Constrictive pericarditis and rheumatoid nodules with severe aortic incompetence.

The case of a female patient presenting with constrictive rheumatoid pericarditis and aortic incompetence secondary to valvular rheumatoid nodules is described along with a review of the literature with the aim to highlight this rare cause of aortic insufficiency

Experimental procedures for molecular weight determination by light scattering

Molecular weight determination of polymers from angular dependence of light scatterin

The effect of weather and climate on siphonic rainwater drainage system operation

This thesis establishes important siphonic rainwater outlet loss coefficients which may be incorporated into a mathematical model capable of accurately simulating such networks. The siphonic rainwater drainage system principally operates under sub-atmospheric pressures based upon the potential energy of the disposable head, resulting in depressurization and full-bore flow. These abilities generate many beneficial characteristics, but when in operation the system will be influenced by physical and external conditions, in particular, those introduced when flow pathways are compromised by detritus accumulation at outlets. Appropriate siphonic outlet loss coefficients have been established from changes in pressure in the discharge pipe and gutter depths as a product of partial blockages at the outlet due to either detritus or percentage coverage barriers. These coefficients were derived from analysis of laboratory data informed by photographic and weather station data established from two major site investigations. Utilising these new loss coefficients allows accurate consequences of particular rainfall events to be predicted using a version of ROOFNET- a Method of Characteristics based simulation model. From this, a rainfall intensity simulated with outlet blockage has produced results similar to those recorded from site.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC) EP/F038143/

Compost and Legionella longbeachae : an emerging infection?

Human disease caused by Legionella species is dominated by Legionella pneumophila, the main causative agent in cases of Legionnaires’ disease. However, other species are known to cause infection, for example, Legionella longbeachae causes an equivalent number of cases of disease as L. pneumophila in Australia and New Zealand. Infection with L. longbeachae is commonly associated with exposure to composts and potting soils, and cases of infection with this organism have been increasing in Europe over the past ten years. The increase in incidence may be linked to factors such as increased awareness of clinical presentation, or due to changing formulation of growing media, although it should be noted that the presence of Legionella species in growing media does not correlate with the number of cases currently seen. This is likely due to the variables associated with infection, for example, host factors such as smoking or underlying health conditions, or difference in growing media storage or climate, especially warm humid conditions, which may affect survival and growth of these organisms in the growing media environment. There are numerous unknowns in this area and collaboration between growing media manufacturers and researchers, as well as more awareness among diagnosing clinicians, laboratory staff and the general public is necessary to reduce risk. More research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn: L. pneumophila research currently dominates the field and it is likely that the overreliance on diagnostic techniques such as the urinary antigen test, which is specific for L. pneumophila Sg 1, is detrimental to the diagnosis of L. longbeachae infection

Relationship between antibiotic- and disinfectant-resistance profiles in bacteria harvested from tap water

Chlorination is commonly used to control levels of bacteria in drinking water; however, viable bacteria may remain due to chlorine resistance. What may be concerning is that surviving bacteria, due to co-selection factors, may also have increased resistance to common antibiotics. This would pose a public health risk as it could link resistant bacteria in the natural environment to human population. Here, we investigated the relationship between chlorine- and antibiotic-resistances by harvesting 148 surviving bacteria from chlorinated drinking-water systems and compared their susceptibilities against chlorine disinfectants and antibiotics. Twenty-two genera were isolated, including members of Paenibacillus, Burkholderia, Escherichia, Sphingomonas and Dermacoccus species. Weak (but significant) correlations were found between chlorine-tolerance and minimum inhibitory concentrations against the antibiotics tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin, but not against ciprofloxacin; this suggest that chlorine-tolerant bacteria are more likely to also be antibiotic resistant. Further, antibiotic-resistant bacteria survived longer than antibiotic-sensitive organisms when exposed to free chlorine in a contact-time assay; however, there were little differences in susceptibility when exposed to monochloramine. Irrespective of antibiotic-resistance, spore-forming bacteria had higher tolerance against disinfection compounds. The presence of chlorine-resistant bacteria surviving in drinking-water systems may also carry additional risk of antibiotic resistance

Clinical surveillance of thrombotic microangiopathies in Scotland, 2003-2005

The prevalence, incidence and outcomes of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) are not well established in adults or children from prospective studies. We sought to identify both outcomes and current management strategies using prospective, national surveillance of HUS and TTP, from 2003 to 2005 inclusive. We also investigated the links between these disorders and factors implicated in the aetiology of HUS and TTP including infections, chemotherapy, and immunosuppression. Most cases of HUS were caused by verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), of which serotype O157 predominated, although other serotypes were identified. The list of predisposing factors for TTP was more varied although use of immunosuppressive agents and severe sepsis, were the most frequent precipitants. The study demonstrates that while differentiating between HUS and TTP is sometimes difficult, in most cases the two syndromes have quite different predisposing factors and clinical parameters, enabling clinical and epidemiological profiling for these disorders

The use of minimum selectable concentrations (MSCs) for determining the selection of antimicrobial resistant bacteria

The use of antimicrobial compounds is indispensable in many industries, especially drinking water production, to eradicate microorganisms. However, bacterial growth is not unusual in the presence of disinfectant concentrations that would be typically lethal, as bacterial populations can develop resistance. The common metric of population resistance has been based on the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), which is based on bacteria lethality. However, sub-lethal concentrations may also select for resistant bacteria due to the differences in bacterial growth rates. This study determined the Minimal Selective Concentrations (MSCs) of bacterial populations exposed to free chlorine and monochloramine, representing a metric that possibly better reflects the selective pressures occurring at lower disinfectant levels than MIC. Pairs of phylogenetically similar bacteria were challenged to a range of concentrations of disinfectants. The MSCs of free chlorine and monochloramine were found to range between 0.021 and 0.39 mg L-1, which were concentrations 1/250 to 1/5 than the MICs of susceptible bacteria (MICsusc). This study indicates that sub-lethal concentrations of disinfectants could result in the selection of resistant bacterial populations, and MSCs would be a more sensitive indicator of selective pressure, especially in environmental systems

Antibiotic resistant bacteria found in municipal drinking water

Multidrug resistant bacteria in water supply systems have been emerging as a growing public health concern. Many factors affect the source and fate of these bacteria. However, conditions in the distribution systems may contribute in the dispersion of resistance genes among bacterial populations. Through the process of lateral gene transfer, resistance genetic material can be exchanged between species in the microbial population, intensifying the problem of resistance genes. The main aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of microorganisms in tap-water in Glasgow, Scotland, and the occurrence of certain antibiotic resistance genes and gene-transfer mechanisms. Results show that antibiotic resistant bacteria exist at the consumers’ end of the distribution system, some of which also contain integrase genes, which can aid in the dispersion of resistance genes. Presence of such microorganisms indicates that further investigations should be taken to assess the risks to public health

Political trials and the suppression of popular radicalism in England, 1799-1820

This chapter examines the decision-making process between the Home Office and the government’s law officers in prosecuting individuals for sedition and treason in the period 1799–1820. The term state trial suggests a more centralised and government-led repression of popular radicalism than the process was in practice. Provincial reformers also faced the complex layers of their local justice system, which was more loyalist, committed to stamping out political radicalism. The trial of the “Thirty Eight” Manchester radicals in June 1812 demonstrates the mutable definitions of treason, sedition and processes of justice in the theatre of the court.Peer reviewe