的生长及培养液的pH值变化作了分析,利用扫描电镜、透射电镜与能谱分析相结合的方法研究镉在F2胞内外的沉积作用及分布情况,从而分析该菌对镉的抗性和富集机制.结果表明,100mg/L的镉浓度下,在细胞壁及周围区域存在大量颗粒状镉沉积物,而在菌体表面也有沉淀物附着.因此胞内外沉积作用可能是该菌对高浓度镉的抗性和富集作用的重要途径,而且因为该菌生长过程中尤其是高镉浓度下pH值的大幅度上升,沉积过程可能与该菌在生长过程中产生碱性物质有关.     

Probable exclusion of juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in a fetus at risk: An interim report

In a family with two children affected by juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) an attempt was made at the prenatal diagnosis of the disorder. The following tissues from the fetus at risk were investigated by electron microscopy and were found to be free of fingerprint profiles and curvilinear bodies, typical for JNCL: uncultivated amniotic fluid cells, lymphocytes isolated from fetal blood, and fetal skin biopsy specimens. The child was born at the 34th week of gestation and was clinically normal at the age of 15 months. Postnatally, lymphocytes (isolated at the age of 6 and 15 months) and skin tissue (taken at the age of 15 months) were found to be morphologically normal. It is highly unlikely that the child is affected but definite proof of the absence of JNCL remains difficult at this age.     

Exceptionally well-preserved giant spermatozoa in male and female specimens of an ostracod Cypria ophtalmica (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from Late Glacial lacustrine sediments of Southern Carpathians, Romania

Exceptionally well-preserved giant spermatozoa observed between abundant decalcified carapace valves of ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) were found in Late Glacial to Holocene (14,400 to 10,000?cal?years bp) lacustrine sediments in the southern Romanian Carpathians. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed good preservation of the appendages enabling specific identification as Cypria ophtalmica (Candonidae) and indication of the presence of both female and male specimens based on the sexual dimorphism of the second antenna. This record represents the oldest and richest direct evidence of virtually morphologically unaltered animal spermatozoa preserved in females after mating.     

兽药阿苯哒唑对蚯蚓皮肤和肠道超显微结构的影响

检测了不同剂量的兽药阿苯哒唑对蚯蚓皮肤和肠粘膜上皮细胞超微结构的变化.结果表明,暴露于100 mg·kg-1阿苯哒唑时,蚯蚓皮肤角质层增厚,分泌物增加,表皮网状粘液细胞中的粘液被排空;600 mg·kg-1时,角质层变薄,分泌物减少,粘液细胞中的粘液增加,胞浆中出现大量脂肪滴.随着药物剂量的增加,肠粘膜细胞器和核染色质损伤加剧.暴露剂量为100 mg·kg-1时,蚯蚓线粒体内膜消失,嵴减少,滑面内质网轻度扩张,而暴露剂量为600 mg·kg-1时,线粒体严重损伤呈空泡状,滑面内质网扩张呈网状,核内染色质出现固缩和边聚现象.     

Prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism by an electron microscopic dopa reaction test of fetal skin

An electron microscopic DOPA reaction test of fetal skin was used for the prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism (OCA). The subject was a 34-year-old Japanese woman in her second pregnancy. Her first child, born in 1982, had been previously examined and confirmed to have tyrosinase-negative OCA. The parents requested a prenatal diagnosis and we sampled skin from the upper trunk of the fetus. On conventional electron microscopy, the development of melanosomes in interfollicular melanocytes had progressed no further than stage II. Fetal skin samples incubated with L-DOPA solution indicated a lack of tyrosinase activity and showed that the melanosomes had not progressed beyond stage II. In skin samples from the trunks of three Japanese fetuses aborted for other reasons at 19–20 weeks of gestation, most premature melanosomes were further melanized to stage IV after incubation with L-DOPA solution. A prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative OCA was made. The parents requested a termination and skin biopsies of the abortus confirmed the diagnosis. This study shows that tyrosinase is normally present in melanocytes of the fetal epidermis at 20 weeks' gestation, and that the electron microscopic DOPA reaction test of a fetal skin biopsy specimen is safe and practical, and provides reliable information for making a prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative OCA in the second trimester.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nanotube-like titania by sulfuric acid treatment

