Introduction: Co-infection of Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy is a rare occurrence, even in endemic areas.1 This co-infection has higher risks of drug resistance, complications, and mortality.2,3 Case Report: A 38-year-old male patient, who had been taking long-term steroids, presented in severe condition, showing signs of sepsis and ARDS. Multilobar infiltrates were found in both lungs, MTB/RIF was positive and sensitive to Rifampicin, BTA was found in slit skin smear test, liver enzyme levels were elevated, D-dimer level was increased (6 mg/L), low PaO2/FiO2 ratio (44.25 mmHg), along with an increased AaDO2 (508.4 mmHg). Despite receiving antimicrobial and anti-tuberculosis therapy, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate, resulting in septic shock and death. Discussion: The rarity of these cases in the modern literature is likely due to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in endemic areas, which provides at least partial protection against both diseases. Dual infection is associated with higher morbidity (5.5%) and mortality (37.2%).2 Appropriate diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic regimens are needed in clinical practice to prevent the risk of drug resistance and complications. This study aimed to present a complicated case of pulmonary TB and multibacillary leprosy co-infection in a septic patient.

Assessment of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in cytologic smears is used as a phenotyping tool for hematopoietic and solid tissue neoplasms in dogs. Different procedures that vary in substrate-dye combinations, fixative, incubation times, and nuclear counterstains are available for detection of ALP activity. It is unknown if these procedures provide comparable results for phenotyping tumors in the same animal. To compare results obtained with three ALP cytochemical procedures in blasts in blood and tissue aspirate smears from dogs with previously diagnosed leukemia: naphthol-AS-MX phosphate/fast blue (fast blue), 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl-phosphate/nitroblue tetrazolium (BCIP/NBT), and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphate/fast red violet LB (fast red). Smears of blood, bone marrow, and lymph node from 54 dogs prospectively enrolled in a multi-institutional study on acute leukemia were stained and assessed. One observer counted the percentage of positive blasts and quantified staining intensity on a scale of 1-3. Cases were classified as acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage, or acute lineage-negative leukemia based on flow cytometric analysis and myeloperoxidase cytochemical staining. The fast blue procedure yielded a significantly higher median percentage of ALP-positive blasts (48%) than the BCIP/NBT (46%) or fast red (42%) procedure despite similar median staining intensities. The proportion of samples that would have been classified as ALP-positive was similar (40/54 fast blue, 39/54 BCIP/NBT, and 37/54 fast red). Our results indicate that the three procedures can be used interchangeably for determining ALP activity in blasts of dogs with leukemia.

Introduction Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) may contribute to cerebrovascular disease via cellular and endothelial pathology leading to impairment at the neurovascular unit (NVU) level. Studies targeting this patient cohort form a neuroscientific viewpoint are scarce. Objective We aimed at elucidating possible neuroimaging correlates of NVU alterations in MPNs patients. Materials and methods We initially included 187 patients with MPNs in this study, retaining 39 patients as per eligibility criteria (25.6% males, median age – 43 years), who were matched with a control group of 11 healthy subjects (36.4% males, median age – 41 years). Structural and task-based (motor paradigm) functional MRI were performed in both groups, along with the evaluation of baseline blood parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count), comorbidities (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis) and antiplatelet use: these factors were then used as covariates in statistical analysis. Results fMRI data analysis in the group of MPN patients revealed activation in the left primary sensorimotor cortex (pre- and post-central gyri); the right supramarginal gyrus showed significant activation ( T = 5.99, p FWEcorr = 0.015) in the MPN group only. Group fMRI data analysis in healthy volunteers showed two main clusters of activation in the left precentral gyrus and right hemisphere of the cerebellum during task execution. Second-level analysis of activation differences between MPN patients and healthy volunteers showed greater activation in the right primary sensorimotor cortex in MPN (Puncorr = 0.014 and <0.001 at cluster and peak level respectively). Conclusion Additional task-specific cortical activation in MPN patients may be potentially linked to NVU disturbance, even in otherwise unchanged cerebral activation patterns. Our findings also suggest that fMRI data in MPN may be confounded by higher blood cell count that needs to be controlled for in this cohort of patients.

