British

Previous experimental studies have highlighted that citrulline (CIT) could be a promising pharmaconutrient. However, its pharmacokinetic characteristics and tolerance to loading have not been studied to date. The objective was to characterise the plasma kinetics of CIT in a multiple-dosing study design and to assess the effect of CIT intake on the concentrations of other plasma amino acids (AA). The effects of CIT loading on anabolic hormones were also determined. Eight fasting healthy males underwent four separate oral loading tests (2, 5, 10 or 15 g CIT) in random order. Blood was drawn ten times over an 8 h period for measurement of plasma AA, insulin and growth hormone (Gh). Urine samples were collected before CIT administration and over the next 24 h. None of the subjects experienced side effects whatever the CIT dose. Concerning AA, only CIT, ornithine (ORN) and arginine (ARG) plasma concentrations were affected (maximum concentration 146 (sem 8) to 303 (sem 11) μmol/l (ARG) a...

Accessible summary•We are people with and without learning disabilities doing research together.•In this paper we talk about the good bits and the bad bits of doing research together.•We are people with and without learning disabilities doing research together.•In this paper we talk about the good bits and the bad bits of doing research together.We are people with and without learning disabilities doing research together.In this paper we talk about the good bits and the bad bits of doing research together.SummaryIn our paper we talk about what it is like to be a group of people with and without learning disabilities researching together. We describe the process of starting and maintaining the research group and reflect on the obstacles that we have come across, and the rewards such research has brought us. Lastly we put forward some ideas about the role of professionals in such a group that we hope people might find useful.In our paper we talk about what it is like to be a group of people with and without learning disabilities researching together. We describe the process of starting and maintaining the research group and reflect on the obstacles that we have come across, and the rewards such research has brought us. Lastly we put forward some ideas about the role of professionals in such a group that we hope people might find useful.

Anaesthesia offers an important tool for the scientific study of consciousness. Recent works will be discussed with an aim towards answering basic questions regarding the nature of consciousness and how it is removed by anaesthesia. What brain areas and systems must be turned off to remove consciousness? What brain regions or key processes must be turned back on to restore consciousness? How will a better understanding of the neurobiology of consciousness allow the clinician to give a better and safer anaesthetic? What new monitoring technology might enhance the safety of anaesthesia delivery and reduce the risks of intraoperative awareness? This lecture will touch upon these key topics in order to provide the background needed for understanding future developments in anaesthesia research. Funding NIH grants MH45361 (H.A.B.); HL40881 and HL65272 (R.L.); Department of Anesthesiology. References 1 Lin JS, Sakai K, Vanni-Mercier G, Jouvet M. Brain Res 1989; 479: 225-40 Acetylcholine GABA Acetylcholine GABA Wake NREM REM Wake NREM REM Pontine reticular formation Cerebral cortex 250 200 150 100 50 0 250 200 150 100 50 0 Transmitter levels (% of wakefulness) A B Fig 1 Ratio of ACh/GABA across states in (A) pontine reticular formation, and (B) cerebral cortex.

The visual dimension has featured prominently in person perception in the last 25 years. Alone, this dimension cannot give the complete 'picture' of others because language and speech (i.e., the auditory dimension) are also highly informative. Social-cognition research investigates the role of auditory information for impression formation. In a series of experiments, we tested perceived competence, hirability, and socio-intellectual status of different targets based on their regional accents. Given identical content of statements in different conditions of an alleged job interview, regional German accents (Saxon, Bavarian, and Berlin) resulted in lower perceived competence and hirability than standard German, even though the Bavarian accent at the same time resulted in higher ratings of socio-intellectual status compared to other regional accents (Experiment 1). These findings were confirmed when using a broader population sample and a 'matched guise' technique (Experiment 2). Our findings indicate that regional accents, similar to faces, can be very powerful in creating differentiated pictures of individuals.

