Measuring Physical Activity in Midlife Women

Women's risks for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are increasing. Although it is known that these risks decline with physical activity, it is difficult to associate specific risk levels with specific activity levels. Measuring activity levels is complex and problematic, especially in women. The present study explored the validity of a particular measure, the retrospective survey questionnaire, used with a female population to gauge physical activity, both occupational and leisure. To measure construct validity, four retrospective measures were administered to a sample of 43 middle-aged women representing three occupational groups (teachers, clerical workers, nurses) known to differ in activity levels. In addition, measurement approaches were triangulated by including a prospective measure, a beeper-cued record kept by subjects. A significant difference was noted among the groups on retrospective and prospective occupational activity measures, with clerical workers having the lowest levels of energy expenditure. The retrospective occupational measure correlated positively and significantly with the beeper-cued record kept during work; however, no correlation was found between the retrospective leisure measure and the beeper-cued record. These data suggest that the retrospective measure is appropriate for measuring the occupational dimension of physical activity. Additional study is required to identify women's leisure pursuits and the dimension of their household activities.     

Peak cerebrospinal fluid platinum levels in a patient with ependymoma: evaluation of two different methods of cisplatin administration

Peak CSF and serum platinum levels were examined in a patient with ependymoma after each of four consecutive cisplatin doses of 100 mg/m2 administered by either 30-minute or 3-hour infusion. Both infusion lengths produced similar peak CSF platinum levels within 2 hours after the completion. Ultrafiltrate serum platinum levels correlated with the CSF platinum levels, whereas total plasma platinum did not. No differences in clinical toxicity or response were seen between the two methods of administration. Based on these preliminary results, similar peak CSF platinum concentrations are achieved by 30-minute or 3-hour infusions, and ultrafiltrate serum platinum concentrations can be used to predict these levels.     

Correlation between hybrid capture II high‐risk human papillomavirus DNA test chemiluminescence intensity from cervical samples with follow‐up histologic results

BACKGROUND:

The Hybrid Capture II high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) DNA test is a US Food and Drug Administration‐approved nucleic acid hybridization assay using chemiluminescence for the semiquantitative detection of hrHPV in cervical samples. Patient samples and controls are used to calculate results as negative for hrHPV if <1.0, positive for hrHPV if >2.5, and “equivocal” if between 1.0 and 2.5.

METHODS:

The authors reported on the cervical histologic results of 209 patients demonstrating “equivocal” results for hrHPV from SurePath (204 patients) or ThinPrep (5 patients) vials, and compared patients in this cohort with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC‐US) cytology on the index cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) test (Group 1; n = 148 patients) with a patient cohort demonstrating unequivocal positive hrHPV test results (Group 2; n = 148 patients). The chemiluminescence intensity of hrHPV tests from patients in Group 2 were correlated with the presence and severity of dysplasia on subsequent histologic results, and patients were thereby stratified for their subsequent risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) types II/III.

RESULTS:

Approximately 97% of hrHPV tests demonstrating “equivocal” results were found to be positive at the time of retesting, and 15% of biopsied cases demonstrated CIN II or III. Results of follow‐up histology after an ASC‐US diagnosis, expressed as a percentage of the biopsied cohort, were: CIN II/III: 16.5% in Group 1 and 22.4% in Group 2; CIN I: 27% in Group 1 and 23.5% in Group 2; and negative: 56.5% in Group 1 and 54.1% in Group 2. Chemiluminescence intensity did not appear to be correlated with the severity of dysplasia.

CONCLUSIONS:

The percentage of high‐grade CIN in the “equivocal” hrHPV cohort is highly significant and therefore the management of these patients should be similar to the unequivocally positive population. After an unequivocal positive hrHPV test, the hrHPV chemiluminescence intensity does not appear to further predict the rate of high‐grade CIN. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.