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.     

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.     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency by steroid analysis in the amniotic fluid of mid-pregnancy: Comparison with HLA typing in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH

Amniotic fluid (AF) levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and testosterone (T) were determined at 16–17 weeks in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH and results compared to 75 normal controls. The fetus was predicted to be unaffected in 12 cases on the findings of normal AF levels of both 17OHP and T and the latter allowed a correct prediction of fetal sex in all instances. HLA typing confirmed normality in 12 cases revealing 5 carriers, 5 homozygous normal and 2 indeterminate. Steroid levels of the 2 groups were similar. Three fetuses were predicted to be CAH affected on unambiguously high levels of 17OHP and T (in female only). HLA typing was in agreement, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 2 abortuses and a female newborn by physical and hormonal studies. In the last 2 cases AF levels of OHP and T were normal but HLA (A/B/C) genotypes were identical to the CAH affected siblings. Normal physical and hormonal findings in the 2 aborted fetuses would exclude the possibility of an in utero virilizing form of CAH. The discrepancy could be explained on the basis that the fetuses had an allelic form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency or on the basis of recombination (not fully tested). It is concluded that a fully informative prenatal diagnosis of CAH should not rely entirely on HLA typing but on hormonal studies.     

Prenatal diagnosis of the hurler syndrome: Report on 40 pregnancies at risk

In 40 pregnancies at risk for the Hurler syndrome 13 affected fetuses were detected by the demonstration of an α-L -iduronidase deficiency and an increased level of ³⁵S-sulphate incorporation. The diagnoses were confirmed by the analysis of fetal tissues and/or cultured fetal skin fibroblasts. Microassays for α-L -iduronidase, using phenyl α-L -iduronide and more recently 4–methyl-umbelliferyl α-L -iduronide, enabled a reliable diagnosis to be made within 15 to 18 days after amniocentesis. ³⁵S-sulphate incorporation has been a valuable adjunct in cases with a low (heterozygote) enzyme activity.     

Detection of fetal HLA-DQα sequences in maternal blood: A gender-independent technique of fetal cell identification

The objective of this study was to detect fetal HLA-DQα gene sequences in maternal blood. HLA-DQα genotypes of 70 pregnant women and their partners were determined for type A1. We specifically sought couples where the father, but not the mother, had genotype A1. In 12 women, maternal blood samples were flow-sorted. Candidate fetal cells were isolated and amplified by using PCR primers specific for a paternal HLA-DQα A1 allele. Fetal HLA-DQα A1 genotype was predicted from sorted cells; amniocytes or cheek swabs were used for confirmation. Six of twelve sorted samples had amplification products indicating the presence of the HLA-DQα A1 allele; 6/12 did not. Prediction of the fetal genotype was 100 per cent correct, as determined by subsequent amplification of amniocytes or cheek swabs. We conclude that paternally inherited uniquely fetal HLA-DQα gene sequences can be identified in maternal blood. This system permits the identification of fetal cells independent of fetal gender, and has the potential for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of paternally inherited conditions.     

308 nm光作用下α-Fe2O3表面HNO3的光解

采用紫外可见光谱(UV-Vis)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)及离子色谱(IC)技术对HNO3在α-Fe2O3表面暗反应和308nm下光解反应进行了研究.考察了时间、HNO3浓度、相对湿度(RH)等条件对反应的影响.结果表明,随着HNO3浓度、光照时间的增加,HNO3在气相与α-Fe2O3表面光解产物浓度均呈指数增加;HNO3在α-Fe2O3表面光解产生的NO2、NO分别为气相产生的3.27及3.87倍,而无论气相还是表面光解的NO2浓度均约为NO的2倍.随着RH的增加,HNO3光解产生的HONO的浓度随之呈指数增大,其产率从RH 20%时的0.023增加到90%时的0.087.α-Fe2O3的表面效应在HNO3的表面光解反应中起主导作用.     

Competitive sorption between 17α-ethinyl estradiol and bisphenol A/4-n-nonylphenol by soils

The sorption of 17α-ethinyl estradiol(EE2),bisphenol A(BPA),and 4-n-nonylphenol(NP) in single systems and the sorption of EE2 with different initial aqueous concentrations of BPA or NP were examined using three soils.Results showed that all sorption isotherms were nonlinear and fit the Freundlich model.The degree of nonlinearity was in the order BPA(0.537-0.686) > EE2(0.705-0.858) > NP(0.875-0.0.951) in single systems.The isotherm linearity index of EE2 sorption calculated by the Freundlich model for Loam,Silt Loam and Silt increased from 0.758,0.705 and 0.858,to 0.889,0.910 and 0.969,respectively,when BPA concentration increased from 0 to 1000 μg/L,but the effect of NP was comparably minimal.Additionally,EE2 significantly suppressed the sorption of BPA,but insignificantly suppressed that of NP.These findings can be attributed to the difference of sorption affinity of EE2,NP and BPA on the hard carbon(e.g.,black carbon) of soil organic matter that dominated the sorption in the low equilibrium aqueous concentration range of endocrine-disrupting chemicals(EDCs).Competitive sorption among EDCs presents new challenges for predicting the transport and fate of EDCs under the influence of co-solutes.     

17 β-estradiol mineralization in human waste products and soil in the presence and the absence of antimicrobials

Natural steroidal estrogens, such as 17 β-estradiol (E2), as well as antimicrobials such as doxycycline and norfloxacin, are excreted by humans and hence detected in sewage sludge and biosolid. The disposal of human waste products on agricultural land results in estrogens and antibiotics being detected as mixtures in soils. The objective of this study was to examine microbial respiration and E2 mineralization in sewage sludge, biosolid, and soil in the presence and the absence of doxycycline and norfloxacin. The antimicrobials were applied to the media either alone or in combination at total rates of 4 and 40 mg kg^?1, with the 4 mg kg^?1 rate being an environmentally relevant concentration. The calculated time that half of the applied E2 was mineralized ranged from 294 to 418 days in sewage sludge, from 721 to 869 days in soil, and from 2,258 to 14,146 days in biosolid. E2 mineralization followed first-order and the presence of antimicrobials had no significant effect on mineralization half-lives, except for some antimicrobial applications to the human waste products. At 189 day, total E2 mineralization was significantly greater in sewage sludge (38 ±0.7%) > soil (23 ±0.7%) > biosolid (3 ±0.7%), while total respiration was significantly greater in biosolid (1,258 mg CO₂) > sewage sludge (253 mg CO₂) ≥ soil (131 mg CO₂). Strong sorption of E2 to the organic fraction in biosolid may have resulted in reduced E2 mineralization despite the high microbial activity in this media. Total E2 mineralization at 189 day was not significantly influenced by the presence of doxycycline and/or norfloxacin in the media. Antimicrobial additions also did not significantly influence total respiration in media, except that total CO₂ respiration at 189 day was significantly greater for biosolid with 40 mg kg^?1 doxycycline added, relative to biosolid without antimicrobials. We conclude that it is unlikely for doxycycline and norfloxacin, or their mixtures, to have a significant effect on E2 mineralization in human waste products and soil. However, the potential for E2 to be persistent in biosolids, with and without the presence of antimicrobials, is posing a challenge for biosolid disposal to agricultural lands.     

磁性Fe_3O_4/石墨烯纳米复合材料催化降解水中17β-雌二醇

利用化学沉淀法制备磁性四氧化三铁/石墨烯(Fe3O4/GE)纳米复合材料,并将其与H2O2构成非均相Fenton体系用于催化降解水中微量的17β-雌二醇(E2),研究了初始p H值,初始H2O2浓度,催化剂用量对E2降解的影响。结果表明,Fe3O4/GE纳米复合材料在无需外加光源的条件下能够有效催化降解E2。在p H 7.0,E2初始浓度为1 mg/L,初始H2O2浓度为15 mmol/L,Fe3O4/GE投加量为15 mg/L的条件下,反应8 h后可去除92.9%的E2。Fe3O4/GE具有便捷的磁分离特性和稳定的催化活性,经过7次循环使用后对E2的降解效率仍保持在91.5%左右。