Search

Background: The current manuscript's aim was to determine the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype-specific prevalence and distribution among individuals, males, and females, of different ages in the region of Apulia, Italy, highlighting the possible variables involved in the carcinogenicity mechanism. In addition, we proposed two hypothetical models of HPV's molecular dynamics, intending to clarify the impact of prevention and therapeutic strategies, explicitly modeled by recent survey data., Methods: We presented clinical data from 9647 participants tested for either high-risk (HR) or low-risk (LR) HPV at the affiliated Bari Policlinic University Hospital of Bari from 2011 to 2022. HPV DNA detection was performed using nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex real-time PCR assay. Statistical analysis showed significant associations for all genders and ages and both HR- and LR-HPV types. A major number of significant pairwise associations were detected for the higher-risk types and females and lower-risk types and males., Results: The overall prevalence of HPV was 50.5% (n-4.869) vs. 49.5% (n-4.778) of the study population, of which 74.4% (n-3621) were found to be HPV high-risk (HR-HPV) genotypes and 57.7% (n-2.807) low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) genotypes, of which males were 58% and females 49%; the three most prevalent HR-HPV genotypes were HPV 53 (n707-15%), 16 (n704-14%), and 31 (n589-12%), and for LR-HPV, they were 42 (19%), 6 (16%), and 54 (13%); 56% of patients screened for HPV were ≤ 30 years old, 53% were between 31 and 40 years old, 46% were 41-50 and 51-60 years old, and finally, 44% of subjects were >60 years old., Conclusions: Our study provided comprehensive epidemiological data on HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among 9647 participants, which could serve as a significant reference for clinical practice, and it implied the necessity for more effective screening methods for HPV carcinogenesis covering the use of more specific molecular investigations. Although this is a predominantly descriptive and epidemiological study, the data obtained offer not only a fairly unique trend compared to other studies of different realities and latitudes but also lead us to focus on the HPV infection within two groups of young people and adults and hypothesize the possible involvement of dysbiosis, stem cells, and the retrotransposition mechanism.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the commonest viral cause of sexually transmitted infections. The impact of social distance measures due to Covid-19 pandemic on HPV spread is unknown. Therefore, this study has analyzed the seven-year trend of HPV prevalence in all patients tested for HPV DNA at the Microbiology and Virology Unit at Bari Policlinico. Moreover, the HPV prevalence in 2020 has been compared with the previous year ones in order to evaluate the consequences of lockdown and social distancing measures on transmission risks. From 2013 to 2020, we retrospectively analyzed 64 anal swabs, 418 biopsies, 5925 cervical-vaginal swabs, 512 cervical swabs, 104 gland swabs, 154 oral swabs, 21 seminal fluids and 503 urethral swabs. HPV DNA detection was initially performed using nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequently multiplex real-time PCR assay. All statistical tests were carried out by the open-source environment R 4.0.3 (R Core Team). The data were analyzed according to yearly positivity rates, temporal trend and prevalence of HPV genotypes (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, HPV-18, high risk and low risk) by age category and sex. The number of patients increased steadily from 2016 to 2019 and then decreased in 2020. There were significant differences in prevalence between females and males for HPV-6 (6.16% in females Vs 30.80% in males), HPV-11 (0.82% Vs 7.16%) and HPV-16 (7.77% Vs 5.01%). The prevalence of HPV-6 and HPV-11 significantly increased in 2020 compared to 2013-2019 (15.72% Vs 8.52 and 3.18% Vs 1.44%). On the contrary, the overall prevalence of HPV DNA remained constant in 2020 (52.84% Vs 48.44%). Over time, the prevalence of HPV DNA (Coefficient=-0.020, p-value = 0.036) and particularly high-risk genotypes (Coefficient=-0.030, p-value = 0.005) decreased in females, while low-risk genotypes (Coefficient = 0.141, p-value = < 0.001) and the prevalence of HPV DNA increased in males (Coefficient = 0.068, p-value = 0.008). During the pandemic, the number of screened patients declined, although HPV prevalence compared to 2013-2019 remained constant or increased as in the case of low-risk genotypes. It can be assumed that the reduction of the screening coverage favored the emerging of the more symptomatic low-risk infections. In conclusion, nonpharmaceutical interventions due to Covid-19 pandemic did not reduce the risk of HPV infection but it likely caused a decrease in access to health services resulting in an increased risk of undiagnosed HPV.

The Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) is a group of rapidly growing, nontuberculous mycobacteria that are ubiquitous in soil, urban water pipes, swimming pools, and drinking water. Members of the MABC are considered opportunistic pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the origins of MABC detected in broncho-lavage (BL) samples from asymptomatic cancer patients. We turned our attention to washing and disinfection procedures for bronchoscopes; we also assessed water and disinfectant samples. Of 10 BL and 34 environmental samples tested, four BL samples (40%) and seven environmental samples (20.6%) tested positive for MABC. We hypothesized that contamination could arise from the prewashing machine and/or the water used because no patient had clinical or radiological signs consistent with MABC respiratory tract infection. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating cleaning and disinfection procedures for endoscope channels to reduce the potential spread of microorganisms and artefactual results arising from contamination.

The Authors describe an experimental model that makes feasible to endoscopically approach a Roux-en Y hepatico-jejunostomy through a percutaneous transjejunal route. Potentials for its clinical application are briefly discussed.