Vascular network expansion, integrity of blood-brain interfaces, and cerebrospinal fluid cytokine concentration during postnatal development in the normal and jaundiced rat.

Background: Severe neonatal jaundice resulting from elevated levels of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood induces dramatic neurological impairment. Central oxidative stress and an inflammatory response have been associated with the pathophysiological mechanism. Cells forming the blood-brain barrier and the choroidal blood-CSF barrier are the first CNS cells exposed to increased plasma levels of unconjugated bilirubin.

A poxvirus vaccine is safe, induces T-cell responses, and decreases viral load in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has limited efficacy, adverse effects, and high costs. Cohort and vaccine-based preclinical studies have indicated the importance of T-cell-based immunity in controlling viral infection. TG4040 is a recombinant poxvirus vaccine that expresses the hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins NS3, NS4, and NS5B.

A study of new referrals to a menopause clinic and their initial outcomes: how can we improve the service we provide?

This retrospective case-note study was performed to examine the ways in which an already established menopause clinic could improve service to its patients. The management of 151 patients was examined. Most were referred by their general practitioner and the most common reason for referral was to seek an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Oestrogens for treatment or prevention of pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse is common and can be detected in up to 50% of parous women although many are asymptomatic. Oestrogen preparations are used to improve vaginal thinning (atrophy). It is possible that oestrogens, alone or in conjunction with other interventions, might prevent or assist in the management of pelvic organ prolapse, for example by improving the strength of weakened supporting structures.

Systematic review of the efficacy and safety of using mesh in surgery for uterine or vaginal vault prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to estimate efficacy and safety of mesh in surgery for uterine or vault prolapse.

Methods: Seventeen electronic databases were searched for relevant studies that were published from 1980 onwards.

Results: Fifty-four studies involving 7,054 women were included.

Three surgically managed ipsilateral spontaneous ectopic pregnancies.

Background: Recurrence of ectopic pregnancy is usually associated with assisted reproductive techniques, being less likely to occur after natural conception.

Case: We report the case of a patient who had three consecutive ectopic pregnancies on the ipsilateral side after natural conception and was treated surgically in each case with partial salpingectomy, removal of tubal stump, and resection of the uterine cornua, respectively. The contralateral normal tube was resected at the time of last operation.

Expression of the alternative reading frame protein of Hepatitis C virus induces cytokines involved in hepatic injuries.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core has been implicated in immune-mediated mechanisms associated with the development of chronic hepatic diseases. Discovery of different alternative reading frame proteins (ARFPs) expressed from the HCV Core coding sequence challenges properties assigned to Core. This study was designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory functions of Core and ARFPs in monocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages (Mphi) and hepatocytes, cells that are all capable of supporting HCV replication.

Optimized vaccination regimen linked to exhaustive screening approaches identifies 2 novel HLA-B7 restricted epitopes within hepatitis C virus NS3 protein.

Broad immune responses, in particular specific for the NS3 protein and mediated by both CD8+ and CD4+T lymphocytes, are thought to play a critical role in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this study, we searched for novel HLA-B*0702 NS3 restricted epitopes following an optimized NS3NS4 immunization protocol in transgenic mice expressing HLA-B*0702 molecule. Combining predicted and overlapping peptides, we identified two novel epitopes, WPA10 (aa 1111-1120) and LSP10 (aa 1153-1162), which triggered significant IFN-gamma-producing T cell frequencies and high CTL responses.

Managing women with a previous diagnosis of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent condition that primarily inflicts women of reproductive age. There are several gradations of the disease and its extent does not always signify its symptomatic presentation. In those women who have long suffered from endometriosis, previous treatments and their assumed success influence clinical decision making on the use of hormone replacement therapy after menopause.

Surgical treatment of bleeding problems in perimenopausal women.

Bleeding problems are common in perimenopausal women. They affect quality of life. Traditionally, hysterectomy was the definitive 'cure'; however, the past two decades have seen the emergence of less invasive and safer alternatives, in the form of endometrial ablation.

First Dominique Dormont International Conference on "Host-pathogen interactions in chronic infections - viral and host determinants of HCV, HCMV, and HIV infections".

The first Dominique Dormont International Conference on "Viral and host determinantsof HCV, HCMV, and HIV infections "was held in Paris, Val-de-Grâce, on December 3-4, 2004. The following is a summary of the scientific sessions of this meeting (http://www.congres-evenement.

A randomised comparison of microwave endometrial ablation with transcervical resection of the endometrium; follow up at a minimum of five years.

Objective: To compare long term outcomes following microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) or transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE).

Design: Follow up of a randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Gynaecology department of a large UK teaching hospital.

Characterization of host-range and cell entry properties of the major genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus.

Because of the lack of a robust cell culture system, relatively little is known about the molecular details of the cell entry mechanism for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Recently, we described infectious HCV pseudo-particles (HCVpp) that were generated by incorporating unmodified HCV E1E2 glycoproteins into the membrane of retroviral core particles. These initial studies, performed with E1E2 glycoproteins of genotype 1, noted that HCVpp closely mimic the cell entry and neutralization properties of parental HCV.

Memory T-cell-mediated immune responses specific to an alternative core protein in hepatitis C virus infection.

In vitro studies have described the synthesis of an alternative reading frame form of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein that was named F protein or ARFP (alternative reading frame protein) and includes a domain coded by the +1 open reading frame of the RNA core coding region. The expression of this protein in HCV-infected patients remains controversial. We have analyzed peripheral blood from 47 chronically or previously HCV-infected patients for the presence of T lymphocytes and antibodies specific to the ARFP.

Quantification and functional analysis of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are the major producers of interferon (IFN)- alpha within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods: We analyzed whether chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection could be linked to a defective function or number of PDCs. We evaluated the capacity of PBMCs from 5 cohorts of subjects to produce IFN- alpha after viral stimulation.

Evidence of viral replication in circulating dendritic cells during hepatitis C virus infection.

The existence of extrahepatic sites of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication has been proposed as a mechanism responsible for the poor antiviral immune response found in chronic infection. Dendritic cells (DCs), as unique antigen-presenting cells able to induce a primary immune response, are prime targets of persistent viruses. From 24 blood samples obtained from HCV-seropositive patients, peripheral blood DCs (PBDCs) were purified.

Differential distribution and internal translation efficiency of hepatitis C virus quasispecies present in dendritic and liver cells.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is predominantly a hepatotropic virus. Nonetheless, there is mounting evidence that hematopoietic cells may support HCV replication. The HCV 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), responsible for initiation of viral translation, via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), has been previously described to contain specific nucleotide substitutions when cultured in infected lymphoid cells.

Is outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy more useful than endometrial biopsy alone for the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding in unselected premenopausal women? A randomised comparison.

Objective: To formally evaluate the clinical benefit of additional outpatient hysteroscopy over traditional vaginal examination and endometrial biopsy.

Design: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A large teaching hospital in the northeast of Scotland.

Microwave endometrial ablation versus endometrial resection: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare menstrual status, satisfaction, and acceptability of microwave endometrial ablation with transcervical endometrial resection for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Methods: Women were randomized to either endometrial ablative method. Menstrual status, satisfaction, acceptability, and changes in health-related quality of life were obtained by a self-completed questionnaire.