Prenatal diagnosis of sex chromosome aneuploidy: possible reasons for high rates of pregnancy termination

Sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA), when detected in amniocentesis, is usually an unexpected result of a test carried out for another purpose. For most SCAs, the prognosis is milder and less predictable than trisomy 21, and therefore parents are faced with a difficult decision regarding the option of pregnancy termination. While studies from Europe and the USA report a declining trend in termination rates for SCA, our local experience is different. During the period 1989–1998, we diagnosed 60 SCA (including mosaics) in 20 106 amniocenteses (0.29%) and 48 (80%) of these pregnancies were terminated, a significantly higher proportion than has been reported in Europe and the USA. The present study shows that the difference between our experience and others' may be related to differences in cultural norms and values. Thirty women were interviewed, of whom 23 terminated and seven continued the pregnancy. Interview analyses showed that the main reason behind the decision to terminate the pregnancy was associated with the parents' fear of non-specific abnormality of the child, and concerns about abnormal sexual development. Although genetic counseling practised in our center aims to be non-directive, 56% of the women reported that the counseling was either directive towards termination, or that they at least felt that the counselor's attitude was pro-termination. Most women (93%) reported themselves as having come to terms with their decision. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

室温Fenton反应过程H2O2有效利用率的影响因素研究

Fenton反应是H2O2在Fe^2＋催化作用下产生氧自由基并氧化污染物的高效方法。但影响Fenton反应过程H2O2分解及其有效利用率的因素是很多的,其中[Fe^2＋]要求控制在3mmol／L以上。酚类体系H2O2的有效利用率不受H2O2浓度变化的影响,但受初始COD的影响,一般表现为随COD的增加,H2O2有效利用率迅速增加。当初始COD一定时,H2O2浓度在600mg／L和1800mg／L时,一元酚与二元酚体系的H2O2有效利用率均出现了两个峰值,前者的峰值分别为11．83gCOD／gH2O2和12．99gCOD／gH2O2,后者的峰值分别为9．01和11．95gCOD／gH2O2。而醇类体系H2O2的有效利用率受H2O2浓度的影响较大,但与初始COD的关系不明显。当H2O2浓度低于300mg／L时,乙醇比对照体系H2O2的分解率高1-3％,而有效利用率仅为0．6gCOD／gH2O2;随H2O2用量的继续增加,其有效利用率趋于0gCOD／gH2O2。而二元醇体系H2O2有效利用率与其浓度间呈“倒U”型规律,H2O2低于300mg／L时,其有效利用率仅为1．25gCOD／gH2O2;H2O2浓度在300mg／L～900mg／L之间时,其有效利用率可达8．96gCOD／gH2O2;其后随着H2O2的增加,有效利用率迅速下降到与乙醇体系相当。在混合体系中,醇羟基和酚羟基所占比例对H2O2有效利用率也有显著的影响,当乙醇比例小于60％时,H2O2有效利用率稳定在13．0gCOD／gH2O2;随乙醇比例的增加,其对H2O2的分解抑制效应表现出剂量依赖关系,H2O2有效利用率也逐渐下降到近于0gCOD／gH2O2,说明这部分H2O2并没有得以有效地分解用于氧化废水中的COD,这在工程实践中应引起高度的重视。     

氧化沟工艺低氧同步脱氮启动研究

在常温条件下,采用小试Pasveer氧化沟处理低C/N实际污水,通过控制好氧区平均ρ(DO)为0.2～0.4 mg/L,保持好氧区与缺氧区体积比为1∶1,成功实现低氧脱氮过程。其中,模式1先接种好氧污泥并逐渐降低好氧区DO,然后接种缺氧污泥;模式2初始阶段保持低氧环境,并直接接种好氧和缺氧混合污泥。结果显示:两种方式均能成功启动低氧脱氮并保持较高的脱氮率;同时,当C/N值为1.94时,氨氮去除率较高;当C/N值为3.00时,总氮去除率较高,低氧低碳条件下脱氮效果较好。     

The effects of bisphenol A on sex hormone levels of F0 female rats and F1 male rats during weaning period

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) were examined on sex hormones of F1 generation male rats during weaning period. Female rats were exposed to BPA from day 0 after pregnancy to the weaning period at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg^?1. The sex hormone levels of F1 generation male rats were determined. This study shows that F0 generation female rats fed with 200 mg kg^?1 BPA had a significantly higher serum prolactin (PRL) levels at the end of weaning. Significantly higher levels of serum estradiol (E₂) were also found in female rats fed 100 or 200 mg kg^?1 BPA. Serum levels of E₂ in F1 male generation rats were higher in treatment groups compared to control groups while serum testosterone (T) levels were lower. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in F1 generation rats fed 200 mg kg^?1 was markedly decreased. The relative testicular weights were significantly less in 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 BPA groups. BPA was found to alter the sex hormone levels in F1 male rats during weaning period and thus disrupted endocrine functions.     

