High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Objectives: To evaluate if the prevalence of cervical smear results varies between pregnant and nonpregnant women stratified by age group.Study design: Observational analytical study with a total sample of 1,336,180 pregnant and nonpregnant women, aged between 20 and 34 years, who underwent cervical cancer screening in the Primary Health Care of the national health system in the area of Campinas in Brazil during the period of 2005-2009. The source is the information system for cervical cancer screening. Data collected on abnormal cervical smears were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test and the magnitude of the association between pregnancy and high-grade squamous epithelial lesions was analyzed by odds ratio (OR) and estimated values with confidence intervals (CI) of 95%.Results: 15,190 pregnant women and 395,961 non-pregnant women were analyzed and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Regardless of age, no statistical differences were observed for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion prevalence (OR 0.90; CI 0.66-1.23). Taking into account the five-year age groups, however, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was less prevalent in pregnant women aged 20-24 (OR 0.71; 0.54-0.95) and 25-29 years (OR 0.56; 0.35-0.89); also, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was more prevalent in non-pregnant women aged 25-29 years (OR 0.72; 0.54-0.97).Conclusion: The study showed that the cytological prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women, regardless of age. The results indicate that there are no reasons for specific approaches to cervical cancer screening for pregnant women. The examination should be carried out only on pregnant women who have not been tested according to current recommendations. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Percepção de mulheres sobre consulta de enfermagem, exame de papanicolaou e vulvovaginite

The nursing consult (a job exclusive to a nurse), is a great instrument to gynecology, seeing as nurses are of fundamental importance in the prevention of uterine cancer, mostly by the use of the Papanicolau test, the most efficient method in the early detection and prevention of this kind of cancer. In addition to that, this consult includes a breast exam and possibly a vulvovaginitis exam, so that necessary forwardings and exam applications can be done. That being said, the work, in a qualitative analysis has been done in the “Healthcare center and school” in the city of Botucatu – SP, intending to measure the perception of the women in the population, of the Papanicoulau Test, the nursing consults, and their knowledge about vulvovaginitis. Twenty women were interviewed (using semi-structured interviews), and given forms after the nursing consult. The interviews were analysed using Bardin’s content analysis technique. The results show that the women’ reactions to the procedures were positive. Even Though there’s a culture of submission to medicine, and the Papanicolau test is seen by them as a necessary and important (even if unconfortable) procedure in the early prevention and detection of uterine cancer and other diseases, there was little to no knowledge about the signs, symptoms, and transmission methods for those different diseases. It is up to the nurse to facilitate these women’ access to that information, regarding not only the prevention of diseases, but also, and especially, the nursing consult’s relevance on theuterine cancer prevention program

Association between concurrent genital bleeding and cervical cancer: a cross-sectional study

Genital bleeding may be a common symptom among women with cervical cancer. Cross-sectional study evaluating whether the prevalence of cervical smear results is different in women with and without clinical information about concurrent genital bleeding. The sample consisted of 2 324 836 smears; of these, 0.4% had clinical information on genital bleeding. When stratified by age group, women with genital bleeding had a higher chance of a cytological result of a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [30-49 years odds ratio (OR) 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-3.53 and ≥50 years OR 6.30; 95%CI 3.72-10.67), of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (30-49 years OR 24.70; 95%CI 11.96-51.03 and ≥50 years OR 48.91; 95%CI 31.28-76.47) and of atypical glandular cells (30-49 years OR 5.72; 95%CI 3.30-9.93 and ≥50 years OR 11.56; 95%CI 5.96-22.45); there was also a higher chance of adenocarcinoma for women ≥50 years (OR 53.13; 95%CI 28.08-100.51). The sensitivity of genital bleeding for women aged 18-29 years was 0.4% for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL); for women 30-49 years old the rate was 0.9% for HSIL, 8.6% for SCC and 2.1% for atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS), while for women aged from 50 years or more the rates were 2.0% for HSIL, 13.7% for SCC, 3.6% for AGUS and 14.7% for adenocarcinoma. Women ≥30 years old with genital bleeding should be referred for colposcopy to rule out the possibility of cervical cancer.

Desafios à organização de programa de rastreamento do câncer do colo do útero em Manaus-AM

Objetivou-se identificar as características sociodemográficas das mulheres que realizam o Papanicolaou em Manaus, Amazonas, e sua associação com os motivos para realização do exame. Pesquisa exploratória incluindo 281 mulheres, que haviam realizado o Papanicolaou nos últimos cinco anos em Manaus. A maioria das entrevistadas tinha entre 18-34 anos (54%), 5-11 anos de estudo (54,4%), renda familiar mensal de até três salários mínimos (84,3%), relação estável (72,2%) e início da vida sexual entre 15-19 anos (69,4%). Os motivos para realização do Papanicolaou foram procura espontânea (66,2%), recomendação médica (23,5%) e sintomas ginecológicos (10,3%). Mulheres que receberam informação dos profissionais de saúde tiveram proporção maior de realização do exame nos últimos três anos (p=0,008). A demanda espontânea é prevalente e o atendimento oportunístico é realizado nas mulheres mais jovens, não alcançando o grupo com maior risco para o câncer. É necessário implantar estratégias de recrutamento ativo alcançando mulheres em desvantagem socioeconômica.

