Fatty acid control of growth of human cervical and endometrial cancer cells.

Stearic acid and iodo-stearic and inhibited cell growth in a cervical cancer cell line (HOG-1) in a dose-related manner, with a half maximal effect at 50 microM stearic acid. Addition of oleic acid abrogated the effect of stearic acid. EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis and growth of HOG-1 cells was inhibited in the presence of stearic acid without any apparent effect on EGF receptor number or affinity

HPV testing in primary screening of older women

Certain types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) are well established as the primary cause of cervical cancer. Several studies have shown that HPV testing can improve the detection rate of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), but these have been carried out primarily in younger women. In this study we evaluated the role of HPV testing as an adjunct to cytology in women aged 35 or over. An additional aim was to evaluate commercially available kits for HPV testing. A total of 2988 eligible women aged 34 or more attending for a routine smear in 40 general practitioner practices received HPV testing in addition to routine cytology, after having given written informed consent. Samples were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and two versions of the Hybrid Capture test for HPV, and women were invited for colposcopy if there was any cytological abnormality (including borderline smears) or the PCR test was positive. Any apparent abnormality was biopsied and loop-excision was performed as necessary. CIN was judged by histology; 42 women had high-grade CIN, of which six were cytology negative (86% sensitivity for borderline or worse) and three had a borderline smear (79% sensitivity for mild dyskaryosis or worse). The positive predictive value of a borderline smear was only 3.1%. Eleven high-grade lesions were negative by the PCR HPV test (sensitivity 74%). The first generation Hybrid Capture II test had a similar sensitivity but an unacceptably high false positive rate (18.3%), while the newer Hybrid Capture II microtitre kit had a 95% sensitivity and a 2.3% positivity rate in normal women when used at a 2 pg ml−1 cut-off (positive predictive value 27%). Cytology performed very well in this older cohort of women. The newer Hybrid Capture II microtitre test may be a useful adjunct, especially if the results reported here are reproducible in other studies. A combined screening test offers the possibility of greater protection and/or longer screening intervals, which could reduce the overall cost of the screening programme. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer: monitoring tumour shrinkage and molecular profile on magnetic resonance and assessment of 3-year outcome

Use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer: monitoring tumour shrinkage and molecular profile on magnetic resonance and assessment of 3-year outcome The objective of this study is to assess tumour response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer using magnetic resonance (MR) to monitor tumour volume and changes in molecular profile and to compare the survival to that of a control group. Eligibility included Stage Ib-IIb previously untreated cervical tumours >10 cm(3). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 22 patients ( methotrexate 300 mg m(-2) (with folinic acid rescue), bleomycin 30 mg m(-2), cisplatin 60 mg m(-2)) was repeated twice weekly for three courses and followed by radical hysterectomy. Post-operative radiotherapy was given in 14 cases. A total of 23 patients treated either with radical surgery or chemoradiotherapy over the same time period comprised the nonrandomised control group. MR scans before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and in the control group documented tumour volume on imaging and metabolites on in vivo spectroscopy. Changes were compared using a paired t-test. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. There were no significant differences between the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and control groups in age ( mean, s.d. 43.3 +/- 10, 44.7 +/- 8.5 years, respectively, P = 0.63) or tumour volume (medians, quartiles 35.8, 17.8, 57.7 cm(3) vs 23.0, 15.0, 37.0 cm(3), respectively, P = 0.068). The reduction in tumour volume post-chemotherapy (median, quartiles 7.5, 3.0, 19.0 cm(3)) was significant ( P = 0.002). The reduction in - CH2 triglyceride approached significance ( P = 0.05), but other metabolites were unchanged. The 3-year survival in the chemotherapy group (49.1%) was not significantly different from the control group (46%, P = 0.94). There is a significant reduction in tumour volume and - CH2 triglyceride levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but there is no survival advantage

