Special RCA based sensitive point-of-care detection of HPV mRNA for cervical cancer screening

Developing the sensitive point-of-care testing(POCT)of oncogenic nucleic acids from human papillomavirus(HPV)infection is essential in preventing cervical can-cer,especially in resource-limited settings.Rolling circle amplification(RCA)is attractive in achieving POCT via nucleic acid-based aggregation under isothermal conditions.However,the influence of RCA product structure on the aggregation remains unexplored resulting in limited sensitivity.Here,a minimum secondary structured RCA technique(MSS-RCA)is developed by designing a unique circu-lar template,demonstrating significantly enhanced detection sensitivity with only one amplification step and one primer under isothermal conditions.The amplifi-cation efficiency of MSS-RCA could be kinetically manipulated by controlling the secondary structure of the circular template.Introducing the invertase probe to MSS-RCA,HPV16 E6/E7 nucleic acid target was detected with a personal glucose meter(PGM)with a sensitivity of 5 fM(50 zmol in 10µL).This integrated MSS-RCA-PGM detection system was successfully applied to detect HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA extracted from 54 cervical swab samples reaching a positive predictive value of 100.00%and negative predictive values of 96.00%(77.77%to 99.40%,95%CI).MSS-RCA-PGM provides a sensitive POCT platform for the detection of nucleic acid biomarkers for screening of cervical cancer or other diseases.

Artificial intelligence strengthens cervical cancer screening–present and future

Cervical cancer is a severe threat to women’s health.The majority of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries.The WHO has proposed screening 70%of women with high-performance tests between 35 and 45 years of age by 2030 to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer.Due to an inadequate health infrastructure and organized screening strategy,most low-and middle-income countries are still far from achieving this goal.As part of the efforts to increase performance of cervical cancer screening,it is necessary to investigate the most accurate,efficient,and effective methods and strategies.Artificial intelligence(AI)is rapidly expanding its application in cancer screening and diagnosis and deep learning algorithms have offered human-like interpretation capabilities on various medical images.AI will soon have a more significant role in improving the implementation of cervical cancer screening,management,and follow-up.This review aims to report the state of AI with respect to cervical cancer screening.We discuss the primary AI applications and development of AI technology for image recognition applied to detection of abnormal cytology and cervical neoplastic diseases,as well as the challenges that we anticipate in the future.

Effectiveness of Co-Testing in Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Macao SAR

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern in Macao SAR despite the implementation of a cervical cancer screening program and HPV vaccination. To improve early detection, Macao SAR introduced HPV DNA testing alongside cytology (co-testing) as the primary screening method in 2019. This study evaluates the effectiveness of co-testing in identifying cervical precancerous lesions (CIN2+) compared to cytology alone. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of women aged 30 - 65 years who participated in the routine cervical cancer screening program in Macao SAR Primary Healthcare Centers from 2019 to 2022. Data from over 70,000 women were analyzed, comparing the detection rates of CIN2+ through co-testing and cytology alone. Women with abnormal cytology or positive HPV results were referred for colposcopy. Results: The introduction of co-testing led to a significant increase in the detection of CIN2+, particularly in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) cytology results. Between 2019 and 2022, the percentage of women with ASCUS/NILM and any high-risk HPV (hrHPV) positive who were diagnosed with CIN2+ after colposcopy were 24%, 13%, 10% and 7.5% respectively. This highlights the ability of co-testing to identify high-risk individuals who would have been missed by cytology alone. Discussion: Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of co-testing in improving the sensitivity of cervical cancer screening in Macao SAR. The inclusion of HPV DNA testing allows for better risk stratification of women with ASCUS/NILM cytology, leading to more targeted referrals for colposcopy and timely detection of precancerous lesions. The initial high positive rate in 2019 (24%) might be attributed to the small sample size and potentially reflects a backlog of undiagnosed cases prior to co-testing implementation. Conclusion: The implementation of co-testing in Macao SAR’s cervical cancer screening program significantly improves the early detection of precancerous lesions, particularly in women with ambiguous cytology results. This proactive approach contributes to reducing cervical cancer morbidity and mortality and improving women’s health outcomes in Macao SAR.

