Discrepancies in the widely applied GAM42a fluorescence in situ hybridisation probe for Gammaproteobacteria

A bacterial culture collection of 104 strains was obtained from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant to pursue studies into microbial flocculation. Characterisation of the culture collection using a polyphasic approach indicated seven isolates, phylogenetically affiliated with the deep-branching Xanthomonas group of the class Gammaproteobacteria, were unable to hybridise the GAM42a fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) probe for Gammaproteobacteria. The sequence of the GAM42a probe target region in the 23S rRNA gene of these isolates was determined to have mismatches to GAM42a. Probes perfectly targeting the mismatches (GAM42a_TI038_G1031, and GAM42a_T1038 and GAM42a_A1041_A1040) were synthesised, and used in conjunction with GAM42a in FISH to,study the Gammaproteobacteria community structure in one full-scale activated sludge plant. Several bacteria in the activated sludge biomass bound the modified probes demonstrating their presence and the fact that these Gammaproteobacteria have been overlooked in community structure analyses of activated sludge. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Attention deficit disorder: not just for children

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been described in children who demonstrate developmentally inappropriate symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and motor restlessness. In adults, symptoms are known to persist and the validity of adult ADHD as an entity is now recognized. There is an associated high proportion of other serious psychiatric comorbidities, especially substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders. Advances have been made into the aetiology and management of ADHD. Many of these focus on the dopamine and noradrenaline pathways.

Development of the Minimum Information Specification for in situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry Experiments (MISFISHIE)

We describe the creation process of the Minimum Information Specification for In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry Experiments (MISFISHIE). Modeled after the existing minimum information specification for microarray data, we created a new specification for gene expression localization experiments, initially to facilitate data sharing within a consortium. After successful use within the consortium, the specification was circulated to members of the wider biomedical research community for comment and refinement. After a period of acquiring many new suggested requirements, it was necessary to enter a final phase of excluding those requirements that were deemed inappropriate as a minimum requirement for all experiments. The full specification will soon be published as a version 1.0 proposal to the community, upon which a more full discussion must take place so that the final specification may be achieved with the involvement of the whole community. This paper is part of the special issue of OMICS on data standards.

Effect of drug concentration on adsorption of levofloxacin by polyacrylonitrile haemofilters

We studied an in vitro model of continuous venovenous haemofiltration to determine levofloxacin adsorption by polyacrylonitrile (PAN) filters. Four doses of levofloxacin (5, 25, 50 and 100 mg) were used, resulting in circulating concentrations of levofloxacin at 120 min of 3.56 +/- 0.14, 15.84 +/- 2.08, 31.42 +/- 1.95 and 58.23 +/- 1.10 mg/L, respectively. Adsorption at 2 h was 0.65 +/- 0.17, 5.99 +/- 2.49, 12.30 +/- 2.34 and 30.13 +/- 1.32 mg, respectively (P < 0.001). From 2 h to 4 h, increasing the blood pump rate and the ultrafiltration rate had no effect on adsorption. When the concentration was decreased from 3.55 +/- 0.13 mg/L at 4 h to 2.16 +/- 0.11 mg/L at 5 h by addition of lactated Ringer's solution, adsorption decreased from 0.67 +/- 0.16 mg to 0.21 +/- 0.25 mg (P < 0.05). These data show that adsorption of levofloxacin by PAN haemofilters is concentration dependent and reversible in vitro and suggest that adsorption by haemofilters is unlikely to affect levofloxacin pharmacokinetics significantly in vivo. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Low mannose-binding lectin function is associated with sepsis in adult patients

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an innate immune system pattern recognition molecule that kills a wide range of pathogens via the lectin complement pathway. MBL deficiency is associated with severe infection but the best measure of this deficiency is undecided. We investigated the influence of MBL functional deficiency on the development of sepsis in 195 adult patients, 166 of whom had bloodstream infection and 35 had pneumonia. Results were compared with 236 blood donor controls. MBL function (C4b deposition) and levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using receiver-operator characteristics of MBL function in healthy controls, we identified a level of < 0.2 U mu L-1 as a highly discriminative marker of low MBL2 genotypes. Median MBL function was lower in sepsis patients (0.18 U mu L-1) than in controls (0.48 U mu L-1, P < 0.001). MBL functional deficiency was more common in sepsis patients than controls (P < 0.001). MBL functional deficient patients had significantly higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores and higher MBL function and levels were found in patients with SOFA scores predictive of good outcome. Deficiency of MBL function appears to be associated with bloodstream infection and the development of septic shock. High MBL levels may be protective against severe sepsis. © 2006 Federation of European Microbiological Societies Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reliability of a measure of prediagnosis physical activity for cancer survivors

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the test-retest reliability of a measure of prediagnosis physical activity participation administered to colorecial cancer survivors recruited from a population-based state cancer registry. Methods: A total of 112 participants completed two telephone interviews. I month apart, reporting usual weekly physical activity in the year before their cancer diagnosis. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard en-or of measurement (SEM) were used to describe the test-retest reliability of the measure across the sample: the Bland-Altman approach was used to describe reliability at the individual level. The test-retest reliability for categorized total physical activity (active, insufficiently active, sedentary) was assessed using the kappa statistic. Results: When the complete sample was considered, the ICC ranged from 0.40 (95% Cl: 0.24, 0.55) for vigorous gardening to 0.77 (95% Cl: 0.68, 0.84) for moderate physical activity. The SEM, however, were large. indicating high measurement error. The Bland-Altman plots indicated that the reproducibility of data decreases as the aniount of physical activity reported each week increases The kappa coefficient for the categorized data was 0.62 (95% Cl: 0.48, 0.76). Conclusion: Overall. the results indicated low levels of repeatability for this measure of historical physical activity. Categorizing participants as active, insufficiently active, or sedentary provides a higher level of test-retest reliability.