Transposable elements (TEs) are indispensable components of eukaryotic genomes, mechanistically linked to carcinogenesis, aging and other degenerative diseases. The ability of TEs to self-propagate and cause deletions, inversions or insertions within the genome poses a real threat to the fidelity of genomic integrity. This review discusses the fundamental properties of TEs, with a focus on cellular interactions associated with mechanisms involved in recombination, replication, and DNA repair. Since mobilization of TEs induces double-strand breaks (DSBs), faulty repair mechanisms could lead to cellular dysfunction, pathology and death. The TE-induced DNA DSB repair cascade follows either homologous recombination (HR) or non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways. Importantly, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms including DNA methylation and histone acetylation provide additional control in ensuring accurate DNA repair and could prove to be key targets for therapeutic intervention.

Multi-scale heart simulation augments the explainability of artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram through provision of an electrocardiogram database labelled with cellular pathologies.

Introduction : Morphological veriĮcation remains the cornerstone of tumor diagnosis, providing an objective basis for treatment planning. Among instrumental diagnostic methods, Įne-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) occupies a leading position due to its minimal invasiveness and high diagnostic yield. However, traditional aspiration techniques are limited by unstable negative pressure and frequent cellular damage, which may compromise smear quality. The development of vacuum Įne-needle aspiration biopsy (v-FNA) introduces the potential for procedural standardization and improved cytological specimen quality. Objective : To experimentally evaluate the eĸciency and diagnostic value of v-FNA for obtaining cytological material from porcine liver tissue, to assess the feasibility of using small-diameter needles (including 25G), and to compare the results with conventional FNA. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted on porcine liver specimens, which closely resemble human liver in structure and density. Biopsies were performed using Chiba needles of 18G, 20G, 22G, and 25G diameters. Each puncture was carried out both with traditional syringe aspiration and with vacuum aspiration under a stable negative pressure of -0.8 bar. All procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance to ensure precise needle positioning and controlled advancement through the parenchyma. Cytological smears were prepared using the standard technique and stained by the May–Grunwald method for microscopic evaluation. Results : The quality and quantity of aspirated material strongly depended on the needle diameter. Conventional FNA using 18G and 20G needles yielded excessive cell masses, often accompanied by hemorrhagic contamination and cellular destruction. Needles of 22G produced more homogeneous and diagnostically suitable smears. The application of vacuum-assisted aspiration signiĮcantly improved cell preservation and smear uniformity. Notably, even 25G needles, traditionally considered ineffective for cytological sampling, provided limited but diagnostically valuable material when used with v-FNA. Conclusions : Vacuum-assisted fine-needle aspiration biopsy represents a promising direction in cytological diagnostics, improving the quality and informativeness of aspirated material while maintaining minimal invasiveness. The method expands the range of usable needle diameters, supports procedural standardization, and has strong potential for clinical implementation in liver, pancreatic, and lymph node lesion diagnostics.

Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs (CADs) severely disrupt lysosomal function, which leads to a cellular pathology characterized by excess phospholipids called phospholipidosis. Through a forward genetic screen and mining of published datasets, we discovered that CADs induce the expression of the CYP-35B family of cytochrome P450s and the PGP-13 p-glycoprotein pump via the nuclear receptors NHR-70 and NHR-107 in the nematodeC. elegans. Apgp-13fluorescent reporter revealed hundreds of human drugs that upregulate the CAD defense systemin vivo. Chemoinformatic analyses indicate that thepgp-13reporter may be useful in identifying CADs that have pathogenic potential in humans. Mutant analyses coupled to metabolomics and structural modeling show that the CYP-35Bs are necessary and sufficient for CAD metabolism, and that CYP-35B2 D311 is key in mediating electrostatic interactions with the positively charged CADs. We also show that CAD metabolites are effluxed via PGP-13 acting partially redundantly with PGP-14 and that an intact defense system is necessary to resist CAD-induced pathology. Finally, we demonstrate that bacteria that likely cohabitate withC. elegansin nature trigger the CAD defense system, providing a plausible explanation for why a pathway that protects against anthropogenic small molecules exists in nematodes.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the acute effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women using an objective measurement method within the framework of a randomized controlled trial.MethodsThis randomized controlled pilot study included postmenopausal women who were allocated into two groups: a PFMT group (n = 45) and a control group (n = 58). The PFMT group performed a single set of exercises in the lithotomy position, consisting of 10 slow and 10 fast pelvic floor muscle contractions. The control group received no intervention.The primary outcome was vaginal dryness, assessed objectively using the Vaginal Lubrication Kit (VLK). Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for vaginal dryness, burning, and dyspareunia, as well as smear test results. Associations of baseline VLK and VAS scores with smear test findings were analyzed. Pre- and post-treatment differences, as well as between-group comparisons, were evaluated using parametric and non-parametric tests, with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsOf the 105 women randomized, 103 completed the study. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). Following the intervention, the PFMT group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in VLK scores (p < 0.05). Baseline VAS scores were statistically significantly negatively correlated with the initial VLK score (VAS vaginal dryness, VLK r: −0.571, VAS vaginal burning, VLK r: −0.451, VAS dyspareunia, VLK r: −0.460, p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of atrophy in the pre-treatment smear test was found to be statistically significantly negatively correlated with the initial VLK score (r: −0.346, p < 0.05).ConclusionsPFMT significantly reduced vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women compared with the control group. It may be considered a potential treatment option for vaginal dryness. The VLK appears to be a promising objective tool for both assessing vaginal dryness and monitoring treatment outcomes in postmenopausal women. Although these findings are promising, they should be interpreted with caution given the pilot design and the short follow-up. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of PFMT and to validate the VLK as an objective outcome measure.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the potential of mitochondria-targeting nanosystems as a novel therapeutic approach for treating a wide range of diseases. It explores the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in disease progression and shows how nanotechnology offers an innovative platform for delivering targeted therapies directly to mitochondria. We also highlight the role of mitochondria in cellular function and disease pathology particularly in cancer, followed by a consideration of the therapeutic potential of targeting these organelles. We explore the recent development and design principles of mitochondria-targeting nanosystems, assessing their applications and challenges and finally outline future research directions, emphasizing the importance of overcoming current limitations to expand the use of these nanosystems in medicine. This is intended to provide valuable insights into the promising connection of mitochondrial biology and nanotechnology, with the goal of advancing innovative treatments for various diseases.

Introduction: Breast lesions comprise about 34-40% of lesions evaluated by fine-needle aspiration in surgical practice. FineNeedle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is increasingly used as a simple and cost-effective method to assess the nature of breast lesions, with high sensitivity and reasonable specificity, which helps in planning further treatment. However, a small percentage of breast lesions cannot be confidently diagnosed as benign or malignant and are termed grey-zone lesions. These include reactive atypia seen in some benign conditions and atypia of malignancy. Aim: To analyse the cytological features of atypical proliferative breast diseases associated with a malignant diagnosis on histopathologic examination. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving FNAC smears of all patients diagnosed as proliferative breast disease with atypia in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India, from January 2018 to June 2021. Clinical and cytological features were studied, and patients were followed-up until June 2022. The lesions were classified histologically into benign and malignant lesions. The cytological features in the FNAC smears were studied. The data were entered into spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel, and the variables were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 for Windows. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate features significantly associated with a histological diagnosis of malignancy. Results: The study included a total of 162 cases diagnosed as proliferative breast disease with atypia on FNAC. Histopathological follow-up was available for these cases, with 73 benign and 89 malignant. Clinical features that were statistically significant in subjects with malignant histopathological diagnoses included age over 40 years, presence of a hard and fixed breast lump, and nipple changes. Cytological features predictive of a malignant histological diagnosis included clusters with ill-defined borders, loosely cohesive or cribriform clusters, clusters with markedly reduced or absent myoepithelial cells, reduced stromal fragments, numerous singly scattered atypical cells, markedly reduced or absent bipolar bare nuclei in the background, high mitotic rate, and necrosis. The nuclear features that were statistically significant included marked nuclear enlargement, nuclear pleomorphism, irregular nuclear contour, nuclear overlapping, and coarse nuclear chromatin. Conclusion: The diagnosis of malignancy requires a multifaceted approach, including correlation with clinical, radiological, and pathological features. For an unequivocal cytological diagnosis of malignancy, a constellation of cytomorphological features is needed; a single morphological feature cannot reliably distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Proper knowledge of the various cytomorphological features of malignancy can help predict malignancy even if all classical cytological features are not present. Cytological study can be a useful adjunct in triaging cases where prompt histopathological assessment is mandatory.

Background: Histopathological staining is crucial for tissue diagnosis, with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) being the standard. However, synthetic dyes pose environmental and health concerns. Syzygium cumini , an anthocyanin-rich fruit, presents a potential natural alternative. This study evaluates the staining efficacy of S. cumini extract compared to H and E. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the staining efficiency, uniformity, and differentiation of S. cumini extract and its suitability as a histological stain. Settings and Design: An observational study was conducted on 60 archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples, including normal and pathological oral tissues, decalcified bone, normal decalcified teeth, and exfoliative cytology smears. Materials and Methods: S. cumini dye was extracted using distilled water, 45% glacial acetic acid, and 70% ethanol. Soxhlet extraction enhanced staining efficiency. Staining was performed at 10, 15, 20, and 60 min. Three blinded oral pathologists evaluated cytoplasmic and nuclear staining, uniformity, intensity, and differentiation. Statistical Analysis Used: The Chi-square ( Χ 2 ) test was employed using SPSS software (IBM Corp., Version 27) to assess the statistical significance of differences in staining characteristics between H and E and S. cumini staining. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: S. cumini staining was comparable to H and E across all tissue types, with no statistically significant differences ( P &gt; 0.05). The 70% ethanol extract at 20 min provided optimal results, and Soxhlet extraction improved consistency. Conclusion: S. cumini extract is a viable, eco-friendly histological stain for cytoplasmic and nuclear structures. Further research is needed to determine its long-term stability and clinical applications.

Artificial intelligence generated visual communication improves comprehension and adherence in cervical cancer screening: a randomized controlled study.

The curious life of human mitochondrial SOD2.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is widely used for diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms, contributing to improved therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. This aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility, sample adequacy, and limitations of EUS-FNA cytology for pancreatic lesions. These were further confirmed after surgical resection and histopathological evaluation. We retrospectively included patients referred to two Teaching Hospitals in southern Iran for EUS-FNA due to suspected pancreatic cancer, who later underwent surgical resection or biopsy and eventually had a histopathological confirmed diagnosis. The cytological smears from EUS-FNA were compared with the final histology reports to assess diagnostic performance. Thirty patients were included in the final analysis. EUS-FNA cytology showed sensitivity of 90.00% [95% CI: 68.30, 98.77], specificity of 80.00% [95% CI: 44.39, 97.48], negative predictive value (NPV) of 80.00% [95% CI: 50.89, 93.92], positive predictive value (PPV) of 90.00% [95% CI: 72.09, 96.91], and overall accuracy of 86.67% [95% CI: 69.28, 96.24]. Two false-positive diagnoses (hydatid cyst and chronic pancreatitis) and two false-negative diagnoses (malignancies attributed to sampling errors) were observed. Immunohistochemical tests confirmed 8 out of 9 diagnoses made by cytology. Notably, all EUS-FNA samples provided adequate material for conclusive diagnosis. These results support the high importance of the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNA on solid pancreatic lesions, even without Rapid On Site Evaluation (ROSE), given that the sample is of adequate size for testing. Despite a few false negative and false positive diagnoses, EUS-FNA should be considered the first-line diagnostic tool for pancreatic lesions assessment.

Mitochondrial dynamics and morphology are closely linked to many cellular processes and pathologies. Conventional fluorescence microscopy allows for imaging of mitochondria selectively using fluorescent labeling, and consequently it suffers from phototoxicity and limited fluorescence channels. Quantitative phase contrast microscopy (QPCM) allows for imaging of tens of organelles in a label-free manner, yet it lacks the ability to distinguish specific organelles. In this work, we introduce an unsupervised deep learning model, entitled phase to fluorescence generative adversarial network (P2F-GAN). This model allows for virtual fluorescence labeling of mitochondria in QPCM images, eliminating the need for time-consuming paired training data acquisition. Utilizing an attention module and a customized loss function, P2F-GAN allows for virtual labeling of mitochondria (demonstrated as an example), achieving a structural similarity of 0.88, a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.86, and a Dice coefficient of 0.84. The capability of the method has been demonstrated for tracking mitochondria in both physiological conditions and pharmacological interventions. The proposed method can be extended to other subcellular structures and invites many applications.

