Formation and degradation of chaotic terrain in the Galaxias regions of Mars: implications for near-surface storage of ice

Galaxias Chaos is a region of low plateaus separated by narrow fractures – a chaotic terrain. Galaxias Mensae and Galaxias Colles are characterised by mesa and knobby terrains of individual landforms, or small assemblages, separated by plains. Galaxias Chaos has been attributed to ground disturbance due to sublimation in shallow subsurface ice-rich deposits, Galaxias Mensae and Galaxias Colles to sublimation and degradation of icy surface materials, without production of chaotic terrain. Liquid water has not been regarded as a product of the degradation of these icy terrains. This paper asks two research questions: (1) what was the total extent of the different modes of landscape degradation, especially chaotic terrain, involved in producing the present landscapes of Galaxias Chaos and Galaxias Mensae–Colles; (2) can the generation of liquid water as a product of landscape degradation be ruled-out? Using a morphological-statistical approach, including power spectrum analysis of relief, our observations and analyses show that present mesa-knobby terrains of Galaxias Mensae–Colles evolved from a landscape that had the same directional pattern and relief as presently found in Galaxias Chaos. This terrain extended across ∼440,000 km2 but ∼22,000 km3 (average thickness, 77 m) have been lost across ∼285,000 km2. This represents a significant loss of ice-bearing deposits. Moreover, this surface degradation was spatially partitioned by landforms associated with elevated ground heating and the transmission of a fluid in the shallow subsurface towards a distal channel. In answer to research question 2, it cannot be determined definitively if the fluid involved was groundwater, generated by the thermal destabilisation of the icy deposits, or low viscosity lava. However, it is likely that the degradation of Galaxias Mensae–Colles was not a consequence of sublimation alone. These findings underscore the significance of cryo-volcanic interactions in the cycling of water between the Martian surface and the atmosphere

Predisposing factors for bacterial vaginosis, treatment efficacy and pregnancy outcome among term deliveries; results from a preterm delivery study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery but little is known about factors that could predict BV. We have analyzed if it is possible to identify a category of pregnant women that should be screened for BV, and if BV would alter the pregnancy outcome at term; we have also studied the treatment efficacy of clindamycin.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective BV screening and treatment study of 9025 women in a geographically defined region in southeast Sweden. BV was defined as a modified Nugent score of 6 and above. Data was collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. Women allocated to treatment were supplied with vaginal clindamycin cream. The main outcome goals were to identify factors that could predict BV.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Vaginal smears were consistent with BV criteria in 9.3%. Logistic regression indicates a significant correlation between smoking and BV (p < 0.001) and a greater prevalence of BV in the lower age groups (p < 0.001). We found no correlation between BV and history of preterm deliveries, previous miscarriages, extra-uterine pregnancies, infertility problems or reported history of urinary tract infections–factors that earlier have been associated with BV. Treatment with clindamycin cream showed a cure rate of 77%. Less than 1% of women with a normal vaginal smear in early pregnancy will develop BV during the pregnancy. There was no association between BV and the obstetric outcome among women who delivered at term. Women with BV, both treated patients and nontreated, had the same obstetric outcome at term as women with normal vaginal flora.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BV is more than twice as common among smokers, and there is a higher prevalence in the younger age group. However these two markers for BV do not suffice as a tool for screening, and considering the lack of other risk factors associated with BV, screening of all pregnant women might be a strategy to follow in a program intended to reduce the number of preterm births.</p

Improving Appropriate Use of Antifungal Medications: The Role of an Over-the-Counter Vaginal pH Self-Test Device

