Detection of high risk human papilloma viruses [HR-HPV] in endocervical scrapes from women with abnormal cytology in a Turkish university hospital

To assess the utility of a commercial PCR based HPV test for evaluating patients before colposcopy and colposcopic biopsy sampling in a Turkish hospital and to compare its efficacy with histology in preventing unnecessary colposcopic biopsy sampling. Case control study. Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. One hundred and seventy-four women with abnormal Pap smear results [40 with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [HSIL] and 134 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [LSIL] and 34 women with normal cytologic test results were included. Papanicolaou stainings and high risk HPV DNA [HR-HPV DNA] detections were done for all endocervical scrape specimens. Colposcopic evaluation and endocervical sampling were done for 52 patients. Papanicolaou stainings, HR-HPV DNA detections and histologic examination from endocervical samplings were evaluated. Human beta-globin was not detected in 40 samples. All of the 13 samples from patients with HR-HPV DNA positivity and HSIL were diagnosed as CIN2+ lesions [100%], whereas 23.2% [4/17] of patients with HR-HPV DNA negativity and HSIL were found to have CIN2+ lesions. HR-HPV DNA test, which also amplifies a genomic fragment as an internal control, seems to be a good screening tool. Besides the benefit of an early diagnosis of cervical cancer, HR-HPV DNA assay may also lead to a marked decrease in unnecessary invasive cervical samplings

Bone metabolism and mineral density in patients with beta-thalassemia major

To evaluate bone metabolism in patients with beta-thalassemia major and to determine the factors associated with the development of osteoporosis. We studied 25 patients with thalassemia major with a mean age of 18.4 years [range 5-31] and aged and gender matched 24 healthy controls who were attending the outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic of Akdeniz University Hospital between January 2004 and March 2004 in Turkey. Bone mineral density [BMD] of lumbar spine [L1-L4] and proximal femur were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry [DXA]. Venous blood samples were obtained for determination of blood cell count and markers of bone formation and resorption. The BMD values, both at Jumbar and femoral neck levels were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. Serum N- telopeptide level was slightly higher, whereas osteocalcin was slightly lower in patients; however, these values were not statistically significant. Plasma levels of insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-I] and insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 [IGFBP-3] were significantly lower in patients. Also, serum levels of estradiol and progesterone in females, [uteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in both gender were significantly lower in patients. Serum levels of free testosterone and total testosterone were lower in patients, but not statistically significant. Patients also Kad significantly higher serum phosphorus levels and lower serum calcitonin levels compared to controls. The BMD is decreased in thalassemic patients. Growth retardation, growth hormone/ IGF-I/IGFBP-3 axis dysfunction, gonadal dysfunction and hypothalomo-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction may be responsible for the development of osteoporosis in the patients with beta-thalassemia major