SEM-microphotogrammetry, a new take on an old method for generating high-resolution 3D models from SEM images.

The method we present here uses a scanning electron microscope programmed via macros to automatically capture dozens of images at suitable angles to generate accurate, detailed three-dimensional (3D) surface models with micron-scale resolution. We demonstrate that it is possible to use these Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images in conjunction with commercially available software originally developed for photogrammetry reconstructions from Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras and to reconstruct 3D models of the specimen. These 3D models can then be exported as polygon meshes and eventually 3D printed. This technique offers the potential to obtain data suitable to reconstruct very tiny features (e.g. diatoms, butterfly scales and mineral fabrics) at nanometre resolution. Ultimately, we foresee this as being a useful tool for better understanding spatial relationships at very high resolution. However, our motivation is also to use it to produce 3D models to be used in public outreach events and exhibitions, especially for the blind or partially sighted.

A 3D imaging and visualization workflow, using confocal microscopy and advanced image processing for brachyuran crab larvae.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy is an excellent tool for nondestructive imaging of arthropods and can provide detailed information on morphology including fine surface detail. A methodology is presented here for the visualization by confocal microscopy of arthropods, using brachyuran crab zoeal stages as examples and postprocessing techniques derived from micro-CT protocols to improve the final images. This protocol is divided into description of the preprocessing steps (cleaning, staining, digesting and mounting), confocal laser scanning microscopy and data visualization using open-source, freeware programs ImageJ and Drishti. The advantages of using ImageJ to standardize stack data and Drishti for surface rendering are discussed. The methodology has been comprehensively tested using data acquired from all four brands of confocal microscope (Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss).

Influence of xenobiotic contaminants on landfill soil microbial activity and diversity.

Landfills are often the final recipient of a range of environmentally important contaminants such as hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In this study the influence of these contaminants on microbial activity and diversity was assessed in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill placed in Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid, Spain). Soil samples were collected from four selected areas (T2, T2B, T8 and T9) in which the amount of total hydrocarbons, PAHs and PCBs were measured. Soil biomass, substrate induced respiration (SIR) and physiological profiles of soil samples were also determined and used as indicators of total microbial activity. Highest concentration of total hydrocarbons was detected in T2 and T9 samples, with both PCBs and benzopyrene being detected in T9 sample. Results corresponding to microbial estimation (viable bacteria and fungi, and SIR) and microbiological enzyme activities showed that highest values corresponded to areas with the lowest concentration of hydrocarbons (T2B and T8). It is noticeable that in such areas was detected the lowest concentration of the pollutants PAHs and PCBs. A negative significant correlation between soil hydrocarbons concentration and SIR, total bacteria and fungi counts and most of the enzyme activities determined was established. DGGE analysis was also carried out to determine the microbial communities' structure in the soil samples, establishing different profiles of Bacteria and Archaea communities in each analysed area. Through the statistical analysis a significant negative correlation was only found for Bacteria domain when Shannon index and hydrocarbon concentration were correlated. In addition, a bacterial 16S rRNA gene based clone library was prepared from each soil. From the clones analysed in the samples, the majority corresponded to Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria. It is important to remark that the most polluted sample (T9) showed the lowest microbial diversity only formed by six phyla being Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria the most representative.

COVID-19 opens the door for right iliac fossa pain treatment pathway.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risks of surgery and management of common surgical conditions has changed, with greater reliance on imaging and conservative management. The negative appendectomy rate (NAR) in the UK has previously remained high. The aim of this study was to quantify pandemic-related changes in the management of patients with suspected appendicitis, including the NAR. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at a single high volume centre of consecutive patients aged over five years presenting to general surgery with right iliac fossa pain in two study periods: for two months before lockdown and for four months after lockdown. Pregnant patients and those with previous appendectomy, including right colonic resection, were excluded. Demographic, clinical, imaging and histological data were captured, and risk scores were calculated, stratifying patients into higher and lower risk groups. Data were analysed by age, sex and risk subgroups. RESULTS: The mean number of daily referrals with right iliac fossa pain or suspected appendicitis reduced significantly between the study periods, from 2.92 before lockdown to 2.07 after lockdown (p<0.001). Preoperative computed tomography (CT) rates increased significantly from 22.9% to 37.2% (p=0.002). The NAR did not change significantly between study periods (25.5% prior to lockdown, 11.1% following lockdown, p=0.159). Twelve (75%) out of sixteen negative appendectomies were observed in higher risk patients aged 16-45 years who did not undergo preoperative CT. The NAR in patients undergoing CT was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Greater use of preoperative CT should be considered in risk stratified patients in order to reduce the NAR.

