Prevalence and cytologic manifestations of human papilloma virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, and 56 among 500 consecutive women.

The prevalence and associated cytologic manifestations of cervical infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, and 56 were studied among 500 consecutive women attending the Harborview Medical Center Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Clinic in Seattle, WA. Using radiolabeled-probes without prior amplification of DNA, HPV DNA was detected in cervical specimens from 120 (24%) of the women and was found to be more prevalent than Chlamydia trachomatis (13%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (12%), or mucopurulent cervicitis (20%). High-risk HPV types 16 or 18 were present alone in 5% of the women; intermediate-risk types 31, 33, 35, 45, 51, 52, or 56 in 3%; and low-risk types 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44 in 5%. In an additional 8% HPV DNA was detected but could be characterized only as being type 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, or 35. Each grouping of HPV types was equally associated with squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) of the cervix. In the absence of SIL and koilocytosis, the cytologic changes associated with HPV infection included frequent binucleation and variation in nuclear size and chromatin distribution. Parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis without nuclear atypia were not associated with HPV DNA. The natural history and clinical significance of these HPV-associated lesions remain to be defined.     

Cystosarcoma phyllodes: epidemiology, pathohistology, pathobiology, diagnosis, therapy, and survival

Cystosarcoma phyllodes is a very rare tumor which maybe difficult to diagnose clinically. The epidemiology and pathobiology are different from those of breast carcinoma. Risk factors, multicentricity, bilaterality, as associated with breast carcinoma, are not observed in patients with cystosarcoma phyllodes. Although the term "sarcoma" indicates a malignant tumor, only 10%-30% of cystosarcomas are histologically diagnosed as malignant; clinical diagnosis of malignancy does not exceed 10%. Axillary node involvement is rare, but hematogenous spread of cystosarcoma occurs into lung, pleura, bone, and liver. Clinically, cystosarcoma is a large (usually 3-5 cm in diameter) painless tumor with sudden growth acceleration especially during pregnancy. Cystosarcoma is usually circumscribed, containing firm and soft areas. The differential diagnosis has to include fibroadenoma, fibrocystic disease, mastitis, abscess, and medullary carcinoma. Neither clinical, mammographic or sonographic signs exist to predict a benign or malignant tumor. Therapy of cystosarcoma is not uniformly agreed upon. Radical, modified-radical, and simple mastectomy and tumorectomy are typical treatments; therapeutic results are the same for each treatment modality. For histologically diagnosed malignant cystosarcoma, the relative 5-year survival rate is about 80%. Clinically, malignant metastatic cystosarcoma is incurable; radiotherapy, endocrine treatment, and polychemotherapy are all ineffective. Because of the specific tumor pathobiology of cystosarcoma and its rarity, evaluation of treatment modalities and comparison of survival rates are difficult.     

Use of anti-infective agents during lactation: Part 2--Aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and metronidazole.

Because many antibiotics are excreted into breast milk, it can be difficult for a practitioner to choose an antibiotic for a lactating patient that will have minimal risks to her nursing infant. This article is the second of a three-part series discussing the use of anti-infective agents during lactation. The authors review general information regarding use and common side effects for several classes of antibiotics. They also summarize information, including documented milk concentrations, milk-to-plasma ratios, and other pharmacokinetic properties, in a table that can help practitioners choose antibiotics that may be considered safe to use in the lactating mother.     

Severe, gestational, non-familial, non-genetic hypertriglyceridemia

Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a rare condition in pregnancy. All the cases of severe gestational hypertriglyceridemia that have been reported previously in the literature were caused by genetic mutations or familial hypertriglyceridemia secondary to lipoprotein lipase deficiency or apolipoprotein C-II deficiency. We report the first case of severe, non-genetic, non-familial, pregnancy-induced hypertriglyceridemia. The genetic underlying causes were excluded by molecular genetic investigation. The reported case was managed solely by strict dietary control. Hypertriglyceridemia was diagnosed incidentally during pregnancy, in this case, while taking a blood sample to check her hemoglobin level. Acute pancreatitis, which is a relatively common life threatening complication of this condition, was avoided. This report reviews the subtypes of hyperlipidemia, clinical picture, antenatal management and its effect on pregnancy and vice versa. It is important that the clinician has a clear understanding of the normal lipid profile during pregnancy, the clinical picture, the potential complications, available treatment options of hypertriglyceridemia particularly during pregnancy. The timing and route of delivery should be individualized.     

Seroprevalence of other antibodies (herpes, CMV, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, chlamydia, mumps, toxoplasmosis) in HIV-positive patients

We attempted to determine the seropositivity of HIV-positive patients to other antibodies (herpes, CMV, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, chlamydia, mumps, toxoplasmosis). The study was carried out at the Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 70 patients (50 females and 20 males) attending the centre between June 1997 and December 2005 who were screened and found to be HIV-seropositive were further screened for herpes simplex IgG/IgM, CMV IgG/IgM, rubella IgG/IgM, varicella IgG/IgM, mumps IgG/IgM, toxoplasmosis IgG/IgM, chlamydia IgG/IgM, hepatitis B and hepatitis C IgG/IgM using ELISA kits and syphilis (THPA) using the HAE method. Our study showed that a large number of HIV-positive patients are carriers of other antibodies and should be screened for them before therapy.     

Contraceptive knowledge and behavior of conventionalists, careerists, idealists, bouncers, desperadoes, and outsiders

The aim of the survey was to determine the contraceptive behavior and knowledge on contraceptive methods of adolescents. We defined six clusters according to personality, leisure activities, and sociodemographic characteristics: conventionalists, careerists, idealists, bouncers, desperadoes, and outsiders. 1010 Austrian adolescents aged 14–24 years participated in the survey. 96%–100% indicated that they were familiar with the condom and the contraceptive pill. The two most popular contraceptive methods cited were the condom (39%) and OC (34%). Whereas 40% of conventionalists reported that OC were their preferred method of contraception, 53% of idealists indicated that they preferred the condom. 66% of the desperadoes indicated that they considered the pill expensive. 85% of conventionalists and careerists believe that OC offer the best protection against pregnancy. Clusters with higher self-esteem and those with a higher educational level were more likely to believe that this method is unreliable. The results obtained indicate that outsiders, desperatoes, and bouncers show deficits in sex education; only careerists and idealists appeared to be better informed. Research on adolescent contraceptive behavior should drop the traditional stratifying criteria and appreciate the diversity of adolescent populations in order to be better able to classify adolescents according to their contraceptive attitudes. Received: 22 March 1999 / Accepted: 24 March 1999     

Effects of race, ethnicity, gender, culture, literacy, and social marketing on public health

Societies globally have a long road ahead in eliminating health risks and discrepancies due to race and ethnicity, gender, culture, and illiteracy. In terms of race, for example, females and African-Americans are less likely to be referred for cardiac catheterization, and Caucasians are more likely than minorities to receive pain management in the emergency room. Regarding gender, physiologic differences certainly account for some divergent health outcomes, but they do not explain how women and men have different prevalences of diseases that are not obviously gender-specific. Cultural beliefs play a vital role in determining health choices, and health care professionals need a deeper understanding of these beliefs prior to promoting certain health interventions. Illiteracy may also prevent a person from following health instructions, and the strong association between illiteracy and poverty may exert powerful, negative influences on health outcomes. Employing the characteristics of social marketing (synchronous messages, reinforcement, and actionability) may help society to overcome some of the obstacles.