Determinants of genital human papillomavirus infection among cytologically normal women attending the University of New Mexico student health center

OBJECTIVES: To confirm the risk factors for genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To investigate risk factors for HPV detection apart from the correlated risk factors for cervical neoplasia. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was assessed in 357 cytologically normal women attending the University of New Mexico student health center. Cervical swab samples were obtained for HPV DNA detection and typing using a PCR-based DNA amplification system. Possible determinants of cervical HPV were examined including age, ethnicity, history of sexually transmitted disease, oral contraceptive use, smoking, age at first intercourse, lifetime number of sex partners, marital status, and history of pregnancy. RESULTS: A 44.3% overall prevalence of cervical HPV was observed. On univariate analysis, factors associated with increasing HPV prevalence included higher lifetime number of sex partners and single marital status. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, we found that HPV prevalence increased with higher lifetime number of sexual partners. CONCLUSION: These findings, along with those from the companion reports in this issue of the journal, support the sexual route of transmission of the virus.     

Optimisation of antibiotic therapy in cystic fibrosis patients. Pharmacokinetic considerations

Antibiotic therapy plays a central role in the medical management of patients with cystic fibrosis. While totally convincing efficacy data are lacking, antibiotics probably have a pronounced beneficial effect on both morbidity and mortality. Much has been learned in the past 20 years about antibiotic use in this population. At the same time, new antimicrobial agents with the potential to treat this condition have become available for use. The pharmacokinetics of a number of antibiotic classes, including beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones, are altered in this patient population. Increased total body clearance is a common occurrence but is not always changed enough to warrant altered dosages. Nonetheless, in light of altered pharmacokinetics in the cystic fibrosis population, appropriate dosage and monitoring parameters for a number of antibiotics have been determined.     

Multifocal primary neuroblastoma

The purpose of this study is to present three patients with multifocal primary neuroblastoma, to review the literature, and describe the radiographic findings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three children with multifocal neuroblastoma have been identified. The case histories and imaging findings in these patients are reviewed. RESULTS: Two children had synchronous and one child had metachronous multifocal primary neuroblastoma. The primary tumors were both in the abdomen in one patient, both in the chest in another patient, and in the chest and abdomen in the third patient. Evidence for multifocal origin of these tumors, rather than metastatic spread, is presented. CONCLUSION: Multifocal primary neuroblastomas can occur. The tumors maybe synchronous or metachronous. Awareness of this disorder may prevent errors in diagnosis and staging. Although not identified in our patients there is a strong familial incidence of neuroblastomas in those patients with multifocal tumors.     

基于PSOS的TM1300应用系统中的BSP研究

通过在应用软件与板级支持包BSP之间加一层库函数的方法较好地解决了应用程序与板级支持包函数间的通信问题，减少了板级支持包函数的维护复杂度，从而为嵌入式系统板级支持包的实现提供了一个有价值的思路。     

The role in cell binding of a beta-bend within the triple helical region in collagen alpha 1 (I) chain: structural and biological evidence for conformational tautomerism on fiber surface

Dystrophin is a plasma membrane-associated cytoskeletal protein of the spectrin superfamily. The dystrophin cytoskeleton has been first characterized in muscle. Muscular 427 kDa dystrophin binds to subplasmalemmal actin filaments via its amino-terminal domain. The carboxy-terminus of dystrophin binds to a plasma membrane anchor, beta-dystroglycan, which is associated on the external side with the extracellular matrix receptor, alpha-dystroglycan, that binds to the basal lamina proteins laminin-1, laminin-2, and agrin. In the muscle, the dystroglycan complex is associated with the sarcoglycan complex that consists of several glycosylated, integral membrane proteins. The absence or functional deficiency of the dystrophin cytoskeleton is the cause of several types of muscular dystrophies including the lethal Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), one of the most severe and most common genetic disorders of man. The dystrophin complex is believed to stabilize the plasma membrane during cycles of contraction and relaxation. Muscular dystrophin and several types of dystrophin variants are also present in extramuscular tissues, e.g. in distinct regions of the central nervous systems including the retina. Absence of dystrophin from these sites is believed to be responsible for some extramuscular symptoms of DMD, e.g. mental retardation and disturbances in retinal electrophysiology (reduced b-wave in electroretinograms). The reduced b-wave in electroretinograms indicated a disturbance of neurotransmission between photoreceptors and ON-bipolar cells. At least two different dystrophin variants are present in photoreceptor synaptic complexes. One of these dystrophins (Dp260) is virtually exclusively expressed in the retina. In the neuroretina, dystrophin is found in significant amounts in the invaginated photoreceptor synaptic complexes. At this location dystrophin colocalizes with dystroglycan. Agrin, an extracellular ligand of alpha-dystroglycan, is also present at this location whereas the proteins of the sarcoglycan complex appear to be absent in photoreceptor synaptic complexes. Dystrophin and dystroglycan are located distal from the ribbon-containing active synaptic zones where both proteins are restricted to the photoreceptor plasma membrane bordering on the lateral sides of the synaptic invagination. In addition, some neuronal profiles of the postsynaptic complex also contain dystrophin and beta-dystroglycan. These profiles appear to belong at least in part to projections of the photoreceptor terminals into the postsynaptic dendritic complex. In view of the abnormal neurotransmission between photoreceptors and ON-bipolar cells in DMD patients the dystrophin/beta-dystroglycan-containing projections of photoreceptor presynaptic terminals into the postsynaptic dendritic plexus might somehow modify the ON-bipolar pathway. Another retinal site associated with dystrophin/beta-dystropglycan is the plasma membrane of Müller cells where dystrophin/beta-dystroglycan appear to be present at particular high concentrations. At this location the dystrophin/dystroglycan complex may play a role in the attachment of the retina to the vitreous, and, under pathological conditions, in traction-induced retinal detachment.     

