Chromosome mosaicism and maternal cell contamination in chorionic villi

While chorionic villus sampling allows both early and rapid prenatal diagnosis of chromosome disorders, the accuracy of this technique has not been fully established. Maternal cell contamination and pseudomosaicism represent two major sources of diagnostic error. Combined use of both direct chromosome preparations and villus cultures is important in overcoming these problems. Direct preparations of villus tissue allow recognition of maternal cell contamination of villus cultures. Conversely, villus cultures yield higher resolution chromosomes and may be helpful in differentiating between true versus pseudomosaicism when two or more cell lines are identified in direct chromosome preparations. Preliminary data suggest that analysis of direct preparations from multiple individually processed villus fragments may also be of value in this regard. Until more experience is gained, mid-trimester amniocentesis should be offered to CVS patients when mosaicism is encountered.     

汶川地震后羌族聚居区药用植物生态环境调查分析研究

探讨了地震灾区药用植物生态变化调查分析问题,介绍了地震灾区生态变化和中草药植物资源,主要包括地震灾区生物多样性和生态变化和地震灾区特色中草药植物资源,探讨了汶川地震后羌族聚居区的生态,主要包括地震灾区自然生态概况、地震灾区植物生态变化和地震灾区植物生态环境调查分析,分析了地震灾区生态环境对生物多样性影响,主要包括地震灾区生物多样性和羌族地区生态变化与中草药植物的关系,为地震灾区植物生态变化恢复奠定了基础。     

In vitro evaluation of human liver cancer cells and the potential cytotoxicity of Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae) and Brickellia cavanillesi (Asteraceae) both single and in combination

Medicinal herbs are steadily increasing in complementary use for chronic and alterative therapies. The health risks associated with herbal supplements have therefore been identified as a top research priority. Tecoma stans (Tronadora), a Bignoniaceae plant, is a herbal drug traditionally consumed as tea in South America for the control of diabetes. It contains the alkaloids of tecomine and tecostanine which were shown as functional compounds responsible for hypoglycemic activity. However, the side effects of aqueous extracts of this herbal tea have not been reported. In this study, studies sought to evaluate the cytotoxicity of water extracts from T. stans in human hepatoblastoma (HepG2). Toxic effects of T. stans were concentration- and time-dependent in the presence and absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Cells were incubated for up to 72-h with varying concentrations of herbal extracts (60–100%), cytotoxicity was determined spectrophotometrically by MTT and reported in terms of % cell viability. For IC₅₀ assay (24 h exposure), cytotoxicity was found at concentration of 60–100%. Evaluation of the effects of T. stans and Brickellia cavanillesi (Asteraceae) in combination revealed that extracts of both herbal extracts' nontoxic levels of T. stans significantly reduced cell viability in a time-dependent manner. Further studies are needed regarding the identification, toxicity, and molecular mechanism of action of active compounds, as well as their cytotoxicity to other cell lines following exposure to both single and combined herbal extracts of these plants with anti-diabetic properties.     

Preparations and properties of transformation products of pentachlorophenol (PCP)

The present paper describes preparations and properties of pentachlorophenol derivatives.     

Dietary risk evaluation for 28 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tea preparations made of teas available on the Polish retail market

The aim of this work was to assess dietary risk resulting from consumption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with tea infusions. To this end, levels of 28 PAHs in black, green, red and white teas available on the Polish retail market have been assessed. Profiles and correlation between concentrations of individual PAHs have been identified. A model study on transfer of PAHs from tea leaves into tea preparations has been conducted. Relatively high concentrations of 28 evaluated PAHs have been found in 58 tested samples of black, green, red and white teas sampled on the Polish retail market. Total concentration ∑28PAH ranged from 57 to 696 µg kg^?1 with mean 258 µg kg^?1 (dry tea leaves). The most mature tea leaves fermented to a small degree contained relatively the highest PAH levels among all four tested tea types. Relatively low PAH transfer rates into tea infusions and limited volumes of the consumed tea keep the risks associated with PAH dietary intake at a safely low level.

