Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, 45 DNA loads and HPV-16 integration in persistent and transient infections in young women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HPV burden is a predictor for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. The natural history of HPV load in young women being recently exposed to HPV is described in this paper.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 636 female university students were followed for 2 years. Cervical specimens with HPV-16, -18, -31, or -45 DNA by consensus PCR were further evaluated with type-specific and β-globin real-time PCR assays. Proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of infection clearance. Generalized estimating equations assessed whether HPV loads was predictive of HPV infection at the subsequent visit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HPV loads were consistently higher among women <25 years old, and those who had multiple sex partners, multiple HPV type infections and smokers. HPV-16 integration was encountered only in one sample. Infection clearance was faster among women at lower tertiles of HPV-16 (HR = 2.8, 95%CI: 1.0-8.1), HPV-18 (HR = 3.5, 95%CI: 1.1-11.2) or combined (HR = 2.4, 95%CI: 1.8-6.2) DNA loads. The relationship between HPV-16 and HPV-18 DNA loads and infection clearance followed a clear dose-response pattern, after adjusting for age and number of sexual partners. GEE Odds Ratios for HPV persistence of the middle and upper tertiles relative to the lower tertile were 2.7 and 3.0 for HPV-16 and 3.8 and 39.1 for HPV-18, respectively. There was no association between HPV-31 or -45 DNA loads and persistence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The association between HPV load and persistence is not uniform across high-risk genital genotypes. HPV-16 integration was only rarely demonstrated in young women.</p

The prevalence of cervical cytology abnormalities and human papillomavirus in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major etiologic agent in the development of cervical cancer and its natural history of infection is altered in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The prevalence of HPV infection and cervical dysplasia in the HIV sero-positive females in the Bahamas is not known. Finding out the prevalence would allow for the establishment of protocols to optimize total care of this population and help prevent morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The Objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of high risk HPV genotypes and the prevalence of cervical dysplasia in the HIV sero-positive females attending the Infectious Disease Clinic at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred consecutive, consenting, non-pregnant, HIV-sero-positive females from the Infectious Disease Clinic at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas were screened for high-risk HPV infections and cervical cytology abnormalities using liquid-based pap smear and signal amplification nucleic acid method for HPV detection. A questionnaire was also utilized to gather demographic information and obtain information on known risk factors associated with HPV infections such numbers of partners.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of high-risk HPV was 67% and cervical abnormalities were noted in 44% of the study population. High-risk HPV types were more likely to be present in women with CD4+ cell counts less than 400 μl^-1and in women with cervical cytology abnormalities (97%). The most common cervical abnormality was low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings suggest that HIV-sero positive females should have HPV testing done as part of their normal gynecology evaluation and these patients should be encouraged and provisions be made for ease of access having regular PAP smears and HPV testing.</p

Pathology and physiopathology of adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is defined by the presence of endometrial mucosa within the myometrium. This probably occurs by invagination of the basalis endometrium into the myometrium. The process of invagination and intramyometrial spreading may be facilitated by the non-cyclic, anti-apoptotic activity of the basalis associated with relative hyper-oestrogenic states. Most cases of adenomyosis are discovered in multiparous women during the 'transitional' years (40-50 years), and the condition is associated with menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea, endometrial polyps and leiomyomata uteri. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is often associated with adenomyosis, is frequently of early stage and low histological grade, is hormone-sensitive, and has an excellent prognosis. Extension of malignant growth into foci of adenomyosis has no adverse effect on prognosis. Definite diagnosis and treatment of adenomyosis are obtained by hysterectomy. Although adenomyotic endometrial glands are hormone-sensitive, exogenous progestogenic agents are ineffective for the treatment of adenomyosis. Anti-oestrogenic danazol and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues induce suppression of adenomyosis, but their use must be of short duration. Surgical extirpation, therefore, is the best therapeutic optio