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Equine Papillomavirus 2 (EcPV2) is responsible for squamous cell carcinomas (eSCCs) of external genitalia of both male and female horses. However, few studies report the EcPV2 prevalence among healthy horses. Currently, the lack of these data does not permit identifying at-risk populations and, thus, developing screening protocols aimed at the early detection of the infection, as for humans. The aim of our study was to estimate the genoprevalence of EcPV2 in clinically healthy horses in Italy and to evaluate their innate immune response. For this purpose, penile and vulvar swabs of 234 healthy horses were collected through sampling with sterile cytobrushes. Nucleic acids were isolated and EcPV2-L1 presence (DNA) and gene expression (RNA) were checked by RT-qPCR. Our results showed EcPV2-L1 DNA presence in 30.3% of the samples and L1 expression in 48% of the positive samples. No statistically significant differences were found in genoprevalence in relation to sex, age, and origin, while, concerning breeds, the Thoroughbred had the highest risk of infection. Concerning specifically the mares, 40.2% of them resulted in being positive for EcPV2; our findings show a major positivity in pluriparous (p = 0.0111) and mares subjected to natural reproduction (p = 0.0037). Moreover, samples expressing L1 showed an increased expression of IL1B (p = 0.0139) and IL12p40 (p = 0.0133) and a decreased expression of RANKL (p = 0.0229) and TGFB (p = 0.0177). This finding suggests the presence of an effective immune response, which could explain the low incidence of SCCs in positive horses, despite a high EcPV2 genoprevalence (30%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study evaluated the distribution of vaginal microbiota dysbiosis and the association with HPV viral load test in high-risk HPV-positive women before and after 50 years old.Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 388 HPV-positive women prior to referral to colposcopy in Peking University Peoples' Hospital were included and classified as younger than 50 years (n = 307) and aged 50 years or older (n = 81), midvagina bacterial community composition was characterized by FlashDetect™ MAX vaginal microbe detection kit, and BMRT-HPV reported type-specific viral loads/10,000 cells.Results: The community state type (CST) IV was the most common CST occurring in 148 women (38.1%). The proportion of CST IV in those aged 50 years or older was significantly higher than those younger than 50 years (women) (66.7% vs. 30.6%); the difference was statistically significant (<0.001). CST distribution has no statistical difference in different grades of cervical lesion, regardless of the age (p = 0.238 and 0.263). However, the women with high-grade cervical lesion presented a more complicated trend and the abundance of vaginal microbiota dysbiosis than low-grade lesion. HPV16/18 viral load was found to be significantly higher in CST III and CST IV than CST I/II/V (p < 0.05)in women younger than 50 years.Conclusions: In women younger than 50 years, higher HPV16/18 load was more closely associated with CST IV; however, it had no significant correlation in women aged 50 years or older. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease. The low risk genotypes of Human Papilloma Virus such as 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72 and 81 are mainly associated with benign genital warts and rarely leading to cancer. This study has been undertaken for detection of the occurrence of HPV 6 and 11 in patients with cervicitis depending on Real-Time PCR assay. Patients and methods: A total of 100 females (80 patients and 20 healthy females); ages (range from19- 62 years) were included and studied during the period from December 2014 to April 2015. They included 80 (80%) patients were diagnosed at private clinic in Ramadi from patients with different cervical lesions and healthy females: (health individuals 20 (20%).Real time-PCR technique was done for DNA extracted from these samples. Result: The mean range for age showed that patients with cervical lesion from patient with pap smear samples were (31.63 ± 6.12), polyp samples (30.32 ± 8.35), ulcer samples was (31.52 ± 10.70), while the wart samples (30.19 ± 7.38), Leukemia patients have wartic lesion samples was (30.50 ± 2.52). No significant difference between age and location results for the other groups (P > 0.05). The purity of DNA from clinical specimen was (1.39 ± 0.23). There was extracted DNA from clinical specimens regarding purity or DNA concentration at which (P > 0.05). These results showed that the rate of HPV 6/11 DNA detection in different clinical samples were statistically significant for the patient group (P = 0.0005). In addition to that, the distribution of positive and negative HPV 6/11 between patients and control is also significant (P=0.002). Conclusion: The low risk genotypes of HPV 6 and 11 have a significant role in patients with cervicitis. The prevalence rate of Low-Risk HPV genotype 6 was found to be (17.5%), while that of HPV genotype 11 was (12.