Abraham Peedicayil

Physical spousal violence against women in India: Some risk factors.

Domestic spousal violence against women in developing countries like India, is now beginning to be recognized as a widespread health problem impeding development. This study aimed to explore the risk and protective factors for lifetime spousal physical violence. A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in rural, urban and urban-slum areas across seven sites in India, among women aged 15-49 years, living with a child less than 18 years of age. The sample was selected using the probability proportionate to size method. Trained field workers administered a structured questionnaire to elicit information on spousal physical violence. The main hypothesized variables were social support, witnessed father beating mother and experience of harsh physical violence during childhood, alcohol abuse by spouse and socioeconomic variables. The outcome variables included three physical violence behaviours of hit, kick and beat. Odds ratios were calculated for risk and protective factors of violence using logistic regression. Of 9938 women surveyed, 26% reported experiencing spousal physical violence during the lifetime of their marriage. Adjusted odds ratios calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis suggest that women whose husbands regularly consumed alcohol (OR 5.6; 95% CI 4.7-6.6); who experienced dowry harassment (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.7-3.8); had reported experiencing harsh physical punishment during childhood (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4-1.8) and had witnessed their fathers beat their mothers (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.6-2.1), were at increased risk of spousal physical violence (beat, hit and kick). Higher socioeconomic status and good social support acted as protective buffers against spousal physical violence. The findings provide compelling evidence of the potential risk factors for spousal physical violence, which in turn could help in planning interventions.

Spousal physical violence against women during pregnancy

Objective  To determine the prevalence of physical violence during pregnancy and the factors associated with it.

International survey on variations in practice of the management of the third stage of labour.

OBJECTIVE To determine the use of the active management of the third stage of labour in 15 university-based obstetric centres in ten developing and developed countries and to determine whether evidence-based practices were being used. METHODS From March 1999 to December 1999, the Global Network for Perinatal and Reproductive Health (GNPRH) conducted an observational, cross-sectional survey to assess the use of the practice and its components. Prospective data on patient characteristics and the interventions used in the management of the third stage of labour were collected using standardized methods. Data on approximately 30 consecutive vaginal deliveries in each centre (452 in total) were included. FINDINGS Significant intracountry and intercountry variation in the practice of the active management of the third stage of labour was found (111/452 deliveries used active management), which confirmed the existence of a large gap between knowledge and practice. CONCLUSION Areas identified for improvement are the urgent implementation of the evidence-based clinical management practice defined as the active management of the third stage of labour; increased accessibility to systematic reviews in developing countries; and the conduction of clinical trials that assess the impact of this intervention in other settings.

Molecular variants of HPV-16 associated with cervical cancer in Indian population.

Human papilloma virus is a causative factor in the etiology of cervical cancer with HPV16 being the most prevalent genotype associated with it. Intratype variations in oncogenic E6/E7 and capsid L1 proteins of HPV 16 besides being of phylogenetic importance, are associated with risk of viral persistence and progression. The objective of this multicentric study was to identify HPV‐16 E6, E7 and L1 variants prevalent in India and their possible biological effects. Squamous cell cervical cancer biopsies were collected from 6 centres in India and examined for the presence of HPV 16. Variants of HPV‐16 were characterized by full length sequence analysis of L1, E6 and E7 genes in 412 samples. Similar distribution of the variants was seen from the different centres/regions, with the European variant E350G being the most prevalent (58%), followed by American Asian variant (11.4%). Fifty six changes were seen in E6 region, 31 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being L83V (72.3%), Q14H (13.1%) and H78Y (12.1%). Twenty‐nine alterations were seen in E7 region, with 12 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being F57V (9%). L1 region showed 204 changes, of which 67 were nonsynonymous. The most frequent being 448insS (100%), and 465delD (100%), H228D (94%), T292A (85%). The identified variants some new and some already reported can disrupt pentamer formation, transcriptional regulation of the virus, L1 protein interface interaction, B and T cell epitopes, p53 degradation, and thus their distribution is important for development of HPV diagnostics, vaccine, and for therapeutic purpose.

An international survey of practice variation in the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean section.

