Chorionic villus sampling and acceptance rate of prenatal diagnosis

In this paper, we compared the acceptance rate of fetal diagnosis for β-thalassemia in three group of couples of Sardinian descent; the first counselled before DNA analysis was available, the second presenting after DNA analysis was introduced but too late for chorionic villus sampling and thus monitored by amniocyte DNA analysis and the third presenting within the first trimester after DNA analysis was introduced and thus in time for trophoblast DNA analysis. A higher proportion of couples from the latter group opted for fetal testing as compared to the 1st and 2nd group. These results indicate that in this population, introduction of 1st trimester diagnosis made prenatal testing acceptable to practically all counselled couples at risk.     

Neutrophil and monocyte β2-integrin expression in trisomic fetuses

Flow cytometry was used to measure neutrophil and monocyte β2-integrin expression in fetuses with trisomy 18 (n=7) and trisomy 21 (n=7) at 20–25 weeks' gestation. The values were compared with those of 112 chromosomally normal fetuses. There were no significant differences in β2-integrin expression between normal and aneuploid fetuses. These findings demonstrate that in trisomies 21 and 18, alteration in β2-integrin expression is unlikely to contribute to the pathogenesis of immunological deficiencies that have been observed in these aneuploidies both prenatally and postnatally.     

聚-γ-谷氨酸在环境中降解特性的初步研究

通过液相色谱分析聚-γ-谷氨酸(γ-PGA)在环境水样和土样中的降解率,以及降解产物谷氨酸的生成量,研究γ-PGA在环境中的降解特性。研究表明:γ-PGA在环境水样中的降解较慢,10d后,0.5%γ-PGA在鱼塘水样中仅降解了1.6%,谷氨酸的含量也仅为120mg/kg。γ-PGA在环境土样中降解明显,γ-PGA在土壤中放置20d,仅保存了7.6%,而谷氨酸含量达到了3.2mg/g土样。γ-PGA在灭菌土壤中降解的半衰期是未灭菌土壤的3.7倍,这说明γ-PGA在环境土样中的降解主要是微生物的作用。从土壤中分离的γ-PGA生产菌株B. subtilis CCTCC202048能降解γ-PGA,通过PCR扩增从该菌株中得到了γ-PGA降解酶基因。该研究将为γ-PGA在环境中的使用奠定理论基础。     

The degradation of gel-spun poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) “wool”

The apparent biodegradability and biocompatibility of the microbially produced polyester, poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), has been the focus of much research by a number of authors with regard to its potential for use in packaging and medical implantation devices. PHB has recently been produced by gel-spinning into a novel form, with one possible application being as a wound scaffolding device, designed to support and protect a wound against further damage while promoting healing by encouraging cellular growth on and within the device from the wound surface. This new nonwoven form combines a large volume with a low mass, has an appearance similar to that of cotton wool, and has been called wool because of this similarity. The hydrolytic degradation of this wool was investigated in an accelerated model of pH 10.6 and temperature 70°C. It was determined that the PHB wool gradually collapsed during degradation. The surface area-to-volume ratio was concluded to be a primary influencing factor. Degradation was characterized by a reduction in the glass transition temperatures and melting points and a fusion enthalpy peak of maximum crystallinity, (88%), which coincided with the point of matrix collapse.     

Adsorption of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid/sulfuric acid from their solution by weakly basic resin: equilibrium

Experiments for single and bisolute competitive adsorption were carried out to investigate the adsorption behavior of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid(NSA) and sulfuric acid (H2 SO4 ) from their solution at 25 ℃ onto weakly basic resin D301R. Adsorption affinity of sulfuric acid on D301R was found to be much higher than that of NSA. The data of single-solute adsorption were fitted to the Langmuir model and the Freundlich adsorption model. The ideal adsorbed solution theory(IAST) coupled with the single-solute adsorption models were used to predict the bisolute competitive adsorption equilibria. The IAST coupled with the Langmuir and the Freundlich model for sulfuric acid and NSA, respectively, yields the favorable representation of the bisolute competitive adsorption behavior.     

