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The relationships of Walk Score, a publicly-accessible walkability assessment tool, with walking for transport to and from home were examined among a large representative sample of Australian adults aged 18-64 years (N=16,944). Residents in highly and somewhat walkable areas were twice and 1.4 times more likely to accumulate 30. min of walking per day compared to those in very car-dependent neighborhoods, respectively. Mean duration of walking was also longer for participants living in highly and somewhat walkable areas compared to those in very car-dependent areas. Walk Score has potential as a widely-applicable tool for identifying the walkability of local neighborhoods. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

The product of the PPP1R3B gene (G(L)) is the regulatory subunit of PP1 - a serine/threonine phosphatase involved in the modulation of glycogen synthesis in the liver and skeletal muscle. The PPP1R3B gene is located on chromosome 8p23 in a region that has been linked with type 2 diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). We examined whether sequence variants at the PPP1R3B locus are responsible for the linkage with diabetes observed at this location. RT-PCR analysis revealed the existence of two alternative promoters. These and the two exons of this gene were sequenced in the probands of 13 Joslin families showing the strongest evidence of linkage at 8p23. A total of 20 variants were observed: two in the 5' flanking region, one in the intron (9 bp 5' of exon 2), and 17 in the 3' UTR. The intronic variant generated a new acceptor splice site, resulting in an alternative splice variant with a longer 5' UTR. However, neither this nor other variants segregated with diabetes in the 13 'linked' families. Furthermore, allele frequencies were similar in 90 family probands from the Joslin Study and 347 unrelated controls. Thus, genetic variability in the PPP1R3B gene does not appear to contribute to diabetes in our mostly Caucasian families. However, a role cannot be excluded in other populations such as the Japanese, among whom linkage to diabetes is also observed at 8p23 and a non-synonymous mutation has been detected in the PPP1R3B gene.

The product of the PPP1R3B gene (G(L)) is the regulatory subunit of PP1 - a serine/threonine phosphatase involved in the modulation of glycogen synthesis in the liver and skeletal muscle. The PPP1R3B gene is located on chromosome 8p23 in a region that has been linked with type 2 diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). We examined whether sequence variants at the PPP1R3B locus are responsible for the linkage with diabetes observed at this location. RT-PCR analysis revealed the existence of two alternative promoters. These and the two exons of this gene were sequenced in the probands of 13 Joslin families showing the strongest evidence of linkage at 8p23. A total of 20 variants were observed: two in the 5' flanking region, one in the intron (9 bp 5' of exon 2), and 17 in the 3' UTR. The intronic variant generated a new acceptor splice site, resulting in an alternative splice variant with a longer 5' UTR. However, neither this nor other variants segregated with diabetes in the 13 'linked' families. Furthermore, allele frequencies were similar in 90 family probands from the Joslin Study and 347 unrelated controls. Thus, genetic variability in the PPP1R3B gene does not appear to contribute to diabetes in our mostly Caucasian families. However, a role cannot be excluded in other populations such as the Japanese, among whom linkage to diabetes is also observed at 8p23 and a non-synonymous mutation has been detected in the PPP1R3B gene.

Summary— TUR chips from 89 men were analysed prospectively for androgen and oestrogen nuclear and cytoplasmic receptors (ANR, ACR, ONR, OCR). Patients were selected on the basis of suspicion of neoplastic change on clinical feel of the prostate. A control group of benign cases was also collected prospectively. Histological examination showed that 46 patients had prostatic carcinoma and 43 had benign prostatic hyperplasia. No difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of prevalence of any of the receptors or in levels of receptor in those who were positive. The patients with neoplastic changes were followed up for a median of 53 months (range 47–64). No significant effect on duration of survival was noted with any of the receptor variables but there was a beneficial association between cytoplasmic oestrogen receptor positivity and progression-free interval. Patients with T category 3 or 4 had a significantly higher chance of being ANR positive than those of lower T category and this may reflect sampling error. There appears to be some evidence to suggest that cytosol oestrogen receptor positivity has a prognostic role in prostate cancer, in terms of time to progression on hormone therapy. Receptor status did not influence survival.