Objective: To examine the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean section in different countries and in relation to a reference regimen. Method: Fifty consecutive cesarean sections performed in eight centers in five countries were surveyed. Data from each center were compared to a regimen recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration (one dose of ampicillin or cefazolin administered to all women shortly before the procedure or immediately after cord clamping) using logistic regression with adjustment for procedure type. Result: Prophylaxis was used widely, but only four centers administered prophylaxis to all women. Ampicillin and cefazolin were the principal antibiotics used, but broad‐spectrum agents and multidrug regimens were also used commonly. Only two centers reliably administered the antibiotic at the appropriate time. The majority of women received only one dose of antibiotic in only three centers. Conclusion: The use of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean section was variable and often at odds with published recommendations.

Human Papillomavirus 16 E6/E7 Transcript and E2 Gene Status in Patients with Cervical Neoplasia

AbstractBackground: The viral transforming genes E6 and E7 of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 cause the degradation of tumor suppressor proteins. Expression of these oncoproteins increases following the integration of viral DNA into the host cell, resulting in the disruption of the E2 open reading frame (ORF). Aim: To detect and correlate HPV-16 oncogene transcripts and HPV-16 E2 DNA in cervical biopsies obtained from women (n = 68) with cervical neoplasia. Methods: HPV-16 E6/E7 transcript and HPV-16 E2 DNA detection was performed on the cervical biopsies of 42 women positive for HPV-16 (36 with invasive cervical carcinoma and 6 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN]). PCR was used to detect HPV DNA in cervical biopsies then restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to type the HPV DNA. Reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR for HPV-16 E6/E7 oncogene mRNA transcripts and a PCR to detect the HPV-16 E2 DNA was performed on HPV-16-positive samples. Results: HPV-16 E6/E7 mRNA transcripts were not detected in any of the CIN I or II biopsies, but were detected in all cases of CIN III and invasive cancer in different combinations (E6 alone, E6*I, E6*I/E6*II, E6/E6*I/ E6*II) except for one patient with stage IIB cancer treated with radiotherapy. The incidence of episomal E2 DNA was high in this study with 52.4% of the samples positive for episomal E2. It was even detected in patients with advanced stage cancer with 50%, 42%, and 66.6% of samples positive in stages IIB, IIIB, and IV, respectively. Discussion: HPV-16 E6/E7 mRNA oncogene transcripts, in various combinations, were uniformly detectable in the majority of the high-grade cervical lesions examined. Intact episomal E2 DNA was seen in a high proportion of samples, even from advanced cervical lesions. Conservation of the E2 gene with concomitant expression of viral oncogenes in advanced cervical lesions may point to alternate mechanisms, other than integration, bringing about the enhanced expression of E6/E7 mRNA. Conclusions: This study suggests that the detection of the HPV-16 oncogene transcripts could serve as an indicator for assessing the prognosis of patients on radiotherapy. The majority of HPV-16-positive cervical neoplastic lesions are transcriptionally active and express the oncogene transcripts. The increased occurrence of intact HPV-16 episomal E2 DNA in advanced lesions further substantiates the fact that the disruption of E2 ORF is not mandatory for increased oncogene expression. Thus, this study underscores the significance of investigating alternative mechanisms of oncogene expression in HPV-16.

Detection and quantitation of HPV 16 and 18 in plasma of Indian women with cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE HPV infection is a necessary but insufficient cause of cervical cancer. The significance of HPV DNA in blood however is debatable because of variable detection rates due to the differences in the methodology used. The aim of this study was to detect and quantitate HPV 16 and 18 plasma viremia in women with cervical neoplasia. METHODS HPV DNA was detected in cervical tissue using consensus PGMY primers and genotyped using reverse line blot hybridization. HPV 16 and 18 quantitation in tissue and detection and quantitation in plasma was performed using sensitive real time PCRs targeting E6/E7 region of HPV 16/18 genome respectively. Results were correlated with viral loads in corresponding tissue and with clinical disease stage. RESULTS Viremia was detected in 56.4% of HPV 16 positive women and 20% of HPV 18 positive women. The prevalence of HPV 16 DNA in plasma increased with advancing disease stage (p=0.001), although HPV 16 absolute plasma viral load was not significantly associated with advancing disease stage (p=0.281). There was no correlation between absolute plasma viral load and viral load in corresponding cervical tissue (Spearmans rho=0.184, p=0.187). The prevalence of HPV 18 viremia and absolute HPV 18 plasma viral load were not associated with advancing disease stage (p=0.620, p=0.508). CONCLUSION The presence of HPV 16 in plasma is a marker of advancing cervical disease.

