A case of Haemophilus Parainfluenzae endocarditis during pregnancy

Infective endocarditis during pregnancy is rare and results in high maternal and fetal mortality. We report a case of Haemophilus parainfluenzae endocarditis in a pregnant woman with complex management issues and a late, unexpected embolic complication.

Briefing: Engineering skills shortages in China — a personal view

Two challenges from history illustrate how to mobilise an industry to face a major challenge: the engineering infrastructure for the Normandy landings and the establishment of the UK's motorway network. China has already applied the lessons learned from these challenges to undergraduate education, but the focus is now moving to professional development. A group of leading firms, academics and ICE is cooperating to tackle this problem. This is a small step on an arduous journey but to those who judge Chinese engineers only by where they are today and not where they have come from it would be worth remembering the following Zhuang Zi quotation from the 5th century BC. ‘When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposes him to starvation and poverty, harasses him by troubles and setbacks so as to stimulate his spirit, toughen his nature and enhance his abilities.’

Identifying ozone-sensitive communities of (semi-)natural vegetation suitable for mapping exceedance of critical levels

Using published data on the responses of individual species to ozone, 54 EUNIS (European Nature Information System) level 4 communities with six or more ozone-sensitive species (%OS) and c. 20% or more species tested for ozone sensitivity, were identified as potentially ozone-sensitive. The largest number of these communities (23) was associated with Grasslands, with Heathland, scrub and tundra, and Mires, bogs and fens having the next highest representation at 11 and 8 level 4 communities each respectively. Within the grasslands classification, E4 (Alpine and sub-alpine grasslands), E5 (Woodland fringes and clearings) and E1 (Dry grasslands) were the most sensitive with 68.1, 51.6 and 48.6%OS respectively. It is feasible to map the land-cover for these and other communities at level 2, but it may not be currently possible to map the land-cover for all communities identified to be ozone-sensitive at levels 3 and 4.

Meta-analysis of the relative sensitivity of semi-natural vegetation species to ozone

This study identified 83 species from existing publications suitable for inclusion in a database of sensitivity of species to ozone (OZOVEG database). An index, the relative sensitivity to ozone, was calculated for each species based on changes in biomass in order to test for species traits associated with ozone sensitivity. Meta-analysis of the ozone sensitivity data showed a wide inter-specific range in response to ozone. Some relationships in comparison to plant physiological and ecological characteristics were identified. Plants of the therophyte lifeform were particularly sensitive to ozone. Species with higher mature leaf N concentration were more sensitive to ozone than those with lower leaf N concentration. Some relationships between relative sensitivity to ozone and Ellenberg habitat requirements were also identified. In contrast, no relationships between relative sensitivity to ozone and mature leaf P concentration, Grime's CSR strategy, leaf longevity, flowering season, stomatal density and maximum altitude were found. The relative sensitivity of species and relationships with plant characteristics identified in this study could be used to predict sensitivity to ozone of untested species and communities.

Megestrol acetate increases the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with non small cell lung cancer

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Background: To evaluate the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with non small cell lung cancer who take megestrol acetate as an appetite stimulant. Methods: A retrospective study of patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was performed to determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. We reviewed medical records of patients with NSCLC who were treated with and without megestrol acetate as an appetite stimulant during the course of their treatment or follow up. Cochran-Mantel-Hansel statistics was performed. Results: We reviewed the charts of 179 patients with NSCLC. 86 patients received megestrol acetate during the course of treatment or follow up whereas 93 did not. Within the treatment group, 28 patients were female and 58 were male. In the control group 43 patients were female and 50 were male. There was no significant difference in the ECOG performance status of those in the treatment group from those in the control group. The frequency of DVT was 3.4 times higher in the treatment group as compared to the control group adjusting for gender (p < 0.02). Similarly, the frequency of DVT was 2.8 times higher in the treatment group as compared to the control group adjusting for stage (P < 0.045). Conclusions: After adjusting for gender or stage, the incidence of DVT appears to be higher for patients with NSCLC who took megestrol acetate as compared to those who did not. Even though megestrol acetate was being used as an appetite stimulant, the observed differences were not due to differences in the performance status of the two groups. Further prospective study of the risks and benefits of megestrol acetate as an appetite stimulant in patients with advanced NSCLC and other malignancies is warranted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Proteomic signatures of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) distinguishes different outcome groups across cytogenetics and identified potential therapy targets

