Cervical Cancer Prevention Challenges and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccinations in Ukraine and Eastern Europe

Objectives: To identify the obstacles and issues that hinder effective cancer prevention efforts in Ukraine. The study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the barriers to cancer prevention, including both infrastructure and behavioral factors, and identify potential solutions to address these challenges. Study Design: Comprehensive literature review. Methods: The following databases were searched: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health). The keywords used in the search included “Cervical Cancer”, “Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV)”, “Ukraine”, “Eastern Europe”, “Healthcare Infrastructure in Disasters”, “Cervical Cancer Prevention”, “Pap Smear”, and “HPV Testing”. Results: A total of 3500 articles were screened. A total of 65 articles met the inclusion criteria. Limited public awareness and limited access to vaccination and screening, combined with inadequate treatment facilities lead to higher rates of cervical cancer. The COVID pandemic, war with Russia, and the Chernobyl disaster are significant factors for the low level of vaccination in Ukraine. Conclusion: The prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in Ukraine face significant challenges due to the inadequate HPV vaccination rates and screening by cytology. Efforts to improve funding and increase education of both the population and health care providers are necessary to increase interventions such as HPV vaccination, cervical cytology, and HPV testing to reduce cervical cancer rates in Ukraine.

Monoarthropathy or Polyarthritis in Adolescent Japanese Girls Who Received Immunization with the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Joint pain or arthralgia is a common complaint among girls who have received immunization with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, but the pathogenesis of this disorder has not been completely understood. We report 2 cases of joint lesions after HPV vaccination. In one case, a 13-year-old patient showed transient arthropathy in the right wrist joint after the first dose of Gardasil® administered in her left shoulder. In the other case, an 18-year-old patient had migrating joint pain with redness and swelling after the third dose of Cervarix®. Her serum C-reactive protein and anti-MMP-3 levels were slightly elevated, but no autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibody, were detected. Although various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produced no relief, small doses of both tacrolimus and prednisolone were highly effective for her polyarthritis. The development of reactive joint lesions after HPV vaccination was noteworthy.

A study on the cognitive status of human papillomavirus among adult males in Tianjin based on the health belief model

Background:To understand the health beliefs and knowledge of human papillomavirus among adult males in Tianjin.Methods:An online questionnaire survey was conducted from 18 January 2023 to 6 March 2023 using snowball sampling method.Analyze the health belief scores and human papillomavirus(HPV)and HPV vaccine knowledge scores of adult males in Tianjin,and analyze their influencing factors.Results:A total of 388 adult males in Tianjin were surveyed,with an average total score of 3.23±0.04 for their health beliefs.Among them,the average scores for perceived severity,perceived susceptibility,perceived impairment,perceived benefit,and self-efficacy were 3.41±1.05,2.37±1.20,2.96±1.00,3.51±0.90,and 3.36±1.08,respectively.Multiple linear regression analyses showed education was a factor influencing health beliefs.The average total score of knowledge is 64.09±15.62,with 277 people scoring above 60,and a pass rate of 71.4%.Through multiple linear regression analysis,education level,emotional status,whether disease testing has been done,and whether family and friends have been diagnosed with HPV positive are the main influencing factors.Conclusion:The awareness rate of HPV among adult males in Tianjin is still acceptable,but there are still misconceptions.The overall level of health beliefs is moderate,and the perceived susceptibility level is low.It is necessary to strengthen health education on HPV related knowledge for males and improve their cognitive level.

Clinician Misperceptions about the Importance of Adolescent HPV Vaccination

Introduction: Adolescent HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal. The purpose of the study was to investigate attitudes about HPV vaccine relative to other adolescent vaccines among clinical staff from primary care offices and school based clinics. Methods: We interviewed clinicians in primary care offices and school-based clinics regarding their attitudes about HPV vaccine relative to Tdap and MCV4. Results: Respondents (n = 36) included clinical staff in family medicine (47%), pediatrics (25%), obstetrics/gynecology (19%) and school-based health clinics (8%). Only 3% strongly agreed and 17% agreed that completion of HPV vaccine was more important than completion of pertussis vaccine (Tdap), while 6% strongly agreed and 33% agreed that completion of HPV vaccine was more important than completion of meningitis vaccine (MCV4). Discussion: Providing clinicians with additional information about the cancer prevention benefits of the HPV vaccine and the greater risk for HPV infection/disease relative to other vaccine preventable adolescent diseases may help to increase HPV vaccination rates among adolescents.

The role of human papillomaviruses in cancer progression

The importance of human papillomavirus(HPV)infection and its role in the progress of cancer have been widely evaluated.The understanding of HPV association with certain cancers,such as cervical cancer,is very well established.A big step forward in the prevention of HPV associated cancers with the use of early detection by screening strategies has also been taken.In the last decade,development of HPV vaccination has reduced the number of cases in HPV infections and infection induced cancers.In this report,we review the HPV pathogenesis and highlight the mechanism of HPV involvement in cancer development.

Immune response to plasmid DNA encoding HPV16-L1 protein

Objective To test the immunogenicity of recombinant plasmid DNA containing human papillomavirus type 16 L1 (HPV16 L1) coding sequence of mice Methods The HPV16 L1 encoding sequence was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and inserted into TA cloning vector PCR Ⅱ, then cloned in the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 1 with CMV promoter The recombinant plasmid DNA pcDNA L1 was transferred into Cos 7 cells and used to immunize BALB/c mice via muscular injection The expression of HPV16 L1 in transferred cells was identified by immunospot and immunocytochemistry, which tested specific anti HPV16 L1 antibody in the serum of immunized mice Results Using the immunospot technique, we found L1 protein expression in pcDNA L1 transferred cells The immunocytochemistry studies demonstrated that the L1 protein was located in nuclei In immunized mice, specific anti HPV16 L1 antibodies could be detected by immunospot and immunocytochemistry 28 days after the first immunization and last at least 41 days Conclusions We constructed HPV16 L1 eukaryotic expressing plasmid whose DNA could induce immuno humoral response in mice This observation will be helpful in designing HPV16 prophylactic vaccine