Biomedical subjects
Jane Sterling
Publications and source records attributed to Jane Sterling.
Local treatments for cutaneous warts: systematic review.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidence for the efficacy of local treatments for cutaneous warts. METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Total clearance of warts and adverse effects such as irritation, pain, and blistering. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised controlled trials of any local treatment for uncomplicated cutaneous warts. All published and unpublished material was considered, with no restriction on date or language. RESULTS: 50 included trials provided generally weak evidence because of poor methods and reporting. The best evidence was for topical treatments containing salicylic acid. Data pooled from six placebo controlled trials showed a cure rate of 75% (144 of 191) in cases compared with 48% (89 of 185) in controls (odds ratio 3.91, 95% confidence interval 2.40 to 6.36). Some evidence for the efficacy of contact immunotherapy was provided by two small trials comparing dinitrochlorobenzene with placebo. Evidence for the efficacy of cryotherapy was limited. No consistent evidence was found for the efficacy of intralesional bleomycin, and only limited evidence was found for the efficacy of topical fluorouracil, intralesional interferons, photodynamic therapy, and pulsed dye laser. CONCLUSIONS: Reviewed trials of local treatments for cutaneous warts were highly variable in methods and quality, and there was a paucity of evidence from randomised, placebo controlled trials on which to base the rational use of the treatments. There is good evidence that topical treatments containing salicylic acid have a therapeutic effect and some evidence for the efficacy of dinitrochlorobenzene. Less evidence was found for the efficacy of all the other treatments reviewed, including cryotherapy.
HIV-1 infection and intraepithelial neoplasia of lower genital tract.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Non-genital warts.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Non-genital warts.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Efficient generation of neural precursors from adult human skin: astrocytes promote neurogenesis from skin-derived stem cells.
BACKGROUND: Neural stem cells are a potential source of cells for drug screening or cell-based treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. However, ethical and practical considerations limit the availability of neural stem cells derived from human embryonic tissue. An alternative source of human neural stem cells is needed; a source that is readily accessible, easily expanded, and reliably induced to a neural fate. METHODS: Dermis isolated from biopsy samples of adult human skin was cultured and expanded in the presence of the mitogens epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF 2), and then by serum. We used immunocytochemical techniques, clonal analysis, and physiological characterisation to assess neural differentiation after the treatment of expanded cells with novel induction media. FINDINGS: Initial characterisation of skin samples confirmed the absence of nestin, a neural precursor marker. Sequential culture in EGF and FGF 2 followed by adherent expansion in serum, and re-exposure to mitogens in substrate-free conditions resulted in large numbers of nestin-positive/musashi-positive neural precursors. Subsequent exposure of these precursors to hippocampal-astrocyte-derived signals resulted in cells of neuronal morphology that had stable expression of markers of neuronal differentiation (neurofilament, beta tubulin). We also show the presence of voltage-dependent calcium transients, and demonstrate monoclonal neural potential. INTERPRETATION: We describe the isolation and characterisation of cells derived from adult human dermis that can be expanded for extended periods of time in vitro, while retaining inducible neural potential. The generation of almost limitless numbers of neural precursors from a readily accessible autologous adult human source provides a platform for further experimental studies and has potential therapeutic implications.