New cheaper human papilloma virus mass screening strategy reduces cervical cancer incidence in Changsha city:A clinical trial

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide,second only to breast cancer.Around 80%of women have been infected with human papillomavirus(HPV)in their lifetime.Early screening and treatment are effective means of preventing cervical cancer,but due to economic reasons,many parts of the world do not have free screening programs to protect women’s health.AIM To increase HPV cervical cancer screening in Changsha and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.METHODS Cervical cancer screening included gynecological examination,vaginal secretion examination and HPV high-risk typing testing.Cervical cytology examination(ThinPrep cytology test)was performed for individuals who test positive for HPV types other than 16 and 18.Vaginal colposcopy examination was performed for HPV16 and 18 positive individuals,as well as for those who were positive for ThinPrep cytology test.If the results of vaginal colposcopy examination were abnormal,histopathological examination was performed.We conducted a cost-benefit analysis after 4 years.RESULTS From 2019 to 2022,523437 women aged 35-64 years in Changsha city were screened and 73313 were positive,with a 14%positive rate.The detection rate of precancerous lesions of cervical cancer was 0.6%and the detection rate of cervical cancer was 0.037%.Among 311212 patients who underwent two cancers examinations,the incidence rate was reduced by more than half in the second examination.The average screening cost per woman was 120 RMB.The average cost of detecting early cases was 10619 RMB,with an early detection cost coefficient of 0.083.CONCLUSION Our screening strategy was effective and cost-effective,making it valuable for early diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.It is worth promoting in economically limited areas.

Risk assessment and triage strategy of cervical cancer primary screening on HPV integration status:5-year follow-up of a prospective cohort study

Objective:We investigated the relation between man papillomavirus(HPV)integration status and the immediate risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN),as well as the triage strategy based on HPV integration test.Methods:4086 women aged 20 to 65 years in China were enrolled in 2015 for a prospective,population-based,clinical observational study to evaluate the triage performance of HPV integration.Cervical exfoliated cells were collected for HPV testing and cytologic test.If high-risk HPV was positive,HPV integration test was performed at baseline,2-year and 5-year follow-up.Results:At baseline,HPV integration was positively correlated with the severity of cervical pathology,ranging from 5.0%(15/301)in normal diagnosis,6.9%(4/58)in CIN1,31.0%(9/29)in CIN2,70%(14/20)in CIN3,and 100%(2/2)in cervical cancer(P<0.001).Compared with cytology,HPV integration exhibits comparable sensitivity and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of CIN3+,higher specificity(92.8%[90.2%-95.4%]vs.75.5%[71.2%-79.8%],P<0.001)and higher positive predictive value(36.4%[22.1%-50.6%]vs.15.2%[8.5%-21.8%],P<0.001).HPV integration testing strategy yielded a significantly lower colposcopy referral rate than cytology strategy(10.7%[44/410]vs.27.3%[112/410],P<0.001).The HPV integration-negative group exhibited the lowest immediate risk for CIN3+(1.6%)and accounted for the largest proportion of the total population(89.3%),when compared with the normal cytology group(risk,1.7%;proportion,72.7%).Conclusion:As a key molecular basis for the development of cervical cancer,HPV integration might be a promising triage strategy for HPV-positive patients.

The role of nurses in the prevention of cervical cancer: Cervical screening, an unkept promise by the majority of women in Nigeria

Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem accounting for continuous female death in developing countries.Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women globally with an estimated number of 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 273,000 mortalities annually.Cervical screening is the best cancer screening test in the history of medicine and most cost-effective of all medical screening tests.The study review aimed to highlight methods of cervical cancer prevention,identify the uptake of cervical screening among women,and explain the role of nurses in uptake of cervical screening.Cervical cancer is preventable and easily treatable if it is detected at early stages,but poor information on prevention and access to screening and treatment contributes to 90%of deaths.In the developing countries such as Nigeria,a large proportion of cervical cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages,with poor rates of survival.The three main methods for preventing cervical cancer are through primary prevention(human papillomavirus vaccination and health education),secondary prevention(cervical screening,early detection of precancerous lesions,and treatment),and tertiary prevention(measures to slow the progression or recurrence,surgical removal,radiotherapy,and chemotherapy).Nurses can help improve the acceptability of this neglected promise by focusing on health education on cervical screening and vaccination in prenatal clinics and infant welfare clinics where there are more women.Inclusion of cyberspace could also serve as a successful and popular platform for this health teaching.All nurses/midwives must preach and fervently work toward the WHO 90–70–90 plan for eradicating cervical cancer.

