Prevalence Of Human Papillomavirus Infection Research Articles

High-risk HPV prevalence and vaccination coverage among Indigenous women in the Colombian Amazon: Implications for cervical cancer prevention. Cross-sectional study.

Cervical cancer, primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) transmission through sexual contact, necessitates comprehensive strategies to combat its impact on women's health. Yet, certain underserved populations, such as low socioeconomic and ethnic minority groups, encounter barriers in accessing timely interventions and early diagnosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of assessing HPV prevalence, genotype distribution, and co-infections among 280 adult women residing in a Colombian Indigenous Reserve within the Amazon region. The research adhered to a community-centric approach that respected cultural norms, native languages, and Indigenous authorities' permission. The study revealed an overall HPV infection prevalence of 31.1% (n = 87, 95% CI 25.7-36.8), with 22.5% (n = 63, 95% CI 17.7-27.8) of women infected by at least one high-risk HPV genotype and 15.0% (n = 42, 95% CI 11-19.7) infected by at least one LR genotype. These results align with the findings of other Colombian studies. Notable high-frequency genotypes included 16, 52, 66, 56, and 68, with the most common combinations being [66-52] and [66-58]. The study also assessed the prevalence of HPV vaccination, revealing a rate of 22.9%, lower than the national average. In vaccinated women, the prevalence of genotypes 16 and 18 was significantly reduced, as anticipated. Importantly, it was observed that 57.1% of all high-risk HPV infections could have been prevented with the use of the nonavalent vaccine. These findings underscore the critical need to enhance adherence to early cervical cancer detection and monitor positive cases to evaluate high-risk HPV persistence. Efforts should be directed toward continuing vaccination coverage against high-risk HPV 16 and 18 with the quadrivalent vaccine, while also striving to make the nonavalent vaccine accessible for inclusion in large-scale public health programs. Additionally, the study did not identify a specific pattern of co-infection. The study emphasizes the significance of adopting a locally tailored epidemiological approach to guide and promote cervical cancer prevention efforts in Indigenous communities.

Prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus infection among women with and without invasive cervical cancer: Findings from a hospital-based study in Bihar, India.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is largely responsible for the development of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Its prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution among women residing in Bihar (third most populous Indian state) with and without ICC are not well known. Methods In this hospital-based study, we followed up 1439 participants with cytology and HPV report. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using the TaqMan-based real-time PCR method. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected and analysed using statistical methods. Results The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 37.3% (537/1439) and 11 different types of HPV genotypes were observed. Higher HPV positivity was found in premalignant, intraepithelial and invasive malignant lesions of the cervix; 73.8% (93/126) of atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and 93.4% (114/122) of invasive malignancies were infected with HPV in comparison to only 26.1% (245/938) of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) cytology. Moreover, HPV was found in 95.2% (236/248) of histologically confirmed cases of carcinoma cervix. HPV16 and HPV18 infections were reported in 78.2% (194/248) and 8.9% (22/248), respectively. The remaining patients had infection with other high-risk strains/co-infection with multiple strains or were HPV-negative. Various socio-demographic factors including women >50 years of age, >10 years of marriage and high parity were significantly associated with HPV infection. Conclusion Our data suggest that HPV16 infection may be the major cause for ICC among women residing in Bihar. Our findings may serve as a baseline for developing an appropriate screening and vaccination strategy for Bihar.

Detection of transcriptionally active high-risk human papillomavirus in patients with oesophageal carcinoma by real-time PCR

ABSTRACT Background: Oesophageal malignancies (OC) are the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Traditional risk factors for OC include smoking, alcohol consumption, and poorly controlled acid reflux; however, the trends in the last decade have pointed out the potential carcinogenic roles of infectious agents, especially Human Papillomavirus (HPV), in the development of OC. The prevalence of HPV infection in OC varies greatly worldwide, mainly due to the inconsistencies of the detection assays employed. This study attempted to establish the association between high-risk HPV and oesophageal malignancies by detecting the transcriptionally active HPV mRNA. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 30 malignant oesophageal samples were subjected to real-time PCR to detect high-risk HPV-16 and 18 by targeting transcriptionally active E6/E7 genes. The positive samples were further subjected to viral load assessment. Results: Histopathological analysis of the patients showed that a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was seen in 56.2% of the cases. Of the 30 samples, 4 (13.3%) showed positive for HPV-16 E6/E7, and none showed positive for HPV-18 E6/E7. The viral load of HPV-16 E6/E7 in the positive samples was lesser than the copies present in the well-established cell line, SiHa. Conclusion: The role of HPV in the etiopathogenesis of oesophageal malignancies is unclear. Based on this study and the supporting data presented, it can be said that the association of high-risk HPV infection in oesophageal cancers does exist, but whether it is clinically and etiologically significant is the question that needs to be answered. Multicenter studies from different geographical locations, employing multiple molecular methods with a larger sample size, could aid in a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of HPV in OC.

