First-trimester prenatal diagnosis of hypophosphatasia: Experience with 16 cases

We have carried out first-trimester prenatal diagnosis of hypophosphatasia in 1 6 pregnancies with a 1 in 4 risk of this condition. The liver/bone/kidney isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase was measured in chorionic villus samples using a specific monoclonal antibody and an enzymatic amplification system. Fifteen of the 16 pregnancies were correctly predicted, while one has been lost to follow up. We suggest that this assay system is likely to be superior to DNA-base methods for the first-trimester prenatal diagnosis of hypophosphatasia.     

Resistance of Medical Gloves to Permeation by Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and 1,4-Butanediol Dimethacrylate (1,4-BDMA)

Gloves afford hand protection by minimizing skin contact. The effectiveness of medical gloves to protect against permeation of the monomers, methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate (1,4-BDMA), was assessed focusing on permeation rates and degradation of glove materials caused by monomer contact. Fifteen different brands of gloves were tested using a European Standard procedure. Surface images of glove materials before and after exposure to the monomer mixture were obtained using a scanning electron microscope. The standard is not applicable as the only method for estimating the safety of gloves, but it is useful as guideline together with the cumulative permeation of acrylic monomers. Monomer contact on the outside resulted in substantial swelling of most glove materials, and structure changes of the inside surface.     

Prenatal findings on ultrasound and X-ray in a case of overgrowth syndrome associated with increased nuchal translucency

A case of prenatal diagnosis of an overgrowth syndrome at 30 weeks of gestation is reported. The diagnosis was suggested on the basis of increased fetal growth from 16 weeks onwards, advanced bone age, and characteristic facial features such as hypertelorism, broad forehead and small chin. The fetus presented at 12 weeks with a markedly increased nuchal translucency thickness and generalized skin edema, but normal karyotype. Serial ultrasound scans revealed brain abnormalities including mild unilateral ventriculomegaly and a cyst in the cavum septi pellucidi. The pregnancy was terminated at the parents' request at 32 weeks of gestation and postmortem examination confirmed the prenatal findings. This case demonstrates the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of early overgrowth syndromes and highlights the dilemma arising from the prenatal diagnosis of a non-lethal condition associated with an uncertain prognosis and poorly documented in utero. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coking wastewater increases micronucleus frequency in mouse in vivo via oxidative stress

Coking wastewater has caused serious health risk in coal-producing areas of China, however its toxic effects have not been well understood. The genotoxicity induced by coking wastewater on mice in vivo and its possible oxidative mechanisms were investigated via observing the induction of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes of mouse bone marrow, and subsequently determining the antioxidative enzyme activities （superoxide dismutase Cu, Zn-SOD, Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase, and catalase）, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance contents and protein carbonyl levels in brains and livers of mice. Results showed that the tested coking wastewater caused a significant increase of micronucleus frequencies in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, the sample increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation levels, which was accompanied by changes in antioxidative status. Interestingly, pre-treatment with an antioxidant （vitamin C） led to a statistical reduction in the micronucleus frequency caused by coking wastewater. This implies that coking wastewater induces evident genetic damage in mammalian cells, and exposure to polluted areas might pose a potential genotoxic risk to human beings; in the process, oxidative stress played a crucial role.     

骨炭粉对Cd污染农田的修复效果与稳定性评价

为了探明骨炭粉对Cd污染土壤的修复效果及稳定性,以潮土与红壤Cd污染农田土壤为对象,基于土壤Cd有效态、作物降Cd率（DR,%）及降Cd失活率（IR,%）等指标,研究田间条件下施用3种浓度（0.25%、0.50%及1.0%）骨炭粉对Cd污染土壤的修复效果及120,360d后修复效果的稳定性.结果表明：骨炭粉处理均能有效促进潮土与红壤中作物生长,增加作物产量.施用骨炭粉能不同程度提高土壤中pH值、阳离子交换量（CEC）、全磷及有效磷含量;其中,0.5%和1.0%骨炭粉处理均显著（P<0.05）提高土壤pH值、土壤全磷及有效磷含量.与对照相比,不同骨炭粉处理120d后潮土和红壤中有效态Cd含量分别降低32.1%~48.4%、32.8%~56.2%,360d后土壤中有效态Cd仍然显著低于对照,降幅为26.9%~37.8%、25.8%~39.5%.对修复后三季作物Cd吸收测定结果表明,与对照相比,不同浓度（0.25%~1.0%）骨炭粉处理的第一季作物降Cd率（DR_-Cd）分别达36.0%~60.4%、33.9%~58.2%,作物降Cd率随骨炭粉施用量增加而增加.基于降Cd失活率（IR_-Cd）对骨炭粉修复效果的稳定性测定结果表明,潮土与红壤施用骨炭粉360d后,第三季作物降Cd失活率IR_-Cd为21.2%~34.7%和6.2%~21.6%,表明在酸性红壤中修复效果的稳定性大于潮土.综上骨炭粉对Cd污染土壤的修复效果及其稳定性结果表明,骨炭粉在Cd污染农田土壤修复中具有较大应用价值.