In situ measurements of the physical characteristics of Titan's environment.

On the basis of previous ground-based and fly-by information, we knew that Titan's atmosphere was mainly nitrogen, with some methane, but its temperature and pressure profiles were poorly constrained because of uncertainties in the detailed composition. The extent of atmospheric electricity ('lightning') was also hitherto unknown. Here we report the temperature and density profiles, as determined by the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI), from an altitude of 1,400 km down to the surface. In the upper part of the atmosphere, the temperature and density were both higher than expected. There is a lower ionospheric layer between 140 km and 40 km, with electrical conductivity peaking near 60 km. We may also have seen the signature of lightning. At the surface, the temperature was 93.65 +/- 0.25 K, and the pressure was 1,467 +/- 1 hPa.

Enteric viruses in New Zealand drinking-water sources.

This study determined whether human pathogenic viruses are present in two New Zealand surface waters that are used as drinking-water sources. Enteric viruses were concentrated using hollow-fibre ultrafiltration and detected using PCR for adenovirus (AdV), and reverse transcription PCR for norovirus (NOV) genogroups I-III, enterovirus, rotavirus (RoV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Target viruses were detected in 106/109 (97%) samples, with 67/109 (61%) samples positive for three or more viral types at any one time. AdV, NoV and ROV were detected the most frequently, and HEV the least frequently. Human NoV was not usually associated with animal NOV. Our results suggest that New Zealand would be well served by assessing the ability of drinking-water treatment plants to remove viruses from the source waters, and that this assessment could be based on the viral concentration of AdV-NoV-RoV. The long-term aim of our work is to use this information to estimate the risk of waterborne viral infection.

Does a single adjustment in the meat standards Australia beef grading model cater for different hormonal growth promotant formulations?

This paper investigated whether a single Hormonal Growth Promotant (HGP) adjustment in the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) beef grading model adequately predicted consumer eating quality of beef from cattle treated with different HGP formulations. This paper used consumer sensory data from two experiments. In experiment one, a total of 300 steers were allocated to three treatments; control (CON-100-F), 100 day oestradiol only HGP (OES-100-F), or a combination of trenbolone acetate and oestradiol HGP (TBA+OES-100-F) and finished in a feedlot for 73 days. In experiment two, a total of 200 steers were allocated either control or 400 day oestradiol only HGP treatments and finished on pasture for 389 days. Steers were slaughtered by finishing regime and carcass traits recorded. The anterior and posterior portions of the m. longissimus lumborum (LL-A and LL-P, respectively) and m. gluteus medius (GM) were collected and aged for five or 35 days. Grilled meat samples were scored for tenderness, juiciness, liking of flavour and overall acceptability using untrained consumers. Sensory scores were weighted by 0.3. 0.1, 0.3 and 0.3, respectively and summed to calculate a meat quality (MQ4) score. Residual MQ4 scores were calculated (observed MQ4 minus the predicted MQ4 score). The MSA model accounts for varied impacts of different HGPs on eating quality through a single HGP adjustment, and indirect impacts on carcass traits. For the majority of the HGP treatment samples, the residual MQ4 scores were not different to zero (5/18), or were positive i.e. the MSA model under-predicted these samples (11/18). Under-prediction was predominately for 35 day aged (7/9) and GM HGP treatment samples (6/6) and was considered low, with the majority less than ±5 MQ4 units. Under-prediction could be considered as advantageous through providing an additional safeguard to protect the interests of the consumers, rather than if the model had over-predicted and resulted in a more negative eating quality experience than expected. Some over-prediction was observed in the CON-100-F and TBA+OES-100-F treatment samples, which may be due to factors such as genetic variation and/or production environment. Minimal bias was observed when residual MQ4 was regressed against predicted MQ4 for the range of feeding regimes, muscles, ageing periods and treatment groups. This study showed that a single HGP adjustment in the MSA beef grading model, combined with the indirect effects of the different HGP formulations on carcass traits, provided a reasonable prediction of meat eating quality for different HGP formulations.

