Evaluation of genetic polymorphisms in patients with multiple chemical sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic medical condition characterized by symptoms that the affect an individual's response to low-level chemical exposure. In this study, we identified a chemical sensitive population (CSP) and investigated the effect of genetic polymorphisms on their risk of chemical sensitivity. METHODS: A quick environment exposure sensitivity (QEESI) questionnaire was used to survey 324 Japanese male workers whose DNA samples had been collected and stored. The following genes, which encode enzymes affecting the metabolic activation of a large number of xenobiotic compounds, were selected and analyzed in order to determine their influence on genetic predisposition to CSP: cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1, N-acetyl transferase (NAT) 2, glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, GSTT1, GSTP1, low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2. RESULTS: Significant case-control distributed differences were observed in SOD2 polymorphisms and allele frequency distribution in high chemical sensitive subjects. Both the significant adjusted OR of 4.30 (95% CI, 1.23-15.03) and 4.53 (95% CI, 1.52-13.51) were observed in SOD2 Ala/Ala and Val/Ala compared to Val/Val and in SOD2 Ala/Ala compared to Val/Ala compared to Val/Val genetic analysis in the high chemical sensitivity case-control study. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that high chemical sensitive individuals diagnosed by using Japanese criteria as MCS patients were more significantly associated with SOD2 polymorphisms

Profiles of Human Papillomavirus Detection of the Multinucleated Cells in Cervical Smears

Many genotypes of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) may lead to morphological changes in cells, resulting in various atypical cells, such as multinucleated cells (MNCs) and koilocytes, in the cervix. However, the relationships between the profiles of HPV genotypes and MNCs are not exactly known. Thus, this study comprehensively profiles the HPV genotypes in MNCs using a microdissection method. HPV genotypes and MNCs were detected in 651 cases with an abnormal Pap smear by liquid-based cytology. Specific HPV genotypes were also detected, including HPV16, 34, and 56, which might be associated with MNCs. This result suggests that the high-risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV16 and 56, are associated with the atypical changes in MNC morphology from normal cervical cells. The results also show that MNCs may be a predictor of squamous intraepithelial lesion

Optimal Papanicolaou Smear Conditions for Manual Microdissection of Single Target Cells

This study aimed to investigate the optimal conditions for Papanicolaou (Pap) smear to increase the success rate of target cell isolation through manual microdissection (MMD) and prevent cell spread. Pap smears were prepared using an HPV42-positive SurePath™ liquid-based cytology case, and 46 and 50 koilocytes were used in wet and dried Pap smears, respectively, to verify the success rate of target cell isolation using MMD based on the HPV detection rate. During MMD, the microscopic examination of both specimens revealed that cells in dried smears could be easily identified; however, cell debris remained in the surrounding area after MMD. Although it was difficult to observe cells in wet smears, there was no cell debris. When the needle tip was immersed in DNA lysate after cell isolation through MMD, a difference in cell solubility was found between dry and wet smears. HPV42 was detected in 94.7% and 97.4% of dried and wet Pap smears, respectively, via polymerase chain reaction genotyping using lysed cell solution; the detection rates were not significantly different. The isolation of target cells from wet Pap smears using MMD reduced the risk of contamination and increased the success rate of HPV detection. This study might facilitate the identification of new CIN-derived HPV-infected cells using MMD with wet Pap smears

Correlation between Human Papillomavirus Codetection Profiles and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Japanese Women

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is thought to be strongly associated with the precarcinomatous state cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical carcinoma. To accurately assess the correlation between HPV detection profiles and CIN, the uniplex E6/E7 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used. We detected HPV (37 genotypes) in 267 CIN cases. The detection of a single high-risk HPV genotype occurred in 69.7% of CIN1 and worse than CIN1 (CIN1+) cases whereas other types were detected in 11.6% of cases. Codetection of high-risk HPV genotypes occurred in 4.9% of CIN1+ cases. The high-risk genotype HPV16 was the most frequently detected genotype in CIN1+ lesions; the genotype HPV34 (not a high-risk type) was detected in some CIN3 cases. Furthermore, HPV codetection may not be associated with CIN grades. These results suggest that various HPV genotypes are associated with CIN across all analyzed cases

Effects of Menstrual Cycle on the Accumulation of Human Papillomavirus-Infected Cells Exfoliated from the Cervix That Drift into the Vagina

Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing using self-collected vaginal specimens is the preferred choice to increase screening uptake. Although the HPV testing results of these samples depend on the cells that naturally exfoliate from the cervical lesion and drift into the vagina, the mechanism of when and how these exfoliated cells mix with the self-collected sample remains unclear. Hence, the study aimed to clarify the relationship between the vaginal drift of HPV-infected cells exfoliated from the cervix, and the menstrual cycle. A total of 180 scraped samples of the cervix and vagina were examined. The exfoliated cells were classified into two categories according to the HPV genotyping results of each sample: sufficient accumulation (same HPV types in cervical and vaginal samples) and insufficient accumulation (fewer HPV types in vaginal samples than in cervical samples, or HPV positivity in cervical samples and HPV negativity in vaginal samples). A moderately strong statistically significant association was observed between exfoliated cell accumulation and the menstrual cycle, and insufficient accumulation was statistically significantly increased at the early proliferative phases. Self-collection of vaginal samples at the early proliferation phase indicates insufficient sample quantities or lower viral load, thereby affecting HPV genotyping