121 research outputs found
Sperm Proteasomes Degrade Sperm Receptor on the Egg Zona Pellucida during Mammalian Fertilization
Despite decades of research, the mechanism by which the fertilizing spermatozoon penetrates the mammalian vitelline membrane, the zona pellucida (ZP) remains one of the unexplained fundamental events of human/mammalian development. Evidence has been accumulating in support of the 26S proteasome as a candidate for echinoderm, ascidian and mammalian egg coat lysin. Monitoring ZP protein degradation by sperm during fertilization is nearly impossible because those few spermatozoa that penetrate the ZP leave behind a virtually untraceable residue of degraded proteins. We have overcome this hurdle by designing an experimentally consistent in vitro system in which live boar spermatozoa are co-incubated with ZP-proteins (ZPP) solubilized from porcine oocytes. Using this assay, mimicking sperm-egg interactions, we demonstrate that the sperm-borne proteasomes can degrade the sperm receptor protein ZPC. Upon coincubation with motile spermatozoa, the solubilized ZPP, which appear to be ubiquitinated, adhered to sperm acrosomal caps and induced acrosomal exocytosis/formation of the acrosomal shroud. The degradation of the sperm receptor protein ZPC was assessed by Western blotting band-densitometry and proteomics. A nearly identical pattern of sperm receptor degradation, evident already within the first 5 min of coincubation, was observed when the spermatozoa were replaced with the isolated, enzymatically active, sperm-derived proteasomes. ZPC degradation was blocked by proteasomal inhibitors and accelerated by ubiquitin-aldehyde(UBAL), a modified ubiquitin protein that stimulates proteasomal proteolysis. Such a degradation pattern of ZPC is consistent with in vitro fertilization studies, in which proteasomal inhibitors completely blocked fertilization, and UBAL increased fertilization and polyspermy rates. Preincubation of intact zona-enclosed ova with isolated active sperm proteasomes caused digestion, abrasions and loosening of the exposed zonae, and significantly reduced the fertilization/polyspermy rates after IVF, accompanied by en-mass detachment of zona bound sperm. Thus, the sperm borne 26S proteasome is a candidate zona lysin in mammals. This new paradigm has implications for contraception and assisted reproductive technologies in humans, as well as animals
Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and the predictive value of girls’ symptom-based reporting: findings from a cross-sectional survey in rural western Kenya
Objectives
Reproductive tract infections (RTIs), including sexually acquired, among adolescent girls is a public health concern, but few studies have measured prevalence in low-middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to examine prevalence in rural schoolgirls in Kenya against their reported symptoms.
Methods
In 2013, a survey was conducted in 542 adolescent schoolgirls aged 14–17 years who were enrolled in a menstrual feasibility study. Vaginal self-swabbing was conducted after girls were interviewed face-to-face by trained nurses on symptoms. The prevalence of girls with symptoms and laboratory-confirmed infections, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of symptoms compared with laboratory results, were calculated.
Results
Of 515 girls agreeing to self-swab, 510 answered symptom questions. A quarter (24%) reported one or more symptoms; most commonly vaginal discharge (11%), pain (9%) or itching (4%). Laboratory tests confirmed 28% of girls had one or more RTI. Prevalence rose with age; among girls aged 16–17 years, 33% had infections. Bacterial vaginosis was the most common (18%), followed by Candida albicans (9%), Chlamydia trachomatis (3%), Trichomonas vaginalis (3%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1%). Reported symptoms had a low sensitivity and positive predictive value. Three-quarters of girls with bacterial vaginosis and C. albicans, and 50% with T. vaginalis were asymptomatic.
Conclusions
There is a high prevalence of adolescent schoolgirls with RTI in rural Kenya. Public efforts are required to identify and treat infections among girls to reduce longer-term sequelae but poor reliability of symptom reporting minimises utility of symptom-based diagnosis in this population.