The impact of different Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGP) on desmin degradation and collagen content of various muscles from pasture and feedlot finished steer carcasses.

The impacts of several hormonal growth promotants (HGP) on Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), desmin degradation ratio (DDR) and collagen content (COLL) were assessed. Treatments within feedlot and pasture finished steer carcasses (n = 60, n = 40, respectively) were control (CON-100-F and CON-400-P), oestradiol HGPs (OES-100-F and OES-400-P) and trenbolone acetate/oestradiol HGPs (TBA+OES-100-F only). The longissimus lumborum (LL), gluteus medius (GM), infraspinatus (IS), semitendinosus (ST,) and the LL and biceps femoris (BF) were collected from feedlot and pasture finished steers, respectively. All muscles were aged between 3 and 35 days. The LL from TBA+OES-100-F carcasses had increased WBSF and decreased DDR, which varied in magnitude with ageing (P < 0.05). The GM from OES-100-F steers also had lower DDR (P < 0.05). The feedlot HGP treatments had no impact on the WBSF of the IS, ST or GM and no impact on COLL in the LL. The OES-400-P had no impact on WBSF, DDRor COLL for both muscles (P > 0.05).

Micro-computed X-ray tomography: a new non-destructive method of assessing sectional, fly-through and 3D imaging of a soft-bodied marine worm.

The detailed examination of the internal and functional anatomy of soft-bodied marine worms has, until now, only been possible using the time consuming and destructive techniques of dissection, histology and electron microscopy. This is the first description of soft body morphology in polychaetes (Nephtys hombergii) derived by means of a bench-top X-ray micro-CT scanner. The data are augmented, for comparison, by dissections, microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the same species to show how this non-destructive technique can rapidly and reliably produce high-quality morphological data. It can also be applied to rare or unique invertebrate soft tissue material from museum collections and also to large-scale invertebrate comparative anatomical studies possibly leading to greater evolutionary and taxonomic understanding. High-definition images were obtained without the use of special tissue enhancing stains or radio-opaque fluids and it is believed that this is the first time the technique has been successfully applied to this group of invertebrates. Extrapolation of the sectional imaging of regions of the gut and the production of three-dimensional rotating and 'fly-through' imaging can assist in assessment of aspects of functional anatomy.

The prevalence of vitamin D abnormalities in South Asians with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of both hypovitaminosis D and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the Asian community is well recognised, but the impact of diabetes on vitamin D status and vice versa, has not been well reported. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in Asian patients with T2DM and its impact on glycaemic control. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary referral centre in the UK. Two hundred and ten Asian patients aged more than 40 years were included (170 with and 40 without T2DM). Each had a standard bone profile (serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase), serum parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. RESULTS: The prevalence of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (< 50 nmol/l) was high in the group as a whole (> 80%) and more common in diabetics compared with controls (83% vs. 70%; p = 0.07). This was particularly so in men (82.5% vs. 57.9%; p = 0.02). HbA1c was higher in women with vitamin D deficiency (< 12.5 nmol/l) (8.11 +/- 1.11% vs. 7.33 +/- 1.32%, p = 0.046). In logistic regression analysis, T2DM was an independent predictor of hypovitaminosis D. In linear regression analysis, vitamin D deficiency was independently related to HbA1c in women with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D remains a major public health issue in the Asian population and is exaggerated in patients with T2DM. The fact that vitamin D deficient women had higher HbA1c levels raises the possibility that vitamin D replacement may improve glycaemic control.