The study aimed to explore the risk factors of close contacts developing pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), identify active TB and describe the sociodemographic characteristics of active TB among close contacts in Putuo District, Shanghai. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the close contacts of pulmonary TB in Putuo District from 2017 to 2018. Symptom questionnaire, Chest X-ray (CXR) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) were carried out to screen the consenting close contacts. Three sputum samples were collected for sputum smear tests, sputum culture tests, and molecular-based diagnostics from whose screening was positive to confirm the diagnosis and receive treatment. A total of 1036 individuals were included in this study, with an average of 47.3 ± 19.4 years old, including 427 males and 609 females. Four of the close contacts had presumptive TB based on symptom screening. Fourteen had presumptive TB based on abnormal CXR finding and 52 had positive IGRA results. Multivariate analysis showed that index cases with positive sputum smears, close contacts who had presumptive TB based on symptom screening and their interaction term were at significantly higher risk of developing TB. Studies have shown particular emphasis should be put on those with bacteria-positive index cases or those who had presumptive TB based on symptom screening during follow-up. Since the proportion of latent tuberculosis infection is high among close contacts undergoing IGRA examination, measures such as tuberculosis preventive treatment can be considered to reduce the incidence of TB.

The transition from conventional smear (CS) cytology to liquid-based cytology (LBC) in thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been a subject of debate, with varying reports on diagnostic performance. This retrospective observational study evaluates this institution's 5-year experience with LBC in thyroid cytology from 2020 to 2024, comparing its advantages and results with past experience using CS combined with rapid on-site assessment (ROSE) from 2016 to 2018, and correlating cytological diagnoses with histopathological outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of all thyroid FNAs processed and reported at the cytopathology department of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi-National Reference Laboratory (CCAD/NRL) using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). A total of 741 nodules were aspirated from January 2016 to May 2018 using primarily conventional smears with the routine practice of ROSE (pre-LBC), while 4993 nodules were aspirated via LBC (ThinPrep) between July 2020 and September 2024 without ROSE (post-LBC). Cases with subsequent surgical resection were reviewed and correlated with the pre-operative cytology diagnosis to assess diagnostic accuracy. Data analysis before and after transitioning to LBC was performed to compare diagnostic performance, Bethesda category distribution, and surgical outcomes. LBC was associated with improved pre-analytical standardization, with nondiagnostic rates stabilizing at 10.8% compared with 4%-7% during the pre-LBC period when ROSE was routinely used. The atypia of undetermined significance (AUS; Bethesda III) rate significantly decreased from 16% pre-LBC to 7% post-LBC, with architectural atypia alone comprising 3% post-LBC. Histologic correlation was available for 199 pre-LBC and 258 post-LBC nodules. Pre-LBC cytology demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 80.8%, 95.1%, 93.3%, and 85.3%, respectively. Post-LBC metrics improved to 92.3% sensitivity and PPV, and 98.8% specificity and NPV. Among Bethesda II nodules, the false-negative rate decreased from 14.3% pre-LBC to 2.3% post-LBC. AUS nodules with nuclear atypia demonstrated a 92.3% malignancy rate post-LBC, compared to 40.4% in unstratified AUS cases pre-LBC. Oncocytic cell-rich indeterminate nodules were predominantly benign in both cohorts. LBC is associated with several practical advantages over CS in thyroid cytology. In addition to streamlining and standardizing diagnostic workflows, it significantly helped to improve diagnostic accuracy. We observed a significant decrease in AUS rate, reducing interpretive uncertainty, and enhanced detection of malignancy with nuclear atypia. These findings validate Bethesda's recommendations for more granular classification of indeterminate cytology. The nondiagnostic rate increased slightly in the post-LBC period, a predictable effect of ROSE withdrawal. However, this modest rise was offset by the substantial gains in workflow efficiency and overall diagnostic accuracy achieved with LBC. This long-term experience reinforces LBC as a reliable and efficient method for thyroid FNA evaluation and better risk stratification.

