Ground beetle species (Coleoptera, Carabidae) associations with land cover variables in northern England and southern Scotland

Distribution data concerning 172 ground beetle species derived from 1145 pitfall trap sites in northern England and southern Scotland were used to assess the relationship between species distribution and 12 satellite-derived land cover variables at the regional scale. A number of species were strongly associated with one cover type and negatively with others. The major variation was for preferences for covers in upland or lowland parts of the region. Other distinct preferences for some species were covers such as those at the coast whilst a number of common species showed no strong preference for any cover variable. The synthesis of ground beetle species distribution and satellite-derived cover data is discussed in relation to environmental assessment and change.     

Molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2NR degrading naphthalene

Three naphthalene-degrading strains were isolated from compost, characterized by morphological and physiological properties and differentiated by 16S rDNA RFLP. During growth on naphthalene, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2NR produced ortho catechol pathway intermediates and gentisic acid. The ability to accumulate and degrade gentisic acid shows that Ps. aeruginosa 2NR has a different salicylate pathway to that of the intensely studied Ps. putida NCIB 9816. Molecular analysis showed the presence both of genes of the upper naphthalene pathway and genes of the ortho and meta catechol pathways. The insertion of nagH and nagG, coding for salicylate 5-hydroxylase in Pseudomonas sp. U2, was absent in Ps. aeruginosa 2NR, as in Ps. putida NCIMB 9816.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding the human leucocyte vacuolar protein sorting (h1Vps45).

We have isolated a novel cDNA clone from human leucocyte cDNA library, encoding a Sec1p-like vacuolar protein sorting (h1Vps45) which is believed to be implicated in vesicular transportation. Although the deduced amino acid (AA) sequence of this cDNA has revealed 97% identity to other known mammalian vacuolar protein sorting, there is an extensive variation in nucleotide sequence in comparison to that of three previously reported human (hVps45), rat (rVps45) and mouse (mVps45) vacuolar protein sorting (Vps45) cDNAs [1-3]. At the nucleotide sequence level h1Vps45 demonstrated 90% homology to the hVps45 and rVps45 and 89% identity to mVps45 with no significant homology in their noncoding regions. The 2.4 Kb mRNA corresponding to the h1Vps45 clone is widely distributed in a variety of human tissues expressing highest levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), neutrophils, heart, spleen, and testis. The chromosomal mapping studies have demonstrated that the h1Vps45 is localized to long arm of human chromosome 1 at q21-q22. Our data indicates that we have isolated, characterized and mapped a novel cDNA encoding h1Vps45, which may play an important role in protein trafficking as well as have clinical significance in the release of inflammatory mediators e.g. histamine, bradykinin and cytokine release.     

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and indomethacin therapy in premature infants with paten ductus arterious (PDA)

Recent studies suggested that prostaglandins (PGs) may play a role in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematuriry (ROP). To evaluate if PGs inhibitor, indomethacin, would affect the incidence or severity of the ble-blind controlled study of indomethacin for the closure of PDA. Twenty-three were in the control group and 24 in the indometchin group. Indirect ophthalmospic examinations wee performed from about 4 weeks of postnatal age and onward and needed. There was no significant differences between the groups with respect to birth weight, gestational age, postnatal age, Apgar score, and cardiopulmonary status shortly after birth and at the time of study.Six in the control and 2 in the indomethacin group (p=0.58) developed active ROP; one in each group developed cicatricial ROP. It appears that with current doses of therapy, indomethacin does not increase the incidence or severity of ROP.     

Proffered papers 9.30–10.00 Monday 15 September 2003

Both the original Bethesda system and the current UK classifications of cervical cytology have proved robust but each has a major weakness in the area of abnormalities of uncertain significance. Cytologists recognize that sometimes it is simply impossible to differentiate between reactive and dyskaryotic material. For this reason, the Australian version of the Bethesda system introduced a new category of 'high grade inconclusive' with a recommendation for referral to colposcopy. Approximately 60% of such cases are found to have high grade lesions at colposcopy (Schoolland M, Sterrett G, Knowles S et al .). The present UK system even with the proposed changes requires of the pathologist, a decision as to whether such cases are probably high grade (=a report of moderate dyskaryosis) or not (= a report of borderline). This continues to ignore the fact that sometimes you just cannot tell, even on review. We have taken a consecutive series of 50 referral smears, reported as moderate dyskaryosis, where the histological outcome (by loop cone) is known. These cases were rescreened and then reviewed blind by a pathologist with extensive experience of the Australian NH & MRC modified Bethesda system. On review, the material was reclassified along NH & MRC lines. The results were compared with the biopsy findings in order to determine whether the category of 'inconclusive' might be of value in the context of the NHSCSP.