1HR ON-CALL - Using Simulated ON-CALL to Underpin Experiential Learning in Final Year Medical Students.

A survey of Blackpool Foundation Year One (FY1) doctors found limited training about being on-call. We could not find any direct mention in Tomorrow's Doctors for preparing undergraduates for this.1 1Tomorrow's Doctors: Outcomes and standards for undergraduate medical education [Internet]. 1st ed. 2009 [cited 30 February 2015]. Available from: http://www.gmc-uk.org/Tomorrow_s_Doctors_1214.pdf_48905759.pdf Working out of hours, on-call and with a reduced workforce is a known area of anxiety among junior doctors. With few examples in literature,2 2Dickinson M, Pimblett M, Hanson J, Davis M. Reflecting reality: pager simulations in undergraduate education. The Clinical Teacher. 2014;11(6):421-424.,3 3Fisher J, Martin R, Tate D. Hands on + hands free: simulated on-call interaction. The Clinical Teacher. 2014;11(6):425-428. we developed a novel approach to aiding final-year medical students prepare for this. A simulated teaching programme allowed students to experience the pressures of working on-call. We hoped to imitate stressors within a safe environment. Students were each given a bleep for an hour. Supervisors role-playing a concerned nurse "bleeped" the students. Each task was held in a folder on different wards (no patient interaction or information was involved). They were relatively simple and designed to stimulate resourcefulness, communication and triage skills. Various resources were available including the number for the medical registrar, played by supervisors. The final station was always the unwell patient aimed at drawing the student immediately to this scenario. A facilitated feedback session explored students' positive and negative experiences, concerns and coping mechanisms. Over the three years of this running, results were resoundingly positive with students taking great confidence from the programme. During the open feedback session, students valued using open wards and having to navigate in an unfamiliar hospital as a realistic preparation for next year. Being on-call is an inevitable part of a junior doctor's work and we believe there is scope for better preparation within undergraduate training. We have developed an effective and sustainable simulation that has shown excellent results. Due to the positive reaction and low maintenance of the project, we aim to cement our teaching programme as a permanent feature for undergraduate students at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Reducing the level of nutrition of twin-bearing ewes during mid to late pregnancy produces leaner prime lambs at slaughter.

The Australian prime lamb industry is seeking to improve lean meat yield (LMY) as a means to increasing efficiency and profitability across the whole value chain. The LMY of prime lambs is affected by genetics and on-farm nutrition from birth to slaughter and is the total muscle weight relative to the total carcass weight. Under the production conditions of south eastern Australia, many ewe flocks experience a moderate reduction in nutrition in mid to late pregnancy due to a decrease in pasture availability and quality. Correcting nutritional deficits throughout gestation requires the feeding of supplements. This enables the pregnant ewe to meet condition score (CS) targets at lambing. However, limited resources on farm often mean it is difficult to effectively manage nutritional supplementation of the pregnant ewe flock. The impact of reduced ewe nutrition in mid to late pregnancy on the body composition of finishing lambs and subsequent carcass composition remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of moderately reducing ewe nutrition in mid to late gestation on the body composition of finishing lambs and carcass composition at slaughter on a commercial scale. Multiple born lambs to CS2.5 target ewes were lighter at birth and weaning, had lower feedlot entry and exit weights with lower pre-slaughter and carcass weights compared with CS3.0 and CS3.5 target ewes. These lambs also had significantly lower eye muscle and fat depth when measured by ultrasound prior to slaughter and carcass subcutaneous fat depth measured 110 mm from the spine along the 12th rib (GR 12th) and at the C-site (C-fat). Although carcasses were ~5% lighter, results showed that male progeny born to ewes with reduced nutrition from day 50 gestation to a target CS2.5 at lambing had a higher percentage of lean tissue mass as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and a lower percentage of fat during finishing and at slaughter, with the multiple born progeny from CS3.0 and CS3.5 target ewes being similar. These data suggest lambs produced from multiple bearing ewes that have had a moderate reduction in nutrition during pregnancy are less mature. This effect was also independent of lamb finishing system. The 5% reduction in carcass weight observed in this study would have commercially relevant consequences for prime lamb producers, despite a small gain in LMY.