Perceived Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Using Pap Smear Test among Women Attending Saad Abu Al Ella Hospital in Khartoum State, 2022

Background: Cervical cancer is the second common cancer among women worldwide. It is a preventable cancer, and early detection of precancerous conditions through the Papanicolaou cytology screening (Pap smear) is a key aspect of prevention;it is accepted worldwide as an efficient tool for secondary prevention. While the PS test is simple, inexpensive, and relatively reliable as a method of diagnosing cervical cancer, most women do not take the test. Therefore, this study is sought to describe the barriers to pap smear uptake among Sudanese women. Materials and Method: This total coverage observational, analytical and cross sectional, hospital-based study was conducted in Saad Abu El Ella Hospital in April 2022. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire to assess the perceived barriers of 93 participants. All data were computerized using Microsoft Excel’17 and the data were described and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS23). Results: The findings revealed that the mean age of the participants was 39.5 years and only 3.2% had ever undergone a pap smear test. Identified barriers were lack of information, not knowing where to go, and fear of pain. The majority, 72% are willing to routinely perform a pap smear test if well informed about it. The study also demonstrates that there is a significant correlation between perceived barriers score and willingness to perform the pap smear test (p value = 0.008), and between the perceived barriers score and the sociodemographic factors: Age (p value = 0.006), educational level (p value = 0.028) and occupation (p value = 0.040), but no association with the economic status was found (p value = 0.378). Conclusion: The detection rate is too low compared to the national target of over 70%. Therefore, more work is needed to reduce perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening by providing education/raising for popular awareness;addressing misconceptions and false beliefs;informing women about the necessity and importance of Pap smear;and health promotion using mass media such as national television, social media, radio, billboards, and newspapers and other print media.

CytoBrain:Cervical Cancer Screening System Based on Deep Learning Technology

Identification of abnormal cervical cells is a significant problem in computer-aided diagnosis of cervical cancer.In this study,we develop an artificial intelligence(AI)system,named CytoBrain,to automatically screen abnormal cervical cells to help facilitate the subsequent clinical diagnosis of the subjects.The system consists of three main modules:1)the cervical cell segmentation module which is responsible for efficiently extracting cell images in a whole slide image(WSI);2)the cell classification module based on a compact visual geometry group(VGG)network called CompactVGG which is the key part of the system and is used for building the cell classifier;3)the visualized human-aided diagnosis module which can automatically diagnose a WSI based on the classification results of cells in it,and provide two visual display modes for users to review and modify.For model construction and validation,we have developed a dataset containing 198952 cervical cell images(60238 positive,25001 negative,and 113713 junk)from samples of 2312 adult women.Since CompactVGG is the key part of CytoBrain,we conduct comparison experiments to evaluate its time and classification performance on our developed dataset and two public datasets separately.The comparison results with VGG11,the most efficient one in the family of VGG networks,show that CompactVGG takes less time for either model training or sample testing.Compared with three sophisticated deep learning models,CompactVGG consistently achieves the best classification performance.The results illustrate that the system based on CompactVGG is efficient and effective and can support for large-scale cervical cancer screening.

p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology used for triage in cervical cancer opportunistic screening

Objective:To evaluate the efficiency of p16/Ki-67 dual stain used as a triage in cervical cancer screening.Methods:In this study,we did 468 p16/Ki-67 dual stain in human papillomavirus(HPV)16/18-positive or 12 other high-risk HPV(OHR-HPV)positive Thinprep cytologic test(TCT)atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS)/lower-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(LSIL)women.We evaluated the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV)and negative predictive value(NPV)of the triage test.Results:The sensitivity,specificity,PPV and NPV of p16/Ki-67 dual stain in HPV 16/18-positive women were91.5%/68.4%,77.0%/75.0%,73.9%/59.1%and 92.8%/81.8%.In 12 OHR-HPV positive TCT ASCUS/LSIL women,the results were 79.1%/95.0%,88.5%/66.7%,88.5%/70.4%and 89.2%/94.1%.The risk of precancerous lesions in p16/Ki-67 dual stain positive cases was much higher than before,and the negative cases had lower risk.Besides,there was no cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)III case missed after triaged by p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology.In p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology positive women with benign pathology or CIN I,the 1-year progression rate is 20.5%and in p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology negative women,the 1-year progression rate is5.6%.Conclusions:hr-HPV genotyping test plays an important role in cervical cancer screening.p16/Ki-67 dual stain may be a promising triage test.As for chronic cervicitis or CIN I patients,a positive p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology suggests a high risk in progression and need to be followed up closely.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Cervical Cancer Screening Program in a Hospital-based Study

