Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (arpkd) during the early second trimester

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare hereditary disease with a high neonatal mortality. Currently, prenatal diagnosis is possible only during the second half of pregnancy, when bilaterally enlarged, echogenic kidneys are visible by ultrasound. We describe a case in which a diagnosis of ARPKD was sought in the first half of pregnancy. High-resolution ultrasonography revealed echogenic, normal-sized kidneys at 15+4 weeks. Microsatellite DNA analysis of a chorionic villus sample, parental blood, and blood of an affected sibling showed that the fetus had the maternal haplotype and a recombination of the paternal haplotype. Thus, no distinction between homo- and heterozygosity for the ARPKD mutation in the fetus was possible. A further ultrasound examination at 19+4 weeks confirmed the previous results, indicating that the fetus was likely to be affected. After termination of the pregnancy, the diagnosis was confirmed on microscopic examination.     

国外有机农业的病虫草害防治

介绍了国外有机农业的病虫草害防治原理和技术，这些措施包括选用优良品种，多样化种植，合理轮作。使用微生物制剂及某些无机杀菌剂，物理和生物防治等，为我国有机农业和有机食品的生产提供参考。     

Risk models for wildfowl diseases

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of computer models, including artificial intelligence systems, in the context of risk assessment and management for wildfowl diseases. In particular, the paper focuses on avian cholera and botulism in U.S. wildfowl, which are a source of continuing concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Severe outbreaks occur frequently, and some have been estimated to claim the lives of as many as 300 000 waterfowl. A potentially valuable support to the USFWS would be a set of models that assist in recognizing situations with high risk of an outbreak, assessing the anticipated severity of an outbreak, and advising on possible preventive measures. The USFWS has already initiated development of several potentially useful models. This paper reviews these as well as other related efforts, within the overall context of risk management for avian botulism and cholera.     

Assessment of Iodine Deficiency and Goitre Incidence in Parts of Yewa Area of Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the occurrence, prevalence and contributing factors to the incidence of goitre in Yewa north local government area of Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria. To achieve these objectives, soil, water, and cassava tubers were collected from four villages – Igbogila, Egua, Sawonjo and Imoto and from Lagos (about 250 m to the ocean) as a reference location, in order to determine their iodine concentrations. The results of the analyses indicated a soil mean iodine range of 2.1–5.8 μg g⁻¹; a cassava mean iodine value of 2.3–3.5 μg g⁻¹ and a drinking water mean iodine value of generally <1.0 μg L⁻¹ in all the four villages. These values of iodine in soil and water of the four villages are considered low when compared with the soil iodine value of 7.4 μg g⁻¹ and water iodine value of 6.1 μg L⁻¹ obtained from Lagos. The limestone unit of the study area remains an inhibiting factor in the bioavailability of the iodine because of its alkalinity. Statistical analysis has shown that there was significant difference between iodine concentration in the soils and the drinking water, and a correlation between the soil iodine and organic matter content at p < 0.05. The correlation between soil iodine and granulometric fractions occurred at p < 0.01. Potential goitrogens in the commonly consumed cassava products might also have contributed to the prevalence of goitre in the study area. Both the females and the adults (i.e., less mobile groups) were found to be vulnerable to goitre development in these villages.     

雷州桉树枝梢弯曲生理病与微肥施用效果研究初报

浅海沉积物和花岗岩发育的砖红壤,连续种枪桉树后,有些桉树品种出现的枝梢弯曲生理病与缺乏微量元素有关,施用微肥能防止枝梢弯曲生理病的发生,或对枝梢弯曲生理病有抑制和矫正作用,从而改善桉树中长状况,提高桉树生长量,使桉树能够持续速生丰产。     

HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF UNTREATED WATER FROM HOUSEHOLD ROOF CATCHMENT SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: Rainwater harvesting is receiving increased attention worldwide as an alternative source of drinking water. Although collected rainwater is typically consumed without any type of disinfection, the microbial quality of this type of water source can be poor. Around the world, consumers of collected and stored rainwater may be at considerable risk to a variety of infectious diseases. This review presents studies attributing specific risks of diseases to the consumption of contaminated rainwater. Diseases attributed to the consumption of untreated rainwater include bacterial diarrheas due to Salmonella and Campylobacter, bacterial pneumonia due to Legionella, botulism due to Clostridium, tissue helminths, and protozoal diarrheas from Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Simple indicator systems such as fecal coliform measurements may prove to be inadequate for determining microbial risks associated with consumption of water from rainwater catchment systems.     

