Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Naomi Brewer, Sunia Foliaki, Michelle Gray, John D. Potter, Jeroen Douwes
Summary: This study explores the barriers and facilitators of HPV self-testing in Pasifika women through focus group discussions. The participants had varying levels of knowledge about cervical cancer screening, and the main challenges identified included personal privacy and confidentiality, as well as time management. There was a strong demand for self-testing, accompanied by the need for a collective/community approach consistent with Pasifika worldviews in the promotion and implementation of self-testing.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
B. Serrano, R. Ibanez, C. Robles, P. Peremiquel-Trillas, S. de Sanjose, L. Bruni
Summary: Self-sampling for HPV screening is increasingly recognized as a valid alternative to clinician collection, reaching underscreened women effectively. The global use of HPV self-sampling is currently limited, but efforts are being made to increase its adoption in the coming years. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the introduction of HPV self-sampling as a key element in expanding screening coverage.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Bernardo Vega Crespo, Vivian Alejandra Neira, Jose S. Ortiz, Ruth Maldonado-Rengel, Diana Lopez, Andrea Gomez, Maria Jose Vicuna, Jorge Mejia, Ina Benoy, Tesifon Parron Carreno, Veronique Verhoeven
Summary: This study compared the acceptability of urine and vaginal self-sampling methods versus clinician sampling among rural women. The results showed that both vaginal and urine self-sampling methods were more comfortable, provided more privacy, were less painful, and were less difficult to apply compared to clinician sampling. The overall preference was for vaginal self-sampling. No statistically significant preference was shown with urine self-sampling.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mathias Dzobo, Tafadzwa Dzinamarira, Grant Murewanhema, Tatenda Chishapira, Racheal S. Dube Mandishora, Megan Fitzpatrick, Tivani Mashamba-Thompson
Summary: This study aimed to engage key stakeholders in co-creating acceptable delivery strategies for HPV self-sampling cervical cancer screening in rural Zimbabwe.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kehinde S. Okunade, Adebola A. Adejimi, Sarah O. John-Olabode, Yusuf A. Oshodi, Ayodeji A. Oluwole
Summary: Cervical cancer, the most common disease related to HPV, offers opportunities for prevention through understanding its natural history and etiology. HPV screening tests, which detect HPV DNA or E6/E7 mRNA in cervical/vaginal samples using molecular-based technologies, are considered one of the most effective strategies. Challenges may arise when implementing an HPV-based screening program in underserved settings with limited resources, but they can be overcome by reducing screening frequency, adopting high throughput testing technology, and improving access to HPV self-sampling screening tests.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE POLICY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Nikoletta Daponte, George Valasoulis, Georgios Michail, Ioulia Magaliou, Athina-Ioanna Daponte, Antonios Garas, Ioanna Grivea, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Alexandros Daponte
Summary: Dynamic adaptations in global health during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have led to the increased use of self-sampling for cervical screening, which plays a crucial role in improving screening uptake and coverage. Self-sampling is an important component of the WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer and has the potential to reduce health disparities. However, there is a need for effective strategies to ensure follow-up testing and management for individuals with positive self-sampling results.
Review
Oncology
Shuang Zhao, Liuye Huang, Partha Basu, Efren Javier Domingo, Wisit Supakarapongkul, Woo Yin Ling, Dwiana Ocviyanti, Remila Rezhake, Youlin Qiao, Eng Hseon Tay, Fanghui Zhao
Summary: Multiple barriers hinder the implementation of cervical cancer screening in ASEAN countries, including inequity, lack of service availability, knowledge deficit, and insufficient funding. Only a few countries have initiated population-based screening programs with low participation rates. Tailored solutions and improved health education are crucial in promoting cervical cancer prevention efforts.
Review
Oncology
Yin Ling Woo, Su Pei Khoo, Patti Gravitt, David Hawkes, Reena Rajasuriar, Marion Saville
Summary: ROSE program is an HPV-based cervical screening program that utilizes self-sampling and digital technology to ensure women's access to care. It highlights the importance of collaborative partnerships and addressing various barriers in implementing a new cervical screening program. Education of healthcare providers and the public is crucial in the paradigm shift towards cervical cancer prevention. The ideas and solutions from ROSE program can be adapted and adopted by other countries.
