Italian observational study on HPV infection, E6, and p16 expression in men with penile cancer.

BACKGROUND: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most important causes of cancer. It can play a role in cervical and extra-cervical cancers. Penile cancer is rare, even if an increasing trend was recently reported. Aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in cases of penile cancer diagnosed in Sardinia, Italy. Surrogate markers of HPV infection (i.e., E6 and p16 genes) were also evaluated in all cases. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study which recruited all cases of penile cancer diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 at a tertiary care hospital in Sardinia, Italy, was carried out. HPV-DNA detection and genotyping were performed by Real-time PCR. Specimens were tested for oncogene E6 mRNA and for p16(INK4a) expression. RESULTS: HPV prevalence was 28.1% (9/32); HPV-16 was the most prevalent genotype (7/9, 77.8%). p16INK4a positivity was found in 66.7% of the samples with a statistically significant difference between HPV-positive and -negative groups. E6-transcript was detected in 71% of the HPV-16 positive samples. The overall survival was not statistically different between HPV-positives and -negatives. DISCUSSION: The present study confirms the etiologic role of HPV in penile cancer and supports the adoption of vaccination strategies in men and women. Further studies should clarify the diagnostic and prognostic role of E6 and p16 proteins. CONCLUSION: HPV infection can favor the occurrence of penile cancer, whose diagnosis and prognosis could be improved with the implementation of validated molecular techniques.

Distribution of HPV Genotypes in Patients with a Diagnosis of Anal Cancer in an Italian Region.

Objectives: Anal cancer is a rare disease. However, its incidence is increasing in some population groups. Infection caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly associated with the risk of anal cancer, whose variability depends on samples, histology, and HPV detection methods. The aim of the study was to assess prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in patients diagnosed with anal carcinoma. Methods: An observational, retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in North Sardinia, Italy. Specimens of anal cancer diagnosed from 2002-2018 were selected. Demographic, epidemiological, and clinical variables were collected to assess their relationship with the occurrence of anal cancer. Results: The overall HPV positivity was 70.0% (21/30), with HPV-16 being the predominant genotype (~85%). The highest prevalence of anal cancer was in patients aged ≥55 years. HPV positivity was higher in women (p-value > 0.05) and in moderately differentiated samples (G2) (p-value < 0.05). p16INK4a and E6-transcript positivity were found in 57% and 24% of the HPV positive samples, respectively. The OS (overall survival) showed a not statistically significant difference in prognosis between HPV positive sand negatives (10, 47.6%, vs. 4, 44.4%; p-value = 0.25). Conclusions: HPV-DNA and p16INK4a positivity confirmed the role of HPV in anal carcinoma. Our findings could support the implementation and scale-up of HPV vaccination in males and females to decrease the incidence of HPV-associated cancers. Further studies are needed to better clarify the prognostic role of HPV/p16 status.

Incidence of epilepsy in extremely low-birthweight infants (<1,000 g): a population study of central and southern Sardinia.

PURPOSE: With the development of intensive care, the survival of extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants (<1,000 g) has greatly improved. The aim of our study was to report the incidence of epilepsy after a follow-up of >7 years in a population of ELBW children, born in central and southern Sardinia between 1991 and 2000. METHODS: We analyzed data of 104 children. All infants had had serial cranial ultrasound echography (CUE) in the neonatal period and some also had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At last follow-up we evaluated the occurrence of epilepsy through a review of clinical charts and a structured telephone interview. RESULTS: In 11 (10.6%) of 104 of children we observed febrile seizures (FS). Epilepsy occurred in 9 (8.6%) of 104 ELBW children, and in these patients a frequent positive family history for epilepsy and/or FS was present. In four epilepsy patients CUE was highly pathologic, showing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of grade IV and in two mildly abnormal (IVH of grade I-II). In three additional children with normal neonatal ultrasound scan, a later magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study revealed lesions related to neonatal insult. DISCUSSION: In our ELBW population, epilepsy had an incidence clearly superior to that expected in infancy (8.6% vs. 0.6-0.8%). A frequent positive familiar history for epilepsy and/or FS suggests that a genetic predisposition may also play a role. Subjects with highly abnormal CUE are a subgroup with high risk for seizures; however, epilepsy can occur even with normal CUE.

Reduced NREM sleep instability in benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze sleep architecture and NREM sleep instability by means of the cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) in children with benign epilepsy with rolandic spikes (BERS). METHODS: Ten children with BERS, drug free at the time of the study and 10 age-matched normal controls were included in this study. Sleep was visually scored for sleep architecture and CAP using standard criteria. RESULTS: Sleep architecture in BERS showed only few significant differences vs. controls with a reduction of total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and REM sleep percentage. CAP analysis revealed several significant differences: reduced total CAP rate, mainly in sleep stage 2, and reduced EEG slow oscillations and arousals during stages N1 and N2. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep architecture is not importantly affected in BERS but CAP analysis reveals a decrease of NREM instability, mainly in sleep stage 2. Since there is a spindle-related spike activation in BERS, we speculate that the decrease of CAP and of EEG slow oscillations and arousals might be linked with the inhibitory action of spindling activity and spikes on arousals. SIGNIFICANCE: CAP analysis discloses sleep structure abnormalities in children with BERS not shown by the classical sleep scoring. Spike activity and CAP A1 subtypes seem to be mutually exclusive probably because centro-temporal spikes disturb the physiological synchronization mechanisms needed for the generation of slow-wave components of CAP.

Seizures and EEG pattern in Kabuki syndrome.

PURPOSE: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare dysmorphogenic disorder that is characterized by multiple congenital abnormalities with central nervous system involvement. The diagnosis is clinical and a variable degree of mental retardation is always present. Epilepsy is frequently reported, but a typical electroclinical pattern has not been described. We describe the electroclinical features of eight KS non-Japanese patients with epilepsy. METHODS: We analysed seizure characteristics and pattern EEG and clinical outcomes in eight KS patients. RESULTS: All patients presented with focal seizures. A frontal epileptic status was present in two cases. We highlighted the fact that, during evolution, seven patients shared the same interictal EEG pattern, which was characterized by isolated or repetitive biphasic spikes or sharp waves, followed by a slow wave of medium and high voltage, predominantly localised in the fronto-central regions. The natural course of seizures is favourable. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a peculiar homogeneous electroclinical pattern in KS, characterized by focal seizures more frequently origin in fronto-central area which demonstrated that seizures are mostly focal in type and that a fronto-central origin is more frequently evident.

Megalencephaly, polymicrogyria, and hydrocephalus (MPPH) syndrome: a new case with syndactyly.

Megalencephaly, polymicrogyria, and hydrocephalus (MPPH) syndrome is characterized by megalencephaly, perisylvian polymicrogyria, postaxial polydactyly, and hydrocephalus. Seven cases have been reported. This report presents a new sporadic patient with megalencephaly, polymicrogyria, and hydrocephalus syndrome, a girl born to healthy, nonconsanguineous parents at 38 weeks. Macrocephaly (+4 standard deviation) was present at birth. She had syndactyly instead of the postaxial polydactyly reported in the other patients. Neurologic examination showed severe diffuse hypotonia and profound developmental delay. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged lateral and third ventricles, with cavum septi pellucidi et vergae, bilateral abnormal white matter intensity, and diffuse polymicrogyria, most prominent in both the frontal and perisylvian regions. A visual evoked potential study showed increased latencies, probably caused by white matter abnormalities. At 16 months, she has never had seizures and shows profound psychomotor retardation. Results of metabolic and genetic studies were normal.