A comparative analysis of gene expression patterns and cell phenotypes between cervical and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Studies of the immunological environment in the female genital tract (FGT) are critical for the development of vaccines or microbicides to halt the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Challenges arise due to the difficulties of sampling from this site, and the majority of studies have been conducted utilising peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Identifying functional differences between immune cells of the FGT and peripheral blood would aid in our understanding of mucosal immunology.

Premalignant cervical lesions are characterized by dihydrofolate reductase gene amplification and c-Myc overexpression: possible biomarkers.

Objective: The c-Myc oncoprotein deregulation is associated with overall genomic instability and locus-specific genomic instability involving the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) locus. This study analyzes c-Myc protein levels and the stability of the DHFR gene in cervical tissue biopsies.

Materials And Methods: The stability of the DHFR gene was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Management of cervical neoplasia: a 13-year experience with cryotherapy and laser.

Objective: To evaluate whether cryotherapy is as effective as laser therapy in treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and to determine the optimal time for follow up.

Materials And Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven CIN were treated with cryotherapy or laser therapy. Specific data, including grade of CIN, rate of recurrence, and time to recurrence, were compared between the groups.

Report of the 2003 pan-Canadian forum on cervical cancer prevention and control.

Objective: To develop evidence-based consensus recommendations on the delivery of cervical cancer screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) education, HPV testing, and the optimal tool for cervical cytology within the Canadian health system.

Participants: Leading up to a forum held in Ottawa on November 21 and 22, 2003, 254 registrants reviewed position papers through a Web-based discussion group. Experts in program management, clinical practice, epidemiology, public health, economics, and women's health, representing 48 organizations, then participated in the 2-day forum to develop consensus recommendations.

A comparison of colposcopy using optical and video colposcopes.

Objective: To compare the colposcopic adequacy, colposcopic impressions, histologic sampling intent, biopsy site location, procedural complications, and difficulty of colposcopic examinations using optical and video colposcopes.

Materials And Methods: Women and men presenting consecutively for colposcopy were examined independently by two colposcopists using alternately either an optical or video colposcope. Colposcopists individually recorded their exam adequacy, colposcopic impression, biopsy intent and site, procedural complications, and difficulty of examination.

Infrared spectroscopy of exfoliated cervical cell specimens. Proceed with caution.

Objective: To determine whether diagnostic information may be recovered from the infrared spectra of exfoliated cell specimens by using a novel spectral feature extraction method, in conjunction with linear and quadratic discriminant analysis, for spectral classification.

Study Design: Over 800 infrared spectra were included in the study, with corresponding clinical diagnoses based upon cytology and, when available, histology reports. Three sets of classification trials were carried out with the aim of distinguishing the spectra corresponding to normal specimens from CIN 1, 2 and 3.

Follow-up of a decentralized colposcopy program for the investigation and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in the central Canadian Arctic.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is the second leading cause of cancer in Canadian Inuit women, and the incidence ratio in this population is 3.1 times the Canadian average. In 1993 a program was developed in a regional northern health center (Churchill) to provide colposcopy and loop electrosurgery for women in the Keewatin District of the central Canadian Arctic.

The effect of vaginal microbes on in vivo and in vitro expression of human papillomavirus 16 E6-E7 genes.

Since other viruses can influence expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6-E7 genes in vitro, this study addressed whether specific vaginal bacteria do so as well. The vaginal microflora of 18 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or normal histology and HPV 16 infection, was evaluated by quantitative culture. Expression of HPV 16 E6-E7 oncogenes was assessed in exfoliated cervical cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Expression of human papillomavirus type 16 E6-E7 open reading frame varies quantitatively in biopsy tissue from different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

The proteins encoded by the human papillomavirus type 16 E6-E7 open reading frame are essential for transformation of the host cell. Two mRNA species, E6*I and E6*II, generated by alternative splicing of a polycistronic pre-mRNA, encode truncated E6 proteins and the E7 protein. Our investigation assessed whether or not the level of expression of E6*I and E6*II varies quantitatively in relation to the grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Investigation and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Canadian Inuit: enhancing access to care.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a major cause of morbidity among Circumpolar women. Cervical cancer comprised 15% of all cancers in Canadian Inuit women from 1969-1988. The age standardized incidence for invasive cervical cancer in Canadian Inuit women is 3.