Objectives: To determine whether patients can understand and use the vaginal pH device in the diagnosis of vaginitis. To compare whether vaginal pH readings determined by patients and healthcare providers are similar. To determine whether vaginalpHcan reduce inappropriate over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medication use and improve the correct diagnosis of vaginitis. Methods: One hundred and fifty-one women indicated their belief about the cause of their vaginal infection, read the instructions of the vaginal pH device package insert, used the device and interpreted the findings. The patient interpretations were compared with results obtained by healthcare providers, blinded to patient findings. Results: Over 96% of patients stated that they could easily read the instructions, use the vaginal pH device and interpret the readings. They obtained the same readings as healthcare professionals (Kappa = 0.9). Restricting the use of OTC antifungal medications to those individuals with vaginitis symptoms and vaginal pH ≤ 4.5 significantly reduced inappropriate use by approximately 50%, Fisher's exact test,p-value = 0.018. Conversely, seeking healthcare provider assessment with vaginal pH > 4.5, leads to correct diagnosis of vaginitis. Conclusions: The vaginal pH device can be used as an OTC diagnostic tool by consumers when a vaginal infection is suspected. Vaginal pH readings would direct patients whether to purchase an antifungal medication or seek professional diagnosis from a healthcare provider. Understanding and use of this vaginal pH device could reduce inappropriate use of OTC antifungal medications by approximately 50% and improve the correct diagnosis of vaginitis

Treatment of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in England and its effect on survival

The evidence base for head and neck cancers is low with relatively few randomized controlled trials of the two main treatments, surgery and radiotherapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the patterns of surgery and radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancers in three large areas of England and to investigate their effects on survival. This was a retrospective study of 13 510 cases of head and neck cancers (ICD10: C00–C14, C30–C32) diagnosed and treated from 1984 to 1992 in England. We undertook multivariate analyses of survival using a step-wise Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan–Meier analysis. There were regional variations in the treatments given to patients. Four in ten patients did not receive currently recommended treatments. In multivariate analyses treatment content and timing had an independent effect on survival. Better survival was associated with surgery for mouth cancers, radiotherapy for laryngeal cancers and combined treatment for pharyngeal cancers independent of tumour and demographic factors. Further research is needed to investigate the findings of this study through large randomized controlled trials and multi-centre audits. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

TLR9-induced interferon β is associated with protection from gammaherpesvirus-induced exacerbation of lung fibrosis

Abstract Background We have shown previously that murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) infection exacerbates established pulmonary fibrosis. Because Toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 may be important in controlling the immune response to γHV68 infection, we examined how TLR-9 signaling effects exacerbation of fibrosis in response to viral infection, using models of bleomycin- and fluorescein isothiocyanate-induced pulmonary fibrosis in wild-type (Balb/c) and TLR-9-/- mice. Results We found that in the absence of TLR-9 signaling, there was a significant increase in collagen deposition following viral exacerbation of fibrosis. This was not associated with increased viral load in TLR-9-/- mice or with major alterations in T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines. We examined alveolar epithelial-cell apoptosis in both strains, but this could not explain the altered fibrotic outcomes. As expected, TLR-9-/- mice had a defect in the production of interferon (IFN)-β after viral infection. Balb/c fibroblasts infected with γHV68 in vitro produced more IFN-β than did infected TLR-9-/- fibroblasts. Accordingly, in vitro infection of Balb/c fibroblasts resulted in reduced proliferation rates whereas infection of TLR-9-/- fibroblasts did not. Finally, therapeutic administration of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides ameliorated bleomycin-induced fibrosis in wild-type mice. Conclusions These results show a protective role for TLR-9 signaling in murine models of lung fibrosis, and highlight differences in the biology of TLR-9 between mice and humans.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112877/1/13069_2011_Article_57.pd

Cervical Screening within HIV Care: Findings from an HIV-Positive Cohort in Ukraine

HIV-positive women have an increased risk of invasive cervical cancer but cytologic screening is effective in reducing incidence. Little is known about cervical screening coverage or the prevalence of abnormal cytology among HIV-positive women in Ukraine, which has the most severe HIV epidemic in Europe

Candidiasis, Bacterial Vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Other Vaginal Conditions Affecting the Vulva

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio