Dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells—Value in diagnosis

Dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells—Value in diagnosis. To aid investigation into the clinical problem of hematuria, assessment of abnormalities in the shape of red cells in the urine (dysmorphism) is gaining popularity in nephrology. However, there is uncertainty in the literature regarding both the number of red blood cells (RBC) in normal urine, as well as the quantification of dysmorphism. We have shown that in normal urine (N = 27) the number of RBC is less than 2,000/ml as assessed by scanning electron microscopy of filtered urine specimens from normal volunteers without known renal disease, which compared to less than 1,000/ml by centrifugation and phase contrast microscopy of the same specimen. To determine whether dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells was a significant predictor of glomerular disease we compared the number of dysmorphic cells in the urine of patients with biopsy proven glomerulonephritis (GN), before and immediately after renal biopsy. We also compared the number of dysmorphic cells in patients with glomerulonephritis to those with lower urinary tract bleeding. Renal biopsy caused significant dysmorhpic hematuria, indicating that dysmorphism suggests renal rather than glomerular bleeding. Although patients with GN had significantly more dysmorphic urinary RBC when compared to those with lower tract urinary bleeding, the overlap was such that one could only be confident of renal hematuria if they accounted for greater than 75% of the total number of RBC. Non renal hematuria is present if number of dysmorphic cells is less than 17% of total RBC. Thus dysmorphism of urinary RBC is a useful diagnostic tool, but only if strict criteria established for each laboratory are adhered to

The problem of domestic violence. Private violence and Public Policy

Introduction. The domestic life of domestic tyrants is one of the things which it is the most imperative on the law to interfere with. John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy. The violence which husbands inflict on their wives is different from other sorts of violence in that it normally takes place in a particular location and within a particular set of social relations. It takes place in a setting which we perceive as a safe haven in a heartless world, and within a relationship which for many people is a source of happiness and security. The discrepancy between the violence and the setting within which it takes place both makes it harder to harder to understand the problem and makes it harder to help those who are the victims. Who are the victims of domestic violence? They are most often women: wives, cohabitees, girlfriends, daughters and mothers. The aggressors are most often men: husbands, boyfriends, fathers and sons. The rarity of battered men is hardly surprising given the history of heterosexual relationships, the power disparity which has existed between men and women, the socialisation of the sexes and the physical disadvantages of women. In this thesis, I shall try to present an objective, comprehensive theoretical overview of the problem of domestic violence. In Chapter Two, “Conceptualising family violence”, I shall try and demonstrate this. In defining the types of problems we face, theoretical frameworks define where we should look if we want to make sense of violence, and hence where we should intervene if we want to stop it

The problem of domestic violence. Private violence and Public Policy

Introduction. The domestic life of domestic tyrants is one of the things which it is the most imperative on the law to interfere with. John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy. The violence which husbands inflict on their wives is different from other sorts of violence in that it normally takes place in a particular location and within a particular set of social relations. It takes place in a setting which we perceive as a safe haven in a heartless world, and within a relationship which for many people is a source of happiness and security. The discrepancy between the violence and the setting within which it takes place both makes it harder to harder to understand the problem and makes it harder to help those who are the victims. Who are the victims of domestic violence? They are most often women: wives, cohabitees, girlfriends, daughters and mothers. The aggressors are most often men: husbands, boyfriends, fathers and sons. The rarity of battered men is hardly surprising given the history of heterosexual relationships, the power disparity which has existed between men and women, the socialisation of the sexes and the physical disadvantages of women. In this thesis, I shall try to present an objective, comprehensive theoretical overview of the problem of domestic violence. In Chapter Two, “Conceptualising family violence”, I shall try and demonstrate this. In defining the types of problems we face, theoretical frameworks define where we should look if we want to make sense of violence, and hence where we should intervene if we want to stop it

Evaluation of Consolidants for the Treatment of Red Rot on Vegetable Tanned Leather: The Search for a Natural Material Alternative

Inspired by an interest in finding both a natural material alternative as well as a successful treatment approach to powdering leather surfaces on a Native American object, a comparative study of two novel treatment materials and two established consolidants for leather with red rot was undertaken. Natural material consolidants have been demonstrated to be preferred by tribal members for use on materials other than leather. One of the materials tested as a potential consolidant was neri, an aqueous mucilage most commonly extracted from the roots of the aibika plant that is used in the traditional production of Japanese paper. The other material selected was chitosan, the main derivative of the natural polymer chitin, which has recently been applied in treatments of archaeological silk and paper. The performance of these potential materials as leather consolidants was compared against the performance of established modified organic consolidants, i. e. mixtures of Cellugel and Klucel G with the acrylic wax SC6000. The study focused on evaluating each material's consolidation performance, the visual and physical changes observed on the leather, and the chemical stability of the consolidant following heat and light aging. Although neri proved to have excellent chemical stability, it is not recommended for leather due to unavoidable water content and unsatisfactory working properties. Though chitosan had no adverse effects towards the appearance and feel of the leather, it is not recommended as a consolidant until further research is conducted on its chemical stability. The Klucel G with SC6000 mixture had great application properties but the wax component is questionable due to the opacity change of the aged wax. Cellugel demonstrated the most desirable properties in performance and chemical stability; therefore it was selected as the consolidant for the treatment on the Native American object. Experimental results indicate that the natural materials evaluated may be recommended as alternatives to synthetic consolidants following additional research

The first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus: Macropodid herpesvirus 1

While many placental herpesvirus genomes have been fully sequenced, the complete genome of a marsupial herpesvirus has not been described. Here we present the first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus, Macropodid herpesvirus 1 (MaHV-1)

The first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus: Macropodid herpesvirus 1

Background: While many placental herpesvirus genomes have been fully sequenced, the complete genome of a marsupial herpesvirus has not been described. Here we present the first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus, Macropodid herpesvirus 1 (MaHV-1). Results: The MaHV-1 viral genome was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq sequencer, de novo assembly was performed and the genome was annotated. The MaHV-1 genome was 140 kbp in length and clustered phylogenetically with the primate simplexviruses, sharing 67 % nucleotide sequence identity with Human herpesviruses 1 and 2. The MaHV-1 genome contained 66 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) homologous to those in other herpesvirus genomes, but lacked homologues of UL3, UL4, UL56 and glycoprotein J. This is the first alphaherpesvirus genome that has been found to lack the UL3 and UL4 homologues. We identified six novel ORFs and confirmed their transcription by RT-PCR. Conclusions: This is the first genome sequence of a herpesvirus that infects metatherians, a taxonomically unique mammalian clade. Members of the Simplexvirus genus are remarkably conserved, so the absence of ORFs otherwise retained in eutherian and avian alphaherpesviruses contributes to our understanding of the Alphaherpesvirinae. Further study of metatherian herpesvirus genetics and pathogenesis provides a unique approach to understanding herpesvirus-mammalian interactions

The first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus: Macropodid herpesvirus 1

While many placental herpesvirus genomes have been fully sequenced, the complete genome of a marsupial herpesvirus has not been described. Here we present the first genome sequence of a metatherian herpesvirus, Macropodid herpesvirus 1 (MaHV-1)