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Background: Cytogenetics (CG) guide AML treatment but reliable markers predicting response and relapse within CG groups are missing. We therefore determined whether functional proteomic signatures can classify AML into groups with different outcomes and risk of relapse. Method: Using Reverse Phase Protein Array, total and phospho-site specific expression of 37 proteins in 73 primary AML was measured. Outcomes in the set were comprised equally of primary refractory (PR), relapsed (Rel) and continuous complete remission (CCR) patients. Cell lysates were spotted on nitrocellulose coated slides, probed with validated antibodies, expression intensities were quantified, data was standardized and analyzed for correlations using different clustering approaches. Results: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on Pearsons’ correlation distance yielded 4 large clusters. Subsequent perturbation bootstrap re-sampling arranged samples into four classes that correlated with initial response to therapy and risk of relapse (see Table ). Protein profiles in each of he 4 classes differed. Cytogenetic marker distribution were similar across the 4 clusters. Class 1 and 4 demonstrated a similar predictive value of patient outcome as cytogenetics. In classes at highest risk of relapse (2, 3) different proteins were predictive of response. In class 2, the most discriminatory proteins predicting CCR were elevated AMPK, p27, 4-EBP1, BclXL. In class 3, relapsed patients had elevated PTEN, phospho-Stat3, total Stat3, and phospho-PKCα compared to CCR patients. Conclusion: Pretreatment protein expression signatures divide AML into classes that predict for initial achievement of CR and subsequent relapse independent of CG. Poteomic profiling may suggest potential therapy targets as opposed to CG or transcriptional profiling. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in formal training and test sets prior to changing patient management.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Measurement and modelling of air pollution and atmospheric chemistry in the U.K. West Midlands conurbation: overview of the PUMA Consortium project

The PUMA (Pollution of the Urban Midlands Atmosphere) Consortium project involved intensive measurement campaigns in the Summer of 1999 and Winter of 1999/2000, respectively, in which a wide variety of air pollutants were measured in the UK West Midlands conurbation including detailed speciation of VOCs and major component analysis of aerosol. Measurements of the OH and HO2 free radicals by the FAGE technique demonstrated that winter concentrations of OH were approximately half of those measured during the summer despite a factor of 15 reduction in production through the photolysis of ozone. Detailed box modelling of the fast reaction chemistry revealed the decomposition of Criegee intermediates formed from ozone-alkene reactions to be responsible for the majority of the formation of hydroxyl in both the summer and winter campaigns, in contrast to earlier rural measurements in which ozone photolysis was predominant. The main sinks for hydroxyl are reactions with NO2, alkenes and oxygenates. Concentrations of the more stable hydrocarbons were found to be relatively invariant across the conurbation, but the impacts of photochemistry were evident through analyses of formaldehyde which showed the majority to be photochemical in origin as opposed to emitted from road traffic. Measurements on the upwind and downwind boundaries of the conurbation revealed substantial enhancements in NOx as a result of emissions within the conurbation, especially during westerly winds which carried relatively clean air. Using calcium as a tracer for crustal particles, it proved possible to reconstruct aerosol mass from the major chemical components with a fairly high degree of success. The organic to elemental carbon ratios showed a far greater influence of photochemistry in summer than winter, presumably resulting mainly from the greater availability of biogenic precursors during the summer campaign. Two urban airshed models were developed and applied to the conurbation, one Eulerian, the other Lagrangian. Both were able to give a good simulation of concentrations of both primary and secondary pollutants at urban background locations.

