Disruption to radiation therapy sessions due to anxiety among patients receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck area can be predicted using patient self-report measures.

Objective: This analysis sought to determine whether patient self-report measures were associated with disruption to radiation therapy sessions due to anxiety among cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy to the head and neck region.

Method: A cohort of patients undergoing radiation therapy to the head and neck region at a major regional radiation oncology treatment centre (ROTC) in Australia completed self-report measures of anxiety, history of panic and fears relevant to use of an immobilising mask. The treating Radiation Therapist (RT) rated the level of session disruption due to patient anxiety during the Computerised Tomography/Simulation (CT/Sim) (baseline) session and first treatment session.

Development of LAMP and real-time PCR methods for the rapid detection of Xylella fastidiosa for quarantine and field applications.

Xylella fastidiosa is a regulated plant pathogen in many parts of the world. To increase diagnostic capability of X. fastidiosa in the field, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were developed to the rimM gene of X.

Macrophage-mediated degradation of crosslinked collagen scaffolds.

Biological scaffolds used in tissue engineering are incorporated in vivo by a process of cellular in-growth, followed by host-mediated degradation and replacement of these scaffolds, in which phagocytic cells from the monocyte/macrophage cell lineage play a key role. The chemical degradation of scaffolds with collagenases is well established, but to date this has not been correlated with an in vitro model of cell mediated scaffold degradation. RAW264.

Impact on quit attempts of mailed general practitioner 'brief advice' letters plus nicotine replacement therapy vouchers.

Aim: To test whether a personalised letter from general practitioners advising their patients who are smokers to quit, together with an exchange card for one month of nicotine gum, prompts them to make quit attempts, is acceptable and feasible.

Methods: Non-randomised before-after ecological study involving general practices in Auckland, New Zealand. Personalised letters with exchange cards for four weeks of nicotine gum were sent to 831 patients within a single Auckland health board area who were recorded as current smokers on their general practitioners files.

Plague studies in California: a review of long-term disease activity, flea-host relationships and plague ecology in the coniferous forests of the Southern Cascades and northern Sierra Nevada mountains.

We review 28 years of long-term surveillance (1970-1997) for plague activity among wild rodents from ten locations within three coniferous forest habitat types in the northern Sierra Nevada and the Southern Cascade mountains of northeastern California. We identify rodent hosts and their fleas and document long-term plague activity in each habitat type. The highest seroprevalence for Yersinia pestis occurred in the chipmunks, Tamias senex and T.

Comparison of in situ excision and whole-globe recovery of corneal tissue in a large, single eye bank series.

Purpose: To compare the quality of corneal tissue after 2 different procurement techniques, whole-globe enucleation and in situ excision.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Data in the interval 2005 to 2008 were collected from the Lions Eye Bank of Oregon.

First Report of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) in New Zealand.

In February 2009, 10 cape gooseberry plants (Physalis peruviana) grown from seed on a domestic property in Christchurch, New Zealand, showed severe leaf distortion, fasciation and etiolation of growing tips, and weak flowering. Symptoms were first observed in the emerging seedlings. No virus particles were observed in sap from infected plants with the electron microscope.

First Report of Helleborus net necrosis virus in Hellebore in New Zealand.

Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) are widely grown in gardens for their winter and early spring flowers. They are extremely hardy and will grow easily in many different environments.

Caregiver satisfaction with out-patient oncology services: utility of the FAMCARE instrument and development of the FAMCARE-6.

Purpose: To evaluate caregivers' experience of oncology services for ambulatory patients and to develop a short instrument (FAMCARE-6) suitable for computerised administration in the clinical setting.

Methods: A sample of 234 caregivers recruited from 388 ambulatory oncology patients completed a computerised version of the 20-item family satisfaction with advanced cancer care (FAMCARE) instrument, which was originally developed for use in palliative care settings.

Results: Caregivers reported generally high satisfaction with all aspects of ambulatory oncology services: overall score; mean, 3.

PCR assays for the detection of members of the genus Ilarvirus and family Bromoviridae.

A PCR assay was developed for the universal detection of ilarviruses using primers designed to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene in RNA2. The assay detected 32 isolates of 15 definite and 2 tentative ilarvirus species using a one-step RT-PCR. The assay was more specific, and at least as sensitive as a commercial assay, and allowed direct sequencing of amplicons.

SANS from P85/water-d under pressure.

Pluronics are triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide). Pluronic P85 forms a rich phase behavior when dissolved in water. Unimers are observed at low temperature while micelles form at higher temperatures.

Return-to-play criteria following sports injury.

Determining the criteria for an injured athlete's return to competition can be a confusing scenario when all the individuals involved are brought in. These may include the athlete, parents, guardians, coaches, family physician, the athletic trainer, and others. Providing a foundation from which all can understand the reasoning is key.

Characterization of hydrangea chlorotic mottle virus, a new member of the genus Carlavirus.

An isolate of the tentative carlavirus species Hydrangea chlorotic mottle virus (HdCMV) was found in New Zealand (NZ) in 2007. The host range, serological properties and complete genome sequence of this isolate were determined in this study. While the NZ isolate shared 98% nucleotide sequence identity with the US isolate of HdCMV, differences in titre and host range were found.

First Report of Narcissus degeneration virus, Narcissus late season yellows virus, and Narcissus symptomless virus on Narcissus in New Zealand.

In September 2008, Narcissus plants originating from commercial nurseries in Taranaki (TK) in New Zealand's North Island and Canterbury (CB) in the South Island were received showing leaf mottling, flower distortion, and color break. The CB plant also showed stunting. Filamentous virus particles (700 to 900 nm long) were seen in crude sap of both plants with a transmission electron microscope.