Organic and Inorganic Mercury in Biological Samples of Flouresecent Lamp Industries Workers and Health Risks

Objective The present study aims to investigate the concentrations of Hg and its aspects methyl mercury(Me-Hg) and inorganic mercury(I-Hg) in the biological samples(BSs) of fluorescent lamp industries workers(FLIWs).Methodology Different BSs including red blood cells(RBCs),plasma,urine,hair and nails were collected from the workers exposed to Hg and unexposed persons were selected as control group to measure both the T-Hg concentration as well as its species in different biological samples through quantitative analysis.Health data was collected through questionnaire survey.Results The mean concentrations of T-Hg(31.9 μg/L),Me-Hg(27.7 μg/L),and I-Hg(5.36 μg/L) in RBCs were found significantly(P 0.001) higher among the workers(n = 40) as compared to the control group(n = 40).Similarly the mean Hg concentrations in plasma,urine,hair and nails were also significantly higher among the workers than the control group.The statistical relation between Hg concentration and demographic characteristics observed that workers experience and fish consumption has increased the Hg concentration while age,weight and smoking found no significant effect on Hg concentration in the BSs.Conclusion The study observed that the workers were highly exposed to high concentration of Hg and they are at a high health risk.     

环境水样中痕量铜的浊点萃取-火焰原子吸收光谱测定法

目的建立环境水样中痕量铜的浊点萃取(cloud point extraction,CPE)-火焰原子吸收光谱(flame atomic absorption spectrometry,FAAS)测定法。方法样品在p H 9.5的条件下,加入0.4 ml的1 mmol/L 2-(5-溴-2-吡啶偶氮)-5-二乙氨基酚(5-Br-PADAP)溶液,0.1%氯化钙溶液0.1 ml,5%(W/V)Triton X-114溶液0.8 ml,40℃加热15 min后离心,采用火焰原子吸收光谱法进行检测。结果在2~240μg/L的线性范围内,所得回归方程为A=0.002 7c+0.024 6,r=0.995 8。以3倍信噪比计算,方法的检出限为0.62μg/L,富集倍数为36.58倍,平均加标回收率为96.28%~98.08%,RSD为1.67%~3.13%。结论该方法简单、灵敏,具有良好的重现性,适用于环境水样中痕量铜的测定。     

Ebola Virus RNA Stability in Human Blood and Urine in West Africa’s Environmental Conditions

We evaluated RNA stability of Ebola virus in EDTA blood and urine samples collected from infected patients and stored in West Africa’s environmental conditions. In blood, RNA was stable for at least 18 days when initial cycle threshold values were <30, but in urine, RNA degradation occurred more quickly.     

Participatory research in Northwest Atlanta's Proctor Creek Watershed: Using photovoice to explore environmental health risks at the water's edge

In this study we used a participatory research method, photovoice, to explore community perceptions about environmental health risks, community assets, and strengths in and around an urban, degraded watershed in Northwest Atlanta, Georgia. This watershed, formed by Proctor Creek, is a focal point for redevelopment and infrastructure investments for years to come. Using a community-based participatory research approach, 10 Proctor Creek residents (watershed researchers), and a university partner, engaged in data collection; participatory data analysis; internal discussions; translation of research findings into watershed restoration, community revitalization, remedial action, and policy solutions; and dissemination of results to fellow watershed residents, stakeholders, and decision makers. We present a conceptual model linking the watershed researchers' understanding of urban policies and practice in the Proctor Creek Watershed to environmental, neighborhood and housing conditions and their influence on health outcomes and quality of life. Engaging community members in defining their own community environmental health challenges and assets yielded the following primary themes: 1) threats to the natural environment, 2) built environment stressors that influence health, 3) blight and divestment of public resources, and 4) hope for the future. Residents’ vision for the future of the watershed - a restored creek, revitalized neighborhoods, and restored people - is fueled by a strong connection to history, memory, and sense of place. We demonstrate the value of local knowledge in identifying previously unaddressed environmental health risks in the Proctor Creek Watershed as well as solutions to reduce or eliminate them.     