Objective: Examine the effect of different cleat plate configurations on plantar pressure during two tasks. Design: Thirty-six athletes ran an agility course 5 times while wearing 4 different types of Nike Vitoria Cleats: 1) Bladed, 2) Elliptical Firm Ground, 3) Hard Ground, and 4) Turf. Plantar pressure data were recorded during a side cut and a cross cut using Pedar-X insoles. Setting: Controlled Laboratory Study Participants: No history of lower extremity injury in the past six months, no previous foot or ankle surgery, not currently wearing foot orthotics, and play a cleated sport at least 2 times per week. Main Outcome Measurements: Contact area, total foot contact time, maximum force, total foot peak pressure, and the force-time integral (FTI) in the medial, middle and lateral regions of the forefoot. A 1x4 ANOVA (alpha=0.05) was performed on each dependent variable. A Bonferroni adjustment was conducted (α=0.008).

Background. The aim of this study was to explore difficulties at work from anaesthetists' own perspective and to examine how anaesthetists handle and cope with situations that are perceived as difficult and potentially stressful. Methods. Two sets of interviews were conducted with 19 specialist anaesthetists in Sweden. The first set of interviews aimed at finding how the anaesthetists experienced difficulties at work. It consisted of in-depth interviews based on one open-ended question. We analysed the interviews with a phenomenological method, looking for themes in anaesthetists' descriptions of difficulties at work. In the second set, the interviews were semi-structured with open-ended questions, based on themes found in the first interview set. These interviews aimed at exploring how the interviewees described their ways of handling difficulties and how they coped with potentially stressful situations. Results. Analysis of the first set of interviews resulted in five themes, describing how the anaesthetists experienced difficulties at work. All interviewees talked about difficulties related to more than one of the themes. The second set of interviews revealed two main categories of ways of handling difficulties. First, problem solving consisted of descriptions of methods for handling difficult situations which aimed at solving problems, and second, coping strategies described ways of appraising potentially stressful situations that minimized stress, despite the problem not being solved. Conclusions. The anaesthetists interviewed in this study maintained that they enjoyed work and could see no external obstacles to doing a good job. They had arrived at a reconciliation of their work with its inherent difficulties and problems. Getting access to their coping strategies might help young anaesthetists to come to terms with their work.

Thirteen patients with both cold and chohncrgic urticaria are reported. There was considerable variability, particularly in the cold urticaria which was of the common cold contact type in seven patients, of the generalized cold induced cholinergic type in two and in four patients the lesions induced by direct contact with ice were morphologically like cholinergic urticaria, but appeared despite prior application of an acetyl choline antagonist. The natural history, laboratory findings and the effects of therapy are discussed.

To evaluate the outcomes of cataract surgery in Pakistan. Methods: Cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of 16 507 adults (aged >30 years). Each underwent interview, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA), autorefraction, examination of optic disc. Those with ,6/12 VA on presentation underwent best-corrected VA and dilated biomicroscopic ocular examination. Results: 1317 subjects (633 men) had undergone surgery in one or both eyes. Of the 1788 operated eyes, 1099 (61%) had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) and 607 (34%) extracapsular surgery with an intraocular lens (ECCE+IOL). Presenting VA: 275 (15.4%) eyes: 6/12 or better; 253 (14.1) ,6/12 >6/18; 632 (35.3%) 6/18 to 6/60; 85 (4.8%): 6/60 to 3/60; 528 (29.5%): ,3/60. With ''best'' refractive correction, these values were: 563 (31.5%), 332 (18.6%), 492 (27.5%), 61 (3.4%), 334 (18.7%), respectively. Of the 1498 eyes with VA (6/12 on presentation, 352 (23.5%) were the result of coincident disease, 800 (53.4%) refractive error and 320 (21.4%) operative complications. Eye camp surgery (OR 1.72, p = 0.002), ICCE (OR 3.78; p,0.001), rural residence (OR 1.36, p = 0.01), female gender (OR 1.55, p,0.001) and illiteracy (OR 2.44, p,0.001) were associated with VA of ,6/18. More recent ICCE surgeries were associated with a poorer outcome. The ratio of ECCE+IOL:ICCE in the last 3 years was 1.2:1, compared with 1:3.3 >4 years before the survey. Conclusion: Almost a third of cataract operations result in a presenting VA of ,6/60, which could be halved by appropriate refractive correction. This study highlights the need for an improvement in quality of surgery with a more balanced distribution of services.