This study compared HPV testing and liquid-based cytology （LCT） as performance indicators for cervical cancer screening in a hospital-based study. A total of 61,193 outpatients were screened initially by LCT. Samples with screening results showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance （ASC-US） or worse were referred for colposcopy, and some samples were tested for high-risk HPV types with the Hybrid Capture II system （HC II）. Data on LCT （n=61,193） and HC II （n=1056） results were analysed. Overall test positivity for LCT was 2.53% using an ASC-US threshold, 3.11% using a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion （LSIL） threshold, and 0.67% using a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion （HSIL） threshold. A total of 1839 women （84% of the 3893 patients with abnormal cytology） underwent colposcopy-directed biopsy. HPV was positive in 80.3% of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 （CIN1）, 88.3% of those with CIN2, 79.2% of women with CIN3 and 50% （2 of 4） of women with invasive cancer. There was a significant increase in the detection of CIN2 or worse with adjunct HPV testing of women with ASC-US and LSIL However, there were detection of CIN2＋ cases no differences in the with adjunct HPV testing of women with HSlI.. The results indicate that HPV testing for HSlL triage should not be recommended in cervical cancer screening.

Evaluation of triage strategies for high-risk human papillomavirus-positive women in cervical cancer screening:A multicenter randomized controlled trial in different resource settings in China

Objective:We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different triage strategies for high-risk human papillomavirus(hrHPV)-positive women in primary healthcare settings in China.Methods:This study was undertaken in 11 rural and 9 urban sites.Women aged 35-64 years old were enrolled.HrHPV-positive women were randomly allocated to liquid-based cytology(LBC),visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol’s iodine(VIA/VILI)(rural only)triage,or directly referred to colposcopy(direct COLP).At 24 months,hrHPV testing,LBC and VIA/VILI were conducted for combined screening.Results:In rural sites,1,949 hrHPV-positive women were analyzed.A total of 852,218 and 480 women were randomly assigned to direct COLP,LBC and VIA/VILI.At baseline,colposcopy referral rates of LBC or VIA/VILI triage could be reduced by 70%-80%.LBC(n=3 and n=7)or VIA/VILI(n=8 and n=26)could significantly decrease the number of colposcopies needed to detect one cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)2 or worse and CIN3+compared with direct COLP(n=14 and n=23).For the 24-month cumulative detection rate of CIN2+,VIA/VILI triage was 0.50-fold compared with LBC triage and 0.46-fold with the direct COLP.When stratified by age,baseline LBC triage+performed best(P<0.001),peaking among women aged 35-44 years(Ptrend=0.002).In urban sites,1,728 women were hrHPV genotyping test positive.A total of 408,571 and 568women were randomly assigned to direct COLP for HPV16/18+,direct COLP for other hrHPV subtypes+,and LBC triage for other hrHPV subtypes+.LBC(n=12 and n=31)significantly decreased the number of colposcopies needed to detect one CIN2+and CIN3+compared with direct COLP(n=14 and n=44).HPV16/18+increased the 24-month cumulative detection rate of CIN2+(17.89%,P<0.001).Conclusions:LBC triage for hrHPV-positive women in rural settings and direct COLP for HPV16/18+women and LBC triage for other hrHPV subtype+women in urban settings might be feasible strategies.

Facilitators and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Undergraduate Students of Makerere University

