Erdosteine prevents colonic inflammation through its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.

After intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS), Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally either with saline or erdosteine (100 mg/kg per day), a sulfhydryl-containing antioxidant, for 3 days. On the 4th day, rats were decapitated and distal colon was removed for the macroscopic and microscopic damage scoring, for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and collagen levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL) and DNA fragmentation. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and antioxidant capacity were assayed in blood samples.

Prevalence of circumcision and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in men in the United States: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2004.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of circumcision in the United States and to examine the association between circumcision and herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2) infection.

Methods: As part of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004, 6174 men were interviewed about circumcision status and sexual behaviors, and were tested for HSV-2 antibodies. Medical artwork was used to aid the reporting of circumcision status.

Social capital and rates of gonorrhea and syphilis in the United States: spatial regression analyses of state-level associations.

We conducted spatial regression analysis to account for spatial clustering of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to examine the state-level association between social capital (using Putnam's public use data set) and rates of gonorrhea and syphilis. We conducted the analysis for the 48 contiguous states of the United States for 1990, 1995, and 2000 and controlled for the effects of regional variation in STD rates, and for state variation in poverty, income inequality, racial composition, and percentage aged 15-34 years. We compared the results of the spatial regression analysis with those of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression.

Protective role of melatonin and coenzyme Q10 in ochratoxin A toxicity in rat liver and kidney.

Melatonin (MEL) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) both display antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. In the present study, the effect of MEL and CoQ10 on the oxidative stress and fibrosis induced by ochratoxin A (OTA) administration in rats was investigated. Rats were divided into five equal groups, each consisting of seven rats: (1) controls; (2) OTA-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day); (3) OTA+MEL-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day OTA + 10 mg/kg/day MEL); and (4) OTA+CoQ10-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day OTA + 1 mg/100 g/day body weight (bw) CoQ10).

Correlates of gonorrhoea among African Americans in North Carolina.

Rates of gonorrhoea (GC) infections are highest among African Americans in the USA, but risk factors for GC in this population have not been well defined. The purpose of this study was to study these risk factors. We used secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a population-based case-control study of African Americans, aged 18-59 years, in rural North Carolina, USA.

Preventive effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat bladder.

Aims: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury in the rat bladder.

Methods: A bladder I-R injury was induced by abdominal aorta occlusion by ischemia for 30 min, followed by 45 min reperfusion in rats. The rats were divided into four groups of 7 rats each; the control, I-R, and I-R groups were pretreated intraperitoneally with 50 or 100 mg/kg G.

Sensitivity of the solution of the Elder problem to density, velocity and numerical perturbations.

In this paper the Elder problem is studied with the purpose of evaluating the inherent instabilities associated with the numerical solution of this problem. Our focus is first on the question of the existence of a unique numerical solution for this problem, and second on the grid density and fluid density requirements necessary for a unique numerical solution. In particular we have investigated the instability issues associated with the numerical solution of the Elder problem from the following perspectives: (i) physical instability issues associated with density differences; (ii) sensitivity of the numerical solution to idealization irregularities; and, (iii) the importance of a precise velocity field calculation and the association of this process with the grid density levels that is necessary to solve the Elder problem accurately.

Changes in Mesopotamian spiny eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solender in Russell, 1794) (Mastacembelidae) milt quality during a spawning period.

This study was carried out to determine the milt quality in male Mesopotamian spiny eel (Mastacembelus mastacembelus; Bank & Solender in Russell, 1794) during spawning season. Review was performed using 58 M. mastecembulus males captured from Atatürk Dam Lake in Turkey.

A comparison of depression in children with and without mothers.

The present research investigated depression in children with and without mothers. Differences in depression scores were tested by gender, socio-economic level, the cause of not having a mother, and the age of separation. The sample included 300 fourth and fifth grade elementary school children.