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health information and educational interventions regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) have focused on the link between vaginal sex and cervical cancer among women. Many people are unaware that HPV can be transmitted through oral sex or that HPV causes oral cancers. Given that HPV infections and unprotected oral sex are increasing, research on oral sex-related HPV risk is important. This study examined the effect of a brief informational intervention regarding HPV and oral sex on the sexual risk cognitions of young adults. College students (N = 238) read information on HPV, oral sex, and oral cancer or no information. Participants then completed measures of oral sex and HPV knowledge, oral sex willingness, HPV vaccination likelihood, and risk perceptions. Participants who read the information on HPV and oral sex and cancer (compared to those who did not) reported greater knowledge, perceived risk and concern, and lower willingness to engage in oral sex. These effects were only significant among women. However, men reported a higher likelihood of future HPV vaccination compared to women who had not yet received the vaccine. Focusing on oral sex and cancer, this study adds to research investigating ways to reduce HPV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors' objectives were to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine educational materials and to determine whether parents who received those materials had improved attitudes about the vaccine. Pretests were sent to 411 parents of girls 11-18 years of age who had not yet received the HPV vaccine. The authors then randomly assigned 270 respondents to an intervention (educational flyer and posttest) or comparison (posttest only) group. The authors conducted a mixed-method analysis of intervention group feedback on improving the flyer and used paired t tests and analysis of covariance to describe within- and between-group attitude changes. The overall posttest response rate was 76%. Among intervention group respondents (n = 131), 88% had a positive impression of the flyer, and 43% reported that it made them more likely to vaccinate their daughters with HPV vaccine in the future. Parents who received the flyer also showed a statistically significant increase in mean attitude scores regarding perceived HPV vaccine safety and access to HPV vaccine information; mean scores also increased among the comparison group, but the changes were not statistically significant. Educational materials improved HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes among parents and might have helped motivate some parents to have their daughters vaccinated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultural cognition thesis holds that individuals form risk perceptions that reflect their commitments to contested views of the good society. We conducted a study that used the dispute over mandatory HPV vaccination to test the cultural cognition thesis. Although public health officials have recommended that all girls aged 11 or 12 be vaccinated for HPV-a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer-political controversy has blocked adoption of mandatory school-enrollment vaccination programs in all but one state. An experimental study of a large sample of American adults ( N = 1,538) found that cultural cognition generates disagreement about the risks and benefits of the vaccine through two mechanisms: biased assimilation, and the credibility heuristic. We discuss theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this review is to summarize the research regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake among families with adolescent/preadolescent daughters. Methods Literature searches (utilizing PubMed and PsychInfo databases) were conducted and research examining psychological and environmental factors which relate to HPV vaccine uptake and intentions was reviewed. Results Factors such as physician recommendations, perceptions of the beliefs of peers and significant others, history of childhood immunizations, and communication with adolescents regarding sexual topics appear to influence HPV vaccination outcomes. Conclusions Although primary prevention of cervical and other cancers is available for preadolescent and adolescent girls, rates of HPV vaccine uptake are low. Future interventions should target vaccine intent and physician/family communication as a means to increasing HPV vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be the precursor of cervical cancer in over 99% of these cases. Although preventative measures have greatly reduced the burden of HPV-induced cervical cancer, these measures cannot be utilized by women who are unaware of the existence of HPV and its relationship to their health. Women over the age of 40 are being newly diagnosed with HPV, profoundly impacting their lives and their sense of well-being. This article highlights the necessity for clinicians