There is a higher Human Papilloma Virus peak prevalence in younger women (18 - 25 years) of university age. The undergraduate university students are more at a risk of acquiring cervical cancer because they are at the stage of exploring which predisposes them to risky behavior like early sexual intercourse and multiple sexual partners among others. This creates a need for cervical cancer screening in the population. The facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening have been studied in the Ugandan general population but little is known among University students which this study is taking interest. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the facilitators, barriers and background factors associated to cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate students in Makerere University. Methods: Four hundred twenty-two (422) female undergraduate students of Makerere University who fit the eligibility criteria were recruited in this descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study. A self-administered semi structured questionnaire was administered to these participants chosen by convenient sampling. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 23 software and logistic regression models was used. Results: Less than a half of (21.1%) of the participants had ever screened for cervical cancer. At multivariate analysis, only year of study and married status were associated to cervical cancer screening with a P-values were of (0.015) and (0.001) with a (1.173 - 4.261) and (1.594 - 6.130) 95% CI respectively. The facilitators agreed upon by participants included: Access to free cervical cancer screening services, adequate knowledge about cervical cancer screening and advice from a friend, family or physician among others. The reported barriers to screening were fear of bad result, low risk perception and fear of embarrassment among others. Conclusions and Recommendations: Among the female undergraduate students of Makerere University, only 21.1% had screened for cervical cancer. Therefore, there is a critical need for university based cancer education campaign on cervical cancer and the benefits of screening. Screening services should be integrated into the existing university medical services.

Verifying the Effects of an Education Program Leveraging Information Technology to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening in Women Aged 20 - 29—A One-Year Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this research is to implement an IT-based education program in order to promote cervical cancer screenings for women aged 20 - 29 years, as well as to examine the results of said program. This is a longitudinal/comparative study of two groups, one for which the program was implemented (the intervention group), and the other for which it was not (the control group). The program consisted of attending a health lecture and encouragement to be screened one month, six months, and one year later sent through IT-based methods. The target was unmarried women aged 20 - 29 who had neither previously given birth nor had been screened for cervical cancer in a period one year prior. They were divided into two groups, the intervention group (n = 142) and control group (n = 145). The effectiveness of the program was assessed via an initial survey and further surveys six months and one year later. Results were based on the Japanese version of the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test (HBMSCCPST), knowledge scores in the categories of Healthy Lifestyles, Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer Screening, and screening behavior. A two-way ANOVA of the HBMSCCPST subscales and knowledge scores in the initial, six-month, and one-year surveys was performed, showing interaction in Cervical Cancer (p = 0.00). Main effects were observed in Cervical Cancer Screening (p = 0.00) and Healthy Lifestyles (p = 0.00). Regarding the amount of change from the initial survey, knowledge scores in the Cervical Cancer (p = 0.027) and Cervical Cancer Screening (p = 0.016) categories were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in cervical cancer screening rates (p = 0.26) between the two groups. However, a small-degree effect size was observed for Benefits, Seriousness, and Susceptibility subscales in both examinees and non-examinees. Although the educational program of this study was effective in improving the knowledge of women in their twenties, there was little improvement in HBMSCCPST and it did not lead to the promotion of cervical cancer screening. In order to raise interest in cervical cancer screening, it is necessary to consider useful content to guide women to consult with healthcare professionals, a long-term population approach, and organizational structure of consultation.

Attitude to cervical cancer screening and sexual behaviour among HPV vaccinated young women—A qualitative pilot study

Objectives: To explore attitudes to cervical cancer screening and sexual behaviour among human papillomavirus (HPV)-vaccinated young women in southern Sweden. Methods: Sixteen women aged 17-26 years who had received the HPV vaccine were submitted to an individual semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed qualitatively by means of latent content analysis. Results: The interviewees had a poor understanding of cervical cancer screening. After it was explained to them, they stated that they were willing to participate in the screening. The young women thought their future sexual behaviour would not be affected by the vaccination. They considered themselves to be more aware of it and less likely to engage in risky behaviour than their peers. They knew little about the relation among HPV, sexual transmission and cervical cancer, and they expressed a desire for more information. Conclusions: These young women who recently had been administered HPV vaccine had a limited understanding of the importance of participating in future cervical cancer screening. It is necessary that more and more appropriate information of cervical cancer screening be given on the occasion of the HPV vaccination.

Evaluation of HPV Molecular Tests in Primary Screening for Cervical Cancer in Brazil

Background: Incorporation of HPV tests into cervical cancer screening programs may be advantageous over conventional cytology, especially in developing nations, where the largest burden of cervical cancer is observed. Objectives: To conduct an evaluation of commercially available molecular HPV tests in Brazilian women. Study design: Two groups were recruited: group A was composed of 511 women referred to the clinics because of a previous abnormal Pap test while group B consisted of 2464 subjects under routine screening. Cervical samples were collected using SurePath liquid cytology (LBC) device, and split into aliquots which were submitted to molecular testing by Hybrid Capture and cobas HPV. Colposcopy and biopsies were made according to the standard guidelines, directed by cytological diagnosis. Results: Prevalence of HSIL was 5.97% and 0.7% in Group A and B respectively. High-Risk HPV DNA was found in about 9% of group B women, while in group A this frequency was 24%. Having CIN3+ as the study end-point, the negative predictive values for molecular methods were above 99.8%. All “in-situ” and invasive cervical carcinomas were detected by both HPV nucleic acid assays. Conclusion: Use of HPV DNA testing was feasible and highly sensitive in cancer screening settings of Brazil.

Application of TCT to Research on Value in Screening for Cervical Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

Objective:To study the screening for cervical cancer in postmenopausal women in liquid-based cell test(TCT)application value.Methods:From January 2023 to March 2024 hospital check-ups and outpatient reached 400 cases of postmenopausal women,and they were TCT and HPV detection,during the study period to pathological diagnosis of numerical results as the standard,analysis of TCT detection application of screening for cervical cancer in postmenopausal women and the effect.Results:After the TCT detection,the inflammation group and normal group by use of HPV testing positive rate higher than other groups(P<0.05).Hospital after pathological diagnosis and research,after the screening system found CINⅠlevel and above cases about 39 cases,the TCT and HPV detection rate of positive difference is not obvious,and there is no statistical significance(P>0.05).Joint test analysis,the sensitivity and specificity were higher than that of TCT and HPV testing positive(P<0.05).Conclusion:TCT detection screening for cervical cancer in postmenopausal women is of great importance to the application,if you can join HPV testing,help to improve the detection sensitivity,avoid missed diagnosis of problems,and then for treatment and later restore to lay a solid foundation.

Preventive Oncology International:A brief history of HPV self-collected vaginal specimens for cervical cancer screening

Since 1998,Preventive Oncology International,Inc.(POI)has been at the forefront of studying human papillomavirus(HPV)self-collection for cervical cancer screening,with a significant focus in China.Through multiple clinical trials over the past 25 years,POI has explored various aspects related to self-collection methodologies.In 2004–2006,POI established that self-collection could be equivalent to direct endocervical samples.Subsequently,a large randomized trial involving 10,000 patients in 2010 further confirmed that self-collected vaginal specimens,tested for high-risk HPV(hrHPV)using a PCR-based assay with high analytic sensitivity,could effectively replace endocervical specimens with minimal loss of sensitivity and a slight decrease in specificity.Throughout the years,POI's research has encompassed several crucial topics,including patient acceptance,the development of new cost-effective,simpler,and faster assays,exploring different collection devices,devising efficient methods of specimen transport,and implementing population-based screening systems.The findings strongly support the integration of self-collection methodologies into cervical cancer control programs worldwide,particularly in medically underserved regions.As HPV self-collection continues to evolve,ongoing research and innovations are expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the global mission of combating cervical cancer.

Study of Prevalence of Abnormal Cervical Cytology in Al-Shatby Maternity University Hospital

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of preventable cancer related deaths;cervical cancer has a long pervasive phase (cervical dysplasia);the prevalence of cervical dysplasia varies according to the socioeconomic characteristics and geographic areas of the population studied. Low-grade lesions regress spontaneously in a significant number of patients, while high grade lesions will progress to an invasive cancer if left untreated. Cervical cancer screening is an important component of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategy for combating cervical cancer. The incidence and prevalence of cervical cancer has reduced remarkably over the last three decades in developed countries where there are effective, well-coordinated screening programs, and treatment of cervical dysplasia, while in developing countries it has been increasing and has constituted major health problems among women where there are no well-coordinated and effective screening programs, also resources are very low and no insurance can cover this programs. Aim of the work: The aim is to assess the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in Al Shatby Maternity University Hospital patients using Pap smear. Materials and methods: Inclusion criteria: 1) Married woman from 3 years or more;2) Women age from 21 to age 65 years. Exclusion criteria: 1) Previously known cervical cancer patient;2) Virgin females;3) Woman with active vaginal bleeding. Results: 83% of patients were -ve intraepithelial neoplasia {37.7% was normal cytology and 45.3% was inflammatory}. 17% was +ve intraepithelial neoplasia (abnormal cytology), {11.1% ASCUS, 2.9% LSIL, 1.3% HSIL, 1.1% ASC-H, 0.3% AGS-NO, 0.3% AGS-Favour Neoplastic}. Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in age group less than30 years was 8.4% which is lower than prevalence in the middle age group which was 19.9%. Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in women with normal vaginal delivery was higher than those with caesarean delivery. 39.8% of our patients were passive and active smokers 61.2% of their Pap smear was abnormal cytology. 78.9% of abnormal cytology was among patients from low socioeconomic class (rural areas). Abnormal cervical cytology in patients with high parity was 69% which is higher than abnormality found in lower parity. 60.2% of abnormal cervical cytology was in patients who became sexually active before age of 20 years. Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology was higher in patients with multiple sexual partners (56.5%) than patients with single sexual partner (13.3%). Conclusion: Cervical cytology remains the gold standard for cervical cancer screening and the use of Bethesda system is a simple and accurate method for diagnosis and management of cases with abnormal cervical cytology.

