HLA-G polymorphism impacts the outcome of oral HPV infections in women.

BACKROUND: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G may have an important role in the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Our aim was to evaluate the role of HLA-G in the outcome of genital and oral HPV infections in women. METHODS: Analyses included 306 women from the Finnish Family HPV-study and were followed-up for six years. Genital and oral samples were tested for 24 different HPV types with multiplex HPV genotyping. HLA-G alleles were determined through direct DNA-sequencing. Unconditional logistic regression was used to determine the associations between HLA-G genotypes and HPV infection outcomes. RESULTS: Ten HLA-G alleles were identified. Most common HLA-G genotypes were the wild type G*01:01:01/01:01:01 (31.3%) followed by G*01:01:01/01:01:02 (26.8%). G*01:01:01/01:01:01 genotype was associated with increased risk of oral HPV infections by any HPV type or single-type with OR = 1.86 (95% CI 1.14-3.04, P = 0.01) and 2.22 (95% CI 1.14-3.71, P = 0.02), respectively. G*04:01+ allele and the G*01:01:01/01:04:01 genotype both protected from any and single oral HPV infections; OR = 0.46 (95% CI 0.23-0.89, P = 0.02) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.23-0.97, P = 0.03), respectively. G*01:01:02/01:04:01 genotype increased significantly the risk of infertility and its treatments, with respective OR = 5.06 (95% CI 1.22-21.02, P = 0.03) and OR = 9.07 (95% CI 1.22-39.50, P = 0.03). Both HLA-G alleles and genotypes showed several significant associations with the outcomes of oral HPV infections, but none of them had any impact on the outcomes of genital HPV infections in these women. CONCLUSIONS: The host HLA-G genotypes appear to impact the outcomes of oral HPV infections in women but have little if any effect on genital HPV status or infection outcomes.

The effects of human immunodeficiency virus, human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and -2, human herpesvirus-6 and -8, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B and C virus on female fertility and pregnancy.

Female infertility may be defined as a woman of reproductive age being unable to become pregnant after a year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Social, genetic, endocrine, physiological, and psychological factors as well as lifestyle habits (i.e., smoking and alcohol consumption), either alone or in combination with male factors, are major causes. However, approximately 15-30% of cases of female infertility remain unexplained. Numerous investigations have also indicated that microbiomes play an important role in human reproduction. All parts of the female reproductive system may be influenced by infectious and pathological agents, especially viruses, and these may interfere with reproductive function and so are risk factors for infertility, although in many cases an exact role is unclear. We present an overview of the impact of common viral infections on female reproduction, searching Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases for potentially relevant studies of viruses known to have a potential effect. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human herpesvirus (HHV) increase infertility rates whilst human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) infections mostly lead to higher abortion and miscarriage rates. Moreover, HPV infection is linked to increased tubal infertility, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. HPV was the most frequently observed infection and with lower pregnancy rate and foetal death in women undergoing IVF treatments. Assisted reproductive treatment could be a safe and effective approach for HIV and HBV infected women.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Different Groups of Women in Chongqing, China.

Persistent high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an essential risk factor for cervical carcinoma and precancerous lesion. There are differences in HPV distribution among different countries, regions and ethnic groups. The aim of this research was to reveal the epidemiological characteristics of HPV in Chongqing, China. In this study, 13,788 women aged 18 to 78 were screened for 23 HPV genotypes by PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization. The total HPV-positive rate was 19.9% (2,745/13,788), while the positive rates for HR, and low-risk (LR) HPV were 17.3% (2,379/13,788), and 4.6% (638/13,788), respectively. In addition to cervical cancer (CC) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients, the HPV infection rates among infertile women and women with gynecological diseases were markedly higher than that among healthy women. The HPV and HR-HPV infection rates in the different age groups showed statistically significant differences, and the prevalence peaks were observed in women under 20 years and over 50 years of age. Overall, HPV-52, HPV-16 and HPV-58 ranked as the top 3 most common subtypes among women in Chongqing. The results of this research provide epidemiological information regarding HPV infection in Chongqing. These data constitute valuable evidence for the prevention and management of cervical carcinoma and development of HPV vaccines.

Female Human Papillomavirus Infection Associated with Increased Risk of Infertility: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether women with a history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have an increased risk of infertility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with an HPV infection (n = 11,198) in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2012) were propensity score matched with control subjects (n = 11,198) without an HPV infection by age, sex, index year, and relevant co-morbidities. Both groups were tracked until a diagnosis of infertility was recorded. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of demographic characteristics in the HPV group and non-HPV group. A Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for the development of infertility, adjusting for age, sex, and co-morbidities. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the cumulative incidence curves. We also performed negative controls to test for possible unmeasured confounding. RESULTS: The HPV cohort had a higher risk of infertility. The adjusted HR (aHR) was found to be 1.39 (95% CI = 1.19-1.63) after adjusting for demographic characteristics and relevant co-morbidities. In the age subgroup analysis, patients with an HPV infection had an increased risk of infertility compared to the non-HPV cohort in the group aged 26 to 35 years (aHR, 1.53; 95% CI = 1.24-1.88). As we used propensity score matching to treat measurable confounders and negative controls to access unmeasured confounders, the findings of the study are robust. CONCLUSIONS: Among females of reproductive age, HPV infection is a potential risk factor that predisposes individuals to subsequent infertility.

Human papillomavirus infection and female infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is increasing evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection affects reproductive health and fertility, although its impact on female fertility has not been thoroughly studied. MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for relevant articles. A meta-analysis was conducted of 11 studies including 15,450 female subjects that compared HPV prevalence between the infertile and general population, and evaluated the association between HPV positivity and female infertility. Seven case-control studies on 3581 participants reported indiscriminate genotype infections (high-risk/low-risk [HR/LR]-HPV), but the random effects model revealed no association between HPV infection and female infertility (odds ratio [OR] 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-4.65, P = 0.06). Six studies with a total of 11,869 participants reported HR-HPV infections alone, and the pooled data showed a significant association between HR-HPV infection and female infertility (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.42-3.83, P = 0.0008). It was concluded that HR-HPV infection is a potential risk factor of female infertility, but not an independent cause. Further prospective studies are needed to assess the exact role of HPV in female infertility.

HCMV seropositivity is associated with specific proinflammatory immune phenotype in women with implantation failure.

HCMV coevolved with humans for millions of years and is now one of the most widespread infections worldwide. For a long time HCMV seropositivity was considered a safe clinical condition. In recent decades both clinical observations and research results indicated that the very presence of HCMV in human organism specifically influences immune system and may affect reproduction as a process greatly dependent on immune cells function. Anti-HCMV IgG, IgG avidity, lymphocyte subsets as well as NK cytotoxicity was investigated in 470 infertile women who were eligible for IVF/ET. 419 patients were IgG anti-HCMV-positive (HCMV-seropositive) and only 51 (10.8 %) were IgG anti- HCMV-negative (HCMV-seronegative). There was not a single case of clinically significant level of low-avidity IgG. HCMV-seropositive patients had significantly increased levels of HLA-DR expression on T-lymphocytes (both on CD3CD8 and especially on CD3CD4 subsets) and HLA-DR expression on NK-lymphocytes (CD56+CD3-), increased levels of NKT-like cells (CD3+CD8+CD56+) but decreased levels of CD8 + NK lymphocytes compared to HCMV-seronegative patients. That difference was caused by significant numbers of individuals with deviated "accentuated" immune phenotypes in HCMV seropositive patients. The latter had increased (>7.5 %) levels of HLA-DR expression on T helpers in 136 cases from 419 (32.4 %) while in HCMV-seronegative group this accentuation was observed only in 3 of 51 patients (5.8 %), (OR -5.9, p < 0.0003). The number of cases with significantly increased CD56 expression on Tc lymphocytes, HLA-DR on NK and decrease of CD8-positive NK cells was more often observed in HCMV-seropositive group compared to seronegative. Thus, possibly HCMV seropositivity specifically influences immune system and results in pro-inflammatory phenotype formation in part of infected population. It was found that accentuations in immune phenotype of HCMV-seropositive women are very similar to previously described in association with reproductive failures but without HCMV serostatus taken into account.

The high-risk human papillomavirus continuum along the female reproductive tract and its relationship to infertility and endometriosis.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is there an association between the presence of sexually transmitted pathogens in the lower (LGT) and upper (UGT) female genital tract with endometriosis and infertility? DESIGN: Case-control study with 60 women submitted to gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. Samples from the UGT and LGT were collected and analysed by single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human papillomavirus (HPV) and by multiplex PCR for other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Patients were initially divided into two clinical groups: infertile patients (n = 25) with conjugal infertility and fertile control patients (n = 35). After the surgical findings patients were further divided for additional analysis: an endometriosis group (n = 29) and non-endometriosis control group (n = 31). RESULTS: Sixty per cent of patients were positive for DNA-HPV in some of the genital tract sites sampled. Infertile patients were associated with high-risk HPV (hrHPV) positivity in the UGT sites (P = 0.027). The endometriosis group was associated with hrHPV positivity in the LGT and UGT sites (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.03, respectively). Only hrHPV types were detected in the UGT in both groups. It may be that there is a hrHPV infection continuum, from LGT to UGT, in infertile and endometriosis patients. No association was observed among the other seven STI studied. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows both an association between hrHPV infections in the UGT with infertility and endometriosis, and a possible hrHPV infection continuum, from LGT to UGT. Larger studies are needed to fully investigate the role of hrHPV as a cause of endometriosis and infertility.

Emerging role for Ureaplasma parvum serovar 3: Active infection in women with silent high-risk human papillomavirus and in women with idiopathic infertility.

Recently, there are controversial opinions on the presence of Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas as colonizers or pathogens, and on the use of a targeted therapy. This study aimed to characterize Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas infections in reproductive age women, including the acquisition of sexually transmitted (ST) pathogens and poor birth outcomes. A total of 646 healthy Italian women fulfilled the inclusion criteria including 521 infertile women, 65 pregnant women, and 60 fertile women with identified risk factors and symptomatic for vaginitis/cervicitis. Multiplex and quantitative molecular techniques and direct automatic DNA sequencing were performed to assess the genome structure of Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma species and ST infected pathogens. Ureaplasma parvum serovar 3 represented the predominant colonizer of the urogenital tract of this series and the unique species significantly associated with ST pathogens coinfection (p < 0.01). U. parvum load >104 bacteria/ml, suggestive of active infection, has been measured only in asymptomatic high-risk human papillomavirus infected women (24.3%) and in 40% of women with idiopathic infertility. To note, 16% of the follicular fluid from these idiopathic women resulted infected with U. parvum. In conclusion, the present study focused the attention on U. parvum serovar 3 as emerging microorganism in sexually active women that may have the benefit of targeted therapy.

High-risk human papillomavirus infection in female and subsequent risk of infertility: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), registered both as a single HPV positive test and as HPV persistence, increases the risk of female factor infertility in later reproductive life. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): A random sample of 11,088 women (20-29 years of age at enrollment) tested for cervical HPV at enrollment during 1991-93 and again after 2 years. Information on female factor infertility was obtained by linkage to the Danish Infertility Cohort. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follow-up for each study participant was the period from the date of enrollment or date of the second visit until diagnosis of female factor infertility (main outcome), conception, death, emigration, disappearance, or end of study period. Data were analyzed by means of a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between HPV status and female factor infertility after adjustment for potentially confounding factors were determined. RESULT(S): After relevant exclusions, 10,595 women were eligible for analysis, 1,861 (17.6%) of whom were high-risk HPV positive at the first visit. There was no association between a positive HPV test at first visit (HR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75-1.02) or positivity for the same high-risk HPV type at the first and second visit (persistence; HR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.66-1.44) and subsequent risk of female factor infertility in reproductive life. CONCLUSION(S): We found no association between a high-risk HPV infection and risk of female factor infertility, neither for a single HPV positive test nor for a persistent HPV infection.

