Effect of Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract on chronic cervicitis in patients with HPV infection.

The objective of the study was to assess the clinical, histopathological and immunochemical changes induced by dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE) treatment in patients with chronic cervicitis associated to HPV infection. Fifty-four female Mexican patients diagnosed with chronic cervicitis, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1) and HPV infection were divided into two groups: patients treated with placebo and patients treated with DLE. Clinical and colposcopy evaluations were performed before and after treatments. Cervix biopsies were obtained to analyze histopathological features and to determine the local immunological changes by immunohistochemistry analyses. Placebo-treated patients showed no significant changes in the evaluated parameters. Interestingly, in DLE-treated patients, clinical manifestations of cervicitis diminished and 89% of them remitted the colposcopic lesions. Histological analyses of biopsies from DLE-treated patients showed a decreasing leukocyte infiltrate. Immunochemical analyses showed an increased expression of TGF-ß, while expression of IFN-γ, PCNA, and IL-32 decreased. Our results suggest that DLE can stimulate innate immunity of cervical mucosae, diminishing chronic cervicitis in HPV-infected patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Register ISRCTN16429164 Abbreviations: HPV = Human Papilloma Virus; DLE = Dialyzable leukocyte extract.

Cystic Cervicitis: A Case Report and Literature Review of Cystic Cervical Lesions.

We present a case of a 30-year-old woman who, while undergoing infertility evaluation, was found to have a large cystic cervical mass, shown to be cystic cervicitis on cervical cone biopsy. Differential diagnosis for benign cystic cervical lesions includes Nabothian cysts, tunnel cluster, endocervical hyperplasia, and cervicitis, whereas cystic cervical malignancies include adenocarcinoma and adenoma malignum. While it is crucial to differentiate benign from malignant lesions, imaging characteristics often overlap and may not provide a specific diagnosis. In difficult cases, definitive diagnosis should be based on clinical presentation and cervical biopsy.

Hysterosalpingographic features of cervical abnormalities: acquired structural anomalies.

Cervical abnormalities may be congenital or acquired. Congenital cervical structural anomalies are relatively uncommon, whereas acquired cervical abnormalities are commonly seen in gynaecology clinics. Acquired abnormalities of the cervix can cause cervical factor infertility and recurrent spontaneous abortion. Various imaging tools have been used for evaluation of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is a quick and minimally invasive tool for evaluation of infertility that facilitates visualization of the inner surfaces of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, as well as the cervical canal and isthmus. The lesions of the uterine cervix show various imaging manifestations on HSG such as narrowing, dilatation, filling defects, irregularities and diverticular projections. This pictorial review describes and illustrates the hysterosalpingographic appearances of normal variants and acquired structural abnormalities of the cervix. Accurate diagnosis of such cases is considered essential for optimal treatment. The pathological findings and radiopathological correlation will be briefly discussed.

Comparison of transabdominal and transvaginal sonography in the evaluation of uterine mass with histopathological correlation.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to demonstrate the role of transvaginal (TVS) and transabdominal sonography (TAS) to detect clinically suspected uterine mass in 53 patients which could not be differentiated clinically. The sonographic findings were compared and correlated with the findings of histopathology. TAS and TVS revealed 20(37.7%) & 20(37.7%) had leiomyoma, 12(22.6%) & 14(26.4%) had Ca cervix, 6(11.3%) & 7(13.2%) had endometrial carcinoma, 1(1.9%) & 1(1.9%) had hydatidiform mole respectively. TAS revealed 5(9.4%) had thickened endometrium, and no detectable mass were detected in 9(17.0%) cases. TVS revealed polyp in 7(13.2%), and no detectable mass were detected in 4(7.5%) cases. Histopathologically confirmed leiomyoma were in 18(34.0%) cases, Ca cervix in 14(26.4%), endometrial carcinoma in 6(11.3%), adenomyosis in 1(1.9%), polyp in 7(13.2%), chronic cervicitis in 2(3.8%), hydatidiform mole in 1(1.9%) and no detectable mass were detected in 4(7.5%) cases. Sensitivity of TAS and TVS to diagnose uterine mass were 83.7% and 95.9%, specificity 25.0% and 50.0%, positive predictive value 93.2% and 95.9%, negative predictive value 11.1% and 50.0% and accuracy 79.2% and 92.5% respectively. Sensitivity of TAS & TVS to diagnose leiomyoma was 88.9% & 94.9%, specificity 88.6% & 91.4%, positive predictive value 80.0% & 85.0%, negative predictive value 93.9% & 97.0%, and accuracy 88.7% & 92.5% respectively. Sensitivity of TAS & TVS to diagnose Ca cervix were 57.1% & 78.6%, specificity 89.7% & 92.3%, positive predictive value 66.9% & 78.6%, negative predictive value 85.4% & 92.3%, and accuracy 81.1% & 88.7% respectively. So, uterine mass can be evaluated more accurately by TVS than TAS.

