Recent temperature trends in the Antarctic

It is important to understand how temperatures across the Antarctic have changed in recent decades because of the huge amount of fresh water locked into the ice sheet and the impact that temperature changes may have on the ice volume. Doran et al. claim that there has been a net cooling of the entire continent between 1966 and 2000, particularly during summer and autumn. We argue that this result has arisen because of an inappropriate extrapolation of station data across large, data-sparse areas of the Antarctic.     

Oxidative stress on plasmid DNA induced by inhalable particles in the urban atmosphere

Plasmid DNA assay is a newly-developed in vitro method to investigate bioreactivity of particles. In this paper, this method was used to study the bioreactivity of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm) and PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm). Samples and dust storm particles were collected in 2001 in an urban area, a satellite city and a clean air area in Beijing. A big difference was found for oxidative DNA stress induced by different particulate matter (PM) samples, with the TM50 (particle mass causing 50% damage to DNA) values varying by a factor over 10. This was closely dependent on the sizes of particles as well as the variation in relative proportion of mineral matter. PM2.5 samples generally impose larger oxidative stress on plasmid DNA than PM10 samples. Airborne particles collected during dust storm episodes, usually with a higher proportion of mineral matter, have a much lower oxidative capacity than those collected during non-dust storm episodes. PM samples and their water-soluble fractions usually have similar bioreactivities, demonstrating that oxidative capacity of Beijing airborne particles is mainly sourced from their water-soluble fractions.     

室内PM10对DNA氧化性损伤及其与微量元素组成关系

使用质粒DNA评价法(plasmid DNA assay)和电感偶合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)研究了北京市室内外PM10(可吸入颗粒物)的生物活性及与微量元素的关系.选择了4组样品分别代表吸烟室内(1),非吸烟室内(2)和相应室外(1)进行质粒DNA评价研究.结果表明,室内PM10对超螺旋DNA的氧化性损伤高于室外;吸烟室内PM10的TD50(引起50%DNA损伤所需的颗粒物剂量)低达100μg·mL-1,对DNA氧化性损伤最大,说明吸烟室内PM10的生物活性最大.结合微量元素分析发现,吸烟室内PM10的水溶性Zn与TD50负相关性较其他元素强,说明水溶性Zn可能对DNA的氧化性损伤起重要作用.Fe元素虽然被认为是最具生物活性的元素之一,但是在所分析样品中Fe元素多是以不可溶状态存在,因此对DNA损伤较弱.     

Effects of sequential periods of intracranial hypertension on lung fluid balance

Summary Pulmonary hemodynamics and fluid and protein exchange were examined in dogs subjected to three successive periods of intracranial hypertension. Results indicate that the alteration in lung fluid balance is due to increased microvascular surface area following capillary recruitment. The relationship to the mechanism of neurogenic pulmonary edema is discussed.Acknowledgments. Supported in part by grants 79-N17, 80-N105 and 82-N136 from the California Affiliate of the American Heart Association, by a grant from the Strobel Medical Research fund of the American Lung Association of San Francisco and by USPHS GMO7416-2 traineeship (TAJ). The authors thank L. Blount, E. Blount and J. Wong for their assistance.