Depressed type 1 cytokine synthesis by superantigen-activated CD4+ T cells of women with human papillomavirus-related high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Carcinoma of the cervix is causally related to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), and T cells play a pivotal role in the immune response of the host to rid itself of HPV infection. Therefore, we assessed the T-cell function of women with HPV-related cervical neoplasia against a superantigen, Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB). Each woman provided a cervical brush specimen for HPV DNA testing and Papanicolaou (Pap) smears for the staging of cervical lesions. They also provided a blood specimen for determination of the ability of CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T cells to synthesize Th1 (interleukin-2 [IL-2], gamma interferon [IFN-gamma], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha]) and Th2 (IL-10) cytokines in response to activation with SEB. Compared with control subjects with self-attested negative Pap smears, women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) had significantly lower percentages of activated CD4(+) T cells that produced IL-2 (P = 0.045), IFN-gamma (P = 0.040), and TNF-alpha (P = 0.015) and a significantly lower percentage of activated CD8(+) T cells that produced IL-2 (P < 0.01). These data indicate that women with HPV-related cervical HSIL show a decrease in Th1 cytokine production by activated CD4(+) T cells and suggested that compromised T-helper functions may negatively impact the function of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells.

The performance of human papillomavirus high-risk DNA testing in the screening and diagnostic settings.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the performance of the human papillomavirus high-risk DNA test in patients 30 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screening (n=835) and diagnosis (n=518) groups were defined based on prior Papanicolaou smear results as part of a clinical trial for cervical cancer detection. We compared the Hybrid Capture II (HCII) test result with the worst histologic report. We used cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 or worse as the reference of disease. We calculated sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and areas under the ROC curves for the HCII test. We also considered alternative strategies, including Papanicolaou smear, a combination of Papanicolaou smear and the HCII test, a sequence of Papanicolaou smear followed by the HCII test, and a sequence of the HCII test followed by Papanicolaou smear. RESULTS: For the screening group, the sensitivity was 0.69 and the specificity was 0.93; the area under the ROC curve was 0.81. The LR+ and LR- were 10.24 and 0.34, respectively. For the diagnosis group, the sensitivity was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.78; the area under the ROC curve was 0.83. The LR+ and LR- were 4.06 and 0.14, respectively. Sequential testing showed little or no improvement over the combination testing. CONCLUSIONS: The HCII test in the screening group had a greater LR+ for the detection of CIN 2/3 or worse. HCII testing may be an additional screening tool for cervical cancer in women 30 years and older.

Crowdsourcing malaria parasite quantification: an online game for analyzing images of infected thick blood smears

Background: There are 600,000 new malaria cases daily worldwide. The gold standard for estimating the parasite burden and the corresponding severity of the disease consists in manually counting the number of parasites in blood smears through a microscope, a process that can take more than 20 minutes of an expert microscopist’s time. Objective: This research tests the feasibility of a crowdsourced approach to malaria image analysis. In particular, we investigated whether anonymous volunteers with no prior experience would be able to count malaria parasites in digitized images of thick blood smears by playing a Web-based game. Methods: The experimental system consisted of a Web-based game where online volunteers were tasked with detecting parasites in digitized blood sample images coupled with a decision algorithm that combined the analyses from several players to produce an improved collective detection outcome. Data were collected through the MalariaSpot website. Random images of thick blood films containing Plasmodium falciparum at medium to low parasitemias, acquired by conventional optical microscopy, were presented to players. In the game, players had to find and tag as many parasites as possible in 1 minute. In the event that players found all the parasites present in the image, they were presented with a new image. In order to combine the choices of different players into a single crowd decision, we implemented an image processing pipeline and a quorum algorithm that judged a parasite tagged when a group of players agreed on its position. Results: Over 1 month, anonymous players from 95 countries played more than 12,000 games and generated a database of more than 270,000 clicks on the test images. Results revealed that combining 22 games from nonexpert players achieved a parasite counting accuracy higher than 99%. This performance could be obtained also by combining 13 games from players trained for 1 minute. Exhaustive computations measured the parasite counting accuracy for all players as a function of the number of games considered and the experience of the players. In addition, we propose a mathematical equation that accurately models the collective parasite counting performance. Conclusions: This research validates the online gaming approach for crowdsourced counting of malaria parasites in images of thick blood films. The findings support the conclusion that nonexperts are able to rapidly learn how to identify the typical features of malaria parasites in digitized thick blood samples and that combining the analyses of several users provides similar parasite counting accuracy rates as those of expert microscopists. This experiment illustrates the potential of the crowdsourced gaming approach for performing routine malaria parasite quantification, and more generally for solving biomedical image analysis problems, with future potential for telediagnosis related to global health challenges.

