First-trimester diagnosis of an unusual case of α-mannosidosis

Chorionic villi obtained in the first trimester from a pregnancy at risk for α-mannosidosis were shown to have reduced α-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) activity. The pregnancy was terminated and subsequent enzyme studies of the fetal tissues were consistent with the diagnosis of α-mannosidosis. Like the enzyme in the child's fibroblast, α-mannosidase of the chorionic villi from a pregnancy at risk for α-mannosidosis was activated by high substrate concentration and by Zn^{2 +}, and displayed a K_m value two-fold higher than normal. Our results confirm that chorionic villi can be used for early prenatal diagnosis of α-mannosidosis.     

植物对Cd-B[α]P复合污染土壤的修复

为了研究植物对Cd-B[α]P复合污染土壤的修复效果,本研究采取实验室模拟实验的方法,通过种植黑麦草、芥菜、苜蓿和高羊茅,进行Cd、B[α]P污染土壤修复植物的筛选。结果表明,芥菜和黑麦草对土壤中有效态Cd均有富集能力。黑麦草对B[α]P污染土壤修复效果比苜蓿、高羊茅的修复效果强,75 d时,平均富集系数最高为1.1。在Cd-B[α]P复合污染土壤植物修复效果的研究中,选择在土壤中种植黑麦草,结果表明,黑麦草对Cd-B[α]P复合污染土壤中Cd和B[α]P 有良好地去除作用,75 d时,分别达到58.55%和89.95%。     

Photocatalytic remediation of γ-HCH contaminated soil induced by α-Fe2O3 and TiO2

Heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of γ-HCH on soil surfaces was carried out to evaluate the photocatalytic effectiveness of α-Fe2O3 and TiO2 toward degrading γ-HCH on soil surfaces. After being spiked with γ-HCH, soil samples were loaded with α-Fe2O3 or TiO2 and exposed to UV-light irradiation. Different catalyst loads(0%, 2%, 5%, 7%, and 10% (wt). α-Fe2O3; 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% wt. TiO2) were tested for up to 7 d irradiation. The effects of soil thickness, acidity, and humic substances were also investigated. The obtained results indicated that the γ-HCH photodegradation follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The addition of α-Fe2O3 or TiO2 accelerates the photodegradation of γ-HCH, while the photodegradation rate decreases when the content of α-Fe2O3 exceeds 7%(wt.). The degradation rate increases with the soil pH value. Humic substances inhibit the photocatalytic degradation of γ-HCH. Pentachlorocyclohexene, tetrachlorocyclohexene, and trichlorobenzene are detected as photodegradation intermediates, which are gradually degraded with the photodegradation evolution.     

Prenatal exclusion of Hurler's disease by leucocyte α-L-iduronidase assay

Hurler's disease was excluded in a fetus at 23 weeks' gestation by demonstrating normal iduronidase activity in fetal leucocytes following failure of amniotic cell culture after amnic-centesis at 16 and 19 weeks' gestation. The diagnosis was confirmed in the neonate.     

α1-Microglobulin levels and correlation with cadmium and other metals in urine of non-smoking women among general populations in Japan

The present study was initiated to examine urinary α₁-microglobulin (α₁-MG-U) levels among non-smoking women in the general population in Japan. A previously established database on spot urine samples from adult woman volunteers in 10 non-polluted areas all over Japan was re-examined. The data examined were on α₁-MG-U, cadmium, calcium, magnesium and zinc levels in urine (Cd-U, Ca-U, Mg-U and Zn-U, respectively), urinary creatinine (CR or cr), urine specific gravity (SG or sg), smoking habits and age. Thus, 8975 never-smoking women were selected for statistical analyses. The grand geometric mean (GM) for α₁-MG-U among the population was 2.1?mg/L or 2.5?mg/g?cr, depending on the correction for urine density. It was 1.1?µg/L or 1.3?µg/g?cr for GM Cd-U. The inter-area difference in α₁-MG-U was <1.5?mg/g?cr or <0.7?mg/L; the area with the highest or lowest GM Cd-U was not always highest or lowest in GM α₁-MG-U. The correlation coefficient (0.53) between log?Cd-U and log?α₁-MG-U (both without urine density correction) became substantially smaller when the analyte levels were corrected for CR (0.25) or SG (0.26). In multiple regression analysis, the power of influence of the five independent variables (log?Cd-U, Ca-U, Mg-U, Zn-U and age) in combination was small (R ²?≦?0.13). In contrast, logistic regression analysis suggested that α₁-MG-U might be elevated as a function of an increase in Cd-U, depending on the cut-off values. Discussion was made on dose (Cd-U_cr) and response (α₁-MG-U_cr) relationship based on information available in literatures to show that the increment in α₁-MG-U_cr per Cd-U_cr was much greater when Cd-U_cr was large, e.g., in excess of 10?µg/g?cr.     

