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Objectives Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been reported recently in surgical smoke generated by gynecological operations. The objective of this study was to investigate whether gynecologists who have performed electrosurgery including loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), are at risk of acquiring HPV DNA through surgical smoke. Methods A related questionnaire was designed and 700 gynecologist nasal swab samples were collected in 67 hospitals. In addition, the flow fluorescence hybridization technique was used to detect HPV DNA, and the Chi-square test was applied to analyze whether related risk factors including electrical surgery, were correlated with HPV infection in surgeons’ nasal epithelial cells. Results The HPV infection rate in the nasal epithelial cells of the participants who performed electrosurgery (8.96%, 42/469) or LEEP (10.11%, 36/356) was significantly higher than that in the remaining participants who did not perform electrosurgery (1.73%, 4/231) or LEEP (2.91%, 10/344), respectively. The most prevalent HPV genotype in the electrosurgery group was HPV16 (76.19%, 32/42). The HPV-positive rate was increased in the group that had a longer duration of electrosurgery (P = 0.016). Additionally, the HPV detection rate was significantly lower in electrosurgery operators who used surgical mask (7.64%, 33/432) than in those who did not use protective masks (24.32%, 9/37). Furthermore, the N95 mask (0%, 0/196) significantly reduced the risk for HPV infection compared to that with the general mask (13.98%, 33/236, P Conclusions Gynecologists who performed electrosurgery including LEEP were at risk of acquiring HPV infection. Surgical masks, especially the N95 mask, significantly decreased the hazard of HPV transmission from surgical smoke.

Objective The aim of this research was to evaluate independently the performance of a new isothermal amplification assay for cervical cancer screening compared to two previously validated PCR-based assays and histologic endpoints. Methods This is a sub-study from the Chinese multi-center screening trial (CHIMUST). The self-collected and clinician-collected specimens stored in PreservCyt at − 4 °C from 6042 women with complete data were tested with the AmpFire assay. These specimens had been previously tested with Cobas and SeqHPV assays. In the primary study all patients with an abnormal test were referred to colposcopy where all had directed and/or random biopsies plus ECC. No additional patients were called back based on the AmpFire results. Results 6042/6619 women had complete data (mean age 44.1). There were 57 cases of CIN 2, 35 cases of CIN 3 and 2 cancers. The sensitivity for CIN2+ and CIN3+ were similar among the three assays (both direct and self-collected). For the specificities in all categories (CIN2+/CIN3+ and self and direct collection), isothermal amplification assay was either equal to or more specific than Cobas but consistently less specific than SeqHPV. Conclusion The AmpFire HPV assay showed similar sensitivity to Cobas and SeqHPV for CIN2+ and CIN3+ on both self and clinician-collections (P>0.05), with good specificity. The speed, low cost, and simplicity of this assay will make it particularly suited for low and middle resource settings. Its accuracy with self-collection makes it applicable for mass screening programs.

The 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM-staging system for p16[HPV]-positive OPSCC manages to improve prediction of prognosis and will essentially influence choice of therapy in future. Nonetheless, adjustments of the current version are needed. The surrogate marker p16 alone is inadequate for HPV detection, the role of ECS in HPV-positive OPSCC is not fully understood, and the patient's characteristics as well as molecular signatures and genetics have not been taken into consideration yet.

The clinical performance of the newly developed MeltPro® HPV Test, based on multicolor melting curve analysis, was evaluated and compared with the commercially available Cobas® HPV Test for detection of HPV and genotyping of HPV-16 and HPV-18. A total of 1647 cervical samples were analyzed with both tests. The agreement values were 96.2% for HPV detection, 99.6% for HPV-16 identification, and 99.7% for HPV-18 identification. All genotyping results from MeltPro® HPV Test showed that HPV-52, HPV-58, and HPV-16 were the most common types in this study. Intra-laboratory reproducibility studies showed 97.8% agreement while inter-laboratory reproducibility studies showed 96.9% agreement for the MeltPro® HPV Test. The MeltPro® HPV Test and Cobas® HPV Test are highly correlative and are useful for monitoring HPV infection.

The evaluation of a non-invasive detection method for human papilloma virus (HPV) in ophthalmic pterygia. Cotton swab samples and corresponding tissue specimens were collected from 21 ophthalmic pterygia of 21 patients. HPV detection and typing were performed by real-time PCR. Discrepancies in HPV detection between swab and tissue samples as well as clinical correlations of findings were examined. HPV DNA was detected in 9 (42.86%) tissue specimens and 8 (38.09%) respective swab specimens. HPV genotypes 33, 39, 45, 56, 59 and 66 were identified in the examined specimens, while more than one strain's HPV type was detected in 2 specimens. HPV presence was significantly correlated with the female gender whereas other clinical associations were not statistically significant. Findings imply that PCR-mediated HPV detection and typing in exfoliative swab specimens may be employed as a non-invasive diagnostic tool in the management of ophthalmic pterygia.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) accounts for the most common cause of all virus-associated human cancers. Here, we describe the first graphic user interface (GUI)-based automated tool ‘HPVDetector', for non-computational biologists, exclusively for detection and annotation of the HPV genome based on next-generation sequencing data sets. Methods: We developed a custom-made reference genome that comprises of human chromosomes along with annotated genome of 143 HPV types as pseudochromosomes. The tool runs on a dual mode as defined by the user: a ‘quick mode' to identify presence of HPV types and an ‘integration mode' to determine genomic location for the site of integration. The input data can be a paired-end whole-exome, whole-genome or whole-transcriptome data set. The HPVDetector is available in public domain for download: http://www.actrec.gov.in/pi-webpages/AmitDutt/HPVdetector/HPVDetector.html. Results: On the basis of our evaluation of 116 whole-exome, 23 whole-transcriptome and 2 whole-genome data, we were able to identify presence of HPV in 20 exomes and 4 transcriptomes of cervical and head and neck cancer tumour samples. Using the inbuilt annotation module of HPVDetector, we found predominant integration of viral gene E7, a known oncogene, at known 17q21, 3q27, 7q35, Xq28 and novel sites of integration in the human genome. Furthermore, co-infection with high-risk HPVs such as 16 and 31 were found to be mutually exclusive compared with low-risk HPV71. Conclusions: HPVDetector is a simple yet precise and robust tool for detecting HPV from tumour samples using variety of next-generation sequencing platforms including whole genome, whole exome and transcriptome. Two different modes (quick detection and integration mode) along with a GUI widen the usability of HPVDetector for biologists and clinicians with minimal computational knowledge.

