Increased fetal nuchal fold leading to prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 15

We report on the prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 15 in a fetus with increased nuchal fold and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). A 27-year-old woman gravida 2, para 1 had normal maternal serum screen tests in the early second trimester of the index pregnancy. Fetal nuchal fold thickening up to 8 mm was incidentally found during the routine obstetric ultrasound scan at 20 weeks' gestation. Amniocentesis was undertaken and the fetal karyotype was found to be 46,XY,r(15) on cytogenetic study. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a telomeric probe of chromosome 15 demonstrated a terminal deletion on the q arm of the ring-shaped chromosome 15. This is the first report of a prenatally diagnosed case of ring chromosome 15. Moreover, nuchal fold thickness in the second trimester may have a role in its prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fetal phenotype of Prader–Willi syndrome due to maternal disomy for chromosome 15

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) results from either paternal deletion of 15q11–q13, or maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 15 or imprinting center mutation. Prenatal diagnosis of PWS is currently indicated for chromosomal parental translocation involving chromosome 15 and for decreased fetal movements during the third trimester of gestation. Here we present the prenatal diagnosis of PWS during the first trimester of gestation and autopsy findings. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed for advanced maternal age at 13 weeks' gestation. CVS showed mosaicism including cells with a normal karyotype and cells with trisomy 15. Amniocentesis showed cells with a normal karyotype. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the fetus had a typical PWS abnormal methylation profile and maternal disomy for chromosome 15. Fetal ultrasound examination showed slightly enlarged lateral ventricles and hypoplasic male external genitalia without intra-uterine growth retardation. The autopsy showed a eutrophic male fetus with facial dysmorphy, hypoplasic genitalia, abnormal position of both feet and posterior hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. This report points out that in a karyotypically normal fetus with ambiguous male external genitalia and cerebral anomalies, extensive cytogenetic and molecular biology studies are strongly recommended because of risk of PWS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多环芳烃的几种理化参数与LC_(50)的相关性研究

对多环芳烃(PAHS)4种理化参数(K;W、Sw。X Vv。)与 LCO的相关关系进行了研究,建立了 4种一元线性回归方程。结果表明,4种参数的相关系数分别为:0.刀66、08083、09488、0.9570,经r检验,后两种属高度显著相关.用所建立的一元线性回归方程对7种PAHS的LC。进行估算,估算值与实测值相比,平均相对误差分别为58.84％、32.23％、1761％、198％,用l和V＊.H对LClj进行估算的估算精度也较高。经比较,提出用(。估算P＊比对麦穗鱼＊CO的新方法。     

Transboundary air pollution balance in the new integrated European environment

Ten out of the 12 new EU members, used to belong to the so-called “former eastern block”, with a post WWII environmental policy radically different from the tendencies followed in Western Europe. The lack of conservation regulations has resulted in a rather harmful industrialization, regarding natural resources and environmental quality. While air pollution transfer is a phenomenon of transboundary level, there is a particular interest in examining the contribution of the new EU member states to the environmental pressure faced by the older member states and vice versa. The current study utilises the official data for almost 20 years published by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Program concerning the transboundary transfer of NO_x and SO₂ in order to analyse the situation and discuss the present and future environmental policy regarding air pollution.     

Quantitative structure activity relationships for carp kidney ATPase endpoint

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＭｏｓｔｏｆｎｉｔｒｏａｒｏｍａｔｉｃｓａｒｅｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌｐｏｌｌｕｔａｎｔｓ.ＴｈｅｃａｒｐｉｓｔｈｅｍａｊｏｒｅｃｏｎｏｍｉｃｆｉｓｈｉｎＣｈｉｎａａｎｄｉｓｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｆｉｖｅｓｔａｎ?..     

苯胺类化合物在不同pH值下对大型蚤的急性毒性及QSAR研究

测定了13种苯胺类化合物在不同pH下（6．0，7．8，9．0）对大型蚤（Daphnia magna)的24h半数活动抑制浓度24h-1C50，应用三种理化参数logP,TSA和pKa，对毒性数据进行了定量构效关系（QSARs)研究，并在此基础上初步探讨了苯胺类化合物的毒性机制。     

近50年来广东冬季寒害的特征

利用广东省86个地面气象站近50年(1951-2000年)逐日平均气温和最低气温资料,采用针对冬季经济林果的寒害指标,统计分析了近50年冬季寒害的特征.分析得出:(1)广东冬季寒害频数北多南少,各地平均年均1次,其中严重寒害近4成,严重寒害中又以降温型亚类Ⅲ最为典型,占6成以上.(2)寒害过程降温幅度平均达13.6℃,且越往南越大;过程最低气温平均2.6℃,高于冻害临界值0℃;寒害过程降温平均历时4d.(3)寒害分布于10月末至3月底,其中12月到1月累计占85%,月际分布大致呈以1月为峰值的单峰型;亚类Ⅲ12月和2月多于1月,呈双峰分布.(4)1980年是广东冬季气温变化的分水岭,寒害年均综合频数前30年多(160站次),后20年少(96站次).(5)近50年广东冬季寒害年代际变化特征为:50,60,70年代逐渐增强,80年代迅速减弱,90年代有所回升(依然弱于50年代),年代际寒害由强到弱顺序为:70年代,60年代,50年代,90年代和80年代.     

Hazard property classification of waste according to the recent propositions of the EC using different methods

Hazard classification of waste is a necessity, but the hazard properties (named “H” and soon “HP”) are still not all defined in a practical and operational manner at EU level. Following discussion of subsequent draft proposals from the Commission there is still no final decision. Methods to implement the proposals have recently been proposed: tests methods for physical risks, test batteries for aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicity, an analytical package for exhaustive determination of organic substances and mineral elements, surrogate methods for the speciation of mineral elements in mineral substances in waste, and calculation methods for human toxicity and ecotoxicity with M factors.In this paper the different proposed methods have been applied to a large assortment of solid and liquid wastes (>1 0 0).Data for 45 wastes – documented with extensive chemical analysis and flammability test – were assessed in terms of the different HP criteria and results were compared to LoW for lack of an independent classification. For most waste streams the classification matches with the designation provided in the LoW. This indicates that the criteria used by LoW are similar to the HP limit values.This data set showed HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic chronic’ is the most discriminating HP. All wastes classified as acute ecotoxic are also chronic ecotoxic and the assessment of acute ecotoxicity separately is therefore not needed. The high number of HP 14 classified wastes is due to the very low limit values when stringent M factors are applied to total concentrations (worst case method). With M factor set to 1 the classification method is not sufficiently discriminating between hazardous and non-hazardous materials. The second most frequent hazard is HP 7 ‘Carcinogenic’. The third most frequent hazard is HP 10 ‘Toxic for reproduction’ and the fourth most frequent hazard is HP 4 “Irritant – skin irritation and eye damage”. In a stepwise approach, it seems relevant to assess HP 14 first, then, if the waste is not classified as hazardous, to assess subsequently HP 7, HP 10 and HP 4, and then if still not classified as hazardous, to assess the remaining properties.The elements triggering the HP 14 classification in order of importance are Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd and Hg. Progress in the speciation of Zn and Cu is essential for HP 14. Organics were quantified by the proposed method (AFNOR XP X30-489) and need no speciation. Organics can contribute significantly to intrinsic toxicity in many waste materials, but they are only of minor importance for the assessment of HP 14 as the metal concentrations are the main HP 14 classifiers. Organic compounds are however responsible for other toxicological characteristics (hormone disturbance, genotoxicity, reprotoxicity…) and shall be taken into account when the waste is not HP 14 classified.