Comparative measurement of D- and L-lactic acid isomers in vaginal secretions: association with high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions.

PURPOSE: Identification of low-cost protocols to identify women at elevated susceptibility to develop cervical intra-epithelial abnormalities would aid in more individualized monitoring. We evaluated whether quantitation of the D- and L-lactic acid isomers in vaginal secretions could differentiate women with normal cervical epithelia from those with a low (LSIL) or high (HSIL) grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or with cervical cancer. METHODS: Vaginal samples, collected from 78 women undetgoing cervical colposcopy and biopsy, were tested for pH, bacterial composition by Gram stain (Nugent score) and concentrations of D- and L-lactic acid by a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Subsequent diagnosis was 23 women with normal cervical epithelium, 10 with LSIL, 43 with HSIL and 2 with cervical cancer. Vaginal pH and Nugent score were comparable in all subject groups. The concentration of L-lactic acid, but not D-lactic acid, as well as the L/D-lactic acid ratio, were significantly elevated (p < 0.01) in women with HSIL and cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Comparative measurement of vaginal D- and L-lactic acid isomers may provide a low-cost alternative to identification of women with an elevated susceptibility to cervical abnormalities.

Vaginal probiotics on the outcomes of premature rupture of membranes: a pilot randomised clinical trial.

The published literature shows that a balanced vaginal microbiota can have a favourable impact on decreasing the prevalence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM). We studied the effects of vaginal probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. gasseri) on the outcomes of PROM in pregnant women between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation. We performed a randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 27 participants were divided into two groups-group 1 (probiotics; n = 16) and group 2 (placebo; n = 11). Although most outcomes did not show much variation, the latency period and gestational age at delivery were higher in group 1 than in group 2. Thus, vaginal use of L. rhamnosus and L. gasseri along with standard treatment appears to increase the latency period and gestational age at delivery in women with PROM.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Delaying delivery increases the risk of infections, but the prolongation of pregnancy allows further foetal maturation, thus reducing the risk of complications associated with premature birth. Moreover, a more extended latency period in pregnancies of <37 weeks of gestation is associated with a better neonatal prognosis.What do the results of this study add? The use of probiotics (L. rhamnosus and L. gasseri) prolongs the latency period in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Probiotics are an exciting option for extending the time to delivery in cases of premature rupture of the membrane, allowing the maturation of the foetal lung.

Characterization of Immunoglobulin A/G Responses During 3 Doses of the Human Papillomavirus-16/18 ASO4-Adjuvanted Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Individuals receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine develop high levels of circulating neutralizing antibodies. However, data about antibody responses in the cervix are limited. METHODS: This study was designed to describe the course of IgA/IgG responses in cervical secretions and in serum after intramuscular administration of the HPV16/18 AS04-adjuvant vaccine. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of IgA and IgG anti-HPV-VLP was developed for this purpose. RESULTS: Immunoglobulin G seroconversion after the second dose was observed in 100% of the participants and remained 1 month after the third dose. Regarding IgG reactivity in cervical secretions, conversion was observed in 85% of women after the final dose. Immunoglobulin A seroconversion was observed in 76.7% of women after the third dose. Lower levels of IgA were detected in the cervical mucus (28.3%) and decreased to 23.3% after the last dose. Comparing local and systemic IgG responses, positivity in both serum and cervical samples was observed in 85%, whereas in 15% only, the serum was IgG antibody positive. A weak agreement between local and systemic IgA responses was observed. Only 18.3% of participants were local and systemic IgA positive, 58.4% were positive only in serum, 5% were positive only in the cervix, and 18.3% were both local and systemic IgA antibody negative. CONCLUSIONS: After the third vaccination, there is a strong agreement between cervical and systemic IgG antibody responses and a weak agreement between cervical and systemic IgA antibody responses. The induction of IgA antibodies seems to be secondary to that of IgG antibodies in response to HPV intramuscular vaccination.

The risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in women with low serum levels of vitamin A.