Trial registration number: ISRCTN17486946
Menstrual cups and sanitary pads to reduce school attrition, and sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility study in rural Western Kenya
Objectives: Conduct a feasibility study on the effect of menstrual hygiene on schoolgirls’ school and health (reproductive/sexual) outcomes.
Design: 3-arm single-site open cluster randomised controlled pilot study. Setting: 30 primary schools in rural western Kenya, within a Health and Demographic Surveillance System.
Participants: Primary schoolgirls 14–16 years, experienced 3 menses, no precluding disability, and resident in the study area.
Interventions: 1 insertable menstrual cup, or monthly sanitary pads, against ‘usual practice’ control. All participants received puberty education preintervention, and hand wash soap during intervention. Schools received hand wash soap.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary: school attrition (drop-out, absence); secondary: sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea), reproductive tract infection (RTI) (bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans); safety: toxic shock syndrome, vaginal Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Of 751 girls enrolled 644 were followed-up for a median of 10.9 months. Cups or pads did not reduce school dropout risk (control=8.0%, cups=11.2%, pads=10.2%). Self-reported absence was
rarely reported and not assessable. Prevalence of STIs in the end-of-study survey among controls was 7.7% versus 4.2% in the cups arm (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 0.48, 0.24 to 0.96, p=0.039), 4.5% with pads (aPR=0.62; 0.37 to 1.03, p=0.063), and 4.3% with cups and pads pooled (aPR=0.54, 0.34 to 0.87, p=0.012). RTI prevalence was 21.5%, 28.5% and 26.9% among cup, pad and control arms, 71% of which were bacterial vaginosis, with a prevalence of 14.6%, 19.8% and 20.5%, per arm, respectively
Aspects determining the risk of pesticides to wild bees: risk profiles for focal crops on three continents
In order to conduct a proper risk assessment of pesticides to bees, information is needed in three areas: the toxicity of the pesticide;the probability of bee exposure to that pesticide; andthe population dynamics of the bee species in question.Information was collected on such factors affecting pesticide risk to (primarily wild) bees in several crops in Brazil, Kenya and The Netherlands. These data were used to construct ‘risk profiles’ of pesticide use for bees in the studied cropping systems. Data gaps were identified and potential risks of pesticides to bees were compared between the crops. Initially, risk profiling aims to better identify gaps in our present knowledge. In the longer term, the established risk profiles may provide structured inputs into risk assessment models for wild and managed bees, and lead to recommendations for specific risk mitigation measures. Keywords: pesticide, exposure, risk, wild bees, risk profil
Factors influencing uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services for HIV/AIDS in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality (LMKM) in the Eastern Region of Ghana: a cross-sectional household survey
Background
Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is one of the nine strategies recommended for prevention and control of HIV globally. In this study, we assessed the awareness and utilisation of VCT services among residents of the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality (LMKM) in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Methods
A population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 participants, aged between 18 and 55 years. Participants were recruited using cluster and simple random techniques to take part in the survey. Data was analysed descriptively, as well as using regression analysis approach.
Results
Ninety-one percent of the respondents surveyed were aware of VCT services for HIV/AIDS. Seventy percent (70 %) have used VCT service in the last 12 months prior to the survey. Of this proportion, 97 % were satisfied with the quality of VCT services offered and indicated their willingness to recommend the service to others. Participants desire to know their HIV status (40 %), referral by health workers (25 %), and participants who wanted to get married (11 %) were the main reasons for increased uptake. Participants who had formal education, primary (OR = 1.8 (95 % CI 1.25–2.84)), junior high school (OR = 2.3 (95 % CI 1.54–3.37)), senior high school (OR = 2.8 (95 % CI 1.73–4.78)), and tertiary (OR = 3.4 (95 % CI 1.98–8.42)), had increased chance of using VCT service compared with participants who had no education (p < 0.001). Reasons for non-utilisation of VCT service were lack of awareness of the VCT service in the area (32 %), fear of being stigmatised (53 %), and the belief that HIV/AIDS cannot be cured and therefore the lack of need (5 %).
