The impact of environmental and behavioural cofactors on the development of cervical disorders in HR-HPV-infected women in Serbia.

Persistent infection with one or more highly oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) or high-risk-HPV (HR-HPV) is necessary but not a sufficient aetiological agent for the development of cervical neoplasia. A number of viral, host, environmental and behavioural factors are suggested to be associated with the progression of cervical disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of environmental and behavioural cofactors on the development of cervical disorders in HR-HPV-infected women in Serbia. A total of 541 women have been tested by PCR for the presence of HPV on the cervix. HPV genotypes were determined by direct DNA sequencing. Women identified as HR-HPV-positive were further classified into four subgroups according to their cytological status. All relevant information about demographical and behavioural factors was obtained by interviewer-based questionnaire. A number of analytical and descriptive statistical methods were used for processing the data. The cofactors found to be of significance for the progression of cervical disease were older age, body mass index >25, lower educational level, long-term smoking, previous genital infections and cervical interventions. On the other hand, condom use was found to have a protective role. Information about these cofactors might be very important for the development of more efficient cancer prevention programmes and promotion of anti-HPV vaccination.

Iron concentrations in atherosclerotic plaque and serum in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the iron concentrations in serum and carotid plaque in patients with different morphology of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and compared with other metal ions. Carotid endarterectomy due to the significant atherosclerotic stenosis was performed in 91 patients. Control group consisted of 27 patients, without carotid atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques were divided into four morphological groups, according to ultrasonic and intraoperative characteristics. Iron, copper and zinc concentration in plaque, carotid artery and serum were measured by spectrophotometry. Serum iron concentrations were higher in patients with hemorrhagic plaques in comparison to the control group (4.7 µmol/l ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 µmol/l ± 0.8, p < 0.05). Iron concentrations were higher in patients with hemorrhagic plaques in comparison to fibrolipid plaques (72.1 ± 14.3 µg/g vs. 39.3 ± 22.9 µg/g; p < 0.05). Negative significant correlation was found for zinc in serum and plaque iron concentration in patients (p < 0.05). We also demonstrated positive significant correlation for copper and iron in serum (p < 0.05). The data obtained in the current study are consistent with the hypothesis that high iron levels may contribute to atherosclerosis and its complications as factors in a multifactorial disease.

Pregnancy following conservative surgical treatment of the malignant mixed germ-cell tumor of the ovary--case report.

We present a case of pregnancy after complete conservative surgical treatment in a young woman with malignant mixed germ-cell tumor of the ovary. She was submitted to surgical treatment involving only unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with infracolic omentectomy and dissection of the pelvic and paraaortal lymph nodes. Three years after the operation and chemotherapy the patient spontaneously conceived and gave birth to a healthy baby. A patient who has malignant germ-cell tumor of the ovary in early stage, can successfully preserve fertility by conservative surgical treatment.

Tumor size and karyometric variables in brain astrocytoma.

PURPOSE: To show any possible correlation of some karyometric variables with tumor size in patients with brain astrocytoma, in order to confirm karyometry as an objective histological method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 63 patients of different ages and both genders with brain astrocytoma histologically confirmed on the surgically removed material. In all patients maximal tumor excision was done, and all were postoperatively treated according to different therapeutic protocols. Tumor size (preoperative CT scan) was correlated with the duration of survival and the values of some karyometric tumor variables: area, density, maximal axis, mean axis, minimal axis, circumference, roundness, integrated optical density (IOD) and number of nuclei. RESULTS: Patients were separated into 3 groups according to the average tumor diameter. There were 34 cases of medium-sized tumors, 12 of small and 17 of large-sized tumors, and their respective survival was 83, 97 and 24 weeks. Patients with large tumors had statistically shorter survival compared to those with medium and small tumors (log-rank test, p=0.0122). Seven out of 9 examined karyometric variables were significantly related (p<0.05) to the tumor size: area, maximal axis, mean axis, minimal axis, circumference, roundness and IOD. CONCLUSION: Patients with larger tumors have shorter survival. The results of our morphometric analysis of the tumor cell nuclei, after correlation with CT findings, revealed that nuclear pleomorphism and larger nuclear size are associated with larger brain astrocytomas.

Dielectric properties of some components of fruit aroma in carbon tetrachloride solution at 298.15 K.

The static electric permittivity and refractive index of carbon tetrachloride solutions of ethyl-2-methyl butanoate, 3-hexene-l-ol, 2-hexenal, ethyldecanoate, methyl anthranilate, anethole, damascenone and isoamyl propanoate were measured at 298.15 K in the concentration range up to 4.0 mol dm-3. The molar polarizations and refractions of the solutions, the partial molar polarizations and refractions of the solutes, as well as the dipole moments at infinite dilution of the solutes were calculated. On the basis of the concentration dependence of apparent values of the square of the molecular dipole moment, it was established that for the systems studied oligomeric species with low dipole moment were prevalent. With the assumption that the dipole moment of dimeric species amounts to zero (except for 3-hexene-l-ol and methyl anthranilate), the constant of dimerization was calculated and a weak molecular association was deduced.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus, pregnancy, and labor]. / Sistemski eritemski lupus, trudnoca i porodaj.

A patient with SLE in pregnancy is described. The disease first appeared at the end of the 25th week of pregnancy. Spontaneous delivery took place during the 37th gestation week. The baby weighed 2300 g, the Apgar score was 8/9. The parturient's condition deteriorated after delivery, the disease developed progressively and ended lethally after 5 months. The cause of death was a malignant form of SLE dominated by kidney and heat lesions. After being treated for anemia in the early neonatal period, the newborn continued developing satisfactorally. The relation between SLE and pregnancy and the differential diagnosis of SLE in pregnancy are discussed.