A comparison of placebo response with major depressive disorder in patients recruited through newspaper advertising versus consultation referrals

Recent evidence indicates few differences between patients recruited through advertising and by consultation referral, and there is some suggestion that those recruited through advertising are more representative of the target community population. However little has been reported on differences in placebo response and compliance in these two patient groups. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 49 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), recruited through advertising or consultation, randomized to placebo in five clinical trials. Variables included demographics, clinical history, efficacy, compliance, and completion data. Homogeneity was demonstrated for most variables. Differences in placebo groups included significantly lower Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores for the advertisement group throughout the trials. Advertisement patients were also more likely to be early placebo responders and in remission at Days 14 and 28. No differences were found in completion rates or reasons for early termination. Compliance was excellent for both groups. Early placebo response of the advertisement group reinforces the need for trials of at least 8 weeks. In addition, consultation patients may have a more severe illness and be treatment resistant, suggesting they are less generalizable to community practice populations.     

The neurotoxicity of sulfur-containing amino acids in energy-deprived rat hippocampal slices

The rat hippocampal slice preparation and its electrophysiology were used to assess the toxicity of two sulfur-containing amino acids, L-cysteate (CA) and L-cysteine (CYS). Both compounds were innocuous under normal conditions but became toxic in energy-deprived (lack of oxygen or glucose) slices. CA and CYS toxicity was apparent as both reduced the number of slices that normally recover their neuronal function (evoked CA1 population spike) after a standardized period of hypoxia or glucose deprivation (GD). The competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate blocked the toxicity of both CA and CYS in hypoxic slices, but it was effective only against CYS toxicity in glucose-deprived slices. The glycine antagonist 7-chlorokynurenate blocked CA and CYS toxicity in hypoxic slices but was unable to block their toxicity in glucose-deprived tissue. Perfusing slices with medium containing a high magnesium concentration blocked the toxicity of CA in both hypoxic and glucose-deprived slices, a treatment that was ineffective against CYS toxicity under either condition. Calcium depletion from the perfusion medium completely blocked the damaging effect of both amino acids in hypoxic slices, but it only partially blocked the toxicity of CA and did not block that of CYS in glucose-deprived slices. These results suggest that CA and CYS activate different NMDA receptor subsets and other glutamate receptor subtypes. Moreover, the results indicate a possible difference between the mechanism that lead to hypoxic neuronal damage and the one that lead to hypoglycemic neuronal damage.     

Rational use of rubella vaccine for prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

Seventy-three spinal cord injured patients with central cord syndrome who had undergone inpatient rehabilitation, were studied retrospectively with regard to their demographic, neurologic and functional characteristics. There were 67 males and six females with a mean age of 53.5 years. Falls was the commonest mechanism of injury (54.8%) followed by motor vehicle accidents. Eleven patients sustained cervical fractures and 41 had radiological evidence of cervical spondylosis. Seventeen patients had sensory impairment and significant spasticity was present in 14 patients. Significant improvements in the admission/discharge ASIA motor scores and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores (P < 0.001) were noted after rehabilitation. Ninety-two percent of patients were continent of bladder on discharge compared to 64.4% on admission. Multiple regression analysis revealed three factors associated with a better functional outcome, namely, higher admission MBI scores, absence of spasticity and younger age (P < 0.05).