Article
Oncology
Shreya Desai, Michelle J. Zhu, Ilana Lapidos-Salaiz
Summary: Low- and middle-income countries bear a high burden of preventable cervical cancer cases and deaths, with human papillomavirus DNA-based testing increasingly being the preferred screening method. This commentary discusses next steps and key considerations for the expansion of this screening approach.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ditte Moller Ejegod, Helle Pedersen, Birgitte Tonnes Pedersen, Reza Serizawa, Jesper Bonde
Summary: The Danish cervical cancer screening program is a free cancer prevention program targeting women aged 23-64. Despite a declining attendance rate, nearly half of all new cervical cancer cases are found in non-attenders. To increase attendance, the Capital Region of Denmark introduced HPV self-sampling as an alternative option, resulting in a 27% participation rate. Overall, 31% of the invited women were screened.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Tomasz Tatara, Katarzyna Wnuk, Wojciech Miazga, Jakub Switalski, Dagmara Karauda, Paulina Mularczyk-Tomczewska, Urszula Religioni, Mariusz Gujski
Summary: Cervical cancer is a common malignancy in females, and screening programs are crucial for its management. Self-sampling is an effective and feasible modality for screening with high uptake rates, which can contribute to the early detection of cervical cancer. HPV tests performed on self-collected samples have shown high sensitivity and specificity.
Article
Oncology
Anne Lesack, Laurie W. Smith, C. Sarai Racey, Lovedeep Gondara, Mel Krajden, Marette Lee, Ruth Elwood Martin, Gavin Stuart, Stuart Peacock, Eduardo L. Franco, Dirk van Niekerk, Gina S. Ogilvie
Summary: Self-collection provides an innovative opportunity for population-based HPV cervical cancer screening programs. The survey found that 52.1% of participants were willing to self-collect an HPV sample, and factors such as acceptance of HPV testing and higher education level influenced willingness.
Review
Oncology
Camila B. Dartibale, Gabriela de C. Prado, Lucimara R. Carobeli, Lyvia E. de F. Meirelles, Gabrielle M. Z. F. Damke, Edilson Damke, Fabricio Morelli, Raquel P. Souza, Vania R. S. Grp Prevent Yorself, Vania R. S. da Silva, Marcia E. L. Consolaro
Summary: Cervical cancer is a major health issue in Latin America and Caribbean, and many countries have not been successful in implementing screening programs. Self-sampling, as an alternative approach, has shown promise. This systematic review summarizes recent HPV self-sampling approaches in the region and highlights the potential of this strategy in overcoming barriers to screening and increasing attendance among underscreened women.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mihaela Grigore, Ingrid-Andrada Vasilache, Petru Cianga, Daniela Constantinescu, Odetta Duma, Roxana Daniela Matasariu, Ioana-Sadiye Scripcariu
Summary: An online survey was conducted to evaluate the acceptability of vaginal HPV self-sampling among Romanian women. The results showed that although the respondents had good educational backgrounds, there was still a lack of knowledge about Pap smears and the national cervical cancer screening program. The study also found that participants who were not familiar with Pap test, national screening program, HPV infection, or HPV test were more likely to accept vaginal self-sampling as a screening method.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bernardo Vega Crespo, Vivian Alejandra Neira, Jose Ortiz Segarra, Ruth Maldonado Rengel, Diana Lopez, Maria Paz Orellana, Andrea Gomez, Maria Jose Vicuna, Jorge Mejia, Ina Benoy, Tesifon Parron Carreno, Veronique Verhoeven
Summary: The study demonstrates that vaginal and urine self-sampling methods have similar sensitivity and specificity compared to clinician sampling for HPV diagnosis. The correlation of HPV genotypes among the three tests is satisfactory.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lili Liang, Andreas M. Kaufmann
