In situ hybridization analysis of human papillomavirus in orofacial lesions using a consensus biotinylated probe.

The effectiveness of the Viratype Omniprobe in situ human papillomavirus tissue hybridization kit (Digene Diagnostics) was evaluated for the detection of HPV DNA in common orofacial lesions. Seventy mucocutaneous lesions were hybridized with a biotinylated Omniprobe that was specific for HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, and 56. Eighteen (25.7%) of the specimens analyzed had intranuclear positive signals for HPV. Probing with HPV 6/11, 16/18, and 31/33/35 to delimit the HPV genotype yielded HPV DNA 6/11 in 16 (88.9%) of the Omniprobe-positive specimens. Only squamous papilloma and condyloma acuminatum were found to harbor HPV DNA. Sites most frequently infected were the labial and buccal mucosa (21.7%) and the floor of the mouth (17.4%). These results suggest that hybridization with the Omniprobe provides appropriate sensitivity and specificity for detecting HPV in some benign proliferations of the oral cavity. However, the detection of HPV in oral squamous cell carcinoma, lichen planus, and keratoacanthoma remains problematic until more sensitive and specific molecular techniques are used.

A statewide study of the public attitudes toward child abuse.

A statewide survey of adults revealed that they are well informed about some aspects of child abuse. They had a generally good intuitive understanding of the characteristics of abused children and child abusers, but a majority seemed to have a "deviance" perspective on child abuse. They considered abusers as abnormal and intractable. While three-quarters of the respondents were aware that they are obligated to report cases of child abuse to the authorities, one-fifth knew someone who had abused a child, but only a third of these actually reported the case.

Does social work education make a difference?

To test the hypothesis that state employees with social work education are better prepared for social work positions than are their colleagues without such education, data were collected in five areas, using different instruments and approaches. The data sets were scores on state merit tests for family service workers, employees' quality assurance scores, ratings of employees from supervisors, measures of employees' commitment to social work values, and measures of employees' confidence in their educational preparedness. Overall, employees with social work degrees, either bachelor's or master's, were better prepared than were those without social work degrees.