BACKGROUND: The progression of the cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is associated with many cofactors, and nutritional aspects are gradually assuming an important role in understanding the physiopathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the serum levels of retinol in women from a poor region of Brazil with a histological diagnosis of cervical high-grade SIL (HSIL). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 62 women aged 14-48 years who had a cervical biopsy and were treated at the Federal University of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil. Serum retinol levels were measured in peripheral blood by a spectrophotometry technique. Values were categorized as subnormal (<20 µg/dl) or normal (≥20 µg/dl). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between serum levels of retinol and HSIL for a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: Twenty-six out of 62 women (42%) had a negative histopathological result for SIL and 36 (58%) were diagnosed with SIL (20 low SIL and 16 high SIL). The level of retinol was more frequently low in women with HSIL, but there was no statistical significance [p = 0.409, OR: 2.26 (0.33-15.59)]. CONCLUSION: There was no association between high SIL and low levels of retinol in peripheral blood.

Fine needle aspiration cytology: a tool to diagnose cervical and vaginal endometriosis in low-income places.

Regarded as infrequent, vaginal and cervical endometriosis is probably more common than is generally realized. The apparent rarity of the lesion may be ascribed to the limited awareness of its clinical appearance, combined with technical difficulty in obtaining suitable biopsy material for confirmation. Thus, clinical recognition and tissue confirmation become essential. This paper focuses on vaginal and cervical endometriosis, documenting the clinical, macroscopic, cytological and colposcopic findings in 4 cases seen at a single physical vaginal examination. Diagnosis in these patients was facilitated and improved by fine needle aspiration cytology and confirmed by histology. This technique, which is not used for the diagnosis of endometriosis, could be an option in low-income areas.

Diagnosis and treatment of infectious vaginitis: Proposal for a new algorithm.

Background: Vaginitis is the most common gynecologic diagnosis in primary care, and most women have at least one episode during their lives. The need for standardized strategies to diagnose and treat vaginitis, both in primary care and among gynecologists, is emphasized. The Brazilian Group for Vaginal Infections (GBIV, acronym in Portuguese) aimed to update the practical approach to affected women by reviewing and discussing recent literature, and developing algorithms for diagnosis and treatment of vaginitis. Methods: A literature search within biomedical databases PubMed and SCieLo was conducted in January 2022. The available literature was evaluated by three experienced researchers, members of the GBIV, to summarize the main data and develop practical algorithms. Results and conclusion: Detailed algorithms were developed with the main goal to improve gynecological practice considering different scenarios and access to diagnostic tools, from the simplest to the most complex tests. Different age groups and specific contexts were also considered. The combination of anamnesis, gynecological examination, and complementary tests remains the basis of a proper diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Periodic updates of these algorithms are warranted as new evidence becomes available.

Electromyography and vaginal pressure of the pelvic floor muscles in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and vulvodynia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the electrical potentials and pressure exerted by the pelvic floor muscles in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) or vulvodynia as compared to control women. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study performed in the Female Outpatient Clinic of Genital Infections in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas analyzed and compared electromyography (EMG) and vaginal pressure of the pelvic floor muscles in 61 women. Of these 61 women, 19 had vulvodynia, 12 had RVVC and 30 women had no disorder (control group). For data collection, the instrument used was the Miotool Uro device and its software Biotrainer (Miotec Ltd., Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). RESULTS: The EMG evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles showed significantly lower values in the vulvodynia group (tonic contractions) and RVVC group (phasic and tonic contractions) when compared to the control group. No significant differences in basal tone EMG and vaginal pressure values at rest or during pelvic floor muscle contractions were found among groups. The maximum time of sustained contraction in patients with RVVC or vulvodynia was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than in controls. CONCLUSION: Women with vulvodynia and RVVC have more frequent pelvic floor muscle dysfunction than controls when observed by EMG evaluation.