Patient and physician perceptions of lung cancer care in a multidisciplinary clinic model.

Background: Lung cancer (lc) is a complex disease requiring coordination of multiple health care professionals. A recently implemented lc multidisciplinary clinic (mdc) at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, an academic tertiary care hospital, improved timeliness of oncology assessment and treatment. This study describes patient, caregiver, and physician experiences in the mdc. Methods: We qualitatively studied patient, caregiver, and physician experiences in a traditional siloed care model and in the mdc model. We used purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews with patients and caregivers who received care in one of the models and with physicians who worked in both models. Thematic design by open coding in the ATLAS.ti software application (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development, Berlin, Germany) was used to analyze the data. Results: Participation by 6 of 72 identified patients from the traditional model and 6 of 40 identified patients from the mdc model was obtained. Of 9 physicians who provided care in both models, 8 were interviewed (2 respirologists, 2 medical oncologists, 4 radiation oncologists). Four themes emerged: communication and collaboration, efficiency, quality of care, and effect on patient outcomes. Patients in both models had positive impressions of their care. Patients in the mdc frequently reported convenience and a positive effect of family presence at appointments. Physicians reported that the mdc improved communication and collegiality, clinic efficiency, patient outcomes and satisfaction, and consistency of information provided to patients. Physicians identified lack of clinic space as an area for mdc improvement. Conclusions: This qualitative study found that a lc mdc facilitated patient communication and physician collaboration, improved quality of care, and had a perceived positive effect on patient outcomes.

Cellular and histopathological changes in the infrapatellar fat pad in the monoiodoacetate model of osteoarthritis pain.

OBJECTIVE: The infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) has been identified as a source of anterior knee pain. Fibrosis and marked inflammatory infiltrate in the IPFP of patients with arthritis of the knee and reduction in pain post knee replacement in patients following resection of the IPFP have been observed. We have investigated changes in the IPFP of rats undergoing the monoiodoacetate (MIA) model of degenerative joint disease, a model that exhibits some histopathological similarities to osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Rats were injected intra-articularly with MIA and the development of weight bearing asymmetry was followed for 21 days as compared to vehicle-injected animals. In addition, IPFPs were removed from both ipsilateral and contralateral joints. Both inflammatory infiltrate and histopathological changes were analysed. RESULTS: MIA injection caused marked weight bearing asymmetry. Ipsilateral IPFP wet weights were significantly increased on days 1 and 3 in MIA-treated animals. MIA treatment also resulted in significant increases in IPFP total white blood cells and monocytes on days 1, 3, and 7 and neutrophils on days 1 and 3. This was supported by histopathological findings at early time points which progressed to adipocyte necrosis, IPFP fibrosis, patellar cartilage and subchondral bone necrosis with synovial hyperplasia at later timepoints. CONCLUSIONS: The current study clearly demonstrated that marked inflammatory changes in the IPFP occur during the early stage of the MIA model of OA which may contribute to the pain observed at this early stage. The role of the IPFP in later stages of the model needs to be further explored.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leptin in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): evidence for hypothalamic leptin resistance?

OBJECTIVE: The aetiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is not known, but its association with obesity is well-recognized. Recent studies have linked obesity with abnormalities in circulating inflammatory and adiposity related cytokines. The aim of this study was to characterize adipokine and inflammatory cytokine profiles in IIH. DESIGN: Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from 26 patients with IIH and compared to 62 control subjects. Samples were analysed for leptin, resistin, adiponectin, insulin, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 (CXCL8), TNFalpha, MCP-1 (CCL2), hepatocyte growth factor, nerve growth factor and PAI-1 using multiplex bead immunoassays. RESULTS: CSF leptin was significantly higher in patients with IIH (P = 0.001) compared to controls after correction for age, gender and body mass index (BMI). In the control population, BMI correlated with serum leptin (r = 0.34; P = 0.007) and CSF leptin (r = 0.51; P < 0.0001), but this was not the case for the IIH population. Profiles of other inflammatory cytokines and adipokines did not differ between IIH patients and controls once anthropometric factors had been accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: IIH was characterized by significantly elevated CSF leptin levels which did not correlate with BMI. We suggest that CSF leptin may be important in the pathophysiology of IIH and that obesity in IIH may occur as a result of hypothalamic leptin resistance.