The Threat of Disease Increases as Species Move Toward Extinction

At local scales, infectious disease is a common driver of population declines, but globally it is an infrequent contributor to species extinction and endangerment. For species at risk of extinction from disease important questions remain unanswered, including when does disease become a threat to species and does it co‐occur, predictably, with other threats? Using newly compiled data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, we examined the relative role and co‐occurrence of threats associated with amphibians, birds, and mammals at 6 levels of extinction risk (i.e., Red List status categories: least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, and extinct in the wild/extinct). We tested the null hypothesis that the proportion of species threatened by disease is the same in all 6 Red List status categories. Our approach revealed a new method for determining when disease most frequently threatens species at risk of extinction. The proportion of species threatened by disease varied significantly between IUCN status categories and linearly increased for amphibians, birds, and all species combined as these taxa move from move from least concern to critically endangered. Disease was infrequently the single contributing threat. However, when a species was negatively affected by a major threat other than disease (e.g., invasive species, land‐use change) that species was more likely to be simultaneously threatened by disease than species that had no other threats. Potential drivers of these trends include ecological factors, clustering of phylogenetically related species in Red List status categories, discovery bias among species at greater risk of extinction, and availability of data. We echo earlier calls for baseline data on the presence of parasites and pathogens in species when they show the first signs of extinction risk and arguably before. La Amenaza de Enfermedades Incrementa a Medida que las Especies se Aproximan a la Extinción     

Lead-induced alterations in protein-deficient rat liver–role of zinc

This study was designed to determine the protective effects of zinc (Zn) using liver marker enzymes in the serum and liver along with hepatic elemental profile in lead (Pb)-treated protein-deficient (PD) Sprague–Dawley male rats. Zn in the form of zinc sulfate at a dose of 227?mg?L^?1 in drinking water was administrated to control, PD as well as Pb-treated PD rats for 8 weeks. Pb treatment was given orally as lead acetate at a dose level of 100?mg?kg^?1 body weight to control and PD rats. The effects of different treatments were studied on the activities of enzymes that included alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum. The status of different elements (Cl, K, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Pb) in liver was also studied. Rats given PD diet and Pb showed significant inhibition in serum ALP activity associated with significant elevation in both AST and ALT activities. Serum ALP activity showed a significant inhibition week 1 until week 8 in Pb-treated PD rats. In contrast, serum AST activity was elevated both at 3 and 8 weeks while serum ALT activity was elevated at 8 weeks in Pb-treated PD rats. Pb treatment to PD rats elevated hepatic ALP, AST and ALT activities but depressed hepatic AST. Zn supplementation to Pb-treated PD rats restored the altered enzyme activities. The levels of K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Rb were altered in protein deficiency. Furthermore, treatment with Pb to these animals depressed the Cu levels. Zn treatment to Pb-treated PD animals tended to restore the levels of altered elements. Hence, the present study clearly suggests that Zn plays an important role in regulating the liver marker enzymes and essential elements under conditions of Pb toxicity and protein deficiency.     

Planting gardens to support insect pollinators

Global insect pollinator declines have prompted habitat restoration efforts, including pollinator-friendly gardening. Gardens can provide nectar and pollen for adult insects and offer reproductive resources, such as nesting sites and caterpillar host plants. We conducted a review and meta-analysis to examine how decisions made by gardeners on plant selection and garden maintenance influence pollinator survival, abundance, and diversity. We also considered characteristics of surrounding landscapes and the impacts of pollinator natural enemies. Our results indicated that pollinators responded positively to high plant species diversity, woody vegetation, garden size, and sun exposure and negatively to the separation of garden habitats from natural sites. Within-garden features more strongly influenced pollinators than surrounding landscape factors. Growing interest in gardening for pollinators highlights the need to better understand how gardens contribute to pollinator conservation and how some garden characteristics can enhance the attractiveness and usefulness of gardens to pollinators. Further studies examining pollinator reproduction, resource acquisition, and natural enemies in gardens and comparing gardens with other restoration efforts and to natural habitats are needed to increase the value of human-made habitats for pollinators.     

职业健康统计研究

基于职业健康内涵和统计学原理,提出职业健康统计学的概念,并分析其学科基础,比较职业健康统计学实践应用的各种统计方法;从行业、工种、职业危害因素、职业病发展动态及等级结构、职业健康损失等方面构建职业健康统计学分支体系;分析职业健康统计绝对指标、相对指标。