Inherited deficiency of the seventh complement component (C7) is associated with increased susceptibility to Neisseria meningitidis infections. The disease is rare in most Western countries. Here we report new investigations of a large, but incompletely characterized genomic deletion of exons 8 and 9 [c.739-?_1093+?del], previously identified in three unrelated Irish families with C7 deficiency. We have analysed DNA from one individual, who is homozygous for the deletion, by PCR using primers progressively proximal to the deleted exons. Thus we were able to map the deletion boundaries. Amplification across the breakpoint and sequencing revealed an indel mutation that included a 6.4 kb deletion together with an insertion of a novel 8 bp sequence [c.739+1262_1270-2387delinsGCAGGCCA]. We demonstrated the same defect in the C7 deficient patients from each family and developed a duplex PCR method to enable the detection of alleles containing the deletion in heterozygotes. A member of a fourth family was found to be homozygous for the deletion defect. Thus, the deletion defect may be a more commonly distributed cause of C7 deficiency in Ireland.

We developed a simple method for the detection of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) based on base stacking effect coupled with an unmodified gold nanoparticle (AuNP) indicator. In the absence of a target, an aptamer probe and a capture probe stably co-exist in a solution, as it is difficult to sustain an interaction between both these probes due to the short 8 bp duplex. However, when a target protein binds to the aptamer probe, the strong base stacking effect can lead to a favorable and stable interaction between the aptamer and capture probes. Hence, the capture probe dissociates from the AuNP surfaces, inducing AuNP aggregation. Compared with other AuNP-based aptasensors for PDGFs, using this base stacking effect can overcome a structured-aptamer method's limitation of requiring thiolated-aptamer-modified AuNPs. Under optimal detection conditions, this label-free colorimetric sensor could detect PDGFs down to 6 nM with high selectivity in the presence of other interferring proteins. This simple detection approach provides viable methods for a structured-aptamer sensing protocol.

Of 535 consecutive cases of acute leukaemia diagnosed in the Cape Province between 1978 and 1985, demographic data are incomplete in 75 black patients and they have had to be excluded from the spatial analysis. Of the remaining 460 cases, 223 (48.5%) occurred in white patients and 237 (51.5%) in those of mixed ancestry, classified as coloureds according to the Population Registration Act No. 30 of 1950. The average incidence was 2.12, 1.37 and 0.58/100 000 for whites, coloureds and blacks respectively. There was no temporal trend in the incidence of acute leukaemia between the three race groups. The median age for whites was 30 years and for the coloureds was 15 years, which is comparable to the 16 years for the black patients. The two-peak age distribution for leukaemia was seen in the white group, but was absent in the other two groups. This is accounted for by a different distribution in non-lymphoblastic as opposed to lymphoblastic subtypes. Furthermore, there was a disproportionately high frequency of acute progranulocytic leukaemia in the black patients, whereas the white and coloured groups were similar. There was a single, clearly defined macro-scale cluster restricted to white patients in Statistical Region 17 (SR-17). This exploratory study provides the first epidemiologic data for acute leukaemia in the Cape Province. It needs to be extended in order to verify these observations under more controlled circumstances and to seek evidence for some environmental factors that may account for the geographical cluster.

INTRODUCTION:We have previously presented a patient with massive small and large bowel infarction and demonstrated that even with only a few inches of remaining small bowel an almost normal life-style and diet is possible.PATIENT:Recently, we have looked after a young and otherwise fit female patient who suffered mesenteric venous gangrene of the whole small bowel from the Ligament of Treitz to the caecum. In order to achieve gastro-intestinal continuity and to avoid the torrential fluid loss associated with high fistula, an anastomosis between the stomach and the transverse colon was formed.RESULTS:We are surprised to find that despite the extensive resection our patient maintains a good quality of life and is able to look after her young family.

