title: Mutations of p53 gene can be detected in the plasma of patients with large bowel carcinoma

authors: Mayall, Frederick G.

subjects: tumour markers

abstract: Aims—To attempt to detect p53 gene mutations in the plasma of patients with large bowel carcinoma.
Methods—Plasma was collected from 20control patients with no history of cancer and from 17 patients with large bowel carcinoma. Corresponding tumour and benign lymph node (control) samples for each of the carcinoma patients were obtained from paraYn blocks. A Dukes’ stage was determined for each tumour. DNA was extracted from the plasma samples and the paraYn embedded tissue using previously described methods. A nested primer polymerase chain reaction protocol was used for the ampliﬁcation of exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene. “Cold” single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was performed on mini gels and silver stained. Abnormal bands were excised, the DNA eluted, and reampliﬁed for automated dye termination sequencing. Any sample showing an apparent mutation was rechecked from the original extracted DNA sample at least three
times.
Results—p53 gene mutations were not found in the control specimens. They were found in both the primary tumour and the plasma in three cases, in the primary tumour alone in one case, and in the plasma alone in two cases. One of the latter two cases also had metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the other had widespread metastatic deposits. One of the cases with mutant DNA in both the plasma and the primary was a Dukes’ stage B tumour. The others were Dukes’ C and Dukes’ D.
Conclusions—p53 gene mutations can be detected in the plasma of some patients with large bowel carcinoma and these are concordant with those in the primary carcinomas.

text: Mutations of p53 gene can be detected in the plasma of patients with large bowel carcinoma Aims—To attempt to detect p53 gene mutations in the plasma of patients with large bowel carcinoma.
Methods—Plasma was collected from 20control patients with no history of cancer and from 17 patients with large bowel carcinoma. Corresponding tumour and benign lymph node (control) samples for each of the carcinoma patients were obtained from paraYn blocks. A Dukes’ stage was determined for each tumour. DNA was extracted from the plasma samples and the paraYn embedded tissue using previously described methods. A nested primer polymerase chain reaction protocol was used for the ampliﬁcation of exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene. “Cold” single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was performed on mini gels and silver stained. Abnormal bands were excised, the DNA eluted, and reampliﬁed for automated dye termination sequencing. Any sample showing an apparent mutation was rechecked from the original extracted DNA sample at least three
times.
Results—p53 gene mutations were not found in the control specimens. They were found in both the primary tumour and the plasma in three cases, in the primary tumour alone in one case, and in the plasma alone in two cases. One of the latter two cases also had metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the other had widespread metastatic deposits. One of the cases with mutant DNA in both the plasma and the primary was a Dukes’ stage B tumour. The others were Dukes’ C and Dukes’ D.
Conclusions—p53 gene mutations can be detected in the plasma of some patients with large bowel carcinoma and these are concordant with those in the primary carcinomas.

year: 2013

title: Methodologies for assessing domestic hens' preferences for sounds

authors: Jones, Amy Rebecca

subjects: Preference

abstract: A series of five experiments assessed the effects of different sounds on the choice behaviour of domestic hens and chicks using a range of procedures. The first experiment compared the effects of white noise on hens’ performance under multiple-concurrent schedules with those of other sounds (an alarm call, the sounds of hens feeding and a food call) with the same subjects. The sound was shown to bias responding of hens away from the keys associated with all sounds and the magnitude of this bias was largest for white noise and the food call. Different to the other sounds, white noise suppressed the responding of hens when it was present, thus confounding response allocation. In Experiment 2, a concurrent-chains procedure was used to assess hens’ preferences for the same sounds used in Experiment 1. Sound was associated with one terminal-link and hens made a choice between sound and no sound alternatives in the absence of sound. The direction of noise biases from responding in the initial-links was the same across hens for one sound only (food call) but the magnitude of these biases varied. This was different from Experiment 1 but terminal-link responding was suppressed in the presence of sound, as in Experiment 1. Terminal-link entry pauses also tended to be longer in terminal-links that contained most sounds but the effect was greater with white noise and the food call. A conditioned place preference procedure was used in Experiment 3 to assess chicks’ preferences for places associated with sounds, in the absence of reinforcement or sound. Baseline preferences were assessed by measuring time spent in each compartment of a 3-compartment chamber. Groups of chicks were then conditioned to either food or a sound by being confined in one compartment. The chicks’ post-conditioning test sessions showed a significant conditioned place preference towards the area associated with food and away from the area associated with white noise. This experiment showed that the conditioned place preference procedure could be used to assess the conditioning effects of sound and food on domestic hen chicks and confirms the results found with white noise. As all previous experiments identified sounds that were only not preferred, Experiment 4 attempted to make a preferred sound for hens by associating a pure tone with food. Preference for this tone was assessed in the same manner as Experiment 1. The direction of preferences across subjects was inconsistent, thus this experiment was not successful. One possible reason for the inconsistent results could have been the use of a pure tone. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that white noise and the food call affected responding of hens and so it was thought possible that associating these sounds with food would increase preferences towards them. Thus, Experiment 5 used the same procedure as Experiment 4 to associate food with white noise and a food call. Two training phases, one with food and one without food, increased noise biases away from the keys associated with sound during the preference assessment. It was theorised that the training phase made sound unpredictable and the hens no longer had control over its presence or absence, therefore making the sound less preferred and more aversive. Overall, the results of this thesis suggest that white noise is an aversive stimulus for domestic fowl and that concurrent schedules and the conditioned place preference procedure could be used with other species to assess their preferences for environmental stimuli, which would provide information that may aid in improving their welfare.

