Prenatal diagnosis of complete sole trisomy 1q

The prenatal diagnosis of a complete trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 1 is reported. Major ultrasound findings included: nuchal thickening, bi-temporal narrowing, a single choroid plexus cyst, andmild ventriculomegaly. There was a mass in the chest and abdomen, pleural effusion, ascites and a hyperechoic bowel. Skin edema was present. The fetus died at 26 weeks' gestation. A literature review is presented of 17 de novo and two inherited cases with only trisomy 1q. Of note is the fact that 3/5 prenatally detected 1q trisomies have teratomas. A review of the literature reveals a dismal outcome fortrisomy 1q cases if the duplication involves bands 1q25→q32. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toxicity of chemical components of fine particles inhaled by aged rats: effects of concentration

This study tested the hypothesis that exposure to mixtures containing fine particles and ozone (O3) would cause pulmonary injury and decrements in functions of immunological cells in exposed rats (22-24 months old) in a dose-dependent manner. Rats were exposed to high and low concentrations of ammonium bisulfate and elemental carbon and to 0.2 ppm O3. Control groups were exposed to purified air or O3 alone. The biological end points measured included histopathological markers of lung injury, bronchoalveolar lung fluid proteins, and measures of the function of the lung's innate immunological defenses (macrophage antigen-directed phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity). Exposure to O3 alone at 0.2 ppm did not result in significant changes in any of the measured end points. Exposures to the particle mixtures plus O3 produced statistically significant changes consistent with adverse effects. The low-concentration mixture produced effects that were statistically significant compared to purified air but, with the exception of macrophage Fc receptor binding, exposure to the high-concentration mixture did not. The effects of the low- and high-concentration mixtures were not significantly different. The study supports previous work that indicated that particle + O3 mixtures were more toxic than O3 alone.     

Five-wheel framework for system-based monitoring of heavy metal pollution in rivers

Sectorial approach for monitoring heavy metal pollution in rivers has failed to report realistic pollution status and associated ecological and human health risks. The increasing spread of heavy metals from different sources and emerging risks to human and environmental health call for reexamining heavy metal pollution monitoring frameworks. Also, the sources, spread, and load of heavy metals in the environment have changed significantly over time, requiring consequent modification in the monitoring frameworks. Therefore, studies on heavy metal monitoring in rivers conducted in the last decade were evaluated for experimental designs, research frameworks, and data presentations. Most studies (∼99%) (i) lacked inclusiveness of all environmental compartments; (ii) focused on “one pollutant – one/two compartment” or sometimes “one pollutant – one compartment – one effect” approach; and (iii) remained “data-rich but information poor.” An ecological approach with integrative system thinking is proposed to develop a holistic approach for monitoring river pollution. It is visualized that heavy metal monitoring, risk analyses, and water management must incorporate tracking pollutants in different environmental compartments of a river (water, sediment, and floodplain/bank soil) and consider correlating it with riverbank land use. The systems-based pollution monitoring and assessment studies will reveal the critical factors that drive heavy metals pollutant movement in ecosystems and associated potential risks to the environment, wildlife, and humans. Also, water quality and pollution indexing tools would help better communicate complex pollution data and associated risks among all stakeholders. Therefore, integrating systems approaches in scientific- and policy-based tools would help sustainably manage the health of rivers, wildlife, and humans.     

Uranium quantification in groundwater and health risk from its ingestion in Haryana,India

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element which may cause toxicological or radiological hazards to the public if present in drinking water. This study reports the quantification of uranium in groundwater of major towns of the district Fatehabad, Haryana, India. Uranium concentrations ranged between 0.3 and 48 μg L^?1. In 22% of the groundwater samples, uranium concentrations were higher than the World Health Organization maximum permissible limit of 30 µg L^?1. The radiological dose for males was found to be in the range of 4.8?×?10^?4–7.1?×?10^?2 mSv y^?1 and for females 3.5?×?10^?4–5.2?×?10^?2 mSv y^?1. The results showed that due to the ingestion of groundwater in the study area, radiological cancer risk is in the range of 9.1?×?10^?7–1.3?×?10^?4, lower than the risk limit. Uranium ingestion from groundwater varied from 0.02 to 3.5 µg kg^?1 day^?1, which is within acceptable limit.     

