In order to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms, several methods including, flow cytometric, western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analyses were employed. AITC-induced cell growth inhibition in SW620 cells was mainly caused by G2/M arrest, which was accompanied by regulatory proteins modifications. Results of western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed clear downregulation of pivotal phosphatases Cdc25B and Cdc25C at both transcriptional and post-translational levels in AITC-treated cells. Subsequently, accumulation of inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2 on Thr14 and Tyr15 were resulted. Furthermore, an AITC induced apoptosis after prolonged exposure was observed. It was a caspase-mediated apoptosis as evidenced by the activation of initiator caspases (-8 and -9), effector caspases (-3 and -7) and cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Besides in vitro studies, the antitumor activity of AITC was further illustrated by a nude mice xenografts experiment. Treatment with 10 micromol AITC could effectively suppress the growth of SW620 xenografts in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that AITC is an attractive candidate for future research in chemotherapy and chemoprevention. / Many epidemiological studies indicate that a high intake of cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables and their digested products are suggested to play an important role in such chemoprevention. When plant tissue is physically damaged, glucosidic bonds are cleaved by endogenous myrosinase to produce various products. Among these products, isothiocyanates (ITCs) draw most of the attention because of their potent antitumor activities. But the molecular mechanism leading to such effects has not yet been defined. / The objective of this study was to investigate the chemotherapeutic potential of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) towards human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Another commonly founded ITC, phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) was employed as a reference sample. The growth inhibitory effects of ITCs on different colorectal adenocarcinoma cells were investigated using in vitro cell models. Both AITC and PEITC were found to inhibit the growth and proliferation of Caco-2, COLO 201 and SW620 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Based on sensitivity, the most vulnerable SW620 cells were chosen for further studies. In the following BrdU assay, IC50 values for 24-h AITC and PEITC treatments were determined to be 30.2 and 9.21 microM, respectively. At the same time, the effects of ITCs on human normal skin fibroblast Hs68 cells were also investigated. It was found that the survival of Hs68 cells was not affected by the treatments of AITC. However, the survival of Hs68 cells was greatly affected by PEITC-treatments in a dose- and time-dependent manner. / Lau, Wing Sze. / Adviser: Wong Yum Shing. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-128). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common clinical problem. Tanshinone IIA is a compound purified from the Chinese herb Danshen ( Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiza Bge). Thrombopoietin (TPO) and Erythropoietin (Epo) are hematopoietic growth factors. The effects of tanshinone IIA, EPO and TPO on hypoxia-ischemia brain injury were investigated in this study, using in vitro model of neural cell culture and an in vivo model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. / Our observation provided the first evidence showing the expression of functional TPO receptor c-mpl in central nervous system. It revealed that novel agents TPO, EPO and tanshinone IIA have neuroprotection effects against brain injury induced by hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats, and these agents could be developed for clinical applications. / To investigate the effect of TPO, EPO and tanshinone IIA on in-vivo neural protection, a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage was established. Our results demonstrated significant and sustained brain injury in the hypoxic-ischemic and vehicle-treated group, measured by the reduction in relative weights of the ipsilateral (right) to the contralateral (left) brain at 1 and 3 weeks post-surgery, compared with those of sham-operated animals. At 3 weeks post-surgery, the hypoxic-ischemic animals had decreased cortical neuron density quantified by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) staining, and compromised sensorimotor functions in response to the postural reflex test. Treatment with TPO, EPO and tanshinone IIA significantly reduced the severity of brain injury, as indicated by the significantly increased ipsilateral brain weight and neuron density. Recoveries of sensorimotor functions (p < 0.05) and histopathology were also observed in animals that received TPO, EPO and tanshinone IIA. The plasma of tanshinone IIA-treated animals exhibited higher antioxidant activities (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay) than those from vehicle-treated rats. / TPO and TPO receptor (c-mpl) mRNA was identified in human cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, mouse neural progenitor cell line C17.2 and