A randomized controlled trial in non-responders from Newcastle upon Tyne invited to return a self-sample for Human Papillomavirus testing versus repeat invitation for cervical screening.

Background: Non-attenders for cervical screening are at increased risk of cervical cancer. Studies offering self-sampling for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HrHPV) testing have shown greater uptake than sending another invitation for cytology.

Objectives: To explore whether uptake would increase in a less diverse, more stable population than the previous English study, which demonstrated a lower response rate than other studies.

GnRH analogue remarkably down-regulates inflammatory proteins in peritoneal fluid proteome of women with endometriosis.

Objective: To determine the changes in the peritoneal fluid proteome of women with endometriosis determined by the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a).

Study Design: Peritoneal fluid samples were collected during laparoscopy from patients under GnRH-a and from women who did not receive any type of hormonal treatment in the 6 months before surgery. Samples were subjected to 2-D gel electrophoresis and compared by computerized analysis.

Proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluid in fertile and infertile women with endometriosis.

Objective: To evaluate the peritoneal fluid (PF) proteome of fertile and infertile women with endometriosis.

Study Design: PF samples were collected at laparoscopy from 26 fertile women and 26 infertile ones. Samples were subjected to 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared by computerized analysis.

Peritoneal fluid proteome in women with different ASRM stages of endometriosis.

Objective: Endometriosis has a wide range of severity but molecular factors associated with variable extension of the disease have not been widely investigated. The present study compares the peritoneal fluid (PF) proteome of 109 women with endometriosis and different disease stage as defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Methods: PF samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis; protein spots of interest were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Increased expression of one isoform of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein in peritoneal fluid of women with uterine leiomyomas.

Objective: To compare the peritoneal fluid (PF) proteome of women with and without uterine leiomyomas.

Study Design: PF samples were collected at laparoscopy from 14 women with uterine leiomyomas and 14 patients without leiomyomas who underwent tubal sterilization. PF samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, silver stained, digitally captured, and compared by computerised analysis.

Proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluid in women with endometriosis.

This study aims to evaluate differences in the expression of proteins present in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis. PF samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis; protein spots of interest were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Several molecules had aberrant expression in PF of women with endometriosis; they may be useful for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease.

Specific isoforms of leucine-rich alpha2-glycoprotein detected in the proliferative endometrium of women undergoing assisted reproduction are associated with spontaneous pregnancy.

Objective: To examine differences in specific protein expression from the surface of the human endometrium with respect to eventual pregnancy in infertile women.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: University hospital.

Haptoglobin beta chain isoforms in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

Objective: To estimate the expression of haptoglobin (Hp) beta chain isoforms in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma (PL) of women with and without endometriosis.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University hospital.

Vitamin D binding protein in endometriosis.

Objective: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is a powerful method for identifying post-translationally modified molecules in biological fluids. We examined the presence and expression of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma (PL) of women with endometriosis.

Methods: PL and PF samples were obtained from 36 women with untreated mild endometriosis (revised classification of the American Fertility Society [rAFS] stage I-II), 52 women with untreated severe endometriosis (rAFS stage III-IV), 17 women with endometriosis treated with the oral contraceptive (OC), and 40 controls (infertility, n = 23; tubal sterilization, n = 12; pelvic pain, n = 5).

Systematic review of ablative neurosurgical techniques for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

Objective: There are no randomized controlled trials comparing retrogasserian percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation, glycerol rhizolysis, balloon compression of the gasserian ganglion, and stereotactic radiosurgery, nor are there systematic reviews using predefined quality criteria. The objective of this study was to systematically identify all of the studies reporting outcomes and complications of ablative techniques for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, from the development of electronic databases, and to evaluate them with predefined quality criteria.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for the outcome analysis included thorough demographic documentation, defined diagnostic and outcome criteria, a minimum of 30 patients treated and median/mean follow-up times of 12 months, not more than 20% of patients lost to follow-up monitoring, Kaplan-Meier actuarial analysis of individual procedures, less than 10% of patients retreated because of failure or early recurrence, and a minimal dose of 70 Gy for stereotactic radiosurgery.

Effects of sevoflurane on dopamine, glutamate and aspartate release in an in vitro model of cerebral ischaemia.

Release of excitatory amino acids and dopamine plays a central role in neuronal damage after cerebral ischaemia. In the present study, we used an in vitro model of ischaemia to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on dopamine, glutamate and aspartate efflux from rat corticostriatal slices. Slices were superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid at 34 degrees C and episodes of 'ischaemia' were mimicked by removal of oxygen and reduction in glucose concentration from 4 to 2 mmol litre(-1) for < or = 30 min.

Nerve growth factor modulates the activation status and fast axonal transport of ERK 1/2 in adult nociceptive neurones.

Mature dorsal root ganglion cells respond to neurotrophins, and the intracellular signalling pathways activated by neurotrophins have been characterized in vitro. We have now used immunocytochemistry and Western blots to examine the expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1/2 (ERK) in rat dorsal root ganglion cells in vivo, using antisera to total (tERK) and phosphorylated (pERK) forms. This has revealed a number of novel findings.

