An immunohistochemical study of androgen, oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the vulva and vagina

Objective Tomap potential sites of sex steroid action in the human vulva.
Methods Monoclonal antibodies to androgen, oestrogen and progesterone receptors were used to stainfrozen sections of vulval skin, vagina and suprapubic skin. A scoring system was devised to comparereceptor distribution in the epidermis and dermis of skin with vaginal epithelium and stroma.
Results Androgen receptors were seen in epidermal keratinocytes, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hairfollicles and dermal fibroblasts of skin, and epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts of the vagina. Androgen receptor scores were significantly higher in the epidermis of labia majora and minora thanin vaginal epithelium. Oestrogen receptors were seen in basal and suprabasal cells of vaginalepithelium and epidermis of labia minora but were restricted to basal keratinocytes in true skin.They were seen in stromal fibroblasts and vaginal smooth muscle, and dermal fibroblasts of theskin. Oestrogen receptors were highest in vaginal epithelium and stroma, and lowest insuprapubic skin. Progesterone receptors were seen in vaginal epithelium, fibroblasts and smoothmuscle but not in the vulva. There was no evidence of significant differences in androgen oroestrogen receptor staining in the vulva of pre- or postmenopausal women.
Conclusion The transition from vagina to vulva is marked by an increase in androgen and a decrease inoestrogen and progesterone receptors. This distribution of receptors would indicate a limited role foroestrogen creams on the vulva.     

Food advertising and broadcasting legislation—a case of system failure?

This study analysed a sample of food advertisements shown during 63 hours of children's programming to investigate compliance and non‐compliance with one of the Australian Children's Television Standards (CTS): CTS 20.2a. This standard regulates the way premium offers may, and may not, be used to sell products to children. Of the 1721 advertisements contained in the sample, 544 (32%) were for food. A significantly higher number of food advertisements (41%) were shown during ‘C’ programs (which are specifically regulated and produced for children six to 13 years of age and suitable for viewing without adult supervision), compared with 30% during the less regulated ‘G’ programs (P= < 0.001) (suitable for children to view without adult supervision but not produced specifically for a child audience). Over one‐third of food advertisements (36%) in ‘C’ time contained a premium offer compared with 17% in ‘G’ time (P= < 0.0001). Using a precisely defined interpretation of CTS 20.2a, this study found 30 (31%) of food advertisements breached the standard during ‘C’ programs. This was a significantly higher proportion than the 54 (12%) of breaches in ‘G’ time (P= < 0.0001). From this study, the current regulatory system has not resulted in more responsible food advertising during ‘C’ programs, and the widespread breaches of CTS 20.2a indicate this standard is ineffective as a means of regulating food advertising. The Australian Broadcasting Authority has recognised that children need protection from unfair marketing practices and the improper use of premium offers to promote a food product, therefore CTS 20.2a needs urgent review to make it more effective.     

What does it mean to involve consumers successfully in NHS research? A consensus study

OBJECTIVE: To obtain consensus on the principles and indicators of successful consumer involvement in NHS research. DESIGN: Consensus methods were used. An expert workshop, employing the nominal group technique was used to generate potential principles and indicators. A two-round postal Delphi process was used to obtain consensus on the principles and indicators. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were drawn from health, social care, universities and consumer organizations. A purposive sampling strategy was used to identify people who had experience and/or knowledge of consumer involvement in NHS research. Six researchers and seven consumers participated in an expert workshop. Ninety-six people completed both rounds of the Delphi process. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Consensus on principles and indicators of successful consumer involvement in NHS research. RESULTS: Eight principles were developed through an expert workshop and Delphi process, and rated as both clear and valid. Consensus was reached on at least one clear and valid indicator by which to measure each principle. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus has been obtained on eight principles of successful consumer involvement in NHS research. They may help commissioners, researchers and consumers to deepen their understanding of this issue, and can be used to guide good practice.     

Technetium counting in rheumatoid arthritis evaluation in the small joints of the hand

An apparatus is described for external directional technetium counting of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the hand. In 11 normal and 14 rheumatoid subjects a significantly higher count rate was reached in the rheumatoid group (t = 3.79 P < 0.005). There was a good correlation between the rate of uptake and total count rate of technetium over an inflamed joint and this was taken to demonstrate the importance of the effect of vascularity on technetium kinetics. Clinical improvement following gold and penicillamine therapy was reflected in a fall in count rates which closely paralleled a reduction in ring sizes.     

An evaluation of chemical photoreactivity and the relationship to phototoxicity

The existing regulatory guidance for photosafety testing of new drug products states that studies are warranted for those chemicals that both absorb light in the range of 290–700 nm, and that are either applied locally/topically, or “reach” (EMEA)/“significantly partition” (FDA) to the skin or eyes. The initial in vitro study recommended for the assessment of phototoxic potential is the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) Assay. The current study was undertaken to establish superior triggers for the initiation of biological photosafety testing. In this study, photophysical and photochemical parameters for 40 drug or drug-like molecules were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and a fivefold cross-validation PLS algorithm were used to evaluate the relationship between subsets of photophysical and photochemical parameters with the 3T3 NRU PIF/MPE (Photo Irritation Factor/Mean Photo Effect) results. The parameters most indicative of a 3T3 NRU positive PIF or MPE score were the extent of degradation in solution, the quantum yield of formation of singlet oxygen and the relative formation of superoxide anion. The results demonstrate that while absorption of light is critical to the induction of a light-induced process, it is the resultant events that may be used to predict the 3T3 NRU assay result. It is therefore proposed that the trigger for photosafety testing be revised to include a molecular basis for photoreactivity. From this limited investigation, estimated thresholds leading to 3T3 NRU positive results due to photodegradation, formation of singlet oxygen quantum yield or a relative superoxide anion formation value are proposed.