Early embryonic loss associated with immune activation in cattle and sheep

Increased peripheral NK cells in aborting women are considered as a predictor of immunological miscarriages. Here, we investigated the diagnostic value of the NK count at the time of abortion. Peripheral NK cells were counted by flow cytometry in 44 women undergoing therapeutic termination of first trimester missed pregnancy (A = 24) or elective abortion (B = 20). Histology of the extracted material was performed and immunological lesions (villitis, intervillositis, vascular thrombosis, increased fibrinoid necrosis) were recorded. Twenty first trimester pregnant women (C1) and 20 nonpregnant women (C2) served as controls. In 20 women of groups A and B (A1 = 10, B2 = 10) count was repeated after 5 days. At abortion time, the NK percentage and number did not differ between groups A and B (18.18%, 360 versus 15.61%, 374), but there was a statistically significant difference between A and C1 (18.18% versus 13.6%, P < 0.03). When histology negative (11) and positive (8) cases were excluded from groups A and B, respectively, NKs were slightly higher in group A (18.18–19.76%) and significantly lower in B (15.61–13.07%, P < 0.05). At the time of second count, aborters' NKs decreased (A1 = 16.64 versus 13.6 and 10.6 in groups C1 and C2 –P = 0.01, respectively). In group B, NK percentage was equal to that of nonpregnant women (10.94 versus 10.6). At the time of abortions, NKs increase only in cases of immune‐mediated miscarriages. Their – in time – count may contribute to the diagnosis of immmunological abortions.     

Sources of stress in Australian adolescents: factor structure and stability over time

Adolescent stress is an emerging area of importance in considerations of the health of young people. Exposure to stress predicts a range of both physical and mental health problems in adolescents and relates, as well, to the initiation of important health risk behaviours. Yet the measurement of stress in adolescents has been as fraught with methodological difficulty as it has been for adults. This paper examines the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) which was developed specifically to address the domain of stressors specific to adolescent experience and looks at three cohorts of responses to this questionnaire over time (1995, 1998 and 2001). It assesses the stability of the original 7‐factor structure of the ASQ over time, and while confirmatory factor analysis indicates that stability to be acceptable, it also suggests that either adolescent stressors themselves, or the language by which they are reported, vary sufficiently over time to warrant the refinement of the instrument. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Maxillary sinus puncture and culture in the diagnosis of acute rhinosinusitis: the case for pursuing alternative culture methods.

OBJECTIVE: Traditional assessments of the microbial flora associated with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis have relied on maxillary sinus punctures (taps) and culture. These taps are now considered the gold standard for obtaining cultures and are used as the method of identifying bacterial pathogens in antimicrobial trials. Maxillary sinus taps are limited by discomfort to the patients and technical concerns. Because of these factors, the standard of performing taps has limited antibiotic trials and microbial surveillance. Alternatives to maxillary sinus taps have been explored. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective, systematic review of the literature from 1950 to 2000 of articles comparing culture techniques in the nose and paranasal sinuses for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. RESULTS: Nasal cultures have poor correlation to maxillary sinus cultures, whereas there is 60% to 85% concordance between endoscopically guided middle meatal cultures and maxillary sinus cultures. These studies, however, are all limited by small sample sizes and therefore are inadequate to make any concrete recommendations regarding the relative role of endoscopically guided middle meatal cultures as a formal method of pathogen identification in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. CONCLUSION: A formal prospective study with sufficient sample size to assess the concordance between the microbial flora of the maxillary sinus punctures and middle meatal cultures in acute rhinosinusitis is recommended.     

Comparison of ThinPrep versus conventional smear cytopreparatory techniques for fine-needle aspiration specimens of head and neck masses.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnostic accuracy of the ThinPrep process (Cytyc, Boxborough, MA) was compared with that of conventional (smear) cytopreparation for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of head and neck masses. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study, 209 patients served as their own controls and underwent 236 FNAs using ThinPrep and conventional (smear) cytopreparatory techniques. RESULTS: ThinPrep produced less air-drying artifact and less mechanical distortion than the conventional method. The conventional technique was diagnostic in 63% of samples; the ThinPrep technique was diagnostic in 55% of samples. When all results were combined, pathologists subjectively preferred the conventional technique but accepted use of ThinPrep as the only cytopreparatory technique for most head and neck masses. CONCLUSIONS: For adequately experienced cytopathologists, ThinPrep is acceptable for FNA of salivary masses, neck cysts, metastatic lymph nodes, and thyroid lesions. Conventional smear technique should be used for FNA of nonmetastatic lymphoid lesions. Use of ThinPrep can complement use of the conventional (smear) cytopreparatory technique when aspirate is nondiagnostic or bloody, when the patient has a blood-borne infectious disease, when the clinician is inexperienced, or when aspirate has entered the syringe.     

No impact of repeated endoscopic screens on gastric cancer mortality in a prospectively followed Chinese population at high risk.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in China. Our study prospectively evaluated the impact of repeated endoscopic screens on GC mortality in a high-risk population in China. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1999, a population-based gastroscopic screening was conducted in 4,394 residents of Linqu County, China, a region with the highest rates of GC worldwide. Residents ages 35 to 64 years received initial gastroscopies with biopsies in 1989. Repeated endoscopies were performed in 1994 and 1999. Cancer occurrences and deaths were actively monitored throughout the entire period until July 2000. Mortality from GC was compared with expected values based on mortality rates obtained for Linqu in the 1990-1992 Chinese Cancer Mortality Survey. RESULTS: Between March 1989 and July 2000, 39,303 person-years were accumulated; 85 new GCs occurred, 29 (34.5%) were in early stage. Fifty-eight cases (68%) were identified at one of the screens. The number of observed deaths from GC (37) was close to the expected (36.8). The standardized mortality ratio was 1.01 (95% CI 0.72-1.37) for the entire cohort, 1.13 (95% CI 0.77-1.57) for males, and 0.65 (95% CI 0.26-1.32) for females. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high population coverage with repeated screens, no reduction in GC mortality was observed in this high-risk population in China.