[Hpv cofactors in cervical carcinogenesis]

Implication of violence against women on not performing the cytopathologic test

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between intimate partner violence and not performing the cytopathologic test in the last three years.

METHODS

It is a transversal study, performed in 26 health units in the city of Vitória, state Espírito Santo, from march to September 2014. The sample was constituted by 106 primary care female users, aging from 30 to 59 years-old. Data on cervical cancer screening were collected, besides the women’s sociodemographic, behavior, obstetric, and gynecological characteristics by an interview, and the World Health Organization recommended tool for identifying violence experiences was applied. The analysis was performed through the chi-square test for association, linear trend for ordinal variables, and the Poisson regression analysis with robust variance.

RESULTS

Among the participating women, 14% (95%CI 12.0–17.2) had overdue Pap tests. Most women who did not perform the test had lower schooling levels, lower income, were smokers, in an unmarried union, having had their sexual debut before 15 years-old, three or more pregnancies, and two or more partners in the last 12 months. Women who suffered intimate partner sexual and physical violence were, respectively, 1.64 (95%CI -1.03–2.62) and 1.94 (95%CI 1.28–2.93) times more delayed in the Pap tests than non-victims.

CONCLUSIONS

Violence is a significant exacerbating factor and affects women’s health negatively. Women who are physically or sexually victimized by their partners are more vulnerable to not performing Pap tests and, consequently, have fewer chances of early diagnosing cervical cancer.

High-risk human papillomavirus and cervical lesions among women living with HIV/AIDS in Brazilian Amazon, Brazil

Objective

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection infection and cervical lesions and its associated factors among HIV infected women attending an AIDS clinic in Amazonas state, Brazil.

Methods

Cross-sectional study. Women attending an AIDS clinic in the city of Manaus between March and December 2011 for gynecological examination were invited to participate. Enrolled patients answered a standardized interview including demographical, behavioral, and clinical data. Additionally, patients underwent a gynecological evaluation with collection of cervical samples for cytological analysis and high-risk human papillomavirus infection hybrid capture. A blood sample was also obtained to determine CD4 and viral load levels.

Results

A total of 310 (82.9%) women participated in the study. High-risk human papillomavirus infection was detected in 191 (61.6%) cases; 24 (13.5%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and 4 (2.2%) high-grade SIL. No invasive cervical cancer was diagnosed. Median age was 32 (interquartile range (IQR): 27–38) years and median of education was 8.5 (IQR 4–11) years of schooling and 56.1% had a monthly income up to US$180. In multivariate analysis, being less than 30 years old [OR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.2–2.4, p = 0.005)], high-grade SIL [OR = 6.5 (95% CI: 1.6–23.0, p = 0.009)], and CD4 counts <200 cells/mm³ [OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.2–2.0, p < 0.001)] were associated with high risk human papillomavirus infection infection.

Conclusions

In the present study high-risk human papillomavirus infection was frequent and it was associated to high-SIL. These results show the importance of gynecologic examinations in routine care and follow-up required by those who present with cervical lesions.

A retrospective study on cervical intraepithelial lesions of low-grade and undetermined significance: evolution, associated factors and cytohistological correlation

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

Cervical cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. There is some controversy about the factors that may be associated with infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that may favor or protect against evolution from a low-grade intraepithelial lesion to a high-grade intraepithelial lesion or invasive neoplasia. The objective here was to evaluate the evolution of low-grade intraepithelial lesions and squamous or glandular lesions of undetermined significance, the associated factors and cytohistological correlations.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective study conducted in a public tertiary-level university hospital.

METHODS

Information was obtained by reviewing patient records and/or colposcopy reports. A statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression, calculating the odds ratio and applying chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Of the 3390 patients, 409 evolved to high-grade intraepithelial lesions, of which 354 had an initial diagnosis of HPV infection, 27 of squamous atypia of undetermined significance, 22 of low-grade intraepithelial lesions with or without cytological diagnosis of infection by associated HPV and six of glandular cell atypia of undetermined significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Lactobacillus sp and bacterial vaginosis on the smears, smoking and immunodepression were factors associated with evolution. A single partner, use of hormonal contraceptives, lower parity, age and a cytological diagnosis of cytolytic vaginosis, T. vaginalis, Candida sp or cocci were factors associated with protection. With regard to cytohistological correlation, there was a 74.08% agreement among patients with high-grade lesions and a biopsy obtained during the same period.