In vitro maturation of oocytes from excised ovarian tissue in a patient with autoimmune ovarian insufficiency possibly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Some reports show that it is possible to isolate immature oocytes from human ovarian tissue retrieved by a cortex biopsy or ovariectomy of non-stimulated ovaries and mature them in vitro. The mature oocytes can be vitrified and stored for in vitro fertilization, which, along with ovarian tissue cryopreservation, is mostly practiced in young cancer patients to preserve their fertility. There is much less data on this new approach in women with a natural ovarian insufficiency, which can be caused by different factors, including viral infection. In this case report this advanced methodology was used in a young patient suffering from ovarian insufficiency which was possibly associated with Epstein-Barr virus and infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever). METHODS: This case report included a 27-year-old patient who attended our infertility clinic because of ovarian failure as a part of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy that occurred after Epstein-Barr virus infection, which has rarely been reported until now. Although antral follicles were observed in her ovaries by ultrasound monitoring, she was amenorrhoeic with menopausal concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and without mature follicles. Therefore, a small biopsy of ovarian cortex tissue was performed using laparoscopy to retrieve immature oocytes. The retrieved oocytes were matured in vitro, cryopreserved, and stored for in vitro fertilization and potential pregnancy. RESULTS: Four immature, germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes were found and removed from tissue, denuded mechanically by a pipette, and matured in vitro in a maturation medium with added FSH and hCG as well as in co-culture with cumulus cells, which were retrieved by their denudation. Three oocytes matured in vitro to the metaphase II (MII) stage and were vitrified for in vitro fertilization along with ovarian tissue cryopreservation. CONCLUSION: Our results show that Epstein-Barr infection is possibly associated with autoimmune ovarian failure. The devastating impact on fertility in such disorder can be successfully avoided by in vitro maturation of oocytes from excised ovarian tissue.

Prevalence of HHV-6 in endometrium from women with recurrent implantation failure.

PROBLEM: To study the prevalence of HHV-6 in endometrial biopsies among women experiencing recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after IVF/ET compared with controls. METHOD OF STUDY: Thirty women experiencing RIF after IVF/ET and 10 fertile women participated in the study. All women had endometrial biopsies taken in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle for an endometrial immune profile (EIP) and HHV-6 mRNA as well as lymphocyte and granulocyte populations. The prevalence of HHV-6 in endometrial biopsies was determined, and biopsies for positive and negative expression of HHV-6 were compared with the results of their EIP and lymphocyte and granulocyte populations. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percentage of women with a history of RIF and 0% of controls demonstrated the presence of HHV-6 in their endometrial biopsies. No associations were found when the results of the endometrial immune profile were compared with the presence or absence of HHV-6. Significant increase in neutrophil-specific CD16b mRNA was found in HHV-6-positive samples, and the levels of B cells-related CD19 mRNA were lower in biopsies from women with RIF in comparison with normal controls. CONCLUSION: HHV-6 infection is an important factor in RIF.

Presence of HHV-6A in Endometrial Epithelial Cells from Women with Primary Unexplained Infertility.

To elucidate the roles of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 primary unexplained infertile women, a prospective randomized study was conducted on a cohort of primary unexplained infertile women and a cohort of control women, with at least one successful pregnancy. HHV-6 DNA was analyzed and the percentage and immune-phenotype of resident endometrial Natural Killer (NK) cells, as the first line of defense towards viral infections, was evaluated in endometrial biopsies. Cytokine levels in uterine flushing samples were analyzed. HHV-6A DNA was found in 43% of endometrial biopsies from primary unexplained infertile women, but not in control women. On the contrary, HHV-6B DNA was absent in endometrial biopsies, but present in PBMCs of both cohorts. Endometrial NK cells presented a different distribution in infertile women with HHV6-A infection compared with infertile women without HHV6-A infection. Notably, we observed a lower percentage of endometrial specific CD56brightCD16- NK cells. We observed an enhanced HHV-6A-specific endometrial NK cell response in HHV-6A positive infertile women, with a marked increase in the number of endometrial NK cells activating towards HHV-6A infected cells. The analysis of uterine flushing samples showed an increase in IL-10 levels and a decrease of IFN-gamma concentrations in infertile women with HHV6-A infection. Our study indicates, for the first time, that HHV-6A infection might be an important factor in female unexplained infertility development, with a possible role in modifying endometrial NK cells immune profile and ability to sustain a successful pregnancy.

Spontaneous fertility and in vitro fertilization outcome: new evidence of human papillomavirus sperm infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproductive outcome of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with or without human papillomavirus (HPV) semen infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional clinical study. SETTING: Units of andrology, reproductive medicine, and gynecology. PATIENT(S): A total of 226 infertile couples. INTERVENTION(S): Male partners were evaluated by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HPV on semen. After a diagnostic period, female partners underwent intrauterine insemination (IUI) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seminal parameters and FISH analysis for HPV in sperm head. Spontaneous or assisted pregnancies, live births, and miscarriages were recorded. Statistical analysis included unpaired Student t test and chi-square test. RESULT(S): Fifty-four male partners (23.9%) had HPV semen infection confined to sperm, confined to exfoliated cells, or in both cells. During the diagnostic period, noninfected couples showed spontaneous pregnancies. IUI and ICSI treatments were performed in, respectively, 60 and 98 noninfected and in 21 and 33 infected couples, with 38.4% and 14.2% cumulative pregnancy rates, respectively. The follow-up of pregnancies showed a higher miscarriage rate in infected couples (62.5% vs. 16.7%). Ongoing pregnancies of the latter group were characterized by HPV infection confined to exfoliated cells. CONCLUSION(S): A reduction in natural and assisted cumulative pregnancy rate and an increase in miscarriage rate are related to the presence of HPV at sperm level. Although the exact mechanism by which sperm infection is able to impair fertility remains unclear, this aspect is worthy of further investigations. If confirmed, these results could change the clinical and diagnostic approach to infertile couples.

Coxsackievirus B3 infection reduces female mouse fertility.

Previously we demonstrated coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection during early gestation as a cause of pregnancy loss. Here, we investigated the impacts of CVB3 infection on female mouse fertility. Coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression and CVB3 replication in the ovary were evaluated by immunohistochemistry or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CAR was highly expressed in granulosa cells (GCs) and CVB3 replicated in the ovary. Histological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles in the ovaries of CVB3-infected mice (CVBM). Estrous cycle evaluation demonstrated that a higher number of CVBM were in proestrus compared to mock mice (CVBM vs. mock; 61.5%, 28.5%, respectively). Estradiol concentration in GC culture supernatant and serum were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline and stimulated levels of estradiol in GC were decreased in CVBM, consistent with significantly reduced serum levels in these animals. In addition, aromatase transcript levels in GCs from CVBM were also decreased by 40% relative to the mock. Bone mineral density evaluated by micro-computed tomography was significantly decreased in the CVBM. Moreover, the fertility rate was also significantly decreased for the CVBM compared to the mock (CVBM vs. mock; 20%, 94.7%, respectively). This study suggests that CVB3 infection could interfere with reproduction by disturbing ovarian function and cyclic changes of the uterus.

Is it time to shift the attention on early stages embryo development to avoid inconclusive evidence on HPV-related infertility: debate and proposal.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence about in-vivo effects of HPV cannot definitively clarify the possible negative role of this worldwide common infection in early embryo development. However in-vitro evidence, seems to underline a possible negative effect of HPV in increasing blastocyst apoptosis and in reducing the endometrial implantation of trophoblastic cells. On these bases we believe that a new scientific approach is necessary to better understand the real role of male and female HPV infection in infertility and early pregnancy development. METHODS: English literature review of manuscripts focused on HPV infection and human reproduction was conducted. We performed a critical analysis of evidence and possible bias affecting both in-vivo and in-vitro studies regarding this topic. RESULTS: The biggest limitation of the in-vivo studies is due to the inappropriate timing of HPV effects evaluation since evidence about in-vitro studies strongly suggests that a large part of HPV negative effects occurs during a very early stage of embryo development. All the efforts of the scientific community to investigate the real role of HPV in human reproduction disorders cannot underestimate the severe BIAS of actual evidence in postulating new hypothesis and research projects which are fundamental to clarify if HPV may be associated with unexplained couples infertility and early miscarriages. CONCLUSIONS: If the relationship between HPV gametes infection and early human reproduction step impairment will be confirmed, the HPV male and couple vaccination may represent a reliable option to improve fertility in some couples affected by infertility actually classified as "idiopathic" but maybe linked to HPV infection.

[Clinical and immunological efficiency of sodium nucleospermate in treating chronic endometritis and infertility complicated by HPV infection].

Clinical efficacy of sodium nucleospermate (SNS) has shown in the treatment of 26 female patients with chronic endometritis, unsuccessful attempts at in vitro fertilization, and persistent viral infection. Cells from endometrium were processed by liquid cytology and studied by immunocytochemistry techniques. It has been clearly established that, after SNS treatment, the frequency of CD20- and CD56-positive cells was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the frequency of TLR4 and TLR9 expressing cells in endometrium has been significantly improved (p < 0.05). In addition, the human papilloma virus (HPV) load was reduced as manifested by the real-time PCR test. The obtained results show good prospects for successful use SNS as a means of pathogenetic therapy in patients with this diagnosis.

