Giant presacral neurenteric cyst with anomalous sacrum in an adult patient

A rare case of an adult patient with a giant neuro-enteric cyst in a presacral location is reported. It had unique histological features of a stratified squamous epithelial lining with neuro-epithelial and smooth muscle components. There was associated sacral dysgenesis with spina bifida. The possible pathogenesis of this entity is discussed.

Pure motor Herpes Zoster induced brachial plexopathy

Brachial plexus neuritis in the presence of herpes zoster infection is uncommon. Motor involvement is probably due to the spreading of inflammation from the dorsal root ganglia to the ventral roots and may be more extensive than the affected dermatomes. We present a case of herpes zoster brachial plexopathy with pure motor involvement both clinically and electrophysiologically.

Telescopium telescopium as potential biomonitors of Cu, Zn, and Pb for the tropical intertidal area

The distributions of Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations in the selected soft tissues (foot, cephalic tentacle, mantle, muscle, gill, digestive caecum, and remaining soft tissues) and shells of the mud-flat snail Telescopium telescopium were determined in snails from eight geographical sites in the south-western intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia. Generally, the digestive caecum compared with other selected soft tissues, accumulated higher concentration of Zn (214.35+/-14.56 microg/g dry weight), indicating that the digestive caecum has higher affinity for the essential Zn to bind to metallothionein. The shell demonstrated higher concentrations of Pb (41.23+/-1.20 microg/g dry weight) when compared to the selected soft tissues except gill from Kuala Sg. Ayam (95.76+/-5.32 microg/g dry weight). The use of different soft tissues also can solve the problem of defecation to reduce error in interpreting the bioavailability of heavy metals in the intertidal area.

Determination of daidzein and genistein contents in mangifera fruit

The aim of this study was to determine the daidzein and genistein contents in Mangifera fruits. Three Mangifera species namely 'bacang' (Mangifera foetida), 'kuini' (M. odorata) and 'bambangan' (M. pajang) each from two different locations were selected. The extraction of isoflavones was carried out at 80oC for 30, 60 and 90 min. HPLC method was performed with a flow rate of 1.00 ml/min using three different separation columns to determine isoflavone contents. The Zorbax Eclipse RP C18 reverse-phase column was found to give the best resolution for isoflavone separation in Mangifera fruits. Moreover, extraction time of 90 min was found to increase the isoflavone aglycone contents. At optimised condition, 'kuini'' had relatively high daidzein (9.4-10.5 mg/100 g) and genistein (1.6-1.7 mg/100 g) contents. Daidzein content of 'bambangan' (8.3-8.7 mg/100 g) was higher than 'bacang', but the genistein content of 'bambangan' (0.4-0.6 mg/100 g) was similar to that of 'bacang' (0.4-0.8 mg/100 g). However, there was a variation in daidzein and genistein contents in Mangifera fruits between two geographical locations.

Dosimetry of the microSelectron-HDR Ir-192 source using PRESAGE and optical CT

Optical CT, using a solid polyurethane (PRESAGE) radiochromic dosimeter, has been used to evaluate dose distributions produced by the microSelectron-HDR Ir-192 source. The anisotropy functions obtained through optical CT are in good agreement with Monte Carlo and previously published results especially at polar angle above 20 degrees. The results indicated an evident potential for using solid polymer dosimetry as an accurate method for 3-D dosimetry, although refinements to the existing methods are necessary before the technique can be used clinically.

Increasing accuracy of antenatal ultrasound diagnosis of cleft lip with or without cleft palate, in cases referred to the North Thames London Region

OBJECTIVES

To determine the accuracy of antenatal ultrasound diagnosis of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL +/- P) and isolated cleft palate (CP).

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 256 surviving cases referred in 2002-2003 for treatment of CL +/- P.

RESULTS

We had referrals from 36 maternity units, 27 of which were in our local catchment area. There were 154 cases of CL +/- P, of which five had microform CL. Of the remaining 149, 88 (59%) were diagnosed on antenatal ultrasound examination. Among these 88 cases there were minor reporting errors in 22 (25%). These errors were in describing the side and type of the lip cleft in 10 cases, predicting if there was a CP in 10 cases, and recognizing the anomaly in two cases. There were 102 cases referred with isolated CP, of which 92 had overt CP and 10 submucous CP. None of these was diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound imaging. There was no significant difference in the accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis between district hospitals and teaching/tertiary units.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a good awareness and ability to detect CL +/- P by obstetric units from which referrals are received. Inaccuracies in antenatal ultrasound reports occur frequently when attempting to determine the type of CL and when predicting if there is a CP. We recommend that families should continue to be referred to specialist centers for counseling immediately after antenatal diagnosis, and comprehensive advice should always be given about clefts of the lip and palate.

