Performance of a commercial polymerase chain reaction test for endocervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a university hospital population.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the accuracy of a commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (Amplicor CTR, Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg NJ) for identification of endocervical chlamydial infections through both laboratory evaluation and among a diverse teaching hospital patient population. METHODS: Testing of reliable threshold inocula and reproducibility were carried out using laboratory stock organisms. Paired endocervical samples from patients with a wide range of indications were tested by PCR and an established culture procedure, and discrepant pairs were further analyzed to determine true results. RESULTS: Laboratory evaluation suggested that one copy of target DNA from a viable organism consistently yielded a positive result, and test reproducibility was very good, with an overall coefficient of variation of 15%. Compared to true results in 1,588 paired clinical samples from 1,489 women with a 10% prevalence of infection, the PCR test and culture yielded respective sensitivities of 87.4% and 78.0%, and negative predictive values of 98.6% and 97.6%. Specificity and positive predictive value for both tests were 100%. Cost per specimen was nearly identical at $18.84 and$18.88 respectively. Polymerase inhibitors and organisms lacking target DNA were not found in false-negative PCR samples. CONCLUSION: This commercial PCR test is accurate, cost-competitive, and much faster than culture for diagnosis of endocervical chlamydia infections in our population of intermediate prevalence of chlamydial infection

Ocean acidification and temperature rise: effects on calcification during early development of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis

This study investigated the effects of seawater pH (i.e., 8.10, 7.85 and 7.60) and temperature (16 and 19 °C) on (a) the abiotic conditions in the fluid surrounding the embryo (viz. the perivitelline fluid), (b) growth, development and (c) cuttlebone calcification of embryonic and juvenile stages of the cephalopod Sepia officinalis. Egg swelling increased in response to acidification or warming, leading to an increase in egg surface while the interactive effects suggested a limited plasticity of the swelling modulation. Embryos experienced elevated pCO2 conditions in the perivitelline fluid (>3-fold higher pCO2 than that of ambient seawater), rendering the medium under-saturated even under ambient conditions. The growth of both embryos and juveniles was unaffected by pH, whereas 45Ca incorporation in cuttlebone increased significantly with decreasing pH at both temperatures. This phenomenon of hypercalcification is limited to only a number of animals but does not guarantee functional performance and calls for better mechanistic understanding of calcification processes

Novel applications of ziegler-type catalysts, aromatization of tetralin and disproportionation of cyclic olefins

Ziegler catalysts based on Co and Ni efficiently promote the aromatization of tetralin as well as the disproportionation of cyclohexadiene and cyclohexene into benzene and cyclohexane. © 1984

Comparison of the bioaccumulation from seawater and depuration of heavy metals and radionuclides in the spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula (Chondrichthys) and the turbot Psetta maxima (Actinopterygii: Teleostei).

The bioaccumulation of selected heavy metals and radionuclides ((241)Am, (109)Cd, (57)Co, (51)Cr, (134)Cs, (54)Mn and (65)Zn) from seawater was experimentally compared in the Chondrichthyan Scyliorhinus canicula (spotted dogfish) and the Actinopterygian Teleost Psetta maxima (turbot), of comparable size, age and benthic feeding habits. The speciation of these elements in seawater (salinity 38 per thousand, pH 8.1, temperature 16.5 degrees C) was also calculated to determine their potential bioavailability. The uptake rates, measured over 14 days, varied greatly among isotopes and between species. Concentration factors (CFs) in P. maxima varied 5-fold between ca. 0.2 for (51)Cr and 2.5 for (65)Zn and (134)Cs, whereas in S. canicula they varied by a much greater factor of 350, with CFs for (51)Cr and (241)Am ranging from ca. 0.4 to 140, respectively. With the exception of (134)Cs, all radiotracers were accumulated at a faster rate in S. canicula than in P. maxima, particularly for (241)Am and (65)Zn where the CFs attained during the uptake phase were, two and one order of magnitude greater in S. canicula, respectively. In contrast, (134)Cs reached a CF of about 2.5 in P. maxima, which was 5-fold greater than in S. canicula. Patterns of loss from the experimental depuration phase over 29 days showed greater similarities between species, compared to the uptake phase that highlighted the greater differences between elements. The distributions of these seven radioisotopes among six body components indicated that between the two species the skin of the dogfish displayed a greater bioaccumulation potential, particularly for (241)Am, (57)Co and (65)Zn. However (65)Zn was also distinctive from (241)Am and (57)Co in its pattern of bioaccumulation in dogfish, with its other body components attaining concentrations of (65)Zn that were comparable to the levels found in its skin. The heightened uptake of (134)Cs in turbot was characterised by a more even percentage distribution among its tissues compared to (241)Am and (57)Co, but every tissue of turbot had a higher concentration of (134)Cs, compared to dogfish, particularly the muscle and liver. The elevated uptake rates and higher CFs for most radioisotopes indicate that S. canicula is more susceptible than P. maxima to exposure and contamination by these metals and radionuclides in seawater. These experimentally-determined differences between dogfish and turbot in their bioaccumulation characteristics were assessed against a set of criteria erected to evaluate the working hypothesis that they were taxonomically based. The outcomes of this initial assessment were supportive of this hypothesis that warrants further investigation

