Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

We conducted a systematic review to determine the safety and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Articles were identified by a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database using the terms autism or autistic and omega-3 fatty acids. The search identified 143 potential articles and six satisfied all inclusion criteria. One small randomized controlled trial (n = 13) noted non-significant improvements in hyperactivity and stereotypy. The remaining five studies were small (n = 30, 22, 19, 9, and 1) with four reporting improvements in a wide range of outcomes including language and learning skills, parental observations of general health and behavior, a clinician-administered symptom scale, and clinical observations of anxiety. Due to the limitations of evidence from uncontrolled studies and the presence of only one small randomized controlled trial, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to determine if omega-3 fatty acids are safe or effective for ASD

A prospective study of complications from comprehensive abortion care services in Nepal

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In March 2002, Nepal's Parliament approved legislation to permit abortion on request up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Between 2004 and 2007, 176 comprehensive abortion care (CAC) service sites were established in Nepal, leading to a rise in safe, legal abortions. Though monitoring systems have been developed, reporting of complications has not always been complete or accurate. The purpose of this study was to report the frequency and type of abortion complications arising from CAC procedures in different types of facilities in Nepal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 7,386 CAC clients from a sample of facilities across Nepal were enrolled over a three-month period in 2008. Data collection included an initial health questionnaire at the time of abortion care and a follow-up questionnaire assessing complications, administered two weeks after the abortion procedure. A total of 7,007 women (95%) were successfully followed up. Complication rates were assessed overall and by facility type. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between experiencing a complication and client demographic and facility characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 7,007 clients who were successfully followed, only 1.87% (n = 131) experienced signs and symptoms of complications at the two-week follow up, the most common being retained products of conception (1.37%), suspected sepsis (0.39%), offensive discharge (0.51%) and moderate bleeding (0.26%). Women receiving care at non-governmental organization (NGO) facilities were less likely to experience complications than women at government facilities, adjusting for individual and facility characteristics (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.08-0.40). Compared to women receiving CAC at 4-5 weeks gestation, women at 10-12 weeks gestation were more likely to experience complications, adjusting for individual and facility characteristics (AOR = 4.21; 95% CI: 1.38-12.82).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The abortion complication rate in Nepali CAC facilities is low and similar to other settings; however, significant differences in complication rates were observed by facility type and gestational age. Interventions such as supportive supervision to improve providers' uterine evacuation skills and investment in equipment for infection control may lower complication rates in government facilities. In addition, there should be increased focus on early pregnancy detection and access to CAC services early in pregnancy in order to prevent complications.</p

Cervical HPV infection and neoplasia in a large population-based prospective study: the Manchester cohort

Cytology and histology records and cervical samples for HPV assay were obtained from a prospective cohort of 49 655 women attending clinics for routine cervical cytology in or near Manchester between 1988 and 1993. The women were followed up for cytological abnormality and neoplasia through the cytology laboratory's records. HPV at entry was assayed in an age- and period-stratified random sample of 7278 women and in prevalent and incident CIN3 cases. The prevalence of newly diagnosed CIN3 increased with time since last normal smear, indicating that most cases persist for several years. CIN3 prevalence did not increase further for screening intervals exceeding 5 years, however, suggesting that CIN3 eventually regresses cytologically. CIN2 prevalence increased less steeply with screening interval, while the prevalence of lesser abnormality was almost independent of screening interval. The prevalence of oncogenic HPV at entry declined from 19% among women aged under 25 to less than 3% at age 40 or above. Oncogenic HPV infection was strongly predictive of subsequent CIN3 (OR 17.2, 95% CI 10.4-28.4), but only weakly related to CIN2 (OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.5-10.7) and lesser abnormality (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8-2.5). At current incidence rates, the lifetime risk of developing CIN3 will be 9% in this population. The cumulative risk of CIN3 diagnosis among cytologically normal women with oncogenic HPV detected at entry was 28% (CI 18-43%) after 14 years. Persistence of oncogenic HPV may be more sensitive and specific than cytology for early detection of CIN3 and invasive cancer

Incidence of uterine post abortion infection at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Is prophylactic antibiotic necessary?

