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To explore sexually transmitted diseases and sexual behavior as risk factors for cervical cancer, we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study of breast and cervical cancer in Costa Rica. Data from 415 cases of cervical carcinoma in situ, 149 cases of invasive cervical cancer, and 764 controls were included in the analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that lifetime number of sex partners, first intercourse before age 15 years, number of livebirths, herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity, and serologic evidence of previous chlamydial infection were predictors of carcinoma in situ. Serologic evidence of previous syphilis was not associated with carcinoma in situ. Predictors for invasive cervical cancer included lifetime number of sex partners, first intercourse before age 15 years, number of livebirths, serologic evidence of previous syphilis, herpes simplex type 2 infection, and chlamydial infection. Cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, self-reported history of sexually transmitted diseases, and douching were not associated with either carcinoma in situ or invasive cervical cancer.

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The development of quantitative single-cell immunoassays has provided a novel opportunity to demonstrate the isotype-specific immunoglobulin responses in normal and infected neonates. The reverse enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to determine the number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells (IgSCs) in peripheral blood. Baseline numbers of IgSCs were established in 69 uninfected term and preterm infants within 5 days of birth; values above the 99th percentile were considered elevated. The IgSCs were also measured in 266 infants with proved or suspected infections or congenital anomalies. A subset of newborn infants was retested weekly. Few IgSCs (mostly IgMSCs) were detected within 5 days of birth in uninfected neonates, but by 1 month 77% had increased numbers of IgSCs, primarily IgASCs. Sixty-three (24%) of 266 study infants had increased IgSCs on initial sampling (predominantly IgMSCs); these included infants as immature as 25 to 27 weeks of gestational age; elevations in IgSCs were most frequent in infants with intrauterine infections. Increased numbers of IgSCs were uncommon in infants with early-onset sepsis in the first 5 days but were frequent by the second week, consistent with acquisition of infection near the time of delivery. We conclude that the presence of elevated numbers of IgSCs soon after birth may be a useful surrogate marker of untreated intrauterine infection. The development of predominantly IgASCs in the first month of life suggests postnatal exposure to common mucosal antigens.

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We studied the prevalence of antibody to Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in 766 randomly selected Costa Rican women 25-59 years of age in a national household survey in 1984-1985. Overall, 97.1% were seropositive for HSV-1 and 39.4% for HSV-2. Only 1.1% of HSV-2 seropositive women gave a history of symptomatic genital herpes. HSV-2 virus antibody increased with age and with the number of lifetime sexual partners. HSV-2 seroprevalence among women who reported only 1 lifetime sexual partner was almost twice as high as the prevalence among women who denied sexual experience (30.5% vs. 17.7%) and reached 79.2% among women with greater than or equal to 4 partners. HSV-2 seroprevalence was lower among women whose partners used condoms: 28.9% for those who had used condoms for at least 2 years vs. 44.3% for those who never used condoms.

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All neonates with necrotizing enterocoltis cared for at Grady Memorial Hospital from July, 1977, through February, 1979, were compared with controls matched for birth weight and time of admission to the nursery, to examine risk factors which have been implicated in the etiology of the disease. Data on maternal history, birth history, and hospital course were uniformly collected and contrasted for 35 cases and 98 controls. Low birth weight was associated with an increased incidence of NEC and an increased case fatality rate. All babies 36 weeks or more at birth were diagnosed by seven days. More immature infants developed the disease later in their hospital course. In addition, preterm babies who developed NEC after 2 weeks of age appear to be smaller and sicker. Factors previously thought to predispose an infant to the development of the disease, such as prolonged rupture of membranes, infectious complications of pregnancy, low Apgar scores, patent ductus arteriosus, and use of umbilical catheters, were found with equal frequency in cases and controls and may simply represent the descriptive characteristics of a population of sick premature infants. Feeding history and antibiotic use were examined in depth and were not correlated with the development of NEC.

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We recently have described destruction of cells infected with herpes simplex virus by the combination of specific antibody and either lymphocytes or monocyte-macrophages. Because of the role of these cells in viral immunity and the severity of HSV in neonates and pregnant women, cord blood from 11 healthy neonates and peripheral blood from seven of their postpartum mothers were analyzed for MP and lymphocyte antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against cells infected with HSV. Cord blood yielded more lymphocytes and maternal blood fewer lymphocytes than did blood from adult female control subjects. Baseline cytotoxicity of cord MP and lymphocytes and maternal lymphocytes was significantly lower than control values. There was no significant difference in MP or lymphocyte ADCC, although maternal ADCC tended to be lower than that of control subjects. Analysis of cord plasma indicated that antibody able to participate in lymphocyte and MP ADCC crosses the placenta. These data demonstrate intact ADCC but possible defects in baseline cytotoxicity with leukocytes obtained from neonates and pregnant women. Further consideration of the use of HSV antibody for prevention and therapy of neonatal HSV infection is suggested.

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The lymphocyte transforming agent, associated with Epstein-Barr virus, was sought in the oropharynx and other clinical sites of 443 individuals in the following groups: premature and term neonates; infants with congenital malformations or with suspected TORCH syndrome; children with various illnesses; pregnant and postpartum women; healthy adults; and patients with infectious mononucleosis. Evidence of intrauterine infection was found in one newborn infant and LTA was demonstrated in a 16-day-old infant who developed transient hepatosplenomegaly. LTA was not detected in 96 other newborn infants and 57 infants with various anomalies or illnesses; nor was it found in the cervix of 125 pregnant or postpartum women. LTA was demonstrated in varying frequency in ill children, healthy adults, and those with infectious mononucleosis. It is suggested that the clinicoepidemiologic patterns of EBV infection in newborn infants and children will best be established by prospective studies.

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