Antioxidant action of several β‐adrenergic blockers and related compounds

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of several β‐adrenergic blockers and related compounds with respect to generation of reactive oxygen species, especially hydroxyl radicals. Measurements were done using a chemiluminescence technique and the Co(II)‐EDTA + H₂O₂ system as a source of active oxygen species.     

昆仑山口西地震激发的地球环型振荡

利用中国数字地震台网(CDSN)改造后的7个台站3天的VHE、VHN波形资料,采用功率谱密度估计方法,在没有对资料进行去固体潮处理的情况下,提取了2001-11-14昆仑山口西地震激发的0T2～0T40地球环型自由振荡,并与地球初步参考模型(PREM)的理论自由振荡周期进行对比,发现环型振荡振型周期与PREM预测的环型自由振荡周期符合得很好。频率与PREM模型略微不一致的环型振荡振型可以解释为地球介质的横向不均匀性和各向异性所致。因此地球自由振荡信息可用于揭示地球的三维不均匀结构信息或各向异性信息,并可能对区分地幔对流模式(全地幔对流或上地幔对流)有所帮助。     

广州城市大气HOx化学过程初步研究

根据广州城市大气中OH自由基和其它污染物同步测量结果,计算了城市大气HO_x(OH+HO₂)化学过程中主要反应的转化速率,分析了城市大气化学过程的主要特征,并与清洁大气中的化学过程进行了对比.研究结果表明:广州城市大气中OH和HO₂总的生成速率分别约为4.5×10⁸分子/(cm³·s)和3.8×10⁸分子/(cm³·s),比清洁大气中要快得多;城市大气中的OH净生成主要来自气相HNO₂的光解,而OH的去除主要与VOCs、HCHO、NO₂和CO反应,有别于清洁大气.     

Screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies in the first trimester: does chorionicity impact on maternal serum free β-hCG or PAPP-A levels?

In a study of 180 twin pregnancies I have examined the distribution of maternal serum free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), in addition to fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT), in twins classified as monochorionic or dichorionic, based on ultrasound appearance at 10–14 weeks of gestation. In 45 monochorionic and 135 dichorionic twin pregnancies the median MoM free β-hCG was not significantly different (1.00 vs 1.01), whilst that for PAPP-A was lower (0.89 vs 1.01) but again with no statistical significance. Previous reports of an increased fetal NT in monochorionic twins pregnancies could not be confirmed (1.03 vs 1.00). It is concluded that the existing pseudo risk twin correction algorithm is appropriate for both monochorionic and dichorionic twins in providing accurate first trimester risks for trisomy 21. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve by Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in China

1 INTRODUCTIONAs the globalization of world economy speeds up,international trade and foreign investment mainly bytransnational corporations are continuously expanding.It is against this background that the relationship betweentrade, FDI, economic growth and environmental pollutionstarted to attract close attention from scholars both athome and abroad (Dean, 1992; 2001; Copeland andTaylor, 2003; OECD, 1997; Beladi, 1999; MA, 2003).Although the idea that "economy and environment win-w…     

First trimester PAPP-A in the detection of non-Down syndrome aneuploidy

Combined first trimester screening using pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin, and nuchal translucency (NT), is currently accepted as probably the best combination for the detection of Down syndrome (DS). Current first trimester algorithms provide computed risks only for DS. However, low PAPP-A is also associated with other chromosome anomalies such as trisomy 13, 18, and sex chromosome aneuploidy. Thus, using currently available algorithms, some chromosome anomalies may not be detected. The purpose of the present study was to establish a low-end cut-off value for PAPP-A that would increase the detection rates for non-DS chromosome anomalies. The study included 1408 patients who underwent combined first trimester screening. To determine a low-end cut-off value for PAPP-A, a Receiver–Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. In the entire study group there were 18 cases of chromosome anomalies (trisomy 21, 13, 18, sex chromosome anomalies), 14 of which were among screen-positive patients, a detection rate of 77.7% for all chromosome anomalies (95% CI: 55.7–99.7%). ROC curve analysis detected a statistically significant cut-off for PAPP-A at 0.25 MoM. If the definition of screen-positive were to also include patients with PAPP-A<0.25 MoM, the detection rate would increase to 88.8% for all chromosome anomalies (95% CI: 71.6–106%). This low cut-off value may be used until specific algorithms are implemented for non-Down syndrome aneuploidy. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Maternal serum levels of total activin-A in first-trimester trisomy 21 pregnancies

Maternal serum total activin-A concentration was measured in 45 pregnancies affected by trisomy 21 and 493 control unaffected pregnancies at 10–14 weeks of gestation. In the trisomy 21 pregnancies total activin-A concentration was significantly higher (1.36 MoM of the unaffected pregnancies) and in 16% of cases the level was above the 95th centile of normal. The log₁₀ SD for the control group and the trisomy 21 group were 0.17 and 0.22, respectively. The median pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in this trisomy 21 series was 0.49 and for free β-hCG was 2.05. In the trisomy group there were significant positive associations between total activin-A and PAPP-A (0.6071) and free β-hCG (0.4255). The low median difference and the high overlap in values between trisomic and unaffected pregnancies make total activin-A of little practical use in first-trimester screening for trisomy 21. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First trimester serum screening for down's syndrome

Screening for Down's Syndrome has been shown to be effective at 10 weeks of pregnancy. A multicentre study (the First trimester serum screening study) has shown that there are two biochemical markers of choice at this time in pregnancy, namely pregnancy associated placental protein A (PAPP-A) and the free β-sub-unit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG). When used together with maternal age these two biochemical markers have an estimated detection rate of 62% and a 5% false-positive rate. The results are consistent with those obtained from a systematic review of the world literature. Other markers are less predictive of Down's syndrome though there is still some uncertainty over the value of dimeric inhibin-A at 10 weeks of pregnancy. Nuchal translucency measurement, from an ultrasound examination performed at about 10 weeks of pregnancy, is associated with Down's syndrome and is emerging as an important potential screening marker. At present there is uncertainty over its quantitative performance and performance when combined with biochemical markers. The resolution of these issues is currently the subject of active research. Ten week screening for Down's syndrome is an advance that is now technically possible though there is still insufficient information to justify its use in routine screening practice.     

ESTIMATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY IN AQUATIC SYSTEMS USING FREE OXYGEN MEASUREMENTS1

ABSTRACT: A one-dimensional model for heat and oxygen transport is frequently used for the estimation of primary productivity. Such a model employs free oxygen and temperature measurements at discrete time and depth intervals. In this method the eddy diffusion coefficients of heat and oxygen are assumed to be interchangeable. This method was applied to hourly data for 24-hour periods in a small temperature stratified lake. Primary productivity was simultaneously measured with the light and dark bottle method. The application of the free oxygen method resulted in unrealistic estimates of productivity. Some consideration is given to the origin of the failure in the application of this method.