BACKGROUND: Modern cervical cancer screening increasingly relies on the use of molecular techniques detecting high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (hr-HPV). A major challenge for developing countries like Ghana has been the unavailability and costs of HPV DNA-based testing. This study compares the performance of careHPV, a semi-rapid and affordable qualitative detection assay for 14 hr-HPV genotypes, with HPV genotyping, for the detection of cytological cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). METHODS: A study comparing between frequency matched HIV-1 seropositive and HIV-seronegative women was conducted in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. A systematic sampling method was used to select women attending clinics in the hospital. Cervical samples were tested for HPV by careHPV and Anyplex-II HPV28 genotyping assay, and by conventional cytology. RESULTS: A total of 175 paired results (94 from HIV-1 seropositive and 81 from HIV-seronegative women) were analyzed based on the ability of both tests to detect the 14 hr-HPV types included in the careHPV assay. The inter-assay concordance was 94.3% (95%CI: 89.7-97.2%, kappa = 0.88), similar by HIV serostatus. The careHPV assay was equally sensitive among HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative women (97.3% vs. 95.7%, p = 0.50) and slightly more specific among HIV-seronegative women (85.0% vs. 93.1%, p = 0.10). careHPV had good sensitivity (87.5%) but low specificity (52.1%) for the detection of low SIL or greater lesions, but its performance was superior to genotyping (87.5 and 38.8%, respectively). Reproducibility of careHPV, tested on 97 samples by the same individual was 82.5% (95%CI: 73.4-89.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The performance characteristics of careHPV compared to genotyping suggest that this simpler and cheaper HPV detection assay could offer a suitable alternative for HPV screening in Ghana.

Detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is clinically relevant, but there is no agreement about the most appropriate methodology. We have studied 64 oropharyngeal carcinomas using p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV DNA in situ hybridisation (ISH) and HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by pyrosequencing. We have also evaluated a new assay, RNAscope, designed to detect HPV E6/E7 RNA transcripts. Using a threshold of 70 % labelled tumour cells, 21 cases (32.8 %) were p16 positive. Of these, 19 cases scored positive with at least one HPV detection assay. Sixteen cases were positive by HPV DNA-ISH, and 18 cases were positive using the E6/E7 RNAscope assay. By PCR and pyrosequencing, HPV16 was detected in 15 cases, while one case each harboured HPV33, 35 and 56. All p16-negative cases were negative using these assays. We conclude that p16 expression is a useful surrogate marker for HPV infection in HNSCC with a high negative predictive value and that p16-positive cases should be further evaluated for HPV infection, preferably by PCR followed by type determination. Using RNase digestion experiments, we show that the RNAscope assay is not suitable for the reliable discrimination between E6/E7 RNA transcripts and viral DNA.

HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Although most infections are transient, persistent ones can lead to condylomata acuminata, genital intraepithelial neoplasia and genital cancer. The recent approval of vaccines against HPV has raised great hopes. Since 1990, 5,392 urological investigations for HPV were carried out in 1,792 men in special HPV centres. We report on the epidemiology and natural course of condylomata, techniques for HPV detection, treatment surveillance and long-term sequelae. Condylomata acuminata proved to be pathognomonic; partner infections were diagnosed in 50% and more. Systematic HPV DNA analyses in partner investigations or as screening investigations cannot be recommended. Ultimately, within the spectrum of therapeutic options for condylomata, no method is really superior to others; recurrences occurred in 30-70% of cases. We definitely need the HPV vaccination programme to get rid of one of the oldest and up to now unsolved problems of mankind.

To evaluate the effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in primary cervical screening. This was a cross-sectional study from the recruitment phase of a prospective randomised trial. Women were screened for HPV in addition to routine cervical cytology testing. Greater Manchester, attendees at routine NHS Cervical Screening Programme. In all, 24 510 women aged 20-64 screened with liquid-based cytology (LBC) and HPV testing at entry. HPV testing in primary cervical screening. Type-specific HPV prevalence rates are presented in relation to age as well as cytological and histological findings at entry. In all, 24 510 women had adequate cytology and HPV results. Cytology results at entry were: 87% normal, 11% borderline or mild, 1.1% moderate and 0.6% severe dyskaryosis or worse. Prevalence of HPV decreased sharply with age, from 40% at age 20-24 to 12% at 35-39 and 7% or less above age 50. It increased with cytological grade, from 10% of normal cytology and 31% of borderline to 70% mild, 86% moderate, and 96% of severe dyskaryosis or worse. HPV 16 or HPV 18 accounted for 64% of infections in women with severe or worse cytology, and one or both were found in 61% of women with severe dyskaryosis but in only 2.2% of those with normal cytology. The majority of young women in Greater Manchester have been infected with a high-risk HPV by the age of 30. HPV testing is practicable as a primary routine screening test, but in women aged under 30 years, this would lead to a substantial increase in retesting and referral rates. HPV 16 and HPV 18 are more predictive of underlying disease, but other HPV types account for 30% of high-grade disease.