Conclusions
Although awareness and utilisation of VCT service rates were reportedly high, more efforts need to be done in order to increase awareness and promote utilisation. HIV/AIDS educational campaign programmes need to be strongly pursued, with emphasis on the benefits of VCT services. This has the potential of reducing stigma and increase utilisation
Преподавание учебной дисциплины "Детские инфекционные болезни" в современных условиях
ПРЕПОДАВАНИЕМЕТОДИКА ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯУЧЕБНЫЙ ПРОЦЕССУЧЕБНЫЕ ДИСЦИПЛИНЫИНФЕКЦИОННЫЕ БОЛЕЗНИ (ДИСЦИПЛИНА)ДЕТСКИЕ ИНФЕКЦИОННЫЕ БОЛЕЗНИ (ДИСЦИПЛИНА
Research capacity building integrated into PHIT projects: leveraging research and research funding to build national capacity
Background: Inadequate research capacity impedes the development of evidence-based health programming in sub-Saharan Africa. However, funding for research capacity building (RCB) is often insufficient and restricted, limiting institutions’ ability to address current RCB needs. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s African Health Initiative (AHI) funded Population Health Implementation and Training (PHIT) partnership projects in five African countries (Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia) to implement health systems strengthening initiatives inclusive of RCB. Methods: Using Cooke’s framework for RCB, RCB activity leaders from each country reported on RCB priorities, activities, program metrics, ongoing challenges and solutions. These were synthesized by the authorship team, identifying common challenges and lessons learned. Results: For most countries, each of the RCB domains from Cooke’s framework was a high priority. In about half of the countries, domain specific activities happened prior to PHIT. During PHIT, specific RCB activities varied across countries. However, all five countries used AHI funding to improve research administrative support and infrastructure, implement research trainings and support mentorship activities and research dissemination. While outcomes data were not systematically collected, countries reported holding 54 research trainings, forming 56 mentor-mentee relationships, training 201 individuals and awarding 22 PhD and Masters-level scholarships. Over the 5 years, 116 manuscripts were developed. Of the 59 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals, 29 had national first authors and 18 had national senior authors. Trainees participated in 99 conferences and projects held 37 forums with policy makers to facilitate research translation into policy. Conclusion: All five PHIT projects strongly reported an increase in RCB activities and commended the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for prioritizing RCB, funding RCB at adequate levels and time frames and for allowing flexibility in funding so that each project could implement activities according to their trainees’ needs. As a result, many common challenges for RCB, such as adequate resources and local and international institutional support, were not identified as major challenges for these projects. Overall recommendations are for funders to provide adequate and flexible funding for RCB activities and for institutions to offer a spectrum of RCB activities to enable continued growth, provide adequate mentorship for trainees and systematically monitor RCB activities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-017-2657-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Proceedings of the International Cancer Imaging Society (ICIS) 16th Annual Teaching Course
Table of contents
O1 Tumour heterogeneity: what does it mean?
Dow-Mu Koh
O2 Skeletal sequelae in adult survivors of childhood cancer
Sue Creviston Kaste
O3 Locoregional effects of breast cancer treatment
Sarah J Vinnicombe
O4 Imaging of cancer therapy-induced CNS toxicity
Giovanni Morana, Andrea Rossi
O5 Screening for lung cancer
Christian J. Herold
O6Risk stratification of lung nodules
Theresa C. McLoud
O7 PET imaging of pulmonary nodules
Kirk A Frey
O8 Transarterial tumour therapy
Bernhard Gebauer
O9 Interventional radiology in paediatric oncology
Derek Roebuck
O10 Image guided prostate interventions
Jurgen J. Fütterer
O11 Imaging cancer predisposition syndromes
Alexander J. Towbin
O12Chest and chest wall masses
Thierry AG Huisman
O13 Abdominal masses: good or bad?
