Characteristics of Blood Vessels in Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Paving the Way for Objective Diagnostics at the Point of Care.

Background: The mucosal changes associated with female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) encompass abnormal blood vessels. These have been described as circular, reticular, branched, convoluted and having uneven calibre. However, these characteristics are subjective descriptions and it has not been explored which of them are specific to FGS.

The first step toward diagnosing female genital schistosomiasis by computer image analysis.

Schistosoma haematobium causes female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which is a poverty-related disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, it is co-endemic with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and biopsies from genital lesions may expose the individual to increased risk of HIV infection. However, microscopy of urine and hematuria are nonspecific and insensitive predictors of FGS and gynecological investigation requires extensive training.

Schistosoma haematobium infection and CD4+ T-cell levels: a cross-sectional study of young South African women.

Schistosoma (S.) haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis and has been hypothesized to adversely impact HIV transmission and progression. On the other hand it has been hypothesized that HIV could influence the manifestations of schistosomiasis.

Colourimetric image analysis as a diagnostic tool in female genital schistosomiasis.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a highly prevalent waterborne disease in some of the poorest areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Reliable and affordable diagnostics are unavailable. We explored colourimetric image analysis to identify the characteristic, yellow lesions caused by FGS.

The colposcopic atlas of schistosomiasis in the lower female genital tract based on studies in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and South Africa.

Background: Schistosoma (S.) haematobium is a neglected tropical disease which may affect any part of the genital tract in women. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) may cause abnormal vaginal discharge, contact bleeding, genital tumours, ectopic pregnancies and increased susceptibility to HIV.

Cervical ectopy: associations with sexually transmitted infections and HIV. A cross-sectional study of high school students in rural South Africa.

Objectives: It has been hypothesised that ectopy may be associated with increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this cross-sectional study, we wanted to explore the association between STIs (including HIV) and cervical ectopy.

Methods: We included 700 sexually active young women attending randomly selected high schools in a rural district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Effect of female genital schistosomiasis and anti-schistosomal treatment on monocytes, CD4+ T-cells and CCR5 expression in the female genital tract.

Background: Schistosoma haematobium is a waterborne parasite that may cause female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), characterized by genital mucosal lesions. There is clinical and epidemiological evidence for a relationship between FGS and HIV. We investigated the impact of FGS on HIV target cell density and expression of the HIV co-receptor CCR5 in blood and cervical cytobrush samples.

Genital schistosomiasis and its unacknowledged role on HIV transmission in the STD intervention studies.

Treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been hypothesised to decrease HIV transmission. Although observational studies show an association between STIs and HIV, only one prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT) has confirmed this. Female genital schistosomiasis can cause genital lesions, accompanied by bloody discharge, ulcers or malodorous discharge.

Long-term outcomes after pelvic radiation for early-stage endometrial cancer.

Purpose: This follow-up of a randomized study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between 1968 and 1974, 568 patients with stage I endometrial cancer were included. After primary surgery, patients were randomly assigned to either vaginal radium brachytherapy followed by EBRT (n = 288) or brachytherapy alone (n = 280).

Photodynamic therapy of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1-3 and human papilloma virus (HMV) infection with methylaminolevulinate and hexaminolevulinate--a double-blind, dose-finding study.

Introduction: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1-3 is the precursor of invasive cervical cancer and associated with human papillomavirus infection. Standard treatment is surgical and may be associated with subsequent pregnancy complications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of CIN may be an interesting alternative.

Surgical outcome of obstetric fistula: a retrospective analysis of 595 patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate obstetric fistula in terms of patient demographics, fistula characteristics and predictors of surgical outcome.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Fistula referral hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

POLD2 and KSP37 (FGFBP2) correlate strongly with histology, stage and outcome in ovarian carcinomas.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) constitutes more than 90% of ovarian cancers and is associated with high mortality. EOC comprises a heterogeneous group of tumours, and the causes and molecular pathology are essentially unknown. Improved insight into the molecular characteristics of the different subgroups of EOC is urgently needed, and should eventually lead to earlier diagnosis as well as more individualized and effective treatments.

