HPV positivity status in males is related to the acquisition of HPV infection in females in heterosexual couples.

PURPOSE: Few studies have focused on the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity in male partners on female HPV infection and cervical lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the HPV infection status of husbands on wives' cervical HPV infection and lesions. METHODS: We surveyed 251 monogamous couples who attended the outpatient department of Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from 2013 to 2021. HPV type analysis was performed on exfoliated cells of the females' cervix and males' urethra by the PCR-reverse dot blot method. We analyzed the prevalence and consistency of HPV types in 251 couples. Subsequently, the risk of HPV infection in females with HPV-positive male partners was analyzed. SPSS version 26 (IBM, Chicago, USA) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In 251 couples, the most commonly detected high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes were 52, 51, 16, and 58 for males and 16, 52, 18, and 58 for females. Wives with HPV-positive husbands had higher infection rates for most HR-HPV genotypes. HR-HPV positivity in husbands was a risk factor for the development of cervical lesions in wives (OR = 2.250, P = 0.014). Both single-type (OR = 2.085, P = 0.040) and multiple-type (OR = 2.751, P = 0.036) infection in husbands will contributed to an increased risk of non-HR-HPV infection and cervical lesions in wives. CONCLUSION: Husbands' HPV positivity increases the burden of non-HR-HPV infection and increases the risk of cervical lesions developing in wives. It is hoped to provide a reference value for cervical cancer prevention in females and HPV vaccination in males.

Revealing the photochemical damage behavior of acidified Xuan paper based on the spectroscopic investigation and principal component analysis.

In museums, there is a huge storage of Xuan paper cultural relics with profound historical and artistic significances. Exploring the photochemical damage behavior of Xuan paper that is generally in acidification, namely its damage mechanisms and laws, is crucial for the preventive lighting protection for paper cultural relics. In this study, the accelerated aging experiments in the range of visible light were conducted on Xuan paper samples with different degrees of acidification. The photochemical damage mechanisms of samples were traced, which is related with the synergistic effects of oxidation and hydrolysis reactions. It can be found that there is an effect of acidification, a long-standing material property of Xuan paper, on its damage, which further defines its preservation state in museums. On this basis, a spectral quantification method of infrared spectra combined with the principal component analysis was proposed to comprehensively analyze the photochemical damage law of Xuan paper in different preservation states. The analysis shows that the effect of acidification degree (pH values), spectra wavelength (λ), and their interaction on the damage to Xuan paper are statistically significant. Furthermore, the fitted mathematical function of pH values and λ is of great importance for evaluating photochemical damage, in order to further develop preventive lighting protection applications.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes influence human papillomavirus infection and clearance: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is a close correlation between HPV infection and systemic immune status. The purpose of this study was to determine which lymphocytes in peripheral blood influence human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and to identify whether peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subsets could be used as biomarkers to predict HPV clearance in the short term. METHODS: This study involved 716 women undergoing colposcopy from 2019 to 2021. Logistic and Cox regression were used to analyze the association of PBLs with HPV infection and clearance. Using Cox regression, bidirectional stepwise regression and the Akaike information criterion (AIC), lymphocyte prediction models were developed, with the C-index assessing performance. ROC analysis determined optimal cutoff values, and their accuracy for HPV clearance risk stratification was evaluated via Kaplan‒Meier and time-dependent ROC. Bootstrap resampling validated the model and cutoff values. RESULTS: Lower CD4 + T cells were associated with a higher risk of HPV, high-risk HPV, HPV18 and HPV52 infections, with corresponding ORs (95% CI) of 1.58 (1.16-2.15), 1.71 (1.23-2.36), 2.37 (1.12-5.02), and 3.67 (1.78-7.54), respectively. PBL subsets mainly affect the natural clearance of HPV, but their impact on postoperative HPV outcomes is not significant (P > 0.05). Lower T-cell and CD8 + T-cell counts, as well as a higher NK cell count, are unfavorable factors for natural HPV clearance (P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff values determined by the PBL prognostic model (T-cell percentage: 67.39%, NK cell percentage: 22.65%, CD8 + T-cell model risk score: 0.95) can effectively divide the population into high-risk and low-risk groups, accurately predicting the natural clearance of HPV. After internal validation with bootstrap resampling, the above conclusions still hold. CONCLUSIONS: CD4 + T cells were important determinants of HPV infection. T cells, NK cells, and CD8 + T cells can serve as potential biomarkers for predicting natural HPV clearance, which can aid in patient risk stratification, individualized treatment, and follow-up management.

