Nanodiamond promotes surfactant-mediated triglyceride removal from a hydrophobic surface at or below room temperature

We demonstrate that ca. 5 nm nanodiamond particles dramatically improve triglyceride lipid removal from a hydrophobic surface at room temperature using either anionic or nonionic surfactants. We prepare nanodiamond-surfactant colloids, measure their stability by dynamic light scattering and use quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation, a technique sensitive to surface mass, in order to compare their ability to remove surface-bound model triglyceride lipid with ionic and nonionic aqueous surfactants at 15-25 °C. Oxidized, reduced, ω-alkylcarboxylic acid, and ω-alkylamidoamine surface-modified adducts are prepared, and then characterized by techniques including (13)C cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Clear improvement in removal of triglyceride was observed in the presence of nanodiamond, even at 15 °C, both with nanodiamond-surfactant colloids, and by prior nanoparticle deposition on interfacial lipid, showing that nanodiamonds are playing a crucial role in the enhancement of the detergency process, providing unique leads in the development of new approaches to low-temperature cleaning.

Substance use by liver transplant candidates: an anonymous urinalysis study

Toxicological urinalysis is a highly sensitive and specific test that detects recent substance use. It has been established for substance misuse treatment but has not been routinely used at liver transplantation (LT) centers. Patients with a history of substance misuse are required to be abstinent from alcohol and illicit drugs before they are listed for LT. In this cross-sectional study, we sought to determine the prevalence of recent substance use in LT candidates via toxicological urinalysis. One hundred nine adults who were admitted for an LT assessment provided data, and they were categorized by the etiology of their liver disease [alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or other liver diseases]. Urine was toxicologically screened for drugs and their metabolites as well as the urinary alcohol metabolites ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate. The prevalence of alcohol metabolites in patients with ALD was 20%. Licit and illicit substances together provided a positive toxicological result in 30% of the patients. Positive results were more common among patients with HCV (40%) and ALD (38%) versus patients with other liver diseases (18%). During the clinical assessment, 4% of the patients with ALD or HCV self-reported current alcohol or illicit drug use. These results correspond to the findings of other studies and emphasize the uncertainty of self-reported substance use data for LT candidates.

The effect of increased overjet on the magnitude and reproducibility of smiling in adult females

The objective of this study was to determine if increased overjet (greater than 6 mm) influences the magnitude and reproducibility of natural smile and maximal smile in Caucasian adult females. Twenty adult females with an increased overjet (6-10 mm) and 20 control adult females (overjet 2-4 mm) with no history of orthodontic treatment volunteered to participate. The mean age in the control group was 30.1 ± 6.4 years and the mean age in the test group was 31.9 ± 10.8 years. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric images were captured of each subject for three expressions: at rest, natural smile, and maximal smile. The images were recorded twice on two separate occasions, 6 weeks apart. Images were landmarked and a partial ordinary Procrustes superimposition was used to adjust for the differences in head posture between the same expressions. The magnitude of movement relative to the rest position, averaged over all the landmarks, was calculated and compared between the groups using analysis of variance (linear mixed-effects model); the intra- and inter-session reproducibility of both expressions was assessed. There was greater mean movement, averaged over all the landmarks, in the control group than in the increased overjet group for both natural smile and maximal smile (P = 0.0068). For these expressions, there were no statistically significant differences in reproducibility within sessions (P = 0.5403) or between sessions (P = 0.3665). Increased overjet had a statistically significant effect on the magnitude of smiling but did not influence the reproducibility of natural or maximal smile relative to controls.

Search for effects beyond the born approximation in polarization transfer observables in e(over→)p elastic scattering

Intensive theoretical and experimental efforts over the past decade have aimed at explaining the discrepancy between data for the proton electric to magnetic form factor ratio, G(E)/G(M), obtained separately from cross section and polarization transfer measurements. One possible explanation for this difference is a two-photon-exchange contribution. In an effort to search for effects beyond the one-photon-exchange or Born approximation, we report measurements of polarization transfer observables in the elastic H(e[over →],e(')p[over →]) reaction for three different beam energies at a Q(2)=2.5  GeV(2), spanning a wide range of the kinematic parameter ε. The ratio R, which equals μ(p)G(E)/G(M) in the Born approximation, is found to be independent of ε at the 1.5% level. The ε dependence of the longitudinal polarization transfer component P(ℓ) shows an enhancement of (2.3±0.6)% relative to the Born approximation at large ε.

