Human Papillomavirus Infection Among HIV-positive Women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Munkana Ndundula Arthur,
Isango Idi Yves,
Kasonga Kasonga Michel,
Mushemuka Baleke Christian,
Kasamba Ilunga Eric,
Mwamba Mulumba Claude,
Bakamwimba Kamwina Boaz,
Tamubango Kitoko Hermann,
Kakoma Sakatolo Zambèze,
Fontaine Véronique,
Kalenga Muenze Kayamba Prosper
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2021
Pages:
145-150
Received:
9 June 2021
Accepted:
26 June 2021
Published:
19 October 2021
Abstract: Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world, particularly affecting people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A synergy between the two viruses is however described by several authors but very little is known in women living with HIV-HPV co-infection in Lubumbashi in the South of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection in women living with HIV, to define the socio-demographic profile of HPV infection and to analyze certain clinical and paraclinical parameters. Methodology: A total of 77 women, including 58 HIV-infected women (group 1) and 19 HIV-free women (group 2), were included in a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted from November 01 to 30, 2019 at the HIV-AIDS Mother-Child Transmission Prevention Unit (MCTPU) of the Lubumbashi University Clinics (LUC). HPV was tested on cervical-vaginal secretions obtained either by self-sampling or by a sample taken by a previously trained examiner. HPV was investigated by the INNO-LIPA (PCR) method at the Microbiology, Bioorganic Chemistry and Macromolecular Unit laboratory of the Free University of Brussels in Belgium (FUB) while the diagnosis of HIV infection (PCR), viral load determination and CD4 level assay was performed in the LUC laboratory. Results: The overall frequency of HPV infection was 74.03%. It was significantly higher in HIV-infected women than in non-HIV-infected women (81.08% vs. 52.63%). The socio-demographic profile of the HPV-infected patient was made up of predominantly married, multi-parented women, aged on average 35, with a secondary education level and an average socio-economic level. Low monthly incomes and HIV infection were almost 4 times at risk for HPV infection (OR 4.2 [1,439-12,262] and OR 3.75 [1,269-11,080] respectively). Finally, HIV-positive patients infected with HPV had overall low levels of Lymphocyte T CD4 compared to those not infected with HPV. Conclusion: Our study shows that in Lubumbashi, HPV infection is present in both HIV-positive and negative women but its prevalence is distinctly higher in HIV-positive patients than those without HIV infection. It is interesting to determine in subsequent studies the different genotypes of HPV circulating in Lubumbashi and to define the proportion of genotypes at high carcinogenic risk.
Abstract: Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world, particularly affecting people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A synergy between the two viruses is however described by several authors but very little is known in women living with HIV-HPV co-infection in Lubumbashi in t...
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Combined Use of Local and Global Features for Classification of Breast Lesion Using DCE-MRI Images
Arukalam Felicity Mmaezi,
Okafor Sixtus Amarachukwu,
Okafor Wilson Chimaobi,
Eziefuna Ebere Oniyinye,
Okafor Afoma Lorreta,
Chibuike Tochukwu Emmanuel
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2021
Pages:
151-156
Received:
18 May 2021
Accepted:
21 June 2021
Published:
29 October 2021
Abstract: Recently, the use of dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) technique is widely used to detect and diagnose breast cancer. This technique has shown to be very useful particularly in screening women with high risk for breast cancer, as well as assessing the potential effects of new therapy. Thus, the aim of the present study is to appraise the efficacy of combined employment of global and local features in discriminating malignant and benign lesions. A dataset of one hundred and twenty one (121) DCE-MRI investigations was assembled and used. Out of that number, fifty (50) were biopsy-proved malignant tumors and seventy-one (71) were benign. Firstly, the suspicious mass regions were automatically detected and segmented with 3D region growing algorithm. Meanwhile, Local and global features were used. Thereafter, sequential floating forward selection method (SFFS) and support vector machine classifier (SVM) were used for classification. The overall classification performance of different kind of features were evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in a 3-fold cross validation scheme. It was observed that global feature produced classification accuracy of 84.32 % followed by local feature with accuracy of 85.95 %. When the local and global features were combined, the classification accuracy increased to 94.36 %. Based on the obtained results, this study has demonstrated that the combined use of local and global features could effectively function as a better indicator in differentiating malignant and benign tumors.
Abstract: Recently, the use of dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) technique is widely used to detect and diagnose breast cancer. This technique has shown to be very useful particularly in screening women with high risk for breast cancer, as well as assessing the potential effects of new therapy. Thus, the aim of the present study ...
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Initiating Conversations on Integrative Oncology Amongst Cancer Professionals, Integrative Medicine Practitioners and Cancer Patients – The CANCERTALK Initiative
Penny Kechagioglou,
Robin Daly
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2021
Pages:
157-161
Received:
30 October 2021
Accepted:
22 November 2021
Published:
27 November 2021
Abstract: Integrative Medicine (IM) is a philosophy and practice of medicine which addresses the whole person and not just symptoms of disease. It encompasses complementary and alternative therapies which work alongside mainstream medical treatments and may include aspects of nutrition, physical activity and mind-body therapies such as massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. Similarly, Integrative Oncology (IO) addresses the epigenetic changes which can cause cancer (with nutrition, exercise and lifestyle factors), above and beyond cancer genetics, through the use of complementary and alternative approaches on top of traditional cancer treatments. Between 40% and 60% of cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative therapies as part of Integrative Oncology, but only few will tell their oncologist or cancer nurse specialist. This is often because of the generalized lack of awareness from clinicians of the benefits of Integrative Oncology in improving cancer patient outcomes. In addition, there is currently no funding model in the UK National Health Service (NHS) that can support the routine use of complementary and alternative therapies in clinic. As a result, people with cancer tend to seek support from integrative oncology charities or private integrative practitioners. Our study is the first evaluation of a cancer podcast in UK which aims at initiating conversations between mainstream and integrative practitioners around the routine use of Integrative Oncology practices in the NHS. The purpose of the podcast initiation is to bridge the gap between mainstream and integrative medicine practitioners and pave the way to new models of Integrative Oncology care in the NHS. The results from the first six months of the program are very encouraging, in terms of clinician appetite to explore Integrative Oncology in their routine clinical practice. The next six months will see more mainstream clinicians becoming engaged in conversational talks, which will help lift the barriers to the adoption and diffusion of Integrative Oncology in UK.
Abstract: Integrative Medicine (IM) is a philosophy and practice of medicine which addresses the whole person and not just symptoms of disease. It encompasses complementary and alternative therapies which work alongside mainstream medical treatments and may include aspects of nutrition, physical activity and mind-body therapies such as massage, aromatherapy ...
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