Liquid-based cytology and HPV DNA test in anal specimens from women with cervical cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical and anus cancers have similarities: association with HPV infection, epithelial transformation zone, and precursor lesions. However, it is still unclear whether women with cervical cancer should be screened to identify high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and anal cancer. We aimed to identify high-risk HPV and cytological atypia in anal samples from women diagnosed with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study between July 2016 and August 2017 in reference services in oncology in the State of Ceará, Brazil. We studied 59 patients diagnosed with frankly invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (at least stages IB) and 60 women in a control group. We performed liquid-based cytology (Surepath™) and HPV test (Cobas® 4800 System Test) of anal samples. To determine statistical significance with a confidence interval of 95%, we used Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test using the GraphPad Prism 7.0 software. RESULTS: The mean age in the control group was 56.7 ± 8.5 years, while in the group of women with cervical squamous cancer, it was 54.3 ± 14.8. The liquid-based cytology results of the satisfactory cases were: negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NLM): 51 cases (85%) in the control group and 38 (64.4%) in the study group (p = .0116). The HPV test was negative more frequently in the control group (n = 56, 93.3%) than in the study group (n = 17, 31.5%) (p < .0001). HPV 16 was the most frequent type (67.6%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher frequency of high-risk HPV and atypical cytology in women with cervical cancer than without lesions. Thus, this group should be considered as a target population for screening.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the papillomavirus prevalence in breast cancer fresh tissues.

BACKGROUND: Although widely studied, the role of HPV in the genesis of breast carcinomas remains elusive due to the diversity of results across studies, possibly caused by the wide methodological heterogeneity, some of them with inadequate methods. OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between HPV and breast cancer through the meta-analysis of studies that used the best-recognized techniques for viral detection and tissue conservation. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis restricted to studies that detected HPV by PCR in fresh and frozen tissue from breast cancer were conducted to obtain greater homogeneity. PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and SciELO were searched until December 14, 2019. Search terms included "breast cancer" and "HPV" without language restrictions. Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled relative risks and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I-squared (I2). RESULTS: The selected studies had very low heterogeneity (2%). There is a 2.15 times higher combined relative risk (95% CI = 1.60-2.89) of detecting HPV in breast cancer than in cancer-free breast controls with a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data support the association of DNA-HPV with breast carcinomas. Further studies are needed to find out which breast cancer subtypes this association is most frequent.

Efficacy of Hormonal and Nonhormonal Approaches to Vaginal Atrophy and Sexual Dysfunctions in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the hormonal and nonhormonal approaches to symptoms of sexual dysfunction and vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a search on the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases, as well as on clinical trial databases. We analyzed studies published between 1996 and May 30, 2020. No language restrictions were applied. SELECTION OF STUDIES: We selected randomized clinical trials that evaluated the treatment of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. DATA COLLECTION: Three authors (ACAS, APFC, and JL) reviewed each article based on its title and abstract. Relevant data were subsequently taken from the full-text article. Any discrepancies during the review were resolved by consensus between all the listed authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 55 studies were included in the systematic review. The approaches tested to treat sexual dysfunction were as follows: lubricants and moisturizers (18 studies); phytoestrogens (14 studies); dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; 8 studies); ospemifene (5 studies); vaginal testosterone (4 studies); pelvic floor muscle exercises (2 studies); oxytocin (2 studies); vaginal CO2 laser (2 studies); lidocaine (1 study); and vitamin E vaginal suppository (1 study). CONCLUSION: We identified literature that lacks coherence in terms of the proposed treatments and selected outcome measures. Despite the great diversity in treatment modalities and outcome measures, the present systematic review can shed light on potential targets for the treatment, which is deemed necessary for sexual dysfunction, assuming that most randomized trials were evaluated with a low risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. The present review is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42018100488).

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia das abordagens hormonais e não hormonais para os sintomas de disfunção sexual e atrofia vaginal em mulheres na pós-menopausa. FONTES DE DADOS: Pesquisamos as bases de dados PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), e Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), assim como bancos de dados de ensaios clínicos. Foram analisados estudos publicados entre 1996 e 30 de maio de 2020. Nenhuma restrição de idioma foi aplicada. SELEçãO DOS ESTUDOS: Foram selecionados ensaios clínicos randomizados que avaliavam o tratamento das disfunções sexuais em mulheres na pós-menopausa. COLETA DE DADOS: Três autores (ACAS, APFC e JL), revisaram cada artigo com base em seu título e resumo. Os dados relevantes foram posteriormente retirados do texto completo do artigo. Quaisquer discrepâncias durante a revisão foram resolvidas por consenso entre todos os autores listados. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: Ao todo, 55 estudos foram incluídos na revisão sistemática. As abordagens testadas para tratar a disfunção sexual foram: lubrificantes e hidratantes (18 estudos); fitoestrogênios (14 estudos); deidroepiandrosterona (DHEA; 8 estudos); ospemifeno (5 estudos); testosterona vaginal (4 estudos); exercícios para os músculos do assoalho pélvico (2 estudos); oxitocina (2 estudos); laser de CO2 vaginal (2 estudos); lidocaína (1 estudo), e vitamina E vaginal (1 estudo). CONCLUSãO: Identificou-se falta de coerência na literatura quanto aos tratamentos propostos e medidas de resultados selecionadas. Apesar da grande diversidade de modalidades de tratamento e medidas de resultados, esta revisão sistemática pode lançar luz sobre alvos potenciais para o tratamento, que é considerado necessário para a disfunção sexual, assumindo que a maioria dos estudos randomizados foi avaliada com baixo risco de viés de acordo com a ferramenta de avaliação de risco de viés de Cochrane Collaboration. Esta revisão tem cadastro no International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42018100488).

