Sexual behavior,communication, and chlamydial infections among college women

The sexual practices, partner communication patterns, and prevalence of chlamydial infection were determined in a sample of college women. Specific inclusion criteria were used to screen 146 participants. The presence of a mucopurulent cervical discharge was the only criterion significantly associated with infection. Only 12% of the sample used condoms alone or in combination with another birth control method, and only 31% of the women discussed with their partner their own or their partner's sexual history. Thirty‐eight percent of the sample reported a history of one to four episodes of a sexually transmitted disease, and 21% of the women stated they had had two or more sexual partners within the past 6 months. Health providers, counselors, and women themselves must address this health issue with more assertive behavior and communication skills.     

Immunological memory induced by genetically transduced tumor cells

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of gene-modified tumor cells for immunotherapy. Using the tumorigenic murine fibrosarcoma, MCA 106, we investigated the effects of localized interferon-γ (IFNg) secretion on tumorigenicity and on long-term memory. Methods: The murine IFNg (MuIFNg) gene was introduced into tumor cells. High and low IFNg-secreting clones were isolated. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with either parental (P), high or low IFNg-secreting (H- or L-IFNg) cells, and tumor growth was assessed weekly. Spleens were harvested on different days postinjection (p.i.) to assess in vitro cytolytic activity. In parallel, tissues from injection sites were stained with macrophage-, CD4-, and CD8-detecting antibodies. Mice were injected s.c. with H-IFNg MCA106 tumor. After 150 days the animals were rechallenged s.c. with MCA106P in one leg and with irrelevant syngeneic tumor in the other. Results: Both P- and L-IFNg cells had similar growth, whereas the H-IFNg cells never grew. Only splenocytes from the H-IFNg animals showed in vitro CTL activity persisting until day 30 p.i. Histological data revealed a macrophage and CD4⁺ infiltrate much earlier in the H-IFNg group compared with the P group. Only the irrelevant, syngeneic tumor grew in animals previously injected with H-IFNg cells, whereas both P and irrelevant syngeneic tumors grew in controls. Conclusions: Transduction of MCA106 cells with the MuIFNg gene diminished in vivo tumorigenicity in proportion to the amount of IFNg secreted. Immunization with H-IFNg cells elicited a host response characterized by macrophages and CD4⁺ cells. Long-term tumor-specific memory was seen after immunization with H-IFNg cells.     

Levels of lipoprotein(a) and plasma lipids in Spanish children aged from 4 to 18 years

Increased plasma lipoprotein(a)-Lp(a)-levels are linked to a high risk of cardiovascular disease unrelated to other lipoproteins. It seems that Lp(a) values in childhood remain unaltered up to adulthood. In a randomly chosen population of 1970 children, aged from 4 to 18 years and living in a Spanish community, the following serum parameters were studied: total cholesterol, total triglycerides, Lp(a), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Mean Lp(a) serum values were 15.0 ± 14.7mg dl^-1. No differences were seen between either sex in the first years of childhood. Of the studied children, 15.1% presented Lp(a) concentrations above 30 mg dl^-1. A correlation between Lp(a) and total cholesterol concentrations, which disappeared when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were corrected according to cholesterol present in Lp(a), was observed.