Comparison of the PANArray HPV Genotyping Chip Test with the Cobas 4800 HPV and Hybrid Capture 2 Tests for Detection of HPV in ASCUS Women

A review on the identification of transgenic oilseeds and oils

Transgenic technology can increase the quantity and quality of vegetable oils worldwide. However, people are skeptical about the safety of transgenic oil-bearing crops and the oils they produce. In order to protect consumers' rights and avoid transgenic oils being adulterated or labeled as nontransgenic oils, the transgenic detection technology of oilseeds and oils needs careful consideration. This paper first summarized the current research status of transgenic technologies implemented at oil-bearing crops. Then, an inspection process was proposed to detect a large number of samples to be the subject rapidly, and various inspection strategies for transgenic oilseeds and oils were summarized according to the process sequence. The detection indicators included oil content, fatty acid, triglyceride, tocopherol, and nucleic acid. The detection technologies involved chromatography, spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and polymerase chain reaction. It is hoped that this article can provide crucial technical reference and support for staff engaging in the supervision of transgenic food and for researchers developing fast and efficient monitoring methods in the future.

Research Progress of Nucleic Acid Detection Technology for Genetically Modified Maize

Genetically modified (GM) maize is one of the earliest GM crops to have achieved large-scale commercial cultivation globally, and it is of great significance to excel in the development and implementation of safety policy regarding GM, and in its technical oversight. This article describes the general situation regarding genetically modified maize, including its varieties, applications, relevant laws and regulations, and so on. From a technical point of view, we summarize and critically analyze the existing methods for detecting nucleic acid levels in genetically modified maize. The nucleic acid extraction technology used for maize is explained, and the introduction of traditional detection techniques, which cover variable-temperature and isothermal amplification detection technology and gene chip technology, applications in maize are described. Moreover, new technologies are proposed, with special attention paid to nucleic acid detection methods using sensors. Finally, we review the current limitations and challenges of GM maize nucleic acid testing and share our vision for the future direction of this field.

Clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes in human papillomavirus independent cervical cancer: a propensity score matched analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival in high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent and HPV-associated cervical cancer.

METHODS

Patients with cervical cancer hospitalized between September 2015 and December 2019 from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University were enrolled. First, patients with negative results by HPV primary screening were excluded. Second, the paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from patients with negative results were used for extraction of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The Hybribio K-37 test (PCR and flow-through hybridization for 37 types of HPV) was used to further identify HPV-negative infection status. Finally, 1:4 propensity score matching between high-risk HPV-independent and HPV-associated groups was performed, and the clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Forty cervical HPV primary screening negative patients were screened of 729 patients (5.5%). Among them, 13 (1.8%) patients who were identified with high-risk HPV-independent cervical cancer after the K-37 test were selected as the study group. There were significant intergroup differences in the distribution of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO, 2018) stage (χ²=5.825, p=0.016), pathological types (χ²=6.910, p=0.009), lymph node metastasis (χ²=6.168, p=0.013), and tumor size (χ²=5.319, p=0.021). After propensity score matching, 52 patients from the HPV-associated group were selected as the control group. Patients with high-risk HPV-independent cervical cancer had poorer prognosis than those with HPV-associated cervical cancer (median overall survival: 27 vs 29 months, p=0.03; median disease-free survival: 27 vs 29 months, p=0.021).

CONCLUSION

Patients with high-risk HPV-independent cervical cancer more frequently had advanced stage disease, nodal metastasis, larger tumor, and a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma. The prognosis of patients with high-risk HPV-independent cervical cancer was poorer than those with HPV-associated cervical cancer.

Diagnostic techniques in HPV infections and the need to implement them in plantar lesions: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus has been reported as the etiological cause of most cervical cancers and other potentially malignant lesions. It also affects other areas, producing benign tumors on the skin. Plantar warts are a common problem found in clinical practice and share signs and symptoms with other dermatological conditions. Diagnosis of HPV infection remains a hot topic in research.

METHOD

The present work systematically reviews the literature on the diagnostic techniques available in the clinical setting for any type of lesion produced by the virus and compares the techniques identified to those found in use for foot lesions.

RESULTS

Results showed a variety of diagnostic methods, including molecular techniques, which exhibit more sensitivity than other methods but are less frequently applied to plantar lesions, where visual inspection is the most frequent method but can lead to errors.

CONCLUSION

The techniques identified need to be applied to plantar lesions to improve differential diagnosis in clinical practice.

EXPERT OPINION

Research will continue to grow and a proper diagnostic technique for plantar lesions will be available in the near future.

Implementation of primary HPV testing in Japan

Cervical cancer screening has been shifting from primary cytology to primary HPV testing worldwide as primary HPV testing is more sensitive than primary cytology. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first in Japan to examine the feasibility of primary HPV testing. One of the disadvantages of this shift is that hrHPV-/≥LSIL/CIN2+ (high-risk HPV negative cancers or pre-cancerous lesions with abnormal cytology results) can be missed. The objectives of the present study are to clarify in detail CIN2+ missed by this shift and to evaluate the feasibility of primary HPV testing in Japan. Data from 115,273 women who underwent co-testing with cytology and HPV testing in cancer screening were used in the current study. The cases with hrHPV-/≥LSIL (‘hrHPV-/≥L-SIL’ include CIN2-, in contrast, ‘hrHPV-/≥L-SIL/CIN2+’ doesn't include CIN2-) were analysed in detail. Women with hrHPV-/≥LSIL comprised 0.3% of the total. The prevalence of CIN2, CIN3, SCC or cervical adenocarcinomas in the lesions with HPV-/≥LSIL was 0.03% in the cancer screening group. Only one case of 14 cervical adenocarcinomas in ≥LSIL was hrHPV-. The prevalence of cancer missed by the shift in patients >50 years of age was significantly higher compared with patients younger than 49 years. In conclusion, the prevalence of CIN2+, which might be missed by the shift from primary cytology to primary HPV testing, was remarkably low in this Japanese cancer screening. The data indicated that primary HPV testing, which was more sensitive for CIN2+ than primary cytology, was a feasible method that can be used in Japan. In particular, primary HPV testing should be introduced for women <50 years old.

A new marker based on risk stratification of human papillomavirus DNA and tumor size to predict survival of locally advanced cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prognostic value of human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load in locally advanced cervical carcinoma treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

From January 2012 to October 2013, a total of 246 locally advanced cervical carcinoma patients were included in this retrospective study. HPV DNA status was tested by Hybrid Capture 2 assay. Tumor size was measured on T2WI. All the patients in the study received concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional brachytherapy. Survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and a log-rank test was used to compare the survival. Multivariate analysis employed the Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 52 months. The median value of HPV DNA was 163.13 relative light unit/cut-off (RLU/CO) (range 1.65-2162.62 RLU/CO). The 5-year overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival of patients in the low HPV DNA group (HPV DNA ≤ 163.13 RLU/CO) and the high HPV DNA group (HPV DNA > 163.13 RLU/CO) were 46.3 % vs 58.5 % (p = 0.009) and 65.9 % vs 75.6% (p = 0.003), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the HPV DNA, tumor size, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival. We choose the tumor size and HPV DNA as the risk stratification factors to build a new prediction marker which can better predict overall survival for locally advanced cervical cancer than can the FIGO stage.

CONCLUSIONS

HPV DNA may be a useful biomarker for locally advanced cervical cancer. Low HPV load predicts a worse survival. The new marker based on risk stratification by combining HPV DNA and tumor size is better associated with overall survival of locally advanced cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.