Effect of introducing human papillomavirus genotyping into real-world screening on cervical cancer screening in China: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: China's Fujian Cervical Pilot Project (FCPP) transitioned cervical cancer screening from high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) nongenotyping to genotyping. We investigated the clinical impact of this introduction, comparing performance indicators between HR-HPV genotyping combined with cytology screening (HR-HPV genotyping period) and the previous HR-HPV nongenotyping combined with cytology screening (HR-HPV nongenotyping period). METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study was performed using data from the FCPP for China. We obtained data for the HR-HPV nongenotyping period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013, and for the HR-HPV genotyping period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016. Propensity score matching was used to match women from the two periods. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess factors associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 2 or worse (CIN2+). The primary outcome was the incidence of CIN2+ in women aged ⩾25 years. Performance was assessed and included consistency, reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and cost. RESULTS: Compared with HR-HPV nongenotyping period, in the HR-HPV genotyping period, more CIN2+ cases were identified at the initial screening (3.06% versus 2.32%; p < 0.001); the rate of colposcopy referral was higher (10.87% versus 6.64%; p < 0.001); and the hazard ratio of CIN2+ diagnosis was 1.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.43-1.88; p < 0.001) after controlling for health insurance status and age. The total costs of the first round of screening (US$66,609 versus US$65,226; p = 0.293) were similar during the two periods. Higher screening coverage (25.95% versus 25.19%; p = 0.007), higher compliance with age recommendations (92.70% versus 91.69%; p = 0.001), lower over-screening (4.92% versus 10.15%; p < 0.001), and reduced unqualified samples (cytology: 1.48% versus 1.73%, p = 0.099; HR-HPV: 0.57% versus 1.34%, p < 0.001) were observed in the HR-HPV genotyping period. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of an HR-HPV genotyping assay in China could detect more CIN2+ lesions at earlier stages and improve programmatic indicators. Evidence suggests that the introduction of HR-HPV genotyping is likely to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in China.

Cost-effectiveness and accuracy of cervical cancer screening with a high-risk HPV genotyping assay vs a nongenotyping assay in China: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: New screening techniques may affect the optimal approaches for the prevention of cervical cancer. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness and accuracy of alternative screening strategies to provide evidence for cervical cancer screening guidelines in China. METHODS: In total, 32,306 women were enrolled. The current screening with Cervista® high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) nongenotyping and cytology cotesting (Cervista® cotesting) was compared with PCR-reverse dot blot HR-HPV genotyping and cytology cotesting (PCR-RDB cotesting). All eligible participants were divided into Arm 1, in which both HR-HPV assays were performed, and Arms 2 and 3, in which the PCR-RDB HPV or Cervista® HR-HPV assay, respectively, was performed. Outcome indicators included the cases, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), colposcopy referral rate and cost of identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 2/3 or worse (CIN2+/CIN3+). RESULTS: Among the eligible participants, 18.4% were PCR-RDB HR-HPV-positive, while 16.9% were Cervista® HR-HPV-positive, which reflects good agreement (k = 0.73). PCR-RDB cotesting identified more CIN3+ cases than Cervista® cotesting in the first round of screening in Arm 1 (37 vs 32) and Arms 2/3 (252 vs 165). The sensitivity and NPV of PCR-RDB cotesting for identifying CIN3+ in Arm 1 (sensitivity: 94.9% vs 86.5%; NPV: 99.9% vs 99.7%) and Arms 2/3 (sensitivity: 95.1% vs 80.9%; NPV: 99.9% vs 99.6%) were higher than those of Cervista® cotesting, but the cost was similar. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR-RDB HR-HPV genotyping and Cervista® HR-HPV assay results were consistent. PCR-RDB cotesting possesses optimal cost-effectiveness for cervical cancer screening in China, which has the highest number of cases globally but low screening coverage.

HR-HPV viral load quality detection provide more accurate prediction for residual lesions after treatment: a prospective cohort study in patients with high-grade squamous lesions or worse.