to assess knowledge, health beliefs, and preventative measures regarding HPV and cervical cancer in women over the age of 40. Data sources: Review of scientific literature of knowledge, health beliefs, and preventative measures in women regarding HPV and cervical cancer and clinical practice guidelines. Conclusions: Although women aged 40 and above are not specifically considered high risk for HPV infection, many women are testing positive in this age group and are facing the impact of an HPV diagnosis that implicates a sexually transmitted disease and is known to be a precursor to cervical cancer. Implications for practice: Suggested questions to use for all patients are presented as it is crucial for healthcare providers to understand the healthcare needs of this age group in order to appropriately direct resources and to save the lives of women from this preventable disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Routine human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization in Belgium is currently regionally managed, with school-aged girls receiving the 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccine in Flanders and Wallonia-Brussels with a national catch-up program for females only. This study will assess whether expanding these programs to gender-neutral vaccination (GNV) with the 9vHPV vaccine is a cost-effective strategy in Belgium. Methods: A validated HPV-type transmission dynamic model estimated the potential health and economic impact of regional vaccination programs, comparing GNV versus female-only vaccination (FOV) with the 9vHPV vaccine in individuals aged 11–12 years in Flanders, GNV with the 9vHPV vaccine versus FOV with the 2-valent HPV (2vHPV) vaccine in individuals aged 12–13 years in Wallonia-Brussels, and national catch-up GNV versus FOV with the 9vHPV vaccine for those aged 12–18 years. Vaccination coverage rates of 90, 50, and 50% in both males and females were used in the base cases for the three programs, respectively, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. All costs are from the third-party payer perspective, and outcome measures were reported over a 100-year time horizon. Results: GNV with the 9vHPV vaccine was projected to decrease the cumulative incidence of HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58-related diseases relative to FOV in both Flanders and Wallonia-Brussels. Further reductions were also projected for catch-up GNV with the 9vHPV vaccine, including reductions of 6.8% (2,256 cases) for cervical cancer, 7.1% (386 cases) and 18.8% (2,784 cases) for head and neck cancer in females and males, respectively, and 30.3% (82,103 cases) and 44.6% (102,936 cases) for genital warts in females and males, respectively. As a result, a GNV strategy would lead to reductions in HPV-related deaths. Both regional and national catch-up GNV strategies were projected to reduce cumulative HPV-related disease costs and were estimated to be cost-effective compared with FOV with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of €8,062, €4,179, and €6,127 per quality-adjusted life-years in the three programs, respectively. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the base cases. Conclusions: A GNV strategy with the 9vHPV vaccine can reduce the burden of HPV-related disease and is cost-effective compared with FOV for both regional vaccination programs and the national catch-up program in Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To describe the methods used for, cooperation with, assays conducted on, and applications of vaginal specimens collected by older women in their homes. Methods. Community-residing women ( N = 1,550), ages 57 – 85 years, participated in a nationally representative probability survey. Vaginal self-swab specimen collection and in-home interviews were conducted between 2005 and 2006. Specimens were analyzed for bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal candidiasis (VC), high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV), and cytological characteristics. Field methods, consent procedures, the swab protocol, laboratory procedures, and results reporting are described. Results. One thousand twenty-eight respondents (67.5% weighted) agreed to provide a vaginal specimen; 99.1% were successful. The specimen adequacy rates were BV and VC, 94.1%; HR-HPV, 99.7%; and cytology, 85.5%. The most common recorded reason for nonparticipation was a physical or health problem (38% of nonresponders). Responders were significantly more likely than nonresponders to be younger and more educated, and were more likely to report a recent pelvic examination, menopausal hormone use, and recent sexual activity. Discussion. Collection of vaginal self-swab specimens from older women in a population-based study is feasible and provides novel data on microenvironmental characteristics of the female genital tract relevant to analyses of gynecologic health, sexual activity and problems, and immune and inflammatory function. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]