GHB614 × T304-40 × GHB119 × COT102 Cotton: Protein Expression Analyses of Field-Grown Samples

Food and feed safety assessment is not enhanced by performing protein expression analysis on stacked trait products. The expression levels of six proteins in cotton matrices from four single cotton events and three conventionally stacked trait cotton products are reported. Three proteins were for insect control; two proteins confer herbicide tolerance; and one protein was a transformation-selectable marker. The cotton matrices were produced at three U.S., five Brazil, and two Argentina field trials. Similar protein expression was observed for all six proteins in the stacked trait products and the single events. However, when two copies of the bar gene were present in the stacked trait products, the expression level of phosphinothricin acetyl transferase herbicide tolerance was additive. Conventional breeding of genetically engineered traits does not alter the level or pattern of expression of the newly introduced proteins, except when multiple copies of the same transgene are present.

Measuring the frequency of consumer hair combing and magnitude of combing forces on individual hairs in a tress and the implications for product evaluation and claims substantiation

OBJECTIVES

It is commonly assumed that, due to the long growth cycle of hair, multi-cycle combing, and strength and fatigue testing using thousands of cycles is relevant for product evaluation and claim substantiation. The objective was to assess the frequency and magnitude of combing forces on individual hairs against a hypothesis that fibres on a consumer's head rarely experience significant loads during routine combing.

METHODS

Single fibres were removed from a tress, attached to a load cell and replaced in the tress. Combing of tresses, guided by in-vivo measurements, measured the frequency of significant loads defined as 'events' ≥1 g over 30 combing sets (set = 10 comb strokes @~25 cm s^-1 ) with intermediate tangling. Asian and Caucasian hair was assessed by dry, wet, bleached-wet and bleached-dry combing. A questionnaire of 231 Asian and Caucasian women established daily frequency and number of comb strokes for the whole head. In-vivo combing videos of 10 women (five Asian, five Caucasian) were used to establish in-vivo and tress combing speeds.

RESULTS

The questionnaires returned an average combing frequency of 1.7×/day (range 0-5) and average number of strokes 16 ± 2.3 per head/day (95% CI). Video analysis measured combing speeds of 22-35 cm s^-1 across hair types. Tress data confirmed individual fibres are unlikely to experience repeated loading or significant loads in all but wet combed persulphate bleached hair. 'Events' of ≥1 g - dry combing gave an event probability of 0.2 and average load of 1.7 g over 30 comb sets. Dry combed bleached samples returned a probability of 0.23 and 0.3 respectively. Wet combed virgin Asian and Caucasian hair gave a probability of 0.1 and 0.47 respectively. Wet combed bleached hair gave a probability of one. The addition of a conditioner to bleached hair reduced the event probability to <0.1.

CONCLUSION

During combing, individual fibres may not experience any significant loads and are unlikely to experience repetitive loads >10 g. The low number of comb strokes and low event probability is in keeping with consumers growing their hair long and in good condition. The data indicates the need for a significant rethink of methods used for product evaluation and claim substantiation.

Compliance and use of the World Health Organization checklist in UK operating theatres

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist is reported to reduce surgical morbidity and mortality, and is mandatory in the UK National Health Service. Hospital audit data show high compliance rates, but direct observation suggests that actual performance may be suboptimal.

Methods

For each observed operation, WHO time-out and sign-out attempts were recorded, and the quality of the time-out was evaluated using three measures: all information points communicated, all personnel present and active participation.

Results

Observation of WHO checklist performance was conducted for 294 operations, in five hospitals and four surgical specialties. Time-out was attempted in 257 operations (87·4 per cent) and sign-out in 26 (8·8 per cent). Within time-out, all information was communicated in 141 (54·9 per cent), the whole team was present in 199 (77·4 per cent) and active participation was observed in 187 (72·8 per cent) operations. Surgical specialty did not affect time-out or sign-out attempt frequency (P = 0·453). Time-out attempt frequency (range 42–100 per cent) as well as all information communicated (15–83 per cent), all team present (35–90 per cent) and active participation (15–93 per cent) varied between hospitals (P &lt; 0·001 for all).

Conclusion

Meaningful compliance with the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is much lower than indicated by administrative data. Sign-out compliance is generally poor, suggesting incompatibility with normal theatre work practices. There is variation between hospitals, but consistency across studied specialties, suggesting a need to address organizational culture issues.