Radical-induced generation of small silver particles in SPEEK/PVA polymer films and solutions: UV-Vis, EPR, and FT-IR studies

The present study is centered on the processes involved in the photochemical generation of nanometer-sized Ag particles via illumination at 350 nm of aqueous solutions and cross linked films containing sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and poly(vinyl alcohol). Optical and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments, including electron nuclear double resonance data, proved conclusively that the photogenerated chromophore exhibiting a band with lambda(max) = 565 nm is an alpha-hydroxy aromatic (ketyl) radical of the polymeric ketone. This reducing species was produced by illumination of either solutions or films, but the radical lifetime extended from minutes in the fluid phase to hours in the solid. Direct evidence is presented that this long-lived chromophore reduces Ag(I), Cu(II), and Au(III) ions in solution. A rate constant of k = 1.4 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) was obtained for the reduction of Ag(+) by the ketyl radical from the post-irradiation formation of Ag crystallites. FTIR results confirmed that the photoprocess yielding polymeric ketyl radicals involves a reaction between the macromolecules. The photochemical oxidation of the polymeric alcohol, as well as the formation of light-absorbing macromolecular products and polyols, indicates that the sulfonated polyketone experienced transformations similar to those encountered during illumination of the benzophenone/2-propanol system.

Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone)/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Sensitizing System for Solution Photogeneration of Small Ag, Au, and Cu Crystallites

Illumination of air-free aqueous solutions containing sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and poly(vinyl alcohol) with 350 nm light results in benzophenone ketyl radicals of the polyketone. The polymer radicals form with a quantum yield 0.02 and decay with a second-order rate constant 6 orders of magnitude lower than that of typical alpha-hydroxy radicals. Evidence is presented that the polymeric benzophenone ketyl radicals reduce Ag+, Cu2+, and AuCl4- to metal particles of nanometer dimensions. Decreases in the reduction rates with increasing Ag(I), Cu(II), and Au(III) concentrations are explained using a kinetic model in which the metal ions quench the excited state of the polymeric benzophenone groups, which forms the macromolecular radicals. Quenching is fastest for Ag+, whereas Cu2+ and AuCl4- exhibit similar rate constants. Particle formation becomes more complex as the number of equivalents needed to reduce the metal ions increases; the Au(III) system is an extreme case where the radical reactions operate in parallel with secondary light-initiated and thermal reduction channels. For each metal ion, the polymer-initiated photoreactions produce crystallites possessing distinct properties, such as a very strong plasmon in the Ag case or the narrow size distribution exhibited by Au particles.

186 A NOVEL METHOD FOR ELIMINATING PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS FROM BOAR SEMEN AND ITS EFFECTS ON EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) is known to cause venereal transmission of the disease via natural or artificial breeding and this constitutes a significant risk to AI programs in modern swine production. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of a novel density gradient centrifugation method incorporating trypsin to eliminate PRRSv from infected semen and to evaluate its effects on sperm viability and embryo development. Exp. 1: To assess the efficacy of the procedure on eliminating PRRSv, semen was collected from 21 infected boars. Concentrated sperm (1 mL) was layered on three Percoll (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) density gradient columns, top to bottom: 1 mL 30%, 2 mL 45% with or without 0.25% trypsin (trypsin-treated and control, respectively), and 2 mL 90% with or without 10 μg/mL soy-based trypsin inhibitor (Sigma), and centrifuged (700g for 30 min). Trypsin-treated and control sperm were submitted for RT-PCR analysis pre- and post-treatment. Exp.2: To evaluate the effect on sperm quality, semen samples (n = 10) were collected from non-infected boars and processed as described in Exp. 1. Sperm motility, viability, and acrosomal integrity were evaluated at 0 and 2 h post-treatment. Exp. 3.1: To assess the in vitro fertilizing capability of trypsin-treated sperm, in vitro-matured porcine oocytes (n = 64) were inseminated, and cleavage (48 h post-insemination (PI)) and blastulation (144 h PI) rates were compared to those of oocytes (n = 63) inseminated with control sperm. Exp. 3.2: Trypsin-treated or control sperm (3 × 109/dose) were used to AI sows (n = 10). In vivo-generated embryos were surgically recovered 4–6 d post-AI, and embryo number, stage, and morphological quality were recorded. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Sperm quality parameters are expressed as means ± SEM. Results showed that the procedure (with and without trypsin) was effective for eliminating PRRSv from infected boar semen. There were no differences at 0 or 2 h post-treatment between the control and the trypsin-treated boar sperm in motility (76 ± 4.9 and 56 ± 8.7 vs. 75 ± 4.4 and 48 ± 8.3%, respectively), viability (87 ± 2.6 and 75 ± 6.2 vs. 81 ± 3.2 and 80 ± 3.7%, respectively), and acrosomal integrity (96 ± 2.7 and 98.8 ± 0.8 vs. 98 ± 1.3 and 99 ± 0.4%, respectively). There was no difference between the control and trypsin-treated sperm used for IVF on cleavage (82 vs. 89%, respectively) and blastulation (20 vs. 32%, respectively) rates. There were significantly more transferable-quality embryos recovered from sows inseminated with trypsin-treated as compared to control sperm: 54/63 (85.7%) vs. 35/72 (48.6%), respectively. In conclusion, the novel trypsin gradient treatment was effective in eliminating PRRSv without detrimentally affecting sperm quality and has the potential to increase the numbers of transferable-quality embryos produced.