four neuroblastoma cell lines (SK-N-MC, MHH-NB-11, SK-N-AS and SH-SY-5Y) using RT-PCR methods. TPO proteins were detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma by ELISA. Furthermore, TPO receptor c-mpl was confirmed in human cerebral hemispheres, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord using immunohistostaining. TPO had a stimulating effect on the growth of neural progenitor cell C17.2 in culture via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway as demonstrated by Western blot. The anti-apoptotic effects of TPO, EPO on C17.2 cells were demonstrated by staining with Annexin-V and PI. EPO exerted a protective effect against SHSY-5Y cell damage induced by NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate), as demonstrated by the MTT and LDH assay. The anti-oxidative property of tanshinone IIA was studied in the C17.2 cell line. Tanshinone IIA increased the viability of these cells subjected to 2,2'-azobis (2-amidino propane hydrochloride) (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress. / by Xia Wen-Jie. / "May 2005." / Advisers: Kwok-Pui Fung, Tai-Fai Fok. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0126. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 126-146). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Absorption study showed that gossypetin was methoxylated and conjugated to form glucuronide during the first-pass metabolism after oral administration. Glucuronide conjugate was the major circulating form in the plasma. As determined by HPLC analysis, the total gossypetin concentration in the plasma was higher than the unchanged gossypetin indicating that most of gossypetin underwent first-pass metabolism. Moreover, urinary excretion was not a main elimination route. / Uses of foods and dietary supplements present a safe chemopreventive strategy. The application of phytochemicals for cancer prevention currently receives a great deal of attention. Flavonoids are known to be antiproliferative and may play an important role in the prevention of carcinogenesis. In addition to epidemiologic studies, basic science research to elucidate mechanisms and evaluate chemopreventive potential of phytochemicals is also necessary. In this study, gossypetin was found to have stronger antiproliferative activity when compared with quercetin, a well studied flavonoid, in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells. The results demonstrated that gossypetin induced growth inhibition in MCF-7 cell line by arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. The inhibition of cell cycle progression was associated with the decrement of cyclin D1 expression, cdk6 kinase activity and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Although the cdk inhibitor p21 could not be detected, its upstream protein, p53 tumor suppressor protein, was activated by gossypetin in the MCF-7 cell line. Also, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was suppressed through down-regulating the Erk1/2 pathway. / Ngai Lei-ka. / "August 2005." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6156. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 222-250). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

EGb761 consists of two major groups of substances, flavonoids and terpenoids. Using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, the present study demonstrated that, EGb761 could block Abeta-42 (a 42-amino acid cytoxic form of beta amyloid protein)-induced cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt signaling pathways, possibly via its antioxidant and platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonizing activities. Two active constituents of EGb761, quercetin (a flavonoid) and ginkgolide B (a terpenoid) might contribute to the protective effects of EGb761. Quercetin but not ginkgolide B might be responsible for the antioxidant action of EGb761. Both compounds might be involved in the PAF antagonist activity of EGb761. / EGb761, a Ginkgo biloba extract, is a medicinal product for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and neuronal diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). While considerable researches have documented its neuroprotective effects, its clinical effect is inconclusive and the precise neuroprotective mechanisms are not clearly known. / In conclusion, EGb761 may have beneficial effects in treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like AD. Its neuroprotective effects may be associated with constituent multiplicity, the dosage and BBB permeability. / The ability of EGb761 to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) is unclear. In this study, the ability of EGb761 to cross the BBB was speculated through comparison of the effects of EGb761 on mitochondrial function between platelets and central nervous system in two animal models, the senescence accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse strain and ovariectomized rats. Mitochondrial function was evaluated as cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity, mitochondrial ATP content and mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) content. SAMP8 mice have been widely used as a model of age-related cognitive decline with relevance to biochemical and genetic alterations in AD. Using two age groups (3-week-old and 40-week-old) of SAMP8 mice, this study found that, EGb761 protected against mitochondrial dysfunction in both platelets and hippocampi of old mice, but only showed protective effects on platelet mitochondria of young mice. Estrogen withdrawal was suggested to play a primary role in the onset of post-menopausal AD. Using ovariectomized middle-aged rats to mimic the post-menopausal pathophysiological changes, this study also demonstrated that, EGb761 protected against mitochondrial dysfunction in both platelets and hippocampi of ovariectomized rats. In contrast, in sham-operated rats, EGb761 increased mitochondrial GSH content in platelets but failed to show similar effect on hippocampi. These results suggested that the effects of EGb761 on the brain might be interfered by the BBB permeability. / The effective dosage of EGb761 in the brain remains undetermined. Using SH-SY5Y cells, this study demonstrated that low doses of EGb761 (50--100 mug/ml) inhibited hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell apoptosis via inactivation of Alet, JNK and caspase 3 while high doses of EGb761 (250--500 flg/ml) enhanced H2O2 toxicities via inactivation of Akt and enhancement of activation of JNK and caspase 3. Additional experiments suggested that the dosage effect of EGb761 on apoptotic signaling proteins might be correlated with regulation of the cell redox state. / Shi, Chun. / Adviser: Lee Ka Ho Kenneth. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-99). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

After adjusted for the effect of baseline MCE risk and reduction in SBP, the multivariate meta-regression showed baseline SBP was not significantly related to the RD for all the relevant outcomes examined (p>0.22) except MCE (p=0.0226). However, the baseline MCE risk remained significantly related to the RD for all the outcomes (p<0.01) except CHD (p=0.1011). The reduction in SBP remained significantly related to the RD for deaths due to CVD, MCE, CHF and stroke (p<0.01) but not to the RD for all-cause death (p=0.3788) and CHD (p=0.8755). / Conclusions. This study showed that baseline CVD risk and reduction in blood pressure were strongly and consistently related to the absolute effect of treatment and surprisingly the baseline blood pressure was not. The findings lend direct support to the overall risk approach to primary prevention and suggest that contrary to conventional wisdom and current practice, the overall CVD risk rather than blood pressure alone should be used to identify and treat people to prevent major CVD events through anti-hypertensive drugs. These findings suggest that anti-hypertensive drugs should be given to those who have a high future CVD risk rather than high blood pressure alone so as to achieve better cost-effectiveness of anti-hypertensive drugs for primary prevention. / Data extraction and analyses: Two reviewers independently abstracted data on baseline variables, variables that determine methodological quality, and outcomes. The following main outcomes were assessed: all-cause deaths, deaths due to cardiovascular disease, death due to causes other than CVD, major cardiovascular events (MCE), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, and coronary heart disease (CHD). / Key words. hypertension, antihypertensive drugs, cardiovascular disease, meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, primary prevention, baseline risk, evidence based medicine / Meta-analysis was used to obtain the overall odds ratio (OR) and risk difference (RD). Forest plots, bubble plots and funnel plots were used to show the results visually or to check biases. Meta-regression was used to identify factors that may independently determine the effect of antihypertensive drugs. The control CVD risk, initial mean blood pressure and reduction in blood pressure were examined. / Method. Identification of studies: The databases searched included ACP Journal Club, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, Chinese Medical Current Contents to identify relevant studies between 1966 and 2005. We also examined references from relevant trials, reviews and meta-analyses. For trials to be included in this review, they have to have the following characteristics: (1) essential hypertension in patients of any age, sex and race; (2) treatment intervention is antihypertensive drugs; (3) control intervention is a placebo or no treatment; (4) endpoint outcomes are all-cause death and major cardiovascular events; and (5) randomized controlled trials. / Objective. Although the overall risk approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention has been widely adopted, direct evidence that supports this policy is however weak and in some aspects lacking. Importantly, there is no direct evidence to show, between blood pressure and CVD risk, which is a better predictor of the absolute benefit from anti-hypertensive drugs. The evidence that the absolute benefit increases as the future CVD risk increases does not necessarily mean that treating high risk people will be more cost-effective than treating hypertensive people as blood pressure may also be positively related to treatment benefit. The high risk approach would be preferable only when we can show with strong evidence that blood pressure is not related