Effects of estradiol-17beta and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one on different phospholipids metabolism and histological changes in ovary during reproductive growth in the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Effect of cumulative doses of estradiol -17beta (E2-7, 14 and 28 mg/kg body weight) and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17alpha,20betaP-7, 14 and 28 mg/kg body weight) on total phospholipids (TP) and various phospholipids- phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) on liver plasma and ovary were investigated during the reproductively active preparatory and prespawning phases of the annual reproductive cycle in the freshwater female catfish, H. fossilis. The effect of E2 on TP was generally stimulatory and has pronounced effect than 17alpha,20betaP during both the phases. The levels of PC was promoted high during prespawning phase by E2 comparatively very less than by 17alpha, 20betaP in studied tissues during both the phases. The levels of PS after E2 treatments was maximum in all tissues during prespawning phase whereas 17alpha,20betaP was effective only in liver during this phase. The PI was elevated in liver during preparatory phase but its elevation was in all studied tissues during prespawning phase after E2 treatments. The levels of PI was most effective in ovary during preparatory phase in response to 17alpha,20betaP. The levels of PE was declined in liver but elevated in ovary after E2 treatments during both the phases. Treatments of E2 during preparatory phase showed greater number of vitellogenic oocytes as compared to 17alpha,20betaP treatments. The present finding has demonstrated that estradiol-17beta has more pronounced effects than the 17alpha,20beta P in regulation of different phospholipids and ovarian recrudescence during reproductively active phases and among the phospholipids the PC is the main phospholipids of vitellogenin/ovarian lipids in H. fossilis.     

Impact of improving vehicle front design on the burden of pedestrian injuries in Germany,the United States,and India

Objective: European car design regulations and New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings have led to reductions in pedestrian injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of improving vehicle front design on mortality and morbidity due to pedestrian injuries in a European country (Germany) and 2 countries (the United States and India) that do not have pedestrian-focused NCAP testing or design regulations.

Methods: We used data from the International Road Traffic and Accident Database and the Global Burden of Disease project to estimate baseline pedestrian deaths and nonfatal injuries in each country in 2013. The effect of improved passenger car star ratings on probability of pedestrian injury was based on recent evaluations of pedestrian crash data from Germany. The effect of improved heavy motor vehicle (HMV) front end design on pedestrian injuries was based on estimates reported by simulation studies. We used burden of disease methods to estimate population health loss by combining the burden of morbidity and mortality in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost.

Results: Extrapolating from evaluations in Germany suggests that improving front end design of cars can potentially reduce the burden of pedestrian injuries due to cars by up to 24% in the United States and 41% in India. In Germany, where cars comply with the United Nations regulation on pedestrian safety, additional improvements would have led to a 1% reduction. Similarly, improved HMV design would reduce DALYs lost by pedestrian victims hit by HMVs by 20% in each country. Overall, improved vehicle design would reduce DALYs lost to road traffic injuries (RTIs) by 0.8% in Germany, 4.1% in the United States, and 6.7% in India.

Conclusions: Recent evaluations show a strong correlation between Euro NCAP pedestrian scores and real-life pedestrian injuries, suggesting that improved car front end design in Europe has led to substantial reductions in pedestrian injuries. Although the United States has fewer pedestrian crashes, it would nevertheless benefit substantially by adopting similar regulations and instituting pedestrian NCAP testing. The maximum benefit would be realized in low- and middle-income countries like India that have a high proportion of pedestrian crashes. Though crash avoidance technologies are being developed to protect pedestrians, supplemental protection through design regulations may significantly improve injury countermeasures for vulnerable road users.     

Occurrence and distribution of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in vegetation samples from a contaminated area

The occurrence and distribution of four major hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-) were studied in vegetation samples of a highly contaminated area close to a small-scale industrial belt in Lucknow (North India). Eight species of plants were collected at different points of the contaminated area and different parts of the plants were separated in order to study the difference in uptake and accumulation. The samples were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction and finally determined by a gas-chromatograph equipped with (63)Ni electron capture detector (ECD). HCH isomers were present in almost all samples and the concentration of total HCH in the plant sample analyzed varied between 13 and 44 mg kg(-1), being the main isomer of beta-HCH (8-22 mg kg(-1)). Lindane (gamma-HCH) was present in all samples (1-9 mg kg(-1)). Solanum torvum Sw., and Erianthus munja shows the highest and lowest capacity for accumulation of HCH, respectively with a significant difference at p<0.01 level. The highest concentration of HCH residue in root samples indicates the most likely mechanism of HCH accumulation in these plants was sorption of soil HCH on roots. Solanum torvum Sw., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal could accumulate considerable levels of HCH isomers (44 and 34 mg kg(-1), respectively). The results reflect the importance of plants in monitoring purposes and their potential for phytoremediation of HCH contaminated soils.