Performance and pre-analytical stability of self-collected samples versus clinician cervical samples for the detection of HPV16, HPV18 and a pool of 12 other HPV types on the Roche Cobas 8800 System.

This study aimed to validate the agreement between human papillomavirus (HPV) tests self-collected samples versus clinician cervical specimens, and the pre-analytical stability of self-sampling. One hundred and fifty-seven women aged between 25 and 65 years who presented to the gynaecological department of the "CLEMENTVILLE" clinic in Montpellier voluntarily participated in HPV screening by self-sampling. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of HPV16, HPV18 and a pool of 12 other HPV types on the Roche Cobas 8800 System. Median age was 40 years (range 20-73 and IQR 31-49 years). The overall HPV prevalence on the population studied was 27%. The agreement between clinician cervical samples and self-collected vaginal presented good agreement (Kappa =0.90) and high sensitivity (0.91) and specificity (0.98). For swabs stored for 7 days at room temperature, the HPV results presented substantial agreement (Kappa =0.89) and high sensitivity (0.97) and specificity (0.93). Our data showed that the HPV assay performed in the self-collected vaginal samples have high consistency of results with the clinician cervical samples. The use of self-collected cervical sample could be a simple and inexpensive approach in cervical cancer screening programs due to their high pre-analytical stability.

Bioactive Bromotyrosine-Derived Alkaloids from the Polynesian Sponge Suberea ianthelliformis.

Herein, we describe the isolation and spectroscopic identification of eight new tetrabrominated tyrosine alkaloids 2⁻9 from the Polynesian sponge Suberea ianthelliformis, along with known major compound psammaplysene D (1), N,N-dimethyldibromotyramine, 5-hydroxy xanthenuric acid, and xanthenuric acid. Cytotoxicity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were evaluated for some of the isolated metabolites. They exhibited moderate antiproliferative activity against KB cancer cell lines, but psammaplysene D (1) displayed substantial cytotoxicity as well as acetylcholinesterase inhibition with IC50 values of 0.7 μM and 1.3 μM, respectively.

Nandrolone excretion is not increased by exhaustive exercise in trained athletes.

PURPOSE: The anabolic steroid nandrolone is widely used as a performance enhancer. Traces of its naturally occurring metabolite 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) have been found in human urine (below 0.6 ng.mL(-1)), and it has been suggested that strenuous exercise may increase urinary 19-NA. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of exhaustive exercise on the nandrolone excretion under controlled conditions in two groups of trained male athletes, one composed of judoka and the other of long-distance runners. METHODS: A Wingate test and a treadmill limited-time test (running at 85% (.)VO(2max)) were carried out on 14 judoka and 15 athletes. Hydration was controlled during each session. Urine samples were obtained before each test and 30 min, 60 min, and 24 h after each test. Urinary 19-NA concentrations were determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Baseline urinary 19-NA concentrations varied widely across individuals, from undetectable levels to 0.250 ng.mL (-1)(mean, 0.048 +/- 0.050 ng.mL(-1)). The both exercise tests did not significantly modified urinary 19-NA levels in the two groups of subjects. CONCLUSION: Our study provides compelling evidence that endogenous nandrolone production in male athletes, during two very different types of exercise, produces urine levels far below the IOC threshold of 2 ng.mL(-1) urine. Thus, exercise does not induce endogenous nandrolone secretion.