MiRNA-451 is a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in mouse uterus

The uterotrophic assay has been commonly used to test environmental estrogens in vivo, however, it is often not sensitive enough sometimes. An alternative way is to evaluate estrogenicity through biomarker genes. MicroRNA （miRNA） is a class of regulatory gene, which has been shown to be a good biomarker for many diseases and toxicological effects in recent years, and some evidences showed that estrogen induced response was partially mediated by miRNAs. In this study, two types of microarrays were used to test the 17[3-estradiol （E2） induced miRNA expression profile at different time points in the immature mouse uterus. Statistical analysis showed the aldehyde slide based array had less variation than the amino slide based array, and 11 dysregulated miRNAs were screened out for significant fold change. Real-time PCR was performed to further confirm that 4 out of 7 selected miRNAs, namely miR-451, miR-155, miR-335- 5p, and miR-365, are E2 regulated miRNAs in the uterus. The function of the predicted targets of these miRNAs is involved in cell grow control, which is consistent with the main E2 function in the uterus. MiR-451 had similar strong responses to E2 in the uterus of both immature and overiectomized mice, and could be a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in the uterus.     

双酚A对斑马鱼精巢性激素生成酶基因表达的影响

为了解环境雌激素对鱼类精巢发育的影响,将成年雄性斑马鱼(Danio rerio)暴露于不同浓度双酚A(0、500、1 000、2 000、4 000μg·L-1)下21 d,并在此基础上,进一步研究了暴露在相同浓度(BPA2 000μg·L-1)不同暴露时间下各基因表达的动力学模式。用荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)方法检测试验鱼精巢性激素合成相关细胞色素P450酶类基因(CYP17、CYP11B和CYP19A)以及雌、雄激素受体和促卵泡激素受体(ERα、ERβ、AR和FSHR)基因的表达,用常规组织学方法研究试验鱼精巢结构的变化。结果表明,BPA促进了精巢内源雌激素合成相关酶类基因CYP19A和雌激素受体ERαmRNA、ERβmRNA的表达,且BPA浓度为2 000μg·L-1时3者的表达量显著上调,同时随着暴露时间的延长,具有明显的时间累积效应。1 000μg·L-1BPA可导致斑马鱼精巢CYP17 mRNA的表达量显著下调,BPA2 000μg·L-1暴露12 d引起了CYP11B mRNA表达下调,而随着暴露时间的延长有所回升,但它对精巢AR mRNA的表达却无明显影响。同时,BPA 500μg·L-1引起了FSHR基因的显著上调,在时间动态学上,呈上升趋势。在组织学上,2 000μg·L-1BPA引起斑马鱼精巢生精小管内精子浓缩严重,精原细胞(Sg)和精母细胞(PS和SS)数目都有所减少,BPA 4 000μg·L-1组斑马鱼精巢退化。因此,BPA可诱导精巢内源雌激素合成和雌激素受体的表达,提高雌激素效应,通过抑制CYP17基因的表达,一定程度上抑制雄激素的合成,从而引起斑马鱼精巢组织的破坏。同时,据实验数据推测,雄激素的下调可能启动了下丘脑-垂体-性腺(HPG)轴的负反馈调节机制,而此作用机制还有待进一步研究。     

Effect of acute whole-body proton irradiation on hematological and intestinal variables in mice

Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a single dose of protons or ⁶⁰Co gamma rays at 20 mGy and 2 Gy, which represent the recommended limit for annual occupational exposure and the daily fractional dose for patients undergoing radiotherapy, respectively. A control group was not exposed to radiation. The number of peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen cells was assessed 24 h after radiation to investigate the marrow suppression. The number of lymphocytes and neutrophils in peripheral blood was significantly lower in mice exposed to the higher dose of radiation than in the nonirradiated mice. However, at a low dose of radiation, there were no discernable hematological effects. The frequency of micronuclei in bone marrow cells was increased only after the high dose of gamma radiation. Radiation-induced intestinal apoptosis was measured using terminal deoxynucleotide transferase labeling assay. The magnitude of damage was greater after gamma irradiation than after proton irradiation at the same dose. Among the systemic biological end point to predict whole body radiation effect, the apoptosis of intestinal crypts may be the most sensitive parameter to provide information even at low dose of radiation.     