The relationship between high-risk-human-papillomavirus (HR-HPV) viral loads and residual/recurrence lesion is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of HR-HPV viral loads to predict the residual/recurrence lesions among women with high-grade squamous lesions or worse (≥ HSIL) after surgery. Finally, 301 women who underwent primary screening of cervical cancer using polymerase-chain-reaction-(PCR)-reverse-dot-blot-(RDB) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping and cytology assays were enrolled. They received surgery and took HR-HPV viral loads with a BioPerfectus Multiplex Real-Time PCR assay. Colposcopy biopsies were performed in patients with HPV-16/18(+) and/or TCT ≥ ASCUS with HR-HPV(+). The risk of HR-HPV viral loads and potentials factors for residual/recurrence lesions were analyzed and the optimal cut-off values of HR-HPV viral loads were calculated. The significant differences were found in residual/recurrence lesions among patients with different ages, margin status, cytology and HR-HPV at 6 months (all P < 0.05). Interestingly, HPV viral loads were observed significant differences in the group of residual lesions, not recurrence group. Furthermore, except for HPV-31/33, the viral loads of HP-16/52/58 were significant differences in residual lesions. The cut-off level of HR-HPV viral loads was 5.22 copies/10,000 cells, providing viable triage for the risk of residual lesions. Compared with different follow-up methods, the HR-HPV viral loads ≥ 5.22copies/10,000 cells (HR 3.39, 95% CI 1.57-7.35) had a higher risk for developing residual lesions. HR-HPV viral loads can be a reliable predictor of residual lesions. Furthermore, women with viral loads ≥ 5.22 copies/10,000 cells may have higher risk for residual disease and should be give a more aggressive treatment and follow-up strategy.

PCR-reverse dot blot human papillomavirus genotyping as a primary screening test for cervical cancer in a hospital-based cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-reverse-dot-blot (RDB) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping test as a feasible assay for the cervical cancer primary screening. METHODS: In a hospital-based cohort, a total of 21,568 women were voluntarily enrolled from March 2009 to November 2016 for evaluating the 3 current cervical cancer screening strategies: co-test, cytology primary and high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) primary by using PCR-RDB HPV genotyping and liquid-based cytology (thinprep cytologic test [TCT]). Women with HR-HPV infection and/or abnormal cytology were referred for colposcopy, and the biopsy or conization was performed according to the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) guidelines. RESULTS: Overall, 18.20% (3,935/21,568) of the women were detected as HR-HPV-positive, 5.04% (1,088/21,568) were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or higher (CIN2+), and 3.43% (739/21,568) with CIN3+. The cumulative incidence rates for CIN2+/CIN3+ in patients with HPV-16/18-positive were 48.28%/37.20%, while they were 0.86%/0.38%, 0.30%/0.15% and 0.18%/0.09% in cytology-negative, HR-HPV-negative and co-test-negative population, respectively. Using CIN2+ and CIN3+ as the observed endpoints, the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of HR-HPV genotyping as a primary screening tool were 90.99%/99.49% and 91.57%/99.80%. Moreover, using HR-HPV genotyping primary screening could detect the same more CIN2+/CIN3+ cases in baseline-detection as co-testing (990/700 vs. 991/701) and far more than cytology primary screening (903/656, p<0.05). It also achieved the lowest misdiagnosis rate (8.01%/5.02%). Although HPV genotyping primary screening required an increased number of colposcopies (2.75/3.89 per CIN2+/CIN3+ case), it yielded an acceptable rate. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR-RDB HPV genotyping test is a cost-effective and beneficial cervical cancer primary screening for hospital-based opportunistic screening.

Type-specific high-risk human papillomavirus viral load as a viable triage indicator for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: a nested case- control study.

PURPOSE: Currently, the associations between type-specific high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) viral loads and cervical lesions are still inconsistent. We aimed to assess the type-specific HR-HPV viral load as a risk triage indicator for development of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (≥HSIL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 19,446 women who underwent primary screening for cervical cancer using Cervista® HR-HPV and cytology assays were enrolled. The viral loads of 1,396 HR-HPV-positive specimens confirmed by Cervista® assay were detected by BioPerfectus Multiplex Real-Time PCR assay. The correlation between viral loads and cervical lesions was analyzed. The optimal cutoffs of individual HR-HPV viral loads used to predict ≥HSIL were determined from the receiver operating characteristic curve. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between covariates and the probability of ≥HSIL. RESULTS: The viral loads of HPV-16, -31, -33, -52, and -58 were positively correlated with the severity of the cervical lesion, which was significantly elevated in patients with ≥HSIL, whereas those of HPV-18, -45, -56, -59, and other types were not. The optimal cutoffs of the log10-transformed viral loads for HPV-16, -31, -33, -52, and -58 in identifying ≥HSIL were 4.26, 4.46, 4.48, 4.36, and 4.26 copies per 10,000 cells, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate analysis indicated that type-specific viral loads of HPV-16, -31, -33, -52, and -58 exceeding the cutoffs could be independent risk factors for the incidence of ≥HSIL. CONCLUSION: The BioPerfectus Multiplex Real-Time PCR viral load assay provides viable triage for ≥HSIL when using appropriate cutoff levels.