Influence of humic fractions on retention of isoproturon residues in two Moroccan soils

The influence of different fractions of soil organic matter on the retention of the herbicide isoproturon (IPU) has been evaluated. Water and methanol extractable residues of ¹⁴C labeled isoproturon have been determined in two Moroccan soils by β -counting–liquid chromatography. The quantification of bound residues in soil and in different fractions of soil humic substances has been performed using pyrolysis/scintillation-detected gas-chromatography. Microbial mineralization of the herbicide and soil organic matter has been also monitored. Retention of isoproturon residues after 30-days incubation ranged from 22% to 32% (non-extractable fraction). The radioactivity extracted in an aqueous environment was from 20% to 33% of the amount used for the treatment; meanwhile, methanol was able to extract another 48%. Both soils showed quantities of bound residues into the humin fraction higher than humic and fulvic acids. The total amount of residues retained into the organic matter of the soils was about 65 % of non-extractable fraction, and this percentage did not change with incubation time; on the contrary, the sorption rate of the retention reaction is mostly influenced by the clay fraction and organic content of the soil. Only a little part of the herbicide was mineralized during the experimental time.     

Overlooked biodiversity loss in tropical smallholder agriculture

Smallholder agriculture is the main driver of deforestation in the western Amazon, where terrestrial biodiversity reaches its global maximum. Understanding the biodiversity value of the resulting mosaics of cultivated and secondary forest is therefore crucial for conservation planning. However, Amazonian communities are organized across multiple forest types that support distinct species assemblages, and little is known about smallholder impacts across the range of forest types that are essential for sustaining biodiversity. We addressed this issue with a large-scale field inventory of birds (point counts) and trees (transects) in primary forest and smallholder agriculture in northern Peru across 3 forest types that are key for Amazonian biodiversity. For birds smallholder agriculture supported species richness comparable to primary forest within each forest type, but biotic homogenization across forest types resulted in substantial losses of biodiversity overall. These overall losses are invisible to studies that focus solely on upland (terra firma) forest. For trees biodiversity losses in upland forests dominated the signal across all habitats combined and homogenization across habitats did not exacerbate biodiversity loss. Proximity to forest strongly predicted the persistence of forest-associated bird and tree species in the smallholder mosaic, and because intact forest is ubiquitous in our study area, our results probably represent a best-case scenario for biodiversity in Amazonian agriculture. Land-use planning inside and outside protected areas should recognize that tropical smallholder agriculture has pervasive biodiversity impacts that are not apparent in typical studies that cover a single forest type. The full range of forest types must be surveyed to accurately assess biodiversity losses, and primary forests must be protected to prevent landscape-scale biodiversity loss.     

Immunoassay of red dyes based on the monoclonal antibody of β-naphthol

The objective of the present study was to develop a multi-analyte immunoassay for the determination of eight red dyes in food samples. Two dye intermediates (2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid and 1-amino-2-naphthol) were used as the haptens to produce the monoclonal antibodies. The obtained monoclonal antibodies recognized Sudan 1–4, Para red, Sudan red G, Sudan red B and Acid orange II simultaneously. After evaluation of different antibody/coating antigen combinations, a heterologous indirect competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed to determine the eight red dyes in food samples (chili oil, chili powder, tomato sauce, hotpot seasoning). The crossreactivities to the eight analytes were in the range of 61%–79% (with β-naphthol as 100%), and the limits of detection were in the range of 1.3–1.9 ng/mL. The recoveries of the eight analytes from the fortified blank samples were in the range of 84.2%–115% with coefficients of variation lower than 18.3%. Therefore, this method could be used as a rapid and simple tool to detect the residues of the eight red dyes in foods.     

β-内酰胺类抗生素前处理技术及其残留的研究进展

β-内酰胺类是指在结构中有β-内酰胺环的一大类抗生素,在人类和动物疾病的治疗和预防上有着广泛的应用。抗生素的长期滥用造成药物在各种环境和动物源性食品中的残留,严重威胁环境生态和人体健康,因此各种样品中β-内酰胺类抗生素的分析检测方法成为当下研究热点。介绍了在测定β-内酰胺类抗生素残留时常用的前处理方法,包括液液微萃取技术、固相萃取技术和基质固相分散技术,同时研究了多种样品中β-内酰胺类抗生素残留的研究现状。