Human Papillomavirus Types and Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Sex Workers in Cameroon.

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer due to occupational exposure. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HPV, HPV types, and precancerous lesions of the cervix among FSWs in Cameroon. In this cross-sectional study, FSWs in Cameroon aged 30 years and above were screened for cervical cancer using high-risk HPV testing and genotyping and visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI) enhanced using digital cervicography (DC) simultaneously. Those who were positive for VIA/VILI-DC were provided treatment with thermal ablation (TA) immediately for cryotherapy/TA-eligible lesions while lesions meeting the criteria for large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) were scheduled at an appropriate facility for the LLETZ procedure. HPV-positive FSWs without any visible lesion on VIA/VILI-DC were administered TA. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare demographic and clinical characteristics. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were computed for HPV infection status and treatment uptake as outcomes in separate models and their ORs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. Among the 599 FSWs aged 30 years and older that were screened for HPV and VIA/VILI-DC, 62.1% (95% CI: (0.58-0.66)) were positive for one or more HPV types. HPV type 51 had the highest prevalence (14%), followed by types 53 (12.4%) and 52 (12.2%). Type 18 had the lowest prevalence of 2.8% followed by type 16 with 5.2%. In the multivariable model, HIV-positive FSWs were 1.65 times more likely to be infected with HPV compared to their HIV-negative counterparts (AOR: 1.65, CI: 1.11-2.45). A total of 9.9% of the 599 FSWs were positive for VIA/VILI-DC. The prevalence of HPV infection among FSWs in Cameroon is higher than the worldwide pooled FSW prevalence. HPV types 51 and 53 were the most prevalent, while types 18 and 16 were the least prevalent. HIV status was the only variable that was significantly associated with infection with HPV.

Association of thyroid cancer with human papillomavirus infections

While Human Papillomavirus (HPV) particles have been detected in a small proportion of benign thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer cases, a role of HPV in these thyroid conditions has not been established. This study aims to investigate the association of HPV infection with thyroid cancer (TC) using a nationwide population-based study. We retrieved data for this case–control study from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. The study sample included 3062 patients with TC and 9186 propensity-scored matched controls. We employed multivariate logistic regression models to quantitatively evaluate the association of TC with HPV infections after taking age, sex, monthly income, geographic location and urbanization level of the patient's residence, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia into considerations. Chi-squared test revealed that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior HPV infections between patients with TC and controls (15.3% vs. 7.6%, p < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio of prior HPV infections for patients with TC was 2.199 (95% CI = 1.939–2.492) relative to controls. The adjusted ORs of prior HPV infections for patients with TC was similar for males and females. Our research suggests a significant link between HPV infection and the development of TC.

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Women in Wuhan, China: A Retrospective Study.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide, with its persistence being a significant factor in the development of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Understanding the prevalence and genotypes distribution of HPV can aid in the implementation of more focused strategies for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection among outpatient-based populations in Wuhan, China. Our study retrospectively analyzed the results of cervical HPV screening in 14,492 outpatient women. The cervicovaginal infection of 18 high-risk genotypes and 10 low-risk genotypes were analyzed by PCR and reverse dot hybridization techniques. The overall prevalence of HPV infection in the outpatient female population was 15.33%, with a predominance of single infection and a predominance of dual infection among multiple infections. The top five genotypes in terms of prevalence of HR-HPV and LR-HPV were HPV-52 (3.77%), 53 (1.46%), 16 (1.31%), 58 (1.19%), 39 (1.18%) for HR-HPV, and HPV-54 (1.23%), 61 (1.08%), 81 (1.04%), 42 (0.87%), 44 (0.70%) for LR-HPV. Two peaks of HPV infection prevalence were observed among women under 25 years (22.88%) and over 56 years (24.26%). The prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection varied among different outpatient populations, with higher rates of HPV single infection, multiple infections, and infection across all ages observed in the gynecology outpatient population compared to the health check-up population. This study revealed the HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among different outpatient populations in Wuhan city, which may provide guidance for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention strategies in the region.