Using the Man(9)(GlcNAc)(2)-DC-SIGN pairing to probe specificity in photochemical immobilization

We demonstrate the expected preference of an immobilised oligosaccharide Man(9)(GlcNAc)(2) upon a 96-well photochemical array, for its known receptor, the cell-surface lectin Dendritic Cell-Specific ICAM3 Grabbing Nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) when compared to immobilised competing monosaccharides.

Recoil polarization measurements of the proton electromagnetic form factor ratio to Q2 = 8.5 GeV2

Among the most fundamental observables of nucleon structure, electromagnetic form factors are a crucial benchmark for modern calculations describing the strong interaction dynamics of the nucleon's quark constituents; indeed, recent proton data have attracted intense theoretical interest. In this Letter, we report new measurements of the proton electromagnetic form factor ratio using the recoil polarization method, at momentum transfers Q2=5.2, 6.7, and 8.5  GeV2. By extending the range of Q2 for which G(E)(p) is accurately determined by more than 50%, these measurements will provide significant constraints on models of nucleon structure in the nonperturbative regime.

Changes in drug use and HIV/AIDS risk-taking 1989-90

The Australian National AIDS and Injecting Drug Use Study was designed to monitor the risk behaviour of Australian injecting drug users (IDUs) in a number of major cities, and to estimate the seroprevalence of those interviewed. Differences in risk behaviour found across 2 years in Perth are reported. One hundred and ninety-six Perth IDUs were interviewed in 1989, and 150 in 1990 using the same survey questionnaire, with a small cohort of 38 respondents being followed up across the 2 years.Significant injecting differences between 1989 and 1990 in both the cohort and independent samples were found. In general, these amounted to a greater likelihood that a new needle and syringe would be used on each injecting occasion, and a greater use of bleach in 1990 than in 1989. The most common response of respondents who said they had changed their drug use behaviour in 1990 was to report ceasing to share needles, while the most common response in 1989 was reduced sharing. There was an increased use of condoms for vaginal intercourse with all partners in both studies across the 2 years. Seropositivity for all new cases across the 2 years was 1.75%. It is apparent that there has been a significant shift in risky behaviour in the direction of greater safety across the 2 years. There is also objective corroborative evidence in increased demand for sterile injecting equipment sold through pharmacists, although there is no evidence that drug use increased significantly during the same period. It is concluded that the availability of sterile needles and syringes should be maintained and improved and that emphasis should be placed on encouraging safer sexual behaviour among IDUs.

Function and Stability of Abscisic Acid Acyl Hydrazone Conjugates by LC-MS2 of ex Vivo Samples

We prepare a biotinylated conjugate of the ubiquitous plant hormone (S)-(+)-abscisic acid via an acyl hydrazone linkage at the C4' position and demonstrate in vivo cleavage of the otherwise stable acyl hydrazone linkage using LC-MS2. As part of a wider chemical genomic study, biological activity of the conjugate was assessed using standard epidermal peel and gravimetric transpiration assays, showing significant activity but at a level lower than the unconjugated hormone. When deuterated samples of the conjugate were fed to the plant, however, it was apparent by LC-MS2 experiments that significant levels of hydrolysis of the acyl hydrazone had taken place, contrary to in vitro stability assays in artificial sap. We conclude that abscisic acid is liberated in sufficient quantities to account for the observed physiological response and that LC-MS2 monitoring of conjugates is a simple and practical method by which such events may be assessed, whether in plants or other organisms.

The Primary Care Electronic Library: RSS feeds using SNOMED-CT indexing for dynamic content delivery

BACKGROUND

Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds are a method for disseminating and syndicating the contents of a website using extensible mark-up language (XML). The Primary Care Electronic Library (PCEL) distributes recent additions to the site in the form of an RSS feed. When new resources are added to PCEL, they are manually assigned medical subject headings (MeSH terms), which are then automatically mapped to SNOMED-CT terms using the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Metathesaurus. The library is thus searchable using MeSH or SNOMED-CT. Our syndicate partner wished to have remote access to PCEL coronary heart disease (CHD) information resources based on SNOMED-CT search terms.

