Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in women with abnormal cervical cytology in the Basque Country, Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in cytologically abnormal cervical samples from 106 women living in a region of the north of Spain. METHODS: Cytological classification was reported according to the 2001 Bethesda System and HPV genotyping was performed by Roche Linear Array. RESULTS: The overall HPV prevalence was 69.8% with 30 different HPV genotypes detected. The prevalence of HR (high-risk) HPV types and pHR (probable high-risk) HPV types in positive samples was 94.3%, 78.1% and 100% in patients with ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL/CC, respectively, with no significant differences. The most frequent type was the HPV 16, present in 29.7% of all positive samples, followed by HPV 51 (17.5%), HPV 53 and 42 (16%), HPV 52 (12%), HPV 39 (10.8%), HPV 18 and 58 (9.4%) and HPV 66 (8.1%). No significant differences in the percentage of any HPV genotype with the grade of the cytological lesion were detected. The prevalence of HPV co-infection was 58.1% of HPV positive. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of high-risk genotypes in women with abnormal cytology living in our geographical area. This information may be useful for the formulation of algorithms for patient management according to the different risks associated with specific high-risk genotypes.

Effect of different antihypertensive treatments on Ras, MAPK and Akt activation in hypertension and diabetes.

Ras GTPases function as transducers of extracellular signals regulating many cell functions, and they appear to be involved in the development of hypertension. In the present study, we have investigated whether antihypertensive treatment with ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers), ACEi (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) and diuretics induce changes in Ras activation and in some of its effectors [ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and Akt] in lymphocytes from patients with hypertension without or with diabetes. ACEi treatment transiently reduced Ras activation in the first month of treatment, but diuretics induced a sustained increase in Ras activation throughout the 3 months of the study. In patients with hypertension and diabetes, ARB, ACEi and diuretic treatment increased Ras activation only during the first week. ACEi treatment increased phospho-ERK expression during the first week and also in the last 2 months of the study; however, diuretic treatment reduced phospho-ERK expression during the last 2 months of the study. In patients with hypertension and diabetes, antihypertensive treatments did not induce changes in phospho-ERK expression in lymphocytes. ACEi treatment reduced phospho-Akt expression in patients with hypertension and diabetes only in the first month of treatment. In conclusion, these findings show that antihypertensive treatments with ACEi, and diuretics to a lesser extent, modify Ras activation and some of its signalling pathways, although in different directions, whereas ARBs do not appear to have any influence on Ras signalling pathways.

Comparative study of intravenous ascorbic acid versus low-dose desferroxamine in patients on hemodialysis with hyperferritinemia.

BACKGROUND: In patients on hemodialysis (HD), parenteral iron improves the response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) therapy, but in some subjects it produces an iron overload, increasing their morbidity and mortality rates. In these cases, iron administration must be discontinued. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of treatment with ascorbic acid (AA) or desferroxamine (DFO) to mobilize and reduce iron stores, and to determine the effect of these compounds on erythropoiesis. METHODS: We performed a prospective and randomized trial over 6 months, which included 27 patients with serum ferritin levels >800 ng/mL, TSAT >30% and stabilized hemoglobin (Hb) and rhuEPO doses. All patients had previously received parenteral iron (Ferlecit). Nine patients received 200 mg of intravenous (i.v.) AA 3 times/week and nine patients received 1 mg/Kg/week of DFO; the remaining nine patients were the control group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in iron loss or mobilization due to dialysis. When Ferlecit was discontinued, functional iron did not vary and the epoetin resistance index (rhuEPO dose/Hb) was reduced by 21% in the i.v. AA group. In the DFO and control groups, functional iron levels fell. In the DFO group the epoetin resistance index increased by 20%, with no modifications in the control group. There was a positive correlation between transaminases and serum ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: In HD patients with an iron overload, neither i.v. AA administration or low-dose DFO increased iron mobilization or iron loss due to dialysis. I.v. AA administration allows elimination of iron from stores without any drop in the functional iron produced by discontinuing parenteral maintenance iron; it also improves the response to rhuEPO. DFO did not elicit any positive effects on erythropoiesis.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in women with abnormal cervical cytology in the Basque Country, Spain

Introduction The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in cytologically abnormal cervical samples from 106 women living in a region of the north of Spain. Methods Cytological classification was reported according to the 2001 Bethesda System and HPV genotyping was performed by Roche Linear Array. Results The overall HPV prevalence was 69.8% with 30 different HPV genotypes detected. The prevalence of HR (high-risk) HPV types and pHR (probable high-risk) HPV types in positive samples was 94.3%, 78.1% and 100% in patients with ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL/CC, respectively, with no significant differences. The most frequent type was the HPV 16, present in 29.7% of all positive samples, followed by HPV 51 (17.5%), HPV 53 and 42 (16%), HPV 52 (12%), HPV 39 (10.8%), HPV 18 and 58 (9.4%) and HPV 66 (8.1%). No significant differences in the percentage of any HPV genotype with the grade of the cytological lesion were detected. The prevalence of HPV co-infection was 58.1% of HPV positive. Conclusions This study confirms the high prevalence of high-risk genotypes in women with abnormal cytology living in our geographical area. This information may be useful for the formulation of algorithms for patient management according to the different risks associated with specific high-risk genotypes (AU)

Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la distribución de genotipos del virus del papiloma humano (HPV) en citologías anormales de cérvix de 106 mujeres residentes en una región del norte de España. Métodos: La (..) (AU)