IntroductionTiO2 nanotubehaswidelydrawnmuchattentionduetoitslargesurfaceareaandhighphotocatalyticactivity ,becausetheyhavegreatpotentialforsuchapplicationsasenvironmentalpurification ,decompositionofcarbonicacidgas,andgenerationofhydrogengas .Titaniananot…     

Diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis (Dowling-Meara) in a mother,two affected children,and an affected fetus

In utero skin biopsy was performed on a fetus at risk of an uncertain form of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The mother had produced two affected offspring diagnosed variously as having junctional or dystrophic EB. The two offspring and the fetus were products of different fathers. The mother claimed to have no disease and on clinical examination was without blisters. Examination of the fetal skin biopsy by light and electron microscopy revealed separation of the epidermal sheet from the majority of the biopsy sample, although occasional remnants of basal cells remained associated with the basement membrane. Aggregations of keratin filaments were observed within basal cells of the detached epidermis and in the attached basal cell remnants. The diagnosis was thus suggested to be epidermolysis bullosa Dowling-Meara. Re-review of the clinical and laboratory data from the affected infants revealed a clinical and histological pattern consistent with this diagnosis. Further discussion with the mother revealed that her skin had blistered as a child and that she presently had hyperkeratotic palms and soles. This history is consistent with the autosomal dominantly inherited epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis (Dowling-Meara). This is the first reported prenatal diagnosis of EB Dowling—Meara. The morphological criteria of intraepidermal blistering and clumped keratin filaments within basal and immediately suprabasal cells characteristic of an affected individual postnatally also identified an affected fetus. There is, however, insufficient experience to be certain that these findings will hold from region to region in the body or among all affected fetuses, and thus prenatal diagnosis on a morphological basis should still be made with caution.     

Applicability of 19–DEJ-l monoclonal antibody for the prenatal diagnosis or exclusion of junctional epidermolysis bullosa

Recently a monoclonal antibody (19–DEJ-l) was produced with binding specificity for the mid-lamina lucida of the skin dermoepidermal junction, in very close association with overlying hemidesmosomes. Since skin cleavage occurs within the lamina lucida in the inherited blistering disorder, junctional epidermolysis bullosa (EB), and is associated with aberrations in the morphology and/or number of hemidesmosomes in such tissue, we have sought to determine whether this monoclonal antibody could be used for prenatal diagnosis. Fetoscopy-directed skin biopsies were obtained from two fetuses at risk for junctional EB and post-mortem samples from two other fetuses with the Herlitz type of junctional EB, the latter after prenatal diagnosis by electron microscopy and termination of each pregnancy. Specimens were examined in part by light and electron microscopy for evidence of skin cleavage or other alterations in morphology, and in part by indirect immunofluorescence for altered basement membrane antigenicity. Three of four fetuses were shown to have intra-lamina lucida blister formation indicative of, and hemidesmosome hypoplasia proving, junctional EB. Each was also shown to lack expression of GB3 and 19–DEJ-l antigens, consistent with findings noted postnatally in junctional EB; diagnosis was confirmed in each at the time of therapeutic abortion. A fourth fetus had no abnormalities detected; lack of disease involvement was confirmed at the time of delivery, and subsequently over 8 months of careful serial evaluation. We conclude that 19–DEJ-l monoclonal antibody is an accurate and sensitive irnmunohistochemical probe for junctional EB, and may be employed in the prenatal diagnostic evaluation of fetuses at risk for this disorder.     

