Evaluating societal preferences for human papillomavirus vaccine and cervical smear test screening programme.

Background: Cervical cancer and genital warts are diseases associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Cervical smear testing is used as a cervical cancer screening tool in most countries worldwide. The newly introduced vaccines that prevent HPV infections are the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil), which prevents genital warts and cervical cancer, and the bivalent vaccine (Cervarix), which prevents cervical cancer only.

Hematologic improvement in dogs with parvovirus infection treated with recombinant canine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.

Previously, dogs with canine parvovirus-induced neutropenia have not responded to treatment with recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). However, recombinant canine G-CSF (rcG-CSF) has not been previously evaluated for treatment of parvovirus-induced neutropenia in dogs. We assessed the effectiveness of rcG-CSF in dogs with parvovirus-induced neutropenia with a prospective, open-label, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid dietary supplementation induces lipid peroxidation in normal dogs.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory effects at low concentrations; however increased dietary consumption may conversely increase susceptibility to oxidation by free radicals. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of PUFAs on selective oxidative injury and inflammatory biomarkers in canine urine and serum. Dogs (n = 54) consumed a diet supplemented with 0.

A population-based evaluation of a publicly funded, school-based HPV vaccine program in British Columbia, Canada: parental factors associated with HPV vaccine receipt.

Background: Information on factors that influence parental decisions for actual human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine receipt in publicly funded, school-based HPV vaccine programs for girls is limited. We report on the level of uptake of the first dose of the HPV vaccine, and determine parental factors associated with receipt of the HPV vaccine, in a publicly funded school-based HPV vaccine program in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods And Findings: All parents of girls enrolled in grade 6 during the academic year of September 2008-June 2009 in the province of British Columbia were eligible to participate.

A randomized controlled trial of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing for cervical cancer screening: trial design and preliminary results (HPV FOCAL Trial).

Background: In the HPV FOCAL trial, we will establish the efficacy of hr-HPV DNA testing as a stand-alone screening test followed by liquid based cytology (LBC) triage of hr-HPV-positive women compared to LBC followed by hr-HPV triage with > or = CIN3 as the outcome.

Methods/design: HPV-FOCAL is a randomized, controlled, three-armed study over a four year period conducted in British Columbia. It will recruit 33,000 women aged 25-65 through the province's population based cervical cancer screening program.

Primary health care: applying the principles within a community-based participatory health research project that began in a Canadian women's prison.

Objectives: the purpose of this research was to determine the feasibility of engaging incarcerated women in community-based participatory research and to identify, by and with the women, the health concerns to be addressed.

Design: the integration of primary health care, community-based participatory research, a settings approach to health promotion and transformative action research guided the overall design of this study.

Participants: Incarcerated women, correctional centre staff and academic researchers participated collaboratively.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 neutralizing antibodies in prenatal women in British Columbia.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and 18 neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers were measured in 1,020 prenatal women in British Columbia aged 15 to 39. HPV 16 and 18 NAbs were detected in 183/1,020 (17.9%) and 97/1,020 (9.

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus in 5,000 British Columbia women--implications for vaccination.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence studies performed in different regions and population groups across Canada would inform public health decisions regarding implementation of anti-HPV vaccines.

Methods: A total of 8,700 liquid-based specimens from 8,660 women aged 13-86 from throughout British Columbia were collected. DNA was isolated from 4,980 of these samples and assessed for HPV prevalence and type distribution.

A population-based study of infectious syphilis rediagnosis in British Columbia, 1995-2005.

Background: The Canadian province of British Columbia has experienced an ongoing heterosexual infectious syphilis epidemic since July 1997. In this study, we sought to characterize individuals who received a diagnosis of syphilis more than once in a cohort of reported cases from 1995 through 2005 in British Columbia.

Methods: Data for all cases of primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis from 1 January 1995 through 31 December 2005 were extracted from the British Columbia Provincial Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Database.

Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine: a systematic review.

The recent approval of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine means that decision makers need information beyond that available from randomized clinical trials to recommend funding for this vaccination programme. Modelling and economic studies have addressed some of those information needs. We conducted a qualitative systematic review to summarize the existing data.

Immunization in pregnancy.

Objective: To review the evidence and provide recommendations on immunization in pregnancy.

Outcomes: Outcomes evaluated include effectiveness of immunization, and risks and benefits for mother and fetus.

Evidence: The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published up to June 2007 on the topic of immunization in pregnancy.

Self-collection of genital human papillomavirus specimens in heterosexual men.

Background: We assessed the accuracy of self-collected human papillomavirus (HPV) specimens in men compared with clinician-collected specimens from men in British Columbia and determined the prevalence of HPV subtypes at different male genital sites.

Methods: Heterosexual men were recruited at the Provincial Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Clinic in Vancouver, Canada. Participants were randomly assigned to conduct self-collection or clinician-collected specimens first.

