南京地区典型霾天气个例特征的比较分析

利用2011年南京大学城市大气环境观测站气象因子及污染物浓度资料、58238站点气象探空资料及NCEP再分析资料、CALIPSO卫星资料,比较分析了南京地区4类典型霾天气(烟花爆竹、沙尘、秸秆燃烧及不利气象条件污染)的污染特征.结果表明:烟花爆竹个例污染物排放集中,以细颗粒物为主,除夕和初五的PM2.5小时浓度分别达到0.46 mg·m-3和0.34 mg·m-3,受逆温层影响,能见度持续降低,最低达到1.16 km;受北方沙尘暴南下影响,沙尘个例以粗颗粒为主要污染物,PM10小时最高浓度为0.78 mg·m-3,PM2.5/PM10平均值为0.39,粒子形状不规则,体积偏退比为0.17;秸秆燃烧个例为重霾污染,能见度最低值为0.97 km,后向散射系数为0.0039 km-1獉sr-1,PM10和PM2.5最高小时浓度达到0.80 mg·m-3和0.49 mg·m-3,颗粒物主要来自南京东南地区秸秆的集中燃烧;不利气象条件导致的污染过程在冬季比较常见,下沉气流活跃,出现双层逆温,近地面静小风造成污染物积累,PM2.5与能见度的相关系数达到0.86,细颗粒物为主要污染物.可见,南京市霾天气可分为两类,分别是由不利气象条件导致的累积性污染和由高强度排放源造成的暴发性污染,具有不同的气象和污染特征.     

Impact of pregnancy and other factors including smoking on the urinary levels of triclosan

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on the levels of triclosan (TCS) in urine. Regression models were fitted to evaluate this association with adjustment for other factors that may affect the levels of TCS. Pregnant females had higher levels of TCS than non-pregnant females but the differences were not statistically significant. Levels of TCS were statistically significantly lower during the second trimester than during the third trimester. Smoking was associated with statistically significantly lower levels of TCS. The reasons for the association between smoking and the levels of TCS are not known. Further research is needed in this area.     

Significance of adverse outcome pathways in biomarker-based environmental risk assessment in aquatic organisms

In environmental risk assessments (ERA), biomarkers have been widely used as an early warning signal of environmental contamination. However, biomarker responses have limitation due to its low relevance to adverse outcomes (e.g., fluctuations in community structure, decreases in population size, and other similar ecobiologically relevant indicators of community structure and function). To mitigate these limitations, the concept of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) was developed. An AOP is an analytical, sequentially progressive pathway that links a molecular initiating event (MIE) to an adverse outcome. Recently, AOPs have been recognized as a potential informational tool by which the implications of molecular biomarkers in ERA can be better understood. To demonstrate the utility of AOPs in biomarker-based ERA, here we discuss a series of three different biological repercussions caused by exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and selenium (Se). Using mainly aquatic invertebrates and selected vertebrates as model species, we focus on the development of the AOP concept. Aquatic organisms are suitable bioindicator species whose entire lifespans can be observed over a short period; moreover, these species can be studied on the molecular and population levels. Also, interspecific differences between aquatic organisms are important to consider in an AOP framework, since these differences are an integral part of the natural environment. The development of an environmental pollutant-mediated AOP may enable a better understanding of the effects of environmental pollutants in different scenarios in the diverse community of an ecosystem.     

Open fetal surgery for myelomeningocele

Despite efforts at prevention through the use of preconception folic acid, spina bifida remains one of the most common congenital anomalies of the central nervous system that is compatible with life. It is, however, associated with a significant degree of lifelong morbidity. The development of open fetal surgery for myelomeningocele (MMC) has been a long process but one that serves as a model for how new procedures and technologies need to be properly evaluated before being brought into mainstream medical practice. Even so, risks and benefits need to be evaluated for each patient. The currently available studies have been carried out on a highly selected patient population where the fetal findings provided the maximum opportunity for benefit from prenatal closure of the MMC defect. There is the potential that as the surgery becomes more widely available, pressure will be brought to bear to perform surgery in cases where the likelihood for benefit is decreased and yet the risks are not. The only way to duplicate the results of the current studies is to follow the methodology and criteria that were used in the studies. This will mean that not every fetus with an MMC will be a candidate for in utero surgery. The balance of risk to benefit will continue to evolve as further technological advances are evaluated and more follow-up information is obtained. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis and management of twin pregnancies complicated by a co-existing molar pregnancy

Recent advances in ultrasound and molecular genetics have increased our understanding and hence enhanced the perinatal management of complete and partial hydatidiform mole. By contrast, the management of a twin pregnancy combining a normal pregnancy with a normal fetus and a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) remains complex and controversial due to conflicting data from different parts of the world. The aim of this review is to analyse the international literature on twin pregnancies that include a mole, present the complications and outcome of pregnancy and to discuss the perinatal management. Management is complicated and women should be counselled about the maternal and fetal complications, and the pregnancy monitored carefully by a perinatal team with experience in high-risk obstetrics and access to neonatal care. The data reviewed here suggest that a woman who decides to continue with the pregnancy including a CHM must be aware that, overall, she only has a one in four chance of live birth and in around 35% of cases she will develop persistent trophoblastic disease (PTD) after delivery. In ongoing pregnancies, there will be, in at least 20% of the cases, an early onset of pre-eclampsia (PET) and a 29% risk of fetal loss due to late miscarriage, intrauterine death and neonatal death. Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (MShCG) could be useful in predicting outcome in twin pregnancy combining normal pregnancy and CHM, but this needs to be investigated prospectively. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Update on selective reduction

Over the past 25 years fetal reduction has been utilized to reduce the risks of higher-order multiple pregnancies that have resulted from overly successful infertility therapies. The demographics of multiple pregnancy patients have evolved over the past decade, with increasing proportions coming from IVF as opposed to ovulation induction, being older and a higher proportion with donor eggs. Genetic diagnosis prior to reduction is becoming more common and is very safe in experienced hands. For all starting numbers, including twins, reduction to a lower number of fetuses reduces fetal losses, prematurity, and infant mortality and morbidity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.