Peer victimisation and its association with psychological and somatic health problems among adolescents in northern Russia.

Background: A growing body of evidence from countries around the world suggests that school-based peer victimisation is associated with worse health outcomes among adolescents. So far, however, there has been little systematic research on this phenomenon in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between peer victimisation at school and a range of different psychological and somatic health problems among Russian adolescents.

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in 8 countries of the former Soviet Union.

Background: Research suggests that since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been a sharp growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in some former Soviet countries. However, as yet, comparatively little is known about the use of CAM in the countries throughout this region. Against this background, the aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of using alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in eight countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU) and to examine factors associated with their use.

An accessory thyroid gland that presented tumor-like images.

A 26-year-old woman presented with right breast pain and itching. Incidentally, a firm, non-tender, movable mass (3 cm in diameter) located in the lower right part of the neck was identified by palpation. Ultrasonography revealed a clearly demarcated dumbbell-shaped mass with homogenous hypo- (cranial side) and hyper-echogenicity (caudal side) compared with the thyroid gland.

Interventions for improving outcomes for pregnant women who have experienced genital cutting.

Background: Female genital cutting (FGC) refers to all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. There are no known medical benefits to FGC, and it can be potentially dangerous for the health and psychological well-being of women and girls who are subjected to the practice resulting in short- and long-term complications. Health problems of significance associated with FGC faced by most women are maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, the need for assisted delivery and psychological distress.

Binge drinking among adolescents in Russia: prevalence, risk and protective factors.

Despite evidence that alcohol misuse has been having an increasingly detrimental effect on adolescent wellbeing in Russia in recent years this phenomenon has been little researched. Using data from 2112 children from the Arkhangelsk Social and Health Assessment (SAHA) 2003, this study examined which factors acted as 'risk' or 'protective' factors for adolescent binge drinking within three domains we termed the 'family environment', the 'alcohol environment' and 'deviant behaviour'. The results showed that in the presence of comparatively moderate levels of binge drinking among both boys and girls, being able to access alcohol easily, being unaware of the risks of binge drinking and having peers who consumed alcohol increased the risk of adolescent binge drinking - as did playing truant, smoking and marijuana use, while parental warmth was protective against binge drinking for girls.

Macrosomia in 23 developing countries: an analysis of a multicountry, facility-based, cross-sectional survey.

Background: Macrosomia is a risk factor for adverse delivery outcomes. We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and delivery outcomes of babies with macrosomia in 23 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Methods: We analysed data from WHO's Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health, which was a facility-based cross-sectional study that obtained data for women giving birth in 373 health facilities in 24 countries in Africa and Latin America in 2004-05, and in Asia in 2007-08.

The epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment and harm reduction programs.

Objectives: To estimate trends in the HIV epidemic in China, and explore the epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of expanded voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), antiretroviral treatment (ART), and harm reduction programs in preventing the spread of HIV.

Design And Methods: A mathematical model was developed and calibrated to reflect the dynamics of disease progression and transmission through sexual contacts and needle sharing in China, and the cost-effectiveness of four interventions was analyzed. Multivariate sensitivity analysis was used to estimate uncertainty ranges for all outcomes.

Differential regulation of osteoclastogenesis by Notch2/Delta-like 1 and Notch1/Jagged1 axes.

Introduction: Osteoclastogenesis plays an important role in the bone erosion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, Notch receptors have been implicated in the development of osteoclasts. However, the responsible Notch ligands have not been identified yet.

Behavioral interventions to reduce the transmission of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Various interventions have been adopted to reduce HIV transmission among sex workers and their clients but the effectiveness of these strategies has yet to be investigated using meta-analytic techniques.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to reduce the transmission of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients in low- and middle-income countries.

Search Methods: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane HIV/AIDS group specialized register, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, CINAHL, Dissertation Abstract International (DAI), EMBASE, LILACS, BIOSIS, SciSearch, INDMED, Proquest, and various South Asian abstracting databases were included in the database list.

Comparison between endoscope-assisted partial mastectomy with filling of dead space using absorbable mesh and conventional conservative method on cosmetic outcome in patients with stage I or II breast cancer.

Background: Studies comparing cosmetic outcome between conventional conservative method (CCM) and endoscope-assisted partial mastectomy (EAPM) are scarce.

Patients And Methods: A total of 111 patients with stage I or II breast cancer who underwent CCM (n=51) or EAPM (n=60) were reviewed. Evaluation of cosmetic outcome consisted of a 3-level scoring method; breast retraction assessment (0-2), nipple deviation (0-2), atrophy (0-2), skin change (0-2), and scar (0-2).

Expression of Notch receptors and ligands on immature and mature T cells.

Notch plays multiple roles in T cell development in the thymus and T cell differentiation in the periphery. In order to systematically examine the role of Notch in T cell biology, we determined the cell surface expression of all Notch receptors and ligands on various populations of T cells by using a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies we recently established. Notch1 and Notch3 were upregulated at double-negative (DN) 2-DN4 stages of immature thymocytes, then downregulated on mature single-positive thymocytes and peripheral T cells, but were rapidly upregulated again upon activation.

Prevalence and risk factors for third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations during vaginal delivery: a multi-country study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations in 24, mainly developing, countries.