Oxidation of cyclic hydrocarbons by cobalt(III) acetate

peer reviewedThe oxidation of cyclic alkanes and alkenes by cobalt(III) acetate leads to the formation of cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl acetates. The formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons is observed for cycloalkanes in the presence of carbon tetrachloride but no incorporation of chlorine takes place in the olefins. The results are best interpreted by assuming a determining role by both steric and conformational effects on the reaction, involving the conversion of a co-ordinated radical to a carbocation

Bioaccumulation of inorganic Hg by the juvenile cuttlefish Sepia officinalis exposed to 203Hg radiolabelled seawater and food

Uptake and depuration kinetics of inorganic mercury (Hg) were investigated in the juvenile common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis following exposures via seawater and food using a sensitive radiotracer technique (203Hg). Cuttlefish readily concentrated 203Hg when exposed via seawater, with whole body concentration factors >260 after only 10 d of exposure. The total Hg accumulated from seawater was depurated relatively fast with a radiotracer biological half-life (Tb1/2 of 17 d. During both exposure and depuration periods, accumulated Hg was mainly (>70%) associated with the muscular parts of the cuttlefish. However, the proportion of the whole-body Hg content associated with the digestive gland increased during exposure and depuration phases, suggesting that the metal was transferred from the muscles towards this organ for detoxification. When fed with radiolabelled food, cuttlefish displayed high assimilation efficiency (>90%) and the metal was found to be mainly located in the digestive gland (60% of the whole Hg content). Nevertheless, high depuration rates resulted in short Tb1/2 (i.e. 4 d), suggesting that this organ has a major role in Hg detoxification and depuration. Whatever the exposure pathway, a low proportion of Hg (<2%) was found in the cuttlebone. Assessment of the relative contribution of the dietary and dissolved exposure pathways to inorganic Hg bioaccumulation in juvenile cuttlefish revealed that Hg was mainly accumulated from food, which contributed 77 ± 16% of the global metal bioaccumulation

First experiments on the maternal transfer of metals in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis.

The aim of this study was to provide a first insight on the incorporation of eight metals in the eggs of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis via maternal transfer, using radiotracer techniques ((110m)Ag, (241)Am, (109)Cd, (60)Co, (134)Cs, (54)Mn, (75)Se and (65)Zn). The cuttlefish was fed daily with radiolabelled crabs for two weeks; it then started to spawn every three days. Among the eight tracers, only (110m)Ag, (75)Se and (65)Zn were significantly transferred to the eggs. The radiotracer distribution among the egg compartments showed that (75)Se and (65)Zn were accumulated mainly in the vitellus whereas (110m)Ag was found in similar proportion in the vitellus and the eggshell. During the embryonic development, (75)Se and (65)Zn contained in the vitellus were progressively transferred to the embryo, likely to supply its metabolic needs in these essential elements. Although it has no known biological functions, Ag contained in both vitellus and eggshell was also transferred to the embryo. Overall, our results showed that transfer of Ag, Se, and Zn does actually occur from a female cuttlefish to its eggs, at least during the last two weeks before spawning

Effects of increased pCO(2) and temperature on trace element (Ag, Cd and Zn) bioaccumulation in the eggs of the common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

Cephalopods play a key role in many marine trophic networks and constitute alternative fisheries resources, especially given the ongoing decline in finfish stocks. Along the European coast, the eggs of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis are characterized by an increasing permeability of the eggshell during development, which leads to selective accumulation of essential and non-essential elements in the embryo. Temperature and pH are two critical factors that affect the metabolism of marine organisms in the coastal shallow waters. In this study, we investigated the effects of pH and temperature through a crossed (3×2; pH 8.1 (pCO2, 400 ppm), 7.85 (900 ppm) and 7.6 (1400 ppm) at 16 and 19°C, respectively) laboratory experiment. Seawater pH showed a strong effect on the egg weight and non-significant impact on the weight of hatchlings at the end of development implying an egg swelling process and embryo growth disturbances. The lower the seawater pH, the more 110 mAg was accumulated in the tissues of hatchlings. The 109Cd concentration factor (CF) decreased with decreasing pH and 65Zn CF reached maximal values pH 7.85, independently of temperature. Our results suggest that pH and temperature affected both the permeability properties of the eggshell and embryonic metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies on the consequences of ocean acidification and ocean warming on metal uptake in marine organisms, and our results indicate the need to further evaluate the likely ecotoxicological impact of the global change on the early-life stages of the cuttlefis