Cervical and Vaginal Flora Specimens Are Highly Concordant with Respect to Bacterial Vaginosis-Associated Organisms and Commensal Lactobacillus Species in Women of Reproductive Age

Matched vaginal and cervical specimens from 96 subjects were analyzed by quantitative PCR for the presence and concentration of bacterial vaginosis-associated microbes and commensal Lactobacillus spp. Detection of these microbes was 92% concordant, indicating that microbial floras at these body sites are generally similar.     

HIV testing in an ethnically diverse sample of American university students: associations with violence/abuse and covariates

Associations linking HIV infection to violence and abuse are well documented; however, little is known about how violence/abuse is related to HIV testing behavior, particularly among undergraduate university students, who test at lower rates compared to non-student peers in the United States. We assessed history of HIV testing in an ethnically diverse sample of undergraduates in California (n = 1,210); and examined potential associations between testing and various forms of violence/abuse, while controlling for covariates. Whereas 73.4 % of students were sexually active in the past year, only 26.3 % had ever tested for HIV. At the bivariate level, testing was associated with experiencing verbal abuse and sexual violence/coercion, and perpetrating verbal abuse. Experiencing verbal abuse remained significant in multivariate analysis. We discuss findings in a syndemics framework, considered in combination with social psychology-based health behavior theories. Enhanced HIV testing scale-up initiatives for undergraduates are needed and should consider integration with violence prevention programs.     

Multiple signaling pathways promote B lymphocyte stimulator dependent B-cell growth and survival

We investigated the mechanism by which B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)/BAFF, a tumor necrosis factor superfamily ligand, promotes B-cell survival and resistance to atrophy. BLyS stimulation activates 2 independent signaling pathways, Akt/mTOR and Pim 2, associated with cell growth and survival. BLyS blocks the cell volume loss (atrophy) that freshly isolated B cells normally undergo when maintained in vitro while concurrently increasing glycolytic activity and overall metabolism. This atrophy resistance requires Akt/mTOR. We used a genetic approach to resolve the contributions of Akt/mTOR and Pim kinase pathways to BLyS-mediated survival. Pim 2-deficient B cells are readily protected from death by BLyS stimulation, but this protection is completely abrogated by treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Furthermore, rapamycin treatment in vivo significantly reduces both follicular and marginal zone B cells in Pim-deficient but not healthy hosts. BLyS-dependent survival requires the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. Mcl-1 protein levels rise and fall in response to BLyS addition and withdrawal, respectively, and conditional deletion of the Mcl-1 gene renders B cells refractory to BLyS-mediated protection. Because BlyS is required for the normal homeostasis of all B cells, these data suggest a therapeutic strategy simultaneously inhibiting mTOR and Pim 2 could target pathogenic B cells.     

Identification of new type 2B von Willebrand disease mutations: Arg543Gln, Arg545Pro and Arg578Leu

We report the identification in five patients (three families) affected with type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) of three heterozygous nucleotide substitutions at the codon for arginine 543, 545 and 578 of the mature von Willebrand factor (VWF) subunit resulting in a glutamine, proline and leucine substitution, respectively. These mutations are located in the A1 loop where prevalent type 2B mutations (Arg543Trp, Arg545Cys and Arg578Gln) have been already identified at the same positions. By in vitro mutagenesis of full-length cDNA of VWF and transient expression in Cos-7 cells, we have shown that the six corresponding mutated recombinant VWFs (Gln543, Trp543, Cys545, Pro545, Leu578 and Gln578 rVWF) exhibited quantitatively normal expression and normal multimeric pattern but increased ristocetin- and botrocetin-induced binding to platelets as compared with that for wild-type rVWF. The two mutations at position 545 induced the greatest reactivity for GPIb of corresponding rVWFs as compared to the two mutations at positions 543 and 578.     

Type 2N von Willebrand disease

Type 2N von Willebrand disease (VWD) refers to patients with a factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency caused by a markedly decreased affinity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) for FVIII. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait but is clinically similar to mild hemophilia. The differential biologic diagnosis, which is of major importance for providing relevant genetic counseling and optimal treatment, is based on the measurement of plasma VWF capacity to bind FVIII. Molecular biology techniques have allowed the identification of 20 missense mutations in the VWF gene that cause type 2N VWD. All of them induce changes in amino acid residues located in the N-terminal part of mature VWF, which contains the FVIII binding site. Their identification may provide a genetic diagnosis. Theoretically, patients with type 2N VWD should be treated with products containing VWF that is able to stabilize their endogenous normal FVIII.     

Self-Compassion as a Resource in the Self-Stigma Process of Overweight and Obese Individuals

ObjectiveSelf-stigma in overweight and obese individuals has strong associations with impairment in mental and global health. This study sought to explore self-compassion as a psychological resource in the self-stigma process.MethodsIn a 2012 representative German population survey of N = 1,158 overweight and obese individuals, self-compassion was examined as a mediator between self-stigma and mental and physical health outcomes, including BMI (kg/m²), using structural equation modeling and controlling for sociodemographic factors.ResultsPsychological variables were assessed using validated self-report questionnaires. Self-compassion partially mediated the relationships between self-stigma and depression, somatic symptoms, and health status / quality of life, lowering the predictive effect of self-stigma on the outcomes by approximately one-third. In contrast, self-compassion, because it was unrelated to BMI, did not mediate the association between self-stigma and BMI.ConclusionSelf-compassion has the potential to act as a buffer against the mental and global health detriments of self-stigma in overweight and obesity and could thus represent a target for interventions to reduce self-stigma and prevent these health impairments. In order to influence the association between self-stigma and BMI, self-compassion should conceptually be linked to weight management.Key Words: Stigma, Weight bias, Self-compassion, Depression, Somatic symptoms, Health, Quality of life