Developmental evaluation of children born to mothers occupationally exposed to waste anesthetic gases

BACKGROUND: The etiology of developmental delay in children is frequently unknown. Increasing evidence supports the possibility that environmental and occupational factors might be part of the basis for such delays. This study focuses on the development of children born to mothers who were exposed during their pregnancy to waste anesthetic gases. METHODS: The study population included 40 children aged 5-13 years born to female anesthesiologists and nurses working in operating rooms (OpRs) exposed to waste anesthetic gases, and 40 unexposed children born to female nurses and physicians who worked in hospitals during their pregnancy but did not work in OpRs. The unexposed group was matched for children's age and gender and maternal occupation (nurses vs. doctors). By means of standardized developmental tests, the present study population was evaluated for their medical and neurodevelopmental state. Questionnaires were given for the detection of attention and activity levels as perceived by the parents. Additional questionnaires dealt with information concerning developmental milestones, maternal and fetal morbidity, and gynecological history. RESULTS: No differences were noted between the groups as newborns or in developmental milestones at the age of 5-13 years; however, the mean score of gross motor ability was significantly lower in the exposed versus the unexposed group. Additionally, the mean score of the DSM-III-R Parent-Teacher Questionnaire (PTQ) (i.e., measure of inattention/hyperactivity) was higher in the exposed group. The level of exposure, as measured by the number of weekly hours in the OpRs, was significantly and negatively correlated with fine motor ability and the score of IQ performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the hypothesis that occupational exposure to anesthetic gases might be a risk factor for minor neurological deficits of children born to mothers who work in OpRs and therefore indicates the need for more studies in this area and perhaps more caution among OpR pregnant women and employers.     

烟草黄矮双生病毒中双向启动子的活性及其调节控制

将烟草黄矮双生病毒（ＴｏｂＹＤＶ）中双向启动子的区域,以不同长度的片段和方向插入启动子分析载体ｐＧ１,与ＧＵＳ报道基因和ＮＯＳ终止子融合。同时,将各个ＴｏｂＹＤＶ读码框区域插入表达载体ｐＡＲＴ７中,置于ＣａＭＶ３５Ｓ启动子和ＯＣＳ终止子之间。用电穿孔法将各种启动子构建物个别地或者与读码框构建物成对地导入烟草和玉米原生质体,以考察ＴｏｂＹＤＶ启动子控制下ＧＵＳ基因瞬间表达的活性,以及ＴｏｂＹＤＶ的读