Faten S. Gazzaz

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infections in healthy Saudi women attending gynecologic clinics in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major cause of cervical cancer. There is little published data on the prevalence of HPV infection among Saudi women. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV in a group of women in the western region of Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective study of Saudi women seeking gynecologic care at King Abdulaziz University Hospital from March 2010 to January 2011. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred eighty-five Saudi women of different age groups attending gynecology clinic were tested for high-risk HPV DNA. HPV DNA was detected in cervical scrapes using Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) high-risk HPV DNA test. The prevalence of HPV DNA positivity in different age groups was calculated. RESULTS Out of the 485 specimens, 27 (5.6%) were positive for the high-risk HPV. The highest percentage was among women aged 60 years and older. Patients in the age group 40–49 years were more likely to accept HPV testing with a total of 188 patients. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HPV in this group of Saudi women is similar to what was reported in some Arab countries and lower than that reported in developed countries. This information could be used to help in establishing a primary screening program using HPV DNA testing in Saudi Arabia.

Local inflammation influences oestrogen metabolism in prostatic tissue.

Whats known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Molecular tests to detect human papillomavirus infection in patients with cervical dysplasia and invasive cervical cancer in Saudi Arabia

correspondence: Khalid h Sait Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel +966 2 640 8111 Mob +966 50 569 3160 Fax +966 2 640 8111 email khalidsait@yahoo.com Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the actual human papillomavirus (HPV) subtype that presents in cervical dysplasia and invasive carcinoma in the Saudi population, and the feasibility of using Hybrid Capture 2 technique (HC2) on biopsy specimens to detect certain HPV subtypes. Patients and methods: A prospective study was conducted from March 2007 to December 2008. The subjects studied were women with a mean age of 48.18 years, who attended the hospital for cervical biopsy due to the suspected diagnosis of cervical dysplasia or an invasive disease, based on previous suspicious Pap smear. HPV DNA hybridization by HC2 was performed on the cervical biopsies of these patients, to detect HPV infection. Results: During the period of this study, 45 patients had cervical biopsies taken for HPV testing. Seven patients had a negative HC2 result and were found to have no cervical dysplasia on the final pathology review. Seventeen cases with cervical dysplasia and 21 patients with invasive disease were presented; the mean age was 48 years. HC2 testing for HPV were found to be positive in patients with cervical dysplasia, invasive carcinoma, and all in 5 (29.4%), 13 (61.9%) and 18 (47.4%), respectively. The sensitivity of the test is 47% and specificity is 100%. Conclusion: The use of molecular detection of HPV DNA by HC2 in biopsy is feasible and effective. These results confirm the finding that HPV contributes to the etiology of cervical cancer in Muslim society.

Genital infection in males with idiopathic infertility.

We investigated a group of male patients with idiopathic infertility to determine the presence of genital infection and to identify the pattern of this infection using a specially designed protocol. A prospective study was carried out on 63 patients and 23 controls. We cultured the first voided urine, semen and swabs taken from the anterior urethra of these patients and controls for bacteria, chlamydia. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Two techniques were used for chlamydial isolation and identification. These involved the use of chlamydial culture on McCoy cells with culture confirmation test and the direct fluorescent identification of Chlamydiatrachomatis. The all-liquid media (MYCOFAST ALL-IN) kits were used for the identification of mycoplasma. Our results indicate that there is a significantly higher incidence of genital infection among male patients with idiopathic infertility than in normal fertile controls (P=0.0004). Extensive microbial investigations are indicated when genital infection is suspected to be the cause of the fertile state or cannot be ruled out as a possible cause in case of idiopathic infertility.

Detection of human papillomavirus infection by molecular tests and its relation to colonic polyps and colorectal cancer

Objectives: To prospectively examine the association between human papilloma virus (HPV) colonization of the colonic mucosa and the development of colorectal polyps (CRPs), and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A case control study was performed between January 2013 and December 2014. All eligible patients underwent standard diagnostic colonoscopy. Patients with polyps or colorectal cancer were considered cases, while those with any other endoscopic findings were controls. Biopsy samples from polyps and tumors, and/or from normal colonic mucosa were acquired. Human papilloma virus colonization was detected using a hybrid capture technique of samples taken from both normal tissue, and CRPs and CRC. The association between HPV and CRPs/CRC was evaluated. Results: A total of 132 patients were recruited. The mean age was 53 (±15.9) years. Sixty patients had endoscopically detectable CRPs/CRC, and 72 had either inflammation or normal endoscopic evaluations. Only 4 (0.8%) of the 132 samples that were collected and analyzed were positive for the HPV gene. Statistical analysis did not identify any significant association between HPV colonization and the presence of CRPs/CRC. The only significant predictor of detecting CRPs/CRC on colonoscopy was symptomatic presentation (odds ratio=11.072, 95% confidence interval 4.7-26.2, p<0.001). Conclusion: Human papilloma virus colonic colonization is rare in Saudi Arabia. An association between HPV colonization and CRP/CRC development could not be identified in this cohort of patients.