Association between genital intraepithelial lesions and anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-negative women.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASILs) in immunocompetent women with genital squamous intraepithelial lesions (GSILs). STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study that included 260 immunocompetent women divided into 2 study groups: 1 group included 184 women diagnosed with GSIL by genital colposcopy and biopsy, and the other included 76 controls. All subjects were submitted to anoscopy followed by a biopsy if pertinent. RESULTS: Of 184 GSIL women, 32 (17.4%) had ASIL (P<.001). The risk of ASIL was 13.1 times greater for GSIL women when there were 3 or 4 genital sites involved. All cases of high-grade ASIL were found in women with cervical GSILs. Among risk factors, anal intercourse without a condom demonstrated an important association with ASIL (prevalence ratio adjusted for age=2.6). CONCLUSION: There seems to be a strong association between ASIL and multicentric GSIL. Another factor related to ASIL was the practice of unprotected anal intercourse.

Peritoneal lavage cytology in the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the sensibility, specificity, and predictive values of cytology of the fluid sediment in patients with pelvic endometriosis diagnosed based on laparoscopic-guided biopsy. METHODS: Between January 2017 and September 2018, 71 specimens of peritoneal fluid collected by laparoscopy were evaluated. Fifty-three patients were diagnosed laparoscopically and histologically with endometriosis, and 18 were considered controls (without suspicious endometriosis lesions). We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predictive value, and the accuracy of endometrial-like cells (ELC) and hemosiderin-laden macrophages (HLM) in the fluid sediment. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients with endometriosis, 32 (64%) had HLM, 9 (18%) had ELC, and 7 (14%) had both elements. Of the 18 patients without endometriosis, 3 (16%) had HLM, 2 (11%) had ELC, and 1 (5%) had both ELC and HLM. The sensitivity of the cytology of peritoneal fluid sediment for the diagnosis of endometriosis, based on the presence of ELC, was 18%, the specificity was 83%, the positive predictive value was 82%, the negative predictive value was 28.7%, and the accuracy was 36.8%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy based on the presence of HLM were 64%, 83%, 91%, 45.5%, and 69.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study of peritoneal fluids obtained laparoscopically from women undergoing evaluation for endometriosis may identify patients with the disease.

Hormonal Approach for Postmenopausal Vulvovaginal Atrophy.

Menopause is a physiological and progressive phenomenon secondary to decreased ovarian follicular reserve that significantly affects the genital tract. Although postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy primarily affects postmenopausal women, it is also seen in premenopausal women. The hypoestrogenic condition results in hormonal and anatomical changes, with the main symptoms, are dryness, burning and genital irritation, decreased lubrication, urinary urgency, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infections. This review aims to update hormone therapy for urogenital atrophy, both local and systemic, and discusses the importance of understanding and the need for active treatment of this condition. The main therapeutic objective is the relief of symptoms, and hormonal therapy (HT) is still the most effective choice for treating clinical manifestations, despite the side effects of its use. HT should be used in an individualized way to the needs of the women and appropriate to the stage in which she is menopausal, perimenopausal, or after menopause.

Use of Moisturizers and Lubricants for Vulvovaginal Atrophy.

