Frequency of high risk human papillomavirus types in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix among women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of high-risk subtypes of Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, 18, 31 and 45 in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix (SCC) among women. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in the department of Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Ziauddin University Hospital, North Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of fifty formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples (blocks) of SCC of cervix were collected from two Pathology laboratories through convenience sampling. These blocks were analyzed for presence of HPV and its subtype. DNA was extracted by QIAamp DNA Kit and amplification was done by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). General primers were used for HPV DNA and HPV genotyping for 16, 18, 31 and 45 was done by using a standard kit. RESULTS: HPV was detected in nine (18%) out of fifty paraffin embedded tissues of squamous cell carcinoma of cervix. Out of the 9 cases that were positive, five (55.6%) were infected with HPV16, while in the rest of the positive samples, the genotype could not be identified in four (44.4%). HPV was not determined in majority (82%) of the samples. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that HPV might not be the major cause of SCC of cervix. There could be other causes among women leading to prevalentHPV types that the study did not look into due to limitations.

Prophylactic and therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccine: a breakthrough for women health.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated cervical cancer is amongst the ten most common cancers in women in the developing world. New vaccines markedly reduce the economic burden of diseases on a country's health system. Two types of HPV vaccines are available; prophylactic and therapeutic. Prophylactic vaccines target (Late protein) L1 and to a lesser extent L2, which stimulate neutralizing antibody response and are recommended to individuals prior to infection. Therapeutic vaccines are recommended to individuals who are already exposed to HPV infection and these induce a specific T-cell mediated immune response targeted to (Early protein) E6 and E7 oncogenes for the eradication of existing lesion. Several studies have been done which show that these vaccines are highly effective. This review highlights the pathogenesis of HPV infection, importance of HPV vaccines, recent advances and few clinical trials on prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccine, their economic impact and the need to implement the vaccination programmes in the developing world.

Learning procedures during house job.

House job is the important year of the clinical experience under supervision before the start of the own practice as a phsician. It is understood that clinical experience of new medical graduates are poor and they are expected to learn clinical skills by one year house job experience. Hence there is need to asess the basic clinical skills competency. A questionnaire was given to thirty house officers regrding the ten basic clinical procedures which are expected from all of them to learn and carry out independently till the end of their house jobs. They were asked to fill it up according to their competency level at the beginning and end of their jobs. The purpose of the study was to assess the competency level of the house officers individually which will provide information to the supervisors what needs attention so that remedial action can be taken in time. This study was undertaken to find out how much confidence the house officers acquire during house job in carrying out specified procedures.