On the Experimental Estimation of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Cross Sections by Vibrational Pumping

We present an in-depth analysis of the experimental estimation of cross sections in Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) by vibrational pumping. The paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the technique, pinpoints the main aspects and limitations, and provides the underlying physical concepts to interpret the experimental results. Examples for several commonly used SERS probes are given, and a discussion on future possible developments is also presented.Comment: To be submitted to J. Phys. Chem.

Laparoscopic Surgical Techniques for Endometriosis and Adenomyosis

The details of surgical techniques for laparoscopic removal of endometriosis and adenomyosis are described briefly in textbooks and gynaecological journal articles. We have described a wide variety of techniques for the various procedures required in the treatment of endometriosis and adenomyosis, excluding hysterectomy. The principles are based upon those used in removal of primary cancer lesions. The limitations of thermal ablation are discussed, and evidence of improved results after excision of lesions have been submitted for publication

At the intersection of marginalised identities: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’s experiences of injecting drug use and hepatitis C seroconversion

While the levels of injecting drug use among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations are high we know little about their experiences of injecting drugs or living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The loss of traditional family and cultural ties means connection to community is important to the wellbeing of LGBT populations. While some kinds of drug-use are normalised within many LGBT communities, injecting drug use continues to be stigmatised. This exploratory qualitative study of people with newly acquired HCV used semi-structured interviews to explore participants’ understandings and awareness of HCV, seroconversion, testing, diagnosis and treatment. We present a secondary thematic analysis of eight LGBT participants of the experience of injecting drugs, living with HCV and having a marginalised sexual or gender identity. Community was central to the participants’ accounts. Drug-use facilitated connection to a chosen community by suppressing sexual or gender desires allows them to fit in to the mainstream; enacting LGBT community norms of behaviour; and connection through shared drug-use. Participants also described feeling afraid to come out about their drug-use to LGBT peers because of the associated stigma of HCV. They described a similar stigma associated with HIV within the PWID community. Thus the combination of being LBGT/living with HIV (a “gay” disease) and injecting drugs/living with HCV (a “junkie’s” disease) left them in a kind of no man’s land. Health professionals working in drug and HCV care services need to develop capacity in providing culturally appropriate health care for LGBT people who inject drugs. Key words: Hepatitis C; HIV; Drug Use; Sexuality; Culturally-appropriate; health car

Perturbations of a Universe Filled with Dust and Radiation

A first-order perturbation approach to $k=0$ Friedmann cosmologies filled with dust and radiation is developed. Adopting the coordinate gauge comoving with the perturbed matter, and neglecting the vorticity of the radiation, a pair of coupled equations is obtained for the trace $h$ of the metric perturbations and for the velocity potential $v$. A power series solution with upwards cutoff exists such that the leading terms for large values of the dimensionless time $\xi$ agree with the relatively growing terms of the dust solution of Sachs and Wolfe.Comment: 9 pp, typeset in late

Mutation analysis of HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHD/EGLN) in individuals with features of phaeochromocytoma and renal cell carcinoma susceptibility

Germline mutations in the von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) genes can cause inherited phaeochromocytoma and/or renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Dysregulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors has been linked to VHL and SDHB-related RCC; both HIF dysregulation and disordered function of a prolyl hydroxylase domain isoform 3 (PHD3/EGLN3)-related pathway of neuronal apoptosis have been linked to the development of phaeochromocytoma. The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent prolyl hydroxylase enzymes PHD1 (EGLN2), PHD2 (EGLN1) and PHD3 (EGLN3) have a key role in regulating the stability of HIF-a subunits (and hence expression of the HIF-a transcription factors). A germline PHD2 mutation has been reported in association with congenital erythrocytosis and recurrent extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma. We undertook mutation analysis of PHD1, PHD2 and PHD3 in two cohorts of patients with features of inherited phaeochromocytoma (nZ82) and inherited RCC (nZ64) and no evidence of germline mutations in known susceptibility genes. No confirmed pathogenic mutations were detected suggesting that mutations in these genes are not a frequent cause of inherited phaeochromocytoma or RCC

A novel PCFT gene mutation (p.Cys66LeufsX99) causing hereditary folate malabsorption

Hereditary folate malabsorption (HFM) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which is characterized by impaired intestinal folate malabsorption and impaired folate transport into the central nervous system. Mutations in the intestinal folate transporter PCFT have been reported previously in only 10 individuals with this disorder. The purpose of the current study was to describe the clinical phenotype and determine the molecular basis for this disorder in a family with four affected individuals. A consanguineous family of Pakistani origin with autosomal recessive HFM was ascertained and clinically phenotyped. After genetic linkage studies all coding exons of the PCFT gene were screened for mutations by direct sequencing. The clinical phenotype of four affected patients is described. Direct sequencing of PCFT revealed a novel homozygous frameshift mutation (c.194dupG) at a mononucleotide repeat in exon 1 predicted to result in a truncated protein (p.Cys66LeufsX99). This report extends current knowledge on the phenotypic manifestations of HFM and the PCFT mutation spectrum