APMIS

doi: 10.1111/apm.13153pmid: N/A

Kares, Saara; Kholová, Ivana; Tirkkonen, Mika; Vuento, Risto; Kujala, Paula

doi: 10.1111/apm.13265pmid: 35899431

To evaluate the risk of false HPV‐negative results and possible related morphological abnormalities in HPV primary cervical cancer screening. Out of 53,661 HPV‐negative cases, 5469 (10.2%) randomly selected cytology slides were evaluated as a part of the quality assurance protocol. The Bethesda category negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) in the HPV‐negative cases given was present in 95.4%. Due to cytology other than NILM, 0.4% of cases were referred to colposcopy and 4.2% to the follow‐up in one year. In the follow‐up HPV negativity and NILM cytology was present in 88.3% of attended women. Cases other than HPV negative and NILM were referred to colposcopy. One biopsy‐proven histological HSIL was found in the first round and one in follow‐up screening. More comprehensive genotyping of HSIL cases revealed genotypes 69 and 11. Only two HPV test negative cases with histological HSIL were revealed forming 0.04% of quality control group. In both cases, HPV genotype not included in screening tests was found. According to the results, the primary HPV test with cytology triage is an efficient and specific method for cervical cancer screening despite of the fact that some non‐high‐risk genotypes are missed.

Hertz, Frederik Boetius; Holm, Jacob Bak; Pallejá, Albert; Björnsdóttir, María Kristín; Mikkelsen, Lasse Sommer; Brandsborg, Erik; Frimodt‐Møller, Niels

doi: 10.1111/apm.13261pmid: 35801409

Here, we present a longitudinal shotgun sequencing metagenomics study of 16 healthy, Danish women in the reproductive age. The aim of the study was to investigate whether lactobacilli, orally consumed, had any impact on the vaginal microbiome and its functional potential. The 16 women aged 19–45 years were recruited from Copenhagen, Denmark. One baseline vaginal sample (Day 0) and two study samples (Days 25–30 and Days 55–60, respectively), were sampled. The vaginal samples were analyzed by shotgun metagenomics. We detected 26 species in the vaginal microbiota of the 16 women, of which six belonged to the Lactobacillus genus. We observed three vaginal microbiome clusters mainly dominated by Gardnerella vaginalis, Lactobacillus iners, or Lactobacillus crispatus. The oral probiotic had no detectable effect on either the composition or the functional potential of the vaginal microbiota. Most of the study subjects (11 out of 16 women) exhibited only minor changes in the vaginal microbiome during the treatment with probiotics. Any compositional changes could not be associated to the probiotic treatment. Future studies may benefit from an increased number of participants, and administration of the probiotics during conditions with bacterial imbalance (e.g., during/after antibiotic treatment) or the use of different Lactobacillus spp. known to colonize the vagina.

Jørgensen, Rikke Lind; Lerche, Christian Johann; Pedersen, Martin Schou; Kirkby, Nikolai Soren; Botnen, Amanda Bolt; Trebbien, Ramona; Nilsson‐Møller, Stephen; Pinholt, Mette; Nielsen, Alex Christian Yde; Westh, Henrik; Lisby, Jan Gorm; Schneider, Uffe Vest

doi: 10.1111/apm.13262pmid: 35836366

In March 2022, we observed samples with a negative fluorescent signal (60.5%, n = 43) for the influenza A matrix gene and a stronger positive signal for subtype A(H3N2). Forty‐three samples were positive in InfA (H3N2) (mean Cq 30.9, range 23.9–35.1), and 26 of the 43 samples were negative in InfA matrix (mean Cq 28.0, range 23.2–30.6). Our multiplex test is a laboratory‐developed four‐target, four‐color influenza A reverse‐transcription PCR assay targeting the matrix gene, subtypes A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09. Several samples were negative when retested on commercial influenza Point‐of‐Care assays. As the matrix gene is a stand‐alone target in most commercial diagnostic assays, we caution against false‐negative subtype A test results.

Norrby, Klas

doi: 10.1111/apm.13264pmid: 35869669

This study is an attempt to shed light on why the connective tissue mast cell (MC) is preserved in all species with a blood circulatory system, i.e., the vertebrates since >500 million years, which suggests that the MC performs as yet not understood indispensible life‐promoting actions. The literature survey focuses on data in published papers on MC functions in immunological and nonimmunological reactions, host protection, pregnancy, inflammation, and wound healing. All data are thus accessible to the reader. The MC is a secretory cell with a unique mediator profile. A distinctive role for MCs is defined not only by their extensive mediator composition but also by their prominent ability to affect the vasculature to expedite selective cell recruitment and permeability changes and to set the stage for an appropriate acquired response. MCs, harboring a wide range of surface membrane receptors, are activated by the major female sex hormones as well as by diverse potentially adverse stimuli. MC activation/degranulation creates a presumably unique triad tissue response in physiological and pathological situations alike: extracellular matrix degradation and tissue remodeling, de novo cell proliferation, and de novo angiogenesis. As shown in the literature, MC‐activation is crucial for successful female reproduction in the mouse, implying one of possibly several yet unidentified physiological roles of MCs. Moreover, the activated MC aids newborns to survive to reproductive age owing to its key beneficial actions in inflammation and wound healing. Thus, a not previously described life‐perpetuating loop spanning generations are apparently formed, which, hypothetically, could contribute to the continued survival of the vertebrates.