OBJECTIVE

To pilot the supply of relevant information resources in response to clinically coded requests, using RSS syndication for transmission between web servers.

METHOD

Our syndicate partner provided a list of CHD SNOMED-CT terms to its end-users, a list which was coded according to UMLS specifications. When the end-user requested relevant information resources, this request was relayed from our syndicate partner's web server to the PCEL web server. The relevant resources were retrieved from the PCEL MySQL database. This database is accessed using a server side scripting language (PHP), which enables the production of dynamic RSS feeds on the basis of Source Asserted Identifiers (CODEs) contained in UMLS.

RESULTS

Retrieving resources using SNOMED-CT terms using syndication can be used to build a functioning application. The process from request to display of syndicated resources took less than one second.

CONCLUSION

The results of the pilot illustrate that it is possible to exchange data between servers using RSS syndication. This method could be utilised dynamically to supply digital library resources to a clinical system with SNOMED-CT data used as the standard of reference.

The differential diagnosis of foot lumps: 101 cases treated surgically in North Glasgow over 4 years

INTRODUCTION

There are a wide variety of different lesions which present as lumps of the foot. There have been very few studies which look at the presenting characteristics or the differential diagnosis of such lesions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent excision or biopsy of a foot lump over a period of 4 years were studied in order to determine patient demographics, presenting characteristics, diagnoses encountered and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the surgeon.

RESULTS

In total, 101 patients were identified. Average age was 47.3 years (range, 14-79 years); there was a marked female preponderance with 73 females and 28 males. Thirty different histological types were identified; ganglion cysts were the most commonly encountered lesions and there was only one malignant lesion encountered in this study. Only 58 out of the 101 lumps were correctly diagnosed prior to surgery. Certain lesions were more commonly encountered in specific zones of the foot.

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that there are a wide variety of potential diagnoses which have to be considered when examining a patient with a foot lump. There is a low diagnostic accuracy for foot lumps and, therefore, surgical excision and histological diagnosis should be sought if there is any uncertainty.

A photoimmobilisation strategy that maximises exploration of chemical space in small molecule affinity selection and target discovery

We show that the use of multiple photochemistries is necessary to ensure diverse immobilisation of small molecules for binding of polypeptides using phage display and antibody libraries.

Novel tertiary amine oxide surfaces that resist nonspecific protein adsorption

Novel surfaces derivatized with tertiary amine oxides have been prepared and tested for their ability to resist nonspecific protein adsorption. The oxidation of tertiary amines supported on triazine units was carried out using mCPBA to give a format allowing conjugation of biologically active ligands alongside them. Adsorption to these surfaces was tested and compared to adsorption to a set of commercial and custom oligo-/poly(ethylene glycol) (OEG/PEG) supports by challenging them with a protein display library presented on bacteriophage lambda. The new class of amine oxide surfaces is found to compare favorably with the performance of the OEG/PEG supports in the prevention of nonspecific binding.

Should Pre-operative Troponin be a Standard Requirement in Patients Undergoing Major Lower Extremity Amputation?

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to ascertain the benefit of routine pre-operative cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurement in patients undergoing major lower extremity amputation for critical limb ischaemia.

DESIGN

This was a prospective, blinded observational study.

METHODS

All patients scheduled for lower extremity amputation, without evidence of unstable coronary artery disease were recruited prospectively over a period of 1 year. In addition to routine pre-operative evaluation, a blood sample was taken for measurement of serum cTnI. Post-operative screening was conducted for cardiac events with patients followed up to 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Ten of the 44 patients included suffered a non-fatal myocardial infarction or died from a cardiac cause post-operatively. A rise in pre-operative cTnI was associated with a very poor outcome (two cardiac deaths and one post-operative myocardial infarction) and was the only significant predictor of post-operative cardiac events.

CONCLUSION

Routine pre-operative cTnI measurement may be of use to identify patients at high risk of cardiac complication who would benefit from optimization of cardiac status or in whom surgery could be deferred.

Concise enantioselective synthesis of abscisic acid and a new analogue

Short and high-yielding syntheses of enantiomerically pure (S)-(+) and (R)-(-)-abscisic acid are described. The syntheses proceed through key intermediates that preferentially recrystallise as single diastereoisomers for each enantiomer. This route allows the preparation of either enantiomer of abscisic acid in ca. 30% overall yield, and as demonstrated, gives access to an enantiomerically pure abscisic acid analogue.