Granulomatous lesions from bovines were examined using standard histological methods from geographically separated herds in Queensland, Australia. Bacteria recovered from a number of these lesions were studied by the staff of Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory, using standard microbiological methods. The bacteria appeared to be phenotypically similar to each other and like members of the genus Propionibacterium but could not be assigned to any currently named species. Actinomyces species, a cause of granulomatous lesions in cattle, were ruled out based on polyphasic testing and negative results for direct fluorescent antibody. Phenotypic studies indicated that strains were fermentative. Chemotaxonomic analyses revealed meso-diaminopimelic acids in the cell walls, a majority of the cellular fatty acids were of the branched-chain type and products of fermentation included major propionic acid. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the bacteria were genealogically highly related to each other and constituted a new subline within the genusPropionibacterium, displaying >3% divergence from other named species of that genus. The novel taxon could be distinguished from other validly described Propionibacterium species and so it is proposed that these strains represent a new species, Propionibacterium australiense sp. nov. Health Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) identifier numbers 98A072 (type strain) and 98A078 have been deposited as ATCC BAA-264T, CCUG 46075T, and ATCC BAA-263, CCUG 46174, respectively. Genbank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence for 98A072 is AF225962.

OBJECTIVE:To describe four cases of infection in cattle, from geographically different places, with a presumptive new species of Propionibacterium, which causes granulomatous lesions in the head, thorax, abdomen, pelvic area and skin.PROCEDURE:Gross lesions, ranging from 0.5 to 15 cm and detected during routine carcase inspection at the abattoir, were submitted to the laboratory for routine testing in the National Granuloma Submission Program. The bacterium isolated was identified using morphological characteristics, biochemical reactions, cell wall components, products of fermentation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.RESULTS:Gross lesions submitted for examination consisted of a fibrous outer capsule enclosing thick yellow pus-like material. A Gram-Glynn stain of the histological sections revealed colonies of Gram-positive, filamentous, branching bacteria. Bacteriological culture, cell wall analysis, biochemical reactions and 16S rRNA sequencing identified the organism as a Propionibacterium sp closely related to P cyclohexanicum and the P freudenreichii cluster.CONCLUSION:This is the first report of a Propionibacterium sp closely related to P cyclohexanicum and the P freudenreichii cluster associated with extensive granulomatous lesions in cattle in Queensland. Sequencing data are suggestive of a previously undescribed species of the Propionibacterium genus.

We investigated the simultaneous effects of light and temperature on pigments, lipid remodeling, and omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) partitioning into lipid classes of P. lutheri. Biomass was produced in batch cultivation using high bicarbonate supply, and hence, any potential accumulation of lipid and triacylglycerols (TAG) containing n-3 LC-PUFA was triggered by nitrogen (N) limitation. The maximum productivities of both eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids were obtained after nitrate-depletion when P. lutheri was cultivated at optimal growth conditions; these occurred at an intermediate temperature of 18 °C and low light intensity (40 μmol photons·m− 2·s− 1) for EPA, but there was no impact of light (40 or 200 μmol photons·m− 2·s− 1) for DHA production. Under these respective optimum conditions, TAG accounted for 82–84% of TFA on day 15 of cultivation, which contained up to 76–84% of the total cellular EPA and 67–81% of total cellular DHA. Our results clearly demonstrate the process of lipid remodeling in P. lutheri and, for the first time, a potential membrane lipid turnover with transfer of n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA and DHA) from membranes (polar lipids, PL) to storage lipids (TAG), highlighting the accumulation of n-3 LC-PUFA-rich oil during N-starvation (i.e., TAG containing: EPA ~ 12–13% and DHA ~ 5–6% of TFA). When cultivated under low light conditions, P. lutheri additionally accumulated substantial quantities of antioxidant pigments (i.e., fucoxanthin, diadinoxanthin and β-carotene), which add value to extracted bioactive oil for functional food applications. Omega-3 rich oil accumulation and pigment levels in P. lutheri appear to be simultaneously regulated by both light and temperature, in addition to N-limitation during batch-cultivation.