Anne MJB Smets
O14 Hepatobiliary MR contrast: enhanced liver MRI for HCC diagnosis and management
Giovanni Morana
O15 Role of US elastography and multimodality fusion for managing patients with chronic liver disease and HCC
Jeong Min Lee
O16 Opportunities and challenges in imaging metastatic disease
Hersh Chandarana
O17 Diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and follow-up of lymphoma
Marius E. Mayerhoefer, Markus Raderer, Alexander Haug
O18 Managing high-risk and advanced prostate cancer
Matthias Eiber
O19 Immunotherapy: imaging challenges
Bernhard Gebauer
O20 RECIST and RECIST 1.1
Andrea Rockall
O21 Challenges of RECIST in oncology imaging basics for the trainee and novice
Aslam Sohaib
O22 Lymphoma: PET for interim and end of treatment response assessment: a users’ guide to the Deauville Score
Victoria S Warbey
O23 Available resources
Hebert Alberto Vargas
O24 ICIS e-portal and the online learning community
Dow-Mu Koh
O25 Benign lesions that mimic pancreatic cancer
Jay P Heiken
O26 Staging and reporting pancreatic malignancies
Isaac R Francis, Mahmoud, M Al-Hawary, Ravi K Kaza
O27 Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
Giovanni Morana
O28 Cystic pancreatic tumours
Mirko D’Onofrio
O29 Diffusion-weighted imaging of head and neck tumours
Harriet C. Thoeny
O30 Radiation injury in the head and neck
Ann D King
O31 PET/MR of paediatric brain tumours
Giovanni Morana, Arnoldo Piccardo, Maria Luisa Garrè, Andrea Rossi
O32 Structured reporting and beyond
Hebert Alberto Vargas
O33 Massachusetts General Hospital experience with structured reporting
Theresa C. McLoud
O34 The oncologist’s perspective: what the oncologist needs to know
Nick Reed
O35 Towards the cure of all children with cancer: global initiatives in pediatric oncology
Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo
O36 Multiparametric imaging of renal cancers
Hersh Chandarana
O37 Linking imaging features of renal disease and their impact on management strategies
Hebert Alberto Vargas
O38 Adrenals, retroperitoneum and peritoneum
Isaac R Francis, Ashish P Wasnik
O39 Lung and pleura
Stefan Diederich
O40 Advances in MRI
Jurgen J. Fütterer
O41 Advances in molecular imaging
Wim J.G. Oyen
O42 Incorporating advanced imaging, impact on treatment selection and patient outcome
Cheng Lee Chaw, Nicholas van As
S1 Combining ADC-histogram features improves performance of MR diffusion-weighted imaging for Lymph node characterisation in cervical cancer
Igor Vieira, Frederik De Keyzer, Elleke Dresen, Sileny Han, Ignace Vergote, Philippe Moerman, Frederic Amant, Michel Koole, Vincent Vandecaveye
S2 Whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI for surgical planning in patients with colorectal cancer and peritoneal metastases
R Dresen, S De Vuysere, F De Keyzer, E Van Cutsem, A D’Hoore, A Wolthuis, V Vandecaveye
S3 Role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) diffusion-weighted MRI for predicting extra capsular extension of prostate cancer.
P. Pricolo ([email protected]), S. Alessi, P. Summers, E. Tagliabue, G. Petralia
S4 Generating evidence for clinical benefit of PET/CT – are management studies sufficient as surrogate for patient outcome?
C. Pfannenberg, B. Gückel, SC Schüle, AC Müller, S. Kaufmann, N. Schwenzer, M. Reimold,C. la Fougere, K. Nikolaou, P. Martus
S5 Heterogeneity of treatment response in skeletal metastases from breast cancer with 18F-fluoride and 18F-FDG PET
GJ Cook, GK Azad, BP Taylor, M Siddique, J John, J Mansi, M Harries, V Goh
S6 Accuracy of suspicious breast imaging—can we tell the patient?
