Declining sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers: the results of an HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention strategy in Honduras, 2006-08

In 2006, we implemented an HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programme for female sex workers (FSWs) in three Honduran cities. All FSW attending STI clinics underwent regular examinations and STI testing. Information on condom use with different partners was collected at each visit. After three years, we detected a significant decline in the prevalence of syphilis from 2.3% at the first screening to 0.0% at the third screening (P = 0.05), and of chlamydia, from 6.1% to 3.3% (P = 0.01). No changes were observed in the prevalence of gonorrhoea or trichomoniasis. The cumulative HIV prevalence remained constant (P = 0.44). Reports of condom use with clients increased from 93.8% to 98.9% (P < 0.001). The implementation of an HIV/STI prevention programme in FSW has contributed to increases in condom use with clients and the reduction in syphilis and chlamydia prevalence. The intervention should be strengthened and considered as part of a national health policy strategy.

[Endogenous opioid peptides and the immune system]

Several studies have demonstrated that endogenous opioid peptides produced by the neuroendocrine system can modulate several immunological functions. Immune system cells have also been shown to have the ability to synthesize and release such peptides. This would mean that the neuroendocrine and immunological systems share molecules and opioid receptors and it may be that peptides produced by the neuroendocrine system modify immunocompetence and that these same substances released by macrophages that infiltrate inflamed tissue also act on the pain response in the zone of lesions. We aimed to investigate the immunoregulatory function of endogenous opioid peptides and their effects on the complement system's natural "killer" cell activity, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and oat cell activity.

Some histopathological and clinical correlations in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an important health problem that causes high mortality and morbidity. Correlations between some clinical and histopathological parameters were studied in 37 oral SCC. Some interesting aspects in oral SCC arising from precancerous lesions were found such as smaller size and a lower TNM stage at the moment of diagnosis. Histological and clinical differences were also found between tumors invading deep tissues by little groups of dissociated malignant cells and those invading by big masses of malignant cells. The possible significance of the intensity of peritumoral eosinophilic infiltrate was also studied.

Induction of interleukin-1 alpha production by Porphyromonas gingivalis in mononuclear blood cell cultures from periodontitis patients

The capacity of mononuclear blood cells to produce interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) after stimulation with Porphyromonas gingivalis in cell culture was studied. The results obtained with cells from periodontitis patients were compared with those from a control population. The concentration of IL-1 alpha in serum and saliva was also determined and compared with the concentration in mononuclear blood cell cultures. No significant relationship was found between the incidence of periodontitis or severity of the lesions and IL-1 alpha production in the presence of P. gingivalis. Nevertheless, 11 of 30 periodontitis patients, showed levels > 30 pg/ml of IL-1 alpha in mononuclear blood cell cultures stimulated by P. gingivalis, whereas only three healthy control showed these titers of IL-1 alpha.

Anti-DNA antibodies and circulating immune complexes (C1q-IgG) in recurrent aphtous stomatitis

Anti-DNA antibodies and circulating immune complexes (C1q-IgG) in sera from 50 patients with minor aphtae at the moment of study and 50 healthy controls, were determined. The obtained results were correlated with chronological and clinical parameters of the disease. Our findings show a greater number of patients than controls with higher values of anti-DNA antibodies. The time from the last active stage of the disease conditioned the anti-DNA antibody levels (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences among the number of recurrences in a year or the number of lesions in a ulcerative stage and the anti-DNA antibody concentrations were observed.

[Oral lesions in a group of heroin addicts]

Lesions of the oral mucous membrane are studied in 100 heroin dependent people compared with 100 control, other habits like smoking, alcohol ingesting and sexual oral practices are also taking in consideration. Salival flux and other salival characteristics are also analyzed. The heroin dependent people show significative increase in salival filament but this difference that's not exit of we also analyze in the lesions of lips, tongue, palate and vestibule in relation to controls. Nevertheless in the take into account only smokers and drinkers of both groups the only lesions significantly more frequent are those on the lips.

Analysis of immune response in oral tumors

Currently, there is widespread disagreement over the role of the immune system in controlling, via the major histocompatibility complex, the organism's response to cells in the process of tumoral degeneration. One possible mechanism by which tumoral cells escape detection by the antitumoral surveillance system is the lack of expression of HLA class I molecules. The APAAP technique was used to study the levels of expression of these molecules and other cell markers on 27 oral cavity tumors. Heterogenous class I expression was recorded, some tumors completely lacking class I antigens. Similar patterns of expression were found for beta-2 microglobulin and ABC molecules (different class I chains encoded in different chromosomes). The number of DR/DP positive cells was similar to the number of immune cells infiltrating the tumors. Statistical analyses failed to show any significant relationship between class I antigen expression and the anatomoclinical parameters of tumoral aggressivity considered.

[Denture stomatitis. Its relation to candida albicans]

One of the most usual complications of the patients that carry a prosthesis is one called stomatitis denture. Its etiology is not clear enough. In this work we study ninety people, sixty of them wear prosthesis. We take samples of different places in the mouth to plate and class C. Albicans. We look for the relationship of results with the clinical parameters of the patient.

[IgG anti HSV I antibodies in saliva in a drug dependent population]

It is known the presence of receptors for the morphine products on the Lymphocytes B. These receptors could have a modulator action on the production of antibodies in drug addicts. We have determined the existence of IgG anti-HSV I in saliva and serum in a heroin population. Our results show that here is not significant differences between the heroin population and the control group, when the antibodies are detected in serum. But significant differences do exist between the number of people with antibodies anti-HSV I in saliva.