HEARTFAID: A knowledge based platform of services for supporting medical-clinical management of heart failure within elderly population

HEARTFAID is a research and development project aimed at devising, developing and validating an innovative knowledge based platform of services, able to improve early diagnosis and to make more effective the medical-clinical management of heart diseases within elderly population. Chronic Heart Failure is one of the most remarkable health problems for prevalence and morbidity, especially in the developed western countries, with a strong impact in terms of social and economic effects. All these aspects are typically emphasized within the elderly population, with very frequent hospital admissions and a significant increase of medical costs. Recent studies and experiences have demonstrated that accurate heart failure management programs, based on a suitable integration of inpatient and outpatient clinical procedures, might prevent and reduce hospital admissions, improving clinical status and reducing costs. HEARTFAID aims at defining efficient and effective health care delivery organization and management models for the "optimal" management of the care in the field of cardiovascular diseases. The HEARTFAID innovative computerized system will improve the processes of diagnosis, prognosis and therapy provision, providing the following services: * electronic health record for easy and ubiquitous access to heterogeneous patients data;* integrated services for healthcare professionals, including patient telemonitoring, signal and image processing, alert and alarm system;* clinical decision support in the heart failure domain, based on pattern recognition in historical data, knowledge discovery analysis and inferences on patients' clinical data.The formalization of the pre-existing clinical knowledge and the discovery of new elicited knowledge represent the core of the HEARTFAID platform.

DHPLC Analysis of patients with Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome reveals novelPTCHmissense mutations in the sterol-sensing domain

Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by multiple basal cell carcinomas, palmar and plantar pitting, odontogenic keratocysts of the jaws and bilamellar calcification of the falx. Mutations in the PTCH gene are responsible for NBCCS but most studies have found mutations in less than half of the cases tested. We used denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) to screen for PTCH mutations in 28 NBCCS cases, most of whom had been previously evaluated by single stranded conformation polymorphism analysis but found to be negative. Protein truncating (n = 10) and missense or indel (n = 4) mutations were found in 14/28 (50%) cases and one additional case carried an unclassified variant, c.2777G>C. Thirteen of the variants were novel. The mutation frequency was similar in inherited and de novo cases. Three of the missense and indel mutations were in the sterol-sensing domain, and one was in the sixth transmembrane domain.

97 ASSESSMENT OF VIABILITY OF IN VITRO PRODUCED BOVINE EMBRYOS FOLLOWING VITRIFICATION BY CVM OR SLOW FREEZING WITH ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND TRIPLE TRANSFER

Vitrification has become the method of choice for the preservation of in vitro derived embryos of a number of species, and several methods of vitrification have been developed. One such method, the cryoLogic vitrification method (CVM) yields high survival rates of warmed embryos (Lindemans W et al. 2004 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 174 abst). In this study, the post-warm viability of bovine IVP embryos following either vitrification using CVM or slow freezing using ethylene glycol (EG) was compared. In addition, the survival of embryos following triple transfer to synchronized recipients was measured and the embryo (“e”) and recipient (“r”) contributions to embryo survival was determined using the “er” model for embryo survival (McMillan WH et al. 1998 Theriogenology 50, 1053–1070). Bovine IVP methods were those of van Wagtendonk et al. 2004 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 214 (abst). On day 7 of culture (Day 0 = IVF), Grade 1 and 2 embryos that had reached at least the late morula stage were selected for vitrification (20% DMSO, 20% ethylene glycol) or freezing in 1.5 M ethylene glycol + 0.1 M sucrose (0.5°C/min to −35°C). Following storage in LN2 for at least 24 h the embryos were thawed, the cryoprotectant removed, and the embryos cultured for 72 h in mSOF medium under 5% CO2, 7% O2, 88% N2. The number of hatching embryos was recorded at 24-h intervals. In addition, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst embryos were thawed and immediately transferred nonsurgically to recipients (three embryos of the same grade to each recipient) on Day 7 of a synchronized cycle (Day 0 = heat). The recipients were ultrasound-scanned for the presence of, and number of, fetuses on Days 35 and 62, respectively. The invitro assessment of 148 CVM and 230 EG frozen embryos indicated that more vitrified than EG embryos hatched by 72 h (73% vs. 62%; CVM vs. EG, χ2 = 4.5, P < 0.05). Overall, more Grade 1 embryos hatched than Grade 2 (74% vs. 60%, χ2 = 7.2, P < 0.01). CVM embryos (105) were triple-transferred to 35 recipients, and EG embryos (30) were triple-transferred to 10 recipients. Recipient pregnancy rates at Day 62 were 80% and 70%, respectively. Overall embryo survival was 38.5% (41% for CVM and 30% for EG). The overall calculated “e” and “r” values were 0.39 and 1.0 (“e”: 0.42 and 1.0, and “r”: 0.31 and 1.0, respectively, CVM and EG groups). Survival rates of CVM embryos to Day 62 (41%) were slightly lower than that previously obtained for fresh embryos produced using an identical IVP procedure (44% – van Wagtendonk AM 2004).

