Metabolism of DDT in Different Tissues of Young Rats

The bioconcentration and distribution pattern of p,p′-DDT 1,1,1-1trichloro-2,2-bis(2-chlorophenyl-4-chlorophenyl)-ethane] and its main metabolites (p,p′-DDD [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane] and p,p′-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) in adipose tissue, liver, brain, kidney, thymus, and testis were examined in young rats after 10 days of intraperitoneal injection of 50 and 100 mg of p,p′-DDT/kg of body weight. Analyses were performed by high-resolution gas chromatography. p,p′-DDT was found to be accumulated in a dose-dependent manner with the highest concentration in adipose tissue. However, in brain, the accumulation of pesticide was low and remained unchanged at the higher dose. This difference may relate to the protective role of the blood-brain barrier, which limits the access of the xenobiotic in the cerebral compartment, and to the differential tissue lipid composition. Although tissues concentration of p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD correlated positively to total p,p′-DDT levels, the active role in detoxification of pollutants may explain why p,p′-DDD is more abundant in liver than in the rest of organs. On the contrary, in brain, the concentration of p,p′-DDE is higher than that of p,p′-DDD, suggesting that the metabolism of the parent insecticide proceeds via more than one pathway.     

Soxhlet extraction parameters’ influence on the recovery of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) from a sediment,and artifact formation of PCDD

Soxhlet extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) from sediment was studied using a designed experimental set‐up. Three variables were studied: three solvent combinations n‐hexane/methanol, dichloromethane/acetone and toluene/methanol; two extraction times, 8 and 16 h, and addition of bulk substances (sodium carbonate). The extraction efficiency was almost identical in all extractions, with the exception of extraction where toluene/ methanol was combined with sodium carbonate. In these samples a major effect was observed, due to formation of Hx‐, Hp‐ and OCDD isomers. Composition of formed PCDD was similar to PCDD isomers found in pentachlorophenol products.     

Effects of nonylphenol on ovarian cancer cells PEO4 c-myc and p53 mRNA and protein expression

The molecular mechanisms underlying proliferation and apoptosis induced by p-nonylphenol (NP) through regulation of mRNA and protein expression of c-myc, p53 mRNA and the protein was investigated using ovarian cancer PEO4 cells. PEO4 cells were grown in the Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM), 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to investigate cell proliferation. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry was performed to determine mRNA and protein expression of PEO4 c-myc and p53. Within the range of approximately 8–9×10^?7 mol L^?1, NP stimulated proliferation in PEO4 cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that treatment with 32 × 10^?7 mol L^?1 NP for 72 hr resulted in increased mRNA and protein expression of PEO4 c-myc and p53. Evidence indicates that NP exerted estrogenic actions and stimulated proliferation in estrogen responsive ovarian cancer PEO4 cells by up-regulation of c-myc mRNA and protein expression.     

Biodegradation of Electrospun Poly-(ɛ-caprolactone) Non-woven Fabrics by Pure-Cultured Soil Filamentous Fungi

The biodegradation of electrospun nano-fibers of poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) was initially investigated with respect to the environmental application of PCL non-woven fabrics, using pure-cultured soil filamentous fungi, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium caseicolum, P. citrinum, Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp., Curvularia sp., and Cladosporium sp. Three kinds of non-woven PCL fabrics with different mean fiber diameters (330, 360, and 510 nm) were prepared by changing the viscosities of the pre-spun PCL solutions (150, 210, and 310 cPs, respectively). All of the pure-line soil filamentous fungi tested grew on the two fiber materials. Electron microscopy was used to observe the biodegradation processes revealing remarkable growth of two fungi, Rhizopus sp. and Mucor sp., along with the accompanying collapse of the nano-fiber matrices. In the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test, the biodegradation of the 330 nm PCL nano-fibers by Rhizopus sp. and Mucor sp. exceeded 20 and 30% carbon dioxide generation, respectively. The biodegradability of the PCL non-woven fabrics decreased with the mean fiber diameter and the 330 nm PCL nano-fiber that was made from 150 cPs solution (concentration, 7 wt%) exhibited the highest biodegradability. These results might offer some clues for the applications of the PCL non-woven fabrics having the controlled biodegradability in the environmental uses.     

Pallister Killian-mosaic tetrasomy 12 p syndrome. Another prenatally diagnosed case

A new case of mosaic tetrasomy 12 p (46, XY/47, XY, + i 12 p), diagnosed during pregnancy from ultrasonographic signs, is reported. We emphasize the peculiar position of the diaphragmatic hernia in this syndrome. Its presence or absence determines the vital prognosis and the age of diagnosis. The knowledge of its possible association with tetrasomy 12 p can contribute considerably to the neonatal diagnosis by directing the work of the cytogeneticist to tissue cultures which enable him to detect the presence of the tetrasomy.     

有机肥与化肥配施对土壤养分的影响研究

不同有机肥与化肥配施比例都有促进土壤养分含量的作用,土壤中有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量均随有机肥在肥料中比例的增加而增加,增幅分别为1.04％～63.49％、5.57％～24.50％、28.65％～48.42％、16.7％ ～ 28.65％.有机肥与化肥配施能够明显改善土壤理化性质,降低土壤pH值和土壤容重,提高土壤总孔隙度,提高土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾的含量,表明有机肥与化肥配施对土壤养分的提高效果明显,并明显高于单施化肥和不施肥.综合分析,有机肥与化肥配施比例为7∶3是值得推广应用的优化方案.     

太湖流域经济增长与环境污染水平的关系研究

环境库兹涅茨曲线（KEC）是描述污染问题与经济发展之间关系的常用模型,一般情况下呈倒“U”形。通过对太湖流域1991-2005年的人均GDP与工业三废排放量之间的关系分析,研究发现,太湖流域的环境库兹涅茨曲线特征为增长的凹曲线,不同于传统的环境库兹涅茨曲线,同时分析了产生这一现象的原因,并从调整经济结构、转变增长方式、发展循环经济方面给出政策建议。     

纳氏试剂光度法测定水中氨氮的质量控制

纳氏试剂光度法是测定水中氨氮的国家标准法,该法具有操作简单、灵敏的优点。但在实际工作中有许多因素影响纳氏试剂光度法对水中氨氮的测定结果,根据多年的实际工作经验,文章从实验室环境、反应条件、水体中的主要干扰物到数据处理与结果报出等可能影响氨氮测定结果的有关因素及注意事项进行了研究和探讨,并提出了相应的解决方法,只要切实做好监测过程中的每一个环节,严格按照质控程序进行,就能保证纳氏试剂光度法测定水中氨氮分析结果的准确性。