Use of the Foley catheter as a cervical ripening agent prior to induction of labor

Objective: To study the effect of the extraamniotic Foley catheter as a cervical ripening agent prior to induction of labor. Method: A descriptive study was carried out on 187 patients who had labor induced following cervical ripening with the extraamniotic Foley catheter. There were 99 nulliparas and 88 multiparas whose labor outcomes were analyzed separately. Results: The mean change in the modified Bishop score was 3.7 for nulliparas and 3.3 for multiparas. The induction‐delivery interval was 8.7 h for nulliparas and 5.5. h for multiparas. Conclusion: The Foley catheter was found to be an effective agent for cervical ripening in both primiparas and multiparas and its use was not associated with any complications.

Prevalence and risk factors for human papillomavirus and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among HIV-positive women at a tertiary level hospital in India.

Objectives. The hypothesis to be tested was that the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia would be significantly higher in HIV seropositive women as compared with seronegative controls. Secondary aims were to determine the risk factors for HPV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and the HPV types in HIV-positive women. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study of women 18 to 49 years old was done. Seventy-five women who were HIV seropositive and 58 seronegative women, of whom 27 had HIV-positive partners, participated in the study. A Pap smear and a cervical swab for HPV were done. Women with Pap smear abnormality underwent colposcopy and large loop excision procedures if indicated. Results. Ten (13.3%) HIV-positive women had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion as compared with 2 (3.4%) seronegative women (odds ratio [OR] 4.3; 95% CI = 0.9-41.7; p =.048). Among the HIV-positive women, 28 (37.3%) had high-risk HPV, whereas only 9 (15.5%) had high-risk HPV among seronegative women (OR 3.2; 95% CI = 1.3-8.3; p =.009). Among women who were positive for high-risk HPV, the HIV-positive women were significantly more likely to have more than 1 HPV type (OR 7.4; 95% CI = 1.4-43.7; p =.005). Women who had coitus at less than 18 years of age were more likely to have high-risk HPV infection (OR 2.9; 95% CI = 1.2-6.2; p =.013) even after controlling for HIV status. Conclusions. HIV-positive women have a higher risk for multiple HPV infections as compared with seronegative women. Behavioral factors dominate HIV in determining HPV infections and resultant cervical neoplasia.

Region-wise distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus types in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix in India.

Hypothesis: Assessment of the prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the cervix across India was undertaken to estimate the impact of available prophylactic HPV-L1 vaccines in the country and to find out additional types that might be needed to be incorporated in second-generation vaccines. Methods: High-risk (HR) HPVs were genotyped from 667 histopathologically confirmed cases of SCC from 6 different centers representing 4 regions across India: Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Mumbai; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Cancer Foundation of India, Kolkata; Christian Medical College, Vellore; Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore; and Regional Cancer Center, Thiruvananthapuram. Human papillomaviruses in tumor biopsies were analyzed by Xcytonscreen HPV based on PGMY09/11 multiplex polymerase chain reaction and reverse dot blot assay. Results: Overall viral prevalence across India was not different; 92.1% of 667 cases harbored HPV; 8% were negative. Infection with single HR type was seen in 86.8%: predominant types being HPV-16 followed by HPV-18, -45, -73, -31, -56, -52, -58, -59, -33, -68, -51, -35, -26, and -39. Human papillomavirus types 16/18-positive fraction formed 79.6%; other types comprised 12.4%. Conclusions: Prophylactic HPV-16/18-L1 vaccines would provide greater than 75% protection against SCC in India. Ranking and frequencies of non-16/18 types were different from earlier reports. Hence, considering the possibility of promotion of persistence of nonvaccine types in the vaccinees due to original antigenic sin and the lack of organized screening programs in India, a broad-based vaccine approach would be appropriate.