Level of behavior and knowledge concerning human papillomavirus among university students of a nursing college

INTRODUCTION

Human pappilomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, and persistent HPV infection is considered the most important cause of cervical cancer. It is detected in more than 98% of this type of cancer. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge concerning human papillomavirus among nursing college students of a private educational institution located in the City of Bauru, SP, and correlate their knowledge according to the course year.

METHODS

A descriptive study with a quantitative approach, performed with a questionnaire that permitted the quantification of data and opinions, thus guaranteeing the precision of the results without distortions in analysis or interpretation. The survey was applied to randomly selected 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year nursing college students. Twenty students from each level were selected during August 2009, totaling 80 students of both genders.

RESULTS

Observation revealed that 4th-year students had greater knowledge than 1st-year students, reflecting the greater period of study, the lack of knowledge of 1st-year students was due to the low level of information acquired before entering college.

CONCLUSIONS

The need for complementary studies which determine the profile and knowledge of a larger number of teenagers in relation to HPV was established. The need for educational programs that can overcome this lack of information is undeniable, especially those aimed at making adolescents less susceptible to HPV and other STDs.

[Risk factors for uterine cervical cancer according to results of VIA, cytology and cervicography]

This study aimed to evaluate the association between risk factors for uterine cervical neoplasms and cervical lesions by HPV by comparison of the visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), cytology and cervicography results. A prevalence research was made with 157 women in a health center of Fortaleza in the period of June to September 2006. The SPSS program was used to codify the data. Inferences were made through statistical tests (chi2 = chi square and LR = likelihood ratio). The VIA, cervicography and cytology obtained 43.3%, 10.19% and 3.2% of altered results. The variables with important association to cervical lesions in the VIA were: aged less than 20 years old (p = 0.0001); one or more partners in the last three months (p = 0.015); use of contraceptives (p = 0.0008); presence of vaginal discharge (p = 0.0001) and moderate or accentuated inflammatory process (p = 0.0001). In the cytology: low instructional level (p = 0.0001) and high pH (p = 0.001). It wasn't found any significant association in the cervicography.

HPV and cervical cancer: updates on an established relationship

Despite cervical cancer being considered a preventable disease, it still remains the second most common malignancy in women worldwide, with a higher incidence in underdeveloped countries. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the causative agent of cervical cancer. The major mechanisms through which HPV contributes to neoplastic initiation and progression include the activity of 2 viral oncoproteins, E6 and E7, which interfere with critical cell cycle tumor suppressive proteins, p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. However, HPV infection alone is not sufficient to induce malignant transformation, and other significant cofactors contribute to the multi-step process of tumor formation, such as individual genetic variations as well as environmental factors. However, these cofactors are not important in the absence of HPV. Papanicolaou testing (Pap smear) and HPV DNA testing are tools used in the screening and diagnosis of cervical neoplastic lesions. Vaccination against HPV appears to be cost-effective in the prevention of HPV infection. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms that underline HPV carcinogenesis may result in the development of sophisticated targeted therapeutic approaches, such as antisense oligonucleotides against HPV oncoproteins.

Sentimentos vivenciados por mulheres submetidas a tratamento para Papillomavirus Humano

A carência de informações sobre o papillomavirus humano pode gerar idéias errôneas sobre o tratamento, o que interfere no contexto sócio-familiar da mulher. Com o objetivo de conhecer os sentimentos vivenciados por mulheres submetidas a tratamento de lesões por papillomavirus humano, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa de natureza exploratória com 12 mulheres, baseada na obtenção e análise de depoimentos por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada. As informações foram analisadas de acordo com a literatura e dispostas em duas temáticas: Reações emocionais e Repercussões no relacionamento. Conclui-se que a mulher que está sendo submetida a tratamento de lesões por papillomavirus humano necessita de cuidados, por parte dos enfermeiros, como forma de melhor enfrentar esse período a qual está vivenciando.