The prognosis of children with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is poor, and new therapies are needed. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is an anti-CD33 antibody linked to the antitumor antibiotic calicheamicin. We conducted an investigator-initiated phase II study with GO to assess its efficacy and safety, administering two dosages of 7AE5 mg/m 2 with a 14 d-interval. Thirty children who were refractory to re-induction at first relapse or suffered from second relapse of AML received a total of 64 infusions of GO. The response rate [complete remission (CR) and CR with insufficient platelet recovery] was 37%. Nine patients were subsequently transplanted (median time to transplant, 4 weeks, range 3-21 weeks), and three of these patients are currently in continuous CR with a median followup of >3 years, and can considered to be cured. This resulted in a statistically significant survival advantage for children who responded to GO versus those who did not [27% (standard error 13%) vs. 0%, respectively, P = 0AE001]. All other children died, mainly from progressive disease. The treatment was generally well tolerated by most patients. The frequency of transient transaminatis was low. All but one patient received defibrotide prophylaxis during the transplant procedure, and no cases of veno-occlusive disease were noted. This study showed a favourable safety/efficacy profile of single-agent GO in children with refractory first or second relapse of AML.

Impaired fibrinolysis as a result of increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in plasma is a common finding in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter region of the PAI-1 gene has been reported to influence the levels of PAI-1. The 4G allele was found to be associated with higher plasma PAI-1 activity (act), but contradictory results on the incidence of the 4G allele in DVT patients have been reported. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G genotype increases the risk of venous thrombosis in subjects with thrombophilic defects, and to determine the distribution of the PAI-1 4G/5G genotype and its relation to plasma PAI-1 levels in 190 unrelated patients with DVT in comparison with a control group of 152 healthy subjects. No differences between the 4G/5G allele distribution in the DVT group (0´43/0´57) and in the control group (0´42/0´58) were observed. However, the presence of the 4G allele significantly increased the risk of thrombosis in patients with other thrombophilic defects.

We examined possible explanations for the underrepresentation of women among university faculty, in two different national contexts. In the Netherlands, a sample of doctoral students (N = 132) revealed no gender differences in work commitment or work satisfaction. Faculty members in the same university (N = 179), however, perceived female students to be less committed to their work and female faculty endorsed these gender-stereotypical perceptions most strongly. A second study, in Italy, replicated and extended these findings. Again no gender differences were obtained in the self-descriptions of male and female doctoral students (N = 80), while especially the female faculty (N = 93) perceived female students as less committed to their work than male students. Additional measures supported an explanation in social identity terms, according to which individual upward mobility (i.e. of female faculty) implies distancing the self from the group stereotype which not only involves perceiving the self as a non-prototypical group member, but may also elicit stereotypical views of other in-group members.

Background: Postoperative convalescence is mainly determined by the extent and duration of postoperative ileus. This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effects of early oral feeding on functional gastrointestinal recovery and quality of life. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients undergoing elective open colorectal or abdominal vascular surgery participated in the trial. Of these, 67 were randomized to a conventional return to diet, and 61 to a regimen allowing resumption of an oral diet as soon as tolerated (free diet group). Results: Reinsertion of a nasogastric tube was necessary in 20 per cent of the free diet group and 10 per cent of the conventional group (P = 0•213). The complication rate was similar for both groups, as was return of gastrointestinal function. A normal diet was tolerated after a median of 2 days in the free diet group compared with 5 days in the conventional group (P < 0•001). Quality of life scores were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Early resumption of oral intake does not diminish the duration of postoperative ileus or lead to a significantly increased rate of nasogastric tube reinsertion. Tolerance of oral diet is not influenced by gastrointestinal functional recovery. As there is no reason to withhold oral intake following open colorectal or abdominal vascular surgery, postoperative management should include early resumption of diet.

Prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) possesses various physiological functions, including modulation of nociception, inflammation and cardiovascular activity. Elucidation of these functions has been hampered by the absence of selective IP receptor antagonists. ... Two structurally distinct ...

