Preliminary Findings from a Brief,Peer-Led Safer Sex Intervention for College Students Living in Residence Halls

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a single-session peer-led safer sex intervention, based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills theoretical model, for college students residing in campus residence halls. Participants (N = 108) were assigned to either an hour long control or 5-module intervention session. Compared to the control condition, the intervention increased participants’ information and women’s subjective norms about preventative behavior. Both the control and intervention sessions increased intentions to perform preventative behaviors (e.g., keep condoms available). These preliminary results suggest that this intervention is promising for increasing constructs associated with safer sexual behavior and could easily be implemented by residence hall staff.     

Tooth movement and cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid and whole blood in growing and adult subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth movement has been studied largely with respect to the force required for tipping when pressure distribution varies along the length of the periodontal ligament. But important factors for effective canine translation include the nature and magnitude of applied stress and the patient's cell biology. The purpose of this research was to test 3 hypotheses: (1) the velocity of tooth translation (v(t)) is related to applied stress and growth status, (2) a threshold of stress accounts for the lag phase, and (3) v(t) is correlated with the ratio (AI) of 2 cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-1RA) measured in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and stimulated whole blood (SWB). METHODS: Continuous maxillary canine retraction stresses of 13 kPa and 4, 26, or 52 kPa were applied bilaterally in 6 growing and 4 adult subjects for 84 days. Dental models and GCF samples were collected at 1- to 14-day intervals. Cytokines were measured in GCF and SWB cell cultures. RESULTS: V(t) was positively related to stress and was higher in growing subjects (P = .001). It was also related to AI(GCF) in growers (R2= 0.56) and nongrowers (R2= 0.72). Canines moved with 52 kPa showed a lag phase, and postlag phase AI(GCF) was twice that of lag phase AI(GCF). Mean v(t) and associated AI(GCF) during the postlag phase were nearly double the values for canines moved with 13 and 26 kPa. SWB production of cytokines was dose-dependent. For growing subjects, SWB IL-1RA was correlated with v(t) (R = 0.70-0.72), and AI(SWB) and IL-1beta concentrations were correlated with AI(GCF) (R = 0.73-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: V(t) varied with growth status and stresses < or = 52 kPa; stresses of < 52 kPa showed no lag phase; and equivalent stresses yielded subject-dependent differences in v(t), which correlated with cytokines in GCF and SWB.     

Evaluation of the MagNA Pure LC used with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit.

BACKGROUND: The current manual sample processing method recommended for use with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit (TRUGENE HBV; Bayer HealthCare LLC, Tarrytown, NY) is labor-intensive and may be prone to specimen cross-contamination. Recent evaluations of the MagNA Pure LC (MP; Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, IN) suggest that it is suitable for automated, contamination-free extraction and purification of viral nucleic acids from large-volume (1.0 mL) serum or plasma specimens. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the MP Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit--Large Volume (Roche Applied Science) in conjunction with TRUGENE HBV to establish the analytical sensitivity (threshold titer) of the assay, in HBV DNA International Units (IU)/mL, for obtaining consistent, interpretable sequence data from TRUGENE HBV. STUDY DESIGN: HBV analytical standards, prepared as 10 replicates (1.0 mL each) at each of the following concentrations: 200, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL, were processed by MP and analyzed by TRUGENE HBV according to manufacturer's instructions. Performance of TRUGENE HBV used in conjunction with MP sample processing was evaluated further using 22 clinical serum specimens containing low titers of HBV DNA. RESULTS: All replicates of HBV analytical standards at 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL yielded interpretable TRUGENE HBV sequences, whereas interpretable sequences were obtained in 90% (9 of 10) of the replicates at 200 IU/mL. TRUGENE HBV sequences were interpretable in 86% (19 of 22) of the clinical specimens studied. CONCLUSIONS: MP sample processing is efficient and suitable for use with TRUGENE HBV. When combined with MP sample processing, TRUGENE HBV yielded interpretable sequences from HBV analytical standards and clinical serum specimens with HBV DNA titers of > or =200 IU/mL.     

Computerized tomography diagnosis of diffuse intraperitoneal metastases after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for testicular carcinoma

We report 2 cases of diffuse intraperitoneal metastases from testicular carcinoma following transabdominal retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. This is an unusual pattern of metastasis for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors and it is believed to be the result of direct seeding from lymphatic leakage secondary to surgery. The value of computerized tomography in diagnosing this entity is emphasized.     

Combining Vaccines with Conventional Therapies for Cancer

Preclinical and clinical investigations currently underway are employing novel strategies for combining vaccines with conventional and experimental anticancer therapies. To date, the FDA has not approved a therapeutic cancer vaccine. However, the results of recent investigations suggest an increasing role for vaccines in new models of combination therapy for many types of cancer. This article reviews and discusses therapeutic cancer strategies that employ vaccines in combination with local radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and anti-CTLA-4 mAb. Preclinical studies have shown that certain anticancer agents have immune modulatory effects that result in up-regulation of surface expression of MHC molecules, tumor-associated antigens, or Fas on malignant cells, rendering them more susceptible to immune destruction. Preliminary results of clinical studies using combination strategies have demonstrated a postvaccination antigen cascade, prolonged time to disease progression, and improved overall survival. Several larger randomized trials are ongoing, and more are required to support these findings.