KELT-10b: The First Transiting Exoplanet From The KELT-South Survey - A Hot Sub-Jupiter Transiting A V=10.7 Early G-Star

We report the discovery of KELT-10b, the first transiting exoplanet discovered using the KELT-South telescope. KELT-10b is a highly inflated sub-Jupiter mass planet transiting a relatively bright V = 10.7 star (TYC 8378-64-1), with Teff = 5948 ± 74 K, log g = 4.319_{-0.030}^{+0.020} and [Fe/H] = 0.09_{-0.10}^{+0.11}, an inferred mass M★ = 1.112_{-0.061}^{+0.055} M☉ and radius R★ = 1.209_{-0.035}^{+0.047} R☉. The planet has a radius Rp = 1.399_{-0.049}^{+0.069} RJ and mass Mp = 0.679_{-0.038}^{+0.039} MJ. The planet has an eccentricity consistent with zero and a semi-major axis a = 0.05250_{-0.00097}^{+0.00086} AU. The best fitting linear ephemeris is T0 = 2457066.72045±0.00027 BJDTDB and P = 4.1662739±0.0000063 days. This planet joins a group of highly inflated transiting exoplanets with a radius larger and a mass less than that of Jupiter. The planet, which boasts deep transits of 1.4%, has a relatively high equilibrium temperature of Teq = 1377_{-23}^{+28} K, assuming zero albedo and perfect heat redistribution. KELT-10b receives an estimated insolation of 0.817_{-0.054}^{+0.068} × 109 erg s-1 cm-2, which places it far above the insolation threshold above which hot Jupiters exhibit increasing amounts of radius inflation. Evolutionary analysis of the host star suggests that KELT-10b may not survive beyond the current subgiant phase, depending on the rate of in-spiral of the planet over the next few Gyr. The planet transits a relatively bright star and exhibits the third largest transit depth of all transiting exoplanets with V 〈 11 in the southern hemisphere, making it a promising candidate for future atmospheric characterization studies

The vaginal microbiota associates with the regression of untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 lesions

Emerging evidence suggests associations between the vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); however, causal inference remains uncertain. Here, we use bacterial DNA sequencing from serially collected vaginal samples from a cohort of 87 adolescent and young women aged 16–26 years with histologically confirmed, untreated CIN2 lesions to determine whether VMB composition affects rates of regression over 24 months. We show that women with a Lactobacillus-dominant microbiome at baseline are more likely to have regressive disease at 12 months. Lactobacillus spp. depletion and presence of specific anaerobic taxa including Megasphaera, Prevotella timonensis and Gardnerella vaginalis are associated with CIN2 persistence and slower regression. These findings suggest that VMB composition may be a future useful biomarker in predicting disease outcome and tailoring surveillance, whilst it may offer rational targets for the development of new prevention and treatment strategies

The supernatural characters and powers of sacred trees in the Holy Land

This article surveys the beliefs concerning the supernatural characteristics and powers of sacred trees in Israel; it is based on a field study as well as a survey of the literature and includes 118 interviews with Muslims and Druze. Both the Muslims and Druze in this study attribute supernatural dimensions to sacred trees which are directly related to ancient, deep-rooted pagan traditions. The Muslims attribute similar divine powers to sacred trees as they do to the graves of their saints; the graves and the trees are both considered to be the abode of the soul of a saint which is the source of their miraculous powers. Any violation of a sacred tree would be strictly punished while leaving the opportunity for atonement and forgiveness. The Druze, who believe in the transmigration of souls, have similar traditions concerning sacred trees but with a different religious background. In polytheistic religions the sacred grove/forest is a centre of the community's official worship; any violation of the trees is regarded as a threat to the well being of the community. Punishments may thus be collective. In the monotheistic world (including Christianity, Islam and Druze) the pagan worship of trees was converted into the worship/adoration of saints/prophets; it is not a part of the official religion but rather a personal act and the punishments are exerted only on the violating individual