Human papillomavirus detection using in situ hybridization and correlations with histological and cytological findings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent of cancerous and precancerous lesions in cervical cancers. The infection detection is performed by cytological and histological examination. However, molecular testing for HPV infection remains necessary to distinguish nonspecific inflammatory lesions from HPV-related lesions. We aimed to compare cytological and histological diagnosis of HPV lesions and to confront histological findings with molecular detection of HPV by in situ hybridization (ISH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 2399 pap smears were collected between 1997 and 2002. Twenty-nine of them presented with lesions indicative of HPV infection. Colposcopy and biopsy were performed on 23 of these 29 pap smears, with a comparison of the cytological and histological findings. Molecular testing for HPV by ISH was performed on 11 pap smears. RESULTS: A 79% cytological and histological agreement was observed. ISH revealed the presence of the virus in seven case patients, amounting to a 63% histological and molecular agreement. Seven HPV genotypes were categorized (6-11-16-18-31-33-51). CONCLUSION: HPV detection by ISH adds little to the diagnosis of HPV-associated lesions based on cytological and histological features. It, however, helps improve the specificity of the diagnosis and determine the viral genotype which, in turn, helps better define the lesion prognosis.

[Effects of prolonged exposure to antiretroviral treatment in Tunisian patients assessed by the HIV-1 resistance genotypic test]. / Effets de l'exposition prolongée au traitement chez des patients tunisiens, évalués par le test génotypique de résistance du VIH-1.

SETTINGS: In Tunisia, therapeutic failure profile is detected in 42.22% of treated patients. These patients are still confronted to ethical and socioeconomic problems but also to therapeutic and technical ones. Indeed, the limited number of available antiretroviral (ARV) molecules and the unavailability of resistance genotypic test in routine use is the reason why the same therapeutic combination of ARV molecules is maintained after therapeutic failure in some cases. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: The authors studied the evolution, on two consecutive samples, of resistance mutations in patients with prolonged exposure to the same therapeutic combination after therapeutic failure and the resulting effect on management of these patients. RESULTS: We found a greater number of patients presenting with mutant viral stains after a prolonged exposure to the same ARV molecules. Results also showed that the detected mutation frequency increased and even more on the second sample, compared to the first one. Thus, the early diagnostic of resistance mutations using genotypic resistance test would be of great interest by allowing the physician to take necessary measures to reduce resistance rate and find an optimal treatment for the patient. CONCLUSION: The introduction of new ARV molecules in our country was also an important step by improving the therapeutic management of HIV infected patients.

Profile of drug resistance mutations among HIV-1-infected Tunisian subjects failing antiretroviral therapy.

Three years after the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Tunisia (North Africa), we aimed to determine the prevalence of drug resistance mutations in Tunisian HIV-1-infected patients failing ART. Plasma samples of 80 patients were tested for genotypic resistance using two distinct line probe assays, LiPA HIV-1 reverse transcriptase RT and LiPA HIV-1 protease assay. Of the 80 patients, 82.5% showed resistance to at least one antiretroviral molecule. In the RT gene, resistance to nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) were recognized in 66.25 and 37.5%, respectively, with M184V, T215Y and K103N being the codons most frequently involved. Resistance to protease inhibitors (PIs) was found in 46.25% of cases. Despite the presence of different mutations, the viral variants were still susceptible to other RTIs and PIs that are currently not available in Tunisia. Thus, alternative therapeutic options exist but are not yet accessible.

[Treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia with photodynamic therapy: outcomes at 1 and 2 years of follow-up]. / Traitement des néo-vaisseaux choroïdiens rétrofovéolaires du myope fort par photothérapie dynamique: résultats à 1 an et à 2 ans.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual outcome of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by pathologic myopia. METHODS: Retrospective and noncomparative analysis of 42 patients with CNV secondary to pathologic myopia recruited between September 2001 and 2003, who were treated with a standard regimen of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were followed up for 12 months; 15 out of 42 completed 24 months of follow-up. Initial visual acuity ranged from 1/10 to 5/10 with a mean of 1.6/10. Twenty-five (56.7%) eyes had stable or improved visual acuity at 12 months with a mean of 2.5/10. In the group of patients who completed 24 months of follow-up, six eyes (39.9%) had stable or improved visual acuity with a mean of 1.6/10 at 1 year and 1.25/10 at 2 years. The average photodynamic therapy treatment required in 1 and 2 years were 1.5 and 2.1, respectively, and they are less than those reported by the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) study. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization caused by pathologic myopia maintained a visual benefit at 1 and 2 years.

Multi-allergen screening immunoassay for the detection of protein markers of peanut and four tree nuts in chocolate.

A multiresidue enzyme immunoassay was developed to check for the presence of markers of peanut, hazelnut, almond, cashew and Brazil nuts in a single run. The assay was designed under the competitive indirect format and adapted for screening purposes applied to chocolate samples. The limit of detection for this assay was below 1 microg g-1 protein for each allergenic food. In most cases, the high specificity of the antibodies used allowed the identification of each particular allergenic food with no possible confusion. This assay was proven to be useful as part of an analytical procedure involving the identification of the unknown allergenic food among peanut and other tree nuts in recalled samples before the application of a quantitative technique to determine the level of cross-contamination.

[Evaluation of the frequency of oncogenic HPV in venereal condyloma. Prospective study of 24 patients]. / Evaluation de la fréquence des HPV à risque oncogène au cours des végétations vénériennes. Etude prospective de 24 patients.

UNLABELLED: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection tend to be the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD), and "high-risk" HPV types are correlated to intra-epithelial neoplasia, especially cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of "high risk" HPV types in condyloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A non randomised prospective study was performed, including 24 patients with condyloma examined in the department of Dermatology of Charles Nicolle's hospital. Molecular hybridisation method was realised for all patients to identify HPV type. RESULTS: Mean age of the 24 patients was 37.8 years Ratio (male/female): 1.4 In 21 patients HPV DNA was detected 2 women had "high risk" HPV type (9.5%).

[Eikenella corrodens pleuro-pulmonary infection. Apropos of a case]. / Infection pleuro-pulmonaire à Eikenella corrodens. A propos d'une observation.

A case of single bacteria pleuropulmonary infection was observed in a 21-year-old patient with heterozygous sicle-cell amenia. The role of this bacteria in pleuropulmonary suppuration, the pathophysiology and secondary lesions are discussed together with therapeutic modalities.

[Characteristics of the first penicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Tunisia]. / Caractéristiques de la 1re souche de Neisseria gonorrhoeae productrice de pénicillinase isolée en Tunisie.

The first penicillinase-producing strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was recently isolated in Tunisia (1989). Betalactamase production was detected by the iodometric agar test. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in agar medium were 128 micrograms/ml for penicillin, ampicillin and amoxycillin. With the amoxycillin-clavulanic acid combination, MIC fell to 0.25 microgram/ml. An Asian-type plasmid pattern was evidenced in this strain, with presence of the 2.6 Mdal cryptic plasmid and of a 4.5 Mdal plasmid.