Prevalence of human papilloma virus and Chlamydia trachomatis in endometrial and cervical carcinoma: a comparative study in North Indian women

Cervical cancer (Cacx) is the second and endometrial cancer (Ec) is the third most common gynecological cancer worldwide. The present study aims to understand the complex and unexplored conditions occurring in cervix and endometrium of the female genital tract caused due to the infection of the human papilloma viruses (HPVs) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). A total of 300 tissue biopsy samples of cervix and endometrium were included in the present study and tested for the presence of HPV and CT deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were considered for the calculation of the association of HPV and CT infection with the risk of cervical or Ec. Among endometrial patients, samples were 5% positive for HPV and 5% positive for CT infection. Among endometrial control group, no sample was found positive for either HPV or CT infection. Among cervical patients, 72% samples were positive for only HPV infection and 1% samples were positive for only CT infection. Among control group, 7% of samples were positive for only HPV infection and 3% were positive for only CT infection. The co-infection of CT with HPV in 9% of Cacx cases and in 2% of cervical control samples was also observed. This is the first study in Indian women to detect the prevalence of HPV and CT infections in endometrium cases and control. An updated estimate regarding the HPV and CT prevalence in cervix cases and control samples was also provided.

High-Grade Endometrial Cancer-Behaviour and Outcomes at a Tertiary Cancer Centre

High-grade endometrial carcinomas are a heterogeneous group of clinically aggressive tumours. They include FIGO grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC), clear cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and carcinosarcomas or malignant mixed Mullerian tumour (MMMT). The aim of this study is to look at clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of high-grade endometrial cancers of the uterus in our centre. A tertiary care centre in India. The study design is retrospective with survival analysis. We did a retrospective analysis of all patients admitted with a diagnosis of high-grade uterine carcinoma. Data regarding baseline characteristics, disease profiles, surgical outcomes, complications, extent of surgical staging, duration of surgery, blood loss, length of hospital stay, drain output, wound infection, surgico-pathological stage and grade, tumour size and location, myometrium and lymphovascular invasion, node positivity, adjuvant treatment, overall survival and recurrence-free survival. Survival analysis was done using the Kaplan-Meier method. We had 115 females diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Of these, 40 patients had high-grade endometrial cancer. Mean age at presentation was 64.7 years (range 33-80 years). Of this, endometrioid adenocarcinoma grade III was the commonest (37.5%), followed by UPSC in 32.5% and MMMT in 22.5% patients. Clear cell variant and mixed dedifferentiated variant were reported in 5% and 2.5%, respectively. Over 48 months of follow-up, recurrence was detected in eight patients (20%) and median time to recurrence was 11 months. Mean recurrence-free survival was 32.8 months and mean overall survival was 38.6 months High-grade endometrial cancers are aggressive tumours of postmenopausal women. Surgical staging and combination chemotherapy along with radiation therapy are the mainstay of treatment. In spite of adequate debulking followed by adjuvant therapy, survival remains poor.

Physical disorders among emergency psychiatric patients

An examination of patients with physical disorders requiring immediate treatment or investigation was undertaken in the Psychiatric Emergency Service of the Royal Ottawa Hospital and found to comprise 7% of the patient population, or one visit per day. Those with physical problems differed from the rest of the emergency patients in that a greater number were over age 60 and were diagnosed as alcoholic or chronic organic brain syndrome. Socio-demographic characteristics were examined as well. The presenting problem was accurate regarding a physical basis in only two-thirds and the disorder could, in some way, be related to a psychiatric diagnosis in 75% of the patients. Emphasis is placed on the fairly high frequency of immediate physical attention required by these patients who come to the psychiatrist. Consequently, psychiatric assessment and management is not the priority for this group and other skills of the psychiatrist are necessary in treating the patient.