Day-old White Leghorn cockerels were fed graded levels (10, 50, 100, and 1000 ppm) of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) containing pentachlorobenzene (PCB), tetrachloronitrobenzene (TCNB), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as trace contaminants, for 12 weeks. Bioaccumulation of PCNB and its metabolites in tissues does not appear to occur to any major extent. The contaminants of PCNB, HCB, and PCB were found to accumulate to a greater degree in adipose tissue than does PCNB itself. TCNB was also detected in adipose tissue and in trace amounts in other tissues. PCNB accumulated to the highest concentration in body fat followed by gizzard and kidney. Only traces of PCNB were found in heart, liver, leg, and heart muscle. Metabolites, pentachloroaniline (PCA), and pentachlorophenylmethylsulfide (PCMS) were found in only trace quantities following the feeding of 1000 ppm PCNB. Half-life values for the depletion of the contaminants of PCNB, PCB, and HCB were determined in adipose tissue of cockerels; values as high as 53 and 95 days were found for PCB and HCB, respectively.

Shrinkage of a massive, highly invasive, longstanding (probably 40 years) prolactin-secreting pituitary tumour is described in which tumour volume was reduced by 40% 8 d after beginning bromocriptine treatment. After 4 months of treatment the tumour was only 11% of the pretreatment volume and by 8 months it was further reduced in size being confined to the pituitary fossa, which was partially empty. Reduction in tumour volume was accompanied by a gradual reduction in serum prolactin concentrations to normal values at 4 months. Between 4 and 18 months serum prolactin has remained normal on 5 mg of bromocriptine daily. Visual function improved within 48 h of starting bromocriptine and was almost normal by 6 d. CSF rhinorrhoea developed as the tumour shrank and was successfully managed with the relatively minor procedure of a diversionary lumbo-peritoneal shunt. Bromocriptine should be considered as the initial treatment of choice for massive invasive prolactinomas because of the significant risk of morbidity from neurosurgical treatment.

The oxidation of metals at high temperatures has been investigated with some thoroughness by Pilling and Bedworth. They found that the metals could be divided into two great classes according to the nature of the oxide produced. If the volume of the oxide is greater than that of the metal from which it was produced an oxide film of compact structure and protective properties will be produced. If the volume of the oxide is less than that of its parent metal a porous oxide is produced which has no protective action whatever. The oxidation of the metals of the first class is controlled by the diffusion of oxygen through the protective film of oxide and the application of the diffusion laws to this process lead us to expect that the oxidation law will be W 2 = K t W 2 = amount of oxygen absorbed t = time K is a constant.

The attack of dry air or oxygen upon copper becomes appreciable somewhere in the neighbourhood of 200° C. The mechanism of the reaction in this temperature range has been studied by a number of authors but the absence of unanimity in their conclusions is remarkable. It is evident that the oxidation of a metallic surface may result in the formation of a protective oxide film, and that continued oxidation may be controlled by the diffusion of oxygen through the film rather than by factors which are normally described as chemical. Under these circumstances the progress of oxidation is precisely similar to the flow of heat and is subject to the same laws. If c is the concentration of oxygen at a distance y from the oxide—oxygen surface after a time t then D δ 2 c /δ y 2 = δ c /δ t .

One-day-old White Leghorn chicks were fed graded levels (0, 10, 50, 100 and 1,000 ppm) of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB; quintozene) up to 8 weeks. Each treatment group consisted of 90 randomly selected birds (2 replications of 45 birds each). Body weight gains were significantly lower at the 1,000-ppm treatment level. Histopathologic examination of brain, liver, pancreas, small intestine, gizzard, spleen, kidney, lung, and heart failed to reveal lesions in either control or treated groups. Bioaccumulation of PCNB or its metabolites (pentachloroaniline and pentachlorophenylmethylsulfide) in tissues only occurred in trace or very low concentrations. However, trace contaminating of PCNB, eg, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PCB) accumulated in tissues to a significant degree. Tetrachloronitrobenzene, another contaminant of PCNB, was found in only the adipose and cardiac tissues following the feeding of 1,000 ppm PCNB. Storage of PCNB, HCB, and PCB in adipose and other tissues was linearly related to the amount of PCNB in the ration.