Evolutionary theories concerning the origins of human intelligence suggest that cultural transmission might be biased toward social over non-social information. This was tested by passing social and non-social information along multiple chains of participants. Experiment 1 found that gossip, defined as information about intense third-party social relationships, was transmitted with siginificantly greater accuracy and in significantly greater quantity than equivalent non-social information concerning individual behaviour or the physical environment. Experiment 2 replicated this finding controlling for narrative coherence, and additionally found that information concerning everyday nongossip social interactions was transmitted just as well as the intense gossip interactions. It was therefore concluded that human cultural transmission is biased toward information concerning social interactions over equivalent non-social information. In seeking to investigate the social nature of memory, Bartlett (1932) formulated the 'transmission chain method', in which material, typically a text, is passed through a chain of participants, in a manner similar to the children's game 'Chinese whispers' or 'broken telephone'. The first participant reads the material, and is later asked to recall it. The resultant recall is then given to the second participant to reproduce, whose recall is in turn given to the third, and so on along the chain. Using this method, Bartlett demonstrated that traditional folk tales were transmitted more fully than a range of other stimuli, such as a newspaper report, a description of a scene and a scientific text. In the following two decades, a series of transmission chain studies were published in the

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is a rare benign odontogenic neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumors. Its origin is controversial as well as its true malignant potential. A case of an advanced CEOT associated with an impacted right second molar in the mandible of a young black female patient is presented. Computed tomography imaging, radiographic and pathological findings, surgical patterns, gross anatomy of the lesion and the performed treatment are discussed.

Background Overexpression of the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E results in increased translation of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in cell cycle control, proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Phosphorylation of eIF4E is conducted by MAP kinase interacting serine ⁄threonine kinase 1 and 2, and phosphorylation of eIF4E has previously been associated with increased release of proinflammatory cytokines from keratinocytes. The actions of eIF4E are counteracted by the eIF4Ebinding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Objectives To characterize the mRNA and protein expression of eIF4E, as well as the phosphorylation of eIF4E in psoriatic skin. Methods Biopsies were collected from patients with psoriasis. mRNA expression and protein levels of eIF4E were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. eIF4E distribution was determined by immunofluorescence analysis. Results We found a significant increase in mRNA expression and protein level of eIF4E in lesional as compared with nonlesional psoriatic skin. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that eIF4E was located throughout the epidermis and was primarily cytoplasmic in distribution. The level of phosphorylated eIF4E protein was found to be strongly upregulated, and 4E-BP1 expression was also increased.

Two patients with relapsed Wilms' tumour and renal failure requiring dialysis were given carboplatin and etoposide by pharmacokinetically guided dosing. The target area under the drug plasma concentration vs time curve (AUC) was 6 mg ml-' min for carboplatin and 18 and 21 mg ml'min for etoposide. On course 1 measured AUCs of carboplatin and etoposide were 6 and 20 mg ml-' min for patient 1 and 6 and 21 mg ml-l min for patient 2 respectively. Peritoneal dialysis did not remove carboplatin or etoposide from the plasma, however carboplatin but not etoposide was cleared by haemodialysis. Therapy with carboplatin and etoposide is possible in children and adults with renal failure who require dialysis, but in this situation pharmacokinetic monitoring is essential.

2008) Safety and efficacy of imatinib in chronic eosinophilic leukaemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome-a phase-II study. FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion: prevalence and clinicopathologic correlates in 89 conscutive patients with moderate to severe eosinophilia. Blood, 104, 3038-3045.

Early detection of platelet activation is important for the diagnosis and follow-up of several pathological conditions that primarily or secondarily involve platelets in their pathogenesis. The golden standard assay to detect thrombocyte activation is represented by the release of serotonin, classically performed by demanding methodologies, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, 14 C-labelling and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We developed a non-radioactive method, based on individual cells, for the detection of serotonin content in activated and resting platelets by flow cytometry. The assay was standardized on cells activated by Ca 2+ ionophore or by sera from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Cells were identified by CD41a surface staining and their serotonin content measured by specific antiserotonin intracytoplasmic staining, while their activation was independently shown by annexin V binding. Cellular degranulation was detected by flow cytometry in all the cases that were also positive by standard ELISA. Moreover, multiparametric flow cytometry analysis revealed that, although virtually all activated cells bind annexin V, serotonin was released only by the platelet subset that downmodulates surface CD41a.