to the absolute benefit of treatment or the CVD risk is much more strongly related to the benefit than blood pressure. We thus conducted this systematic review to examine the evidence from randomized controlled trials to directly show how blood pressure and CVD risk are related to the absolute benefit from anti-hypertensive drugs and compare the capability of the two factors in predicting the benefit. The stronger predictor should be a better indicator for identifying those who should be treated with anti-hypertensive drugs. / Results. Twenty-two eligible randomized controlled trials with a total of 55,448 participants were identified from 1967 to 2004. The average follow-up was 45.6 months ranging from 13 to 84 months. The combined RD and OR for all-cause deaths, deaths due to CVD, MCE, CHF, Stroke and CHD were all statistically significant, showing a consistent and considerable reduction in the risk of these outcomes due to the treatment of anti-hypertensive drugs (p<0.01). / Jiang, Yu. / "September 2007." / Adviser: Jin Ling Tang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: B, page: 4657. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-115). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Tang Chi-wing, Wendy = 飲品味道對炎熱中運動的華籍男女小童之體液平衡及體温調節之影響 / 鄧稚穎. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-86). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Tang Chi-wing, Wendy = Yin pin wei dao dui yan re zhong yun dong de hua ji nan nü xiao tong zhi ti ye ping heng ji ti wen diao jie zhi ying xiang / Deng Zhiying. / Dedication --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.viii / List of Figure --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of the Study --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Hypotheses --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Definition of Terms --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Assumptions --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6 --- Delimitations --- p.7 / Chapter 1.7 --- Limitations --- p.8 / Chapter 1.8 --- Significance of Study --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- REVIEW OF LITERATURE --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Water Balance during Exercise --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Effect of Dehydration on Human Body during Exercise --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Physiological Responses of Dehydration for Children when Exercising in the Heat --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Effect of Fluid Ingestion during Exercise --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5 --- Drivers of Fluid Replacement --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- METHODOLOGY --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Participants --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Equipment and Instrumentation --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3 --- Preliminary Measurement --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4 --- Study Design and Procedures --- p.35 / Chapter 3.5 --- Collection and Analysis of Blood Samples --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- RESULTS --- p.46 / Chapter 4.1 --- Exercise Intensity --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Body Fluid Balance --- p.50 / Chapter 4.3 --- Thermoregulatory Responses --- p.61 / Chapter 4.4 --- Taste Perception Analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary of the Results --- p.66 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION --- p.67 / Recommendations and Applications --- p.73 / REFERENCES --- p.74 / APPENDIXES --- p.87

Introdução: A infecção genital pelo papilomavírus humano (HPV) é um fator necessário para o desenvolvimento do câncer cervical. Vacinas para prevenir a infecção pelos tipos de alto risco HPV 16 e 18 foram desenvolvidas e idealmente devem ser administradas antes da exposição ao HPV através do contato sexual. As variações na prevalência do HPV e na de seus tipos específicos em diferentes populações podem influenciar as recomendações da vacina contra o HPV em diferentes locais. A vacinação após o primeiro parto poderia ser uma estratégia em potencial para atingir mulheres jovens e saudáveis, dependendo da proporção de mulheres desse grupo ainda não infectadas pelos tipos de alto risco, HPV 16 e 18. Objetivos: O objetivo principal deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência genital do DNA de tipos específicos do HPV e avaliar a associação dessa infecção com fatores de risco selecionados em mulheres após o primeiro parto, usuárias de uma maternidade pública. Métodos: Esse estudo transversal foi realizado no Hospital Maternidade Leonor Mendes de Barros (HMLMB), uma das maiores maternidades públicas da cidade de São Paulo. Durante junho de 2006 até fevereiro de 2007, 301 primíparas de 15-24 anos, cujos partos ocorreram no referido Hospital, foram incluídas no estudo entre 43 e 60 dias após o parto. Na detecção de DNA do HPV extraído das células cervicais esfoliadas foi utilizado protocolo padrão da Reação em Cadeia por Polimerase (PCR), utilizando primers PGMY09/11. Para estimar a associação da infecção por HPV com fatores de risco selecionados, foi calculada a Razão de Prevalência (RP) e o intervalo de 95% de confiança [IC]; o ajuste