Publications by authors named "Vanessa Van de Wyngard"
Objective: To investigate factors associated with the prevalence and incidence of gallstone disease (GSD) in women and men of the MAUCO population-based prospective cohort.
Design: 8948 MAUCO participants (aged 38-74 years) underwent abdominal ultrasound at baseline (2015-2019); 4385 received follow-up ultrasound at years 2 or 4. Factors associated with prevalent GSD were assessed using Poisson multiple regression and with incident GSD using Cox regression models.
Article Synopsis
- Statins have been thought to lower the risk of gallstones due to their anti-inflammatory properties, but this study specifically looked at their effects on inflammation in Chilean women with gallstones.
- Researchers analyzed 400 women (200 with statin use and 200 without) to see if statins influenced 92 different inflammatory biomarkers.
- The results showed no significant links between statin use and inflammation markers, indicating that statins do not effectively reduce inflammation after gallstones have developed.
About 13% of all cancers around the world are associated with infectious agents, particularly in low-resource settings. The main infectious agents associated with cancer are Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), that causes gastric cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer, hepatitis B and C viruses that cause liver cancer, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), associated with cancers of the cervix, Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma.
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- Handgrip strength is a reliable and cost-effective method for assessing muscle strength and is frequently used in epidemiological studies as a health biomarker.
- It is linked to negative health outcomes, including increased mortality and the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular issues, respiratory problems, cancer, and dementia.
- There is limited research on the relationship between handgrip strength and these health outcomes in Chile, prompting a review to consolidate existing scientific evidence for better understanding and potential clinical application.
Article Synopsis
- Processed meat consumption is rising in Latin America, but there is limited research on its health impacts compared to developed countries, where it's linked to diseases like cancer and heart issues.
- A study in a Chilean agricultural county (MAUCO) analyzed dietary data from 7,841 participants, finding that 8% consumed processed meat frequently (≥5 times/week).
- Factors like being male, younger, employed, and having high intakes of red meat, dairy, and sugary snacks/drinks were associated with higher processed meat consumption, which correlated with chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular problems.
Article Synopsis
- Chile has high rates of gallbladder cancer, especially among Amerindian women, who also frequently have gallstones.
- A study compared inflammatory biomarkers between Mapuche and non-Mapuche women with gallstones to investigate possible ethnic differences.
- Results showed higher levels of the inflammatory marker IL-8 in Mapuche women, while other markers did not differ significantly; this suggests that these biomarkers could highlight ethnic disparities in gallbladder disease.
Article Synopsis
- * The Chile Biliary Longitudinal Study (Chile BiLS) enrolled 4,726 women aged 50-74 with gallstones from southern-central Chile to investigate what triggers GBC development among these individuals.
- * Participants are being monitored for 6 years, with comprehensive data collection on health metrics and biosamples for research, aiming to enhance understanding of GBC causes and improve early detection methods in vulnerable populations.
Article Synopsis
- * A review of 19 studies involving over 3,000 cases revealed that HPV-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more (CIN2+) is associated with higher cancer risk indicators compared to HPV-negative cases.
- * HPV-negative CIN2+ cases show a lower risk of progressing to cancer and often have low-risk HPV genotypes; however, adjustments in clinical studies for HPV testing may impact the estimated effectiveness of detecting precancerous conditions.
Article Synopsis
- Gallbladder dysplasia can lead to cancer and may increase the risk of cancer in other parts of the biliary tract, making its accurate identification crucial for understanding causes and for clinical management.
- A study of 140 cholecystectomy specimens from Chilean women found that 2% had incidental invasive cancer and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), while 10% had low-grade dysplasia (LGD), which often went unnoticed in limited samples.
- The research suggests that thorough sampling, especially from the fundus of the gallbladder, is essential to identify early cancer precursors, as many cases of LGD were not detected in standard diagnostic sections.
Article Synopsis
- A study compared high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing and cytology for cervical cancer screening, finding hrHPV testing had higher sensitivity but a lower positive predictive value than cytology.
- About 10.7% of over 8,000 women tested positive for hrHPV, with HPV16/18 genotyping identifying higher prevalence of CIN2+ lesions among positive cases.
- Using HPV16/18 genotyping reduces unnecessary referrals and colposcopies, allowing for better risk stratification, where positive cases warrant immediate referral while negative cases can be monitored more closely.
Article Synopsis
- A population-based trial in Santiago, Chile compared the effectiveness of HPV DNA testing with the traditional Papanicolaou (Pap) test for cervical cancer screening in women aged 25 to 64.
- Out of 8,265 women screened, 11.3% tested positive for cervical issues, with an observed prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) at 1.1%, and nine cases of invasive cervical cancer.
- HPV testing demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity (92.7%) for detecting CIN2+ compared to Pap testing (22.1%), indicating that the molecular test is not only feasible but may enhance cervical cancer screening programs in Chile.
Article Synopsis
- Cervical cancer mortality rates in Chile are higher than in developed countries, exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities.
- The recognition of HPV as the primary cause has shifted prevention strategies towards vaccination and HPV detection in women over 30.
- The article suggests replacing the less effective Pap test with HPV detection in the existing prevention program, along with training personnel for better triage processes, aiming to reduce deaths and inequalities in cervical cancer outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates high-risk HPV seroprevalence, persistence, and its link to cervical infections in Chilean women, addressing a gap in existing data on HPV in Latin America.
- Conducted with 1,021 women from 15 to 85 years old, the study tracked HPV DNA and antibody levels over five years, revealing a significant increase in seropositivity and links to sexual behavior.
- Findings suggest that HPV seroprevalence offers valuable insights into infection dynamics, helping to inform future vaccination strategies in the region.
Article Synopsis
- Cervical cancer mortality rates in Chile are significantly higher than in developed countries, prompting a study comparing the effectiveness of HPV DNA testing versus conventional Pap testing in detecting cervical lesions.
- The study involved over 8,200 women in Santiago, revealing that HPV testing was substantially more sensitive (92.7%) for identifying precancerous and cancerous lesions (CIN2+) compared to Pap testing (22.1%).
- The findings suggest that HPV testing is a more effective method for cervical cancer screening in a developing country context, leading to better identification of at-risk women and enhancing existing cervical cancer prevention programs.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted on cervical cancer prevention in Chile, focusing on high-risk HPV infection among a cohort of women over five years.
- The research involved 969 women, revealing a 43% increase in HR-HPV prevalence, with the highest rates found in women under 20.
- Findings indicate that while HR-HPV infections cleared in women under 30, suggesting screening should focus on those over 30, highlighting the effectiveness of HPV vaccines and screening in cancer prevention strategies.