The food retail environment and its use in a deprived, urban area of Scotland.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe the food retail environment and its use in a deprived urban area in Scotland by mapping all food outlets and determining where residents do their main food shopping as well as investigating the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables (F&V) (as an indicator of healthy eating) and takeaway food. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The food retail environment, the number, size and food availability of all food outlets, was mapped in Viewpark, a small community located to the east of Glasgow. Subsequently a validated questionnaire was used to determined food shopping usage and habits. RESULTS: There was high availability of common fresh fruit and vegetables (F&V) and very high availability of fast food outlets. Only 9% of the sample shopped solely at local food outlets within Viewpark whilst 91% shopped at a large supermarket outside Viewpark (n = 106). Walking was significantly negatively associated (B = -3.555, P = 0.008) with shopping outside the community. The majority of respondents (80%) reported buying F&V weekly and 57% purchased takeaways at least once a week - these individuals were employed, over 45 years old and had at least one child. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the local retail environment in a deprived community is influenced by car accessibility.

From space to biomedicine: Enabling biomarker data science in the cloud.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is advancing research capabilities for data science with two of the National Cancer Institute's major research programs, the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) and the Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Screen-Detected Lesions (MCL), by enabling data-driven discovery for cancer biomarker research. The research team pioneered a national data science ecosystem for cancer biomarker research to capture, process, manage, share, and analyze data across multiple research centers. By collaborating on software and data-driven methods developed for space and earth science research, the biomarker research community is heavily leveraging similar capabilities to support the data and computational demands to analyze research data. This includes linking diverse data from clinical phenotypes to imaging to genomics. The data science infrastructure captures and links data from over 1600 annotations of cancer biomarkers to terabytes of analysis results on the cloud in a biomarker data commons known as "LabCAS". As the data increases in size, it is critical that automated approaches be developed to "plug" laboratories and instruments into a data science infrastructure to systematically capture and analyze data directly. This includes the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate annotation and scale science analysis.

On the redshift distribution and physical properties of ACT-selected DSFGs.

We present multi-wavelength detections of nine candidate gravitationally-lensed dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) selected at 218GHz (1.4mm) from the ACT equatorial survey. Among the brightest ACT sources, these represent the subset of the total ACT sample lying in Herschel SPIRE fields, and all nine of the 218GHz detections were found to have bright Herschel counterparts. By fitting their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) with a modified blackbody model with power-law temperature distribution, we find the sample has a median redshift of z = 4.1 - 1.0 + 1.1 (68 per cent confidence interval), as expected for 218GHz selection, and an apparent total infrared luminosity of log 10 ( µ L IR / L ⊙ ) = 13.86 - 0.30 + 0.33 , which suggests that they are either strongly lensed sources or unresolved collections of unlensed DSFGs. The effective apparent diameter of the sample is µ d = 4.2 - 1.0 + 1.7 kpc , further evidence of strong lensing or multiplicity, since the typical diameter of dusty star-forming galaxies is 1.0-2.5 kpc. We emphasize that the effective apparent diameter derives from SED modelling without the assumption of optically thin dust (as opposed to image morphology). We find that the sources have substantial optical depth. ( τ = 4.2 - 1.9 + 3.7 ) to dust around the peak in the modified blackbody spectrum (λ obs ⩽ 500µm), a result that is robust to model choice.

Consortium study on 1280 breast carcinomas: allelic loss on chromosome 17 targets subregions associated with family history and clinical parameters.

The pattern of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 17 in human breast cancer is complicated and shows many different regions of loss. In an attempt to narrow down the relevant regions of LOH on chromosome 17, we have studied the deletion pattern and its association with clinical parameters in 1280 breast carcinoma-venous blood lymphocyte pairs. In total, 42 different chromosome 17 loci were investigated, and between 25 and 625 cases were analyzed at each locus. The frequency of LOH observed on the p arm was much higher than that observed on the q arm. The opposite effect was observed in 52 ovarian cancer cases investigated, with less LOH on 17p than on 17q. Patterns of loss consistent with interstitial and terminal deletions, as well as loss of either the p or q arm or monosomy 17 were observed. To determine whether loss at particular loci may be associated with biological features of breast tumors, clinical data including age of onset, family history of breast cancer, tumor histopathology, tumor size, estrogen receptor (ER) status, and occurrence of lymph node or distant metastases were collected for each case. Overall, large-sized, ER-negative, lymph node-positive ductal tumors showed the highest frequencies of LOH, with ER-negative and ductal tumors showing LOH for markers along the majority of the chromosome. Eight regions of chromosome 17 appear to be associated with human breast cancer, two on 17p and six on 17q. These regions were not necessarily in the areas exhibiting the highest frequencies of LOH but were defined by interstitial and terminal deletions in multiple independent cases. Seven of these regions showed statistically significant differences in LOH associated with clinical parameters. These data strongly suggest that loci on chromosome 17 may determine aspects of tumor presentation and disease behavior in human breast cancer and pinpoint candidate tumor suppressor gene loci.

