Comparison of PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 Expressions and Their Relationships to Mismatch Repair Protein and p53 Expression in 529 Cases of Endometrial Carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the expressions of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), and galectin-3 (GAL-3), in mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd)/MMR-proficient and abnormal p53 expressing endometrial carcinomas and their relationship with clinical-histopathological features. Patients who underwent surgery for endometrial carcinoma between January 2008 and December 2018 were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analysis of MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6, p53, PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 was performed on the tissue samples of microarray. A total of 529 patients were included. MMRd and p53-mutant tumors accounted for 31.5% and 11.5% of cases, respectively. PD-L1 and LAG-3 expressions in the MMRd and p53-mutant groups were higher than in the MMR-proficient group (P < 0.001). GAL-3 expression in the MMR-proficient group was statistically higher than in the MMRd and p53-mutant groups (P < 0.001). Mean age, grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were significantly higher in the p53-mutant group (P < 0.001). In the group with PD-L1 expression, nonendometrioid histologic type, tumor grade, and lymphovascular invasion were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and microcystic, elongated and fragmented pattern of invasion were significantly higher in the group with high VISTA expression (P < 0.05). Tumor grade was significantly higher in the group with LAG-3 expression (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemically determined subgroups and PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 expression levels may be useful indicators of molecular features, and clinical outcomes also may have important implications for the development of targeted therapies in endometrial carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus DNA testing with the urine sample is not yet available: the accuracy of two distinct kits.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the results and efficiency of two real-time polymerase chain reaction procedures for detecting human papillomavirus utilizing urine samples. METHODS: This study comprised 151 patients who had previously tested positive for human papillomavirus in their cervical samples. Two different commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques were used for identification and genotyping human papillomavirus in urine specimens. The urine samples of 151 patients were evaluated via the Roche Cobas test, and the urine samples of 91 patients were also evaluated via the Qiagen test. RESULTS: The overall consistency of urine and cervical swab specimens for the identification of human papillomavirus in Roche Cobas and Qiagen tests were 44.8 and 44%, respectively. The rates of positive human papillomavirus results from urine samples were 57 and 70.3%, respectively. The overall concordance among Roche Cobas and Qiagen tests utilizing urine samples for human papillomavirus type 16/18 was 84.3% with a kappa value of 0.675, and for other high-risk-human papillomavirus, it was 75.60% with a kappa value of 0.535. Roche Cobas showed high concordance with Qiagen test. CONCLUSION: human papillomavirus positivity was not detected in all urine samples. It is still inappropriate to recommend the use of urine liquid biopsy for the accurate and reliable detection of human papillomavirus. Due to the lack of a standardized tool, the utilization of urine samples as a screening human papillomavirus test remains a challenge.

Human papillomavirus DNA testing with the urine sample is not yet available: the accuracy of two distinct kits

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the results and efficiency of two real-time polymerase chain reaction procedures for detecting human papillomavirus utilizing urine samples. METHODS: This study comprised 151 patients who had previously tested positive for human papillomavirus in their cervical samples. Two different commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques were used for identification and genotyping human papillomavirus in urine specimens. The urine samples of 151 patients were evaluated via the Roche Cobas test, and the urine samples of 91 patients were also evaluated via the Qiagen test. RESULTS: The overall consistency of urine and cervical swab specimens for the identification of human papillomavirus in Roche Cobas and Qiagen tests were 44.8 and 44%, respectively. The rates of positive human papillomavirus results from urine samples were 57 and 70.3%, respectively. The overall concordance among Roche Cobas and Qiagen tests utilizing urine samples for human papillomavirus type 16/18 was 84.3% with a kappa value of 0.675, and for other high-risk-human papillomavirus, it was 75.60% with a kappa value of 0.535. Roche Cobas showed high concordance with Qiagen test. CONCLUSION: human papillomavirus positivity was not detected in all urine samples. It is still inappropriate to recommend the use of urine liquid biopsy for the accurate and reliable detection of human papillomavirus. Due to the lack of a standardized tool, the utilization of urine samples as a screening human papillomavirus test remains a challenge.

BRCA, infertility, and fertility preservation: a review for counseling.

BRCA mutations as a triggering factor in breast cancer have been reported to result in fertility problems and oocyte aging in young patients with cancer diagnosis. These patients are concerned about fertility problems and family planning before undergoing treatment modalities that may result in infertility. In this review, we conducted analysis of the literature on the association between BRCA mutations and infertility, possible fertility preservation options, and their safety and tried to gather results from different disciplines and points of view on the matter. Our aim is to provide a general summary of recent studies to provide further insight on the matter for counseling BRCA mutation carriers on fertility preservation methods and their implications.