foi realizado utilizando-se o Modelo Linear Generalizado (MLG) com distribuição binomial e função de ligação logarítmica. Resultados: O DNA do HPV foi detectado em 58,5% (IC 95% 52,7%-64,0%) das jovens mulheres. Os tipos de HPV mais comumente encontrados foram: HPV 16, HPV 51, HPV 52, HPV 58 e HPV 71. A prevalência dos tipos de HPV incluídos nas vacinas profiláticas foi: HPV 16 - 12,0%, HPV 18 - 2,3% e HPV 6+11 - 4,3%. Os tipos de alto risco de HPV foram encontrados em 133 (44,2%) mulheres, enquanto 43 delas (14,3%) apresentaram somente tipos de HPV de baixo risco. Cento e duas mulheres (33,9%) foram positivas para apenas um tipo de HPV; entretanto, 43 (14,3%) apresentaram dois tipos, e 31 (10,3%) apresentaram três ou mais tipos virais. A análise multivariada revelou que somente a idade (p=0,020) e o hábito de fumar (p <0,001) foram fatores de risco independentemente associados com a infecção por HPV. Conclusões: Essas adolescentes e jovens primíparas apresentaram elevada prevalência de infecção genital por tipos de alto risco do HPV, mostrando que constituem um grupo de risco para o desenvolvimento de câncer cervical. Contudo, apenas 17,3% apresentaram pelo menos um dos quatro tipos virais presentes na vacina quadrivalente (HPV 6, 11, 16 ou 18), 13,3% apresentaram infecção pelos tipos HPV 16 ou 18, e somente 1,0% apresentou concomitantemente infecção por esses dois tipos virais de alto risco presentes nas vacinas. Portanto, esse estudo indica que a grande maioria dessas jovens primíparas poderia ainda se beneficiar da imunização (catch-up) contra o HPV e constitui um grupo que deve ser alvo de programas efetivos de prevenção primária e secundária para o câncer cervical / Introdution: Genital infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary factor in the development of cervical cancer. Vaccines to prevent infection by high risk HPV genotypes 16 and 18 were developed and ideally should be administered before exposure to HPV through sexual contact. Variations in HPV prevalence in different populations and of specific HPV types could affect vaccine recommendations in different settings. Vaccination after first delivery could be a potential strategy for reaching healthy young women depending on the baseline prevalence of high risk genotypes 16 and 18 in this target group. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine genital type specific HPV DNA prevalence and selected risk factors associated with HPV infection after the delivery of the first child among young women in a public maternity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Hospital Maternidade Leonor Mendes de Barros (HMLMB), one of the largest public maternity hospitals in Sao Paulo. During June 2006 to February 2007, 301 primiparous women aged 15-24 years, who gave birth at that hospital, were included in the study between 43 and 60 days after delivery. Detection of HPV DNA in cervical specimens was performed using a standardized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol with PGMY09/11 primers. To estimate the association of HPV infection with selected risk factors, prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence interval [CI] were estimated using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with binomial distribution and log link function. Results: Any HPV DNA was detected in 58.5% (95% CI 52.7%-64.0%) of the enrolled young women. Most common types of HPV found were: HPV16, HPV51, HPV52, HPV58 and HPV71. The overall prevalence of HPV types targeted by the HPV prophylactic vaccines was: HPV16 - 12.0%, HPV18 -2.3% and HPV 6+11- 4.3%. High-risk HPV types were found in 133 (44.2%) women, whereas 43 women (14.3%) had only low-risk HPV types. One hundred and two women (33.9%) were positive for one HPV type only; however, 43 (14.3%) had two types, and 31 (10.3%) had three or more types detected. The multivariate analysis revealed that only age (p for trend =0.020) and smoking habits (p <0.001) were risk factors independently associated with HPV infection. Conclusions: These adolescents and young primiparous women had high cervical HPV prevalence, suggesting that this is a high risk group for cervical cancer development. Nevertheless, 17.3% were positive to any of the four HPV types included in HPV vaccines (HPV6, 11, 16 or 18), with 13.3% positive for HPV 16 or 18, and only 1.0% of them had both vaccine related oncogenic HPV types. Thus, this study supports that the most part of young primiparous women could benefit from catch-up HPV vaccination, and represents a target group for effective primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention programs