短期暴露实验中铜在鱼鳃表面的结合状态

利用逐级提取的方法研究了短期暴露实验过程中鱼鳃表面不同结合状态的铜随时间变化的过程．考虑到实验过程中水环境条件的动态变化，对实验数据进行了校正．结果表明，鱼鳃对铜的吸收在3h左右达到稳态平衡，水提铜、鱼鳃表面易交换铜以及鱼鳃表面难交换铜随时间变化趋势一致。     

有机膜的无机改性及其性能研究

以无机纳米氧化铝粒子作为无机添加剂与聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）共混,采用相转换法合成了有机-无机共混超滤膜.通过测定膜与纯水的接触角,表征膜的亲水性;用激光共聚焦显微镜(CLSM)、扫描电镜（SEM）和透射电镜（TEM）观察了膜的表面结构、表面孔分布和断面孔的结构及纳米颗粒在膜中的分散情况;利用杯式超滤装置对改性膜的透过性能、截留性能以及抗污染性能进行了测试;用强度测定仪测定了膜强度.结果表明,纳米Al₂O₃ 的加入改善了PVDF膜的表面亲水性、通量、强度和抗污染性.     

酿酒酵母吸附Pb(Ⅱ)的表面特性研究

为深入探讨酿酒酵母与Pb(II)的相互作用机理,本文利用表面显微分析技术（SEM-EDS、TEM-EDS、AFM）研究了酿酒酵母细胞吸附重金属离子Pb(II)前后的细胞表面特性变化。研究结果表明,酿酒酵母细胞与Pb(II)作用后,细胞表面除吸附Pb(II)外,同时产生大量更高浓度的含Pb(II)沉淀,导致Pb(II)从溶液中被去除。酵母与Pb(II)反应前,酵母细胞表面可检测到的主要元素包括C、O、N、P、S、K、Mg;酵母与Pb(II)作用后,细胞表面始终保持C、O、P吸收峰,而N、K、Mg、S吸收峰随反应条件不同而减弱、消失或增强。P作为细胞表面组分可能与Pb(II)结合。酵母与Pb(II)作用过程中,重金属离子促进酵母细胞释放细胞内含物。原子力显微镜（AFM）证实,云母片表面对酵母吸附Pb(II)后细胞的铺展变形作用明显增大。     

铜绿微囊藻溶藻菌EA-1的分离鉴定及溶藻特性

从广州流花湖分离获得一株溶藻菌株EA-1,16S rDNA分析表明菌株EA-1属于肠杆菌属（Enterobacter）.研究了肠杆菌EA-1对铜绿微囊藻的溶藻效果和溶藻机制.结果表明,对数期EA-1具有最佳溶藻效果,投加比例为10%,初始叶绿素a含量为1.43mg/L时,EA-1能实现3d内完全除藻,叶绿素a含量为2.39mg/L时,共培养6d后,抑制率为84.1%±1.3%.EA-1通过分泌胞外溶藻物质间接溶藻,生理生化响应表明,EA-1无菌滤液胁迫下,藻细胞膜脂过氧化损伤严重,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性先急剧上升后下降.三维荧光光谱（EEM）表明溶藻产物为类腐殖酸,类富里酸和类蛋白类物质.扫描电子显微镜（SEM）显示藻细胞出现褶皱,内陷和萎缩现象.透射电子显微镜（TEM）显示藻细胞破坏过程为：首先,胶质层与细胞壁分离,光合片层变得松散和不规则,内含物被部分降解.随后,光合片层被彻底破坏,DNA核物质和多聚磷酸盐等营养物质颗粒被降解,藻细胞内部结构被完全破坏,藻细胞死亡.     

Humic acid-enhanced electron transfer of in vivo cytochrome c as revealed by electrochemical and spectroscopic approaches

