Prevalence, distribution and correlates of endocervical human papillomavirus types in Brazilian women.

We determined the prevalence, distribution and correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in 386 mixed-income, sexually active women in São Paulo, Brazil. Endocervical samples were tested for HPV DNA with L1 primers MY09 and MY11; negative and indeterminate samples were retested using GP 5+/6+ consensus primers. HPV was detected in 35% of all women; high-risk/probable high-risk types in 20%; low-risk types in 7%; and an indeterminate type in 10%. Twenty-five HPV types were found overall: 17 (probable) high-risk types and eight low-risk types. Approximately one-third (29%) of women with HPV infection were positive for type 16 or 18 and 36% were positive for types 6, 11, 16 or 18. The presence of (probable) high-risk HPV was associated with younger age, more lifetime sex partners and abnormal vaginal flora. Additional studies mapping the distribution of HPV types worldwide are necessary to prepare for vaccination programmes and direct future vaccine development.

CaMV 35S promoter directs ß-glucuronidase expression in the laticiferous system of transgenic Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree).

Hevea brasiliensis anther calli were genetically transformed using Agrobacterium GV2260 (p35SGUSINT) that harboured the ß-glucuronidase (gus) and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) genes. ß-Glucuronidase protein (GUS) was expressed in the leaves of kanamycin-resistant plants that were regnerated, and the presence of the gene was confirmed by Southern analysis. GUS was also observed to be expressed in the latex and more importantly in the serum fraction. Transverse sections of the leaf petiole from a transformed plant revealed GUS expression to be especially enhanced in the phloem and laticifers. GUS expression was subsequently detected in every one of 194 plants representing three successive vegetative cycles propagated from the original transformant. Transgenic Hevea could thus facilitate the continual production of foreign proteins expressed in the latex.

Infantile phosphofructokinase deficiency with arthrogryposis: clinical benefit of a ketogenic diet.

We report a 2-year-old boy with phosphofructokinase deficiency presenting in the newborn period with congenital arthrogryposis and severe myopathy, who has had significant improvement on a ketogenic diet since its institution at 4 months of age. We provide a rationale for use of this treatment and hypothesize it may be beneficial in other patients with phosphofructokinase deficiency and progressive muscular involvement. Confirmation awaits further clinical trials in carefully selected patients.

Gene insertion into Hevea brasiliensis.

A transformation system has been developed for Hevea brasiliensis using the particle gun method. Anther derived calluses were transformed with vectors harbouring the ß-glucuronidase (gus) gene, the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene, and the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (cat) gene. Gene transfer was determined by histochemical staining and fluorometric assay for ß-glucuronidase activity, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detecting neomycin phosphotransferase II gene and direct enzyme assay for detection of expression of the cat gene. These independent assays all showed a several-fold increase, compared to control values, in gene product level and enzyme activity in extracts from transformed callus and embryoids of Hevea. These results were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction with primers designed to amplify an internal gus fragment. Together, the results show the feasibility of the particle gun method for the introduction of foreign genes into Hevea.

Glucocorticoid treatment of girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: effects on height, sexual maturation, and fertility.

Ninety-eight females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to a defect in either the 21-hydroxylase or the 11 beta-hydroxylase enzyme were evaluated to determine the effects of glucocorticoid treatment on growth, pubertal development, and fertility. When treatment was begun prior to one year of age, mean final height was 157.4 +/- 7.3 com, well within the normal adult female range, and significantly (p less than 0.001) greater than the mean final height of 150.9 +/- 4.3 cm found in untreated patients. The mean age of menarche in patients treated prior to the age of six years was 13.8 +/- 3.7 years which is significantly (p less than 0.01) delayed compared to that in the normal population of the United States. However, 92% of patients with menstrual delay had inadequate suppression of adrenal androgens and urinary excretion of 17 ketosteroids larger than 7.0 mg/24hours. The increased production of adrenal androgens was the result of poor compliance or an insufficient prescribed dose of glucocorticoids. The fertility rate in patients first treated between six and 20 years of age was 64%. The excretion of urinary 17 KS at the time of pregnancy was 2.5 to 5.3 mg/24 hours. All of the patients who delivered term infants required delivery by cesarean section because of cephalopelvic disproportion. The major problems encountered in the management of adolescent patients were patient noncompliance and physician failure to increase the glucocorticoid dose as the patient's body size increased.

Fertility decline in Barbados: some spatial considerations.

Despite its small size, Barbados exhibits some striking regional differences in fertility levels, which persisted during a period of major fertility decline in the 1960s. Regression analyses are performed for 28 subregions, using sex ratio, male occupational structure, female education, and female employment for 1960 and 1970 as the independent variables. The spatial influence of the Barbados family planning program is also considered. The author argues that a concentration of family planning programs in areas of greatest accessibility and modernization contributes to spatial variations in fertility.

Deuteronomio, introduccion y comentario

Contiene: ¿Que es el Deuteronomio?; Comentario; Primer discurso de Moises; Moises habla todo a Israel; El comienzo del viaje; el fin del viaje; Segundo discurso de Moises; Comentario sobre el primer mandamiento; Las instituciones religiosas; Posiciones de autoridad; Leyes principalmente sobre el crimen la guerra, la propiedad y la familia; Dos formas de culto para la adoracion; Obligaciones correspondientes a Dios y al pueblo en el pacto; La ley y las maldiciones; Tercer discurso de Moises