Variability of polymerase chain reaction-based detection of human papillomavirus DNA is associated with the composition of vaginal microbial flora.

The results of repeated human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing were compared to changes in cervical pathology and the composition of vaginal microorganisms. A cohort of 19 women with HPV cervical infections in the absence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia at enrollment was reexamined on average at 7.3-month intervals over a 2-year period.

Brush vs. spatula for cervical smears. Histologic correlation with concurrent biopsies.

In this study we compared the results of 1,293 brush smears obtained between April 23, 1990, and April 22, 1991, with those of 1,304 consecutive spatula smears from 1989. As expected, 94.1% of brush smears revealed the presence of endocervical cells as compared to 63.

Quantification of HPV-16 E6-E7 transcription in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is associated with neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix. Viral transforming functions have been localized to the E6-E7 open reading frame (ORF) and this ORF is conserved consistently in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Two mRNAs, generated by alternative splicing, are expressed from the E6-E7 ORF.

Human papillomavirus infection and the size and grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplastic lesions associated with failure of therapy.

Objective: This investigation was designed to identify specific risk factors associated with treatment failure for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Method: A cohort of 436 women was assessed for the presence of cofactors associated with therapy failure. The risk factors included the HPV infection status of the patient, a previous history of genital condyloma and the size of cervical lesions.

Laboratory diagnosis of latent human papillomavirus infection.

The etiologic association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with uterine cervical cancer has prompted the need for improved laboratory diagnosis of this virus. The application of conventional hybridization technology, including filter in situ hybridization (FISH) and Southern-blot analysis, has revealed that the detection and typing of the virus is inconsistent between sequential specimens from the same individual. To determine whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to provide a more accurate assessment of infection status, two exfoliated cervical cell specimens obtained sequentially from a cohort of 30 women without clinical evidence of cervical abnormalities were analyzed in parallel by FISH and PCR at 6-month intervals.

Vaginal microbial flora as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

The vaginal microbial flora of 106 women with histopathologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 79 women without disease, was evaluated for Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans and other yeasts. Flora morphology was assessed by gram staining of secretions. Cervical cultures were examined for Herpes Simplex virus, Cytomegalovirus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Effect of the menstrual cycle on detection and typing of human papillomavirus in uterine cervical cells.

We observe fluctuations in human papillomavirus detection and variation in genotyping between sequential cervical cell specimens analyzed by filter in situ hybridization. Furthermore, specimen adequacy for analysis varies. To determine whether these phenomena are correlated with menstrual cycle stage at the time of sampling, we analyzed cervical cell specimens from women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Comparison of filter in situ deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization with cytologic, colposcopic, and histopathologic examination for detection of human papillomavirus infection in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Material from uterine cervical scrapings of 98 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were analyzed by filter in situ hybridization for human papillomavirus infection. Concurrently obtained Papanicolaou smears and colposcopically directed biopsy specimens were also examined for papillomavirus infection. Hybridization was superior to cytologic and colposcopic examinations and was equivalent to histopathologic study for papillomavirus detection.

Etiology and outcome of acute pelvic inflammatory disease.

We studied 71 women with the clinical diagnosis of acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by laparoscopy and comprehensive microbiology in order to define the major etiologic determinants of poor fertility prognosis after tubal infection. Fifty women were found to have acute PID. Of the 50 women, 23 were pregnancy seeking and had a subsequent evaluation to determine fertility outcome.

Mucometra: a rare complication of cryosurgery.

In a series of 400 patients treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 3 developed a clinical picture 6 days after the procedure that consisted of lower abdominal pain and uterine cramps. Examination revealed a closed os; on probing of the cervix, a large amount of mucus (approximately 60 ml) under tension was drained, after which there was almost immediate relief of the symptoms.

The association of sexually transmitted diseases with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a case-control study.

Thirty-three women with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grades I to III, with one case of microinvasive carcinoma) and 54 women without evidence of the disease were prospectively studied to determine the relationship of genital infection to cervical neoplasia. Demographic and sexual data for patients and control subjects were collected, with standardized clinical and colposcopic evaluation by means of predefined diagnostic categories. Cultures from the cervix were examined for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.