The estrogen decrease in postmenopausal women results in functional and anatomical changes in the genitourinary tract. The most prevalent and bothersome symptoms are vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and reduced lubrication, which can significantly affect the quality of life of these women, principally those who are sexually active. Hormonal therapy with local estrogens is generally considered the "gold standard." However, there are cases in which there are clinical concerns about its use or women opt for non-hormonal options. Thus, safe and effective non-hormonal options are needed to improve symptoms in these women. Moisturizers and lubricants are first-line therapy for breast cancer survivors.

Microablative Fractional Radiofrequency as a Therapeutical Option for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Perspectives.

The genitourinary syndrome in menopause can occur at different stages of life, with different causes or triggering factors, such as prolonged use of antiestrogens, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and extensive vaginal surgeries, which can alter vascularization, hydration, collagen quality, and tissue elasticity. Despite hormonal therapy being considered the best evidenced treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), there are limitations concerning the latter. Thus, alternative, complementary, or even substitutive treatments have emerged, such as energy use, promoting thermal tissue stimulation to improve tropism. Due to its practicality and feasibility, the micro ablative fractional radiofrequency (MAFRF) has gained space among these energies. It uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves and promotes thermal micro points in the superficial and deep dermis. The safety of these energies limits thermal action laterality and depth. Laterally, it is essential for an adequate regenerative effect without scarring marks or sequelae; the appropriate depth is important for stimulating the obligatory tissue repair response with the production and reorganization of collagen, elastic fibers, increased vascularization and hydration, and the consequent improvement in tropism. In gynecology, the MAFRF is used with therapeutic indication and functional improvement; it is applied to the entire length of the vaginal walls, the vulvar vestibule, urethral meatus, labia minora, clitoris prepuce, labia majora, perineum, and perianal region. The MAFRF has been proved to be an effective and safe treatment for GSM, with long-lasting effects, significantly reducing symptoms and improving vaginal tropism. This review aims to analyze the MAFRF as a non-hormonal therapeutic option for GSM.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Epidemiology, Physiopathology, Clinical Manifestation and Diagnostic.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a term used to define a compilation of signs and symptoms arising from decreased estrogenic stimulation of the vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract. Among 27-84% of women in postmenopausal are affected for symptoms of GSM, and these can unquestionably impair health, sexual function, consequently the quality of life of these women. The main signs and symptoms of GSM include, among others, burning, irritation, vulvovaginal dryness, dyspareunia, urinary symptoms of urgency, dysuria, or recurrent urinary tract infection. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis, questionnaires, physical exams, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be complemented by using the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI), or vaginal pH measurement. The acknowledgment of this condition by health professionals is crucial for its identification and proper management and exclusion of other conditions that make a differential diagnosis with it.

Postmenopausal Vaginal Microbiome and Microbiota.

The ovulatory cycle has a significant influence on the microbial composition, according to the action of estrogen and progesterone on the stratified squamous epithelium, due to an increase in epithelial thickness, glycogen deposition, and influence on local immunology. The 16S rRNA gene amplification and pyrosequencing study demonstrated that healthy women have community state types (CST), classified as; type "L," with a predominance of Lactobacillus crispatus, type II, with a predominance of Lactobacillus gasseri, type III, where Lactobacillus iners predominates, and type V with a predominance of Lactobacillus jensenii. Type IV does not identify lactobacilli but a heterogeneous population of bacteria. There seems to be a relationship between increased vaginal bacterial diversity and poverty of lactobacilli with the complaining of vaginal dryness. With menopause, there appears to be a reduction in lactobacilli associated with higher serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lower estrogen levels. The evaluation of Gram-stained vaginal smears in postmenopause women must take into account the clinical-laboratory correlation. We should observe two meanly possibilities, atrophy with few bacterial morphotypes, without inflammatory, infiltrate (atrophy without inflammation), and atrophy with evident inflammatory infiltrate (atrophy with inflammation or atrophic vaginitis). The relationship between the microbiome and postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms seems to be related to the bacterial vaginal population. However, more robust studies are needed to confirm this impression.

