Microscopic Evaluation of Vaginitis from a Menstrual Tampon

Abstract

A simple method was studied using a menstrual tampon to collect a vaginal specimen for microscopic diagnosis of vaginal infection. The tampon specimen was compared to a specimen obtained during a vaginal speculum examination, obtained in 30 episodes of vaginal complaints from 29 college age females. Thirteen paired specimens were positive for Candida albicans. (Alternately, 1 each of the specimen pairs was also positive in 2 additional situations.) One paired specimen was positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. Eighteen paired specimens studied for “clue” cells were in agreement. The results suggest that the tampon may be a reliable specimen collector to establish the etiology of vaginitis. As such, it may provide a convenient means to evaluate the success of therapy, to reestablish a diagnosis in recurrent situations or to facilitate a screening method under certain defined circumstances.

“Reduction of Plasma Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Apoproteins by Dietary Fish Oils in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia,” BEVERLEY E. PHILLIPSON, et al. Dietary fish oils, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have been reported to reduce plasma lipid levels in normolipidemic subjects. We examined the effects of fish oil in 20 hypertriglyceridemic patients: 10 with Type IIb hyperlipidemia and 10 with Type V. These patients were put on three diets differing primarily in fatty acid composition and fat content. The control diet contained a fatty acid mixture typical of a low-fat therapeutic diet (ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat, 1.4), the fish-oil diet contained omega-3 fatty acids, and the vegetable-oil diet was rich in the omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid. Each diet was followed for four weeks. In the Type IIb group, the fish-oil led to decreases in both plasma cholesterol (− 27 per cent) and triglyceride (− 64 per cent), as compared with the control diet. Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) were also reduced markedly. The vegetable-oil diet had much less effect. With fish oil, the Type V group had marked decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels (−45 and −79 per cent respectively). VLDL levels were dramatically lowered, as were apoprotein E levels. The vegetable-oil diet (unlike the fish-oil diet) produced a rapid and significant rise in plasma triglyceride levels. We conclude that fish oils and fish may be useful components of diets for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. (New England Journal of Medicine 1985;312:1210–6.)