INTRODUÇÃO: A reinserção do indivíduo na sociedade, após ele ter cometido um ato anti-social, iniciou-se com o Iluminismo. Atualmente várias pesquisas têm sido realizadas para se verificar a eficácia de trabalhos de reinserção social para criminosos. Entretanto na realidade brasileira não existem trabalhos sistematizados para a população prisional. Como decorrência disto, pensou-se em sistematizar uma intervenção terapêutica para prevenção de reincidência penitenciária e verificar sua eficácia. MÉTODOS: A terapia cognitivo-comportamental para prevenção à reincidência penitenciária é composta por 10 sessões estruturadas. O grupo de sujeitos foi formado por sentenciados, que cumpriam pena no regime semi-aberto, presos, no mínimo, pela segunda vez (reincidentes penitenciários); o tempo máximo de pena que teriam que cumprir deveria ser inferior a quinze anos e já deveriam ter cumprido tempo suficiente para requisitar progressão de regime. Os 43 sujeitos que iniciaram a pesquisa foram divididos em dois grupos grupo de trabalho e grupo controle. Foram feitas entrevistas e aplicações de escalas antes e depois da intervenção. RESULTADOS: Como resultado do trabalho não se percebeu diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os sujeitos que estavam no grupo de trabalho e no grupo controle em relação a reincidência penitenciária. Em relação às escalas aplicadas, os sentenciados que terminaram o programa apresentaram um escore maior no Questionário de Pensamentos Automáticos, comparado com aqueles que desistiram. Os que concluíram a pesquisa e estava no grupo de trabalho percebemos que o Programa de Prevenção a Reincidência Penitenciária reduz o medo de avaliação negativa. Os que estavam no grupo controle apresentaram um decréscimo na Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social. Após 12 meses de intervenção, entre os sentenciados que iniciaram a pesquisa, os reincidentes mostraram uma tendência a ter um escore menor no Questionário de auto-estima antes da intervenção. Os reincidentes que estavam no grupo de trabalho apresentaram uma tendência a já terem cumprido mais tempo de suas penas e os do grupo controle, uma tendência a ter um escore menor na Escala de Medo de Avaliação Negativa antes do início do programa e um escore menor na escala de Estresse e Fuga Social depois da intervenção. Entre os sentenciados que terminaram o programa e reincidiram, pôdese perceber que a intervenção causou uma redução nos resultados no escore da Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social e uma tendência em diminuir o escore no Questionário de Pensamentos Automáticos. Dentre os não reincidentes existe uma diminuição no escore da Escala de Medo de Avaliação Negativa depois do programa; os que estavam no grupo de trabalho, apresentaram uma tendência de redução do medo de avaliação negativa e os que estavam no grupo controle apresentaram uma diminuição no escore da escala de estresse e fuga social. CONCLUSÕES: A partir deste estudo pôde-se notar que a terapia cognitiva para prevenção à reincidência penitenciária, apesar de apresentar alguns resultados positivos diminuição do medo de avaliação negativa e uma discreta redução na taxa acumulada de reincidência penitenciária daqueles que concluíram o programa - necessita ser revisto e reformulado. / INTRODUCTION: The idea of rehabilitating individuals after they have committed an antisocial act came about during the Enlightenment. Nowadays, a lot of researches have been done to realize the efficacy of offenders social rehabilitation. However, in Brazil don´t exist studies systematized for prison population. As a result of this a therapeutic intervention for prevention of prison recidivism was systematized. METHODS: The technique used in this program is cognitive-behavioral therapy, composed of 10 structured meetings. The group of subjects in the study comprehended 43 inmates (20 of them from the control group and 23 from the experimental group) who served their terms in medium security prisons, and who were serving, at least, their second term. A directed interview and some questionnaires or scales were applied both before and after the program. Results: Regarding re-offense, when we compare accumulated monthly rate, we cannot see statistic difference neither of all the subjects that started the program or those that finished the program. Based on analysis of the data collected it can be asserted that: the Penitentiary Re-offense Prevention Program reduces the fear of negative evaluation; participants in the control group had a decreased score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale; inmates who finished the program had a greater score in the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, a greater fear of a negative evaluation at the beginning of the program and a greater score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale. Subjects that re-offended at least one year after the end of the program showed a tendency to have a lower score in the Self-esteem Scale before the intervention. Those who were in the control group and re-offended showed tendency to have lower fear of a negative evaluation before the beginning of the program and had the lowest score rate in the Stress and Social Escape Scale, following the program. For inmates who finished the program and re-offense, the intervention caused a decrease on the results of the score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale, and a trend towards a decrease in the Questionnaire on Automatic Thoughts. Among the non-re-offenders there is a noticeable trend in reducing negative evaluation after the program. The non-re-offenders who were members of the experimental group showed a tendency to have a lower score in fear of a negative evaluation scale. CONCLUSION: From this study it was noted that cognitive therapy for preventing of prison recidivism, although they had some positive results, such as reducing the fear of negative evaluation needs to be revised and recast.

Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle. Bibliography: leaves 69-78.

Impairments in balance, mobility, and lower-limb strength are common in the growing population of older people and can lead to dramatic consequences for the individual, such as dependency in activities of daily living, admission to nursing home, falls, and fractures. The main purposes of this thesis were, among older people in residential care facilities, to validate a fall-risk assessment tool and to evaluate a high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise pro-gramme regarding its applicability as well as its effect on physical functions and falls. The prediction accuracy of the Downton fall risk index within 3, 6 and 12 months was evaluated among 78 residents, aged 65 years or more, at one residential care facility. The participants were assessed as having either a low or high fall risk according to the index and were followed-up for falls using two different fall definitions related to the cause of the fall. With all falls included, a significant prognostic separation was found between the low- and the high-risk group at 3, 6 and 12 months. A definition in which falls precipitated by acute illness, acute disease, or drug side-effects were excluded did not improve the accuracy of the fall prediction. The effect on physical functions of a high-intensity functional exercise programme was evaluated in a randomised controlled trial among 191 older people, dependent in activities of daily living, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of ten or more, and living in nine residential care facilities. Participants were randomised to an exercise programme or a control activity, including 29 supervised sessions over 3 months, as well as to an intake of a milk-based 200 ml protein-enriched energy supplement (7.4 g protein per 100 g) or a placebo drink immediately after each session. The Berg Balance Scale, usual and maximum gait speed, and one-repetition maximum in lower-limb strength in a leg press machine were followed up at 3 and 6 months by blinded assessors and analysed using the intention-to-treat principle. Significant long-term effects of the high-intensity functional exercise programme were seen in balance, gait ability and lower-limb strength in comparison with the control activity. The intake of the protein-enriched energy supplement did not increase the effect of the training. The evaluation of the applicability of the exercise programme showed that there was a high rate of attendance, a relatively high achieved intensity in the exercises, and only two serious adverse events, neither of which led to manifest injury or disease, despite that most of the participants had severe cognitive or physical impairments. The applicability of the programme was not associated with the participants’ cognitive function. The evaluation of the fall-prevention effect of the exercise programme, during the 6 months following the intervention, showed that neither fall rate nor proportion of participants who sustained a fall differed between the exercise programme and the control activity, when all participants were compared. However, among participants who improved their balance during the intervention period, a significant reduction in fall rate was seen in favour of the exercise group. In conclusion, among older people living in residential care facilities, the Downton fall risk index appears to be a useful tool for predicting residents sustaining a fall, irrespective of the cause of the fall, even with a perspective of only a few months. A high-intensity functional exercise programme is applicable for use, regardless of cognitive function, and has positive long-term effects on balance, gait ability, and lower-limb strength. An intake of a protein-enriched energy supplement immediately after the exercise does not appear to increase the effect of the training. Participants who improve their balance function due to the exercise programme may reduce their risk of falling.