Detection of Candida albicans in the screening of cervical cancer in rural population of Lucknow

Background Study of Candidal infection is very essential in rural women who being illiterate and financially weak are not aware of personal genital hygiene and thus harbour persistent vaginal infections due to poor availability of medical amenities. Method Rural cervical cancer screening is in progress in the western region of Lucknow, India since May 2013 through camp approach and till date, a total of 2949 women have been cytologically examined. Candidal infection has been observed in the 143 cervical smears of women and findings have been analyzed in relation to the different predisposing factor of cervical carcinogenesis. Result The incidence of Candida albicans seen in cervical smears of the total 2949 women examined was found to be 4.8% which is much higher than in their urban counterparts (1.2%). The Candida was seen more in the inflammatory smears (9.4%) and those showing squamous intraepithelial lesions of cervix (SIL). – (8.2%). The fungus was found more prevalent in the reproductive age group and women complaining of vaginal discharge and was result of persistent vaginal infections in the rural women which should be treated. The Candida was commonly seen in erosion cervix cases but its incidence was high in women with cervicitis and cervix bleeds on touch. Conclusions This persistent vaginal infections were seen in the illiterate and poor rural women who are not aware of personal genital hygiene. There is a need to create awareness for personal genital hygiene through health workers for making any cancer screening program meaningful and successful.

Comparative Use of Videos and Images Captured by Static Telecytological Applications for Quality Control and Teleconsultation Purposes

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementing short videos captured by static telecytological applications for remote evaluation of cervical smears prepared by means of liquid-based cytology. The study was performed on representative short videos captured from a total of 404 cervical smears that were transferred via file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists. Statistical evaluation of cytological diagnoses detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the diagnoses proffered on the basis of short videos and digital images. Short videos production by static telecytology applications can be used as an alternative method for telecytological diagnosis of cervical smears, particularly for quality control purposes.

The neutrophil extracellular traps as a component of the tumor microenvironment

The stem cell mutations and modification of the tumor microenvironment are the main causes of cancer formation. The neutrophiles extracellular traps (NETs) are the components of the tumor microenvironment. NETs are web-like structures composed of nucleic acids, enzymes, cytoplasmic proteins, and bound pathogens. Currently the information on the pathogenetic role of NETs in the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases is contradictory. There is data of their carcinogenic effect. Aim. To determine the amount of NETs and the composition of the tumor microenvironment in the cervical smears in patients with precancerous diseases and cervical cancer. Material and Methods. The clinical group 1 - patients with precancer cervical diseases (n=10), the clinical group 2 – patients with cervical cancer III stage (n=14) were studied. The average age of patients was 38±8.26. The control group was formed of volunteers without cervical pathologies (n=10). Cervical smears were used as the material for the research. The study was compliant with the principles of WMA Declaration of Helsinki, 1964, rev. 2013 and was performed with consent of the Local Ethics Committee of Chita State Medical Academy. Cancer or dysplastic cells, normall cells, immune cells, NETs were counted in Feulgen stained cervical smears by the optical microscope. Results. There are reducing the proportion of healthy epithelial cells, increasing the pool of immune system cells and the appearance of the NETs in the cervical scraping during cervical cancerogenesis. NETs were visualized In 60% of cervical cancer patients. The statistically significant differences in the content of NF in cervical smears among the group of patients with precancerous diseases of the cervix and the control group did not determinated.Conclusion. Detection of the NETs in the cervical smears may be a new cytological sign of malignancy of the cervical epithelium. Detection of the NETs in the cervical tumor microenvironment smears may indicate their involvement in cervical carcinogenesis.