Histopathological characteristics and HPV status in cervical biopsy specimens diagnosed as flat condyloma.

Background and Objectives: HPV infections cause a wide spectrum of pathological changes in lower anogenital epithelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the HPV DNA status and histological findings in cervical biopsy specimens diagnosed as flat condyloma. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 cervical biopsy specimens diagnosed as flat condyloma. The histopathological criteria and presence of HPV DNA were evaluated. HPV genotyping was determined in HPV-positive specimens using BioEdit software and the results were analyzed in SPSS software. Results: HPV DNA was not found in 30% of specimens and relative frequency of HPV genotypes was: 15% HPV6, 15% HPV11, 5% HPV16, 5% HPV18, 5% HPV53, 5% HPV68, 5% HPV84, 10% HPV45. Relative frequency of histopathological criteria was as below: 100% of specimens had koilocytosis, 100% acanthosis, 15% nuclear immaturity, 100% atypia, 15% mitotic activity, 50% dyskeratosis, 35% parakeratosis and 10% hyperkeratosis. Conclusion: There were significant differences between HPV positivity and two pathologic criteria; multinucleation and hyperkeratosis (P Value: 0.02). Nuclear immaturity was significantly more prevalent in high risk HPV-positive specimens (P Value: 0.03).

Intraventricular schwannoma in a child. Literature review and case illustration.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular schwannoma remains a rare entity in the literature. Controversy exists on the possible pathogenesis of such a tumor within cerebral ventricles. Literature is sparse on tumor characteristics and differences between pediatric and adult patients. CASE REPORT: We present a case of intraventricular schwannoma in a 9-year-old patient presenting with headache, hemiparesis, and focal seizure. Brain CT scan and MRI revealed an intraventricular tumor within left atrium of lateral ventricle. The patient underwent total resection of the tumor via posterior parietal approach. Histopathological exam was in favor of schwannoma. Postoperative brain MRI and MRS showed no recurrence after 18 months. CONCLUSION: Our review of the literature indicates there are some significant differences between pediatric and adult cases in different aspects including gender predominance, intraventricular location, malignant transformation, tendency for recurrence, and surgical outcome. This needs to be taken into account in the literature.

HIV, HCV, HBV, HSV, and syphilis prevalence among female sex workers in Tehran, Iran, by using respondent-driven sampling.

To find out the prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV, HSV, and syphilis infections among female sex workers (FSWs) in Tehran, a cross-sectional study by using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method was conducted. From December 2012 to April 2013 FSWs in Tehran were recruited. Inclusion criteria consisted of trading sex during the 12 months prior to this study and selling sex for at least 6 months in participants' lifetime. Among 161 consenting participants, 5% were infected with HIV. Moreover, 8.1% of FSWs were HCV positive, 37.9% were of HSV type1/type2, 1.2% of participants were infected with HBV, and none of the participants were infected with syphilis. HIV-positive participants were significantly more likely to be co-infected with HSV type1/type2, be younger, have more sexual partners and especially more clients during seven days prior to this study and report more history of having at least one of sexually transmitted infections symptoms in 12 months prior the study. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, being infected with HSV and also being under 25 years of age were found to be independently associated with HIV infection. Compared with the prevalence of HIV among general population of Tehran, relatively high prevalence of HIV and other viral infections among FSWs should be considered. All in all, it is critical to commence effective counter-measures for this high-risk group if the aim is to prevent spreading of these viruses to general population.

Antibody responses to trivalent influenza vaccine in Iranian adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

The serious influenza-associated complications among immunodeficient individuals such as those who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), highlights the importance of influenza vaccination in these people. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the antibody responses to influenza vaccine in this group. Two hundred subjects were recruited, during autumn 2010 and 2011, to receive, trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine consisting of A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and B strains. Hemagglutination inhibition assay was used to measure the antibody titer against all strains of the vaccine prior and one month post vaccination. Seroconversion rate for A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and B were found to be 58.5%, 67% and 64.5%, respectively. No correlation was found between antibody titer and demographics factors such as age and gender; however, we found a significant correlation between antibody titer and CD4 cell count. Checking the local and systemic reactions after vaccination, the pain on the injection site and myalgia were the most common local and systemic reactions with 20% and 6.5%, respectively. As vaccination with influenza mount considerable antibody responses in HIV-infected patients, annual influenza vaccination seems to be rational in order to prevent or reduce the severe clinical complications induced by influenza virus.

FNA diagnostic value in patients with neck masses in two teaching hospitals in Iran.

The FNA (fine needle aspiration) procedure is simple, inexpensive, available and a safe method for the diagnosis of a neck mass. FNA has numerous advantages over open surgical biopsies as an initial diagnostic tool; therefore we decided to compare the accuracy of this method with open biopsy. This retrospective as well as descriptive study comparing preoperative FNA results with existing data in the Pathology Department in Bu-Ali and Amir Alam Hospitals. Our study included 100 patients with neck masses of which 22 were thyroid masses, 31 were salivary gland masses, and 47 were other masses. Age ranged from 3 years to 80 years with the mean age of 42.6 years. There were 59 men and 41 women. The Sensitivity was 72%, Specificity 87%, PPV 85%, NPV 75% and diagnostic Accuracy 79%. In this study we had also 26% false negative and 15% false positive. FNA is a valuable diagnostic tool in the management of neck masses; also it has been used for staging and planning of treatment for the wide and metastatic malignancy. This technique reduces the need for more invasive and costly procedures. According to the high sensitivity and high accuracy in this study, FNA can be used as the first step of diagnoses test in neck masses.