Prevalence and correlates of Human Papillomavirus infection in females from Southern Province, Zambia: A cross-sectional study.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer with almost all cases being associated with the infection. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Zambia and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. However, there is limited data on the burden and associated factors of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HPV infection in the Southern province of Zambia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) among 4,612 women from different districts of the southern province being screened for HPV infection between September 2021 and August 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected from an existing laboratory programmatic database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with HPV infection. The study participants had a median age of 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30, 47]. The prevalence of HPV infection was 35.56% (95%CI). At multivariable analysis, the factors associated with a positive HPV result were younger age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-0.99; p. value 0.001), having provider collected sample (AOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.66-2.79; p. value <0.001) and living with HIV (AOR 1.77; 95%CI 1.22-2.55; p. value <0.002). The prevalence of HPV in women in the southern province of Zambia is high, and likely influenced by age and HIV status. Additionally, the outcome of the HPV test is affected by the sample collection method. Therefore, there is a necessity to enhance HPV and cervical cancer screening, especially among people with HIV.

Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and pregnancy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide, which may result in the development in benign lesions or malignant tumors. The prevalence of HPV infection is twice as high in pregnancy as in non-pregnant women. Additionally, there is a risk of vertical transmission of HPV from mother to fetus during pregnancy or childbirth. Various studies have reported an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in HPV-positive women, including miscarriage, preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and fetal death. HPV vaccination is not currently recommended during pregnancy. On the other hand, there is no evidence linking HPV vaccination during pregnancy with adverse pregnancy outcomes and termination of pregnancy is not justified in this case.

Addressing the burden of cervical cancer for Indigenous women in Latin America and the Caribbean: a call for action.

Cervical cancer, primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, poses a significant global health challenge. Due to higher levels of poverty and health inequities, Indigenous women worldwide are more vulnerable to cervical cancer than their non-Indigenous counterparts. However, despite constituting nearly 10% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the true extent of the burden of cervical cancer among Indigenous people in this region remains largely unknown. This article reviews the available information on cervical cancer incidence and mortality, as well as HPV infection prevalence, among Indigenous women in LAC. The limited existing data suggest that Indigenous women in this region face a heightened risk of cervical cancer incidence and mortality compared to non-Indigenous women. Nevertheless, a substantial knowledge gap persists that must be addressed to comprehensively assess the burden of cervical cancer among Indigenous populations, especially through enhancing cancer surveillance across LAC countries. Numerous structural, social and cultural barriers hindering Indigenous women's access to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening worldwide have been identified and are reviewed in this article. The discussion highlights the critical role of culturally sensitive education, community engagement, and empowerment strategies in overcoming those barriers. Drawing insights from the success of targeted strategies in certain high-income countries, the present article advocates for research, policies and healthcare interventions tailored to the unique context of LAC countries.

Human papillomavirus in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus: association with viral load and lymphocyte count.

Women living with human immunodeficiency virus are at an increased risk of developing cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV). Thus, it is important to combine clinical assessments, serological screening, and HPV data for planning prevention policies. This study aimed to identify HPV and its specific types in the cervical, anal, and oral mucosa of HIV-seropositive women, associating it with viral load and lymphocyte count. Sociodemographic characteristics, health data (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and viral load), and biological samples (cervical, anal, and oral) were collected from 86 HIV-positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Data were classified according to the presence or absence of HPV-DNA, HPV-DNA presence at one or more anatomic sites, and level of oncogenic risk, considering low- and high-risk oncogenic HPV-DNA groups. The presence of HPV in the cervicovaginal site was 65.9%, 63.8% in anal canal, and 4.2% in oral mucosa. A viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL was associated with the presence of HPV-DNA. There was an association between viral load and the low-risk HPV or high-risk HPV groups. We found a high prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-seropositive women, particularly in the cervical and anal mucosa, with viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL being associated with HPV-DNA presence.

Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccine in India; Requisite for a Healthy Community: A Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects approximately 80% of individuals, irrespective of gender, and is implicated in various cancers. Existing HPV vaccines, while safe and effective, do not sufficiently protect males when administered solely to females. This review, triggered by the urgent need to address this gap and reduce the associated stigma, aims to evaluate the introduction of a gender-neutral HPV vaccine, GARDASIL-9, in India. The primary objective is to assess the necessity and feasibility of incorporating the gender-neutral HPV vaccine into India's national immunization program. This integration is crucial to ensure equitable access for all children and to mitigate the substantial burden of HPV. A literature search was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, government websites, and relevant publications. Keywords included "gender-neutral vaccine", "HPV vaccine", and "Indian population". The central research question guiding this review is: How necessary and feasible is the inclusion of a gender-neutral HPV vaccine in India's national immunization schedule to ensure equitable access for all children and reduce the HPV burden? The review inclusion criteria comprised studies addressing the prevalence of HPV infections, HPV vaccination awareness among both genders, the cost-effectiveness of gender-neutral vaccines, current HPV vaccination status, and future perspectives specific to India. Studies not meeting these criteria were excluded. The review highlights that introducing a gender-neutral HPV vaccine in India is imperative. Including males in vaccination efforts significantly reduces the overall disease burden and helps in reducing the stigma associated with HPV. A comprehensive vaccination program, bolstered by education and awareness campaigns, and its inclusion in the national immunization schedule is essential. This approach ensures equitable access to the vaccine for all children, fostering a healthier community, preventing HPV-related cancers, and enhancing public health outcomes in India.

Unravelling the Impact of Human Papillomavirus (HPV): A Comprehensive Exploration of its Role in Cancer Progression and Global Health Challenges

HPV represents a large group of double stranded DNA viruses that are highly involved with different types of human cancers. This synopsis describes the complexities surrounding HPV virology, classifications, and genomic variation, especially focusing on high-risk strains such as HPV16 and HPV18, the main causative factors for cervical cancers. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses specifies more than 200 HPV types each associated with a respective disease and indicated in Table 1. HPV spread is mostly due to direct skin-to-skin contact between individuals’ sex organs causing infections on the mucous membrane and keratinized epithelial cells. Although majority of the infections are asymptomatic, some chronic HRHPV infections may progress into cancers because of oncoproteins E6 and E7. The high-risk variants of HPV lead to cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers whereas the low-risk types cause harmless genital warts. While integrating HPV DNA into the host genome, orchestrated by oncoproteins E6 and E7 disrupts the cell regulatory mechanism; this leads to abnormal control over cell multiplication–one of the major elements of the process that develops to HPV induced cancer. A classic case is cervical cancer that has been extensively investigated as one of the highly documented HPV associated malignancies. Pap smears and HPV DNA tests are among the screening means that lower the incidents and deaths associated with cervical cancers. HPV-associated cancers of the head and neck, anus, penis, vulva, and vagina all show a characteristic profile in terms of the pathogen aetiology and risks involved. HPV-related head and neck cancers affect non-smokers and show good response to standard therapies. HPV poses increased anal cancer risk for immunocompromised individuals highlighting the complexity of interdependence of immunity and cancer development. Penile cancer results from poor hygiene and non-circumcision. Vulvar and virginal cancer mostly affects women, and the risk factors involve HPV infection and smoking. Therefore, various types of multidisciplinary approach that may include surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are necessary to ensure proper treatment. Certain cancers are strongly associated with some high-risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18; thus, vaccination is important. HPV infection outcomes are determined by the immune response as well as clearance of HPV infection. Screening and immunological understanding for early detection of HPV related health risks is fundamental. However, this encompassing review highlights the multi-dimensional impact of HPV encompassing virology of HPV, cancer specific presentation of HPV and control including prevention of HPV infection, screening, and research on cancer attributable by HPV and strategies towards mitigation of this global health problem.

Information-seeking Behavior of Iranian Young Adults (18-28 Years Old) Regarding HPV on Social Media: A Preventive Approach to HPV.

Health information-seeking behavior refers to individuals' targeted actions to satisfy their health information needs and search for relevant disease-related information. Nowadays, social media platforms provide a great opportunity for meeting health information needs and delivering preventive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this study is the information-seeking behavior of Iranian young adults (18-28 years old) regarding HPV on social media, a preventive approach to HPV. The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 among Iranian boys and girls aged 18-28 years. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 3840 participants. The data collection tool was Longo's Health Information-Seeking Behavior Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software. The results showed that Iranian youth aged 18-28 were more inclined to seek information on social media about the transmission routes and preventive measures for HPV. The primary informational need regarding transmission was "I want to know the main route of HPV transmission is through vaginal and anal intercourse?", and regarding prevention, it was "Can condoms prevent HPV infection?" Additionally, the findings indicated that young individuals sought information about HPV after their first sexual encounter. Most of the information needs of the youth were fulfilled through YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp, mainly in video format. Approximately 85.10% of the youth were satisfied with the information obtained from social media. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship between the health information needs of young adults (18-28 years old) in the area of HPV and personal factors. Gender, age, marital status, education level, history of HPV infection, and engaging is unprotected extramarital sex were identified as significant influential factors on the level of information needs of young individuals, especially regarding HPV preventive measures (P < 0.05). Health authorities and disease control and prevention centers need to harness the potential of social media in meeting the informational needs of youth and providing education and awareness, especially concerning the transmission and prevention of HPV.