Human IL-18 receptor and ST2L are stable and selective markers for the respective type 1 and type 2 circulating lymphocytes.

CD4(+) (Th) and CD8(+) (Tc) T and NK lymphocytes can be divided into type 1 and 2 subsets according to their cytokine secretion profile. Studies on the role of lymphocyte subsets in human diseases have been hampered by the lack of stable surface markers to define them. Recently, we reported that ST2L and IL-18R are stably expressed on murine Th2 and Th1 cells, respectively.

Oral anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of NK(1) receptor antagonists in models of inflammatory hyperalgesia of the guinea-pig.

The oral analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of NK(1) antagonists with species preference for the human receptor were assessed in (1) the carrageenan-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia and (2) Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced extravasation in the knee joint models of the guinea-pig, respectively. Mechanical hyperalgesia was determined by measuring the withdrawal threshold to a noxious mechanical stimulus applied to the paw and thermal hyperalgesia as the withdrawal latency to a noxious thermal stimulus applied to the plantar surface. A concentration of 1.

Co-localisation of CCG repeats and chromosome deletion breakpoints in Jacobsen syndrome: evidence for a common mechanism of chromosome breakage.

Folate-sensitive fragile sites are associated with the expansion and hypermethylation of CCG-repeats. The fragile site in 11q23.3, FRA11B, has been shown to cause chromosome deletions in vivo, its expression being associated with Jacobsen (11q-) syndrome.

Rapid antibody response to influenza vaccination in "at risk" groups.

Persons attending for routine influenza vaccination in an urban practice each provided three specimens of blood for evaluating their immunological response. 138 (67%) of the 206 persons were defined as "at risk" by reason of morbidity as given in the guidelines published by the Chief Medical Officer. The mean age was 67 yr and 65% were aged 65 yr or more.

The role of twin studies in the genetics of skin diseases.

With advances in molecular biology and statistical techniques, gene discovery is moving at a fast pace. Most skin diseases have a complex mode of inheritance and the twin design is the ideal model to dissect the genetic architecture. Use of the twin pairings in a variety of ways for associations and linkage studies can enhance gene discovery.

Employment, attitudes toward work, and quality of life among people with schizophrenia in three countries.

This study examines attitudes toward work, work incentives, and the impact of work on quality of life for people with schizophrenia, and investigates whether these findings differ among Western countries. We interviewed 24 randomly selected subjects with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (12 employed and 12 unemployed) at each of three sites: Boulder, Colorado, United States; Berlin, Germany; and Berne, Switzerland. No significant differences were found in the subjects' attitudes toward work or subjective well-being, although Swiss patients had a higher cost-of-living-adjusted income.

The role of endothelial cell products in the regulation of adrenocortical function: actions of endothelin, nitric oxide, adrenomedullin and PAMP.

There is evidence to suggest that the cells of the vascular endothelium secrete factors, including endothelin-1, nitric oxide, adrenomedullin and PAMP which have a role in regulating adrenal function. There is strong evidence from many studies that each of these factors is able to affect aldosterone secretion, with much less evidence relating to glucocorticoid secretion. The recent evidence suggests that both adrenomedullin and PAMP, like endothelin-1, stimulate aldosterone secretion.

An innovation in the assessment of future dentists.

'The assessment of students is a serious and often tragic enterprise.' The central question in assessment is 'What is one trying to assess?'. Is it factual knowledge, ability to apply and problem solve, clinical competencies or indeed other attributes? The domain being assessed requires appropriate methods.

Effect of prefabricated bar design with implant-stabilized prostheses on ridge resorption: a clinical report.

This investigation was concerned with the resorption of the posterior mandibular residual ridge in patients wearing mandibular overdentures supported by either parallel-sided bars (rigid joint) or oval straight bars (resilient joint) on two activated implants. Rotational tomographs were taken shortly after implant placement and up to 8 years later. Using proportional measurement, the area of residual ridge was measured in bilateral posterior areas.

Analysis of TH1 and TH2 cytokine production in low grade B cell gastric MALT-type lymphomas stimulated in vitro with Helicobacter pylori.

Previous studies have suggested that the dependence of low grade B cell gastric lymphoma on infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori results from help provided by H pylori specific tumour infiltrating T cells. ELISPOT analysis was used to characterise functional subpopulations of tumour infiltrating T cells. The production of the TH1 cytokine interferon gamma and TH2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were measured in tumour cell suspensions from two cases of low grade B cell gastric lymphoma, one case of thyroid gland lymphoma, and one case of salivary gland lymphoma.

Enteropathy in Zambians with HIV related diarrhoea: regression modelling of potential determinants of mucosal damage.

Background: AIDS is characterised by small intestinal mucosal damage, but its aetiopathogenesis is poorly understood. Enteric infections in Africa differ from those in northern countries, where protozoan infections have been associated with severe enteropathy in AIDS patients.

Aims: To characterise enteropathy in Zambian AIDS patients compared with local controls, and to assess relative contributions of enteric infection, nutritional impairment, and immune dysfunction.