Adiponectin is an independent determinant of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently associated with insulin resistance and a consequent increased risk of metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of adiponectin in insulin resistance in PCOS women.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients with PCOS and 23 control subjects, matched for age and body mass index (BMI), were enrolled in the study.

The relationship between serum levels of total IgE, IL-18, IL-12, IFN-gamma and disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis.

Studies about the role of cytokines on the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) are generally based on in vitro observations and this role has not been completely clarified yet. Serum levels of total IgE, IL-18, IL-12, IFN-gamma and the relationship between these parameters and disease severity, determined using the SCORAD index, in a group of atopic patients were investigated in this study. Serum levels of total IgE were measured by the nephelometric method and serum levels of IL-18, IL-12/p40 and IFN-gamma were measured by ELISA method.

The efficacy of behavioral interventions in reducing HIV risk sex behaviors and incident sexually transmitted disease in black and Hispanic sexually transmitted disease clinic patients in the United States: a meta-analytic review.

Objectives: Interventions targeting sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients provide an important opportunity to modify high-risk sex behaviors related to HIV/STD transmission. Identifying efficacious interventions for blacks and Hispanics is urgently needed because these 2 groups are disproportionately affected by the HIV/STD epidemics.

Goal: This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of behavioral interventions in reducing unprotected sex and incident STD among black and Hispanic STD clinic patients.

Globalisation, the sex industry, and health.

Opportunities and demand for commercial sex are expanding

Comparison of effects of smoking and smokeless tobacco "Maras powder" use on humoral immune system parameters.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of "Maras powder" and cigarette smoking on the parameters of the humoral immune system.

Material And Methods: One hundred seventy seven subjects were included in the study. The IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 levels were detected via nephelometric method.

Serum IL-18 is increased at early postburn period in moderately burned patients.

A severe systemic inflammatory response is usually seen after burn injury. IL-18 enhances the Th1 immune responses in bacterial andviral infections. In order to evaluate the IL-18 serum levels as well as IL-6 and TNF-alpha at the 48th hour postburn, serial serum samples of 8 burned patients were analyzed.

Sex work in Tallinn, Estonia: the sociospatial penetration of sex work into society.

Background: It is important to describe and understand the underlying patterns and dynamics that govern sex work in societies undergoing rapid political and social changes, its heterogeneity across populations, and its evolution through time in order to inform future research, sound policy formation, and programme delivery.

Objectives: To describe the socioeconomic and cultural determinants, organisational structure, distinct categories, and spatial patterning of sex work in Tallinn, Estonia, and identify recent temporal changes in sex work patterns.

Methods: In-depth interviews with key informants; naturalistic observations of sex work and drug use venues, geo-mapping of sex work sites, review of media, public policy, and commissioned reports, and analyses of existing data.

Antibiotic sensitivities of Streptococcus pneumoniae, viridans streptococci, and group A hemolytic streptococci isolated from the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.

Objectives: To investigate antibiotic sensitivities of Streptococcus pneumoniae, viridans streptococci, and group A hemolytic streptococci isolated from the culture materials obtained from the sinuses of patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery due to chronic sinusitis.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 93 patients (63 males, 30 females; mean age 36+/-17.5; range 19 to 68 years) who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery due to chronic sinusitis.

Patterns of age mixing and sexually transmitted infections.

Age mixing is an important indicator of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence in partner pools. We use the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), a nationally representative sample of reproductive-age American women, to assess the extent of age mixing and to examine the association between age mixing and STI history. Almost half (48%) of the women in our sample report partnerships with much older or younger men.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with metabolic syndrome.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome has been found to play a critical role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this report is to assess the relationship between CRP and the metabolic syndrome.

Bacteremia during open septorhinoplasty.

Background: In this study, we aimed at determining the incidence of bacteremia during septoplasty and open septorhinoplasty.

Methods: The study included 60 patients (30 septoplasties and 30 open septorhinoplasties). Preoperative nasal cultures from the nasal cavity and vestibule were taken by using swabs, and blood cultures were obtained from peripheral veins preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.