Risk assessment of xenoestrogens in a typical domestic sewage-holding lake in China

Release of domestic sewage leads to accumulation of xenoestrogens in holding waters, especially in closed or semi-enclosed waters such as lakes. In the study, the occurrence, distribution, estrogenic activity and risk of eight xenoestreogens were evaluated in Lake Donghu, China. Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were identified as the main xenoestrogens ranging from tens of ng L⁻¹ (in the surface water) or ng g⁻¹ dw (in the suspended particles and sediment) to tens of μg L⁻¹ or μg g⁻¹ dw. The sum of 17β-estradiol equivalents (∑EEQs) ranged from 0.32 to 45.02 ng L⁻¹ in the surface water, 0.53 to 71.86 ng g⁻¹ dw in the suspended particles, and 0.09 to 24.73 ng g⁻¹ dw in the sediment. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was determined as the main contributor to ∑EEQs followed by NP. The risk assessment showed a higher risk in the surface water than in the suspended particles and sediment in such domestic sewage-holding lake.     

Gene expression profiles in the testis associated with testis-ova in adult Japanese medaka (Oryziaslatipes) exposed to 17α-ethinylestradiol

The occurrence of oocytes in the testis (testis-ova) of several fish species is often associated with exposure of estrogenic chemicals. However, induction mechanisms of the testis-ova remain to be elucidated. To develop marker genes for detecting testis-ova in the testis, adult male medaka were exposed to nominal concentration of 100 ng L⁻¹ of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) for 3-5 weeks, and 800 ng estradiol benzoate (EB) for 3 weeks (experiment I), and a measured concentration of 20 ng L⁻¹ EE2 for 1-6 weeks (experiment II). Histological analysis was performed for the testis, and microarray analyses were performed for the testis, liver and brain. Microarray analysis in the estrogen-exposed medaka liver showed vitellogenin and choriogenin as estrogen responsive genes. Testis-ova were induced in the testis after 4 weeks of exposure to 100 ng L⁻¹ EE2, 3 weeks of exposure to 800 ng EB, and 6 weeks of exposure to 20 ng L⁻¹ EE2. Microarray analysis of estrogen-exposed testes revealed up-regulation of genes related to zona pellucida (ZP) and the oocytes marker gene, 42Sp50. Using quantitative RT-PCR we confirmed that Zpc5 gene can be used as a marker for the detection of testis-ova in male medaka.     

生物酶生态修复重金属污染土壤

以多种重金属污染的土壤为材料,研究了酶对重金属的去除效果.在单因素实验基础上,采用响应面法对重金属去除的反应条件进行优化,结果表明,α-淀粉酶质量浓度0.2%、pH 3.5、反应时间12 h为最佳淋洗修复条件,Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn去除率分别为82.36%、75.02%、38.38%、34.69%和57.54%,去除率的大小顺序为Cd >Cr >Zn >Cu >Ni.酶作为土壤的组成部分,利用酶修复重金属污染的土壤,可以降低环境风险,具有较好应用前景.     

成熟小麦种子中残留的α-淀粉酶对小麦馒头品质的影响

α-淀粉酶通过降解淀粉产生发酵糖,并改变淀粉的物化特性,进而影响小麦制品的品质,其影响与α-淀粉酶来源、含量及小麦制品种类有关.成熟小麦籽粒中残留的α-淀粉酶活性存在极大差异,为了解迟熟α-淀粉酶对馒头品质的影响,以重组自交系群体中α-淀粉酶活性极端的小麦品系为材料,比较高低酶活材料制作的馒头品质之间的差异;并依据小麦...