Oncogenic and incidental HPV types associated with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive and HIV-negative South African women

Background. In Africa, data on the relationship between oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types, immune status and cervical preinvasive lesions are lacking.Methods. We investigated low-risk (lrHPV) and high-risk (hrHPV) HPV types in a cohort of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II/III confirmed on histological examination, in an urban setting with a high prevalence of HIV infection.Results. Of 270 women with confirmed CIN II/III, 45 were HIV-negative and 225 HIV-positive. HIV-infected women had significantly more HPV type infections, including all HPV (p<0.001) and hrHPV (p=0.014) types. The prevalences of one or more hrHPV type/s were 93.3% and 92.9% in HIV-negative and positive patients, respectively. The most prevalent hrHPV type among HIV-negative women was HPV 16, followed by HPV 52, 31, 35 and 58. Among HIV-positive women, HPV 16 was followed by HPV 58, 35, 51 and 52. Not yet qualifying for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (CD4 count >350 cells/μL) or having received HAART for ≥12 months were negatively associated with HPV 18, 33, 45, 51, 52, 59 and 82.Conclusions. In South Africa, burdened by the HIV pandemic, high numbers of high- and low-risk HPV type infections are present in women with cervical preneoplasia. HPV type distribution differs among varying levels of HIV-induced immune depletion

A Full PFPF Shell Model Study of a~=~48 Nuclei

Exact diagonalizations with a minimally modified realistic force lead to detailed agreement with measured level schemes and electromagnetic transitions in $^{48}$Ca, $^{48}$Sc, $^{48}$Ti, $^{48}$V, $^{48}$Cr and $^{48}$Mn. Gamow-Teller strength functions are systematically calculated and reproduce the data to within the standard quenching factor. Their fine structure indicates that fragmentation makes much strength unobservable. As a by-product, the calculations suggest a microscopic description of the onset of rotational motion. The spectroscopic quality of the results provides strong arguments in favour of the general validity of monopole corrected realistic forces, which is discussed.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX with epsf.sty, 14 Postscript figures included and compressed using uufiles. Completely new version of previous preprint nucl-th/9307001. FTUAM-93/01, CRN/PT 93-3

Validation and Optimization of Barrow Neurological Institute Score in Prediction of Adverse Events and Functional Outcome After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Creation of the HATCH (Hemorrhage, Age, Treatment, Clinical State, Hydrocephalus) Score.

BACKGROUND: The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) score, measuring maximal thickness of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), has previously shown to predict symptomatic cerebral vasospasms (CVSs), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and functional outcome. OBJECTIVE: To validate the BNI score for prediction of above-mentioned variables and cerebral infarct and evaluate its improvement by integrating further variables which are available within the first 24 h after hemorrhage. METHODS: We included patients from a single center. The BNI score for prediction of CVS, DCI, infarct, and functional outcome was validated in our cohort using measurements of calibration and discrimination (area under the curve [AUC]). We improved it by adding additional variables, creating a novel risk score (measure by the dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale) and validated it in a small independent cohort. RESULTS: Of 646 patients, 41.5% developed symptomatic CVS, 22.9% DCI, 23.5% cerebral infarct, and 29% had an unfavorable outcome. The BNI score was associated with all outcome measurements. We improved functional outcome prediction accuracy by including age, BNI score, World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons, rebleeding, clipping, and hydrocephalus (AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.8-0.87). Based on this model we created a risk score (HATCH-Hemorrhage, Age, Treatment, Clinical State, Hydrocephalus), ranging 0 to 13 points. We validated it in a small independent cohort. The validated score demonstrated very good discriminative ability (AUC 0.84 [95% CI 0.72-0.96]). CONCLUSION: We developed the HATCH score, which is a moderate predictor of DCI, but excellent predictor of functional outcome at 1 yr after aSAH

The organic geochemistry of ancient sediments, part II

Chemical analysis of sediment and oil hydrocarbon content by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to establish inception period of bio-organic evolutio

Not fitting in and getting out : psychological type and congregational satisfaction among Anglican churchgoers in England

Listening to the motivations reported by individuals for ceasing church attendance and becoming church leavers, Francis and Richter identified high on the list the sense of "not fitting in". Drawing on psychological type theory, several recent studies have documented the way in which some psychological types are over-represented in church congregations and other psychological types are under-represented. Bringing these two observations together, the present study tested the hypothesis that church congregations have created type-alike communities within which individuals displaying the opposite type preferences are more likely to feel marginalised and to display lower levels of satisfaction with the congregations they attend. Data were provided by 1867 churchgoers who completed a measure of psychological type, together with measures of frequency of attendance and congregational satisfaction. These data confirmed that congregations were weighted towards preferences for introversion, sensing, feeling and judging, and that individuals displaying the opposite preferences (especially intuition, thinking and perceiving) recorded lower levels of congregational satisfaction. The implications of these findings are discussed for promoting congregational retention by enhancing awareness of psychological type preferences among those who attend

Hsp21potentiates antifungal drug tolerance in Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD