Women's knowledge, attitudes, and intentions concerning Human Papillomavirus vaccination: findings of a waiting room survey of obstetrics-gynaecology outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess women's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 98 women (90.7% response rate) attending a hospital-based obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient clinic in a mid-size Ontario city. RESULTS: Women had a moderate level of knowledge of general HPV-related issues, but lacked information about the ability of barrier contraception to prevent HPV and about characteristics of HPV vaccination. Women were strongly supportive of HPV vaccination for both male and female teenagers, but reported low levels of intention to receive vaccination themselves. Physician recommendation was the most influential factor in women intention to be vaccinated, and younger women were more likely to say they intended to be vaccinated. HPV-related knowledge, level of education, and number of previous sexual partners were unrelated to women's intentions to receive HPV vaccination. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that women's knowledge about HPV vaccination is inconsistent, that women are supportive of vaccinating both male and female teenagers, and that physician recommendation and younger age are associated with women's interest in receiving the vaccine.

XIAP protection of photoreceptors in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa.

BACKGROUND: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a blinding genetic disorder that is caused by the death of photoreceptors in the outer nuclear layer of the retina. To date, 39 different genetic loci have been associated with the disease, and 28 mutated genes have been identified. Despite the complexity of the underlying genetic basis for RP, the final common pathway is photoreceptor cell death via apoptosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, P23H and S334ter rhodopsin transgenic rat models of RP were used to test the neuroprotective effects of anti-apoptotic gene therapy. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) carrying the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) were delivered subretinally into the eye of transgenic rat pups. Histological and functional measures were used to assess neuroprotection. XIAP is known to block apoptosis by inhibiting the action of caspases-3, -7 and -9. The results show that XIAP gene therapy provides long-term neuroprotection of photoreceptors at both structural and functional levels. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our gene therapy strategy targets the apoptotic cascade, which is the final common pathway in all forms of retinitis pigmentosa. This strategy holds great promise for the treatment of RP, as it allows for the broad protection of photoreceptors, regardless of the initial disease causing mutation.