Endospores from Bacillus megaterium NCIMB 7581, B. stearothermophilus NCIMB 8922, Clostridium sporogenes NCIMB 8053 and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum NCIMB 9385 were subjected to varying regimes of microwave radiation under controlled conditions. The effects of this form of thermal excitation were studied in terms of morphological changes (light and electron microscopy) and also release of constituents (DNA and calcium ions) from the core of the spore. Spores which are highly resistant to conventional heating such as autoclaving were fragmented by microwaves, albeit only at a greater intensity than was required for spores of mesophilic species. Spores of B. sphaericus NCTC 9602 and of a mutant, which contains 30% of the dipicolinic acid (DPA) of the parent, showed identical profiles of disruption with respect to time and temperature. It is unlikely therefore that DPA plays any role in the thermal excitation of the core. The DNA liberated by microwaving spores was amplifiable by polymerase chain reaction; the rapid identification of spores in the food and pharmaceutical industries is thus possible using this approach.

Summary:Hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSF) decrease the duration of neutropenia following stem cell transplantation (SCT). With CSF-mobilized allogeneic blood SCT (alloBSCT), the yields of CD34 + cells are several-fold higher than in other SCT settings, raising concern that post-transplant CSF use may be unnecessary. In this study, we estimate the resource and cost implications associated with CSF use following alloBSCT. A cost identification analysis was conducted for 44 patients on a randomized, double-blind placebocontrolled trial of G-CSF following alloBSCT. Study drug was given daily until an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) у1000 cells/ l. Billing information from the time of transplant to day +100 was analyzed. The median number of days to an ANC у500 cells/ l was shorter in the G-CSF arm, 10.5 days vs 15 days (P Ͻ 0.001), while platelet recovery and rates of acute graft-versushost disease (GVHD) and survival were similar. Resource use was similar, including days hospitalized, days on antibiotics, blood products transfused and outpatient visits. Total median post-transplant costs were $76 577 for G-CSF patients and $78 799 for placebo patients (P = 0.93). G-CSF following allogeneic blood SCT decreased the median duration of absolute neutropenia and did not incur additional costs, but did not result in shorter hospitalizations, or less frequent antibiotic use. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 663-666.

Objective To evaluate serum MUC1 levels (a high molecular weight glycoprotein which is upregulated and abnormally glycosylated in bladder cancer and other carcinomas) in patients with a variety of stages and grades of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, to assess its potential as a tumour marker. Patients and methods Blood samples were taken before treatment in 87 patients with TCC of the bladder and in 31 controls undergoing cystoscopy for benign conditions. Serum MUC1 levels were estimated with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using the C595 monoclonal antibody. Results Of patients with T4 tumours, 47% had MUC1 levels above the normal range (P<0.001); patients with T3 tumours also had significantly higher MUC1 levels than controls. The overall sensitivity was only 24% for all tumours when the upper limit of normal was defined as 4.8 U/mL; the specificity was 97%. Conclusion Serum MUC1 is not as useful tumour marker for screening, as it has a low sensitivity. However, MUC1 levels are high in advanced disease and serum MUC1 levels may be useful for disease monitoring.

Different users apply computer forensic systems, models, and terminology in very different ways. They often make incompatible assumptions and reach different conclusions about the validity and accuracy of the methods they use to log, audit, and present forensic data. This is problematic, because these fields are related, and results from one can be meaningful to the others. We present several forensic systems and discuss situations in which they produce valid and accurate conclusions and also situations in which their accuracy is suspect. We also present forensic models and discuss areas in which they are useful and areas in which they could be augmented. Finally, we present some recommendations about how computer scientists, forensic practitioners, lawyers, and judges could build more complete models of forensics that take into account appropriate legal details and lead to scientifically valid forensic analysis.