Human papillomavirus vaccination intention and its associated factors among female medical college students in Hubei, China: A cross-sectional study.

The uptake rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in China is low, including among college students. In addition, medical students are the target population for the HPV vaccine, but they have poor uptake of the HPV vaccine. This study aimed to investigate factors related to HPV vaccination intention among female medical college students in Hubei Province. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 988 female medical college students from six colleges in Hubei Province with a multistage sampling method. The data were collected by web-based online software. Multiple logistic regression was applied to explore the factors associated with the intention of HPV vaccination. The majority of students (85.5%) reported a high level of intention to receive HPV vaccine, about 82.3% have a willingness to pay (WTP) for HPV vaccine, and 51.5% reported that family members had never received the HPV vaccine. The students who had higher scores of knowledge of HPV, HPV infection prevention awareness, the protection motivation theory (PMT)-related factors including perceived severity, perceived response efficacy, perceived self-efficacy, and WTP for the HPV vaccine had higher intention to receive HPV vaccine. HPV vaccination intention was high in medical students. Also, it was influenced by knowledge of HPV, PMT-related factors, and WTP for HPV vaccine. Thus, consideration of these factors is important to design the HPV vaccination campaign that can increase the intention to receive HPV vaccine, which in turn may increase the HPV vaccination.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection among Women in Northcentral Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cervical HPV infections and its associated socio-demographic risk factors among women attending selected hospitals in some parts of Northcentral Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 women attending the cervical screening units of three tertiary health facilities. The screening for some participants was based on referral following a risk assessment by healthcare staff. Information about the socio-demographic/risk factors was obtained through structured questionnaires, while HPV DNA was detected from the cervical swab samples collected using Nested PCR. Socio-economic characteristics and factors were analyzed using frequency and percentages while categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square. P &lt; 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of HPV infection in this study was 35.6%. Women who participated were between the ages of 20 and 70. The results obtained showed a high prevalence of HPV among women within the age range of 30 – 39 years (17.6%). Demographic data and risk factors such as age range 30 – 39 years (p=0.001; r=0.56), coital age of 15 - 19 years (p=0.004; r= 0.62), use of contraceptives (p=0.002; r=0.54), history of STI (p=0.035; r= 0.47), age at first pregnancy (p= 0.002; r= 0.53), pre-menopausal age (p=0.019, r= 0.51) and multiparity (p=0.033; r=0.49) were found to have a significant association with HPV infection. Conclusion: The HPV prevalence observed shows increased virus transmission in Northcentral Nigeria. Hence, a need to employ early diagnoses, treatment, and vaccination to avert an upsurge in cervical cancer cases in Northcentral Nigeria.

Albanian Male Students Perception and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The women and men are vulnerable to HPV infections as one of the diseases with the highest incidence of cancer in the world, it’s important to know the level of knowledge they have about HPV infection and vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge around the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and what can be caused by this, in a group of students which consist only in Albanian men its relationship with genital warts and different type of cancers and HPV vaccine. We conducted a questionnaire survey of 160 male students in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania. The questionnaire showed that only one third of the students had heard about HPV infection and 45.28% of them had heard about protective vaccination. Between the two groups divided into two age groups: 18-21 years and 22-25 years, significant differences were observed only in the knowledge scores (p = 0.00), while in the sensitivity scores (p = 0.753) and seriousness (p = 0.13) no differences were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, we must say that we need to increase the contribution in education for the recognition and treatment of the concept of HPV and related diseases in the university system, in order to prepare conscious generations for the great importance of HPV infection prevention and vaccination.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination among male nurses.

