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There is limited information regarding the use of risk assessment tools with aging offender populations. It is known that the likelihood of offending behaviour decreases with age, a small group of men either continue or begin to offend sexually in the later decades of life. The current study investigated the predictive validity of the Static-99 and the Static-99R, in a sample of convicted Australian sex offenders aged 50 and older. A sample of 118 participants was identified, of which 17 (14.4%) re-offended within a follow-up period ranging from four months to 20 years (M = 9.07 years). There were seven recidivists (13.46%) above the age of 60 years (n = 52) and 10 aged 40 to 59.9 years (n = 66). Both the Static-99 and Static-99R demonstrated moderate predictive validity with both age groups. The limitations of this study are discussed as well as recommendations for future research., (© 2020 The Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.)

The aim of this study was to document anti-inflammatory properties of a dried fermentate derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EpiCor(®)), hereafter referred to as dried fermentate in vitro using cell-based bioassays, and in vivo using a skin irritation model in healthy humans. In vitro testing involved parallel assessment of primary human polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and migration toward the inflammatory mediator Leukotriene B4. In vivo evaluation used a single-blind placebo-controlled design, where dermal histamine-induced inflammation was used as a model for the complex intercellular signals involved in the initiation, escalation, and resolution of the inflammatory response. Microvascular blood perfusion was evaluated using noninvasive laser Doppler probes applied to the inner forearms of 12 healthy human subjects, where parallel sites were treated with either dried fermentate or saline (placebo). Subjective scores of dermal irritation were also collected. Treatment of PMN cells in vitro resulted in reduced ROS formation and migratory activity toward Leukotriene B4. Clinical results demonstrated significantly reduced microvascular inflammatory responses to histamine-induced skin inflammation, and significantly reduced subjective scores of irritation at the inflamed sites treated with dried fermentate compared with the sites treated with placebo (P<.05). Treatment of inflammatory cells in vitro with dried fermentate resulted in reduced inflammatory responses. This was confirmed in vivo, suggesting that the dried fermentate facilitates the resolution of inflammatory responses. The effects using a topical skin model suggest that similar events may happen when the dried fermentate is introduced across mucosal membranes after consumption.

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch syndrome is characterized by inactivating germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes resulting in an increased risk of developing an epithelial malignancy. There is considerable variability in disease expression observed in this syndrome, which is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Alterations in the kinetics of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) due to the presence of polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene have been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Two common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within the MTHFR gene, 677 C>T and 1298 A>C, that alter the function of the encoded protein have been the focus of many studies on CRC risk outside the context of an inherited predisposition to disease. In this report, a total of 417 HNPCC participants were genotyped for the 677 C>T and 1298 A>C SNPs to determine whether there exists an association with the age of disease onset of CRC. Genotyping of both SNPs was performed by TaqMan(R) assay technology. Associations in disease risk were further investigated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox hazard regression. The average ages of disease diagnosis were found to be different between individuals harbouring either one of the MTHFR polymorphisms. Both Kaplan-Meier and Cox hazard regression analyses revealed a more complex relationship between the two polymorphisms and the age of CRC onset. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that compound heterozygotes for the two SNPs developed CRC 10 years later compared with those carrying only wild-type alleles.

A novel prototype immunosensing device has been developed which incorporates the simplicity of competitive immunochromatography with the rapid signal amplification capabilities of marker-loaded liposomes. An avidin capture zone provides direct readout of the analyte concentration.

Low-temperature e.p.r. (electron-paramagnetic-resonance) spectroscopy was used to detect electron-transport components in Chromatium chromatophores with e.p.r. signals in the g=2.00 region. High-potential iron protein (E(m8.0)=+325mV, where E(m8.0) is the midpoint potential at pH8) and a second component (g=1.90, E(m8.0)=+285mV) are oxidized in illuminated chromatophores. Two iron-sulphur proteins (g=1.94) with E(m8.0)=-290mV and E(m8.0)=-50mV are present. One (E(m8.0)=-50mV) is reduced on illumination. A component (g=1.82) with E(m8.0)=-135mV is photoreduced at 10 degrees K. The midpoint potential of this component is altered by o-phenanthroline and pH. The properties of this component suggest that it is the primary electron acceptor of a photochemical system. Another component (g=1.98) also has some of the properties of a primary electron acceptor, but its function cannot be completely defined. These results show that iron-sulphur proteins are present in the electron-transport system of Chromatium and indicate their role in electron transport.