Out-membrane cytochrome c （Cyt c） plays an important role carrying electrons from the inside of microbes to outside electron acceptors. However, the active sites of Cyt c are wrapped by non- conductive peptide chains, hindering direct extracellular electron transfer （EET）. Humic acids （HA） have been previously proven to efficiently facilitate EET. However, the inherent mechanism of HA- stimulated EET has not been well interpreted. Here, to probe the mechanism behind HA-stimulated EET, we studied the interaction between Cyt c and HA. The attachment of active in vivo Cyt c on a graphite electrode was achieved when MR-1 cells were self-assembled on the electrode surface. Pure horse-heart Cyt c was covalently immobilized on an electrode via 4-aminobenzoic acid to create an active in vitro Cyt c-enriched surface. Cyclic voltammetric measurements and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the immobilization of bacterial cells and pure Cyt c protein. Electrochemical methods revealed that HA could enhance the electrocatalytic current of both in vitro and in vivo Cyt c towards oxygen and thiosulfate, suggesting enhanced EET. The blue-shifted soret band in the UV-Vis spectra and changes in the excitation/emission matrix fluorescence spectra demonstrated that Cyt c interacted with HA to form organic complexes via electrostatic or hydrogen-bonding interactions. The results will help understand electron shuttle-stimulated EET and develop bacteria- based bioremediation and bioenergy technologies.     

磁性壳聚糖凝胶微球对水中Pb(Ⅱ)的吸附性能

以壳聚糖为原材料,通过原位共沉淀法和柠檬酸钠交联法制备了一种新型多孔磁性壳聚糖凝胶微球吸附剂CS-citrate/Fe₃O₄.利用扫描电镜（SEM）、透射电镜（TEM）、傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）、热重分析（TG）对吸附剂进行了表征.结果表明,吸附剂内部具有发达的孔隙结构,并均匀分布有平均直径为（4.79±1.09）nm的Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒;吸附剂中引入Fe₃O₄后,仍存在羟基、氨基和羧基等功能基团,且吸附剂磁性良好可用于磁场分离;吸附剂对Pb（Ⅱ）的吸附等温线和动力学研究表明,吸附过程以化学吸附为主,最大吸附容量可达178.25mg/g.     

Stable social aggregations in an Australian lizard,Egernia stokesii

Social groups in many animal species contain family members, and are maintained by parental care, and then tolerance of related individuals in the group. Lizards rarely show prolonged parental care, and rarely form stable social aggregations, although cohesive groups have been reported in the Australian skink genus, Egernia. A population of Egernia stokesii was surveyed for six seasons on Camel Hill, South Australia. At this site individuals occupied rock crevices for refuges on an isolated rocky outcrop of about 1.5 ha. The population was divided into 17 stable social groups, each containing 2-17 individual lizards. Surveyed juveniles took more than 5 years to reach mature size, and most juveniles and subadults remained in the social group of their parents for that period and longer. There were 2-8 permanent adult members of each group. Group members shared common crevice refuges, basked close together (and sometimes on top of each other) and defecated in common scat piles. There was low mortality after the first 2 years of life, and low dispersal either into or out of the population. Some individuals were "floaters" that did not belong to a social group. Over the study a number of these became established in groups. The social structure of these lizards resembles the family groups reported in many species of birds and mammals where group members help to raise the offspring of relatives. The low level of parental care in lizards suggests that the evolution of this form of social organisation in lizards has resulted from different processes than in other vertebrate taxa.     

直升机蒙皮典型结构有机涂层防护性能在模拟高原大气环境中的变化

目的评价服役于高原大气环境中的直升机蒙皮典型结构及其防护体系的防护性能。方法通过模拟高原大气环境加速试验方法再现直升机蒙皮典型结构防护体系实际服役过程中出现的损伤,利用扫描电镜对表面微观形貌进行观察,采用电化学阻抗谱测试研究有机涂层阻抗的变化。结果在实验室加速试验中,蒙皮试验件螺钉周边先出现局部腐蚀,之后腐蚀产物又逐渐减少,而铆钉周边经过多个周期后腐蚀产物都没有显著增多。螺钉中间区域有机涂层电化学阻抗模值直至第8个周期后与原始情况相比才大幅度下降,而铆钉中间区域有机涂层电化学阻抗模值在试验中多次明显下降。结论铆钉周边的有机涂层经过多个周期加速试验仍具有阻挡腐蚀性介质的作用。与螺钉结构的情况相比,铆钉中间区域有机涂层防护性能退化显著。