Requirement for phosphatidylinositol transfer protein in epidermal growth factor signaling.

Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis is a widespread mechanism for receptor-mediated signaling in eukaryotes. Cytosolic phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) is necessary for guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-dependent hydrolysis of PIP2 by phospholipase C-beta (PLC-beta), but the role of PITP is unclear. Stimulation of phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) required PITP. Stimulation of PI-4 kinase in cells treated with EGF also required PITP. Coprecipitation studies revealed an EGF-dependent association of PITP with the EGF receptor, with PI-4 kinase, and with PLC-gamma.

Mixed aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities in benzene-contaminated groundwater.

AIMS: To investigate the factors affecting benzene biodegradation and microbial community composition in a contaminated aquifer. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified the microbial community in groundwater samples from a benzene-contaminated aquifer situated below a petrochemical plant. Eleven out of twelve groundwater samples with in situ dissolved oxygen concentrations between 0 and 2.57 mg l(-1) showed benzene degradation in aerobic microcosm experiments, whereas no degradation in anaerobic microcosms was observed. The lack of aerobic degradation in the remaining microcosm could be attributed to a pH of 12.1. Three groundwaters, examined by 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, with low in situ oxygen concentrations and high benzene levels, each had a different dominant aerobic (or denitrifying) population, either Pseudomonas, Polaromonas or Acidovorax species. These groundwaters also had syntrophic organisms, and aceticlastic methanogens were detected in two samples. The alkaline groundwater was dominated by organisms closely related to Hydrogenophaga. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that pH 12.1 is inimical to benzene biodegradation, and that oxygen concentrations below 0.03 mg l(-1) can support aerobic benzene-degrading communities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings will help to guide the treatment of contaminated groundwaters, and raise questions about the extent to which aerobes and anaerobes may interact to effect benzene degradation.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension associated with iron deficiency anaemia: a lesson for management.

AIM: To document the causal association of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and intracranial hypertension (IH). METHODS: A consecutive case note review of patients with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and anaemia presenting to a tertiary referral unit over a 2.5-year period. Demographics, aetiology and clinical details were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: Eight cases were identified from 77 new cases presenting with IIH. All 8 had documented microcytic anaemia with clinical evidence of raised intracranial pressure. There was no evidence of venous sinus thrombosis on MRI and MR venography in 7 subjects and on repeated CT venography in 1. On correction of anaemia alone, 7 cases resolved. One patient with severe progressive visual loss underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt in addition to treatment of anaemia, with good outcome. The incidence of this association is 10.3%. CONCLUSION: These cases present an association between IDA and IH, in the absence of cerebral sinus thrombosis. As a clinically significant proportion of cases presenting with signs of IIH have IDA, we recommend all patients presenting with IIH have full blood counts and if they are found to be anaemic, they should be treated appropriately.

Hyperamylasaemia in ureteric colic.

Hyperamylasaemia is classically associated with acute pancreatitis. Hyperamylasaemia may be associated with many other clinical conditions. However, ureteric colic has never been reported to cause hyperamylasaemia. We describe a 47-year-old woman who presented with an atypical history of left ureteric colic. Radiological investigations confirmed an upper ureteric stone with urinary extravasation. At presentation, the serum amylase was elevated but normalised after 24 h. In conclusion, ureteric colic may cause hyperamylasaemia and this is likely a result of pancreatic irritation due to urinary extravasation. Patients presenting with ureteric colic and elevated concentrations of serum amylase should raise the clinical suspicion of urinary extravasation.