This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male nurses towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination and to examine whether knowledge about the HPV vaccine affects attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccines. HPV is responsible for ≈5% of all cancers worldwide. Therefore, vaccination against HPV is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV-related cancers in men and women. The study group included 383 male nurses who were asked to complete online questionnaires. The data were collected using the following tools: a sociodeomographical characteristics form, the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPVKS), and The Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (CHIAS). It was determined that the general HPV knowledge of the male nurses participating in the study was at a moderate level, but their knowledge of HPV screening test, HPV vaccination, and current HPV vaccination programmes were at a low level. Male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low, and most of them did not intend to be vaccinated. In addition, CHIAS Attitudes and Beliefs scores of the male nurses were at an average level and HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of the nurses. These results demonstrate an opportunity to improve information and awareness about HPV and vaccines by nursing education.

Promising directions in the development of new vaccines against papillomavirus infection

Papillomavirus infection is one of the most common viral infections worldwide. Highly oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the root cause of cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, genitals in men, anal cancer, as well as cancer of the oropharyngeal region. Currently, three HPV vaccines have been registered and successfully used in Russia: divalent (HPV types 16, 18) and quadrivalent (HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18). In the countries of America and Europe, a nine-valent vaccine is available, which contains nine types of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58). These vaccines are preventive, have high immunogenicity and induce the production of specific antibodies. The action of preventive vaccines is aimed at creating specific humoral immunity to the capsid proteins of the virus, which leads to the prevention of HPV infection. Nevertheless, there are no specific medicines on the pharmaceutical market aimed at treating an already established pathology.&#x0D; Currently, active development of HPV vaccines with both preventive and therapeutic effects is underway. Candidates of therapeutic HPV vaccines undergo various stages of research. Experimental vaccination systems on animal models provide encouraging results. If preventive and therapeutic HPV vaccines prove to be effective in patients as well as in animal models, then pillomavirus infection and related malignant diseases can be controlled by vaccination.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Abnormalities among Women Attending a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia over 2 Years.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution varies according to the assessment method and the population targeted. This study aimed to assess HPV infection prevalence in women aged 23 to 82 with abnormal cytology attending King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using retrospective data collected from January 2021 to December 2022. Cytological distribution included 155 samples of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (n = 83), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (n = 46), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (n = 14), atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) (n = 10), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 2). All samples were submitted to HPV detection and genotyping using Xpert HPV assay specimens. The most prevalent epithelial abnormalities were ASCUS (53.50%). Positive HPV infection results were observed in 52.9% of the samples. The highest prevalence of HPV genotypes, accounting for 31%, was attributed to the other high-risk genotypes, including 31, 33, 35, 39, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68, followed by high-risk genotype 16, which counted in 11.60% of cases. Individuals who tested positive for HPV 16 were at a high risk of ASC-H, HSIL, and LSIL. Those testing positive for HPV 18-45 exhibited an elevated risk of LSIL, and those with positive results for other high-risk HPV genotypes were at an increased risk of ASCUS and LSIL, suggesting a low oncogenic potential. The results suggest that the percentage of association between samples with abnormal cervical presentation and negative high-risk HPV diagnosis is noticeably increasing. This underscores the need for effective screening programs and an understanding of the impact of specific HPV genotypes on cervical abnormalities.

The Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Women Living with HIV in Mukono General Hospital, Uganda

Background and aims: High-risk oncogenic genotype human papillomavirus (HPV) infection induces cervical cancer (CaCx), a common cancer in women globally. Women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) have a greater risk of hr-HPV infection and perseverance, enhancing the risk of defects in the cells of the cervix and aggressive CaCx. However, its prevalence in WLHIV is not apparent. The main objective of this research was to explore the types and prevalence of HPV infection by genotyping HPV among a cohort of WLHIV attending an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic in Mukono, Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 25 to 49 years attending an ART clinic in a public health facility in Mukono, Uganda. Systematic random sampling was used to select 342 WLHIV from a target population of 3000. Only participants who had an Xpert HPV test between July 2021 and December 2022 were selected and interviewed, and their responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Slightly more than half (56.7%) of the participants were under 35 years old, married (52.6%), and with a primary level of education (51.2%). The prevalence of hr-HPV was 39.8% (95% CI: 34.40-44.78). Of the total participants, 136 (39.8%) were high-risk HPV positive, with HPV 16, HPV18/45, and other hr-HPV types (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68) being positive in 23 (6.7%), 21 (6.1%), and 110 (32.2%), respectively, while 17 (12.5%) had mixed hr-HPV infections. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of HPV infection among WLHIV, underscoring the need to frequently screen and diagnose CaCx pre-cancerous lesions for its effective prevention.