Leukocyte Esterase Activity in Vaginal Fluid of Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women With Vaginitis/Vaginosis and in Controls

Objectives: To determine the leukocyte esterase (LE) activity in vaginal lavage fluid of women with acute and recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC and RVVC respectively), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and in pregnant and non-pregnant women without evidence of the three conditions. Also to compare the result of LE tests in women consulting at different weeks in the cycle and trimesters of pregnancy.The LE activity was correlated to vaginal pH, number of inflammatory cells in stained vaginal smears, type of predominating vaginal bacteria and presence of yeast morphotypes. Methods: One hundred and thirteen women with a history of RVVC, i.e. with at least four attacks of the condition during the previous year and who had consulted with an assumed new attack of the condition, were studied. Furthermore, we studied 16 women with VVC, 15 women with BV, and 27 women attending for control of cytological abnormalities, who all presented without evidence of either vaginitis or vaginosis. Finally, 73 pregnant women were investigated. The LE activity in vaginal fluid during different weeks in the cycle of 53 of the women was measured. Results: In the non-pregnant women, an increased LE activity was found in 96, 88, 73 and 56% of those with RVVC, VVC and BV and in the non-VVC/BV cases, respectively. In 73% of pregnant women in the second trimester, and 76% of those in the third, the LE test was positive. In all groups of non-pregnant women tested, the LE activity correlated with the number of leukocytes in vaginal smears, but it did not in those who were pregnant. There was no correlation between LE activity and week in cycle. The vaginal pH showed no correlation to LE activity in any of the groups studied. Conclusions: The use of commercial LE dipsticks has a limited value in the differential diagnosis of RVVC, VVCand BV. There is no correlation between the LE activity in vaginal secretion on one hand and vaginal pH, week in the menstrual cycle and trimester in pregnancy on the other. Women with BV often have signs of inflammation as evidenced by a positive LE test and inflammatory cells in genital smears

LD-isoenzym i uterusaspirat potentiell markör för endometriecancer. Utredning av postmenopausal blödning kan bli enklare och billigare

n diagnosing endometrial carcinoma in women with postmenopausal bleeding analysis of lactate dehydrogenase, LD, isoenzymes in uterine aspirates appeared to have 100 per cent sensitivity and negative predictive value combined with high specificity and positive predictive value. Determination of the LD-profile is suggested as a marker for endometrial carcinoma in women with postmenopausal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography might be combined with determination of the LD-isoenzyme profile to secure the diagnosis of endometrial malignancy in order to minimize the use of other more invasive diagnostic methods

Adults with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD neuropshychological aspects

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess which types of neuropsychological deficits appear to be most commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. The effect of the combination of ASD with ADHD (ASD/ADHD) was also studied. Methods: One hundred and sixty-one adult individuals (≥ 18 years of age) were included in the study. None had full scale IQ less than 71. The neuropsychological investigations included measures of intellectual ability, learning and memory, attention/executive function and theory of mind. Results: The three diagnostic groups showed reduced performances in most cognitive domains examined. However within these domains differentiating distinct features could be seen. The dysfunctions of the ASD/ADHD group can not be seen as a summary of the dysfunctions of the ASD and ADHD groups together. The ADHD group seem to be the most affected one. Conclusions: No domain-specific deficit typical of any of the group was seen. The aetiology of the ASD/ADHD group ought to be studied

Adults with Asperger syndrome with and without a cognitive profile associated with ‘‘non-verbal learning disability.’’ A brief report

Asperger syndrome (AS) and non-verbal learning disability (NLD) are both characterized by impairments in motor coordination, visuo-perceptual abilities, pragmatics and comprehension of language and social understanding. NLD is also defined as a learning disorder affecting functions in the right cerebral hemisphere. The present study investigates if individuals with AS and a cognitive profile consistent with NLD (i.e. verbal IQ > performance IQ) would also have other problems inherent in NLD, visual memory and attention, reading/writing ability and arithmetic in the presence of preserved verbal memory and attention. Forty-four individuals with AS were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Reading/writing and arithmetic abilities were investigated. Education and global social adaptive levels were studied. Very few AS participants, even though with NLD cognitive profile showed problems with any of the neurocognitive abilities or academic achievements. However, all had poor global social adaptive functioning and few had paid employment, regardless of their cognitive profile. The present study suggests that AS and NLD are two different conditions even though some individuals in both groups have the verbal IQ > performance IQ profile that has been proposed to be typical of both AS and NLD

Forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from spruce-birch mixtures: The potential importance of tree spatial arrangement

There is increasing empirical support for the biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) benefits of mixed-species production forests. However, few studies control for the spatial arrangement of the trees within mixtures to determine the influence that clustering the tree species (patch scale mixtures), versus evenly dispersing them (intimate scale mixtures), may have for biodiversity and ES outcomes. To highlight the potential implications of altering tree spatial arrangement in mixtures, and the need to fill related knowledge gaps, here we provide a qualitative multi-disciplinary overview of ecological and socio-economic drivers with the potential to alter biodiversity, ecosystem services, and management-related outcomes from patch versus intimate scale mixtures. We focused our overview on even-aged mixtures of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) and birch ( Betula pendula or B. pubescens ) in Sweden, which enabled us to contrast findings within a biogeographical and silvicultural setting. Specifically, we targeted implications for biodiversity (understory vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, saproxylic beetles, birds), biomass production, harvesting costs, management ease, recreation and aesthetics, cervid game, as well as abiotic and biotic risks (wind, fire, pathogens, pests, browsing damage). In the absence of direct empirical evidence, we primarily relied on expert inference from theory and relevant empirical studies sourced from the Fennoscandian region, and further afield if needed. Collectively these efforts allowed us to develop a number of informed hypotheses indicating that for spruce-birch mixtures in this region, patch scale mixtures may have the potential to favour the diversity of several forest dependant taxonomic groups, cervid game and reduce harvesting costs, whereas intimate mixtures may have the potential to reduce pathogen and pest damage, and likewise, potentially benefit production outcomes. Current knowledge was too limited, inconsistent or context dependant to even tentatively infer outcomes for fire risk, wind damage, browsing damage, management ease, recreational and aesthetic outcomes. We emphasize that our hypotheses require testing, but are sufficient to (1) highlight the likely importance of spatial-scale to biodiversity and ecosystem services outcomes in mixed-species production forests, (2) caution against generalization from mixture studies that lack scale considerations, and (3) motivate the targeted consideration of spatial grain in future mixture studies

The impact of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders on temperament, character, and personality development.

Objective: The authors describe personality development and disorders in relation to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders. Method: Consecutive adults referred for neuropsychiatric investigation (N=240) were assessed for current and lifetime ADHD and autism spectrum disorders and completed the Temperament and Character Inventory. In a subgroup of subjects (N=174), presence of axis II personality disorders was also assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II). Results: Patients with ADHD reported high novelty seeking and high harm avoidance. Patients with autism spectrum disorders reported low novelty seeking, low reward dependence, and high harm avoidance. Character scores (self-directedness and cooperativeness) were extremely low among subjects with neuropsychiatric disorders, indicating a high overall prevalence of personality disorders, which was confirmed with the SCIDII. Cluster B personality disorders were more common in subjects with ADHD, while cluster A and C disorders were more common in those with autism spectrum disorders. The overlap between DSM-IV personality disorder categories was high, and they seem less clinically useful in this context. Conclusions: ADHD and autism spectrum disorders are associated with specific temperament configurations and an increased risk of personality disorders and deficits in character maturation

