ABSTRACT
The degradation of microcystin by adsorbed bacteria on GAC (granular active carbon) filter from a water treatment facility was investigated. Dominant bacteria isolated from GAC were indigenous microorganisms, Psuedomonas sp. and Flavobacterium sp. The direct exposure of dominant GAC bacteria to microcystins resulted in a significant reduction of microcystin levels in both shaking and static conditions (t-test; p < 0.01). In bacteria-treatments, the half-life of microcystin was 2.6-3.5 days in both conditions. Based on this result, approximately 9-10 days would be estimated for 90% or up to 18-21 days of 99% of toxin to be degraded. This biological degradation by the GAC bacteria in combination with existing purification systems has potential to increase the efficiency of water purification.
Subject(s)
Adsorption , Carbon , Filtration/instrumentation , Flavobacterium/metabolism , Half-Life , Microcystins/metabolism , Pseudomonas/metabolismABSTRACT
Cyanobacterial blooms and associated microcystins in hypertrophic stagnant West-Nakdong River were investigated at weekly intervals from April to August, 1999. Microcystis spp. accounted for over 85% of the numeric abundance of total phytoplankton. Microcystins were present in the blooms sampled between May and August. The peak of total microcystin (microcystin-LR + -RR) levels (maximum level; 612 microg g(-1)) was detected in the initial stage of the bloom (mid May), at the same time as high N/P ratio and high Microcystis biomass. This study indicated that total microcystins of this regulated river was positively correlated to Microcystis biomass, absolute nutrient concentration and TN/TP ratio.
Subject(s)
Cyanobacteria/chemistry , Ecosystem , Korea , Microcystins , Peptides, Cyclic/analysis , Rivers , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the availability and efficacy of the Lamellar body count as a predictor of fetal lung maturity METHODS: Amniocentesis was performed for evaluation of fetal lung maturity status within 72 hours of delivery in 32 patients. A Lamellar body count in clean amniotic fluid (AF) was analyzed right after amniocentesis. In case of contaminated AF with meconium or blood, samples was centrifuged for 3 minutes and divided into three. The average of three samples was analyzed successively from Coulter counter. RESULTS: The incidence of RDS showed significant relation with gestational age, 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar Score. Using a value greater than 30,000/ l to indicate pulmonary maturity, the Lamellar body count predicted all lung-maturated cases with no false-negative results (100% negative predictive value). All 4 cases of RDS demonstrated Lamellar body count less than 30,000/microl. By using a lower cutoff of 10,000/microl to predict pulmonary immaturity. Positive predictive value was 100% in RDS patients. CONCLUSION: In high risk pregnancy, fetal lung maturity test from amniotic fluid lamellar body count is a rapid, simple and reliable method in making a decision of delivery-time. And also it has universal availability with cost-effectiveness when we consider the reality of korean medical situation
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Amniocentesis , Amniotic Fluid , Apgar Score , Gestational Age , Incidence , Lung , Meconium , Pregnancy, High-RiskABSTRACT
Trisomy 18 is the second most common chromosomal anomaly that reach to live birth after Down syndrome. Several methods were proposed to screen patients on the risk of Edward syndrome like maternal serum levels using total human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and unconjugated estriol (uE3), or free beta hCG with AFP, but the serum screening has only 50-60% detection rate with a 1-2% of false positive rate. So to cover the limitations that serum marker has, detailed ultrasound examination is also necessary and sensitivities of 65-70% were reported. We report a case of trisomy 18 fetus in which second trimester triple markers of maternal serum was normal, but by detailed ultrasound examination, unilateral radius aplasia was diagnosed cytogenetic study confirmed the fetus as trisomy 18.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , alpha-Fetoproteins , Biomarkers , Chorionic Gonadotropin , Cytogenetics , Down Syndrome , Estriol , Fetus , Live Birth , Mass Screening , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Radius , Trisomy , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
The malignant lymphomas are neoplastic transformation of cells that reside predominantly in lymphoid tissues. The two major variants of malignant lymphoma are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease. Although both of these tumors infiltrate reticuloendothelial organs, their biologic and clinical behaviors suggest that they are probably not related. More than 90% of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are of B-cell derivation. This observation is based upon the expression of B-lineage-restricted antigens as well as clonal rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes. The malignant lymphoma localized in uterine cervix is rare and characteristically symptom-free expressed. We experienced a case of malignant lymphoma originated from uterine cervix, so we report with a brief of literature.