Epidemiology and costs associated with genital warts in Canada.

Background: Genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) remain one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections (STI) worldwide. Most genital warts are caused by non-oncogenic human papilloma virus. Recurrence is common and many patients receive several rounds of treatment.

Masitinib is safe and effective for the treatment of canine mast cell tumors.

Background: Activation of the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with the development of canine mast cell tumors (MCT).

Hypothesis/objective: To evaluate the efficacy of masitinib, a potent and selective inhibitor of KIT, in the treatment of canine MCT.

Animals: Two hundred and two client-owned dogs with nonmetastatic recurrent or nonresectable grade II or III MCT.

Seeking sexual partners on the internet: a marker for risky sexual behaviour in men who have sex with men.

Objective: In order to generate a generalizable estimate regarding risk for STI and HIV acquisition in men who have sex with men (MSM) who seek partners on the internet, we examined the sexual practices of MSM who seek partners on the internet compared to MSM who do not, using a community-based sample of MSM from British Columbia.

Methods: 'Sex Now', a questionnaire that was developed to examine trends in sexual behaviour in gay men, was offered to men attending Gay Pride events throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada between May and August 2004. Logistic regression analysis was used to model the association between seeking sexual partners online and other variables of interest, using odds ratio as the measure of association.

Protecting the next generation: what is the role of the duration of human papillomavirus vaccine-related immunity?

Background: There is strong evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for the development of cervical cancer. A prophylactic HPV vaccine with high reported efficacy was approved in North America in 2006.

Methods: A mathematical model of HPV transmission dynamics was used to simulate different scenarios of natural disease outcomes and intervention strategies.

Intention of parents to have male children vaccinated with the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Background: Although already approved for use in males in some jurisdictions, there is little information about parental attitudes toward having their sons receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The goal of this study was to ascertain parental intentions to vaccinate their sons with an HPV vaccine and to determine factors that predict this intention.

Methods: Parents of children aged 8-18 years were recruited from across Canada through random digit dialling.

Perceptions of sexual partner safety.

Background: Many individuals select sexual partners based on assumed partner STI/HIV safety, yet few studies have investigated how these assumptions are formed. The objective of this research was to determine the extent to which partner safety beliefs were used to evaluate partner safety, and whether these beliefs influenced perceptions of personal STI/HIV risk.

Methods: Participants (n = 317) recruited from an STI clinic completed a structured self-report questionnaire.

Magnetorotational-type instability in Couette-Taylor flow of a viscoelastic polymer liquid.

We describe an instability of viscoelastic Couette-Taylor flow that is directly analogous to the magnetorotational instability (MRI) in astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics, with polymer molecules playing the role of magnetic field lines. By determining the conditions required for the onset of instability and the properties of the preferred modes, we distinguish it from the centrifugal and elastic instabilities studied previously. Experimental demonstration and investigation should be much easier for the viscoelastic instability than for the MRI in a liquid metal.

James Clerk Maxwell and the dynamics of astrophysical discs.

Maxwell's investigations into the stability of Saturn's rings provide one of the earliest analyses of the dynamics of astrophysical discs. Current research in planetary rings extends Maxwell's kinetic theory to treat dense granular gases of particles undergoing moderately frequent inelastic collisions. Rather than disrupting the rings, local instabilities may be responsible for generating their irregular radial structure.

Trends in sexual health and risk behaviours among adolescent students in British Columbia.

Regular monitoring of trends in sexual health and sexual behaviours among adolescents provides strong evidence to guide intervention programs and health policies. Using the province-wide, school-based British Columbia (BC) Adolescent Health Surveys of 1992, 1998, and 2003, this study documented the trends in sexual health and risk behaviours among adolescents in grades 7 to 12 in BC, and explored the associations between sexual behaviours and key risk and protective factors. From 1992 to 2003, the percentage of youth who had ever had sexual intercourse decreased for both males (33.

Parental intention to have daughters receive the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Background: Concerns have been raised that parents may be reluctant to have their daughters receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, because of a belief that doing so might be interpreted as condoning earlier and more frequent sexual activity. We determined intentions regarding vaccination among Canadian parents and factors that predicted parental intention to have their daughters vaccinated against HPV.

Methods: Parents of children 8-18 years of age, recruited from across Canada, were asked to respond to questions in the context of a grade 6, publicly funded, school-based HPV vaccine program.

Feasibility of self-collection of specimens for human papillomavirus testing in hard-to-reach women.

To study the feasibility of self-collected specimens for testing human papillomavirus (HPV) status among hard-to-reach women, outreach nurses recruited women in women's centres, shelters and alleys in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Of the 151 participants for whom samples were available, 43 (28.5%) tested positive for high-risk HPV.