Is there still a necessity for awareness and information about HPV infection and vaccine for adolescent in developing countries?

Increasing awareness of human papilloma virus (HPV) and vaccines among the target population is an important factor for decreasing the rate of malignancies related to HPV. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine Turkish high school and college students' knowledge level of HPV and vaccines via a survey. The HPV knowledge scale (HPV-KS) has been developed to measure the level of knowledge about HPV and vaccination. The response rate of 'Yes' to the question of whether the participants have heard of HPV and the vaccine was 60.8% and 58.8%, respectively. The lack of information was the commonest reason for not being vaccinated in 54% of the participants. According to the HPV-KS, the median value of the knowledge level of the participants was 35.7 (IQR; 14.3-57.1). The HPV-KS scores were significantly higher among those with parents who had graduated from university and had an income above the minimum wage than those who did not (p = .013 and p = .029, respectively). Current evidence suggests that Turkish adolescents have limited HPV knowledge. Gender, age, education (particularly university and health-related departments), parents' level of education and income were all important factors in determining the outcome variables. Therefore, it is very important to apply educational programs to raise awareness by medical staff.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a major threat due to the reason of many malignancies, especially cervical cancer, and this problem can be overcome by informing the target population about the screening program and vaccination.What do the results of this study add? Lack of knowledge about HPV infection and cost of the vaccine were the main reasons for insufficient vaccination rate among the adolescents.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In developing countries such as Turkey, the necessity to raise awareness about HPV infection and vaccination has emerged. As a result, it is critical to implement educational campaigns to enhance awareness, particularly by medical staff.

The prevalence and distribution of human papillomavirus in 4267 Turkish women with or without cervical lesions: A hospital-based study.

In the present study, it was aimed to screen the genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) retrospectively in women with gynecological symptoms who were admitted to a tertiary care university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 4267 cervical swab samples of women aged 18-79 years were sent to Medical Virology Laboratory from January 2017 to November 2020. Nucleic acid extraction and amplification of samples were done by an automated system. The test can detect 14 high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types in a single analysis that performs a real-time polymerase chain reaction, by providing individual results on the highest-risk genotypes HPV 16 and HPV 18 and pooled results on other high-risk genotypes (OHR-HPV) (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68). HPV DNA positivity was detected in 14.2% (605/4267) of the samples. HPV type 16 and type 18 were detected in 2.4% and 0.7% of the samples, respectively. OHR-HPV types were found in 8.8% of the samples. Of the 1.9% and 0.4% samples had mixed types with type 16+ OHR-HPV and type 18+ OHR-HPV, respectively. The results of this study presented the rates of HR-HPV genotypes of a university hospital in Ankara, over a 4-year period. It was observed that the positivity rate of type 18 is decreasing and some OHR-HPV types are increasing. HPV vaccination is not in the national immunization program in Turkey yet, however, HPV vaccines are available and the vaccination rates for women are increasing.

Effects of estrogen therapy on hearing in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate how hormone therapy affects hearing in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study involved 109 postmenopausal women. Twenty of the women were using estrogen therapy (ET group), 30 women were using hormone therapy (HT group), and 59 had not received hormone therapy of any kind (control group). Otoscopic examination revealed normal tympanic membranes in all 109 subjects. Each individual was tested with low- (250-2000 Hz) and high-frequency audiometry (4000-16000 Hz). Duration of hormone therapy was recorded, and patient characteristics (age, type of menopause, time since onset of menopause), body mass index (BMI), and hearing test results in the ET, HT, and control groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment (ET and HT group) and control groups with respect to age, BMI, or time since onset of menopause. The mean time on HT and ET was 4.13+/-2.41 years and 3.35+/-2.20 years, respectively. The mean air conduction results at low frequencies (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) in the ET group were significantly higher than the corresponding findings in the control group (P<.001) and than the HT group (P<.001). When the same comparisons were made between the HT group and the control group, none of the differences was statistically significant (P>.05). The mean air-conduction results at high frequencies (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 kHz) in the ET group were significantly higher than the corresponding results in the HT group (P<.008). ET versus controls and HT versus controls at high frequencies revealed no significant differences (P>.05). The mean bone conduction results in the ET group were significantly higher than the corresponding findings in the control group (P<.016). Analysis of the same comparisons between the HT-ET and HT-control groups revealed no significant differences (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen therapy may slow down hearing loss in aging postmenopausal women; however, further studies of larger series are needed to confirm this, and the sites of hormonal action must also be explored.