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Background CervixCheck, Manitoba's cervical cancer screening program, conducted a pilot study to assess whether screening participation could be improved in unscreened women by offering a mailed self-sampling kit for human papillomavirus (hpv) testing instead of a Pap test. Methods In a prospective cohort study design, a sample of unscreened women (n = 1052) who had been sent an invitation letter from CervixCheck in the past but who did not respond were randomized to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received a mailed hpv self-sampling kit; the control group received no additional communication. Returned hpv self-sampling swabs were analyzed by a provincial laboratory. After 6 months, screening participation in the two study groups was compared using a logistic regression model adjusted for age and area of residence (urban or rural). Secondary outcomes included hpv positivity, specimen inadequacy, compliance with follow-up, and time to colposcopy. Results Screening participation was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (n = 51, 9.6%, vs. n = 13, 2.5%; odds ratio: 4.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.56 to 8.77). Geographic area of residence (urban or rural) and age were not statistically significant. Conclusions The study demonstrated that hpv self-sampling kits can enhance screening participation in unscreened non-responder women in the setting of an organized screening program. Next steps should include additional research to determine the best implementation strategy for hpv self-sampling in Manitoba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether is a synthetic compound that was developed as a technological solution to a technology-derived problem created by air pollution from vehicle emissions. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether was added to gasoline with the intent to reduce air emissions, making the fuel burn cleaner. Unfortunately, use of this air-saving gasoline additive has created one of the most threatening and widespread environmental problems for the nation's drinking water supply. In this work, degradation of methyl tertiary-butyl ether in aqueous solution using the solar ultraviolet and TiO2nano particles was investigated. Factors that affect photocatalytic removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether, such as pH, TiO2, and methyl tertiary-butyl ether concentrations, were studied and optimum conditions were determined using the Taguchi method for designing the experiments. Results showed that the best conditions for the removing of methyl tertiary-butyl ether in the ultraviolet/TiO2process are 2 g/l nano TiO2and 50 ppm methyl tertiary-butyl ether, which leads to more than 88% removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether in 120 min. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Although the concept that an initial course of immune-suppression facilitates subsequent immune-modulation (such as Th1 to Th2 deviation) is attractive for several autoimmune diseases, such a mechanism for serial-combination therapy has never been formally demonstrated. Recently, brief mitoxantrone induction-chemotherapy followed by immune-modulation with glatiramer acetate (GA) was significantly more effective at reducing multiple sclerosis disease activity than with GA alone. Objective To examine whether the benefit of initial immune suppression with mitoxantrone before GA treatment is associated with more efficient immune modulation. Methods IgG1/IgG4 GA-reactive antibody profiles, previously established as markers of GA-induced Th2 immune-deviation, were prospectively measured in vivo in patients treated with GA alone or with mitoxantrone induction therapy followed by GA. Results Significant and sustained increase in IgG4 antibodies (and the anticipated reversal of the IgG1/IgG4 ratio) was seen in patients treated with GA alone. Combination therapy resulted in lesser IgG4 induction (and no reversal of IgG1/IgG4 ratio). Thus, the enhanced efficacy of mitoxantrone--GA combination regimen was associated with decreased, rather than increased, efficiency of shifting the GA-reactive IgG1/IgG4 antibody profile. Conclusion These results provide important insights into mechanisms of combination therapy and therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dowex 1-X8, as a quaternary ammonium resin, on which CI- ⇒ Cl- is replaced by dichromate and bisulfate ions (DDB), can be used as a stable and efficient oxidizing reagent for oxidative selection between benzylic alcohols according to their structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]