Communities’ perceptions towards cervical cancer and its screening in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Background Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm from cells originating in the cervix uteri. Any woman who is sexually active is at risk of getting HPV. Women in sub-Saharan Africa region have higher chance of developing the disease. There are nearly 26 million Ethiopian women who are over the age of 15 and believed to be at risk of getting HPV. Regrettably, Ethiopian women typically present for cervical cancer care at a late stage in the disease, where treatment is most ineffective. Objectives To explore communities’ perceptions of cervical cancer and screening among women in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative research using focused group discussions and in-depth interviews was used to explore communities’ perceptions of cervical cancer and screening among women in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia from March 2018-November 2019. The study participants were men, women and communities who were residents of the study settings and were not health professionals. All focused group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews were transcribed and entered into Microsoft Word and thematic content analysis was done. Results A total of fifty-nine participants participated in both FGD (three with men and six with women) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Most participants have not heard about cervical cancer but know cancer in general. Participants mentioned that the disease usually relates to many births and unprotected sexual intercourse but none mentioned HPV infection. Most of the participants perceive that cervical cancer is incurable and assume that it could be prevented but they think they are not vulnerable to the disease and screening is not necessary. Conclusion This study indicates that rural communities in the zone had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and even less about risk factors, screening, treatment and prevention. There is a great need for cancer education and prevention in Ethiopia.

Cervix Uteri Cancer in Lebanon: Incidence, Temporal Trends, and Comparison to Countries From Different Regions in the World

Background Invasive cervix uteri cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women globally. This study investigates the incidence and trends of cervix uteri cancer in Lebanon, a country in the Middle East, and compares these rates to regional and global ones. Methods Data on cervix uteri were obtained from the Lebanese national cancer registry for the currently available years 2005 to 2016. The calculated age-standardized incidence and age-specific rates were expressed as per 100,000 population. Results From 2005 to 2016, cervix uteri cancer was the tenth most common cancer among women. Its age-standardized incidence rate fluctuated narrowly between 3.5 and 5.7 per 100,000, with the lowest rate in 2013 and the highest rate in 2012. The age-specific incidence rate had 2 peaks, the highest peak at age group 70–74 years and the second at age group 50–59 years. The annual percent change (+.05%) showed a non-statistically significant trend of increase. The age-standardized incidence rate of cervix uteri cancer in Lebanon was comparable to that of the Western Asia region that has the lowest incidence rate worldwide. The rate was intermediate as compared to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region and relatively similar to the ones in Australia, North America, and some Western European countries. Conclusion The incidence rates of invasive cervix uteri are low in Lebanon. This could be attributed to the low prevalence of human papilloma virus infection and other sexually transmitted infections among Lebanese women, and the opportunistic screening practices. It is important to adopt a comprehensive approach to decrease the potential burden of cervix uteri, especially with the rising patterns of risky sexual behaviors. This includes improving awareness, enhancing access to preventive services, developing clinical guidelines, and training health care providers on these guidelines.

The treatment of pseudoerosion of the cervix uteri (Second report)

On the basis оf the present researchpathogenetically substantiated conception o f cervical pseudoerosion treatment is elaborated. The paper describes the schemes o f treating uncomplicated pseudoerosion with Tri-regol and complicated one - with complex method, which includes application o f the native prolonged enzyme Profezime. Relapses and complications o f the disease under different methods o f treatment are studied in comparison. The method i f applied promotes the efficiency o f the treatment, makes it possible to decrease the rate o f complications and the recurrence frequency.

Special Issue “HPV in the Head and Neck Region”

Previously, human papillomaviruses were best known for causing diseases in the genital tract, where high-risk types may cause, e.g., cancer of the cervix uteri, while low risk types could cause condylomas [...]

Oncogenic papillomaviruses: reproductive problems in infected males

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) of the high-risk types cause carcinomas in cervix uteri, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, as well as in certain sites of head and neck – oral cavity, oropharynx, tonsils, larynx. HPV of types 16 and 18 are the most widespread ones. Papillomaviruses of low oncogenic risk, HPV of types 6 and 11, cause recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and anogenital warts. Preventive vaccinations against HPV are not included into the National mandatory immunization schedule in Russia; however, they are being executed in several country areas in a form of regional programs. Substantial contingents are not embraced by the procedures as yet. A family can make decision of its own whether to vaccinate the adolescent child on paid basis. To make decision in favor of vaccination complete awareness is needful on the HPV infection consequences. As far as viruses of the given group became primarily known as cervical cancer etiological agents certain risk persists of “feminization” of notions about unfavorable effects of the HPV infection thus resulting in debates on usefulness of boys’ preventive vaccination.In this connection the purpose of the review was consideration of HPV effects on male reproductive potential. Oncogenic HPVs are frequently found in healthy donors’ sperm. HPV DNA can penetrate from sperm into oocyte under experimental conditions. Seminal fluid of HPV-positive males is a storage tank of the virus as well as the source of its distribution throughout population. DNA of oncogenic HPV was detected in endosomes of seminal lymphocytes. The latter fact opposes the canonic notion of strict HPV epitheliotropy. Correlation exists between the seminal fluid HPV-positivity of a certain man and his fertility drop. Reproductologists believe failures of some married couples when using assisted reproductive technologies may result from partner’s seminal HPV positivity. The successful attempt is known of semen parameters’ normalization in men with reduced fertility after inoculation with the quadrivalent Gardasil vaccine.It seems reasonable to consider the data on unfavorable effects of HPV infection on male reproductive potential as an argument for boys’ preventive HPV vaccination. It would help not only to prevent the HPV-associated oncological diseases in men but the distribution of the given infection around the population as a whole; it would contribute to more successes in solving demographic problems.

