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Sesamum indicum L. was used as an important oil crop in the world. An efficient protocol for in vitro plant regeneration via adventitious shoot formation from deem-bryonated cotyledon explants isolated from mature seeds of sesame is developed. Optimal medium for direct adventitious shoot formation was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 22.2 μM 6-benzylaminopurin (BA) and 5.7 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Abscisic acid (3.8 μM ABA) and AgNO3 (29.4 μM) were effective in enhancing the frequency of adventitious shoot formation. Preculture of cotyledon explants on high sucrose concentration (6–9%) for 2 wk and subsequent transfer to 3% sucrose enhanced the frequency of adventitious shoot induction. Root formation from the adventitious shoots was easily achieved on MS medium containing 2.7 μM of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Regenerated plantlets were acclimatized on sand and peat moss (1:1), showing 95% survival with subsequent flowering and seed set. We established the high-frequency plant rege...

To identify psychosocial predictors of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among low income African-American adolescent females living in a high risk urban area of the United States.Baseline plus 6 and 12 month follow up data collected as part of an HIV prevention intervention trial were utilised. The baseline sample consisted of 522 African-American females, 14-18 years of age. Recruitment sites were located in low income neighbourhoods of Birmingham, Alabama, characterised by high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Self administered vaginal swab specimens were cultured for T vaginalis. Baseline measures collected as part of a self administered survey and face to face interviews were used to predict subsequent infection with T vaginalis at any of the three assessment periods conducted over the span of 1 year.At baseline, 12.9% were diagnosed with T vaginalis. At the 6 and 12 month follow ups, T vaginalis was diagnosed in 8.9% and 10.2%, respectively. The strongest multivariate predictor of T vaginalis infection was biologically confirmed marijuana use; those using marijuana were more than six times as likely to test positive for T vaginalis (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.2, p = 0.0003). Other multivariate predictors were reporting that typical sex partners were at least 5 years older (AOR = 2.6; p = 0.005), reporting sex with non-steady partners (AOR = 1.9; p = 0.02), and history of delinquency (AOR = 1.3; p = 0.02). The odds of testing positive increased by 31% for every one unit increase on a six item scale measure of delinquency.Infection with T vaginalis was common and significant multivariate predictors comprised a constellation of problem behaviours, each of which are potentially amenable to behavioural intervention.

Most of the studies associated with condom carrying and use have been conducted with adults. Because minority teenage females are particularly at risk for STD/HIV infection, further investigations specifically focusing on this population are warranted.To determine whether observed condom carrying among adolescent females was associated with multiple measures of self-reported condom use, self-reported history of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevalence of biologically confirmed sexually transmitted diseases.For this study, 522 sexually active African American adolescent females were recruited from low-income neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. Measures of self-reported condom use, STD history, and condom carrying were collected. Adolescents were also tested for three prevalent sexually transmitted diseases.At the time of the assessment, 8% of the adolescents were observed to have a condom with them. Condom carrying was not found to be significantly associated with condom use and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases.Condom carrying may not be an important outcome of sexually transmitted disease/HIV prevention programs designed to reduce HIV/sexually transmitted disease risk among adolescent females.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent condition affecting adults and children, leading to significant morbidity. It is often associated with the metabolic syndrome, although multiple pathogenetic mechanisms have been suggested. In the coming decades, it promises to be the leading cause of liver disease in industrial countries.To provide a comprehensive, updated review of diagnosis and management of NAFLD and to appraise the evolution of new modalities in these areas.An Ovid MEDLINE search was performed to identify pertinent original research and review articles. Selected references in these articles were also evaluated.The diagnosis of hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not yet possible without liver biopsy. This is impractical given the large numbers affected by the condition. Current therapy has focused on improving insulin resistance and mediators of inflammation, factors probably associated with disease progression.There are no proven non-invasive diagnostic modalities to distinguish NAFLD and NASH, but new biomarker panels are approximating the liver biopsy in accuracy. Therapeutic targets of drug development are in early stages, but a multifaceted approach will probably yield several treatment options in the years to come.