Indirect immunofluorescence labelling with complexes of phycoerythrin and monoclonal anti-phycoerythrin antibodies (PEAPE complexes).

We describe a method of immunofluorescence which is a lateral application of the principles of the APAAP immunohistochemical technique. Immune complexes of R-phycoerythrin and monoclonal anti-R-phycoerythrin (PEAPE complexes) were used in an indirect immunofluorescence technique to detect the binding to cells of monoclonal antibodies directed to IgM, HLA-DR and B cell activation and differentiation antigens. PEAPE complexes were linked to cell surface bound mAbs by unlabelled anti-mouse Ig antibodies to produce high levels of fluorescent staining. The sensitivity of this method of indirect immunofluorescence was enhanced by the sequential application of several cycles of anti-mouse Ig and PEAPE complexes.

A mild procedure for separating polypeptide chains prior to immunoprecipitation and western blotting analysis.

Conventional cleavage of linked polypeptide chains by heating in SDS can so alter molecular structure as to interfere with antibody binding, on which both immunoprecipitation and 'western blotting' depend. As an alternative, gentle treatment with acid at room temperature or at 0 degrees C was effective in separating the alpha and beta chains of human MHC Class II glycoprotein dimers and proved superior in terms of preservation of at least one labile epitope on the beta chain.

Monoclonal antibodies to human alpha-foetoprotein: analysis of the behaviour of three different antibodies.

Three mouse monoclonal antibodies directed to different epitopes on human alpha-foetoprotein have been produced. Two are of IgG1 subclass and the third is IgA. The polyethylene glycol-dependent immunoprecipitation system, designed for conventional antisera, had to be adapted before reproducible results could be obtained with the reagents. In this adapted system, as well as in a radioimmunoassay using solid-phase second antibody, a mixture of the 3 monoclonal antibodies exhibits cooperativity. However, the sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay with pooled monoclonals is not good as that of conventional antiserum. Low affinity monoclonal antibodies have been used for immunopurification of the antigen, whilst the high affinity one is useful for antigen quantitation in a labelled antibody-dependent system which requires absolute antibody specificity.

A human lymphoblastoid B line with an abnormally large MHC class II beta chain.

We have examined the MHC class II beta chains in lymphoblastoid cell lines from over 200 individuals and describe one line which possesses, in addition to normal beta chains, a species of beta chain of unusually high Mr and abnormal pI which appears to be a product of the DR locus. This abnormality in Mr, detected by SDS-gel electrophoresis, was apparent only in the presence of mercaptoethanol and was shown to be due to difference in polypeptide chain length rather than to extra glycosylation.

The production and assessment of monoclonal antibodies to cortisol.

In an extensive series of experiments, Balb/C mice and Lou rats were immunised with 3-O-(carboxymethyl)oximinocortisol conjugated to bovine serum albumin. The spleen cells from selected animals were fused with cells from mouse or rat plasmacytoma lines. Out of many hundreds of hybridomas screened, more than seventy produced antibody that bound 125I-labeled cortisol. These cultures were investigated further for stability of antibody production, affinity for cortisol and cross-reactivity with other steroids. An unexpected but consistent finding was that immunised rats produced antibody which cross-reacted with 11-deoxycortisol to a level greater than 100% and this characteristic was reproduced by rat-rat hybridomas. Strategies designed to improve the chances of generating non-cross-reactive anti-cortisol monoclonal antibodies did not appear to be successful. Nevertheless, several monoclonals were identified with properties that suggest they may be useful for the development of sensitive and specific cortisol assays.

Primary health care needs for travel medicine training in Britain.

BACKGROUND: In the UK, travel health advice is mainly provided by practice nurses and general practitioners (GPs). The need for their improved education in travel medicine has been highlighted through previous studies and by an increasing number of requests for training. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey of 3900 GP practices was conducted to assess training requirements and to establish the demand for an academic course in travel medicine. 1430 (37%) questionnaires were completed. RESULTS: 93% of practices provided a pretravel advice service. 87% of GPs advised an average of 10 travelers per month and only 48% immunized travelers. 98% of nurses advised and immunized an average of 28 travelers a month. 21% of GPs and two-thirds of nurses had attended one or more training sessions in travel medicine. Over 90% of the sample (83% of GPs and 98% of nurses) expressed an interest in attending a formal training program in travel medicine. Eligibility for Post Graduate Education Awards (PGEA) was important for most GPs (88%). Nurses valued approval by the English National Board for Nursing (88%) and a system of Credit Accumulation & Transfer (CATS) (82%). Funding for a course would be met in full by 18% of respondents (mainly GPs) and a further 20% would contribute to fees. Most GPs and nurses have ready access to a range of information sources, e.g., a postgraduate medical centre (85%) and a medical library (91%). Computerized access to information was feasible as 93% had a computer and 54% had a modem attached. CONCLUSIONS: The discipline of travel medicine is becoming increasingly specialized. Future practitioners will need to enhance their skills to meet the demands of today's travelers. Our results show that general practice staff are keen to develop such skills. Specialist training courses need to be expanded to meet this demand.