A salivary mucocele is an accumulation of saliva in tissue spaces consequent to a leak of a damaged salivary gland or duct. This article describes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and treatment outcome of twenty one cases of salivary mucocele presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Peradeniya. The age of the dogs ranged from two to ten years; the breeds included both local and crosses of imported breeds. The diagnoses of salivary mucocele in all cases were made on clinical presentation and confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). All cytological smears displayed windrowing and contained increased numbers of neutrophils, haemosiderin-laden macrophages, haematoidin crystals and bacteria. The causes for salivary mucocele were identified as trauma and inflammation, salivary adenocarcinoma and idiopathic. All dogs were treated surgically under general anaesthesia; surgical drainage, with removal of affected salivary gland and surgical drainage with removal of salivary carcinoma. In addition to surgical intervention, the dogs were prescribed with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and an Elizabethan collar was applied to prevent self-trauma. The treatment outcome was excellent in all dogs except one dog which had a salivary gland adenocarcinoma that succumbed a few weeks following surgery, despite supportive management.

There is relatively low awareness about Human papillomavirus (HPV) in Saudi Arabia. Increased awareness is required to gain better knowledge, particularly among the general population. This study aims to evaluate the awareness level of women about cervical smears, HPV, and HPV vaccine. Also, this study evaluates the effectiveness of the Saudi Ministry of Health’s campaign aimed to raise awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine by comparing data collected before and after the campaign. This study employed a cross-sectional, online survey-based design conducted in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected during two periods: 2022 and 2024. The target participants were women aged 18 and older residing in Saudi Arabia. Exclusions included individuals with a history of HPV infection and those who did not provide consent. The questionnaire comprised 26 items, organized into three sections: sociodemographic information, awareness levels of HPV and the HPV vaccine, and cervical screening practices and vaccine acceptance. A total of 858 women participated in this study. Overall, 49.4% of women were aware of HPV, and 38% were aware of the HPV vaccine. Over two-thirds (67.6%) were willing to receive a free HPV vaccination. Social media was the most common source of information (HPV: 63.2%; HPV vaccine: 57.1%). From 2022 to 2024, there was a significant increase in HPV awareness, rising from 38.8% in 2022 to 71.1% in 2024 (p < 0.001), and awareness of the HPV vaccine significantly increased from 28.2% to 58.7% (p < 0.001). Despite these improvements in awareness, only 25.8% of participants reported having undergone cervical cancer screening (Pap smear). The main drivers for awareness are knowledge-based (knowing the vaccine exists for men/children, knowing where to get it). For acceptance of HPV vaccine, the strongest psychological driver is a parent’s willingness to vaccinate their children. This study highlights the success of the Saudi Ministry of Health’s campaign in raising awareness about HPV and its vaccine. Despite this progress, the low uptake of cervical cancer screening remains a critical public health issue. Greater emphasis on the importance of pap smear tests is needed to enhance early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

Removal of the lower third molar is one of the main methods of surgical treatment of patients with difficult eruption. The problem of postoperative wound management after removal of the lower third molar deserves special attention. When treating a wound under a wound dressing, it is customary to use iodoform turunda, collagen-based dressings. Currently, gelling agents based on calcium alginate are used in surgical practice. A comparative assessment of the cellular composition of the exudate is relevant when using various wound dressings after removal of the third molar of the mandible. The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of the results of cytological examination of cellular exudate taken from the wound surface in the postoperative period during surgical dental treatment of patients with difficult eruption of the third lower molar using various wound dressings. Materials and methods. A study was conducted involving 120 patients who were indicated for complex removal of the lower third molar. The patients were divided into four groups of 30 people, depending on the method of postoperative wound management. Exudate was collected using a sterile latex device to obtain a smear impression on days 1, 3, and 7 after surgery, which was sent for cytological examination. Cytological smears of wound exudate were stained with azur eosin and analyzed with a count of 100 leukocytes. Results. Analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate of the socket of the extracted lower third molar showed that when using an iodoform turunda, by the third day there were signs of developing purulent inflammation (erythrocyte aggregation, colonies of microorganisms) and an increasing reaction to a foreign body (increase in the proportion of monocytes) by the third day, while other wound dressings did not cause pronounced signs of a purulent process according to cytological examination data. Conclusion. The use of wound dressings based on collagen, calcium alginate, and their combinations showed that the above-mentioned dressings demonstrate comparable results in terms of the level of inflammatory response and cellular composition of exudate, which indicates their equal effectiveness in postoperative wound management and prevention of purulent-inflammatory complications.