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Cancers Oct 2023More and more studies have focused on the associations between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and pan-cancers. However, current evidence is largely based on...
INTRODUCTION
More and more studies have focused on the associations between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and pan-cancers. However, current evidence is largely based on retrospective studies, which are susceptible to confounding factors and do not enable the establishment of causal relationships.
METHODS
A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design was employed to thoroughly evaluate the causal relationships between HPV and 12 site-specific cancers except cervical cancer. Single nucleoside polymers (SNPs) with strong evidence from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were selected from HPV exposure datasets and used as instrumental variables (IVs) in this study. For the MR analysis results, MR-Egger's intercept P test, MR-PRESSO global test, Cochran's Q test and a leave-one-out test were applied for sensitivity analysis. Using HPVTIMER, we also performed immune infiltration analyses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) to evaluate the tumor-immune microenvironment.
RESULTS
Based on the evidence of MR analysis, our study conclusively identified HPV16 as a risk factor implicated in the development of bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer, while HPV18 was identified as a risk factor for prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. The MR results also showed that HPV16 may be a protective factor for prostate cancer, anal cancer, lung cancer and oropharyngeal cancer, while HPV18 may be a protective factor for vaginal cancer.
CONCLUSION
An HPV infection may modulate the immune microenvironment and therefore has a potential inhibitory effect on the development of certain cancers. These conclusions provided new insights into the potential mechanisms of carcinogenesis and needed further research for validation.
PubMed: 37958321
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215147 -
Skinmed 2023A 36-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of purulent perianal and vulvar discharge. She had a 25-year history of Crohn's disease...
A 36-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of purulent perianal and vulvar discharge. She had a 25-year history of Crohn's disease (CD), and 13 years prior had received a total colectomy with end ileostomy. She had vulvar biopsies 5 years prior to presentation, demonstrating noncaseating granulomas consistent with metastatic Crohn's disease (MCD). Throughout the course of her disease, she had a failed treatment with adalimumab, certolizumab, methotrexate, and 6-mercaptopurine. She had received a radical vulvectomy 1 year prior to presenting to control recurrent vulvar abscesses and MCD while receiving monthly subcutaneous infliximab 10 mg/kg body weight. Dermatology was consulted at presentation, and the physical examination revealed tender, linear ulcerations with a granulated appearance and depigmentation on the natal cleft and vulva (Figures 1 and 2). Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis indicated thickening of soft tissue without evidence of abscesses, fluid collection, or fistulae. Given the distribution and morphology of lesions with a history of biopsy-proven MCD, the patient was diagnosed with a flare of MCD.
Topics: Female; Humans; Adult; Crohn Disease; Abscess; Infliximab; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Neoplasms; Recurrence
PubMed: 37945367
DOI: No ID Found -
Ceska Gynekologie 2023Synechiae of the vulva occurs especially in girls in the so-called resting hormonal period with a minimal serum concentration of estrogens. If the external genitalia of...
Synechiae of the vulva occurs especially in girls in the so-called resting hormonal period with a minimal serum concentration of estrogens. If the external genitalia of the girl are not treated properly, the mucous membrane of the vaginal entrance is not regularly checked and mechanically removed, then the smegma of the opposite mucous membranes of the vulva can stick together. The place of the adhesion of epithelium in the vaginal introitus can be covered by a new epithelium and can create a firm adhesion, synechiae of the vulva, which is usually asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally during pediatric examination. Clinically significant vulvar synechiae can cause impaired bladder evacuation and recurrent lower urinary tract infections. Dissection of synechiae in the stage of conglutination or thin adhesion is performed manually on an outpatient basis, but extensive and firm adhesions must be divided surgically under general anesthesia. Local application of cream with estriol or betamethasone is also used for the therapy of synechiae of the vulva, but this treatment is more time-consuming compared to rapid manual separation and requires good compliance of the girls and their parents. The prevention of synechiae is based on the education of parents by pediatricians and gynecologists about the need for regular checks of the external genitalia and sufficient hygiene.