Fallbericht: Analyse der zirkulierenden Tumor-DNA-Fraktion mittels Ultra-Low-Pass Whole-Genome Sequencing korreliert bei kleinzelligem Stage-IV-Zervixkarzinom mit Ansprechen auf Radiochemotherapie und Rezidivierung – Eine Längsschnittstudie

Das neuroendokrine Karzinom der Cervix uteri ist eine seltene und aggressive Form von Gebärmutterhalskrebs, die durch häufige Metastasierung schon bei Diagnosestellung und durch hohe Rezidivraten gekennzeichnet ist. Die Primärtherapie ist multimodal und beinhaltet oft eine Chemotherapie, zum Teil in Verbindung mit einer Strahlentherapie. Es liegen keine Daten vor, die Orientierung für das Vorgehen bei Rezidiven geben; Zweitlinientherapien werden aus Daten zum kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinom abgeleitet. Die engmaschige Überwachung dieser Patientinnen im Hinblick auf Rezidive ist von größter Bedeutung. Dafür stellt die Bestimmung der zirkulierenden Tumor-DNA (ctDNA) im peripheren Blut eine attraktive, weil nicht-invasive Option dar. Mit dem ULP-WGS-Verfahren (<i>ultra-low-pass whole-genome sequencing</i>) lassen sich die Tumorlast und das Tumoransprechen beurteilen und Prognosen zur Rezidivierung abgeben; allerdings mangelt es bisher noch an Daten zur Rolle der ULP-WGS beim kleinzelligen Zervixkarzinom. Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine Patientin vor, deren Chemotherapie-Ansprechen und Tumor-Rezidivierung durch die ctDNA-Analyse korrekt überwacht wurden, wie radiologische Befunde bestätigten.

Combined method of preparing the cervix uteri for labor in pregnant women with a lack of birth preparedness and a tendency to post-term pregnancy

Objective. Development of an effective method for preparing the cervix in pregnant women with a tendency to overmaturity against the background of a lack of biological readiness for childbirth, as well as reducing the time for preparing the soft birth canal for childbirth in order to conduct subsequent labor excitation. Material and methods. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the method of preparing the cervix for childbirth: in the 1st group (n = 50) only laminaria was used; in group 2 (n = 50), a Foley catheter was used in combination with mifepristone; in group 3 (n = 50), only mifepristone was used. Inclusion criteria: gestational period 41 weeks 41 weeks and 4 days inclusive, immature cervix (baseline score on the Bishop scale 0-2 points), singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, whole fetal bladder, vaginal cleanliness I-II, satisfactory fetal condition (normal type of curve according to CTG and the absence of fetal hemodynamic disorders according to Doppler data). Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the STATISTICA 10.0 program. Research results. The patients of the three groups were comparable in age, gestational age, and did not differ in the parity of childbirth and body mass index. With the combined preparation of the cervix for childbirth with mifepristone and a Foley catheter, the dynamics of the assessment of the cervix on the Bishop scale is higher and achieved faster than when preparing for childbirth only with laminaria or only antigestagens. When combining mifepristone with a catheter Foley, it is possible to reduce the time interval from the onset of pre-induction to the development of labor in comparison with pre-induction of labor only with mifepristone or only with the help of laminaria, as well as reduce the frequency of caesarean section due to the lack of effect from induction of labor compared with pre-induction of labor only with mifepristone or only with the help of laminaria. The undoubted advantage of this combined method of preparing the cervix for childbirth is its effectiveness, low risk of uterine hyperstimulation, fetal distress syndrome, as well as the absence of a high risk of developing infectious complications. Conclusion. The combined method of preparing the body for childbirth with a tendency to post-term pregnancy is effective, safe and allows you to reduce the preparation time of the soft birth canal for childbirth against the background of a lack of biological readiness for childbirth with a tendency to post-term pregnancy.