Results of a Survey Concerning Cervical Cancer Risk Factors among Women in Western Kazakhstan

During 2014–2017, a survey concerning risk factors for cervical cancer involving 1166 clinically healthy women and 65 having CaCx was conducted in Western Kazakhstan. Only 34.7% of interviewees constantly participated in state-sponsored screening program, while 37.3% ignored screening in free state-sponsored clinics. Favorable attitude toward vaccination stated 22.9% of the respondents, whereas 38.8% knew nothing, and 33.6% could not clarify their position in this issue. Education is a key factor for better perception of preventive measures—69.2% of the respondents with higher education are aware of vaccination (p ≤ 0.00001, Cramer’s V 0.18, χ2–23.1). Social profiles of HPV-infected and CaCx-diseased women differ significantly and, mainly, by standard of living and occupational status. The likelihood of the CaCx onset in Western Kazakhstan decreased by 14 times at relatively high standard of living (OR 0.0713, p = 0.024) and by 3.3 times provided at least irregular participation in screening (OR 0.3384, p = 0.0304). Overall, the findings are quite able to contribute to an understanding why women become affected by CaCx. Low standard of living due to lack of education, low attendance of screening, and low awareness on preventive measures‑all these reasons are interacted and constitute a set of universal triggers for vulnerability toward CaCx

Reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral sea area

Background: The Aral Sea problem arises after improper regulation of the water from cross-borders river and heavy application of the pesticides over the cotton fields in the area. Objectives: This review article was designed to highlight the reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral Sea area. Methods of Literature Research: PubMed search was done for the articles that have been published from January 2007 to December 2015 using the keywords; Lindane and related health hazards in human. Five articles were found and critically analyzed to highlight the reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral Sea area. Results: Men of reproductive age were exposed to organochlorine pesticides (including Lindane), which have estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity, and this exposure may affect the male reproductive health. The human maternal and cord blood levels of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane were higher in preterm labor than full-term labor cases. Exposure of the human farmers to Lindane may be associated with long-term abnormalities that affect sensory nerves, and short-term abnormalities that affect liver, with reduced hepatic enzymes activity and reduced hepatocyte RNA synthesis. The Lindane level of 61 ± 268 pg/g lipid detected in the newborns in Turkey. Recently; Lindane has been restricted in most countries since 2009 under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that the large epidemiological studies in the United States and Canada showed a 60% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, and pesticide applicators exposed to Lindane. Conclusion: Organochlorine pesticides, including Lindane have estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity, which may affect the male reproductive health. The human maternal and cord blood levels of HCH were higher in preterm labor than full-term labor cases. Exposure of the human farmers to Lindane may be associated with long-term abnormalities that affect sensory nerves, and short-term abnormalities that affect liver. Further future studies needed, with screening program of blood levels of Lindane in people living in Aral Sea area to confirm the Lindane health-related hazards, and the use of Lindane should be restricted in the Aral Sea area, if such relation proved

Human Papillomavirus related issues in western Kazakhstan: protocol for a comprehensive study

This article describes a Protocol for a study to determine a scope of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and evaluate cervical cancer prevention measures in the western Kazakhstan. Introduction — ICO (Institut Catala d’Oncologia) working group in 2015 informed that cervical cancer in Kazakhstan ranked as the 1st most frequent cancer among 15-44 aged women. Aim — comprehensive analysis of the HPV infection across the female population to predict further trends in the cervical cancer morbidity and outline the circle of urgent preventive measures. The most important tasks are the following: to analyze a set of clinical, laboratory and socio-demographic data for identification the region-specific risk factors of the disease; to present a comparative analysis of diagnostic screening tools practiced in the region for the development corrective recommendations for existing screening strategy. Methods — This study constitutes a mix of three different types: interview+cross-sectional study for general female population and interview+case-control study for women with the first time diagnosed cervical cancer, where women of the general sample of the same age with detected HPV infection but not affected by the disease serve as a control for those with the disease. Anticipated Results — A high feasibility and pithiness of this study is expected. Obtaining a wide body of information relatively HPV scope and a quality of the screening process during a patient’s single visit is the main strength of the research. Conclusion — Successful implementation of challenges announced in the research can lead to changing a general vector or/and constituent parts of the existing screening program