Feasibility of focused ultrasound therapy for recurrent cervicitis with high-risk human papillomavirus infection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of focused ultrasound therapy for recurrent cervicitis with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. METHODS: This was a prospective clinical study, in which 20 patients with HR-HPV-positive recurrent cervicitis were enrolled. Focused ultrasound therapy was performed by one gynecologist. All patients were followed up for 6 months after ultrasound therapy. Telephone interviews, colposcopic examinations and Hybrid Capture II tests were performed to assess the safety and effectiveness of focused ultrasound therapy for HR-HPV-positive cervicitis. RESULTS: Ultrasound therapy was tolerated well, and no severe complications were observed in any patient. Vaginal discharge was found intermittently in 95% of patients. Without any intervention this disappeared 1 month after ultrasound therapy. Patients' symptoms were relieved significantly by ultrasound therapy, including 88.9% patients who had abundant leukorrhea, 80% who had pelvic pain and 87.5% who had postcoital bleeding. No colposcopic evidence of cervicitis remained postoperatively in 75% of patients, and cytological examination showed that the lesions had disappeared in 80% of patients. Follow-up HPV testing revealed that 75% of patients presented negative HR-HPV infection following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Focused ultrasound therapy is feasible and effective in the treatment of patients with HR-HPV-positive cervicitis. It may provide a useful non-invasive treatment for recurrent cervicitis with HR-HPV infection.

Cervical length in women in preterm labor with intact membranes: relationship to intra-amniotic inflammation/microbial invasion, cervical inflammation and preterm delivery.

OBJECTIVE: Intra-amniotic infection, diagnosed by microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or the presence of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI), is related to adverse perinatal outcome in women with preterm labor. Due to the subclinical nature of IAI, a correct diagnosis depends on amniocentesis, which is an invasive method not performed as a clinical routine. The aim of this study was to evaluate if cervical length measured by transvaginal sonography could assist in the identification of women at high risk for IAI. METHODS: Cervical length was assessed by transvaginal sonography in 87 women with singleton pregnancies in preterm labor (<34 weeks of gestation). Cervical (n=87) and amniotic (n=55) fluids were collected. Polymerase chain reactions for Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis, and culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, were performed. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IAI was present in 25/55 (45%) of the patients presenting with preterm labor who underwent amniocentesis. Women with IAI had a significantly shorter cervical length (median, 10 (range, 0-34) mm) than had those without IAI (median, 21 (range, 11-43) mm) (P<0.0001). Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis showed that a cervical length (cut-off of 15 mm) predicted IAI (relative risk, 3.6; CI, 1.9-10.0) with a sensitivity of 72%, specificity of 83%, positive predictive value of 78% and negative predictive value of 78%. Cervical length was also significantly associated with preterm birth up to 7 days from sampling and at

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: linear contrast enhancement of the surface of the liver on CT.

We present a case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (Chlamydia trachomatis perihepatitis). Contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated enhancement along the surface of the liver, but it was remarkable on the anterior surface. No other abnormalities suspicious for peritonitis were found. Contrast enhancement of the anterior surface of the liver on CT may support the diagnosis of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.

The effects of loop excision of the transformation zone on cervical length: implications for pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether previously described significant and quantitative cervical shortening caused by loop excision of the transformation zone persists after 3 months of healing. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was designed in which 20 patients were enrolled. Each underwent transvaginal ultrasonography for determination of cervical length before the loop excision of the transformation zone and >/=3 months after the loop excision of the transformation zone. Simple regression analysis and the Student paired t test was performed to determine whether the length of the cervix had changed significantly between the measurements. RESULTS: The mean cervical lengths as measured by transvaginal ultrasonography before and after loop excision of the transformation zone were 3.1 +/- 0.8 cm and 3.1 +/- 0.7 cm, respectively. The correlation between ultrasonographic measurements before and after loop excision of the transformation zone was r = 0.88 (P <.0001). A paired t test resulted in a P value of 1.0000, which indicates that the ultrasonographic measurement after loop excision of the transformation zone was not different from the ultrasonographic measurement before loop excision of the transformation zone. The mean difference between measurements was 0.0 +/- 0.4 cm. CONCLUSION: After adequate healing time after loop excision of the transformation zone, the length of the cervix, as measured by transvaginal ultrasonography, does not appear to remain shortened.

Amebiasis: unusual radiographic manifestations.

Unusual radiographic manifestations of amebiasis have not previously been emphasized in the literature. These unusual manifestations often mimic other, more common disease entities. A recent case of urinary bladder-cervical amebiasis prompted a review of other unusual manifestations of amebiasis. Over a 25-year period, unusual cases involving the musculoskeletal, genitourinary, cardiopulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems have been encountered. Primary amebiasis of any organ may occur without clinical evidence of gastrointestinal or hepatic involvement. These unusual cases illustrate the clinical spectrum of amebiasis and will clarify aspects of this interesting disease entity.