Binge drinking, HIV/HPV co-infection risk, and HIV testing: Factors associated with HPV vaccination among young adults in the United States

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Binge drinkers often engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors. We examined the association between binge drinking, HIV/HPV co-infection risk, HIV testing and HPV vaccination among young adults. Data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were examined. Participants (N = 430/450,016; 0.11%) were HPV vaccine-eligible young adults ages 18-26 years. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between binge drinking in the past 30 days, HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk risk behaviors, HIV testing, and HPV vaccination (initiated/completed, unvaccinated) among young adults. Respondents were primarily cisgender (99.8%), non-Hispanic White (41.4%), employed (46.2%) or student (35.4%), and insured (68.2%). Most did not binge drink (55.2%). The majority did not engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk risk behaviors (78.2%). More than one-half had never been tested for HIV (59%) nor vaccinated against HPV (60.6%). Although binge drinkers (44.8%) were significantly more likely to engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.5), binge drinking was not positively associated with HIV testing (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.63-1.53). After adjusting for demographics and HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors, one (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.11-6.65) and two episodes (aOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.26-7.41) of binge drinking in the past 30 days were significantly associated with HPV vaccination uptake. Positive associations between HPV vaccination and participants having an HIV test in 2017 (aOR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.42-10.55) and before 2017 (aOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.23-5.56) were also statistically significant. Because young adult binge drinkers are more likely to engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors, promoting HPV vaccination and HIV testing are important public health objectives.

Glaucoma awareness Indian military personnel: a tri-service study

INTRODUCTION

In India, glaucoma is the third most common cause of blindness, reflecting both its asymptomatic presentation and a lack of knowledge in the general population. No previous published data of glaucoma awareness among the Indian Armed forces personnel exists, who constitute a unique group consisting of people drawn from all parts of the country and society.

METHODS

Bilingual questionnaires were distributed to 496 serving Army, Navy and Air Force personnel serving in units local to the Zonal military hospital in North India. Having heard of the term glaucoma resulted in the subject being 'glaucoma aware', while 'knowledge of glaucoma' required at least three out of six questions to be answered correctly.

RESULTS

110/496 (22%) participants were found to be glaucoma aware, while knowledge of glaucoma was found in 60/496 (12%) participants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that glaucoma awareness and knowledge is high compared with rural or urban Indian populations. This is likely reflects the frequent health camps conducted by the armed forces and periodic medical examinations. However, these figures are still low compared with developed countries and likely reflects differences in education standards, socioeconomic status and differing influences of the media.

Abstract P2-09-10: Double heterozygosity for BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in a French metastatic breast cancer patient

Double heterozygosity is an extremely rare occurrence in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC [MIM 604370; MIM 612555]) where two pathogenic variants, one in BRCA1 and one in BRCA2, are found in an individual. To date, only a few case reports and case series have been reported in the literature (1-3). Furthermore, little is known about the clinical characteristics, family history, and tumor histology in these patients. In this study, we utilized targeted gene testing with next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in an early-onset metastatic breast cancer patient from France. We evaluated germline variants using Pathway Genomics' BRCATrueTM NGS test, which analyzes variants covering all exons and exon flanking regions in both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. All variant calls were determined after alignment and mapping to the GRCh37/hg19 reference genome. Variant calls were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. In this patient, a c.1016dupA (p.V340GfsX6) frameshift variant was found in BRCA1 along with a c.6814delA (p.R2272EfsX8) frameshift variant in BRCA2. Both frameshift variants are predicted to truncate the BRCA proteins. The BRCA1 c.1016dupA variant is considered a Norwegian founder mutation but has also been observed in individuals who are of French-Canadian, French, Italian or Dutch ancestry (4-7). The BRCA2 c.6814delA (p.R2272Efs*8) pathogenic variant, also known as 7042delA, is predicted to truncate the BRCA2 protein and has been identified in individuals with a personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (8,9). To the best of our knowledge, the combination of these two pathogenic variants in an individual has not been previously reported. In a clinical diagnostic setting, the possibility of double heterozygosity of pathogenic variants in more than one susceptibility gene should be considered, especially in patients with early-onset metastatic cancers. Furthermore, genetic testing and genetic counseling should also be indicated for high-risk family members.

1. Heidemann, S. et al. (2012) Breast cancer research and treatment 134, 1229-1239

2. Lavie, O., et al. (2011) Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO 22, 964-966

3. Nomizu, T., et al. (2012). Breast cancer

4. Andersen, T. I., Borresen, A. L., and Moller, P. (1996) American journal of human genetics 59, 486-487

5. Caputo, S., et al. (2012) Nucleic acids research 40, D992-1002

6. Dorum, A., et al. (1999). American journal of human genetics 65, 671-679

7. Simard, J., et al. (1994). Nature genetics 8, 392-398

8. Novakovic, S., et al. (2012) International journal of oncology 41, 1619-1627

9. Tea, M. K., et al. (2014) Maturitas 77, 68-72.

Citation Format: Curtit E, Meynard G, Villanueva C, Mansi L, Chaix M, Vilalta A, Kuo JZ, Villa M, Neidich J, Tomar A, Arianpour A, Lebahar P, Pivot X. Double heterozygosity for BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in a French metastatic breast cancer patient. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-09-10.

The effect of acetate pathway mutations on the production of pyruvate in Escherichia coli

We compared pyruvate accumulation in six strains of Escherichia coli and their corresponding ppc mutants. Each strain contained a mutation of a gene involved in the pathway to acetate synthesis. Strains with mutations in genes encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex generally exhibited the greatest pyruvate accumulation of which CGSC6162 (an aceF mutant) and CGSC6162 Delta ppc were studied in greater detail in controlled fermenters. Both CGSC6162 and CGSC6162 Delta ppc accumulated greater than 35 g/l pyruvate in a medium supplemented with acetate. We observed pyruvate mass yields from glucose of 0.72 in CGSC6162, with volumetric productivities above 1.5 g l(-1) h(-1). For CGSC6162 Delta ppc, we observed pyruvate yields of 0.78 and volumetric productivities above 1.2 g l(-1) h(-1). CGSC6162 consumed all initially supplied acetate, while CGSC6162 Delta ppc first consumed and then generated acetate during the course of a 36 h fermentation. Acetate generation and pyruvate oxidase activity was pH- and temperature-dependent, with a pH of 7.0 and the lowest temperature studied (32 degrees C) favoring the greatest pyruvate generation. Lactate was an unexpected by-product even though measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was very low.

Interictal SPECT with Tc-99m HMPAO studies in migraine patients

Migraine is considered to be a functional neurological disorder. For several years cerebral blood flow studies have been fueling the controversy surrounding the pathophysiology of migraine headache. Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT brain imaging was performed during the headache-free period in 44 migraineurs. The findings were compared with those of age 17 and sex-matched controls. The SPECT analysis was performed by using a 360 degrees rotating single head gamma camera system (Toshiba GCA 602A/SA, Japan), equipped with a LEAP collimator, interfaced to a Toshiba computer system, after 20 minutes following the injection of 350-550 MBq of Tc-99m HMPAO. The SPECT images revealed clear interhemispheric asymmetry in the upper frontal and occipital parts of the brain in migraineurs. It is suggested that an impaired regional cerebral vascular autoregulation may exist even during headache-free intervals in patients suffering from migraine.

Effect of costimulants on interleukin-2-like activities from goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Culture supernatants containing interleukin-2-like activities (CS-IL2) were prepared from goat peripheral blood cells (mononuclear cells 75% and polymorphonuclear cells 25%). These were stimulated with three costimulants, (tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, indomethacin and calcium ionophore A23187), either alone or in different combinations, in RPMI-1640 medium (containing 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA)) with or without serum. After 18 h of incubation with costimulants, concanavalin A (Con A) was added and the incubation was continued for next 48 h. Higher interleukin-2 (IL-2)-like activities were generated in the culture supernatants prepared in RPMI-1640 growth medium containing 0.5% BSA without serum. Further, IL-2-like activities were much higher in culture supernatants obtained by stimulation with all the three costimulants, as well as Con A, than the two costimulants with Con A or any of the costimulants with Con A.