99 COMPARISON OF IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWING CRYOPRESERVATION OF MEISHAN AND WHITE CROSS SWINE EMBRYOS

Development of improved protocols for cryopreservation of zona pellucida-intact porcine embryos could greatly impact the swine industry. Our aim was to investigate in vitro development following cryopreservation of embryos from Chinese Meishan (M) and occidental white cross (WC) breeds using a modified protocol described previously (Misumi K et al. 2003 Theriogenology 60, 253–260). First-parity M sows (n = 11) and WC gilts (n = 13) were observed for estrus every 12 h and inseminated at 12 and 24 h after estrous onset within breed using semen from 2 different boars. Females were sacrificed between Days 4.5 and 6 after estrus and embryos were collected using Beltsville embryo culture medium (BECM). Compact morula (CM) or blastocyst stage embryos from each female within breed were randomly allocated either directly into the culture system to serve as controls (68 M and 48 WC embryos) or to undergo cryopreservation. A total of 101 M and 78 WC embryos were cryopreserved using the following protocol: (1) 5 min in BECM + 10% ethylene glycol (EG); (2) 5 min in BECM + 10% EG + 0.27 M sucrose + 1% polyethylene glycol (PEG); and (3) 30 to 45 s in BECM + 40% EG + 0.36 M sucrose + 2% PEG. In the last solution, 5 to 10 embryos in a 5- to 10-μL microdrop attached to a fine glass pipette were exposed to the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen (LN2) for 15 s and then plunged into LN2. The pipette tip was broken and the tip and associated frozen microdrop were placed inside an LN2-submerged 2-mL cryotube containing a hole in the lid for 1 h. Next, embryos were thawed using a 4-step (5 min each) procedure: (1) BECM + 5% EG + 0.57 M sucrose; (2) BECM + 2.5% EG + 0.29 M sucrose; (3) BECM + 0.3 M sucrose; and (4) BECM alone. All procedures were performed with solutions maintained at 37°C. Cryopreserved and control embryos were cultured in 50 μL drops of modified Whitten's medium + 1.5% BSA under oil at 37°C in a 5% CO2 in air environment and scored daily for development. For embryos undergoing cryopreservation, retrieval rates from cryovials were 92% and 96% for M and WC, respectively. The percentage of embryos surviving 24 h after cryopreservation without lysis or degeneration was higher for M (72%) than for WC (44%; P < 0.001; χ2-test). However, in vitro development of embryos that survived cryopreservation was not different between M and WC at the expanded (64%) or hatched (22%) blastocyst stages. Developmental rates were significantly higher for control embryos than for frozen embryos from both breeds. Rates of expanded blastocyst formation did not differ between M and WC control embryos (98% and 95%, respectively), but more M embryos developed to the hatched blastocyststage (22% for M v. 9% for WC; P < 0.05). Our results suggest that M embryos have a higher capacity to survive the vitrification process than WC embryos. Funding for M. Montagner was provided by CAPES, Brazil.