We explored the effects of addition of the nonionic surfactant Triton X‐100 on the stability of aggregates of poly(ethylene glycol‐bl‐propylene sulfide) di‐ and triblock copolymers. Fluorescence spectra of pyrene, used as a probe molecule, elucidated the various stages of transformation from pure copolymeric micelles to surfactant‐rich micelles. Turbidity measurements yielded insight into the mechanism of the interaction, the hydrophobicity of the copolymer driving the process. Triton X‐100 tends to strongly interact with highly hydrophobic copolymers by inserting into the core of the micellar aggregates. On the other hand, Triton X‐100 tends to interact with the corona of micelles formed by less hydrophobic copolymers which, for this reason, are more stable upon addition of this destabilizing agent. Kinetic data give evidence that only monomers, not micelles of surfactant, interact with the copolymer micelles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2477–2487, 2008

The objectives of the study were to evaluate 1) the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of p16(INK4a) as a marker for high-grade cervical lesions, 2) the results of a real-time polymerase chain reaction detecting high-risk human papillomavirus, and 3) the interobserver variability of the p16(INK4a) interpretation.A total of 232 ThinPrep samples were stained for p16(INK4a), and HPV-DNA PCR was performed on 107 specimens with inclusion of both benign and abnormal cytology. Histological follow-up information was collected. The diagnostic sensitivity of ASC+ with CIN2+ in histology as endpoint was 96% for p16(INK4a) and 100% for HR-HPV DNA PCR, and the diagnostic specificity was 41% and 27%, respectively. If p16(INK4a) had been used for triage of the ASC samples, then 18 patients (42%) could have been spared unnecessary follow-up procedures compared to six patients (21%) with the HR-HPV DNA test.

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A new predictor, the amount of mast cells in placenta was evaluated. In this study the amount of mast cells, in placenta was not predictive of the development of atopic disease before 18 months of age.

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