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The authors describe the first reported case of proven donor‐derived transmission of coxsackievirus serogroup‐3, an enterovirus, following solid organ transplant.

Unexpected donor-to-recipient infectious disease transmission is an important, albeit rare, complication of solid organ transplantation. Greater work and understanding about the epidemiology of these donor-derived transmissions is continually required to further mitigate this risk. Herein we present the first reported case of proven donor-derived transmission of coxsackievirus serogroup-3, an enterovirus, following solid organ transplant. Swift and effective communication between the organ donation agency, treating physicians, laboratory testing and notification ensured a coordinated approach. The resulting clinical syndromes in the organ recipients were mild. This case highlights the requirement for ongoing surveillance over a broad range of infecting pathogens that may present as a donor-derived infection.

Measurements of the oxygen diffusivity of ceramic samples of the mixed ionic electronic conductor La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ(LSCF6428) have shown the appearance of grain boundary tails in diffusion profiles at temperatures below 600 °C. Analysis of the tails yields values of the grain boundary diffusion products (Dgbδ). The activation enthalpies for the grain boundary and lattice diffusion are very close at 1.69 eV and 1.61 eV respectively, suggesting a common diffusion mechanism. Comparison with literature values on both lattice and grain boundary diffusion products have shown that values of Dgbδobtained for LSCF6428 are the highest yet recorded for any oxide material. The reasons for this high value are discussed, including the degree of nonstoichiometry of the parent lattice and the possible involvement of the twin boundaries found in these ceramic samples.

Three outbreaks of respiratory illness associated with human coronavirus HCoV-OC43 infection occurred in geographically unrelated aged-care facilities in Melbourne, Australia during August and September 2002. On clinical and epidemiological grounds the outbreaks were first thought to be caused by influenza virus. HCoV-OC43 was detected by RT–PCR in 16 out of 27 (59%) specimens and was the only virus detected at the time of sampling. Common clinical manifestations were cough (74%), rhinorrhoea (59%) and sore throat (53%). Attack rates and symptoms were similar in residents and staff across the facilities. HCoV-OC43 was also detected in surveillance and diagnostic respiratory samples in the same months. These outbreaks establish this virus as a cause of morbidity in aged-care facilities and add to increasing evidence of the significance of coronavirus infections.

Several documented cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have involved unconventional or unknown modes of transmission of the virus. Some such cases have occurred within a surgical setting. We investigated the potential for transmission of HIV on suture material that had been reused following passage through an HIV‐infected patient. Initial experiments were conducted in vitro using HIV. To provide stronger evidence that HIV could be transmitted via this route, further experiments were undertaken in vivo using a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)/cat model. Both methods indicated the possibility of transmission of virus if suture materials were reused. J. Med. Virol. 53:13–18, 1997.© 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The diffusion of cations from La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ(LSCF) into Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95(CGO) upon co-sintering the two materials is well known. The effect, if any, on the electrochemical properties of the CGO is not yet known. This work attempts to simulate the interaction of CGO with the cations from LSCF by the decomposition of the relevant nitrates on single-phase CGO pellets. The decomposition products are found to enhance oxygen surface exchange in the treated samples. Three mechanisms for this are discussed; triple phase boundary effects, modification of surface defect populations, and the scavenging of detrimental contamination from the surface.

ON June 28, 1877, the Russian chemist, Kern, claimed1to have discovered a new element in platinum residues. A solution left after the removal of platinum, iridium and rhodium was concentrated with ammonium chloride and nitrate and gave a dark red precipitate. On ignition, this left a grey spongy mass that fused in the oxyhydrogen flame to a silvery ingot of a new metal which Kern called ‘davyum’ (Da), as he himself says, in honour of the great English chemist. Only 0.27 gm. of davyum was obtained and its density was given as 9.385 at 25° C.

GASEOUS bismuth hydride was first prepared by Paneth (Ber., 1918, 51, 1704), who obtained it by treating an alloy of magnesium and thorium C or radium C with 0.2 normal hydrochloric sulphuric acid. He afterwards (ibid. p. 1728) prepared somewhat larger quantities of the gas by the action of either of the above acids (but of four times normal strength) upon an alloy of bismuth and magnesium, carrying out the reaction in a heated iron crucible and in a stream of hydrogen. A mirror of bismuth was obtained when the issuing gas was heated as it passed through a glass tube. The gas was, however, never obtained in large quantities, and we have endeavoured to make a considerable amount of this hydride and from this substance to isolate the silver bismuthide, analogous to silver antimonide (vide Weeks, Chem. News, 1923, 127, 319; Weeks and Lloyd, ibid. p. 362).