Topics: Female; Child; Humans; Vulvar Diseases; Vulva; Estrogens; Vagina; Tissue Adhesions
PubMed: 37932057
DOI: 10.48095/cccg2023384 -
Molecular Aspects of Medicine Dec 2023Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection represents a significant global health concern owing to its role in the etiology of conditions ranging from benign low-grade lesions... (Review)
Review
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection represents a significant global health concern owing to its role in the etiology of conditions ranging from benign low-grade lesions to cancers of the cervix, head and neck, anus, vagina, vulva, and penis. Prophylactic vaccination programs, primarily targeting adolescent girls, have achieved dramatic reductions in rates of HPV infection and cervical cancer in recent years. However, there is a clear demand for a strategy to manage the needs of the many people who are already living with persistent HPV infection and/or HPV-associated conditions. Unlike prophylactic vaccines, which act to prevent HPV infection, therapeutic vaccination presents an opportunity to induce cellular immunity against established HPV infections and lesions and prevent progression to cancer. Several HPV vaccines are undergoing clinical development, using a range of platforms. Peptide- or protein-based vaccines, vector-based vaccines, whole-cell vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines each offer relative merits and limitations for the delivery of HPV antigens and the subsequent generation of targeted immune responses. There has been particular interest in DNA-based vaccines, which elicit both cellular and humoral immune responses to provide long-lasting immunity. DNA vaccines offer several practical advantages over other vaccine platforms, including the potential for rapid and scalable manufacturing, targeting of many different antigens, and potential for repeat boosting. Furthermore, unlike vectored approaches, DNA vaccines are thermostable over extended time periods, which may enable shipping and storage. Several delivery strategies are available to address the main challenge of DNA vaccines, namely their relatively low transfection efficiency. We review the latest clinical data supporting the development of DNA vaccines and reflect on this exciting prospect in the management of HPV-related disease.
Topics: Male; Female; Adolescent; Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Vaccines, DNA; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Human Papillomavirus Viruses
PubMed: 37931422
DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101224 -
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases 2023Vulvar schistosomiasis is a female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which occurs because of the damage caused by the presence of schistosome ova within the vulva. FGS is...
BACKGROUND
Vulvar schistosomiasis is a female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which occurs because of the damage caused by the presence of schistosome ova within the vulva. FGS is mostly misdiagnosed as a sexually transmitted infection. There is no reported case of vulvar schistosomiasis from in an immunocompetent or immunocompromised person in Ghanaian medical literature; however, there is a reported case of in an immunocompromised person. This is the first case of vulvar schistosomiasis from infection in an immunocompromised person. This case report discusses the need to consider vulvar schistosomiasis in patients with itchiness of the vulva. . A sixty-nine-year-old married woman presents with a persistent vulvar itch that is unresponsive to treatment. A clinical diagnosis of vulvar lichen planus unresponsive to medical therapy was made. A histopathological diagnosis of vulvar schistosomiasis was, however, made. Ziehl-Neelsen stain revealed the ova of . Symptoms resolved on administration of oral praziquantel.
CONCLUSION
Vulvar schistosomiasis must be considered in clinical history-taking and investigation of signs and symptoms related to itchiness of the vulva. Ziehl-Neelsen staining is a helpful histopathology armamentarium to determine the species of schistosome ova.
PubMed: 37886136
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9913905 -
Parasites & Vectors Oct 2023Nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are important biocontrol agents as they form a lethal combination with their symbiotic Photorhabdus bacteria against agricultural...
Taxonomic and molecular characterization of a new entomopathogenic nematode species, Heterorhabditis casmirica n. sp., and whole genome sequencing of its associated bacterial symbiont.
BACKGROUND
Nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are important biocontrol agents as they form a lethal combination with their symbiotic Photorhabdus bacteria against agricultural insect pests. This study describes a new species of Heterorhabditis.
METHODS
Six Heterorhabditis nematode populations were recovered from agricultural soils in Jammu and Kashmir, India. An initial examination using mitochondrial and nuclear genes showed that they belong to a new species. To describe this new species, a variety of analyses were conducted, including reconstructing phylogenetic relationships based on multiple genes, characterizing the nematodes at the morphological and morphometric levels, performing self-crossing and cross-hybridization experiments, and isolating and characterizing their symbiotic bacteria.