152 IN VITRO AND IN VIVO DEVELOPMENT OF BOVINE IVP EMBRYOS FOLLOWING SINGLE-CELL BIOPSY ON DAY 4

Maximum advantage can be gained from gene discovery programs, by screening embryos carrying the desired genes(s) prior to immediate transfer. This requires an efficient and reliable genotyping system and a method for biopsy preparation that does not compromise subsequent embryo or fetal development. The present study examined the effect of removing a single-cell from the developing 8–16 cell embryo on its subsequent ability to continue development to at least the late morula stage in vitro and then survive following triple transfer to recipients. Abattoir-sourced ovaries were obtained and subjected to IVP as previously described (van Wagtendonk-De Leeuw AM et al. 2004 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 16, 214 abst). Briefly, oocytes were matured in TCM199 +10% FCS, 10 μg/mL FSH, 10 μg/mL LH, 1 μg/mL estradiol, and 100 μM cysteamine under 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C for 24 h. Percoll-separated sperm (1 × 106/mL) were then co-incubated with the matured oocytes (Day 0) for 24 h with the presumptive zygotes further cultured in mSOF medium under 5%CO2, 7% O2, 88% N2. On Day 4 embryos with a minimum of 8 cells were selected and held at 38.5°C in HEPES-buffered SOF (HSOF) until biopsy at ambient temperature. Embryo biopsy was performed in HSOF medium + 5 μg/mL cytochalasin B. A single cell was removed using a 30 μm biopsy pipette. Both biopsied and control embryos were then further cultured in mSOF in individual wells prepared in a 1% agarose matrix (Peura TT 2003 Cloning Stem Cells 5, 13–24). Embryos were scored for grade and stage of development reached on Day 7, and Grades 1 and 2 blastocysts and expanded blastocysts were transferred to synchronized recipients (three embryos of the same stage and grade to each recipient; n = 50). Fetal number was determined on Day 35 and 62 of gestation. A model for embryo survival was fitted to the data (McMillan WH et al. 1998 Theriogenology 50, 1053–1070) in order to estimate embryo (“e”) and recipient (“r”) contributions to embryo survival. Values were then compared to those determined for control embryos, produced using identical IVP methods (van Wagtendonk-De Leeuw AM et al. 2004 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 16, 214 abst). A total of 358 control and 561 biopsied embryos were cultured. Removal of a single cell did not significantly affect in vitro development (60.1% vs. 56.0%; control vs. biopsy). Day 35 survival of biopsied embryos was 44.7% with calculated “e” and “r” values of 0.48 and 0.94, respectively, which did not differ from control values (44.1%; 0.50 and 0.89). However, by Day 62 fetal survival had significantly decreased with a concomitant drop in “e” but not “r” (30.0%; 0.32 and 0.94, respectively; control “e” and “r” were unchanged). In conclusion, single-cell biopsy of the 8–16-cell embryo does not affect in vitro development or embryo survival to Day 35. However, significant fetal loss occurs by Day 62 that may limit commercial application. Further work is required to elucidate the cause of and overcome fetal loss.

