Association between war and cervical cancer among Vietnamese women

Decades ago, cervical cancer was the leading form of cancer among women in both North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Currently, cervical cancer rates are considerably lower in the northern region of the country. We performed a case-control study to measure factors associated with the development of cervical cancer among Vietnamese women. Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted with 202 women in southern Vietnam and 97 women in northern Vietnam. Case subjects were women hospitalized with cervical cancer. Control subjects were women hospitalized with extrauterine neoplasms. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, and odds ratios for the development of invasive cervical cancer were measured. The development of invasive cervical cancer was significantly associated with military service by husbands during the Second Indochinese War and with parity status. Odds ratio for the development of cervical cancer among southern Vietnamese women whose husbands had served in the armed forces was 2.6 (95% CI = 1.2-5.5). Odds ratio for the development of cervical cancer among northern women whose husbands had served in the armed forces was 3.9 (95% CI = 1.5-10.4) if their husbands had been stationed in South Vietnam during the war years. Northern women whose husbands had served in the military experienced no significant increase in cervical cancer risk if their husbands had been stationed in North Vietnam during the war years. Geographic and temporal variation in cervical cancer rates among Vietnamese women was associated with the movement of soldiers. These findings may be useful for cervical cancer prevention efforts in Vietnam and in other countries.     

EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES MELLITUS ON GENTAMICIN-INDUCED ACUTE RENAL FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN THE ANAESTHETIZED RAT

1. Rats with streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes are protected from gentamicin (GEN) nephrotoxicity. Because the chronic renal damage from GEN is preceded by acute renal functional changes (notably hypercalciuria), the present study aims to determine whether diabetes may also protect against the acute effects of the drug. If there is a link between the rapid physiological actions of GEN and its subsequent nephrotoxicity, the former may also be affected by the diabetic condition.
2. Standard renal clearance techniques were performed on anaesthetized rats that had been injected with STZ or vehicle 2 weeks previously. All animals were infused with 0.9% NaCl for 5 h and then either GEN (0.28 mg/kg per min) or 0.9% NaCl alone for 2 h.
3. Baseline fractional calcium excretion (FE_Ca) of diabetic rats was three-fold that of control animals (6.6±0.2 vs 2.2±0.2%, respectively; P <0.01, MANOVA ). Following GEN infusion, a comparable increase in FE_Ca occurred in control and diabetic rats (5.3±0.6 vs 5.3±0.8%, respectively; NS).
4. Streptozotocin diabetes, therefore, does not alter the acute hypercalciuric response to GEN. This may suggest that the acute effects of GEN on renal calcium handling do not contribute to the subsequent nephrotoxicity. However, the higher baseline FE_Ca seen in diabetic rats may afford protection against the renal injury caused by gentamicin.     

Inferior vena caval filters: noninvasive evaluation

Transvenous inferior vena caval filters were placed in 32 patients (21 bird's nest [BN] and 11 Kimray-Greenfield [K-G] filters). Positive contrast cavography was performed before and immediately after filter placement as well as during long-term follow-up studies. In 23 patients, computed tomographic (CT) scanning was also performed; in 10 patients, real-time ultrasound (US) study was used as an adjunct. CT scans of the BN filter showed one case of hemorrhage and one case of air embolism, both of which were not recognized at cavography. CT scanning of the K-G filter demonstrated two cases of deep penetration of the prongs and one large retroperitoneal hematoma. Real-time US scanning played a major role in checking the final position of the filter and in determining its stability during repositioning of the upper prongs of one BN filter. Noninvasive examinations, including CT and US scanning, are valuable adjuncts in immediate and long-term follow-up study of patients with inferior vena caval filters.     

Surface analysis methods of biomaterials used in oral surgery: literature review

Titanium is the most frequently used biomaterial in oral surgery because of its positive physical and chemical properties. Clinical studies proved that the properties of titanium can be improved by surface modification techniques. To study the surface of biomaterials, the positive effects of the coatings, the response of the organism (corrosion resistance, physical and chemical stability, the thickness of various coatings, biocompatibility), one must choose and use the adequate analytical method for one's goal. In this article, the authors present the most frequently used analytical methods for the study of the surface morphology and composition of biomaterials. Also, they outline the advantages and disadvantages of specific analytical methods and the field where they are used.