Showing papers by "Renee A. Desmond published in 2004"
TL;DR: Douching after menses was strongly correlated with BV; however, difficulty remains in trying to evaluate douching and sexual behavior independently, as well as in a multivariate analysis.
Abstract: Objective Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV) include douching and sexual activity, although the exact cause of BV is unknown. Goal The goal of this study was to determine the relative significance of douching as a risk factor for BV. Study design Two hundred fifty adolescent women who regularly douched were enrolled into a randomized douching intervention trial. Behavioral questionnaires and testing for sexually transmitted diseases and BV were performed. Associations between baseline characteristics and behaviors were compared for teens who were BV-positive and BV-negative at baseline. Results Positive correlates of BV included multiple partners, recent sexual intercourse, douching after menses, recent douching, and gonorrhea. Of these, douching after menses showed the strongest association (odds ratio, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.99-13.15) in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions Douching after menses was strongly correlated with BV; however, difficulty remains in trying to evaluate douching and sexual behavior independently.
102 citations
TL;DR: The requirement for a diet >15% protein corroborates with field studies that indicate L. variegatus consumes epibionts and animal tissues preferentially to seagrass, and that the microbial, microfloral, and microfaunal community living on the seagRass may provide the extra protein required for growth and survival of small L.variegatus.
Abstract: Understanding the nutritional requirements of Lytechinus variegatus is essential to define its role in the marine environment and necessary for successful culture of this species. Protein is an essential component for growth, yet the requirements for protein in most marine organisms are not known. Small Lytechinus variegatus (ca. 14 mm diameter, n=160) were collected at St. Joseph Bay, Florida in March 2000. They were held in aquaria and fed ad libitum one of four diets varying in protein concentration (9, 15, 21, or 33% dry weight) for 14 weeks. Diets ≥21% dry weight protein were sufficient for maximal growth and survivorship. Individuals fed a diet low in protein compensated by consuming higher quantities of food per gram wet weight. However, the protein was insufficient to support maximal growth and survivorship. Total dry matter absorption, protein absorption, and carbohydrate absorption of the prepared feeds were higher than reported for natural diets. Total production and production efficiency was lowest in those fed the low-protein diet. Gonad production occurred in individuals with test diameters smaller than reported previously in field populations and was lowest in those fed the low-protein diet. The acini of both females and males were predominantly composed of nutritive phagocytes, suggesting that growing L. variegatus use the gonad primarily as a nutrient storage organ and not for reproduction. In females the growth rate of oocytes increased with dietary protein. In males, protein concentration ≥21% resulted in an increase in the volume of germinal epithelium and a decrease in the volume of nutritive phagocytes. The minimal requirement for protein in L. variegatus from approximately 1 g to 15 g total weight is >15% dry weight for the conditions of this experiment. The requirement for a diet >15% protein corroborates with field studies that indicate L. variegatus consumes epibionts and animal tissues preferentially to seagrass, and that the microbial, microfloral, and microfaunal community living on the seagrass may provide the extra protein required for growth and survival of small L. variegatus.
78 citations
TL;DR: This study showed the expected fewer nocturnal hypoglycemic events, but the primary outcome was an improvement in glycemic control based on the HbA1c values.
Abstract: The efficacy of glycemic control in type 1 diabetic patients with either once- or twice-daily glargine insulin injection was evaluated in this long-term, prospective, nonrandomized study. Eighty-two type 1 diabetic patients were followed over 12–15 months after conversion from a single bedtime NPH insulin injection to a single bedtime insulin glargine injection. These patients were switched with the availability of glargine insulin to reduce frequency and severity of nocturnal hypoglycemia and to improve fasting glucose levels. This group of type 1 diabetic patients was switched to glargine insulin in place of twice-daily NPH. These patients continued their same bolus therapy with either insulin lispro or aspart and underwent frequent (three to five times daily) home glucose monitoring. This study showed the expected fewer nocturnal hypoglycemic events, but the primary outcome was an improvement in glycemic control based on the HbA1c values. …
69 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that Ad5‐Δ24RGD, an oncolytic adenovirus replication‐competent selectively in cells defective in the Rb‐p16 pathway, could be useful for local or systemic treatment of cervical cancer in patients with disease resistant to currently available modalities.
Abstract: Treatment options for disseminated cervical cancer remain inadequate Here, we investigated a strategy featuring Ad5-Delta 24 RGD, an oncolytic adenovirus replication-competent selectively in cells defective in the Rb-p16 pathway, such as most cervical cancer cells The viral fiber contains an alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) integrin-binding RGD-4C motif, allowing coxsackie-adenovirus receptor-independent infection These integrins have been reported to be frequently upregulated in cervical cancer Oncolysis of cervical cancer cells was similar to a wild-type control in vitro In an animal model of cervical cancer, the therapeutic efficacy of Ad5-Delta 24 RGD could be demonstrated for both intratumoral and intravenous application routes Biodistribution was determined following intravenous administration to mice Further preclinical safety data were obtained by demonstrating lack of replication of the agent in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells These results suggest that Ad5-Delta 24 RGD could be useful for local or systemic treatment of cervical cancer in patients with disease resistant to currently available modalities
44 citations
TL;DR: This small time-ordered series identified novel genes associated with cisplatin resistance and should be viewed as a first step towards building gene-regulatory networks.
