Cervical cytological abnormalities and HPV infection in perinatally HIV-infected adolescents

Behaviourally HIV-infected adolescent females are at higher risk for abnormal cervical cytology and HPV infection compared to those who are uninfected, but data on perinatally HIV-infected adolescent females are lacking. Cervical cytology, HPV infection and E6/E7 mRNA were assessed in sexually active 12-24-year-old adolescent females: perinatally HIV-infected (group 1, n = 40), behaviourally HIV-infected (group 2, n = 10), and HIV-uninfected (group 3, n = 10). Median age was lower in group 1 (18 years) than in groups 2 (24 years) and 3 (20.5 years) (P < 0.001), and median time since sexual debut was shorter: 2 vs 5 vs 4 years (P < 0.001). More trial participants in group 1 than group 2 were on antiretrovirals (90% vs 70%; P <0.001). Abnormal cervical cytology (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and higher) was observed in 30% (group 1), 40% (group 2) and 30% (group 3) (P = 0.92), whereas high-risk HPV infection was observed in 45%, 45% and 40%, respectively (P = 1.00). Positive E6/E7 mRNA was found in 28% of group 1, but not in other groups. High-risk HPV infection predicted abnormal cytology in all groups [OR 6.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.99-23.0; P = 0.001). Additionally, plasma HIV RNA ≥50 copies/mL (OR 13.3, 95% CI 1.16-153.06; P = 0.04) predicted abnormal cytology in HIV-infected adolescent females. Despite the younger age and shorter time since sexual debut, cervical cytological abnormalities and HPV infection were as common in perinatally HIV-infected as in behaviourally infected and uninfected adolescents. HPV vaccination, pre-cancer screening and antiretroviral treatment in HIV-infected female adolescents should be implemented to minimise the risk of cervical cance

Deterioração de sementes de mamona armazenadas com e sem casca Deterioration of shelled and not shelled castorbean seeds during storage

Sementes de mamona foram armazenadas com casca (sem danos mecânicos provenientes de descasque) e sem casca (método convencional) por um período de 36 meses, em condições não controladas de armazém, na região de Campinas (SP). A gradual deterioração das sementes foi avaliada por testes de germinação a cada três meses e por análise do teor de óleo e ácidos graxos livres aos 36 meses. A deterioração das sementes descascadas mecanicamente e assim armazenadas foi mais rápida do que a daquelas armazenadas com casca, principalmente após o primeiro ano. Sementes com e sem casca do cultivar Campinas apresentaram, depois de 0, 6, 12, 24 e 36 meses de armazenamento, germinação de, respectivamente, 83 e 82%, 82 e 80%, 79 e 69%, 65 e 23% e 51 e 0%. Após os mesmos períodos de armazenamento, para o cultivar Guarani, obteve-se para sementes com e sem casca germinação de, respectivamente, 85 e 82%, 81 e 75%, 76 e 62%, 68 e 13% e 38 e 0%. Decorridos 36 meses de armazenamento, os teores de ácidos graxos livres para sementes com casca dos cultivares Campinas e Guarani foram respectivamente 1,6 e 3,2%, e, para sementes sem casca dos mesmos cultivares, 63,0 e 64,8%.<br>Shelled (conventional method) and not shelled (free of mechanical damage from the shelling) castorbean seeds were stored under uncontrolled conditions at Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, for periods up to 36 months. The progress of deterioration was evaluated by the standard germination tests at three-month intervals, and by the oil and free fatty acid content at 36 months. Shelled seeds deteriorated faster than those stored with the shells, mainly after the first year. Seeds of the Campinas cultivar, stored not shelled and shelled, presented, after 0, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, germination of respectively 83 and 82%, 82 and 80%, 79 and 69%, 65 and 23%, and 51 and 0%. Not shelled and shelled seeds of the Guarani cultivar exhibited seeds germination of respectively 85 and 82%, 81 and 75%, 76 and 62%, 68 and 13%, and 38 and 0%, after the same storage periods. After 36 months of storage, the free fatty acid contents for not shelled seeds of 'Campinas' and 'Guarani' cultivars were respectively, 1.6 and 3.2%, whereas for shelled seeds of the same cultivars, the contents were 63.0 and 64.8%, respectively

Commitment Mechanisms and Blood Donation

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) recently introduced a policy of compulsory appointments for blood donations. This thesis examines the effect of these appointments on donor satisfaction and donation behaviour. Overall, aggregate tests indicate that the policy transition initially had a negative effect. However, conditional on having donated once after the transition, donors are more likely to return. In order to isolate individual mechanisms that contribute to these results, a survey of blood donors is used to test two specific theories from behavioural economics. On the positive side, appointments are found to increase the likelihood that a donor will return, possibly by circumventing a problem of time-inconsistent preferences. However, the results also support a theory from the marketing literature that appointments change donors' expectations, causing wait time to be more negatively perceived. Furthermore, this is found to cause a significant change in donors' intended actions

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and the Urinary Tract (CAKUT)

This article reviews the majority of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) with emphasis in Pediatric Pathology describing and illustrating lesions as varied as ureteral duplications, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, horseshoe kidney, posterior urethral valve and prune belly syndrome, obstructive renal dysplasia, nonmotile ciliopathies and several syndromes associated with renal malformations (Meckel–Joubert, short rib, Bardet–Biedl, asplenia/polysplenia, hereditary renal adysplasia, Zellweger, trisomies, VACTER-L, Potter, caudal dysplasia, and sirenomelia), as well as ADPK, and ARPK. The purpose of this review is not only to describe the congenital renal anomalies, but also to analyze the more recent therapeutic interventions that may modify the natural history of some of these severe conditions