Potential impact of the COVID-19 in HIV-infected individuals: a systematic review Impact of the COVID-19 in HIV-Infected Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Although much has been studied about the SARS-Cov-2 virus, its effects, and the effectiveness of possible treatments, little is known about its interaction with other infectious diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to study its clinical features and morbidity, and mortality outcomes of COVID-19 patients with HIV/AIDS coinfection. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Atudies in any language, published after 2019, were describing COVID-19 patients with HIV/AIDS. STUDY APPRAISAL: JBI Levels of Evidence, Joanna Briggs Institute. SYNTHESIS METHODS: As shown in the PRISMA flow diagram, two authors separately screened the search results from the obtained titles and abstracts. RESULTS: Chest CT was observed in patients with pneumonia by SARS-CoV-2 with findings of multiple ground-glass opacities (GGO) in the lungs, there is a need for supplemental oxygenation. One patient developed encephalopathy and complicated tonic-clonic seizures; four patients were transplanted (two, liver; two, kidneys), one patient developed severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and 30 patients died (mortality rate, 11%). CONCLUSION: HIV did not show any relevance directly with the occurrence of COVID-19. Some studies suggest that HIV-1 infection through induction levels of IFN-I, may to some extent, stop the apparent SARS-CoV-2 infection, thus leading to undetectable RNA. Moreover, some authors suggest retroviral therapy routinely used to control HIV infection could be used to prevent COVID-19 infection.

HPV-DNA hybrid capture test: influence of cellularity in penile samples.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the cellularity of Hybrid Capture samples (Digene, São Paulo, Brazil) influences the results of HPV-DNA Hybrid Capture tests in men. STUDY DESIGN: We harvested material from penile scrapings for the Hybrid Capture HPV test. This material was then used to make cytologic smears, which we used to evaluate for the presence of nonnucleated squamous cells, nucleated squamous cells and glandular cells. The cellularity of nucleated squamous cells was classified as absent, low, moderate or high. Subsequently, we performed the Hybrid Capture test to identify the low and high risk of HPV and compared these results with the cytologic findings. We used the Fisher and odds ratio tests at CI of 95% to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Of the 88 tests performed, 65 (74.0%) were negative for HPV-DNA and 23 (26.0%) were positive. Nucleated and nonnucleated squamous cells were absent on nine slides, all of which tested negative for HPV. When only nonnudcleated squamous cells were found, 20% of the cases were positive for HPV-DNA (p < 0.0001; OR = 26.185). The presence of nucleated squamous cells correlated with 33% HPV-DNA positivity (p < 0.0001, OR = 49.05). CONCLUSION: Assessing the presence of non-nucleated and nucleated squamous cells on cytologic smears prior to performing an HPV-DNA test is a useful tool for quality control in penile samples.

Liquid-based cervical cytology and microbiological analyses in women using cooper intrauterine device and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of the copper IUD and LNG-IUS on liquid-based cytology results (cellular atypia, reactive alterations, and microbiology). STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was performed between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Northeast of Brazil. Three study groups, the LNG-IUS group (n = 1179), copper IUD group (n = 519), and a control group of women not using contraception (n = 14,616) were compared. To facilitate this analysis, the LNG-IUS and IUD groups were further divided into less and more than two years of use. RESULTS: The mean age of the LNG-IUS and IUD groups was around 36 years and the control group was about 35 years (p = ns). The meantime between dispositive placement and examination was 19 ± 16 months for the LNG-IUS and 17 ± 15 months for the IUD. The frequency of epithelial atypia revealed upon cytological analysis did not differ between the groups. However, inflammatory infiltrates were significantly more frequent in the LNG-IUS and IUD (OR IUD = 1.32; OR LNG-IUS = 1.79) groups relative to control. Candida and cytolysis were more frequent in the LNG-IUS group (OR = 4.73 and 2.41, respectively) compared to both other groups. Bacterial vaginosis andActinomyces sp occurred more frequently in the IUD group (OR = 1.39 and 3352.55, respectively) compared to both other groups. Bacterial vaginosis was more common when using an IUD for more than two years than for less than two years (OR = 2.55). The Actinomyces morphotype was also observed at greater frequency after two years of IUD use than before (OR = 5.35). CONCLUSIONS: The LNG-IUS and copper IUD do not affect the incidence of cellular atypia but do interfere with the microbiota over time. Specifically, the copper IUD is associated with bacterial vaginosis andActinomyces sp infection while the LNG-IUS is associated with candidiasis and cytolysis.