Microbiota unbalance in relation to high-risk human papillomavirus cervical infection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess vaginal dysfunction using basic vaginal states and the presence of lactobacillary microbiota in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with no squamous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL), with low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (L-SIL), and with high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (H-SIL) or squamous cell carcinoma compared with a control group (HPV-negative); to establish the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis in the different age groups; and to characterize the species of lactobacilli according to the type of lesion. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out of patients who underwent clinical examination and collection of vaginal fornixes to study basic vaginal states and culture. Species identification of lactobacilli was performed by mass spectrometry. The results were analyzed using the χ2 and Fisher's tests; p<0.05 was considered significant. High-risk viral types were determined using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS: A total of 741 patients were analyzed and divided into three age groups: Group 1 aged 18-24 years (n=138), Group 2 aged 25-50 years (n=456), and Group 3 aged >50 years (n=147). All groups were further divided into an HPV-negative (control) group and an HPV-positive group without lesions, with L-SIL, or with H-SIL/squamous cell carcinoma. The prevalence of unbalanced basic vaginal states in patients with H-SIL/squamous cell carcinoma was 72.7% (p=0.03) in Group 1, 53.1% (p=0.05) in Group 2, and no cases of unbalance were detected in Group 3. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in women with H-SIL/squamous cell carcinoma in Group 1 was 54.5% and in Group 2 was 43.7%. Patients with H-SIL/squamous cell carcinoma had a prevalence of 21.4% of Lactobacillus crispatus, 42.9% of L. jensenii, and 14.3% of L. iners. CONCLUSIONS: A greater unbalance of vaginal microbiota was observed in patients with SIL, especially in those with H-SIL/squamous cell carcinoma. In this group, an increase in L. jensenii and L. iners compared with control was found. L. crispatus had a similar prevalence to the control group. It is important to characterize the lactobacilli species since the unbalance alters the vaginal microenvironment and acts as a co-factor in the persistence of HPV infection.

Human Papillomavirus Types Involved in External Genital Warts in a Group of Argentinian Women in Buenos Aires.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to understand which human papillomavirus (HPV) types are involved in external genital warts (GWs) in a group of Argentinian women in Buenos Aires. METHODS: One hundred sixty consecutive women 15 to 45 years old with GWs were enrolled. All patients underwent confirmatory biopsy. In 150 of 160 patients, the diagnosis of GWs was confirmed by histology, DNA-HPV was investigated using polymerase chain reaction, and sequence analysis with generic primers MY09/11 was performed. RESULTS: HPV 6 and/or 11 was detected in 93.3% patients (140/150). HPV 6 was by far the most common type (80%), followed by HPV 11 (12.7%). Coinfection with these 2 types occurred in 0.7%. HPV 16 was found in 2% and HPV 73 in 0.7%. CONCLUSION: HPV 6 and/or 11 are present in 93.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.0) of external genital warts in a group of Argentinian women in Buenos Aires and, therefore, could be prevented with HPV vaccine (NCT 015998779).

Anal intraepithelial lesions in women with human papillomavirus-related disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anal intraepithelial lesions in women with histologic diagnosis of intraepithelial lesions of the lower genital tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Lower Genital Tract and Colposcopy Unit of Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín," University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A total of 481 women with histologically confirmed low-grade and high-grade cervical, vaginal, or vulvar intraepithelial lesions were evaluated between 2005 and 2011. They were referred for cytologic samples and examination with high-resolution anoscopy. We obtained biopsy specimens of any suspicious colposcopic images. RESULTS: Of a total of 481 patients, 404 (84%) were immunocompetent, 31 (6.4%) were HIV+, and 46 (9.6%) had other causes of immunosuppression. Moreover, of the 481 patients, 134 (27.86%) had anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN); 28 (5.82%) had high-grade AIN and 106 (22%) had low-grade AIN. Women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2, 3) had 2 times the odds of developing AIN compared with women with low-grade CIN (CIN 1) (odds ratio = 1.91, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-3.6). Regarding localization, we found statistically significant difference between the frequency of vulvar and anal lesions. Women with vulvar condylomata and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) may be more likely to develop AIN. CONCLUSIONS: Immunocompetent women with CIN, vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, or VIN may also present high-grade or low-grade anal intraepithelial lesions so we should consider AIN as part of multicentric disease of the lower genital tract. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, VIN, condyloma accuminatta, and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia could be warning signs of anal intraepithelial lesions.