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified and characterized in both hematopoietic and solid tumors. They possess unique properties, including slow proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation, and the ability to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process. CSCs play a crucial role in tumor growth, therapy resistance, and cancer metastasis. Strategies targeting CSCs are being developed for novel anti-metastasis treatments, aiming to improve therapeutic efficiency and prognosis with fewer side effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ivana Di Salvo, Dorcas Mnzava, Giovanni Jacopo Nicoletti, Elizabeth Senkoro, Robert C. Ndege, Dorothy J. Huang, Nathalia Tobias Makunja, George I. Kassiga, Andreas M. Kaufmann, Maja Weisser, Andre B. Kind
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the upscaling of cervical cancer screening and treatment services in a rural referral hospital in Tanzania to meet the targets set by the World Health Organization. It also explores the performance of novel diagnostic tests and provides information about HPV prevalence and persistence in a high-risk cohort of women living with HIV.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Virology
Qiang Xu, Haoru Dong, Zhiyu Wang, Pei Zhang, Andreas E. E. Albers, Andreas M. M. Kaufmann, Zhi-Ming Zheng, Xu Qian
Summary: A new platform was used to genotype HPV DNA in cancer tissues of 361 gastric cancer (GC) and 89 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The results showed that 10 GC and 2 OPSCC were infected with HPV16, suggesting a possible involvement of high-risk HPV in gastric carcinoma.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christos Bakirtzis, Marina-Kleopatra Boziki, Maria-Valeria Karakasi, Theodoros Moysiadis, Nikolaos Grigoriadis
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on hospitalization and mortality due to COVID-19 in people with myasthenia gravis. A retrospective analysis of Greek nationwide administrative data showed that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in this population.
Article
Plant Sciences
Christos Bazakos, Konstantinos G. Alexiou, Sebastian Ramos-Onsins, Georgios Koubouris, Nikolaos Tourvas, Aliki Xanthopoulou, Ifigeneia Mellidou, Theodoros Moysiadis, Ioanna-Theoni Vourlaki, Ioannis Metzidakis, Chrysi Sergentani, Ioanna Manolikaki, Michail Michailidis, Adamantia Pistikoudi, Alexios Polidoros, George Kostelenos, Filippos Aravanopoulos, Athanassios Molassiotis, Ioannis Ganopoulos
Summary: In this study, the most complete genomic variation map and comprehensive catalog of molecular variation to date for 89 olive tree genotypes originating from the entire Mediterranean basin were developed, revealing the genetic diversity of this commercially significant crop tree and explaining the divergence/similarity among different variants. Additionally, the potential origin or routes of olive tree domestication were characterized through the study of the monumental ancient tree 'Throuba Naxos'.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ioannis E. Messinis, Christina I. Messini, Evangelos G. Papanikolaou, Evangelos Makrakis, Dimitrios Loutradis, Nikolaos Christoforidis, Theodosis Arkoulis, Georgios Anifandis, Alexandros Daponte, Charalampos Siristatidis
Summary: This study aims to compare the efficacy of using only follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with using FSH plus a GnRH antagonist in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in cycles of elective freezing in a donor/recipient program. The results will determine whether the addition of a GnRH antagonist is necessary to prevent LH surges and progesterone elevations.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Giasemi C. Eptaminitaki, Apostolos Zaravinos, Dimitris Stellas, Maria Panagopoulou, Sevasti Karaliota, Ismini Baltsavia, Ioannis Iliopoulos, Ekaterini Chatzaki, Dimitrios Iliopoulos, Stavroula Baritaki
Summary: This study characterizes cancer stem-like subpopulations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and identifies CSC-specific lncRNA signatures with potential prognostic and therapeutic significance in PDAC.