人乳头瘤病毒多基因型检测对传统部分基因型宫颈癌筛查策略价值优化的敏感性分析

目的评估薄层液基细胞学检查(thinprep cytologic test,TCT)筛查技术的有效性、部分宫颈癌诊断费用和初始人群中人乳头瘤病毒(human papilloma virus,HPV)低度风险基因型感染者占比对HPV多基因型和HPV部分(16/18)基因型检测初筛策略的成本效果影响,为公共卫生决策部门选择宫颈癌筛查策略提供参考。方法基于构建的Markov队列模型,以预防宫颈癌发病例数为效果指标,模型运行50年,对HPV多基因型和HPV部分(16/18)基因型筛查方案进行敏感性分析,分析TCT筛查技术的有效性、部分宫颈癌诊断费用,以及初始人群中HPV低度风险基因型感染者占比的变化对成本效果的影响。结果在设定的模型及各参数阈值下,敏感性分析发现:HPV低度风险基因型(HPV 51/35/39/68/56/59/66型)感染者(HPV感染状况或进展为CIN1/2/3状况)中TCT分流检测的灵敏度与特异度[以TCT结果为不典型鳞状上皮细胞病变(atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance,ASCUS)以上为判别标准]变化对两种筛查策略差距影响较大;TCT检测费用、阴道镜检测费用及组织病理学检测费用对两种筛查策略差距影响相对较小。上述各指标在设定阈值范围内变化时,HPV多基因型与部分基因型策略相比,效果差异甚微,成本差异有所变化,具有成本优势。此外,随着初始人群中HPV低度风险基因型感染者的比例增大,HPV多基因型策略的优势亦逐渐增强。结论进一步明确HPV不同基因型的致病风险对优化多基因型HPV筛查的后续管理路径具有重要意义,而进一步细分TCT检测的TBS(The Bethesda System)分级报告结果,提升TCT检测精度则是保障多基因型HPV筛查防治策略价值优化的关键。

人乳头瘤病毒多基因型检测对传统部分基因型宫颈癌筛查策略的价值优化:基于Markov模型的分析

目的比较人乳头瘤病毒(human papilloma virus,HPV)多基因型(extended genotyping)与HPV部分(16/18)基因型检测技术对宫颈癌筛查策略及其后续管理的影响,分析可能带来的价值变化。方法基于Markov队列模型,以预防宫颈癌发病例数为效果指标,模拟100万名初始年龄为15岁的健康妇女在10、20、30、40、50年内从健康状态到宫颈癌发病的疾病进程,基于2种检测技术的宫颈癌筛查-诊断-癌前病变诊疗路径构建模型,分析2种筛查技术不同累计年份下的效果指标、阴道镜检查次数、宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,CIN)1/2/3状态的筛查率,并比较成本与成本效果,以此判定对价值的影响。结果模型模拟10、20、30、40、50年,HPV多基因型相对于HPV部分(16/18)基因型在成本上分别减少29.73万、75.55万、98.53万、111.23万、119.39万元,效果始终保持一致,阴道镜检测次数可分别减少1002、2726、3865、4605、5086人次,CIN1-3筛查率上,模型运行第10、20、30、40、50年时,HPV多基因型策略分别减少约4%的CIN1-3的筛查率。结论相比于HPV部分(16/18)基因型,HPV多基因型检测技术在保障预防效果的情况下,能降低筛查假阳性带来的阴道镜“过诊”率,提升阴道镜检查精度,优化卫生资源利用效能,一定程度上避免假阳性带来的心理负担,从而优化传统HPV部分(16/18)基因型的筛查价值。