A study in sexual health applying the principles of community-based participatory research.

The principles of community-based participatory research were applied to an exploratory sexual health study that examined "cruising for sex" among men on a college campus. In the context of a study seeking a broad interpretation of the health implications of cruising, and when faced with methodological challenges, the researchers found these principles to provide invaluable guidance. A review of the research process is offered and the manner in which the principles of community-based participatory research were operationalized for this study is described.

Exploring the physical, mental and social well-being of gay and bisexual men who cruise for sex on a college campus.

A mixed methods design was used to collect data from 30 men who were currently, or had a history of, participating in anonymous public sex in college campus venues. Data were analyzed to assess the extent to which participation in these behaviors was associated with both positive and negative outcomes across the areas of physical health, mental health and social well-being. Findings indicated that cruising for sex on a college campus simultaneously presents challenges to, and supports, the health of gay and bisexual men.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor occurs in a perinuclear endosome compartment in human embryonic kidney 293 cells.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) is a negative regulator of insulin signaling. It is thought to carry out this role by interacting with and dephosphorylating the activated insulin receptor (IR). However, little is known regarding the nature of the cellular interaction between these proteins, especially because the IR is localized to the plasma membrane and PTP-1B to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma bacteria in amniotic fluid at the time of genetic amniocentesis using the polymerase chain reaction.

Objective: To use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of bacteria and Mycoplasma in amniotic fluid at the time of genetic amniocentesis and to assess their relationship to amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration and preterm delivery.

Study Design: A prospective study was performed on 78 asymptomatic pregnancies presenting for genetic amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid samples were analyzed by PCR for the detection of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA, by PCR/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Mycoplasma and by ELISA analysis for IL-6 concentration.

HIV-related mental health care: factors influencing dropout among low-income, HIV-positive individuals.

A prospective design was used to collect data from 132 HIV-positive individuals presenting for mental health care at an inner-city HIV-related mental health clinic located in a large metropolitan area of the Southeastern USA. Data were analyzed to assess associations between study variables and whether participants returned for care following an initial mental health assessment. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the extent to which the addition of measures of health beliefs and HIV-related stigma would enhance the predictive capacity of a dropout model that included demographics and health status measures.

The role of selective oestrogen receptor modulators in the treatment of endometrial bleeding in women using long-acting progestin contraception.

This paper explores the concept that endometrial breakthrough bleeding results from the stimulatory effects of oestrogen in the endometrium. Though 'progestin-only' contraceptive regimens have long been associated with user dissatisfaction because of unpredictable vaginal bleeding, it is likely that the substantial contribution of endogenous ovarian oestradiol during such treatments predisposes the bleeding problems. Oestrogen causes endometrial proliferation, hyperplasia and neoplasia if unopposed.

A rapid immunoassay predicts BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in buccal cells.

We developed a rapid, non-invasive, and inexpensive, assay capable of identifying BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) mutations in buccal cells. To determine the predictive value of this immunoassay, a double blind study of 13 high risk individuals was conducted by two independent teams. As greater than 90% of BRCA mutations result in protein truncations, a diminished anti-carboxy immunoreactivity relative to anti-amino immunoreactivity was scored as predictive for mutation.

Immunohistochemical analysis of BRCA2 expression in normal human buccal cells.

Previously we demonstrated that protein coded by the BRCA1 gene was expressed in normal human buccal cells. The present study confirmed that BRCA2 protein was similarly expressed in these cells. Messenger RNA for BRCA2 was detected with sequential use of two primer sets.

An antibody assay predictive of BRCA1 mutations in ovarian tumors and normal tissue.

To determine whether immunohistochemistry can identify BRCA1 mutations, immunohistochemical (IH) analysis was undertaken on paraffin sections of paired ovarian cancer and normal tissue using antibodies against both terminal regions of the BRCA1 protein. Ten patients at risk for BRCA1 mutations were studied. The results of BRCA1 mutation analysis and IH were compared.

Modified minimum-distance criterion for blended random and nonrandom encoding.

Two pixel-oriented methods for designing Fourier transform holograms--pseudorandom encoding and minimum-distance encoding-usually produce higher-fidelity reconstructions when combined than those produced by each method individually. In previous studies minimum-distance encoding was defined as the mapping from the desired complex value to the closest value produced by the modulator. This method is compared with a new minimum-distance criterion in which the desired complex value is mapped to the closest value that can be realized by pseudorandom encoding.

Functional characterization of ORCTL2--an organic cation transporter expressed in the renal proximal tubules.

Chromosome 11p15.5 harbors a gene or genes involved in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome that confer(s) susceptibility to Wilms' tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, and hepatoblastoma. We have previously identified a transcript at 11p15.

Immunohistochemical analysis of BRCA1 expression in normal human buccal cells.