Cervical cancer screening using the Cervista high-risk human papillomavirus test: opportunistic screening of a hospital-based population in Fujian province, China.

OBJECTIVES: The Cervista® high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) test was evaluated as a primary screening method for cervical cancer in women aged ≥21 years and was compared with different screening and triage combinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nested case-control study within the Fujian provincial Cervical Lesion Screening Cohorts was used to evaluate the Cervista test as the primary cervical screening method in a hospital-based population. Strategy 1 primarily screened using a cytology screen with HR-HPV testing used for triage. Strategy 2 primarily screened using cytology and HR-HPV co-testing. Strategy 3 primarily screened using HR-HPV testing and triaged HPV-positive women based on cytology. Strategy 4 primarily screened using HR-HPV testing and referred A9 pool HPV-positive women to colposcopy directly, whereas non-A9 HPV-positive women were triaged using cytology. RESULTS: There were 10,183 women included in this study; 16.49% (1677/10,183) were HR-HPV-positive, 9.52% had abnormal cytology, and 9907 women were normal during followup. A total of 276 women were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (CIN2+), 197 with CIN3 or worse (CIN3+), and 70 with cervical cancer. Moreover, 10.15% (20/197) women who were CIN3+ were identified as cytology-negative, while 8.63% (17/197) were HR-HPV negative (P>0.05). The cumulative risk rate for HPV-/cytology- was 0.836 (95% CI, 0.424-1.648) in CIN3+ cases. Strategy 4 yielded the highest sensitivity for CIN2+ or CIN3+ and the lowest positive predictive value for CIN2+ or CIN3+ among the four screening strategies. CONCLUSION: The Cervista HR-HPV test can provide a reliable and sensitive clinical reference for the cervical cancer primary screen.

Clinical validation of the PCR-reverse dot blot human papillomavirus genotyping test in cervical lesions from Chinese women in the Fujian province: a hospital-based population study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical significance of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-reverse dot blot (RDB) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping assay in cervical cancer screening. METHODS: A total of 10,442 women attending the Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Health Hospital were evaluated using the liquid-based cytology (thinprep cytologic test [TCT]) and the PCR-RDB HPV test. Women with HPV infection and/or abnormal cytology were referred for colposcopy and biopsy. For HPV DNA sequencing, 120 specimens were randomly selected. Pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Using the PCR-RDB HPV test, overall HPV prevalence was 20.57% (2,148/10,442) and that of high-risk (HR)-HPV infection was 18.68% (1,951/10,442). There was 99.2% concordance between HPV PCR-RDB testing and sequencing. In this studied population, the most common HR-HPV types were HPV-16, -52, -58, -18, -53, -33, and -51, rank from high to low. HPV-16, -18, -58, -59, and -33 were the top 5 prevalent genotypes in cervical cancer but HPV-16, -18, -59, -45, and -33 were the top 5 highest risk factors for cancer (odds ratio [OR]=34.964, 7.278, 6.728, 6.101, and 3.658; all p<0.05, respectively). Among 10,442 cases, 1,278 had abnormal cytology results, of which, the HR-HPV positivity rate was 83.02% (1,061/1,278). To screen for cervical cancer by PCR-RDB HPV testing, when using CIN2+, CIN3+, and cancer as observed endpoints, the sensitivity was 90.43%, 92.61%, and 94.78% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 99.06%, 99.42%, and 99.78%, respectively. PCR-RDB HPV and TCT co-testing achieved the highest sensitivity and NPV. CONCLUSION: For cervical cancer screening, the PCR-RDB HPV test can provide a reliable and sensitive clinical reference.