生物样品中天麻素测定方法及药代动力学研究进展＊

天麻素是从兰科植物天麻的块茎中提取分离而得，现已人工合成。天麻素药理作用广泛，如镇痛、镇静安眠、促智、保护神经元、降血压、抗惊厥、抗癫痫、抗氧化、抗衰老、改善微循环等，且安全、无明显毒副作用，其相关制剂在临床上亦被广泛用于心脑血管及神经精神系统疾病，如头痛、冠心病、高血压、后循环缺血性眩晕、突发性耳聋、癫痫、神经衰弱及脑卒中等。考虑到天麻素临床治疗上述疾病常与其他药物或治疗方法联用，故其体内过程及其药代动力学性质不容忽视。目前，有关天麻素综述多集中于药理作用和临床应用方面，而其药代动力学综述鲜见报道。随着天麻素药代动力学研究日渐深入，本研究将从其样品前处理、测定方法、药物ADME过程及影响体内过程的因素等方面较系统全面地对天麻素近年来的药代动力学研究作一综述，以期对天麻素制剂工艺及临床联合配伍应用有所裨益。     

混合Poisson分布及其应用：疾病的统计分布（五）

本文讨论了混合Ｐｏｉｓｓｏｎ分布的性质、应用条件、参数的估计及混合Ｐｏｉｓｓｏｎ分布阶数的确定，指出混合Ｐｏｉｓｓｏｎ分布可用于混合样本的判别归类，并用Ｂａｙｅｓ的思想导出其判别归类方法。模拟试验结果表明：当混合Ｐｏｉｓｓｏｎ分布中各部分的比例相差不大，而各部分的均值相差较大时，抽样效果和拟合效果越好，所得到的估计值越接近理论值；反之效果越差。     

中药延胡索的炮制研究

本文采用容量法及电位测定法分别测定了延胡索生品及醋炒、醋蒸、醋煮、酒炒和盐炒5种延胡索炮制品中的总生物碱含量,另采用薄层扫描法及紫外分光光度法测定上述6种样品中的延胡索乙素含量,并对各种样品进行了小白鼠止痛试验。实验结果表明,延胡索用醋炮制或用酒炮制均能提高其水煎液中总生物碱和延胡索乙素的煎出量,并能增强其止痛作用,其中醋制法较为显著。实验结果与临床上多用醋制延胡索入药的经验相符合。     

Discussing options between patients and health care professionals in genetic diagnosis: ethical and legal criteria

The specific characteristics of genetic data lead to ethical-legal conflicts in the framework of genetic diagnosis. Several international organisations, including UNESCO and the Council of Europe, have enacted rules referring to the use of genetic information. This paper discusses possible legal and ethical criteria that could be used in genetic testing.     

福建省部分县市健康人群发铬调查

本文用气相色谱法对居住福州、长乐、宁化三个地区270名健康人群发铬含量进行调查。结果表明:福州地区发铬值高于其它两地区,并有非常显著性差异。总体发铬算术平均数与国内外部分地区所报导的结果比较接近,但在性别及年龄间差异不明显。对三个地区发铬值与当地土壤铬含量进行相关分析,r=0.9978,二者呈正相关,并有非常显著性意义。     

Optimal Selection of Sib Pairs from Random Samples for Linkage Analysis of a QTL Using the EDAC Test

Percentages of extremely concordant and extremely discordant sib pairs are calculated that maximize the power to detect a quantitative trait locus (QTL) under a variety of circumstances using the EDAC test. We assume a large fixed number of randomly sampled sib pairs, such as one would hope to find in the large twin registries, and limited resources to genotype a certain number of selected sib pairs. Our aim is to investigate whether optimal selection can be achieved when prior knowledge concerning the QTL gene action, QTL allele frequency, QTL effect size, and background (residual) sib correlation is limited or absent. To this end we calculate the best selection percentages for a large number of models, which differ in QTL gene action allele frequency, background correlation, and QTL effect size. By averaging these percentages over gene action, over allele frequency, over gene action, and over allele frequencies, we arrive at general recommendations concerning selection percentages. The soundness of these recommendations is subsequently in a number of test cases.