Improved cervical smear assessment using antibodies against proteins that regulate DNA replication

Carcinoma of the cervix is one of the most common malignancies. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear tests have reduced mortality by up to 70%. Nevertheless their interpretation is notoriously difficult with high false-negative rates and frequently fatal consequences. We have addressed this problem by using affinity-purified antibodies against human proteins that regulate DNA replication, namely Cdc6 and Mcm5. These antibodies were applied to sections and smears of normal and diseased uterine cervix by using immunoperoxidase or immunofluorescence to detect abnormal precursor malignant cells. Antibodies against Cdc6 and Mcm5 stain abnormal cells in cervical smears and sections with remarkably high specificity and sensitivity. Proliferation markers Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen are much less effective. The majority of abnormal precursor malignant cells are stained in both low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Immunostaining of cervical smears can be combined with the conventional Pap stain so that all the morphological information from the conventional method is conserved. Thus antibodies against proteins that regulate DNA replication can reduce the high false-negative rate of the Pap smear test and may facilitate mass automated screening.

Outpatient management of abnormal smears

Objectives: To review the results of the first 403 women treated at the Abnormal Smear and Colposcopy Unit with special reference to the utility, efficacy, acceptability and economy of in-office treatment of cervical lesions by large loop or Fischer cone excision. Design: Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients treated following, referral with an abnormal smear or abnormal cervical morphology, between 1 September 1996 and I August 2001. Setting: Inner city private practice. Sample: A total of 403 consecutive General Practitioner referred women. Methods: Details of referral smear result, colposcopically directed biopsy result, subsequent treatment type and histological result including assessability number of specimens submitted, complications and follow-up assessment were extracted at chart review. Costs of public hospital inpatient and outpatient care, supplied by the Casemix and Clinical Benchmarking Service, Mater Miseraecordae Public Hospitals (with permission to publish), were compared with Medicare rebates. Main outcome measures: A total of 187 women were treated by large loop excision of the transformation zone, and 216 by Fischer cone excision. The number of women who were treated as outpatients under local anaesthetic were 395, while eight patients were treated under general anaesthesia as inpatients. There was poor correlation between referring smear, biopsy and subsequent treatment results. Eight patients had abnormal cytology at follow-up, of whom two have been retreated. Three patients had primary or secondary bleeding requiring treatment and two developed cervical stenosis. Outpatient private practice treatment of women with abnormal smears allows significant savings to the public purse over public or private hospital care. Conclusions: Outpatient treatment of women with abnormal smears, using the Fischer cone technique, is safe, wen accepted, effective and the most cost efficient solution to this public health problem.

Modificaciones de cuello uterino detectadas por examen de papanicolaou en mujeres beneficiarias del programa de detección oportuna del cáncer (DOC) Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso durante el año 2003, Cuenca 2005

Estudio descriptivo en el que se incluyeron 3953 papanicolaou, con la nomenclatura del Sistema Bethesda. Justificación: proque se cree necesario conocer la realidad del medio sobre patología cervical. Resultados: dentro de límites normales 7, cambios celulares benignos 76.5, células escamosas atípicas de significancia indeterminada ASCUS 12.2neoplasia intraepitelial de bajo grado LIE BG 1.7, neoplasia intraepitelial de alto grado LIEAG 0, 7, carcinoma de células escamosas 0,6, células glandulares atípicas de significancia indeterminada AGUS

Comparación del Cytobrush + Espátula de Ayre con el Papmolina para Papanicolaou, Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso 2004

Estudio realizado con el objetivo de determinar la efectividad, expresada en criterios de calidad de la muestra y presencia de discariosis, del instrumento Papmolina frente al Cytobrush + Espátula de Ayre, utilizados para la toma de muestra de Papanicolaou. Se consideró universo a los pacientes que acudieron, en un período de nueve meses, a la consulta externa de Ginecología del HVCM de Cuenca para realizarse una prueba de Papanicolaou. El estudio se cumplió con 130 pacientes a quiénes se realizó 260 citologías. Se tomó dos muestras a cada paciente con un intervalo de un mes. Resultados: los resultados sobre la calidad de la muestra fueron una efectividad superior al 90con ambos instrumentos y la diferencia que le concede un porcentaje mayor al Papmolina (95,4vs 92,3) con el Cytobrush + Espátula de Ayre no fue estadísticamente significativa. Tampoco lo fue la diferencia entre las muestras satisfactorias con limitaciones obtenidas con el Cytobrush + Espïçatula de Ayre (7,7) y con el Papmolina (4,6). (p=0,301). No se obtuvo muestras satisfactorias. Conclusiones: el nuevo instrumento en comparación resulta tan efectivo como los ya existentes por sus elevados porcentajes de obtención de muestras adecuadas para realizar el diagnóstico citológico. Los hallazgos lo confirman

