Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in swab specimens by the Hybrid Capture II and PACE 2 nucleic acid probe tests.

Background And Objectives: The Digene Hybrid Capture II (HC II) CT/GC Test (Digene Corp., Beltsville, MD) is a new nucleic acid signal amplification-based test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in specimens from the genital tract. For optimal results, the HC II CT/GC Test employs a special conical shaped brush for cervical specimen collection from nonpregnant women and swabs from pregnant women.

Squamous atypia in the atrophic cervical vaginal smear: a new look at an old problem.

Background: Squamous atypia in postmenopausal (PM) cervical vaginal smears (CVS) only rarely is associated with a biopsy-proven squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and thus most commonly represents an atrophy-associated benign reactive change.

Methods: To distinguish atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and SIL from atrophy-associated benign reactive changes, a review of atypical atrophic PM CVS was performed. Ninety CVS exhibiting an atrophic smear pattern were considered appropriate for study.

Localization of transforming growth factor-beta isotypes in lesions of the human breast.

Transforming growth factor-beta s (TGF-beta) comprise a highly conserved family of multifunctional cell regulatory peptides that may play a role in a variety of pathologic processes. To date, five TGF-beta isotypes have been identified, three of these in mammalian systems. A number of cultured human breast carcinoma cell lines produce biologically inactive latent TGF-beta and are growth inhibited by activated TGF-beta; TGF-beta production is estrogen-influenced in some of these cell lines.

Temporal associations of human papillomavirus infection with cervical cytologic abnormalities.

The relationship between infection with different human papillomavirus types and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was studied in a group of 398 women seen in a private gynecology practice in Washington, D.C. Each woman was assessed for human papillomavirus infection by Southern blot hybridization analysis of cervical cells obtained by swab.