Use of Schiller’s test versus Pap smear to increase detection rate of cervical dysplasias

Background: Application of Lugol's iodine to cervix (Schiller's test) is named as Visual Inspection of cervix after applying Lugol's Iodine (VILI). VILI improves the detection rate of suspicious area over the cervix. The objectives of the study was to screening for early carcinoma or Dysplasia cervix by Schiller’s test & Pap smear and to compare the results of Schiller’s test with Pap smear results.Methods: The present prospective randomized control trials study was undertaken among 500 women aged between 25-65 years outpatient’s Department of gynecology in Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Bellary. The study was undertaken during January 2007 to June 2008. Permission for the study was obtained from the College authorities prior to commencement.Results: Out of total 500 patients screened for Pap smear and Schiller’s iodine, majority were in the age group of 31-40 years. Biopsy proven dysplasia was more common in patients with white discharge (10.8%), post-menopausal bleeding (16.6%) and in posts coital bleeding (15.3%). 180 cases were Schiller’s iodine test positive, out of which biopsy proven cases were more in non-specific chronic cervicitis (68.88%) and rest seen in cervical epithelial abnormalities ( 7.7%), Mild dysplasia (10%), Moderate and Severe dysplasia 13%. Cytological abnormalities were found in 48 (9.6%), 180 cases were Schiller’s iodine test positive (36%). Among these 180 Schiller’s positive cases 24 cases (13.33%) were CIN2 and CIN 3 lesions. 42 patients were Schiller’s test guided biopsy proven for cervical dysplasia, of which only 16 patients (8.88%) were Pap smear positive. The sensitivity of Schiller’s test and Pap smear were 97.67% and 38% respectively.Conclusions: This study reveals that Schiller’s test can be use full in low resource setting and in busy outpatient departments

Quantifying the efficiency of hydroxyapatite mineralising peptides

We present a non-destructive analytical calibration tool to allow quantitative assessment of individual calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite (HAP) from mixtures including brushite. Many experimental approaches are used to evaluate the mineralising capabilities of biomolecules including peptides. However, it is difficult to quantitatively compare the efficacy of peptides in the promotion of mineralisation when inseparable mixtures of different minerals are produced. To address this challenge, a series of hydroxyapatite and brushite mixtures were produced as a percent/weight (0–100%) from pure components and multiple (N=10) XRD patterns were collected for each mixture. A linear relationship between the ratio of selected peak heights and the molar ratio was found. Using this method, the mineralising capabilities of three known hydroxyapatite binding peptides, CaP(S) STLPIPHEFSRE, CaP(V) VTKHLNQISQSY and CaP(H) SVSVGMKPSPRP, was compared. All three directed mineralisation towards hydroxyapatite in a peptide concentration dependent manner. CaP(V) was most effective at inducing hydroxyapatite formation at higher reagent levels (Ca2+ = 200mM), as also seen with peptide-silk chimeric materials, whereas CaP(S) was most effective when lower concentrations of calcium (20mM) and phosphate were used. The approach can be extended to investigate HAP mineralisation in the presence of any number of mineralisation promoters or inhibitors

Improvements in sperm motility following low or high intensity dietary interventions in men with obesity

Introduction: Obesity increases risks of male infertility, but bariatric surgery does not improve semen quality. Recent uncontrolled studies suggest that a low-energy diet (LED) improves semen quality. Further evaluation within a randomized, controlled setting is warranted. Methods: Men with obesity (18-60 years) with normal sperm concentration (normal count) (n = 24) or oligozoospermia (n = 43) were randomized 1:1 to either 800 kcal/day LED for 16 weeks or control, brief dietary intervention (BDI) with 16 weeks’ observation. Semen parameters were compared at baseline and 16 weeks. Results: Mean age of men with normal count was 39.4 ± 6.4 in BDI and 40.2 ± 9.6 years in the LED group. Mean age of men with oligozoospermia was 39.5 ± 7.5 in BDI and 37.7 ± 6.6 years in the LED group. LED caused more weight loss than BDI in men with normal count (14.4 vs 6.3 kg; P < .001) and men with oligozoospermia (17.6 vs 1.8 kg; P < .001). Compared with baseline, in men with normal count total motility (TM) increased 48 ± 17% to 60 ± 10% (P < .05) after LED, and 52 ± 8% to 61 ± 6% (P < .0001) after BDI; progressive motility (PM) increased 41 ± 16% to 53 ± 10% (P < .05) after LED, and 45 ± 8% to 54 ± 65% (P < .001) after BDI. In men with oligozoospermia compared with baseline, TM increased 35% [26] to 52% [16] (P < .05) after LED, and 43% [28] to 50% [23] (P = .0587) after BDI; PM increased 29% [23] to 46% [18] (P < .05) after LED, and 33% [25] to 44% [25] (P < .05) after BDI. No differences in postintervention TM or PM were observed between LED and BDI groups in men with normal count or oligozoospermia. Conclusion: LED or BDI may be sufficient to improve sperm motility in men with obesity. The effects of paternal dietary intervention on fertility outcomes requires investigation

Assessment of water and soil quality along the coastal region of Mangaluru

Majority of the industries located in the Mangaluru Coastal region, discharge their waste directly or indirectly into the Arabian Sea through the west flowing rivers of the region and also, due to the addition of municipal and sewage wastes, the surface water quality and soil quality were affected and causing the Physicochemical characteristics to alter. 10 Surface water samples and six soil samples were collected from selected locations of the study area and analyzed for various parameters by adopting standard methods. High values of Hardness, BOD and COD were found in the surface waters near Baikampady industrial area. With respect to soil samples, high values of physico chemical parameters were found for the sample 2 compared to other samples and also most of samples were acidic in nature

Selective Binding of pVTK Peptide- and Bisphosphonate-Functionalized Micelles to Prostate Cancer Cells, Osteoblasts, and Osteoclasts

This report describes the development of functionalized polymeric micelles encapsulating a chemotherapeutic agent. The results indicate the ability to achieve selective uptake into different cell populations in metastatic prostate cancer in vitro by appropriate selection of the targeting ligand. This paves the way for administering single or multiple therapeutic agents into bone metastases. These particles are functionalized to display the pVTK peptide of bisphosphonate (BP) as two different targeting ligands to assess their ability to trigger selective binding and internalization into prostate cancer cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and macrophages in vitro. These bone-targeting particles (60-90 nm) bind to hydroxyapatite/bone powder with high affinity. Uptake of pVTK-and BP-conjugated particles into prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and C4-2B), MC3T3, RAW264.7 bone macrophages, and RANKL-activated RAW264.7 cells cultured on a regular tissue culture plate and bone-like surface was investigated. Results show that increasing the number of BP-targeting ligands displayed on particle surface shows 60-fold higher affinity to RAW 264.7 macrophages seeded on conventional tissue culture plates than non-conjugated particles. In addition, the uptake study results show that pVTK-functionalized particles were selectively internalized by C4-2B and MC3T3 osteoblast cells cultured on BLS, whereas BP-functionalized particles are selectively internalized by PC-3 and RAW264.7 macrophage cells cultured on BLS. Therefore, efficient and selective bone-conjugated therapies are needed to kill cancer cells and inhibit the crosstalk with other cells in the metastatic lesion, resulting in osteoblastic, osteolytic, or a mixed phenotype.National Ministry of Education of the Republic of Turkey ; University of Michiga

Current opinion on use of luteinizing hormone supplementation in assisted reproduction therapy: An Asian perspective

10.1016/j.rbmo.2011.03.023Reproductive BioMedicine Online23181-90RBOE