The worst-case scenario dietary intake values were 7.62/0.82/0.097 ng kg^?1 b.w. day^?1 (estimated on the basis of the maximum found concentrations 696/113/23 µg kg^?1 and maximum observed transfer rates 24/16/9%) for ∑28PAH/∑PAH4/B[a]P, respectively. MOE values calculated using the above worst case estimates exceeded 700,000 and 400,000 (BMDL₁₀ 0.07 and 0.34 mg kg^?1 b.w. day^?1) for B[a]P and PAH4, respectively. Both B[a]P and PAH4 concentrations may be used as indicators of total PAH concentration in tea leaves; PAH4 slightly better fits low molecular weight PAHs. Several correlations between various PAHs/groups of PAHs have been identified, the strongest one (R² = 0.92) between PAH4 and EU PAH 15+1.     

中药复合饲料对锦鲤诱食效果与生长影响的研究

选择3种中药配方,以其水提液对体长3-5cm锦鲤进行诱食活性(触球法)试验.每组实验重复5次,实验结果采用Excel和SPSS软件分析.结果表明,配方1对锦鲤的诱食有抑制作用,配方2与配方3对锦鲤有诱食反应,抑制或诱食的强弱与中药的浓度有关.其中,配方1 P=0.004＜ 0.05,配方2 P=0.0005＜ 0.05,配方3 P=0.0003＜ 0.0,经复合饵料饲喂后,实验鱼体长和体重都比基础饵料增长显著,说明3种饵料对锦鲤的生长都有促进作用.其中,配方2降低饵料系数0.2801,增重率达17.66％.     

The application of automated metaphase scanning to direct preparations of chorionic villi

In order to increase the speed of analysis of metaphases from chorionic villi direct preparations, we have investigated the use of two automatic scanning devices, the Magiscan II and a version of Metafip (the research laboratory precursor of Cytoscan). The speed, efficiency, and ranking system have been compared to manual scanning. Results show that both machines detect approximately 80 per cent of the total analysable metaphases detected by a trained cytogeneticist. There appears to be reasonable agreement in ranking between methods.     

Identification of a case of maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 10 associated with confined placental mosaicism

We report a case of maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 10 discovered after chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Direct preparations revealed mosaic trisomy 10, while cultured CVS cells, as well as amniotic fluid cells, showed only a normal 46,XY complement. DNA analysis using microsatellite markers showed both chromosomes 10 to have been inherited from the mother. The pregnancy was complicated by polyhydramnios. A phenotypically normal male infant of appropriate size was delivered by Caesarean section at 41 weeks' gestation. Since only the direct preparations showed trisomy 10, this case illustrates the importance of CVS direct preparations in the detection of pregnancies at risk of uniparental disomy (UPD). Although the increased frequency of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) diagnosed when direct preparations are performed has been viewed negatively, identification of both CPM and UPD may have biological and clinical significance for a pregnancy. Even though only a single case of maternal disomy 10 is reported here, the apparently normal phenotype provides evidence that there are no major imprinted loci on chromosome 10 that affect in utero growth and development. However, other potential effects such as mental retardation will require long-term follow-up of this as well as additional cases.     

Microwave-assisted acid extraction of the major metal elements in herbal extracts followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) determination

The content of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn was determined in Rosa damascena, Vitis vinifera, Crocus sativus, and Olea europaea L. herbal extracts produced in different areas in Greece. Samples were mineralized in a closed microwave system using nitric acid, and the concentration of all metals was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The herbal extracts contained As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, and Pb at concentrations below their respective limits of detection, whereas Cu, Fe, Mg, and Zn were determined in varying quantities. The proposed method is precise and accurate, thus it can be used for the determination of metals in Rosa damascena, Vitis vinifera, Crocus sativus, and Olea europaea L. herbal extracts.     

Analysis of lead in tongkat Ali hitam herbal preparations in Malaysia

The DCA (Drug Control Authority), Ministry of Health, Malaysia implemented the phase three registration of traditional medicines on January 1st, 1992. As such, a total of 100 products in various pharmaceutical dosage forms of a herbal preparation obtained in Malaysia, containing tongkat Ali hitam, either single or combined preparations, were analyzed for the contamination of a heavy toxic metal, lead, using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, after performing a simple random sampling to enable each sample an equal chance of being selected in an unbiased manner. Results showed that 17% of these products contained 10.3–20.3?ppm of lead, and therefore, do not comply with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia. The quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia is not exceeding 10?ppm for lead. Out of these 17 products, 7 products have been registered with the DCA, Malaysia whilst the rest, however, have not registered with the DCA, Malaysia. Although this study showed that 83% of the products complied with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia pertaining to lead, however, they cannot be assumed safe from lead contamination because of the risk of batch-to-batch variability.