Absence of metallothionein 3 expression in breast cancer is a rare but favorable marker that is under epigenetic control

Cadmium (Cd²⁺), a known carcinogen, mimics the effects of estrogen in the uterus and mammary gland suggesting its possible involvement in the development and progression of breast cancer. This lab showed through analysis of a small set of archival human diagnostic specimens that the third isoform of the classic Cd²⁺ binding protein metallothionein (MT-3) is not expressed in normal breast tissue, but is expressed in some breast cancers and that expression tends to correlate with a poor disease outcome. The goals of this study were to verify that overexpression of MT-3 in a large set of archival human diagnostic specimens tends to correlate with poor disease outcome and define the mechanism of MT-3 gene regulation in the normal breast epithelial cell. The results showed that MT-3 was expressed in approximately 90% of all breast cancers and was absent in normal breast epithelium. The lack of MT-3 staining in some cancers correlated with a favorable patient outcome. High frequency of MT-3 staining was also found for in situ breast cancer suggesting that MT-3 might be an early biomarker for breast cancer. The study also demonstrated that the MCF-10A cell line, an immortalized, non-tumorigenic model of human breast epithelial cells, displayed no basal expression of MT-3, nor was it induced by Cd²⁺. Treatment of the MCF-10A cells with the demethylation agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, or the histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, restored MT-3 mRNA expression. It was also shown that the MT-3 metal regulatory elements are potentially active binders of protein factors following treatment with these inhibitors suggesting that MT-3 expression may be subject to epigenetic regulation.     

Compositional data analysis and geochemical modeling of CO2–water–rock interactions in three provinces of Korea

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The CO2-rich spring water (CSW) occurring naturally in three provinces, Kangwon (KW), Chungbuk (CB), and Gyeongbuk (GB) of South Korea was classified based...     

Environmental Impacts of a Secondary Lead Smelter in Landskrona, Southern Sweden

Scandinavia has one secondary lead smelter that recycles lead from approximately 85% of used car batteries in Scandinavia and which has been active since the 1940s. The smelter, situated in Landskrona, has undergone a comprehensive clean up programme during the last decade, during which time production has doubled, while at the same time discharges of dust and lead to the atmosphere have decreased.Top and depth soil samples were taken on a 0.5km×0.5Km grid throughout the city of Landskrona, which covers an area of approximately 15km². Samples were analysed by ICPAES for a number of elements including Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Sb and Hg. Road dust samples from selected sites were collected and similarly analysed. Blood samples were taken from 37 volunteer schoolchildren (aged 8–11) from two schools in Landskrona. House dust samples were taken from each child's home. Soil samples were taken from homes which had gardens, public and school play areas. Elevated heavy metal concentrations were found in close proximity to the secondary lead smelter, and this soil enrichment influences the whole of the town, modified to some extent by the prevailing wind. The smelter does not influence the soil lead concentration at distances greater than 3.5km, where the soil reflects the background value for the area.Road dust samples also show decreases in lead concentrations with distance from the smelter. The average level of lead in house dust was considerably lower than that found in Birmingham, UK. Blood lead levels in the child population ranged from 1.5–5.1gdl^–1, with a mean of 3.05gdl^–1, showing a distinct decrease from those measured in 1978–82. No significant difference in blood lead concentrations with distance of the home from the smelter, nor between attenders at the two schools was revealed in the limited number of children studied.     