S Seth, R Burgul, A Seth
S7 Measurement method of tumour volume changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy affects ability to predict pathological response
S Waugh, N Muhammad Gowdh, C Purdie, A Evans, E Crowe, A Thompson, S Vinnicombe
S8 Diagnostic yield of CT IVU in haematuria screening
F. Arfeen, T. Campion, E. Goldstraw
S9 Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer: preliminary results
D’Onofrio M, Ciaravino V, Crosara S, De Robertis R, Pozzi Mucelli R
S10 Iodine maps from dual energy CT improve detection of metastases in staging examinations of melanoma patients
M. Uhrig, D. Simons, H. Schlemmer
S11Can contrast enhanced CT predict pelvic nodal status in malignant melanoma of the lower limb?
Kate Downey
S12 Current practice in the investigation for suspected Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes (PNS) and positive malignancy yield.
S Murdoch, AS Al-adhami, S Viswanathan
P1 Technical success and efficacy of Pulmonary Radiofrequency ablation: an analysis of 207 ablations
S Smith, P Jennings, D Bowers, R Soomal
P2 Lesion control and patient outcome: prospective analysis of radiofrequency abaltion in pulmonary colorectal cancer metastatic disease
S Smith, P Jennings, D Bowers, R Soomal
P3 Hepatocellular carcinoma in a post-TB patient: case of tropical infections and oncologic imaging challenges
TM Mutala, AO Odhiambo, N Harish
P4 Role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) diffusion-weighted MRI for predicting extracapsular extension of prostate cancer
P. Pricolo, S. Alessi, P. Summers, E. Tagliabue, G. Petralia
P5 What a difference a decade makes; comparison of lung biopsies in Glasgow 2005 and 2015
M. Hall, M. Sproule, S. Sheridan
P6 Solid pseudopapillary tumour of pancreas: imaging features of a rare neoplasm
KY Thein, CH Tan, YL Thian, CM Ho
P7 MDCT - pathological correlation in colon adenocarcinoma staging: preliminary experience
S De Luca, C Carrera, V Blanchet, L Alarcón, E Eyheremnedy
P8 Image guided biopsy of thoracic masses and reduction of pneumothorax risk: 25 years experience
B K Choudhury, K Bujarbarua, G Barman
P9 Tumour heterogeneity analysis of 18F-FDG-PET for characterisation of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours in neurofibromatosis-1
GJ Cook, E Lovat, M Siddique, V Goh, R Ferner, VS Warbey
P10 Impact of introduction of vacuum assisted excision (VAE) on screen detected high risk breast lesions
L Potti, B Kaye, A Beattie, K Dutton
P11 Can we reduce prevalent recall rate in breast screening?
AA Seth, F Constantinidis, H Dobson
P12 How to reduce prevalent recall rate? Identifying mammographic lesions with low Positive Predictive Value (PPV)
AA Seth ([email protected]), F Constantinidis, H Dobson
P13 Behaviour of untreated pulmonary thrombus in oncology patients diagnosed with incidental pulmonary embolism on CT
R. Bradley, G. Bozas, G. Avery, A. Stephens, A. Maraveyas
P14 A one-stop lymphoma biopsy service – is it possible?