Background Involvement of adipose-derived stem ⁄progenitor ⁄stromal cells (ASCs) in the development of lipomas has been suggested, but the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this tumour remain unclear. Objectives To analyse cellular and transcriptional characteristics of lipoma tissue compared with normal adipose tissue, further to delineate differentiating features. Methods For lipoma or normal adipose tissues, we used a new whole-mount staining enabling three-dimensional imaging of nonfixed and nonfrozen adipose tissue. Immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction for obesity-related genes were performed as well as comparative assay of the proliferative and adipogenic capacity of ASCs.

Recent data reported that inulin-type fructans extracted from chicory roots regulate appetite and lipid/glucose metabolism, namely, by promoting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) production in the colon. The Agave genus growing in different regions of Mexico also contains important amounts of original fructans, with interesting nutritional and technological properties, but only few data report their physiological effect when added in the diet. Therefore, we decided to evaluate in parallel the effect of supplementation with 10 % agave or chicory fructans on glucose and lipid metabolism in mice. Male C57Bl/6J mice were fed a standard (STD) diet or diet supplemented with Raftilose P95 (RAF), fructans from Agave tequilana Gto. (TEQ) or fructans from Dasylirion spp. (DAS) for 5 weeks. The body weight gain and food intake in mice fed fructans-containing diets were significantly lower than the ones of mice fed the STD diet, TEQ leading to the lowest value. Serum glucose and cholesterol were similarly lower in all fructans-fed groups than in the STD group and correlated to body weight gain. Only RAF led to a significant decrease in serum TAG. As previously shown for RAF, the supplementation with agave fructans (TEQ and DAS) induced a higher concentration of GLP-1 and its precursor, proglucagon mRNA, in the different colonic segments, thus suggesting that fermentable fructans from different botanical origin and chemical structure are able to promote the production of satietogenic/incretin peptides in the lower part of the gut, with promising effects on glucose metabolism, body weight and fat mass development. Agave tequilana Gto: Dasylirion spp: Fructans: Incretins: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide: Diabetes: Obesity * Corresponding authors: Mercedes G. López, fax 52-462-624-5997, email mlopez@ira.cinvestav.mx and Nathalie M. Delzenne, fax 003227647359, email Nathalie.Delzenne@uclouvain.be Abbreviations: DAS, Dasylirion spp.; DP, degree of polymerisation; GLP, glucagon-like peptide; RAF, Raftilose; STD, standard; TEQ, Agave tequilana Gto.

We examined possible explanations for the underrepresentation of women among university faculty, in two different national contexts. In the Netherlands, a sample of doctoral students (N = 132) revealed no gender differences in work commitment or work satisfaction. Faculty members in the same university (N = 179), however, perceived female students to be less committed to their work and female faculty endorsed these gender-stereotypical perceptions most strongly. A second study, in Italy, replicated and extended these findings. Again, no gender differences were obtained in the self-descriptions of male and female doctoral students (N = 80), while especially the female faculty (N = 93) perceived female students as less committed to their work than male students. Additional measures supported an explanation in social identity terms, according to which individual upward mobility (i.e. of female faculty) implies distancing the self from the group stereotype which not only involves percei...

Aits-To determine if neural networks can detect diabetic features in fundus images and compare the network against an ophthalmologist screening a set of fundus images. Methods-147 diabetic and 32 normal images were captured from a fundus camera, stored on computer, and analysed using a back propagation neural network. The network was trained to recognise features in the retinal image. The effects of digital filtering techniques and different network variables were assessed. 200 diabetic and 101 normal images were then randomised and used to evaluate the network's performance for the detection of diabetic retinopathy against an ophthalmologist. Results-Detection rates for the recognition of vessels, exudates, and haemorrhages were 91.7%, 93.1%, and 73.8% respectively. When compared with the results of the ophthalmologist, the network achieved a sensitivity of 88.4% and a specificity of 83.5% for the detection of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions-Detection of vessels, exudates, and haemorrhages was possible, with success rates dependent upon preprocessing and the number ofimages used in training. When compared with the ophthalmologist, the network achieved good accuracy for the detection of diabetic retinopathy. The system could be used as an aid to the screening of diabetic patients for retinopathy.