SUMMARY: The bulbourethral glands of 323 Bos indicus or B. indicus crossbred bulls more than 11V2 years old were examined in an abattoir study. Bulbourethral adenitis was diagnosed grossly and confirmed by histological examination in 4 (1.2%). Unilateral chronic interstitial inflammation was seen in 2 cases; one of these was associated with a degenerative‐type seminal vesiculitis. In the others adenitis was bilateral; in one case it was associated with a concretion and foreign (plant) material in the principal duct of the left bulbourethral gland; in the other bilateral case, numerous calculi were present and microscopically, a chronic active and diffuse inflammation was observed. Chemical analysis of the calculi showed calcium oxalate and tricalcium phosphate to be the most important components. Corynebacterium spp was isolated from the lesion with multiple calculi but attempts to isolate Chlamydia spp, Mycoplasma spp and Brucella abortus from the 4 adenitis cases were unsuccessful. Congenital abnormalities such as glandular fusion (2.2%) or unilateral aplasia (0.6%) were also observed. Cysts were the most common finding (19.2%), and duct dilation was frequent (7.1%). The significance of these findings in relation to fertility is considered.

It is shown that any given k-fold covering projection of graphs p: G1 → G2 can be embedded in a k-fold covering projection of closed orientable surfaces π: S1 → S2 in the sense that there are embeddings of G1 in S1 and G2 in S2 such that p is the restriction of π. In the case of a regular covering projection p, which is the quotient map with respect to some group action on G1, it is shown that there is a regular covering projection π of surfaces in which p can be embedded.

The sliding bed theory of deposition recently developed by Wilson and others has been compared with a range of experimental results most of them not previously published. This comparison has confirmed the suitability of this theory for the claimed range of particle sizes for solids suspended in water. However, the results for higher viscosity fluids do not show such good agreement. This disparity is later explained following the development of a theory of deposition, based on the sliding bed concept, for very fine particles smaller than the thickness of the viscous sub-layer. Furthermore, by adding the contributions of both Wilson's theory and the viscous sub-layer theory an equation is obtained which describes deposition for particles in the transition region between the two types of deposition. The two theories combined now cover the complete particle size range for unflocculated particles. In the case of flocculated particles the new viscous sub-layer theory is shown to be consistent with experimental data providing the particle properties are used instead of the floc properties.

The behaviour of different types of slurries is discussed under two main headings: homogeneous and heterogeneous. Methods of scaling-up pressure-drop data obtained in small-diameter pipes to large-diameter pipes are discussed and recommendations are made as to the best method to use for different slurries. For slurries which flow in a homogeneous manner, the Bowen scale-up procedure is recommended. In the case of heterogeneous flowing slurries it is shown how their behaviour in small pipes can be used to further classify them into semi-heterogeneous or fully heterogeneous types. For scale-up of the latter, the Durand type of equation is recommended. For the semi-heterogeneous slurries, which are often the ones of most commercial interest, it is shown how no existing correlations adequately describe their behaviour. A new scale-up equation is proposed for these slurries.

The method developed involves the base-catalysed condensation of mixed anhydrides of organic acids, where a tertiary amine group functions as the basic catalyst. The product of the condensation reaction is highly fluorescent and allows the fluorometric determination of alkaloids containing a tertiary amine group, in the ngml range. The mixed anhydride system is simple to prepare and the fluorogenic reaction is completed within 15 min at 80°. The reaction is specific for, but does not distinguish between, different tertiary amines.

Concentrated nitric acid vapour is used in a simple rapid method for the destruction of organic matter in plant tissue before analysis for trace elements. About 90% of the organic matter is destroyed by the nitric acid vapour within 5–6 min and destruction is then completed by the addition of perchloric acid. The method gives zero or low blank values and has comparable precision and accuracy to conventional acid digestion methods.