Abstract: In recent years, most cDNA microarray studies of chemotherapeutic drug resistance have not considered the temporal pattern of gene expression The objective of this study was to examine systematically changes in gene expression of NCI-H226 and NCI-H2170 lung cancer cells treated weekly with IC10 doses of cisplatin NCI-H226 lung cancer cells were treated weekly with an IC10 dose of cisplatin Candidate genes with a fold change of 20 or more were identified from this study A second experiment was conducted by exposing NCI-H2170 cells to cisplatin doses that were increased in week 4 and decreased in week 5 Overall, 44 genes were differentially expressed in both the NCI-H226 and NCI-H2170 cell lines In the NCI-H2170 cell line, 24 genes had a twofold gene expression change from weeks 3 to 4 Real-time PCR found a significant correlation of the gene expression changes for seven genes of interest This small time-ordered series identified novel genes associated with cisplatin resistance This kind of analysis should be viewed as a first step towards building gene-regulatory networks
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the utility of preoperative tumor curettage in Mohs micrographic surgery for primary or recurrent, well-defined basal cell carcinoma less than 2 cm in diameter located on the head or neck was assessed.
Abstract: Background The use of preoperative tumor curettage in Mohs micrographic surgery has never been prospectively systematically assessed. Objective To assess the utility of preoperative tumor curettage in Mohs micrographic surgery for primary or recurrent, well-defined basal cell carcinoma less than 2 cm in diameter located on the head or neck. Methods Patients were randomized to either preoperative tumor curettage or control group and were compared in terms of percent surface area increase from tumor surface area to wound surface area, absolute surface area increase, number of tissue layers removed, types of repairs performed, and postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis was performed to see if tumor location, appearance (exophytic or flat), or histology affected any of the above. Results The preoperative tumor curettage group had a 399% (95% confidence interval [CI] 346-452) mean surface area increase from tumor to wound surface area versus 263% (95% CI 216-311) for control group ( P =.0002). The preoperative tumor curettage group had a mean absolute surface area increase of 1.78 cm 2 (95% CI 1.57-1.99) versus 1.40 cm 2 (95% CI 1.15-1.65) for control group ( P =.02). The preoperative tumor curettage group had fewer tissue layers removed ( P =.3). Preoperative tumor curettage had no effect on types of repairs performed or number or type of postoperative complications. Tumor appearance and histology had no effect on any of the above end points. Conclusion Preoperative tumor curettage was associated with significantly greater percent surface area increase and absolute surface area increase from tumor surface area to wound surface area. This difference did not affect type of repair performed or postoperative complications.
33 citations
TL;DR: Folic acid fortification resulted in an increased intake of folate in women of predominantly childbearing age at high risk for cervical cancer, however, even with fortification, folate intake in a large proportion of these women remained below recommended levels.
10 citations
TL;DR: In general, the assay performed well; however, the total error was not within National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, largely because of a significant positive bias that appeared to be due, at least in part, to triglycerides.
Abstract: Direct HDL-cholesterol (HDLc) assays have several advantages over other assays that are more laborious and time-consuming. A recent College of American Pathologists (CAP) report indicates that at least 385 Beckman LX-20 analyzers use the selective detergent (homogeneous or direct) method for analyzing HDLc. There is no published evaluation of direct HDLc assays on the Beckman platform. Here we report our evaluation of a direct HDLc assay marketed by Beckman for the Beckman LX-20 analyzers. In general, the assay performed well; however, the total error was not within National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. This was largely because of a significant positive bias that appeared to be due, at least in part, to triglycerides. This bias was worse at HDLc concentrations <40 mg/dL, which may make it difficult to identify a low HDLc concentration and consequently an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
6 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of the prevalence and incidence of curable sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of HIV-infected women found trichomoniasis was most common, and interventions to prevent curable STI in HIV- Infected women are warranted in primary care settings.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and incidence of curable sexually transmitted infections (STI), i.e., gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, or trichomoniasis, in a cohort of HIV-infected women. The study population was derived from women seeking primary care at an outpatient university HIV clinic who were participants in a women's natural history study. Enrollees (n = 225) were predominantly African-American, heterosexually infected, with mean age 35 years. Mean entry CD4+ T cell count was 405 cells/mm3. Over 6% were STI positive at initial screening. Subsequently, the combined curable STI incidence was 4.82/1000 woman-months over a median of 33 months of observation. Of 36 incident STIs, trichomoniasis was most common (n = 32). Predictors for acquisition of a curable STI included absenteeism at scheduled clinic appointments, RR = 1.99 (1.28, 3.08), and a higher CD4+ T cell count, RR = 1.15 (1.0028, 1.3115) for 100 cells. Interventions to prevent curable STI in HIV-infected women are...
6 citations
TL;DR: This study looked at 64 C-peptide-negative type 1 diabetic patients whose only medication was insulin and found no association between HbA1c levels and highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels, which can be lowered by statins, thiazolidinediones, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Abstract: King et al. (1) recently suggested an association between glycemic control and systemic inflammation, i.e., between HbA1c levels and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, based on data from 1,018 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This report prompted us to search for a similar association in our clinical practice.
Since hsCRP levels can be lowered by statins, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and anti-inflammatory drugs, we first looked at 64 C-peptide-negative type 1 diabetic patients whose only medication was insulin and found no …
2 citations