EEDs对鱼类性激素合成途径干扰作用研究进展

环境内分泌干扰物(environmental endocrine disruptors,EEDs)是一类可以改变生物体内激素的合成、释放、运输、代谢、结合、作用或清除等一系列生物过程的外源物质。性激素的生物合成需要一系列酶的参与,体内和体外研究表明,性激素合成途径中的类固醇生成酶是EEDs通过非性激素受体介导途径发挥内分泌扰乱作用的重要靶点,性激素合成途径的扰乱可能导致生物体生殖系统受损。本文综述了EEDs对鱼类性激素合成底物和类固醇生成酶的影响、信号转导机制及其生殖危害;并对性激素合成途径中促性腺激素调控机理、多种转录因子间的相互作用、不同物种间类固醇生成酶的差异以及各内分泌轴线的相互作用研究进行了展望,以期为EEDs通过非性激素受体介导途径发挥内分泌干扰效应的机制研究提供思路。     

环境内分泌干扰物对鱼类性别决定的影响研究进展

水体中的环境内分泌干扰物能够影响鱼类性别决定过程,对鱼类产生明显的雌、雄性化效应.为深入研究环境内分泌干扰物对鱼类性别决定的影响及其机制,论文介绍了鱼类性别决定基因SRY和DMY基因在鱼类性别决定中的作用,以及Sox、DMRT、CYP和Vasa、Dax1、Foxl2等鱼类性别决定相关基因对鱼类性别决定的调控作用,综述了各类环境内分泌干扰物引起的鱼类雌、雄性化效应的最新研究进展,在此基础上探讨了环境内分泌干扰物影响鱼类性别决定的作用机制,并展望了该领域今后的重点研究方向.     

三种农作物秸秆燃烧颗粒态多环芳烃排放特征

收集3种农作物秸秆玉米,水稻和小麦露天燃烧排放的颗粒物样品,并利用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)对样品中的34种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行分析,研究颗粒态PAHs的排放因子及可用于源解析的诊断参数.结果表明,3种秸秆燃烧总PAHs的排放因子为644.18~1798.13μg/kg;其中4环PAHs在秸秆燃烧样品中含量最高,约占38.8%~58.8%,6环PAHs所占比例相对较小,约占5.72%~15.17%.PAHs中部分单体具有相对较强致癌性,对环境和人体健康的影响不可忽视.首次检测分子量为300的高分子多环芳烃二苯并[a,e]荧蒽.在玉米、水稻和小麦秸秆燃烧排放颗粒物中的排放因子分别为6.70,2.77和2.92μg/kg.此外,研究发现BaP/BghiP, Phe/Phe+Ant和Flu/(Flu + Pyr)比值可以作为较好的区分秸秆燃烧与其他来源的诊断参数.     

京津冀与长三角地区氢氯氟碳化物本底特征

基于北京上甸子与浙江临安区域大气本底站2011—2019年氢氯氟碳化物(HCFCs)采样观测数据,开展了京津冀与长三角地区6种HCFCs(HCFC-22、HCFC-141b、HCFC-142b、HCFC-124、HCFC-132b和HCFC-133a)本底特征研究。研究结果表明:临安站HCFCs浓度水平和浓度变率比上甸子站明显更高,尤其是HCFC-133a,其浓度及浓度变率均比上甸子站高1个量级,表明长三角地区HCFCs排放量可能较京津冀地区更大。2个站点HCFCs本底浓度基本一致,差异范围为-6.1%~7.1%。上甸子站本底数据占比为26.4%~69.0%,而临安站本底数据占比不足23%。在《关于消耗臭氧层物质的蒙特利尔议定书》的约束下,2个站点多数HCFCs年均浓度呈下降趋势或变化较小。2个站点HCFC-132b浓度相对较低,但2019年相比2018年有明显升高。结合风向进行分析,发现上甸子站HCFC-22、HCFC-141b、HCFC-142b和HCFC-132b高浓度水平主要由西南扇区(北京城区方向)的WSW、SSW及SW方向贡献,而HCFC-124和HCFC-133a在各风向上的浓度和载荷差异较小。临安站HCFC-124高浓度水平主要由SSE和NNE方向贡献,分别对应金华和湖州方向;其他5种HCFCs的高浓度水平主要由东北扇区的ENE方向贡献,对应杭州城区方向。     

Source Apportionment and Identification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediment Cores of Selected Creeks in Delta State,Nigeria

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) seasonal variation and sources in Ubeji, Ifie, and Egbokodo Creeks of the Niger Delta, Nigeria, were predicted using diagnostic ratios (DRs) of parent PAHs (Phe/Phe + Ant; Flu/Flu + Pyr; BaA/BaA + Chry, and Ind/Ind + BghiP) and principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 222 sediment core samples were collected during the wet (August 2010) and the dry seasons (January 2011). The samples were dried and Soxhlet extracted; sample extracts were fractionated and analyzed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) to identify individual PAHs. The diagnostic PAH ratios revealed that PAHs in the sediment cores at the three creeks, in both seasons, mainly stemmed from the combustion process (pyrogenic sources). Principal component analysis further confirmed that wood-burning, coal combustion, diesel, gasoline-powered vehicular emissions, and petroleum combustion were the dominant contributors of PAHs sources at the sampling location. This study provided information on the origin and sources of PAHs in sediment cores, which may be useful for regulatory actions, environmental quality management, contamination history, and environmental forensic studies.