Frequency of sexually transmitted diseases among university students. / [Fréquence des maladies transmises sexuellement chez des étudiants universitaires.]

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among university students and evaluate the associated sociodemographic factors. DESIGN: Mail survey in April 1990. Included in the questionnaire were questions about the subjects' STD experience since their admission to the university and the type and date of the infection. SUBJECTS: Of the 19,682 undergraduate students 2920 subjects, in 10 groups of 292, were randomly selected. A total of 1731 (59.4%) completed the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated annualized incidence rates of genital human papillomavirus infection and Chlamydia infection. RESULTS: The estimated annualized incidence rates of genital human papillomavirus and Chlamydia infections were 2.2% and 1.5% respectively. Among the students who indicated being infected with genital human papillomavirus 59% were 18 to 21 years old (p < 0.05), 76% were women (p < 0.01) and 69% had more than one sexual partner (p < 0.01). No statistically significant associations were observed between age, sex and Chlamydia infection. On the other hand, 95% of the cases of Chlamydia infection were found among those who had more than one sexual partner (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: University students continue to have sexual activities at risk for STDs and should be specifically targetted by general practitioners and health services in an effort to slow the spread of STDs.

Combination therapy with castration and flutamide: today's treatment of choice for prostate cancer.

In order to achieve a more complete blockade of androgens of both testicular and adrenal origins, 223 patients with advanced prostate cancer (stage D2 with bone metastases) received the combination therapy with the antiandrogen Flutamide and the LH-RH agonist [D-Trp6,des-Gly-HN10(2)] LH-RH ethylamide as first treatment. As assessed by the objective criteria of the US NPCP, a positive response was obtained in 94% of patients, thus leaving only 6% of patients with no response at the start of treatment while, following standard therapy, 20-40% of patients do not respond to treatment. The duration of response was increased while longer survival (an advantage of approximately 14 months compared to standard therapy, 38.5 vs approximately 24 months) was achieved with no or minimal side effects. Highly positive results were also obtained using the combination therapy in stage C prostate cancer patients while temporary treatment with the combination therapy in stages A and B prostate cancer facilitated radical prostatectomy. The present data supported by the results of independent studies indicate that combination therapy should be the treatment for all patients with advanced disease and possibly also at earlier stages of prostate cancer in combination with surgery.