Separation of globin chains by electrophoresis provides a simple and rapid method for the determination of the Gy/Ay ratio in human fetal haemoglobin, and of biosynthetic rates of the globin chains. Whole haemolysates were analysed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in urea, acetic acid and Triton X-100.

We have carried out a laboratory evaluation of an active heat and moisture exchanging filter (aHMEF). The device consists of a conventional heat and moisture exchanging filter (HMEF) with an additional heating element and water supply. It was compared with a standard HMEF using a model lung. The aHMEF with the heating element alone, reduced 2-hourly water loss compared with the HMEF (? < 0.001); with both the heating element and additional water, this was reduced further (P < 0.001). The mean catheter mount temperature with the HMEF and heater was 32.7 (SD 1.8) °C and with the complete aHMEF was 34.6 (1.6) °C. The maximum temperature with the heating element in use was 37.7 °C. We conclude that the aHMEF provided effective, controllable and convenient humidification of inspired gases. (Br.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate by a retrospective analysis of 53 patients the efficacy of chemotherapy combining etoposide and cisplatin in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. The regimen was a combination of etoposide 100 mg m(-2) day(-1) for 3 days and cisplatin 100 mg m(-2) on day 1, given by 2-h intravenous infusion, administered every 21 days. Twelve patients had a well-differentiated and 41 a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumour. Toxicity of treatment was assessed in 50 patients and efficacy in 52 patients. Among the 11 patients with a well-differentiated tumour evaluable for tumoural response, only one (9.4%) had a partial response for 8.5 months. Forty-one patients with a poorly differentiated tumour showed an objective response rate of 41.5% (four complete and 13 partial responses); the median duration of response was 9.2 months, the median overall survival 15 months and the median progression-free survival 8.9 months. Haematological grade 3-4 toxicit...

This paper reports on a research project that investigated the use of touchscreens by children in early childhood and junior primary settings by introducing touchscreens in five classrooms in Melbourne. Several methods to obtain information about how children interacted with the touchscreens were used including observation, journals and field notes, and interviews. The research identified five key themes, relating to developmental issues, input device preference, technical issues, individual differences in children's use of the touchscreen and issues of collaboration.

Background. Research into teacher expectations has shown that these have an effect on student achievement. Some researchers have explored the impact of various student characteristics on teachers' expectations. One attribute of interest is ethnicity.

A project researching user-views on the outcomes of social care and support services for disabled children and their families presented new challenges to a research team. While the team had experience of working with other groups of disabled children, this project was the first in which the team sought to work directly with children with autistic spectrum disorders. This paper reports the process by which the research design and methods used were developed and tailored to the needs and abilities of these children. The key lesson learnt was the value of crossing disciplines, research areas and professional boundaries when trying to identify ways of working with a 'hard to reach group'.

, 220 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) were studied using conventional cytogenetics. Of 204 evaluable patients, 52 (25AE4%) had clonal abnormalities. The recurrent chromosomal rearrangements were those of chromosome 9 (21AE1%), del(20q) (19AE2%), trisomy 8 (19AE2%), rearrangements of 13q (13AE4%), abnormalities of 1q (11AE5%), and of chromosomes 5 and 7 (9AE6%). Subsequent analysis of 32 patients, performed at follow-up of up to 14AE8 years, revealed new clonal abnormalities in five patients and the disappearance of an abnormal clone in four. Eleven patients remained normal up to 11AE5 years and seven patients maintained an abnormality for over 10 years. Fifty-three patients were studied retrospectively using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH), utilizing probes for centromere enumeration of chromosomes 8 and 9, and for 13q14 and 20q12 loci. Conventional cytogenetics demonstrated clonal chromosome abnormalities in 23% of these 53 patients. The addition of I-FISH increased the detection of abnormalities to 29% and permitted clarification of chromosome 9 rearrangements in an additional 5AE6% of patients. FISH uncovered rearrangements of chromosome 9 in 53% of patients with an abnormal FISH pattern, which represented the most frequent genomic alteration in this series.

Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) is a reversible enzyme expressed mainly in the liver, kidney and intestine. OAT controls the interconversion of ornithine into glutamate semi-aldehyde, and is therefore involved in the metabolism of arginine and glutamine which play a major role in N homeostasis. We hypothesised that OAT could be a limiting step in glutamine -arginine interconversion. To study the contribution of the OAT enzyme in amino acid metabolism, transgenic mice that specifically overexpress human OAT in the liver, kidneys and intestine were generated. The transgene expression was analysed by in situ hybridisation and real-time PCR. Tissue (liver, jejunum and kidney) OAT activity, and plasma and tissue (liver and jejunum) amino acid concentrations were measured. Transgenic male mice exhibited higher OAT activity in the liver (25 (SEM 4) v. 11 (SEM 1) nmol/min per mg protein for wild-type (WT) mice; P, 0·05) but there were no differences in kinetic parameters (i.e. K m and maximum rate of reaction (V max )) between WT and transgenic animals. OAT overexpression decreased plasma and liver ornithine concentrations but did not affect glutamine or arginine homeostasis. There was an inverse relationship between ornithine levels and OAT activity. We conclude that OAT overexpression has only limited metabolic effects, probably due to the reversible nature of the enzyme. Moreover, these metabolic modifications had no effect on phenotype.

To describe the anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of a sample of senior A club rugby players and to highlight differences between the positional categories of the players within the forwards and backs. 94 senior A male rugby players were assessed on a number of anthropometric and physical performance assessments. The forwards were categorised into props, hookers, locks, and loose forwards. Backs were categorised into inside, midfield, and outside backs. Categories within the forwards were compared with each other, as were the categories within the backs. The anthropometric characteristics of forwards differed significantly between positional categories. Front row forwards (props and hookers) possessed highly endo-mesomorphic somatotypes, and typically rated very low for ectomorphy. Props possessed greater body mass than hookers. Locks and loose forwards were taller than the front row forwards. In terms of physical performance fewer differences were observed. Ho...

The aims of this study were to use symptom intensity measures collected at each session (1) to describe the outcomes of clients who received cognitive therapy (CT) for depression in a clinically representative sample, and (2) to compare the outcomes of clients who completed the agreed number of sessions with those who did not. Clients (N = 58) contracted to attend between 12 and 20 sessions of CT completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) immediately prior to each therapy session. The BDI and other measures were collected at intake and, for those who completed therapy, at a post-therapy assessment. Completers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; BDI scores improved significantly from intake to post-treatment and significantly more from intake to their final session than did those of non-completers. However, when non-completers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; final session scores were matched with scores of randomly selected completers at the corresponding session, the difference in improvement was not significant. A significantly higher proportion of clients who completed the agreed number of sessions achieved reliable and clinically significant change (71.4%, 25/35), compared with just 13% (3/23) of clients who did not. (1) CT for depression can be effective in a clinically representative population. (2) Attrition from clinical trials may bias estimates of treatment effectiveness.

To specify the validity of bone marrow scanning using a monoclonal anti-granulocyte antibody labelled with 9 9 m T~ (BW 250/183) for the functional assessment of haemopoiesis, we compared this method with 52Fe scan in 16 patients with haematological disorders. The examinations were performed using a rectilinear whole-body scanner and the distribution of the two tracers was assessed visually and quantitatively in anatomical bone marrow segments, the spleen and liver. Qualitative comparison showed concordance in the bone marrow distribution of the two tracers in 83% of the segments. Discrepancies were found in six patients with hypoplastic or aplastic marrow. The spleen was visualized in all cases with the 99mTc-Moab, including nine patients without splenic haemopoiesis (i.e. without spleen uptake of 52Fe). The uptake of the two tracers, quantified in bone marrow segments and the spleen, correlated well (P<O.OOOl). but not in the liver (NS). The correlation between the uptake values for each patient was excellent, except in cases of aplastic bone marrow. In conclusion, bone marrow scanning using a 99mTc labelled anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody enables functional evaluation of the distribution of haemopoiesis. Limitations include the evaluation of bone marrow aplasia and identification of splenic haemopoiesis, for which 52Fe remains the tracer of choice.