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Torsion of the fatty appendage of the falciform ligament is an extremely rare condition that leads to severe abdominal pain and raised inflammatory markers. It can be recognised on ultrasound or CT scan. The pathophysiology is the same as that involved in the more common torsion and/or infarction of the greater omentum or epiploic appendages. The condition is best managed conservatively with anti-inflammatory analgesia, and the early recognition of this type of torsion may prevent unnecessary operative intervention to look for a source of abdominal pain. There have been five reported adult cases of a torted fatty appendage of the falciform ligament identified on ultrasound and CT scan, but no paediatric cases. We report a case of torsion of the fatty appendage of the falciform ligament in a ten-year-old boy and describe its imaging characteristics on CT scan.

Data which are collected in order to estimate the correlation between parameters must be analysed with caution. Classical statistics of correlation are often inappropriate. The "r" statistic is very easily distorted by non-Normal data. Non-parametric statistics can be helpful. The interpretation and usefulness of the estimates of correlation will depend on the study plan. If water samples come from disparate sources (e.g. upstream or downstream from sewage outlets) then parameters A and B may occur in their highest and lowest numbers according to how close the samples were to contamination sources thus correlating closely. However, if all samples come from sources with similar pollution levels then plots of A and B will show considerable scatter and apparently little correlation. So what is the relationship between A and B? An example of "perfect" correlation, as demonstrated by replicate counts of a single parameter from split samples, gave an r value of only 0.63 (p = 0.62) due to random variation in numbers of organisms between the two halves of the sample. Thus large amounts of data are needed for studying true correlation because relationships between parameters are embedded in the natural variation. This also illustrated that Standards for a single parameter can be "passed" or "failed" by two halves of the same sample. Study design is clearly of fundamental importance. Consideration must be given to the appropriate way of asking questions about correlation between different parameters.

The substrate oxidation profiles of Sphingomonas yanoikuyae B1 biphenyl-2,3-dioxygenase and cis-biphenyl dihydrodiol dehydrogenase activities were examined with 1,2-dihydronaphthalene and various cis-diols as substrates. m-Xylene-induced cells of strain B1 oxidized 1,2-dihydronaphthalene to (؊)-(1R,2S)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene as the major product (73% relative yield). Small amounts of (؉)-(R)-2hydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (15%), naphthalene (6%), and ␣-tetralone (6%) were also formed. Strain B8/36, which lacks an active cis-biphenyl dihydrodiol dehydrogenase, formed (؉)-(1R,2S)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (51%), in addition to (؊)-(1R,2S)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (44%) and (؉)-(R)-2-hydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (5%). The cis-biphenyl dihydrodiol dehydrogenase of strain B1 oxidized both enantiomers of cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene, but only the (؉)-(1S,2R)enantiomers of cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-phenylcyclohexa-3,5diene. The results show that biphenyl dioxygenase expressed by S. yanoikuyae catalyzes dioxygenation, monooxygenation, and desaturation reactions with 1,2-dihydronaphthalene as the substrate, and cis-biphenyl dihydrodiol dehydrogenase catalyzes the enantioselective dehydrogenation of (؉)-(1S,2R)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and (؉)-(1S,2R)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-phenylcyclohexa-3,5-diene.

Aims:  To demonstrate the stability of microorganisms preserved in LENTICULE discs, employed by the EQUAL Scheme for Indicator Organisms. Methods and Results:  Five sample batches containing several indicator organism parameters were each despatched in two separate distributions at intervals of up to 24 months apart. A comparison of participants’ median counts and bar charts of their cumulated results was then made. Conclusions:  The results demonstrated that LENTICULE discs provided a remarkably stable preparation format for the maintenance of viable organisms in reproducible numbers. Significance and Impact of the Study:  Complex mixtures of organisms can be maintained in stable numbers for extended periods of time at a freezer temperature of −20°C and satisfactorily transported without the requirement for cold chain conditions.