No abstract

The CNTB represents the first European joint effort to establish neuropsychological measures appropriate for ethnic minority populations in western Europe. The CNTB can be applied in approximately 60 min, covers several cognitive domains, and appears appropriate for assessment of the targeted populations. However, due to the small sample size in some ethnic groups further studies are needed replicate and support this.

The objective of this study was to document the occurrence and to correlate the prevalence of different human papillomavirus (HPV) types with the cytological results on simultaneously performed thin-layer preparations in a large population of Flemish women. During 1 year, 69 290 thin-layer preparations were interpreted using the Bethesda classification system. Using an algorithm for HPV testing based on consensus primers and type-specific PCRs in combination with liquid-based cytology, we determined the occurrence and distribution of 14 different oncogenic HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68). Reflex HPV testing was performed on cytologically abnormal samples and on an age matched randomly selected control group with normal cervical cytology (n ¼ 1351). Correlation between cytology, age and prevalence for the 14 different high-risk HPV types is given. There is a significant increase in predominance of high-risk HPV types, with increasing abnormal cytology. Coinfection with multiple HPV types also increased with cytological abnormalities, and was highest in HSIL (16.7%). In Flanders, HSIL was most often associated with HPV types 16, 33, 35, 31, 18 and 51. Using thin-layer liquid-based cytology and PCR to detect HPV, it is feasible to screen large numbers of women.

By reviewing the clinical files of 1,058 consecutive newly admitted outpatients of a Brussels-based memory clinic between 2005 and 2012, this study aims to document the demographic and clinical characteristics of European and non-European first generation immigrants. They accounted for 18.6% of the patients, of which 8.6% came from outside Europe (mostly from Morocco, Turkey and the Democratic Republic of Congo). Immigrants with AD tended to be younger, and there was a higher proportion of males among non-European ethnic minorities. There was a higher proportion of Parkinson-related cognitive disorders and Lewy Body disease among European immigrants, whereas non-Europeans had more often a psychiatric diagnosis. Even after correction for education, non-European immigrants had lower MMSE scores, and they did report longer delays between first symptoms and diagnosis, although this last difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that non-European immigrants with cognitive problems consult later.

Aims: To test the ability of Ki-67 to detect cytological lesions in a screening setting and its use as a surrogate marker of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Methods: A study of liquid based cytology, HPV DNA testing by MY09/MY11 consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), type specific PCRs, and Ki-67 immunocytochemistry on a randomly selected series of 147 patients. Results: Comparison of the number of Ki-67 immunoreactive cells/1000 cells in the different cytological groups showed that the HSIL group yielded a significantly higher mean count than did the other groups. The number of Ki-67 immunoreactive cells/1000 cells was significantly higher in HPV-16 positive samples than in samples containing infections with other high risk types. Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated a test accuracy (area under curve) of 0.68, 0.72, and 0.86 for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), respectively. Thresholds for 95% sensitivity were 0.07, 0.08, and 0.15 Ki-67 immunopositive cells/1000 cells for ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL, respectively. The threshold for 95% specificity was 1.9 Ki-67 immunopositive cells/1000 cells. Conclusions: Ki-67 immunocytochemistry can be applied to liquid based cytology. The accuracy and diagnostic indices of the test are good when compared with those of other techniques. As part of a panel of screening procedures, it could be used as an adjunct to liquid based cytology to identify HSIL, and as a surrogate marker of HPV-16 infection.T he causal relation between genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical dysplasia/carcinoma is well established.1-3 HPV type 16 (HPV-16) is most frequently found in cervical squamous cell carcinoma, with more than 50% of these tumours harbouring this type. 4 However, even though the prevalence of HPV infection can be as high as 60%, only 10% of infected women will develop cervical dysplasia.