While tumor suppressor properties of BRCA1 are well documented, less is understood concerning the normal function of this protein in healthy adult tissues. We demonstrate here that BRCA1 protein is expressed in human buccal cells. Expression of BRCA1 mRNA transcripts in buccal cells was confirmed by PCR of reverse transcribed RNA.

Chronic antiprogestin therapy produces a stable atrophic endometrium with decreased fibroblast growth factor: a 1-year primate study on contraception and amenorrhea.

Objective: To describe the efficacy of mifepristone in the prevention of menstrual bleeding and ovulation, with similar observations in comparison groups.

Design: Prospective experimental study. Thirty-two cynomolgus monkeys were divided equally into four treatment groups (n = 8).

Divergently transcribed overlapping genes expressed in liver and kidney and located in the 11p15.5 imprinted domain.

Human chromosomal band 11p15.5 has been shown to contain genes involved in the development of several pediatric and adult tumors and in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). Overlapping P1 artificial chromosome clones from this region have been used as templates for genomic sequencing in an effort to identify candidate genes for these disorders.

Pelvic adhesions contain sex steroid receptors and produce angiogenesis growth factors.

Objective: To evaluate female pelvic adhesion tissue for the presence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), basic fibroblastic growth factor (basic-FGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Patients at a tertiary medical center.

The murine Sim-2 gene product inhibits transcription by active repression and functional interference.

The Drosophila single-minded (Dsim) gene encodes a master regulatory protein involved in cell fate determination during midline development. This protein is a member of a rapidly expanding family of gene products possessing basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and hydrophobic PAS (designated a conserved region among PER, ARNT [aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator] and SIM) protein association domains. Members of this family function as central transcriptional regulators in cellular differentiation and in the response to environmental stimuli such as xenobiotics and hypoxia.

Maternal and perinatal long-chain fatty acids: possible roles in preterm birth.

Objective: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate whether maternal and fetal omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid status play possible roles in the pathogenesis of preterm birth.

Study Design: Essential fatty acid status in blood and trophoblast tissues was measured in (1) women and their newborns with spontaneous preterm birth and (2) control women and newborns at 34 weeks' gestation (maternal blood) and at term delivery.

Results: Thirty-seven preterm (mean gestational age 34 weeks) and 34 control mother-baby dyads (gestational age 40 weeks) were evaluated.

Prostaglandins in selected reproductive tissues in preterm and full-term gestations.

We investigated differences in maternal plasma and trophoblast prostaglandin metabolism associated with preterm births. Tissue prostaglandins (PGs) E2 and F2 alpha and the stable plasma PGF2 alpha metabolite, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha, were measured in preterm (< 37 weeks) and term (< or = 37 weeks) births. Amnion PGE2 in preterm (106.

Persistence of infertility in GnRH immunized male rats treated with subdermal implants of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Male hormonal contraception has been limited to date because two fundamental requirements have not been concurrently satisfied, these are, consistent and dependable azoospermia and infertility coupled with maintenance of libido. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which implants of potent androgen (DHT) will restore androgenization and spermatogenesis in hypogonadotropic infertile male rats. Twenty-five sexually mature male rats of proven fertility were actively immunized against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce azoospermia.

Characterization of msim, a murine homologue of the Drosophila sim transcription factor.

Mutations in the Drosophila single-minded (sim) gene result in loss of precursor cells that give rise to midline cells of the embryonic central nervous system. During the course of an exon-trapping strategy aimed at identifying transcripts that contribute to the etiology and pathophysiology of Down syndrome, we identified a human exon from the Down syndrome critical region showing significant homology to the Drosophila sim gene. Using a cross-hybridization approach, we have isolated a murine homolog of the Drosophila sim gene, which we designated msim.

MDM2 overexpression in benign and malignant lesions of the human breast.

MDM2 overexpression has been detected in women with benign or cancerous lesions of the breast. Immunohistochemical methods were used to identify overexpression in 11 of 27 benign cases (41%) and 15 of 22 (68%) cancer cases. MDM2 overexpression correlated well with immunohistochemically detected estrogen receptor (ER), suggesting that expression of these proteins was coordinately regulated.

Deletion of tp53 exon-1 in human epithelial ovarian-cancer.

In ovarian cancer, allelic loss within 17p 13.1-13.3, which contains the tumor suppressor TP53, occurs with a frequency of 66%, and mutations within conserved TP53 exons are reported in approximately 50% of cases.

Maintenance of sexual function with testosterone in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunized hypogonadotropic infertile male rat.

We have previously shown that active immunization against GnRH in the mature male rat can predictably produce hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and azoospermia and, further, that normospermia and normal fertility can be restored by testosterone (T) administration alone. The objective of this study was to explore the hypothesis that GnRH-immunized azoospermic rats could be supplemented with T doses sufficient to restore sexual behavior, but insufficient to support adequate spermatogenesis or to allow restoration of fertility. Adult male rats of proven fertility were immunized against GnRH and supplemented with 2-, 4-, or 8-cm T implants or with empty implants.