text: Methodologies for assessing domestic hens' preferences for sounds A series of five experiments assessed the effects of different sounds on the choice behaviour of domestic hens and chicks using a range of procedures. The first experiment compared the effects of white noise on hens’ performance under multiple-concurrent schedules with those of other sounds (an alarm call, the sounds of hens feeding and a food call) with the same subjects. The sound was shown to bias responding of hens away from the keys associated with all sounds and the magnitude of this bias was largest for white noise and the food call. Different to the other sounds, white noise suppressed the responding of hens when it was present, thus confounding response allocation. In Experiment 2, a concurrent-chains procedure was used to assess hens’ preferences for the same sounds used in Experiment 1. Sound was associated with one terminal-link and hens made a choice between sound and no sound alternatives in the absence of sound. The direction of noise biases from responding in the initial-links was the same across hens for one sound only (food call) but the magnitude of these biases varied. This was different from Experiment 1 but terminal-link responding was suppressed in the presence of sound, as in Experiment 1. Terminal-link entry pauses also tended to be longer in terminal-links that contained most sounds but the effect was greater with white noise and the food call. A conditioned place preference procedure was used in Experiment 3 to assess chicks’ preferences for places associated with sounds, in the absence of reinforcement or sound. Baseline preferences were assessed by measuring time spent in each compartment of a 3-compartment chamber. Groups of chicks were then conditioned to either food or a sound by being confined in one compartment. The chicks’ post-conditioning test sessions showed a significant conditioned place preference towards the area associated with food and away from the area associated with white noise. This experiment showed that the conditioned place preference procedure could be used to assess the conditioning effects of sound and food on domestic hen chicks and confirms the results found with white noise. As all previous experiments identified sounds that were only not preferred, Experiment 4 attempted to make a preferred sound for hens by associating a pure tone with food. Preference for this tone was assessed in the same manner as Experiment 1. The direction of preferences across subjects was inconsistent, thus this experiment was not successful. One possible reason for the inconsistent results could have been the use of a pure tone. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that white noise and the food call affected responding of hens and so it was thought possible that associating these sounds with food would increase preferences towards them. Thus, Experiment 5 used the same procedure as Experiment 4 to associate food with white noise and a food call. Two training phases, one with food and one without food, increased noise biases away from the keys associated with sound during the preference assessment. It was theorised that the training phase made sound unpredictable and the hens no longer had control over its presence or absence, therefore making the sound less preferred and more aversive. Overall, the results of this thesis suggest that white noise is an aversive stimulus for domestic fowl and that concurrent schedules and the conditioned place preference procedure could be used with other species to assess their preferences for environmental stimuli, which would provide information that may aid in improving their welfare.

year: 2011

title: The environmental and social impact of Kaivolution's services

authors: Paymani, Kesian Serous

subjects: food insecurity

abstract: Food insecurity and food waste are two significant issues within New Zealand. In order to address these two issues organisations like Kaivolution rescue and redistribute food to community groups who help those in need. Kaivolution rescues edible food from food retailers that would otherwise be thrown away, and redistributes this rescued food to community groups who assist whanau who are food insecure. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the social and environmental impact of Kaivolution’s food redistribution service. Three of Kaivolution’s stakeholders were chosen to participate; Kaivolution volunteers, community groups who receive the rescued food, and whanau who receive the food from the community groups. Semi-structured interviews were used in order to gather data. The key findings showed that for Kaivolution volunteers there was an increase in awareness of social issues like poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. The findings also showed that the participants volunteering with Kaivolution had increased feelings of belonging, and increased social networks, both contributing to a heightened sense of wellbeing. The key findings from both the community groups and the whanau had significant overlap. Key findings from these participants illustrated how the process of colonisation has negatively impacted Māori who are more prone to food insecurity within Aotearoa. Other groups vulnerable to food insecurity included university students and children from various ethnicities. The findings also highlight the failings of our current social welfare system to provide enough resources for basic living. Community groups often step in to assist food insecure whanau in a culturally and social sensitive community approach to food redistribution. Such an approach promotes a sense of community, builds social relationships, and enhances whanau sense of self-worth and belonging.

text: The environmental and social impact of Kaivolution's services Food insecurity and food waste are two significant issues within New Zealand. In order to address these two issues organisations like Kaivolution rescue and redistribute food to community groups who help those in need. Kaivolution rescues edible food from food retailers that would otherwise be thrown away, and redistributes this rescued food to community groups who assist whanau who are food insecure. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the social and environmental impact of Kaivolution’s food redistribution service. Three of Kaivolution’s stakeholders were chosen to participate; Kaivolution volunteers, community groups who receive the rescued food, and whanau who receive the food from the community groups. Semi-structured interviews were used in order to gather data. The key findings showed that for Kaivolution volunteers there was an increase in awareness of social issues like poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. The findings also showed that the participants volunteering with Kaivolution had increased feelings of belonging, and increased social networks, both contributing to a heightened sense of wellbeing. The key findings from both the community groups and the whanau had significant overlap. Key findings from these participants illustrated how the process of colonisation has negatively impacted Māori who are more prone to food insecurity within Aotearoa. Other groups vulnerable to food insecurity included university students and children from various ethnicities. The findings also highlight the failings of our current social welfare system to provide enough resources for basic living. Community groups often step in to assist food insecure whanau in a culturally and social sensitive community approach to food redistribution. Such an approach promotes a sense of community, builds social relationships, and enhances whanau sense of self-worth and belonging.

year: 2019