[Research of the relationship between cervical cytology and HPV test and lesions in the cervical tissue].

OBJECTIVE: Discussion of the relationship between cervical cytology and high-risk HPV test and lesions in the cervical tissue. METHOD: The 254 infertile patients were graded into 4 groups based on the results of cervical cytology and high-risk HPV test. The patients in group A were the cervical cytology -positive and HPV-positive. The cervical cytology -positive and HPV-negative patients were in group B. The cervical cytology -negative and HPV-positive patients were in group C and cervical cytology -negative and HPV-negative in group D. Retrospective analysis was used in the relationship between the results and lesions in the cervical tissue. RESULTS: The incidence of CIN II and higher grade than CIN II was significant higher in group A than in group B (P < 0.01). The incidence of CIN I was no difference among A, B and C group (P > 0.05). The sensitivity was 100.0% and the specificity was 46.74% when cervical cytology was used to test the CIN II grade. But the sensitivity changed to 97.22% and the specificity 87.16% when both of the cervical cytology and HPV test were used. CONCLUSION: The cervical cytology is the first choice in cervical examination. And the accuracy will significant higher when the HPV test is used simultaneously.

[Relationship between mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive patients].

OBJECTIVE: Discussion of the relationship between Mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive infertile patients with cervical. METHODS: HPV-negative patients with cervical as the control, retrospective analysis the relationship of Mycoplasma hominis and chlamydia infection, cervical histological graded, and inflammation graded. RESULTS: The rate of HPV infection in mycoplasma-positive and those with negative mycoplasma has significant difference (P < 0.01), The rate of HPV infection in chlamydia-positive and those with negative chlamydia has no significant difference (P > 0.05). CIN and the incidence of cervical erosion and CIN grade were higher in HPV-positive than HPV-negative group (P < 0.01). The cervical erosion of HPV-positive was no difference in the degree (P > 0.05). Compared with the simple HPV-positive group, CIN and the incidence of severe cervical erosion in mixed infection of Mycoplasma was no difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mycoplasma infection increases the rate of high risk HPV infection, high-risk HPV infection increased cervical pathological damage, Mycoplasma infection might be the factor of persistent infection with high risk HPV, the degree of cervical pathological is the factor of cervical infertility which can not be ignored.

[Impact of asymptomatic herpesvirus infection on the female reproductive system].

The fact that asymptomatic and subclinical isolation of the virus in the Infected, which is, according to the data of different authors, noted in 50-90% of cases, presents the highest hazard to the spread of herpesvirus infection may be now considered to be proven. The development of assisted reproductive technologies have led to the active study of the factor of male infertility in marriage, including that of the negative impact of asymptomatic infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) on spermatogenesis. At the same time, there is no consent of opinion as to the implication of asymptomatic HSV in female reproductive dysfunction. The presented review attempts to analyze the data available in the literature on the detection of HSV in the reproductive organs of a woman without a history of the clinical episodes of the disease and to assess a role of HSV infection in the development of female infertility.

[Investigation on HPV viral load and high risk HPV types infection among patients with infertility].

OBJECTIVE: High risk human papilomavirus (HPV) infection is often related to cervical cancer. This study investigated the infection of high risk HPV in cervical epithelia among infertile patients. Relative quantification and absolute quantification were applied for determination of "real" HPV viral load in the clinical setting. METHODS: Adopting multi-channels real time PCR to genotype and quantify eight high risk HPV (HPV16, 18, 45, 31; intermediate risk types: HPV33, 52, 58, 67) DNA in cervical epithelia of the 130 infertile patients and the 150 controls. This study applied housekeeping gene (beta-globin) for the DNA quantification on secretions samples for clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: The infection rate of the infertility group was 25.38 percent (33/130) and that of the control group was 11.33 percent (17/150), the difference was statistically significant. Among the 33 positive cases in the infertility group, 24 cases showed a viral load no less than 106; in 9 of them, the viral load was less than 106. Among the 17 positive cases in the control group, 4 cases had a viral load no less than 106; in 13 of them, the viral load was less than 106. There is a statistically significant difference in viral load between the infertility group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The HPV infection rate of the infertility group was higher than that of the control group.