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The complete genome sequence of Paraclostridium bifermentans was obtained by assembly of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore (ONT) reads. The sequence will enable study into the organism’s ability to biohydrogenate unsaturated acyl chains in the transformation of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into the corresponding bioactive non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids (NMIFAs).

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have identified associations with genetic variation at both HLA and non-HLA loci; however, much of heritable HL susceptibility remains unexplained. Here we perform a meta-analysis of three HL GWAS totaling 1,816 cases and 7,877 controls followed by replication in an independent set of 1,281 cases and 3,218 controls to find novel risk loci. We identify a novel variant at 19p13.3 associated with HL (rs1860661; odds ratio (OR)=0.81, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=0.76-0.86, P combined =3.5 × 10 10), located in intron 2 of TCF3 (also known as E2A), a regulator of B-and T-cell lineage commitment known to be involved in HL pathogenesis. This meta-analysis also notes associations between previously published loci at 2p16, 5q31, 6p31, 8q24 and 10p14 and HL subtypes. We conclude that our data suggest a link between the 19p13.3 locus, including TCF3, and HL risk.

Previous studies of space–time clustering in childhood leukaemia have produced equivocal and inconsistent results. To address this issue we have used Manchester Children's Tumour Registry leukaemia data in space–time clustering analyses. Knox tests for space–time interactions between cases were applied with fixed thresholds of close in space, < 5 km and close in time < 1 year apart. Addresses at birth as well as diagnosis were utilized. Tests were repeated replacing geographical distance with distance to the Nth nearest neighbour. N was chosen such that the mean distance was 5 km. Data were also examined by a second order procedure based on K-functions. All methods showed highly significant evidence of space–time clustering based on place of birth and time of diagnosis, particularly for all leukaemias aged 0–14 and 0–4 years, and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) 0–4 years. Some results based on location at diagnosis were significant but mainly gave larger P -values. The results are consistent with an infectious hypothesis. Furthermore, we found an excess of male cases over females involved in space–time pairs. We suggest this may be related to genetic differences in susceptibility to infection between males and females. These findings provide the basis for future studies to identify possible infectious agents. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Sussex Archaeological Collections, 137, 71-79, A simple method is described for measuring the depth of the sciatic notch in fetal ilia. Morphological and molecular analyses were undertaken separately to determine the sexes of seven Romano-British infant burials from the Roman villas at Beddingham, East Sussex and Bignor, West Sussex. Geometric analysis of the sciatic notch indicate that three of the infants from Beddingham were female, while three were male. Using the same criteria the Bignor baby was determined as female. Amelogenin polymerase chain reaction confirmed the sexing of four of the infants from Beddingham (three male, one female), but could not sex the other remains due to poor DNA preservation. If the burials at Beddingham were the result of infanticide, its victims were not exclusively female.

To investigate the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in glomerulonephritis we studied the presence of IL-1 beta by in-situ hybridization in in-situ immune complex glomerulonephritis in the rat. Glomerulonephritis was induced in preimmunized rats by unilateral renal perfusion with cationized human IgG. In-situ hybridization was performed on frozen sections with a battery of four 30mer oligonucleotide DNA probes 3' end labelled with 35S-dATP. IL-1 beta mRNA was detectable in nephritic glomeruli at 6 and 24 hours after induction of glomerulonephritis. Signal was maximal at 48 hours and markedly reduced by 4 days. The peak of IL-1 beta transcription coincided with the major monocyte influx into glomeruli consistent with a role for IL-1 beta as a mediator of glomerular hypercellularity.