Epoxyalcohols: Bioactivation and Conjugation Required for Skin Sensitization

Allylic alcohols, such as geraniol <b>1</b>, are easily oxidized by varying mechanisms, including the formation of both 2,3-epoxides and/or aldehydes. These epoxides, aldehydes, and epoxy-aldehydes can be interconverted to each other, and the reactivity of them all must be considered when considering the sensitization potential of the parent allylic alcohol. An in-depth study of the possible metabolites and autoxidation products of allylic alcohols is described, covering the formation, interconversion, reactivity, and sensitizing potential thereof, using a combination of <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in chemico</i>, and <i>in silico</i> methods. This multimodal study, using the integration of diverse techniques to investigate the sensitization potential of a molecule, allows the identification of potential candidate(s) for the true culprit(s) in allergic responses to allylic alcohols. Overall, the sensitization potential of the investigated epoxyalcohols and unsaturated alcohols was found to derive from metabolic oxidation to the more potent aldehyde where possible. Where this is less likely, the compound remains weakly or nonsensitizing. Metabolic activation of a double bond to form a nonconjugated, nonterminal epoxide moiety is not enough to turn a nonsensitizing alcohol into a sensitizer, as such epoxides have low reactivity and low sensitizing potency. In addition, even an allylic 2,3-epoxide moiety is not necessarily a potent sensitizer, as shown for <b>2</b>, where formation of the epoxide weakens the sensitization potential

Epoxyalcohols: Bioactivation and Conjugation Required for Skin Sensitization

Allylic alcohols, such as geraniol <b>1</b>, are easily oxidized by varying mechanisms, including the formation of both 2,3-epoxides and/or aldehydes. These epoxides, aldehydes, and epoxy-aldehydes can be interconverted to each other, and the reactivity of them all must be considered when considering the sensitization potential of the parent allylic alcohol. An in-depth study of the possible metabolites and autoxidation products of allylic alcohols is described, covering the formation, interconversion, reactivity, and sensitizing potential thereof, using a combination of <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in chemico</i>, and <i>in silico</i> methods. This multimodal study, using the integration of diverse techniques to investigate the sensitization potential of a molecule, allows the identification of potential candidate(s) for the true culprit(s) in allergic responses to allylic alcohols. Overall, the sensitization potential of the investigated epoxyalcohols and unsaturated alcohols was found to derive from metabolic oxidation to the more potent aldehyde where possible. Where this is less likely, the compound remains weakly or nonsensitizing. Metabolic activation of a double bond to form a nonconjugated, nonterminal epoxide moiety is not enough to turn a nonsensitizing alcohol into a sensitizer, as such epoxides have low reactivity and low sensitizing potency. In addition, even an allylic 2,3-epoxide moiety is not necessarily a potent sensitizer, as shown for <b>2</b>, where formation of the epoxide weakens the sensitization potential

Forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from spruce-birch mixtures : The potential importance of tree spatial arrangement

There is increasing empirical support for the biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) benefits of mixed-species production forests. However, few studies control for the spatial arrangement of the trees within mixtures to determine the influence that clustering the tree species (patch scale mixtures), versus evenly dispersing them (intimate scale mixtures), may have for biodiversity and ES outcomes. To highlight the potential implications of altering tree spatial arrangement in mixtures, and the need to fill related knowledge gaps, here we provide a qualitative multi-disciplinary overview of ecological and socio-economic drivers with the potential to alter biodiversity, ecosystem services, and management-related outcomes from patch versus intimate scale mixtures. We focused our overview on even-aged mixtures of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens) in Sweden, which enabled us to contrast findings within a biogeographical and silvicultural setting. Specifically, we targeted implications for biodiversity (understory vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, saproxylic beetles, birds), biomass production, harvesting costs, management ease, recreation and aesthetics, cervid game, as well as abiotic and biotic risks (wind, fire, pathogens, pests, browsing damage). In the absence of direct empirical evidence, we primarily relied on expert inference from theory and relevant empirical studies sourced from the Fennoscandian region, and further afield if needed. Collectively these efforts allowed us to develop a number of informed hypotheses indicating that for spruce-birch mixtures in this region, patch scale mixtures may have the potential to favour the diversity of several forest dependant taxonomic groups, cervid game and reduce harvesting costs, whereas intimate mixtures may have the potential to reduce pathogen and pest damage, and likewise, potentially benefit production outcomes. Current knowledge was too limited, inconsistent or context dependant to even tentatively infer outcomes for fire risk, wind damage, browsing damage, management ease, recreational and aesthetic outcomes. We emphasize that our hypotheses require testing, but are sufficient to (1) highlight the likely importance of spatial-scale to biodiversity and ecosystem services outcomes in mixed-species production forests, (2) caution against generalization from mixture studies that lack scale considerations, and (3) motivate the targeted consideration of spatial grain in future mixture studies