Objetivo: Identificar a incidência de infecção pélvica após aborto espontâneo submetido a esvaziamento uterino num hospital terciário do sul do Brasil e comparar com a literatura internacional. Métodos: Os prontuários eletrônicos do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre de todas as pacientes que foram submetidas ao esvaziamento uterino por abortamento entre agosto de 2008 e Janeiro de 2012 foram revisados. Foram incluídas no estudo todas as pacientes submetidas à curetagem uterina por abortamento e que tiveram consultas ambulatoriais de revisão após o procedimento. Os dados demográficos e laboratoriais da população estudada, number needed for treatment (NNT) e o number needed to harm (NNH) foram calculados. Resultados: Dos 857 prontuários eletrônicos revistos, 377 pacientes foram submetidas ao esvaziamento uterino por abortamento; 55 casos foram perdidos no seguimento, restando 322 casos que foram classificados como aborto não infectado na admissão. A maioria da população era da raça branca (79%); a prevalência de HIV e VDRL positivos foi de 0,3 e 2%, respectivamente. No seguimento desses 322 casos, num período mínimo de 7 dias, verificou-se que a incidência de infecção pós-procedimento foi de 1,8% (IC95%0,8 a 4). O NNT e o NNH calculado para 42 meses foi de 63 e 39, respectivamente. Conclusão: A incidência de infecção pós-aborto entre agosto de 2008 a janeiro de 2012 foi de 1,8% (0,8 a 4).Objective: To identify the incidence of infection post-uterine evacuation for miscarriage at a tertiary teaching hospital in southern Brazil. Methods: Electronic records of all patients admitted for uterine evacuation for miscarriage between August 2008 and January 2012 were revised. All patients submitted to uterine curettage for miscarriage and had outpatient follow-up were included. Demographic, laboratorial data of the sampled population, the number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) were calculated. Results: From 857 reviewed electronic records, 377 underwent uterine evacuation for miscarriage. 55 cases were lost to follow-up, remaining 322 cases classified as non-infected miscarriage at admission. The majority of the population was white (79%); prevalence of positive HIV and VDRL was 0.3 and 2%, respectively. From 322 cases, within a week of follow-up, the incidence of post-miscarriage infection was 1.8% (95%CI 0.8 to 4). In a period of 42 months, the NNT and NNH were 63 and 39, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of infection after miscarriage between August 2008 and January 2012 was 1.8% (0.8 to 4)

The effects of tibolone in older postmenopausal women

Robert Norman and Alastair MacLennan were investigators in the LIFT TrialSteven R. Cummings, Bruce Ettinger, Pierre D. Delmas, Peter Kenemans, Victoria Stathopoulos, Pierre Verweij, Mirjam Mol-Arts, Lenus Kloosterboer, Lori Mosca, Claus Christiansen, John Bilezikian, Eduardo Mario Kerzberg, Susan Johnson, Jose Zanchetta, Diederich E. Grobbee, Wilfried Seifert and Richard Eastell for the LIFT Trial Investigator

Human papillomavirus-mediated carcinogenesis and HPV-associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Part 2: Human papillomavirus associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the mouth and oropharynx can be acquired by a variety of sexual and social forms of transmission. HPV-16 genotype is present in many oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomata. It has an essential aetiologic role in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a subset of subjects who are typically younger, are more engaged with high-risk sexual behaviour, have higher HPV-16 serum antibody titer, use less tobacco and have better survival rates than in subjects with HPV-cytonegative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this subset of subjects the HPV-cytopositive carcinomatous cells have a distinct molecular profile

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

Comparative proteome and peptidome analysis of the cephalic fluid secreted by Arapaima gigas (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) during and outside parental care

Parental investment in Arapaima gigas includes nest building and guarding, followed by a care provision when a cephalic fluid is released from the parents&rsquo; head to the offspring. This fluid has presumably important functions for the offspring but so far its composition has not been characterised. In this study the proteome and peptidome of the cephalic secretion was studied in parental and non-parental fish using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS) and GeLC-MS/MS analyses. Multiple comparisons revealed 28 peptides were significantly different between males and parental males (PC-males), 126 between females and parental females (PC-females), 51 between males and females and 9 between PC-males and PC-females. Identification revealed peptides were produced in the inner ear (pcdh15b), eyes (tetraspanin and ppp2r3a), central nervous system (otud4, ribeye a, tjp1b and syn1) among others. A total of 422 proteins were also identified and gene ontology analysis revealed 28 secreted extracellular proteins. From these, 2 hormones (prolactin and stanniocalcin) and 12 proteins associated to immunological processes (serotransferrin, &alpha;-1-antitrypsin homolog, apolipoprotein A-I, and others) were identified. This study provides novel biochemical data on the lateral line fluid which will enable future hypotheses-driven experiments to better understand the physiological roles of the lateral line in chemical communication