283ASSESSMENT OF CALVES PRODUCED BY IVP IN A SEMI-DEFINED MEDIUM

Heavy birth weight, increased calving difficulty, heart function defects, increased perinatal mortality and organ immaturity have been reported for calves produced from IVP embryos compared to those produced from MOET or AI (van Wagtendonk AM et al., 2000 Theriogenology 53, 575–597; Jacobsen H et al., 2002 Anim Reprod Sci 70, 1–11). In this study we examined birth weight (BWT), and blood chemistry at 1 day of age, gestation length and heart function at 7 days, and response to an ACTH challenge at 21 days of calves derived from IVP in a ‘semi-defined’ IVC system (Thompson JG et al., 2000 J. Reprod. Fertil. 118, 47–55) and of contemporary MOET or AI calves. Holstein Friesian (HF) 2- and 3-year-old recipients carrying single HF calves (101×IVP and 21×MOET) were monitored in this study. Within 1 day of birth the calves were weighed and a blood sample taken for analysis. At 7d, ultrasound measurement of the left ventricle diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and % ejection fraction (EF%) was determined. Each calf was then transported to a rearing unit. At 3 weeks of age, 30 IVP and 30 control AI calves of the same age were injected i.v. with Synacthen (synthetic ACTH, Ciba Corporation, 0.1μgkg−1 body weight). Blood samples were collected at −30, 0, 30, 60 and 90min (0min=time of injection) for cortisol measurements. There was no difference in BWT for MOET or IVP calves (40.9±4.7 v. 35.6±4.8kg, respectively). Moreover, gestation lengths (279 days v. 281 days) and calving assistance scores (1.3 v. 1.6) did not differ. Calf mortality at birth was higher for IVP calves (16%) than for MOET calves (5%). All but 7 surviving calves (6×IVP and 1×MOET) had high GGT levels at 1 day. Blood chemistry revealed no differences between the calf types, all measures being within normal ranges. For all calves, heart function analysis revealed no abnormalities with mean LVEDd=4.1±0.6cm and mean EF%=78.5±8.4%. All calves exhibited elevated cortisol following ACTH challenge. There was no difference between control and IVP calves for mean cortisol concentration at any time point (0min, 13.8±5.2; 30min, 46.6±9.8; 60min, 42.8±9.9; 90min, 28.1±8.9ngmL−1). These data suggest that, unlike calves produced in less defined culture systems, calves produced by IVP in a semi-defined culture system have birth weight and gestation lengths similar to those of MOET calves. Moreover, no abnormalities in organ (heart, adrenal) function were detected. However, of concern was the high number of unexplained deaths for IVP calves. This may be due to an overall lack of vigour in IVP calves that, in an unsupervised calving, results in calf death. More vigilence at calving may be needed to ensure calf survival. The authors thank Juliet Jensen, Waikato Hospital, for ultrasound measurements and David Stewart, Morrinsville Veterinary Services, for calf care. This study was funded by Vialactia Biosciences and FRST.

185ASSESSMENT OF VIABILITY OF IN VITRO PRODUCED BOVINE EMBRYOS BY TRIPLE AND SINGLE TRANSFER

Factors that affect the viability of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos are usually evaluated by comparing pregnancy rates of a treatment and a control group. The ‘er’ model of embryo survival (McMillan WH et al., 1998 Theriogenology 50, 1053–1070) utilizes twin embryo transfer to estimate embryo (‘e’) and recipient (‘r’) contributions to embryo survival, and allows the comparison of treatment effects without using a control group, when treatment is the only change in operations. Application of the model to data of contemporaneous single and twin transfer indicates that ‘e’ and ‘r’ are independent of the number of embryos transferred. Thus, twin transfers enable the efficient use of costly recipients while providing meaningful estimates of single embryo survival rates. The objective of this study was to assess the embryo survival rates of fresh IVP embryos of a newly established IVP lab by applying the model to triple transfers and comparing the expected embryo survival rates with those achieved for single transfers. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from abattoir-derived ovaries of cows of unknown breeds or by ovum pick-up (OPU) from Holstein-Friesian 2- or 3-yr-old donor cows. COCs were matured in 500μL of TCM199+10% FCS (Life Technologies, Auckland, NZ), 10μgmL−1 FSH and LH (ICPBio, Auckland, NZ), 1μgmL−1 estradiol (Sigma, Auckland, NZ), 100μM cysteamine (Sigma) for 24h under 5% CO2 and then fertilized with 1×106 percoll-separated sperm mL−1 from a single bull (Tervit HR and Pugh PA, 2000 14th ICAR 18, 37(abst)). Twenty-four h after insemination, presumptive zygotes were transferred into 500μL mSOF (Pugh A et al., 2001 Theriogenology 55, 314 (abst)) and cultured for 4 days under humidified 5% CO2, 7% O2 and 88% N2. On Day 4, cleaved embryos were transferred into fresh culture medium and culture continued for a further 3 days under the same conditions. Embryo stage and grade were evaluated on Day 7 of culture. Grades 1, 2 and 3 (IETS manual, 2002) compact morulae and blastocysts produced from abattoir-derived COCs were transferred in triplets, while grades 1 and 2 compact morulae and blastocysts from OPU-derived COCs were transferred singly, in 0.25mL insemination straws into synchronized Holstein-Friesian heifers. Recipients received a CIDR (CIDR Cattle Insert, Pharmacia, Auckland, NZ) at Day −12 followed by a prostaglandin (Estroplan, Parnell Laboratories, Auckland, NZ ) injection at Day −6. CIDRs were removed at Day −2, followed by estrus at Day 0 (= day of IVF). Embryos were transferred on Day 7 and recipients received a CIDR after transfer (ET). CIDRs were removed at Day 19 to synchronize any returns. Two experienced practitioners performed all the transfers. Pregnancies (single transfers) and number of live fetuses (triple transfers) were confirmed at Days 60 and 42, respectively. Pregnancies were terminated between Days 62 and 65 by two prostaglandin injections 48h apart. A total of 76 single transfers resulted in 36 pregnancies (47.4%, binomial SD 5.7%). A total of 75 triple transfers (225 embryos) resulted in 98 viable fetuses (44%) and 58 pregnant recipients (77.3%). For triple transfers, the estimates for ‘e’ and ‘r’ were 0.50 and 0.89, respectively, with the product yielding an expected triple embryo survival rate of 44.1%. The actual distribution of 17, 23, 30 and 5 recipients carrying 0, 1, 2, or 3 fetuses, respectively, was not significantly different from the expected values of 16, 25, 25 and 8 estimated from the model (chi-square=2.49, NS). Estimates for ‘e’ and ‘r’ were not significantly different when combined single and triple data were included in the model (‘e’=0.55 and ‘r’=0.90), indicating that embryo survival is independent of the number of embryos transferred. Results indicate that multiple transfers do increase pregnancy rate (from 47.4 to 77.3%), but not embryo survival posttransfer (44.1 v. 47.4%). Although single ET was done with OPU-derived embryos and triple with slaughterhouse-derived embryos and results are not strictly comparable, the similarity of estimates for ‘e’ suggests that using the same in vitro-embryo assessment criteria resulted in embryos of similar intrinsic viability from the two sources. In the near future, we will perform triple transfers of cryopreserved IVP embryos and use the model to estimate embryo and recipient contributions to embryo survival of frozen IVP embryos, without using a fresh control. We will continue to build a dataset based on triple and single transfers to further assess the effect on embryo survival rates of triple and single transfers.

Spinal fusion in patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and a low forced vital capacity

Traditionally, spinal fusion has been denied to patients with scoliosis secondary to Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) when their forced vital capacity (FVC) is less than 30-40% of predicted values (PFVC). The reasons for this decision are a theoretically increased risk of adverse events from a prolonged anaesthetic and extensive surgery. This paper presents a retrospective analysis of 30 patients with DMD scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Two subgroups of patients were compared: those with more than 30% PFVC (17 patients) and those with less than 30% PVFC (13 patients). One patient in each group required a temporary tracheotomy and there were nine complications in total. The post-operative stay for patients in each group was similar (24 days in the >30% group, 20 days in the <30% group) and the complication rate was comparable with other published series. We conclude that spinal fusion can be offered to patients with DMD even in the presence of a low FVC.

Interfacing supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry: metallo-supramolecular triple-helicates incorporated into polymer networks

Metallo-supramolecular diiron(II) triple-helical cores based on pyridylimine ligands and decorated with acrylate or methacrylate units are copolymerised with methyl methacrylate (MMA) as major comonomer using AIBN.