Research degrees for medical graduates [Editorial]

No Abstract

Should future health-care costs be discounted? The case of diabetes in Australia [Editorial]

No Abstract

Stool antigen testing for the diagnosis and confirmation of eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection

No Abstract

The tiered model of psychosocial intervention in cancer: A community based approach

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of psychosocial distress in people with cancer have been produced ill Australia and North America and these provide direction for the provision of psychosocial care for patients with cancer and their families. This report describes a tiered intervention model to operationalise psychosocial care ill oncology in the community and Outlines a framework for integrating services across sectors. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Soils, Ltd.

Vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid supplementation increase bleeding tendency via an intrinsic coagulation pathway

Vitamin E and a-lipoic acid are potent nutritional antioxidants, and when used together, their antioxidant capabilities are improved as a-lipoic acid recycles vitamin E. Supplementation of vitamin E has been shown to prolong platelet aggregation but the effects of vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on bleeding tendency have yet to be reported. Young, male rats consumed either control diet (n=5) or vitamin E and a-lipoic acid-supplemented diet (n=5) for 14 weeks. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were measured as markers of intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways respectively in addition to lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde). Supplementation significantly prolonged APTT (23.8 +/- 1.5 vs 31.4 +/- 1.2s, p < 0.05) compared to the con-trol diet; however, there was no significant difference in PT (27.8 +/- 1.5 vs 26.6 +/- 0.9s, p > 0.05). While vitamin E was increased (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in plasma levels of malondialdehyde (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation of vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid increases bleeding tendency via inhibition of the intrinsic coagulation pathway with no change in markers of lipid peroxidation. Such supplementation could benefit patients with cardiovascular disease who exhibit elevated levels of coagulation and oxidative stress.

Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2006

It is technically feasible for mobile social software such as pairing or ‘matchmaking’ systems to introduce people to others and assist information exchange. However, little is known about the social structure of many mobile communities or why they would want such pairing systems. While engaged in other work determining requirements for a mobile travel assistant we saw a potentially useful application for a pairing system to facilitate the exchange of travel information between backpackers. To explore this area, we designed two studies involving usage of a low-fidelity role prototype of a social pairing system for backpackers. Backpackers rated the utility of different pairing types, and provided feedback on the social implications of being paired based on travel histories. Practical usage of the social network pairing activity and the implications of broader societal usage are discussed.

Validation of a generalized transfer function to noninvasively derive central blood pressure during exercise

Exercise brachial blood pressure ( BP) predicts mortality, but because of wave reflection, central ( ascending aortic) pressure differs from brachial pressure. Exercise central BP may be clinically important, and a noninvasive means to derive it would be useful. The purpose of this study was to test the validity of a noninvasive technique to derive exercise central BP. Ascending aortic pressure waveforms were recorded using a micromanometer-tipped 6F Millar catheter in 30 patients (56 +/- 9 years; 21 men) undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Simultaneous recordings of the derived central pressure waveform were acquired using servocontrolled radial tonometry at rest and during supine cycling. Pulse wave analysis of the direct and derived pressure signals was performed offline (SphygmoCor 7.01). From rest to exercise, mean arterial pressure and heart rate were increased by 20 +/- 10 mm Hg and 15 +/- 7 bpm, respectively, and central systolic BP ranged from 77 to 229 mm Hg. There was good agreement and high correlation between invasive and noninvasive techniques with a mean difference (+/- SD) for central systolic BP of -1.3 +/- 3.2 mm Hg at rest and -4.7 +/- 3.3 mm Hg at peak exercise ( for both r=0.995; P < 0.001). Conversely, systolic BP was significantly higher peripherally than centrally at rest (155 +/- 33 versus 138 +/- 32mm Hg; mean difference, -16.3 +/- 9.4mm Hg) and during exercise (180 +/- 34 versus 164 +/- 33 mm Hg; mean difference, -15.5 +/- 10.4 mm Hg; for both P < 0.001). True myocardial afterload is not reliably estimated by peripheral systolic BP. Radial tonometry and pulse wave analysis is an accurate technique for the noninvasive determination of central BP at rest and during exercise.

Dietary supplementation of vitamin E and -lipoic acid upregulates cell growth and signaling genes in rat myocardium

The efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in the prevention of cardiovascular disease appears equivocal, however the use of more potent antioxidant combinations than those traditionally used may exert a more positive effect. We have shown previously that supplementation of vitamin E and α-lipoic acid increases cardiac performance during post-ischemia reperfusion in older rats and increases Bcl-2 levels in endothelial cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vitamin E and α-lipoic acid supplementation on myocardial gene expression with a view to determine their mechanism of action. Young male rats received either a control (n=7) or vitamin E and α-lipoic acid supplemented diet (n=8) for 14 weeks. RNA from myocardial tissue was then amplified and samples were pooled within groups and competitively hybridized to 5K oligonucleotide rat microarrays. The relative expression of each gene was then compared to the control sample. Animals that received the antioxidant-supplemented diet exhibited upregulation (>1.5×) of 13 genes in the myocardium with 2 genes downregulated.� �Upregulated genes include those involved in cell growth and maintenance (LynB, Csf1r, Akt2, Tp53), cell signaling (LynB, Csf1r) and signal transduction (Pacsin2, Csf1r). Downregulated genes encode thyroid (Thrsp) and F-actin binding proteins (Nexilin).