S Bhuva, CA Johnson, M Subesinghe, N Taylor
P15 Changes in the new TNM classification for lung cancer (8th edition, effective January 2017)
LE Quint, RM Reddy, GP Kalemkerian
P16 Cancer immunotherapy: a review of adequate imaging assessment
G González Zapico, E Gainza Jauregui, R Álvarez Francisco, S Ibáñez Alonso, I Tavera Bahillo, L Múgica Álvarez
P17 Succinate dehydrogenase mutations and their associated tumours
O Francies, R Wheeler, L Childs, A Adams, A Sahdev
P18 Initial experience in the usefulness of dual energy technique in the abdomen
SE De Luca, ME Casalini Vañek, MD Pascuzzi, T Gillanders, PM Ramos, EP Eyheremendy
P19 Recognising the serious complication of Richter’s transformation in CLL patients
C Stove, M Digby
P20 Body diffusion-weighted MRI in oncologic practice: truths, tricks and tips
M. Nazar, M. Wirtz, MD. Pascuzzi, F. Troncoso, F. Saguier, EP. Eyheremendy
P21 Methotrexate-induced leukoencephalopathy in paediatric ALL Patients
D.J. Quint, L. Dang, M. Carlson, S. Leber, F. Silverstein
P22 Pitfalls in oncology CT reporting. A pictorial review
R Rueben, S Viswanathan
P23 Imaging of perineural extension in head and neck tumours
B Nazir, TH Teo, JB Khoo
P24 MRI findings of molecular subtypes of breast cancer: a pictorial primer
K Sharma, N Gupta, B Mathew, T Jeyakumar, K Harkins
P25 When cancer can’t wait! A pictorial review of oncological emergencies
K Sharma, B Mathew, N Gupta, T Jeyakumar, S Joshua
P26 MRI of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: an approach to interpretation
D Christodoulou, S Gourtsoyianni, A Jacques, N Griffin, V Goh
P27 Gynaecological cancers in pregnancy: a review of imaging
CA Johnson, J Lee
P28 Suspected paraneoplastic neurological syndromes - review of published recommendations to date, with proposed guideline/flowchart
JA Goodfellow, AS Al-adhami, S Viswanathan
P29 Multi-parametric MRI of the pelvis for suspected local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy
R Bradley
P30 Utilisation of PI-RADS version 2 in multi-parametric MRI of the prostate; 12-months experience
R Bradley
P31 Radiological assessment of the post-chemotherapy liver
A Yong, S Jenkins, G Joseph
P32 Skeletal staging with MRI in breast cancer – what the radiologist needs to know
S Bhuva, K Partington
P33 Perineural spread of lympoma: an educational review of an unusual distribution of disease
CA Johnson, S Bhuva, M Subesinghe, N Taylor
P34 Visually isoattenuating pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Diagnostic imaging tools.
C Carrera, A Zanfardini, S De Luca, L Alarcón, V Blanchet, EP Eyheremendy
P35 Imaging of larynx cancer: when is CT, MRI or FDG PET/CT the best test?
K Cavanagh, E Lauhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134651/1/40644_2016_Article_79.pd
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Research capacity building integrated into PHIT projects: leveraging research and research funding to build national capacity
Background: Inadequate research capacity impedes the development of evidence-based health programming in sub-Saharan Africa. However, funding for research capacity building (RCB) is often insufficient and restricted, limiting institutions’ ability to address current RCB needs. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s African Health Initiative (AHI) funded Population Health Implementation and Training (PHIT) partnership projects in five African countries (Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia) to implement health systems strengthening initiatives inclusive of RCB. Methods: Using Cooke’s framework for RCB, RCB activity leaders from each country reported on RCB priorities, activities, program metrics, ongoing challenges and solutions. These were synthesized by the authorship team, identifying common challenges and lessons learned. Results: For most countries, each of the RCB domains from Cooke’s framework was a high priority. In about half of the countries, domain specific activities happened prior to PHIT. During PHIT, specific RCB activities varied across countries. However, all five countries used AHI funding to improve research administrative support and infrastructure, implement research trainings and support mentorship activities and research dissemination. While outcomes data were not systematically collected, countries reported holding 54 research trainings, forming 56 mentor-mentee relationships, training 201 individuals and awarding 22 PhD and Masters-level scholarships. Over the 5 years, 116 manuscripts were developed. Of the 59 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals, 29 had national first authors and 18 had national senior authors. Trainees participated in 99 conferences and projects held 37 forums with policy makers to facilitate research translation into policy. Conclusion: All five PHIT projects strongly reported an increase in RCB activities and commended the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for prioritizing RCB, funding RCB at adequate levels and time frames and for allowing flexibility in funding so that each project could implement activities according to their trainees’ needs. As a result, many common challenges for RCB, such as adequate resources and local and international institutional support, were not identified as major challenges for these projects. Overall recommendations are for funders to provide adequate and flexible funding for RCB activities and for institutions to offer a spectrum of RCB activities to enable continued growth, provide adequate mentorship for trainees and systematically monitor RCB activities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-017-2657-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
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