Validez de la cervicografía y papanicolaou comparado con la biopsia en el diagnóstico de cáncer de cuello uterino

Con el objetivo de determinar la validez del PAP y de la cervicografía comparados con la biopsia para la detección oportuna del cancer y a su vez utilizar ambas pruebasde tipo comparativo-descriptivo-prospectivo. Resultados: de las 180 pacientes que acudieron a la consulta externa la gran mayo`ría se encuentran entre los 59 años coreespondiendo al 55.5%, casadas 78.33%, el 16.66% de pacientes presentaron antecedentes de algun tipo de cancer familiar, de (100%) pero la especificidad es más alta para el PAP (100%) que la cervicografía 88%. Conclusiones: se tiene que una alta tasa de pacientes tienen antecedentes de cancer y que el PAP es el examen que diagnostica con más exactitud un cancer de cuello uterino y que la cervicografía seria un metodo de diagnostico de sospecha para dicha patología. Se debería impulsar a que se trabaje con estos dos métodos en forma mancomunada para diagnosticar cancer de cuello uterino en forma más confiable y segura

O papel da enfermagem na busca pela adesão das mulheres ao exame de papanicolaou

O câncer do colo do útero é um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo, sendo o segundo tipo de câncer mais comum entre mulheres, apesar dos grandes avanços, investimentos e estratégias implantadas nos últimos anos na assistência à saúde da mulher. O presente estudo é uma revisão de literatura, do tipo narrativa, sobre o papel dos profissionais de enfermagem das Equipes Saúde da Família na adesão das mulheres ao Papanicolaou. Foi realizado um levantamento de dados com o objetivo de descrever os principais fatores de risco ao câncer do colo do útero, seus aspectos epidemiológicos, diagnóstico, assistência da enfermagem e os principais dificultadores da adesão das mulheres ao exame de papanicolaou, visando contribuir para aperfeiçoamento do cuidado da enfermagem na adesão ao exame preventivo com o enfoque nas ações educativas para promoção da saúde da mulher. Para a busca de dados utilizou-se a Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde na base de dados do LILACS (Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde) e SCIELO (Scientific Electronic Library On-line). A partir de 50 artigos disponíveis na íntegra em português, foram utilizados 14 artigos, 8 publicações do Ministério da Saúde/MS, 03 referencias bibliográficas, dados publicado pelo Instituto Nacional Câncer no Brasil (INCA) e uma Portaria do MS. Pôde-se perceber que o número de mulheres que não realizam o exame de papanicolaou periodicamente é ainda muito alto e há um crescimento do número de mulheres com câncer do colo do útero. As principais barreiras identificadas à adesão das mulheres ao exame de papanicolaou foram: medo, vergonha, timidez, ausência de sintomas, não permissão do marido/companheiro, baixa escolaridade, informações equivocadas ou falta destas e dificuldade de acesso às unidades de saúde. Nesse contexto, é importante destacar a necessidade de ações educativas realizadas pelo profissional de enfermagem das Equipes de Saúde da Família, de forma humanizadora, respeitando as diferenças culturais, condutas e valores, buscando proporcionar a melhoria da qualidade de vida e saúde da mulher, com o resgate de sua singularidade e autonomia.

Baixa adesão das mulheres ao exame papanicolaou

O câncer de colo de útero é um problema de saúde pública em todos os países em desenvolvimento, incluindo o Brasil. Os índices de morbidade e mortalidade se mantem elevados há décadas, mesmo sendo uma doença que pode ser tratada quando o diagnóstico é feito precocemente. Reconhecido por organizações nacionais e internacionais, o exame Papanicolaou é altamente efetivo na identificação de lesões pré-cancerígenas; além de ser de baixo custo e fácil execução. Apesar disto, o exame não é utilizado de forma regular pelas mulheres. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar a baixa adesão das mulheres ao Papanicolaou e propor estratégias para aumentá-la. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura, onde os artigos foram coletados nas bases eletrônicas LILACS e BDENF, sem marco temporal. Os principais motivos encontrados para a resistência em se colher o exame foram: dificuldade de acesso ao serviço de saúde, medo e constrangimento, baixo nível de escolaridade, ausência de parceiro e incompatibilidade de horários. Conclui-se que, identificando-se os motivos é possível elaborar estratégias para aumentar a coleta de exames, e assim tomar as providências necessárias de acordo com os resultados.