[Immunohistochemistry of p16 and p53 in vulvar cancer]. / Inmunohistoquímica de p16 y p53 en cáncer de vulva.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva may develop in association or independently of HPV infection. The relationship between pathogenesis, classification, immunohistochemical profile and prognosis has been studied in the literature with some discrepancies. The aim of this study was to observe the classical association of keratinizing carcinomas with the absence of HPV infection and warty and basaloid carcinomas with the presence of this virus. Therefore, we reviewed the clinic, morphology, and immunophenotype of 39 cases. The tumors were histologically classified into classic keratinizing squamous carcinoma (30), warty (5) and basaloid (4). In the statistical analysis, diffuse expression with p16 was significantly associated with younger age (p = 0.0025), presence of high-grade intraepithelial lesion (p < 0.0001), koilocytosis (p = 0.02), and morphological subtype (p = 0.02), and was inversely associated with the expression of p53 (p < 0.0001) and the presence of lichen sclerosus (p = 0.0051). It is curious that 4 keratinizing carcinomas of the cases studied presented coexpression of p16 and p53. Only one warty tumor was negative for p16 and positive for p53, and 9 keratinizing tumors were positive for p16 and negative for p53. Although these findings show that the use of hematoxylin and eosin could correctly define tumors associated with HPV, we strongly suggest the performance of immunohistochemistry, especially in squamous keratinizing classic carcinomas in young patients with a history of HPV.

El carcinoma escamoso vulvar puede desarrollarse de manera asociada o independiente a la infección por HPV. La relación entre la patogénesis, la clasificación, el perfil inmunohistoquímico, y el pronóstico ha sido estudiada con algunas discrepancias. El objetivo del trabajo fue observar la concordancia clásicamente descripta que asocia a los carcinomas queratinizantes con la ausencia de infección por HPV y a los carcinomas warty y basaloides con la presencia de dicho virus. Para ello, revisamos la clínica, la morfología y el inmunofenotipo de 39 casos de nuestro hospital. Los tumores fueron clasificados histológicamente en carcinomas escamosos queratinizantes clásicos (30), warty (5) y basaloides (4). En el análisis estadístico la expresión de p16 fue asociada de manera significativa con una edad menor al momento del diagnóstico (p = 0.0025), presencia de lesión intraepitelial escamosa de alto grado (p < 0.0001), coilocitosis (p = 0.02), y subtipo morfológico (p = 0.02); y fue inversamente asociado con la expresión de p53 (p < 0.0001) y con el liquen escleroso (p = 0.0051). Resulta peculiar que, de los casos estudiados, 4 carcinomas queratinizantes coexpresaron p16 y p53. Un solo tumor de tipo warty resultó negativo para p16 y positivo para p53, y 9 queratinizantes resultaron positivos para p16 y negativos para p53. Si bien estos hallazgos indican que con la sola utilización de la hematoxilina y eosina podrían definirse de manera correcta los tumores asociados al HPV, sugerimos fuertemente la realización de inmunohistoquímica, especialmente en carcinomas escamosos queratinizantes en pacientes jóvenes o con historia de HPV.

Relación de edad y sobrevida tras cirugía con intención curativa por cáncer gástrico en adultos: Un estudio observacional de centro único / Relationship of age and survival after surgery with curative intent for gastric cancer in adults: A single center observational study

Introducción: El cáncer gástrico constituye como una de las enfermedades de mayor morbimortalidad a nivel mundial; no obstante, la mortalidad se puede reducir con intervenciones tempranas. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la relación entre la edad y la sobrevida tras cirugía con intención curativa por cáncer gástrico en pacientes atendidos en el Instituto del cáncer SOLCA, Cuenca, en el periodo 2012-2017. Métodos: El presente estudio analítico, retrospectivo fue realizado con la base de datos del Instituto del Cáncer SOLCA-Cuenca. Los datos fueron presentados en tablas de frecuencia y porcentajes. Se aplicó Chi-cuadrado (X2), análisis de Kaplan Meier y regresión de Cox, para relacionar las variables edad y años de sobrevida, considerándose estadísticamente significativo cuando P<0.05. Resultados: De los 603 pacientes con cáncer gástrico registrado durante el periodo de evaluación, el 35.3% fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente, lográndose el seguimiento del 45.1%. Un total de 96 pacientes fueron incluidos, el 70.8% fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente con intención curativa. En la muestra predominaba los hombres (52.9%) y el grupo etario de 70 a 79 años (30.2%). La tasa de sobrevida a los 5 años fue de 69.1% con un tiempo promedio de supervivencia de 7.24±0.49 años. La edad no se relacionó significativamente con la sobrevida de los pacientes (X2=3.15; P=0.667). Conclusión: existe una elevada tasa de sobrevida a los 5 años en los pacientes con cáncer gástrico intervenidos quirúrgicamente con intención curativa, la cual no asoció con la edad.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, early interventions can reduce mortality. This study aimed to determine the relationship between age and survival after surgery with curative intent for gastric cancer in patients treated at the SOLCA Cancer Institute, Cuenca, in 2012-2017. Methods: The present analytical, retrospective study was carried out with the database of the SOLCA-Cuenca Cancer Institute. Data were presented in frequency and percentage tables. Chi-square (X2), Kaplan Meier analysis, and Cox regression were applied to relate the variables age and years of survival, being considered statistically significant when P<0.05. Results: Of the 603 patients with gastric cancer registered during the evaluation period, 35.3% underwent surgery, achieving a follow-up of 45.1%. A total of 96 patients were included, 70.8% underwent surgery with curative intent. The sample was dominated by men (52.9%) and the age group of 70 to 79 (30.2%). The 5-year survival rate was 69.1%, with a median survival time of 7.24±0.49 years. Age was not significantly related to patient survival (X2=3.15; P=0.667). Conclusion: there is a high 5-year survival rate in patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery with curative intent, which was not associated with age. Keywords:

Inmunohistoquímica de p16 y p53 en cáncer de vulva / Immunohistochemistry of p16 and p53 in vulvar cancer

El carcinoma escamoso vulvar puede desarrollarse de manera asociada o independiente a la infección por HPV. La relación entre la patogénesis, la clasificación, el perfil inmunohistoquímico, y el pronóstico ha sido estudiada con algunas discrepancias. El objetivo del trabajo fue observar la concordancia clásicamente descripta que asocia a los carcinomas queratinizantes con la ausencia de infección por HPV y a los carcinomas warty y basaloides con la presencia de dicho virus. Para ello, revisamos la clínica, la morfología y el inmunofenotipo de 39 casos de nuestro hospital. Los tumores fueron clasificados histológicamente en carcinomas escamosos queratinizantes clásicos (30), warty (5) y basaloides (4). En el análisis estadístico la expresión de p16 fue asociada de manera significativa con una edad menor al momento del diagnóstico (p = 0.0025), presencia de lesión intraepitelial escamosa de alto grado (p < 0.0001), coilocitosis (p = 0.02), y subtipo morfológico (p = 0.02); y fue inversamente asociado con la expresión de p53 (p < 0.0001) y con el liquen escleroso (p = 0.0051). Resulta peculiar que, de los casos estudiados, 4 carcinomas queratinizantes coexpresaron p16 y p53. Un solo tumor de tipo warty resultó negativo para p16 y positivo para p53, y 9 queratinizantes resultaron positivos para p16 y negativos para p53. Si bien estos hallazgos indican que con la sola utilización de la hematoxilina y eosina podrían definirse de manera correcta los tumores asociados al HPV, sugerimos fuertemente la realización de inmunohistoquímica, especialmente en carcinomas escamosos queratinizantes en pacientes jóvenes o con historia de HPV.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva may develop in association or independently of HPV infection. The relationship between pathogenesis, classification, immunohistochemical profile and prognosis has been studied in the literature with some discrepancies. The aim of this study was to observe the classical association of keratinizing carcinomas with the absence of HPV infection and warty and basaloid carcinomas with the presence of this virus. Therefore, we reviewed the clinic, morphology, and immunophenotype of 39 cases. The tumors were histologically classified into classic keratinizing squamous carcinoma (30), warty (5) and basaloid (4). In the statistical analysis, diffuse expression with p16 was significantly associated with younger age (p = 0.0025), presence of high-grade intraepithelial lesion (p < 0.0001), koilocytosis (p = 0.02), and morphological subtype (p = 0.02), and was inversely associated with the expression of p53 (p < 0.0001) and the presence of lichen sclerosus (p = 0.0051). It is curious that 4 keratinizing carcinomas of the cases studied presented coexpression of p16 and p53. Only one warty tumor was negative for p16 and positive for p53, and 9 keratinizing tumors were positive for p16 and negative for p53. Although these findings show that the use of hematoxylin and eosin could correctly define tumors associated with HPV, we strongly suggest the performance of immunohistochemistry, especially in squamous keratinizing classic carcinomas in young patients with a history of HPV.

Benign vulvar tumors.

In the last few decades, gynecological visits for vulvar conditions have increased, often for symptoms of vulvar itching and burning. Although benign vulvar tumors are an uncommon condition of the lower genital tract, it is important to consider these tumors in the differential diagnosis of vulvar complaints. To date, there is no accepted classification for benign tumors. However, these tumors can be differentiated by clinical criteria, such as benign cystic and solid tumors. Common benign tumors of the vulva include the Bartholin gland cyst or abscess, epidermoid inclusion cysts, and angiomas. Many benign vulvar tumors are asymptomatic and are found only on self-examination. Depending on the type of lesion, most do not require excisional treatment. It is important for the gynecologist to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions as malignant tumors require proper treatment.

Comunicación entre el personal directivo y operativo de enfermería y su influencia en la productividad / Communication between directing and operating nursing personnel upon their productivity

Se realizó una investigación de campo para saber si la comunicación entre los personales directivo y operativo de enfermería influye sobre la productividad. Se aplicaron dos encuestas, una para cada personal, en el Hospital General de Mexicali de la Secretaría de Salud y en el Hospital de Ginecoobstetricia y Pediatría con Unidad de Medicina Familiar Núm. 31 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, en la misma ciudad. Los resultados muestran que ambos grupos consideran importante la comunicación para un buen desempeño laboral; sin embargo, reconocen que existen deficiencias en la comunicación, lo que motiva que el personal desconozca los objetivos y programas prioritarios de la institución en que labora. En aspectos como colaboración, satisfacción personal y motivación con el equipo de salud, los resultados fueron positivos, si bien se encontraron incongruencias en lo que se refiere a jornada laboral y carga de trabajo