Accuracy of antenatal fetal ultrasound in the diagnosis of duplex kidneys

OBJECTIVES

To assess the accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis of duplex kidneys in the fetus and to identify prognostic features of antenatal sonography associated with this diagnosis.

METHODS

Retrospective identification of cases with an antenatal diagnosis of duplex kidney was made from computerized databases. Results of postnatal radiological investigations were obtained from the unit where delivery took place.

RESULTS

A total of 75% of cases seen in a multidisciplinary fetal renal clinic were correctly diagnosed as having a duplex kidney. Prognostic sonographic features are described. Detection of two separate poles or a ureterocele were strongly associated with a correct diagnosis. Accuracy was increased when two or more prognostic features were seen.

CONCLUSION

Accurate sonographic diagnosis of duplex kidneys in the fetus is possible in a dedicated multidisciplinary setting. Antenatal counseling and planning of postnatal care for the infant can be made with a high degree of certainty.

The Drosophila S3 multifunctional DNA repair/ribosomal protein protects Fanconi anemia cells against oxidative DNA damaging agents

Cells harvested from Fanconi anemia (FA) patients show an increased hypersensitivity to the multifunctional DNA damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC), which causes cross-links in DNA as well as 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) adducts indicative of escalated oxidative DNA damage. We show here that the Drosophila multifunctional S3 cDNA, which encodes an N-glycosylase/apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyase activity was found to correct the FA Group A (FA(A)) and FA Group C (FA(C)) sensitivity to MMC and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Furthermore, the Drosophila S3 cDNA was shown to protect AP endonuclease deficient E. coli cells against H(2)O(2) and MMC, and also protect 8-oxoG repair deficient mutM E. coli strains against MMC and H2O2 cell toxicity. Conversely, the human S3 protein failed to complement the AP endonuclease deficient E. coli strain, most likely because it lacks N-glycosylase activity for the repair of oxidatively-damaged DNA bases. Although the human S3 gene is clearly not the genetic alteration in FA cells, our results suggest that oxidative DNA damage is intimately involved in the overall FA phenotype, and the cytotoxic effect of selective DNA damaging agents in FA cells can be overcome by trans-complementation with specific DNA repair cDNAs. Based on these findings, we would predict other oxidative repair proteins, or oxidative scavengers, could serve as protective agents against the oxidative DNA damage that occurs in FA.

Bone mass and metabolism in women aged 45-55

OBJECTIVE

Changes in calcium homeostasis and bone mass around the climacteric are poorly understood. We examined relations between endocrine factors and indices of bone mass and metabolism in healthy women approaching the menopause.

DESIGN

Cross-section study.

PATIENTS

Sixty-eight spontaneously menstruating women aged 45-55.

MEASUREMENTS

Bone density measured at lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and distal non-dominant forearm using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. We recorded menstrual history, physical activity and dietary calcium, and measured serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, vitamin D, fT3, T4, TSH, PTH, FSH and oestradiol (E2), and urinary pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion.

RESULTS

Using serum FSH level as a marker of ovarian function, 63 subjects could be classified into one of three groups: group A (serum FSH < 10 U/l, n = 29), group B (10-35 U/l, n = 27) and group C (> 35 U/l, n = 7). Bone density fell with declining ovarian function at the LS, FN and forearm trabecular (but not cortical) sites. Serum PTH was lower in group A vs B (mean (SD) 2.68 (0.97) vs 3.52 (1.17) pmol/l, P < 0.05), but similar to group C (2.90 (1.09) pmol/l, P = NS). Serum phosphate was elevated in group C compared to groups A and B (1.17 (0.15) vs 1.04 (0.11) and 1.05 (0.13) mmol/l, P < 0.05), and urinary PYD (61.1 (8.0) vs 50.4 (11.6) and 43.9 (8.1) mumol/mol creatinine) and DPD (15.9 (3.9) vs 12.0 (3.6) and 11.4 (3.6) mumol/mol creatinine) excretion were also increased. There were no significant differences in vitamin D metabolites or osteocalcin. Multivariate analysis suggested serum osteocalcin was positively related to physical activity and serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels. Serum free T3 was positively correlated with urinary DPD excretion, and inversely related to serum PTH. In all subjects, serum PTH was related to body weight (r = 0.38, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Declining ovarian function before menopause is accompanied by reductions in bone mass and altered calcium metabolism. Free T3 may regulate bone resorption and indirectly modulate PTH release.