Projections of the future course of the primary vCJD epidemic in the UK: inclusion of subclinical infection and the possibility of wider genetic susceptibility.

The incidence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in the United Kingdom appears to be in decline, with only four deaths reported this year (to 6 September 2004). However, results of a survey of lymphoreticular tissues have suggested a substantially higher prevalence of vCJD than expected from the clinical data alone. There are two plausible explanations for this discrepancy: first, a proportion of those infected will not develop clinical disease (subclinical infection); and second, the genetic group in which no clinical cases of vCJD have yet occurred is susceptible. Using mathematical models for the primary transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans, we explore the impact of these hypotheses on case predictions. Under the first hypothesis, the results suggest relatively few future cases will arise via primary transmission, but that these cases are a small proportion of those infected, with most having subclinical infection. Under the second hypothesis, results suggest a maximum fivefold increase in cases, but this hypothesis is unable to account for the discrepancy between clinical cases and the estimated prevalence. Predictions of future cases of vCJD therefore remain uncertain, particularly given the recent identification of additional cases infected via blood transfusion.     

A generalized framework for digital adjustment or correction

This paper provides a unified technique to deal with a number of open-ended, digital adjustment and/or correction techniques that have grown up as “special cases.” These include corrections for system imperfections in channel matching, in frequency response, and/or in transient response. In the situations under consideration there is always a controlling variable, such as signal amplitude, and a controlled or correctable variable, such as the transient response. All of the systems to be corrected require a combination of: stability, the ability to sort the controlling variable, a digital storage mechanism, a control or correction mechanism, and a standard to provide the means to adjust the final results to within the desired tolerance. The methods are illustrated with results from an actual, digitally sampling, two-channel, seven-amplitude range, 10 MHz, 100 A, pulse current generating and measuring system. These results include the digital correction of the transient response of the system and introduce a 100 A “flatness standard.” By using these concepts one may usually achieve at least a ten times reduction in the uncertainty in the transfer function of the system that is adjusted or corrected     

Spinal injuries in New Zealand rugby and rugby league--a twenty year survey

AIMS: To establish trends in frequency of serious spinal cord injuries in rugby and rugby league over a 20 year period and to elucidate patterns of injury from retrospective analysis of cases admitted to New Zealand's two spinal injuries units. METHODS: A detailed survey of unit records with follow-up of selected patients; statistical analysis of data. RESULTS: During the 20 years 1976 to 1995, 119 rugby and 22 rugby league players (total 141) were admitted to New Zealand's two spinal injuries units suffering serious spinal injuries and 47 of these became permanently confined to wheelchairs. There was a steady increase in frequency throughout the period studied. Of the injuries 83% occurred in forwards and 17% in backs. In rugby it was the scrum which produced most injuries, and in rugby league it was the tackle. The early season month of April produced most spinal injuries. In the eighteen months since intense compulsory educational programmes on safety were introduced by the New Zealand Rugby Union there have been no serious spinal cord injuries from rugby scrums. CONCLUSION: Contrary to widespread belief, there has not been a decrease in spinal cord injuries in rugby following rule changes in the mid 1980s. The information produced by this retrospective study has been an effective educational platform to make rugby and rugby league safer.     

Environmental stress and blood glucose change in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Investigated blood glucose (BG) response to psychological stress in 14 22–65 yr old insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Ss were exposed to 2 sessions (12 wks apart) of 2 20-min standardized stressors (active and passive) and a control condition administered in counterbalanced order. BG response was measured, and mood checklist measures were obtained at prestressor, poststressor, and recovery periods. During the 1st session of testing, the active stressor was associated with significantly more absolute change in BG response than the passive stressor. Ss' BG response to this active stressor was idiosyncratic but significantly reliable over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bidirectional calibration results for 11 spectralon and 16 BaSO4 reference reflectance panels

Eleven Spectralon¹ (a sintered polytetrafluoroethylene-based material) and 16 BaSO₄ reference reflectance panels were calibrated using a field calibration technique. The Spectralon panels differed both in their directional/hemispherical and directional/directional reflectance. However, the differences were sufficiently small that “general” calibration equations were developed. For panels constructed of the same material and with the same methods as those used in these experiments, the directional/directional reflectance may be within ± 0.020 at 10°, ± 0.015 at 45°, and ± 0.041 at 80° of that predicted by the “general” equations. For field measurements, these values are considerably better than those that would be obtained using a value of the directional/hemispherical reflectance. The directional/directional reflectance of the 16 BaSO₄ panels varied considerably among panels, so much so that it was not feasible to develop “general” calibration equations. Apparently, the nonlambertian properties of BaSO₄ panels are dependent upon the method of applying the barium sulfate coating.     

The development of multiple reaction monitoring assays for liver-derived plasma proteins

There is wide interpatient variability in toxicity to chemotherapeutic drugs and a lack of routine clinical tests for prospectively identifying patients at risk of developing toxicity from chemotherapy. An empirically driven MS strategy has been developed to monitor liver-derived plasma proteins as potential biomarkers of early toxicity. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) has been used to assess 46 candidate peptides from 18 liver-derived proteins. Following an iterative process of assay design, optimisation and assessment we selected 29 MRM assays (median CV 4.6%, range 1.2-11.6%) and monitored changes in levels of plasma proteins from a small number of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. We demonstrated MRM assay robustness, and show that patients undergo minor elevation in plasma proteins when profiled on Day 3 of the chemotherapeutic regime. The MRM assays were in general agreement with 2-D DIGE-based quantitation from the same patient samples. The data supports the application of MRM-based methods as facile, highly reproducible, medium-throughput techniques that warrant expanded investigation for clinical utility in identifying patients at risk of developing chemotoxicity.     

A simplified gas permeability apparatus

A simplified gas permeability apparatus is described which is used in performing the essential functions of more complex conventional designs. An improved diffusion cell clamp is described, and the basic operation of the instrument is outlined. Experimental data are submitted as evidence of the reliability of the instrument.     

Energy and technology lessons since Rio

The 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change created the basic international architecture for addressing climate change. That treaty was negotiated at a time when the research literature examining emissions mitigation and the role of energy technology was relatively limited. In the two subsequent decades a great deal has been learned. The problem of stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has proved far more difficult than envisioned in 1992 and the role of technology appears even more important when emissions mitigation strategies are co-developed in the context of multiple competing ends.