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.

Diagnostic yield of Calcofluor White in the identification of candida albicans in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Although oral cancer is multifactorial in origin only few had evaluated the diagnostic parameters for candidal infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aims to compare and assess the accuracy of Calcofluor Whilte (CFW) to that of conventional staining methods to identify the presence of candidal infection in OSCC. Archival collection of 43 OSCC were retrieved for this investigation. Standard staining protocol was followed for the index test (CFW) and reference standard (Periodic Acid Schiff). Two examiners were blinded for either one of the staining techniques. Diagnostic test evaluation and Kappa statistic was calculated using MedCalc software. The study comprised of 37 males, six females, and their mean age at the time of presentation was 51 (range 23 to 75 years). The sensitivity and specificity of CFW was 75.8% (CI 57.7 to 88.9%) and 10.0% (CI 0.2 to 44.5%). While the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 63.1% (CI − 50.6% − 74.0%) and 67.0% (CI − 49.2% − 81.0%). Our results show minimal agreement with PAS with a Kappa score of 0.148 (95% CI = 0.39 to 0.09). Overall detection rate was similar for both the index test and reference standard although there was considerable number of intermediate test results. Sensitivity of CFW was comparable to that of earlier studies but specificity was low and the degree of concordance of 60.4%. Although CFW staining can come with high false positive they are an useful test for ruling out candida infection when the test result is negative.

The study of the therapeutic effectiveness of the associated inactivated and subunit vaccines based on Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi

Candidiasis can be in various forms, the most dangerous of them are systemic and visceral candidiases. Many researchers believe that using drugs that are able to stimulate a protective immune response against candidal infections, i.e. immunobiological drugs, is a promising direction in the fight against candidiasis, and that these drugs are an alternative to antifungal agents. The aim of the work was to compare the therapeutic properties of the inactivated and subunit vaccines of cells of C. albicans and C. tropicalis fungi. Previously, animals were infected with the candidal infection. In 5 days, after infection the vaccines studied were injected to mice intramuscularly in the volume of 0.2 ml in the upper part of the rear right paw. In 14 days, these vaccines were injected to mice in the volume of 0.2 ml in the upper part of the rear left paw. In 14 days, the body protection functions were determined by the titer of C. albicans specific antibodies when performing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to the results of the research conducted it has been found that the use of the inactivated and subunit vaccines stimulates the eight times growth of the titers. Therefore, both vaccines are effective. However, the subunit vaccine has the maximum purification from ballast substances; therefore, it is promising to use exactly this vaccine for further studies.

Verruciform Xanthoma of the Oral Mucosa: A Series of Eight Typical and Three Anomalous Cases

In this series, there are 8 typical verruciform xanthomas of the oral mucosa and 3 anomalies, 1 polypoid, 1 florid, and 1 carcinomatous. All were characterized by infiltrates of CD68-positive xanthomatous histiocytes in the lamina propria. The 11 patients comprised 6 men and 5 women (mean age = 54.5 years, range = 40-69). Both keratinized and nonkeratinized sites were affected. A history of lichenoid inflammation was recorded in 5 patients. The polypoid xanthoma presented in a woman aged 54 years as a polyp of the labial commissure. The florid lesion affected the dorsum of the tongue of a man aged 54 years and at 20 mm was the largest of the 11 lesions, but the only one with candidal infection. The squamous cell carcinoma manifested as a papilloverrucous hyperkeratosis of the palatal gingiva in a man aged 69 years. The latter 2 (and 1 “typical” verruciform xanthoma) required re-excision, but none has since recurred.

Role of Candida infection in the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia: A systematic review of observational studies

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OL) infected with Candida. Literature search was conducted using Medical Subject Heading terms ‘leukoplakia’, ‘neoplasms’, ‘ Candida’, ‘malignant transformation’ and ‘oral’ and included all results until February 2017. The initial search identified 372 articles, which was consolidated to 16 articles after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The occurrence of candidal infection in OL ranged from 6.8% to 100.0%. Only 3 of 16 studies reported malignant transformation rates of leukoplakia with Candida infection. The overall malignant transformation rates reported in these studies were 2.5%, 6.5% and 28.7%. This review supports the contention that candidal infection promotes cellular and dysplastic changes in OL. However, further follow-up studies are recommended to confirm the role of Candida infection in malignant transformation of OL lesions.