Assessment of groundwater contamination using geographic information systems

In this study two sites were selected in order to investigate groundwater contamination and spatial relationships among groundwater quality, topography, geology, landuse and pollution sources. One site is the Asan area, an agricultural district where pollution sources are scattered and which is mainly underlain by granite of Cretaceous age. The other site is the Gurogu area of Seoul city, an industrial district where an industrial complex and residential areas are located and which is mainly underlain by gneiss of Precambrian age. Groundwater samples collected from these districts were analysed for chemical constituents. An attribute value files of chemical constituents of groundwater and the spatial data layers were constructed and pollution properties were investigated to establish out spatial relationships between the groundwater constituents and pollution sources using geographic information systems (GIS).Relatively high contents of Si and HCO₃ ^– in the groundwater from the Asan area reflect the effect of water–rock interaction whereas high contents of Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and Ca²⁺ in the groundwater from the Gurogu area are due to the pollution of various sources. The significant seasonal variation of SiO₂, HCO₂ ^– and Ca²⁺ contents, and that of Ca²⁺ content were observed in the Asan and the Gurogu areas, respectively. Seasonal variation of pollutants such as Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– was not observed in either area. Pollution over the critical level of the Korean drinking water standard has been investigated from 15 sampling sites out of 40 in the Asan area, and 33 sampling sites out of 51 in the Gurogu area. Pollution by NO₃ ^–, Cl^–, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, SO₄ ^2– and Zn²⁺ in the groundwater from the industrial district (Gurogu area) and that of NO₃ , SO₄ ^2– and Zn²⁺ in the groundwater from the agricultural district (Asan area) were observed. The principal pollutant in both areas is NO₃ ^–. Deep groundwater from the Asan area is not yet contaminated with NO₃ ^– except for one site, but most of the shallow groundwater site occurring near the potential point sources is seriously contaminated. From the result of buffering analysis, it seems clear that factories and stock farms are the principal pollution sources in the Asan area. The groundwater from the Gurogu area has already been seriously polluted considering the fact of NO₃ ^– contamination of deep groundwater. Chlorine pollution of shallow groundwater in the Gurogu area was also observed. Spatial relationship between pollution level and its source was clarified in this study by using GIS, which will be applicable to the effective management of groundwater quality.     

生态工程在林业上的应用——低山丘陵立体林业工程实验研究

太行山是我国山地植被破坏历史最长、生态环境严重恶化的山地生态系统,“七五”期间国家将绿化太行山列入重点攻关项目。从1986年开始,作者根据生态工程原理提出:环境辨识工程、种群引进选择工程、种群匹配工程、水土富集工程、时间节律工程和食物链工程为主的立体林业工程新思想,并在湘山小流域建起实施模式。经四年的工作,已取得较大进展。     

Characterizing In Situ Methane‐Enhanced Biostimulation Potential for 1,4‐Dioxane Biodegradation in Groundwater

This study characterizes the 1,4‐dioxane biodegradation potential for an in situ methane‐enhanced biostimulation field pilot study conducted at Air Force Plant 44, located south of the Tucson International Airport in Arizona. In this study, the use of methane as the primary substrate in aerobic cometabolic biodegradation of 1,4‐dioxane is evaluated using environmental molecular diagnostic tools. The findings are compared to an adjacent pilot study, wherein methane was generated via enhanced reductive dechlorination and where methane monooxygenase and methane‐oxidizing bacteria were also found to be abundant. This article also presents the use of ¹³C and ²H isotopic ratio enrichment, a more recent tool, to support the understanding of 1,4‐dioxane biodegradation in situ. This study is the first of its kind, although alkane gas‐enhanced biodegradation of 1,4‐dioxane has been evaluated extensively in microcosm studies and propane‐enhanced biodegradation of 1,4‐dioxane has been previously studied in the field. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

安徽电网环境现状调查及建议

简单介绍了安徽电网的基本概况,重点分析了具有代表性变电站和输电线路附近敏感区域的工频电场强度、工频磁场强度、无线电干扰、噪声等,全面评价安徽电网环境状况,指出存在的问题,并提出了相应的建议.