Design: Analysis using cross-sectional data from the WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health.

Setting: Seven African, nine Asian and eight Latin American countries.

Regulation of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by anti-delta-like ligand 4 monoclonal antibody.

Purpose: To investigate the involvement of δ-like ligand (Dll)4 in the development of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in B10.RIII mice.

Methods: B10.

Notch1-mediated signaling induces MHC class II expression through activation of class II transactivator promoter III in mast cells.

Mast cells constitutively express Notch1 and Notch2 on the cell surface. Notch ligand Dll1 (Delta-like 1) stimulation induces MHC class II expression in mast cells and renders them as antigen-presenting cells. However, nothing is known about the mechanism by which Notch signaling induces MHC class II expression in mast cells.

Predictive value of weight loss on mortality of HIV-positive mothers in a prolonged breastfeeding setting.

HIV-positive lactating women may be at high risk of weight loss due to increased caloric requirements and postpartum physiological weight loss. Ten percent weight loss is associated with a higher risk of mortality in HIV-positive patients and this alone is a criterion for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation where CD4 counts are not available. However, no study has investigated this association in lactating postpartum women.

Morbidity among human immunodeficiency virus-exposed but uninfected, human immunodeficiency virus-infected, and human immunodeficiency virus-unexposed infants in Zimbabwe before availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major cause of pediatric morbidity in Africa. In addition, HIV-exposed, but uninfected (HEU) infants can comprise a substantial proportion of all infants born in high prevalence countries and may also be a vulnerable group with special health problems.

Methods: A total of 14,110 infants were recruited within 96 hours of birth between November 1996 and January 2000.

Effects of animal care procedures on plasma corticosterone levels in group-housed mice during the nocturnal active phase.

C57BL/6 mice were housed five per cage on a 12:12 h light/dark cycle. All animal care, including bed cleaning, was carried out during the nonactive phase. After 2 weeks, mean plasma corticosterone levels, collected during the nonactive (ZT6) and active (ZT18) phases, were 66.

Postpartum plasma CD4 change in HIV-positive women: implications for timing of HAART initiation.

CD4 counts increase during the postpartum period and may not correctly identify HAART-eligible HIV-positive women. HAART eligibility when defined by two CD4 cutoffs (<200 and <350 cells/microl) measured at two time points (within 96 h of delivery and 6 weeks) in postpartum HIV-positive women was compared. Among HIV-positive women who had CD4 at delivery and 6 weeks (n = 423), time to Stage 3 or 4 opportunistic infection or death was compared using Cox regression between three groups of women: (1) CD4 <200 cells/microl at delivery and 6 weeks, (2) CD4 <200 cells/microl at delivery but >or=200 cells/microl at 6 weeks, and (3) CD4 >or=200 cells/microl at delivery and at 6 weeks.

Notch2 signaling is required for potent antitumor immunity in vivo.

CD8(+) T cells play a central role in cancer immunosurveillance, and the efficient induction of CTLs against tumor Ags is required for successful immunotherapy for cancer patients. Notch signaling directly regulates the transcription of effector molecules in CTLs. However, it remains unclear whether Notch signaling in CD8(+) T cells is required for antitumor CTL responses and whether modulation of Notch signaling can augment antitumor CTL responses.

Development of monoclonal antibodies for analyzing immune and hematopoietic systems of common marmoset.

Objective: Common marmosets are considered experimental animals of primates useful for medical research. We developed several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to CD molecules to gain initial insight into the immune and hematopoietic systems of this organism, and analyzed the basic cellularity and characters of marmoset lymphocytes.

Materials And Methods: Anti-marmoset CD antigen mAbs were prepared using marmoset antigen-expressing transfectants and used for flow cytometric analyses and cell fractionation.

Distribution and excretion of bilberry anthocyanins [corrected] in mice.

The physiology and tissue distribution of bilberry anthocyanins were studied in mice. After oral administration of bilberry extract (100 mg/kg body weight), both unmodified and methylated anthocyanins appeared in the plasma. The plasma concentration of total anthocyanins reached a maximum of 1.

Effect of early exclusive breastfeeding on morbidity among infants born to HIV-negative mothers in Zimbabwe.

Background: Early exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended by the World Health Organization, but EBF rates remain low throughout the world. For infants born to breastfeeding HIV-positive mothers, early EBF is associated with a lower risk of postnatal transmission than is feeding breast milk together with other liquids or foods. No studies conducted in Africa have reported any benefits of EBF for infants born to HIV-negative women.

Eotaxin-1, -2, and -3 immunoreactivity and protein concentration in the nasal polyps of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by the accumulation of numerous eosinophils in the sinus mucosa and nasal polyps, which are frequently difficult to control, even with surgery. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression and localization of eotaxins, which are well known to be potent and selective chemoattractants for eosinophils in CRS.

Study Design: Randomized study.

Role of ephrinB2 in nonproductive angiogenesis induced by Delta-like 4 blockade.

Delta-like 4 (DLL4) is one of the Notch ligands and plays an important role in vascular development. DLL4 blockade inhibits tumor growth by promoting nonproductive angiogenesis, which is characterized by an increase in vascular density and decrease in tissue perfusion. However, a detailed mechanism remains unclear.