Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency by steroid analysis in the amniotic fluid of mid-pregnancy: Comparison with HLA typing in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH

Amniotic fluid (AF) levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and testosterone (T) were determined at 16–17 weeks in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH and results compared to 75 normal controls. The fetus was predicted to be unaffected in 12 cases on the findings of normal AF levels of both 17OHP and T and the latter allowed a correct prediction of fetal sex in all instances. HLA typing confirmed normality in 12 cases revealing 5 carriers, 5 homozygous normal and 2 indeterminate. Steroid levels of the 2 groups were similar. Three fetuses were predicted to be CAH affected on unambiguously high levels of 17OHP and T (in female only). HLA typing was in agreement, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 2 abortuses and a female newborn by physical and hormonal studies. In the last 2 cases AF levels of OHP and T were normal but HLA (A/B/C) genotypes were identical to the CAH affected siblings. Normal physical and hormonal findings in the 2 aborted fetuses would exclude the possibility of an in utero virilizing form of CAH. The discrepancy could be explained on the basis that the fetuses had an allelic form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency or on the basis of recombination (not fully tested). It is concluded that a fully informative prenatal diagnosis of CAH should not rely entirely on HLA typing but on hormonal studies.     

Biochemical assessment of lead,phenol, and benzene-contaminated water on the heart and blood of Albino rats

A study was performed to evaluate the effect of contaminated water on the tissues of Rattus novergicus (albino rats). Test rats were given water contaminated with lead (0.015 µg L^?1 tap water), phenol (0.05 mL L^?1 tap water), and benzene (0.05 mL L^?1 tap water), while control rats were given tap water over a period of 65 days after which the activity of selected enzymes of the heart and serum was assayed, and hematological parameters and serum lipid profiles were also determined. Generally, a significant (p < 0.05) drop in the activity of the enzymes was observed in the heart of test rats relative to the control rats. However, the serum activities increased significantly in the test group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The concentrations of serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides of the test rats were found to be significantly higher than those of the control rats (p < 0.05). Concentrations of hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and packed cell volume of test rats were observed to be significantly lower than those of the control rats (p < 0.05). The experimental results indicated that consumption of water contaminated with lead, phenol, and benzene may damage the heart, increase the risk of atherosclerosis as reflected by the serum lipid profile, and anemia as suggested by abnormal hematological properties.     

Nuclear ITS region of the alga Heterosigma akashiwo (Chromophyta: Raphidophyceae) is identical in isolates from Atlantic and Pacific basins

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region from 19 isolates of the algal genus Heterosigma (Chromophyta: Raphidophyceae) was amplified by polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Isolates were obtained from both the Atlantic and Pacific basins, including Europe, eastern North America, western North America, Japan and New Zealand. This study presents evidence that all Heterosigma isolates in this study are representatives of one species (H. akashiwo). All 19 isolates, except one (LB 2005) had identical ITS sequence (98.31% similar by pairwise comparison); Isolate LB 2005 may represent a separate subspecies. Such high degree of ITS sequence identity implies that the organism has spread between oceanic regions in geologically recent times, possibly by human means. In addition to those from Heterosigma spp., the ITS regions from other marine Raphidophyceae (Chattonella antiqua, C. marina, C. subsalsa, Fibrocapsa japonica, and Olisthodiscus luteus) were amplified and sequenced using PCR. Total ITS lengths differed among the Raphidophyceae (C. antiqua, 577 base pairs (bp); C. marina, 577 bp;. C. subsalsa, 579 bp; F. japonica, 830 bp; H. akashiwo, 561 and 563 bp; O. luteus, 829 bp), but 5.8S rDNA sequences were similar in size (13 to 142 bp). The high ITS sequence identity between C. antiqua and C. marina (>99.9% by pairwise comparison) suggests the need for a taxonomic review of these species encompassing all morphological, genetic, physiological and biochemical information. Additionally, a number of cultures of Raphidophyceae were positively identified. In general, ITS comparisons among the Raphidophyceae may be most useful at the level of species determination rather than at the population level. Received: 12 July 1999 / Accepted: 16 March 2000     

Trisomy 7 in chorionic villi: Follow-up studies of pregnancy,normal child,and placental clonal anomalies

Cytogenetic study of chorionic villi sampled because of advanced maternal age revealed, after overnight culture, an apparently non-mosaic trisomy 7. Amniocentesis showed exclusively normal mitoses, and the pregnancy continued normally. One hundred mitoses from cord blood of the normal newborn revealed a non-mosaic 46,XX complement. No cells with a proven trisomy 7 were found in cultures from either of two biopsies of the morphologically normal placenta, but the peripheral biopsy showed in multiple cultures an abnormal clone: 47,XX, + 20,-2,-21, + t(2;21)(p13;q22). To our knowledge, this is the first case of non-mosaic trisomy 7 detected on CVS which has had follow-up studies of amniotic fluid, cord blood, and term placenta.     

Petroleum refinery stripped sour water treatment using the activated sludge process

A pilot study was performed over 91 days to determine if the activated sludge process could treat a segregated stripped sour water (SSW) stream from a petroleum refinery. The study was performed in two periods. The first period was terminated after 19 days, as a result of excessive sludge bulking. The elimination of sludge bulking during the 70-day second period is attributed to operational changes, which included aerating the influent to oxidize reduced sulfur, adjusting the influent pH, and adding micronutrients to satisfy biological requirements. The pilot plant provided a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of up to 93%. Nitrification was achieved, with effluent ammonia values < 1 mg-N/L. These results indicate that direct treatment of SSW with the activated sludge process is possible and has direct application to full-scale petroleum refinery wastewater plant upgrades.     

Fine route for an efficient removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by zeolite-supported TiO2

Zeolites HY, Hbeta and HZSM-5 with different physico-chemical properties were chosen as support for TiO2 to illustrate their adsorption, dispersion and electronic structure in photocatalysis. The extent of TiO2 loading was monitored by XRD and BET surface area measurements. The adsorption capacity of HY zeolite was found to be high and hence chosen for further modification to continue the investigation. Photodegradation kinetics were carried out with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in aqueous solution. The extent of 2,4-D degradation on TiO2/HY loading revealed the importance of adsorption in photocatalysis. Mineralisation studies on all three zeolites with 1 wt.% TiO2 loading demonstrated the good dispersion properties of TiO2/HY. Its photocatalytic activity was found to be excellent with formulated 2,4-D. Comparison of relative photonic efficiencies demonstrated that supported photocatalysts exhibited higher activity than some of the commercial photocatalysts. The high activity of supported TiO2 is due to synergistic effects of improved adsorption of 2,4-D and efficient delocalisation of photogenerated electrons by zeolite support.     

An integrated approach for assessing the migration behavior of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl in the unsaturated soil zone

Chlorpyrifos (O, O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate) and carbaryl (1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) are often applied concurrently as insecticides in food production. The aim of this study was to research their migration behavior in a real environment. We researched the leaching of both pesticides by setting up field lysimeters on a farm with the typical soil used in fruit production today. In order to analyze the variables involved in this process, we performed complementary adsorption studies, we performed complementary adsorption studies using batches and undisturbed soil laboratory columns for both compounds. The results for pesticide transport through the lysimeters showed that less than 1% of chlorpyrifos was recovered in the leachates, while almost 17% was recovered for carbaryl. Having completed the experiment in undisturbed laboratory columns, soil analysis showed that chlorpyrifos mainly remained in the first 5 cm, while carbaryl moved down to the lower sections. These results can be explained in view of the sorption coefficient values (K_D) obtained in horizons A and B for chlorpyrifos (393 and 184 L kg^?1) and carbaryl (3.1 and 4.2 L kg^?1), respectively. By integrating the results obtained in the different approaches, we were able to characterize the percolation modes of these pesticides in the soil matrix, thus contributing to the sustainable use of resources.