Study of the factors which affect the reaction of the ferrous ion with tripyridyltriazine.

The reaction of tripyridyltriazine with iron(II) has been studied. The acid dissociation constant and water solubility of the ligand have been determined. The formation constant of the chelate has also been evaluated. An explanation of the change in molar absorptivity of the chelate when dissolved in water or nitrobenzene is offered. The analytical implication of these constants is discussed.

Gender reassignment surgery for male primary transsexuals.

This article describes certain innovations and aspects of surgical technique together with some surgical assessments of results in a series of 58 operations for gender reassignment undertaken by the author over the past 24 years. The salient new features described are: (i) to prevent the early and late vaginal contractures that commonly follow previously accepted methods of neo-vagina construction, the technique of dissecting a new vaginal canal has been improved, and an improved skin graft (double-layered) is added to the peno-scroto-perineal flaps used to line the vaginal canal--these split-skin grafts, superimposed upon a meshed thick dermal graft, do not contract nearly as much as solitary split-skin grafts; (ii) the vagina is suspended laterally by the testicular cords, threaded above the superior pubic rami; and (iii) repeated intermittent use of a vaginal vibrator is substituted for an indwelling vaginal mould, resulting in better compliance and a more pliable vagina.

Non-expression of H-Y antigen on mouse red blood cells.

The expression of H-Y antigen on mouse red blood cells has been investigated by studying their life span in vivo. The survival of 51Cr-labeled cells from males was unaltered when transfused into isogeneic females or female mice which had rejected a male skin graft. These observations are consistent with the view that the H-Y antigen is not present on mouse erythrocytes.

Serologically detectable H-Y ('male') antigen: Mr or myth?

The rejection by inbred female mice of skin from syngeneic males is provoked by the male-specific transplantation antigen H- Y. Here D. N. Crichton and C. M. Steel discuss conflicting claims surrounding the detection of H-Y antigen with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.

Radioimmunoassay reveals no anti-male specificity in putative H-Y antisera.

Putative anti-H-Y antisera have been examined for H-Y-specific antibody in a sensitive antiglobulin radioimmunoassay. All the sera tested were weakly bound by both male and female spleen cells. Absorption of the antisera with cells of either sex was equally effective in reducing the amount of antiglobulin bound revealing that their activity was not specific for H-Y gene products. The failure in this study to demonstrate H-Y-specific antibody is discussed.

Analysis of the murine sperm surface with monoclonal antibodies.

Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies reactive with murine spermatozoa were produced by fusion of myeloma cells with spleen cells from C57BL/6J mice immunized with spermatozoa from mice of the same strain. All antisperm antibodies were of the mu (mu) immunoglobulin heavy chain class; only one (MS-1) bound S. aureus protein A. Antibody MS-1 recognized an antigen present on the sperm acrosomal cap, on the surface of cells from liver and kidney and from some cultured cell lines. The subunit molecular weight (69000) of the polypeptide reactive with MS-1 was determined by SDS-PAGE analysis of sperm membrane proteins followed by their electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose.

A new set of monoclonal antibodies to human MHC class II alpha chains demonstrates that most alpha epitopes are inaccessible on the living cell surface.

When mice were immunized with a mixture of human MHC class II alpha and beta glycoprotein chains, the predominant antibody response was anti-alpha, and from a subsequent fusion experiment over 60 hybridomas showing anti-alpha activity were generated, compared with 11 anti-beta secretors. These findings contrast with the relative paucity of anti-alpha monoclonals described previously. Use of a miniaturized Western blot screening protocol was a critical factor in the present study since the anti-alpha monoclonals do not bind to the surface of living B cells and would therefore be missed in conventional screening assays. After glutaraldehyde fixation of target B lymphocytes or B-cell lines, the majority of anti-alpha monoclonals do react in a radio-immunobinding assay, although none binds as strongly as pan-reactive anti-beta chain antibodies. This suggests that the immunogenic epitopes of alpha chains are normally concealed by the three-dimensional folding of the alpha beta dimer. The anti-alpha monoclonals were all monomorphic but varied in the extent of their reactivity with alpha chains separated on one-dimensional and two-dimensional IEF gels. The most reactive antibodies identified up to seven distinct components among mature class II antigens from solubilized cell membranes.

Splenic lipofuscinosis in mice.

Autopsy examination of young adult mice revealed a characteristic pigmentation of the anterior splenic pole occurring in a high proportion (8-34 per cent) of three mouse strains and two sublines. Histological studies identified the pigment as lipofuscin and electron microscopy provided supporting evidence. Preliminary results are consistent with the hypothesis that lipofuscin may represent non metabolisable debris from cellular breakdown associated with lysosomal activity.

A comparison of procedures for analysing microsatellite (CA)-repeat polymorphisms.

Dinucleotide repeat sequences ('microsatellites') have been used as polymorphic genetic markers following amplification in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We have compared several methods of analysing the PCR products. The most reliable and unambiguous results were obtained when the PCR products were probed with a specific dinucleotide repeat oligonucleotide, so that only the microsatellite-containing products were detectable.