Hypertensive Encephalopathy Treated by Percutaneous Nephrostomy

Although hypertension is a known complication of hydronephrosis, it is never severe enough to cause encephalopathy. Here we report a baby boy with unilateral hydronephrosis who presented with hypertensive encephalopathy and whose condition was cured by the insertion of percutaneous nephrostomy followed by pyeloplasty.

Comparative evaluation of the microbial community in biological processes treating industrial and domestic wastewaters

AIMS

Comparison of the microbial composition and process performance between laboratory scale processes treating domestic and vegetable oil wastewaters.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two laboratory scale modified Ludzack-Ettinger processes were operated under similar operating conditions. One process was fed domestic wastewater and the other an industrial wastewater, vegetable oil effluent. Nitrogen removal capacities of the processes were similar. The industrial process exhibited a lower COD removal capacity and oxygen utilization rate, although a greater mixed liquor volatile suspended solids concentration was observed in the industrial process. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes EUBmix, ALF1b, BET42a, GAM42a and HGC69a revealed that 81% and 72% of total cells stained with 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) within the domestic and industrial processes respectively bound to EUBmix. This indicated a slightly lower Eubacterial population within the industrial process. The alpha-proteobacteria was the dominant community in the industrial process (31% of EUBmix), while the beta-proteobacteria dominated the domestic process (33% of EUBmix).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings served to establish a difference in the microbial population between the processes. Therefore, the class alpha-proteobacteria could play a primary role in the degradation of vegetable oil effluent.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This research will aid in process design and retrofitting of biological processes treating vegetable oil effluent.

Patterns of rapd markers and heavy metal concentrations in Perna viridis (L.), collected from metal-contaminated and uncontaminated coastal waters: are they correlated with each other?

Genetic variation due to heavy metal contamination has always been an interesting topic of study. Because of the numerous contaminants being found in coastal and intertidal waters, there is always much discussion and argument as to which contaminant(s) caused the variations in the genetic structures of biomonitors. This study used a Single Primer Amplification Reaction (SPAR) technique namely Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to determine the genetic diversity of the populations of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis collected from a metal-contaminated site at Kg. Pasir Puteh and those from four relatively' uncontaminated sites (reference sites). Heavy metal levels (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were also measured in the soft tissues and byssus of the mussels from all the sites. Cluster analyses employing UPGMA done based on the RAPD makers grouped the populations into two major clusters; the Bagan Tiang, Pantai Lido, Pontian and Kg. Pasir Puteh populations were in one cluster, while the Sg. Belungkor population clustered by itself. This indicated that the genetic diversity based on bands resulting from the use of all four RAPD primers on P. viridis did not indicate its potential use as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution in coastal waters. However, based on a correlation analysis between a particular metal and a band resulting from a specific RAPD primer revealed some significant (P < 0.01) correlations between the primers and the heavy metal concentrations in the byssus and soft tissues. Thus, the correlation between a particular metal and the bands resulting from the use of a specific RAPD primer on P. viridis could be used as biomonitoring tool of heavy metal pollution.

Using respirometric techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridization to evaluate the heterotrophic active biomass in activated sludge

The separation and accurate quantification of active biomass components in activated sludge is of paramount importance in models, used for the management and design of waste water (WW) treatment plants. Accurate estimates of microbial population concentrations and the direct, in situ determination of kinetic parameters could improve the calibration and validation of existing models of biological nutrient removal activated sludge systems. The aim of this study was to obtain correlations between heterotrophic active biomass (Z(BH)) concentrations predicted by mathematical models and quantitative information obtained by Fluorescent in situ hybridizations (FISH). Respirometric batch test were applied to mixed liquors drawn from a well-defined parent anoxic/aerobic activated sludge system to quantify the Z(BH) concentrations. Similarly fluorescent labeled, 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes specific for ammonia and nitrite oxidizers were used in combination with DAPI staining to validate the Z(BH) active biomass component in activate sludge respirometric batch tests. For the direct enumeration and simultaneous in situ analysis of the distribution of nitrifying bacteria, in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes were used. Probes (NSO 1225, NSR 1156, and NIT3) were used to target the nitrifiers and the universal probe (EUB MIX) was used to target all Eubacteria. Deducting the lithoautotrophic population from the total bacteria population revealed the Z(BH) population. A conversion factor of 8.49 x 10(-11) mg VSS/cell was applied to express the Z(BH) in terms of COD concentration. Z(BH) values obtained by molecular probing correlated closely with values obtained from the modified batch test. However, the trend of consistently poor correspondence of measured and theoretical concentrations were evident. Therefore, the focus of this study was to investigate alternative technology, such as FISH to validate or replace kinetic parameters which are invariably incorporated into models.