Microvillar enzyme analysis in amniotic fluid and the prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis

The activities of two microvillar enzymes, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) have been determined in amniotic fluid (AF) samples from 39 pregnancies with a 1-in-4 risk of cystic fibrosis. Seventeen of these were investigated prospectively. A reduced proportion of the fetal specific intestinal ALP isoenzyme was found in 7 of a total of 13 pregnancies with cystic fibrosis and in one pregnancy of confirmed normal outcome. Eight of the affected pregnancies were tested for AF GGTP activity and depressed levels were found in 15. None of the 3 liveborn cystic fibrosis cases in the prospective series was identified by the ALP assay although 2 had significantly reduced GGTP activity. There were several amniotic fluid samples from cases of cystic fibrosis, trisomy 18 and normal outcome which had discordant GGTP and ALP results. Four of the 6 cases of cystic fibrosis misclassified by the ALP assay had amniocentesis at 15 or 16 weeks gestation. Evidence is presented which confirms a previous suggestion that amniocentesis after 17 weeks gestation improves the predictability of the ALP isoenzyme assay for the prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.     

蒸汽锅炉烟气脱硫的简便方法

简要介绍了工业锅炉房利用锅炉水中的碱性物质除去烟气中SO2 的经济方法。     

炼油厂碱渣的治理与综合利用

从武汉石化厂碱渣来源分析碱渣污染物特征和游离碱浓度，概述并浅析目前国内碱渣处理工艺，重点介绍我厂减渣治理中源头控制，分质处理，二次利用的环保效益和经济效益并重的工作思路及碱渣治理的实践。     

Amniotic fluid digestive enzymes: Diagnostic value in fetal gastrointestinal obstructions

The diagnostic value of amniotic fluid gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGTP) and intestinal alkaline phos-phatase (iALP) was evaluated in 55 patients who underwent amniocentesis for karyotyping because fetal gastric or small bowel dilatation had been detected by ultrasound. Gastrointestinal malformation was confirmed in 46 cases and there was no gastrointestinal anomaly in nine cases. Prenatal ultrasound was suggestive of gastroduodenal dilatation in 34 cases (group I) and small bowel dilatation in 21 cases (group II). In group I, amniotic fluid GGTP above the 99th percentile was 71 per cent sensitive and 100 per cent specific for a true anatomical defect of the digestive tract (mainly duodenal atresia). In group II, high levels of GGTP and/or iALP were 69 per cent sensitive and 83 per cent specific for a fetal digestive tract anomaly. In other words, when digestive tract dilatations were diagnosed by prenatal sonography, abnormal amniotic fluid enzyme activities were strongly suggestive of such an anomaly, the possibility of which was not precluded by normal amniotic fluid iALP and GGTP activities. But amniotic fluid digestive enzyme activities do not help in defining the prognosis.     

滇西地区上地幔铅同位素组成的确定及其应用

滇西地区基性 超基性岩、碱性岩中的长石、石榴子石、橄榄石等单矿物及羊拉铜矿区二叠世海相玄武岩的铅同位素组成可以代表原始地幔的铅同位素组成 ,由此确定的该区上地幔铅同位素组成变化范围为　2 0 6Pb/2 0 4Pb =1 7.877～1 8.5 0 6,平均 1 8.1 0 8,2 0 7Pb/2 0 4Pb=1 5 .470～1 5 .5 87,平均 1 5 .479,2 0 8Pb/2 0 4Pb=3 7.797～ 3 8.5 67,平均 3 8.1 77。研究发现 ,由于受地壳物质的混染和成岩后U、Th衰变产生的放射成因铅的影响 ,这些幔源岩石全岩铅同位素组成已不能代表原始上地幔的铅同位素组成 ;金顶铅锌矿床的铅并非上地幔来源 ,而是相当于下地壳来源的铅与兰坪盆地沉积岩铅二者的混合铅。     

Potential Fluoride Contamination in the Drinking Water of Naranji Area, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

The drinking water of Naranji village and surrounding areas of the NorthWest Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, was analyzed for its fluoride content. The fluoride content of water samples from the springs in the Naranji village goes up to 13.52 mg kg(-1), which exceeds the permissible limit (1.5 mg kg(-1)) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study explores the source of fluoride contamination and attributes it to the alkaline rocks of the Ambela granitic complex and the Koga complex. The low-lying areas towards the south have a fluoride content within the permissible limit. The Naranji area therefore needs urgent remedial measures.     

吉林西部碱尘的通量与物质特征分析

选择吉林西部两个典型地区，抽样采集碱尘样品，根据实测结果对日常形成的碱尘进行了通量测定；依据两个采样点的自然地理状况和实测采样记录，提出了吉林西部碱尘具有两种源区类型的认识，即以大布苏湖为代表的萎缩湖泡型和以姜家甸草场为代表的草场退化型。同时，通过对比分析不同时间和采样点的碱尘通量及源区特征，提出了吉林西部碱尘通量与风力条件、日照条件、pH值、物理性粘粒比例正相关，与植被覆盖度、地表物质粒级负相关。对碱尘元素分析结果表明，Ca、Na元素含量明显偏高，Fe、Al元素含量变化则较大；碱尘组成元素含量由多到少的顺序为：Ca、Na、Fe、Al、K、Mg、Ti，与普通尘暴元素组成有着明显的差别。     

The effects of high metal concentrations in soil-compost mixtures on soil enzymes

The study was undertaken to determine the impact of high-metal composts on the activities of four soil enzymes. High concentrations of metal salts (Cr, Cu, Ni or a Co-Mo-Pb combination) were added to feedstocks during the thermophilic stage of composting. These four metal-enriched composts and an unamended control compost were then mixed with soil collected from long-term agriculture plots under organic management or conventional management. The compost-soil mixtures were prepared at two rates (1:1 or 1:3 compost:soil, v/v) and incubated at 20°C for three weeks. These 20 combinations plus the five composts and the two soils were added to pots and incubated for three weeks. Following incubation, soil enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, arysulfatase, dehydrogenase, phosphodiesterase) were measured using traditional assay procedures. Compared to the control, none of the high-metal composts inhibited soil enzyme activity. Notably, the Cu compost treatment produced significantly higher activity of all four enzymes in the soil compared to the control. Previous soil management influenced the activity of three enzymes, arysulfatase and dehydrogenase had greater activity in the organic soil while phosphatase activity was greater in the conventional soil. Increasing the proportion of compost in the pot had a positive effect on phosphodiesterase activity only. In conclusion, the high-metal compost treatments either enhanced or caused no adverse effects on soil enzyme activity.     

Effects of two organophosphorus insecticides on some biochemical constituents in the nervous system and liver of rabbits

Abstract

Male Baladi rabbits were acutely and sub‐chronically intoxicated with cyanofenphos and profenophos. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, B‐lipoproteins and total proteins were determined in the serum, brain, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rabbits. Moreover, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and glutamic‐pyruvic transaminase were determined in the liver of the animals. The whole Studie revealed that the biochemical constituents were highly affected by the tested insecticides. Also, the liver function suffered from adverse effects of the tested insecticides.     

Effects of metolachlor on activities of enzymes in a malaysian soil

Abstract

Effects of metolachlor on the activities of cellulase, phosphatase, urease and protease in a loamy sand soil, were evaluated for up to 28 days. Metolachlor at 10 ppm and above caused a reduction in phosphatase and urease activities for the entire period of study. The cellulase activity decreased during the very first day of incubation compared to that of the control but a recovery trend was obvious at all concentrations from day 14 onwards. Protease activity was also reduced in the metolachlor treated soil and the lower activity was observed during the entire study.