Review
Oncology
Nikoletta Daponte, George Valasoulis, Georgios Michail, Ioulia Magaliou, Athina-Ioanna Daponte, Antonios Garas, Ioanna Grivea, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Alexandros Daponte
Summary: Dynamic adaptations in global health during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have led to the increased use of self-sampling for cervical screening, which plays a crucial role in improving screening uptake and coverage. Self-sampling is an important component of the WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer and has the potential to reduce health disparities. However, there is a need for effective strategies to ensure follow-up testing and management for individuals with positive self-sampling results.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nikolaos Konstantinidis, Bernard Chevalier, Thomas Hovasse, Philippe Garot, Hakim Benamer, Thierry Unterseeh, Stephane Champagne, Francesca Sanguineti, Antoinette Neylon, Theodoros Moysiadis, Alexandre Avran, Yves Louvard, Thierry Lefevre
Summary: This study analyzed the incidence, procedural strategy, in-hospital outcomes, and complications of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for bifurcation-CTO (BIF-CTO). The study found that patients with BIF-CTO presented with higher lesion complexity, but it did not affect procedural success or complication rates when the predominant strategy was provisional stenting.
REVISTA ESPANOLA DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Andrea Visentin, Thomas Chatzikonstantinou, Lydia Scarfo, Anargyros Kapetanakis, Christos Demosthenous, Georgios Karakatsoulis
Summary: In this retrospective international multicenter study, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related disorders infected by SARS-CoV-2 were described. The study also investigated the development of post-COVID condition. The data showed that patients infected in the most recent phases of the pandemic had lower hospitalization rates, ICU admission rates, and mortality compared to those infected in the initial phases. Overall survival improved throughout the phases. Age, comorbidity, and CLL-directed treatment were identified as risk factors for mortality. A significant number of patients developed post-COVID condition, characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, lasting cough, and impaired concentration. The severity of infection was the only risk factor for developing post-COVID. Further investigations are warranted to understand the impact of COVID-19 on CLL patients.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vassilis M. Papadakis, Christina Cheimonidi, Maria Panagopoulou, Makrina Karaglani, Paraskevi Apalaki, Klytaimnistra Katsara, George Kenanakis, Theodosis Theodosiou, Theodoros C. Constantinidis, Kalliopi Stratigi, Ekaterini Chatzaki
Summary: In this study, Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the biomolecular characteristics of cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) in the blood of individuals with different health conditions. The study found distinct spectral patterns in ccfDNA from breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, as well as some differences in the biomolecular fingerprints of ccfDNA from healthy, prediabetic, and diabetic males. The analysis also confirmed that ccfDNA mirrors its cellular origin. Overall, the study highlights the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a new approach for liquid biopsy diagnostics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Antonios Siargkas, Sonia Giouleka, Ioannis Tsakiridis, Apostolos Mamopoulos, Ioannis Kalogiannidis, Apostolos Athanasiadis, Themistoklis Dagklis
Summary: This study assessed the incidence of prenatally diagnosed isolated single umbilical artery (iSUA) and its impact on major pregnancy outcomes, as well as investigated potential risk factors. It found that prenatally diagnosed iSUA was significantly associated with small-for-gestational-age neonates and preterm delivery, but not with preeclampsia. Conception via assisted reproductive technology was associated with increased risk of iSUA.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kyriaki Mitta, Ioannis Tsakiridis, Themistoklis Dagklis, Riola Grigoriadou, Apostolos Mamopoulos, Apostolos Athanasiadis, Ioannis Kalogiannidis
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the rate of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and investigate the potential risk factors and management options. The results showed that advanced maternal age, preterm delivery, and multiparity were identified as risk factors for PPH. Most cases were managed with uterotonic medication. More research is needed to understand the risk factors and develop predictive models for PPH.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Charlotte K. Metz, Anna S. Skof, Jalid Sehouli, Jan-Peter Siedentopf, Pimrapat Gebert, Fabian Weiss, Irene Alba Alejandre, Michaela Heinrich-Rohr, Katharina Weizsaecker, Wolfgang Henrich, Andreas M. Kaufmann, Irena Rohr
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of HIV infection and pregnancy on HR-HPV infection and progression. The study found that a high HIV viral load and a low CD4 T cell count were associated with a higher prevalence of HR-HPV infections and multiple infections. It is recommended to perform more attentive and comprehensive HPV screening and cytological examination for pregnant women with HIV infection.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)