RESULTS
The newly discovered species, Heterorhabditis casmirica n. sp., shares 94% mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequence identity with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Heterorhabditis ruandica, and 93% with Heterorhabditis zacatecana. Morphologically, it differs from H. bacteriophora in its infective juvenile phasmids (present vs. inconspicuous) and bacterial pouch visibility in the ventricular portion of the intestine (invisible vs. visible); genital papilla 1 (GP1) position (at manubrium level vs. more anterior), and in its b ratio (body length/neck length), c ratio (tail length/bulb width), and D% [(excretory pore/neck length) × 100]. Other morphological differences include anterior end to the nerve ring distance (77-100 vs. 121-130 μm), V% [(anterior end of vulva/body length) × 100] (46-57 vs. 41-47) in hermaphroditic females; rectum size (slightly longer than the anal body diameter vs. about three times longer), phasmids (smaller vs. inconspicuous), body length (0.13-2.0 vs. 0.32-0.39 mm), body diameter (73-150 vs. 160-220 μm), anterior end to the excretory pore distance (135-157 vs. 174-214 μm), and demanian ratios in amphimictic females. Morphological differences with H. ruandica and H. zacatecana were also observed. Furthermore, H. casmirica n. sp. did not mate or produce fertile progeny with other Heterorhabditis nematodes reported from India. It was also discovered that H. casmirica n. sp. is associated with Photorhabdus luminescence subsp. clarkei symbiotic bacteria.
CONCLUSIONS
The discovery of H. casmirica n. sp. provides novel insights into the diversity and evolution of Heterorhabditis nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria. This new species adds to the catalog of entomopathogenic nematodes in India.
Topics: Female; Animals; Rhabditoidea; Phylogeny; Nematoda; Photorhabdus; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 37880744
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05990-z -
Plant Disease Apr 2024Root-knot nematodes of the genus parasitize the roots of thousands of plants and can cause severe damage and yield losses. Here, we report a new root-knot nematode, n....
Root-knot nematodes of the genus parasitize the roots of thousands of plants and can cause severe damage and yield losses. Here, we report a new root-knot nematode, n. sp., parasitizing "lemon" () in Hainan Province, South China. Lemon trees infected by the root-knot nematode showed poor-quality lemons, chlorosis of foliage, weak growth, and numerous root galls with white females and egg masses protruding outside. Phylogenetic trees of sequences within the ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA demonstrated that this species differs clearly from other previously described root-knot nematodes. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by an oval-shaped perineal pattern and the lateral field marked by a ridge of cuticle on one or both sides; the dorsal arch is low, with fine to coarse, smooth cuticle striae; the vulva slit is centrally located at the unstriated area; the spicules of males are arcuate and curved ventrally; the gubernaculum is distinct and curved; the labial disc of second-stage juveniles is prominent and dumbbell shaped; stylet knobs are oval and sloping backwardly; pharyngeal glands are not filling the body cavity and overlapping the intestine ventrally; and the conical tail is gradually tapering. Phylogenetic trees based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, D2-D3 of the 28S rDNA, and COI and COII-16S rRNA genes of the mtDNA showed that n. sp. belongs to an undescribed root-knot nematode lineage that is separated from other species with the resemblance in morphology, such as , , , and .
Topics: Animals; Tylenchoidea; Phylogeny; China; Female; Male; Plant Diseases; Citrus; Plant Roots; DNA, Helminth; DNA, Mitochondrial; DNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 37877995
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-05-23-0919-SR -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023A large-sample study focusing on VIN lesions of a more precise thickness is needed to help guide clinical treatment. This study aimed to investigate the depth of vulvar...
INTRODUCTION
A large-sample study focusing on VIN lesions of a more precise thickness is needed to help guide clinical treatment. This study aimed to investigate the depth of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and involved skin appendages to provide evidence for laser surgery.
METHODS
The study retrospectively enrolled and analyzed the clinical characteristics of VIN patients in the obstetrics and gynecology department of a university hospital between January 1, 2019 and December 30, 2021. The study further explored the thickness of epithelium and skin appendages of 285 women with low-grade VIN (VIN1) and 285 women with high-grade VIN (VIN2/3).
RESULTS
The study included 1,139 (80%) VIN1 and 335 (20%) VIN2/3 cases. The VIN1 and VIN2/3 groups showed a significant difference in human papillomavirus infection (P<0.01) but not in cytology (P = 0.499). Most (89.90%, 1,325) cases occurred in one area of the vulva, whereas 10.11% were multifocal. VIN commonly occurred on the posterior fourchette (76.85%), labia majora (11.61%), and labia minora (9.92%). The VIN2/3 group reported a significantly higher positive rate for concurrent cervical and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (160 of 285) than the VIN1 group (321 of 953) (P=0.000). The involved epithelial thicknesses in VIN2/3 and VIN1 were 0.69 ± 0.44 and 0.49 ± 0.23 mm, respectively, both of which were greater than the corresponding noninvolved epithelial thickness (0.31 ± 0.19 and 0.32 ± 0.10 mm, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In cases of appendage involvement, the VIN thickness was 1.98 ± 0.64 mm.