To investigate the molecular mechanism for the effect of auranofin on the induction of cell differentiation, the cellular events associated with differentiation were analysed in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) cells.The APL blasts from leukaemia patients and NB4 cells were cotreated with auroanofin and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) at suboptimal concentration. The HL-60 cells were treated with auroanofin and a subeffective dose of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 vit D3) in combination. The effect of auroanofin was investigated on histone acetylation at the promoter of differentiation-associated genes and expression of cell cycle regulators.Treatment with auroanofin and ATRA cooperatively induced granulocytic differentiation of fresh APL blasts isolated from patients and NB4 cells. The combined treatment also increased reorganization of nuclear PML bodies and histone acetylation at the promoter of the RARbeta2 gene. Auroanofin also promoted monocytic differentiation of the HL-60 cells triggered by subeffective concentration of 1,25(OH)2 vit D3. The combined treatment of auroanofin and 1,25(OH)2 vit D3 stimulated histone acetylation at p21 promoters and increased the accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase. Consistent with this, the expressions of p21, p27 and PTEN were increased and the levels of cyclin A, Cdk2 and Cdk4 were decreased. Furthermore, the hypophosphorylated form of pRb was markedly increased in cotreated cells.These findings indicate that auroanofin in combination with low doses of either ATRA or 1,25(OH)2 vit D3 promotes APL cell differentiation by enhancing histone acetylation and the expression of differentiation-associated genes.

Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis-infected female teenagers with older partners may be less likely to discuss the infection with their partner(s) and to use condoms and therefore may be more likely to get reinfected. This study aimed to determine if C. trachomatis--infected female teenagers with older partners were more likely to be reinfected than those with same-aged partners. Study participants which comprise females aged 14-18 years who had uncomplicated chlamydial infection were non-pregnant attended clinics in five US cities from June 1995-May 1997 completed treatment and resumed sexual activity were observed at 1 and 4 months for interim history and retesting. Of 225 woman studied 73.3% were Black 34.5% had at least one partner who was 3 or more years older during follow-up 51.6% reported using a condom at the last sex act with all partners 13.8% had a recurrent infection and 47.4% reported they were certain that all of their baseline partners were treated. Partner age was not associated with condom use certainty of partners taking medication or recurrent infections after adjustment for visit. In conclusion older partners accounting for approximately one-third of all partners did not increase the risk of reinfection. Given the high risk for recurrence follow-up testing and enhanced efforts to ensure partner treatment are appropriate for all young women with chlamydial infections. (authors)

Socioeconomic status is often used to explain race differences in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), yet the independent association of socioeconomic status and STDs among adolescents has been understudied.To examine the associations between socioeconomic status and self-reported gonorrhea among black female adolescents, after controlling for sexual risk behaviors.Interviews and surveys were completed by 522 sexually active black adolescent females residing in low-income urban neighborhoods.Adolescents whose parents were unemployed were more than twice as likely to report a history of gonorrhea, compared with those with employed parents. Adolescents living with two parents were less likely to report a history of gonorrhea.The results of this study indicate that gonorrhea is associated with low socioeconomic status among black adolescent females regardless of the level of sexual risk behaviors. Lower socioeconomic status may be an marker for risky sociosexual environments.

The African-American adolescent female population is disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the HIV epidemic in the United States.1,2 Like other adolescents, African-Americans also have a high rate of teenage pregnancy. One important, yet understudied, protective influence that could reduce African-American adolescents' sexual risk behaviour may be their involvement in community organisations. A recent study of low income minority adolescents found that pro-social activities mediated the relation between family structure and sexual risk behaviour. Pro-social activities also mediated an observed relation between family class position and sexual risk behaviour.3 In addition, participation in boys and girls clubs has been associated with positive adolescent health outcomes and youth development, for example, less substance misuse and increased parental involvement.4 Similarly, more recent evidence suggests that participation in school based extracurricular activities may be a protective factor reducing the risk of adolescent substance misuse.5 These initial studies suggest that more intensive investigation of potential associations between adolescent participation in community organisations and sexual risk behaviour is warranted. African-American adolescent female populations constitute an important starting point for these investigations. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between high risk African-American adolescent females' membership in community organisations and their recent sexual risk …

Opportunistic Urine Ligase Chain Reaction Screening for STDs in Adolescents Attending an Urban Emergency Department