Sexual violence-related fistulas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: To determine the magnitude of traumatic gynecologic fistulas caused by sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of hospital records from 604 consecutive patients who received treatment for gynecologic fistulas at Panzi Hospital between November 2005 and November 2007.

Results: Of the 604 patients, 24 (4%) reported that their fistulas had been caused by sexual violence; of these, 5 (0.

Assessment of endoglin and calprotectin as potential biomarkers in ovarian carcinoma and borderline tumors of the ovary.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze circulating endoglin concentration in ovarian carcinoma and evaluate a prognostic role for calprotectin and endoglin in effusions in advanced-stage disease.

Study Design: Preoperative plasma concentration of endoglin from women with benign ovarian tumors (n = 71), borderline ovarian tumors (BOT, n = 39), and ovarian carcinomas (n = 89) was analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as were endoglin and calprotectin concentrations in effusions from 164 women with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma.

Results: Median endoglin plasma concentration was higher in the BOT group as compared with both control and invasive carcinoma groups (4.

Complete destruction of urethra and bladder neck following symphysiotomy and results of attempted corrective surgery.

Four (0.8%) out of 526 obstetric fistulas were related to a preceding symphysiotomy procedure. Complete destruction of the urethra and bladder neck with retropubic fibrosis was found.

Circulating calprotectin in ovarian carcinomas and borderline tumors of the ovary.

Objective: Recent studies indicate that circulating calprotectin may serve as a biomarker in some cancers. We investigated whether this is the case for ovarian neoplasms.

Study Design: Calprotectin was analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in EDTA-plasma collected prior to surgery from women with ovarian carcinomas (n = 89), borderline ovarian tumors (BOT, n = 39), and benign ovarian tumors (n = 71).

Surgery of borderline tumors of the ovary: retrospective comparison of short-term outcome after laparoscopy or laparotomy.

Background: Laparoscopic management of borderline ovarian tumors is controversial.

Objective: To retrospectively compare outcome after surgery by laparoscopy or laparotomy for borderline tumors.

Methods: Ovarian tumors from all women operated at Ullevål University Hospital during a five-year period were re-evaluated histologically.

The activated nerve growth factor receptor p-TrkA is selectively expressed in advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to compare the expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75 in ovarian borderline tumors, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I carcinomas and advanced-stage (FIGO stage III-IV) carcinomas, and to assess a possible association between NGF receptor expression and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in borderline tumors and FIGO stage I carcinomas. Sections from 119 borderline tumors, 57 FIGO stage I invasive ovarian carcinomas, and 56 advanced-stage carcinomas were evaluated for expression of activated phospho-TrkA (p-TrkA) and p75 using immunohistochemistry. MAPK activation was analyzed in stage I carcinomas and borderline tumors using phospho-specific antibodies against the extracellular-regulated kinase (p-ERK), the high osmolarity glycerol response kinase (p-p38), and the c-jun amino-terminal kinase (p-JNK).

DNA- versus RNA-based methods for human papillomavirus detection in cervical neoplasia.

Objective: To compare DNA-based and mRNA-based methods for detection of high-grade cervical neoplasia in Norway.

Methods: HPV prevalence was analyzed in 383 women with positive index cytology, selected from gynecology clinics. All patients were investigated by a new PAP smear, histology, and two commercially available HPV tests: Hybrid Capture II (Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) and the Pre Tect HPV-Proofer (NorChip AS).

[Primary treatment of ovarian cancer].

Background: Patients with epithelial ovarian cancer are often diagnosed with advanced disease; hence they have a generally poor survival rate. The main objective was to assess the clinical effectiveness of the four main treatment options in the primary treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer: i) adjuvant chemotherapy and/or adjuvant radiotherapy, ii) cytoreductive surgery, iii) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced disease, and iv) postoperative chemotherapy in advanced disease.

Material And Methods: The scientific literature was identified by searches in Medline, Embase and Cochrane CCTR and by additional manual searches.