CONCLUSIONS
VIN thickness was generally ≤1 mm for the superficial lesions in non-hairy areas. However, for lesions extending onto hairy areas, the thickness was approximately 3 mm, leading to the destruction of involved skin appendages.
PubMed: 37854683
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1254820 -
Virchows Archiv : An International... Jun 2024The objective of this study was to identify clinicopathologic parameters associated with disease outcome in FIGO stage I vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSqCC). The...
The objective of this study was to identify clinicopathologic parameters associated with disease outcome in FIGO stage I vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSqCC). The cohort consisted of 126 patients diagnosed with vSqCC in the period 2006-2016 who underwent primary vulvar surgery and evaluation of groin lymph node status. Tumors were reviewed by an experienced gynecologic pathologist. p16 and p53 protein expression by immunohistochemistry and HPV status were analyzed in 116 tumors. Clinicopathologic parameters, protein expression and HPV status were analyzed for association with progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS). p16 expression and aberrant p53 were found in 49 (42%) and 61 (53%) tumors, respectively. Sixty-six tumors were HPV-associated (57%). Relapse was diagnosed in 35/126 (28%) of patients, and 23 (18%) died of disease. Tumor diameter > 4 cm (p = 0.013), lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI; p < 0.001), the presence of lichen sclerosus (p = 0.019), p16 expression (p = 0.007), p53 expression (p = 0.012), HPV status (p = 0.021), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001) and post-operative radiotherapy (p < 0.001) were significantly related to OS in univariate analysis. Tumor diameter > 4 cm (p = 0.038), LVSI (p = 0.003), the presence of lichen sclerosus (p = 0.004), p16 expression (p = 0.004), HPV status (p = 0.039), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001) and post-operative treatment (p < 0.001), were significantly related to PFS in univariate analysis. Age, BMI and surgical resection involvement were not significantly associated with OS or PFS. In multivariate Cox analysis, LVSI and p16 expression were independent prognosticators of OS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively) and PFS (p = 0.018, p = 0.037). In conclusion, LVSI and p16 expression are independent prognostic factors in stage I vSqCC.
Topics: Humans; Female; Vulvar Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Middle Aged; Aged; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; Biomarkers, Tumor; Neoplasm Staging; Lymphatic Metastasis; Aged, 80 and over; Adult; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Immunohistochemistry; Prognosis; Papillomavirus Infections; Retrospective Studies; Progression-Free Survival
PubMed: 37843640
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03670-y -
European Review For Medical and... Oct 2023Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to play a very important role in genital area (vulva, vagina, and cervix) cancers in women, is responsible for almost all...
OBJECTIVE
Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to play a very important role in genital area (vulva, vagina, and cervix) cancers in women, is responsible for almost all cervical cancers. However, a significant proportion of cervical carcinomas (approximately 7%) is HPV-negative. Therefore, there are still two important questions to be answered: 1. Why is HPV Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) not found in all cervical carcinomas? 2. Are HPV-DNA-negative cervical cancers a specific subgroup of cervical cancers with different biological behavior (worse prognosis)? In this article, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of patients with confirmed HPV-negative tumors in order to answer these two questions.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A total of 97 patients who underwent HPV-DNA testing and received a histological diagnosis of cervical cancer were included in the study. 14 HPV-DNA negative and 83 HPV-DNA positive cervical carcinoma patients were detected. Demographic profiles, clinicopathological characteristics, progression-free, and overall survival of all patients were analyzed.
RESULTS
Women with HPV-negative tumors were diagnosed at an older age range (p=0.05), and their demographic data other than age range were similar to HPV-positive tumors. P16 staining pattern was not observed in any of the HPV-negative tumors (p=0.001), and a positive P53 staining pattern was detected in 35.7% of the HPV-negative tumors. Although disease-free survival (PFS) (p=0.224) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.219) were worse in the HPV-negative patient group, this difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
HPV-negative cervical cancers do not have a poor prognosis unlike their counterparts in other anatomical regions where HPV-associated tumors are present.
Topics: Humans; Female; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Papillomavirus Infections; Prognosis; Disease-Free Survival; Human Papillomavirus Viruses; DNA, Viral; Papillomaviridae
PubMed: 37843334
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202310_33948