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The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with acetowhite lesions of the portio cervix, demonstrating koilocytosis and/or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I-III. The study group comprised 37 women admitted to the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg because of pathological colposcopy or cytology of the portio cervix. Colposcopically, all exhibited acetowhite lesions of the portio cervix. Cells were sampled with a cytobrush for examination for EBV and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a biopsy was taken for histopathology. Biopsies from 5 patients positive for EBV by PCR in cervical cell samples were examined by an in situ hybridization technique for EBER (Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA), RNAs expressed in latent EBV infection. The control group consisted of women attending the Department of Dermato-Venereology at the same hospital for STD check-up. These had a normal cytology and no signs of acetowhiteness of the portio cervix. In the study group, EBV DNA was found in 30% and HPV DNA in 51%. In the control group 57% exhibited EBV DNA and 23% HPV DNA. EBV was not found to be a predictive factor in the development of koilocytosis and/or CIN I-III. HPV was a predictive factor in acetowhite, koilocytotic lesions. No expression of EBER was found in the 5 biopsies examined by in situ hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamine oxidase activities (diamine: oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating), (EC 1.4.3.6)) of amniotic fluid, maternal venous plasma and fetal plasma were measured in 19 pregnant women at term. No statistically significant difference was found between the enzyme activity of the amniotic fluid and the maternal plasma. The enzyme activity in the fetal circulation was approximately one hundredth of that in the other compartments. It is suggested that passage of fluid through the amniotic membrane might be of greater importance in the formation of the amniotic fluid than believed earlier. Twenty-seven women in the second trimester of pregnancy were also investigated, maternal venous blood and amniotic fluid being sampled. The diamine oxidase activity of the amniotic fluid was significantly lower than that of the maternal plasma. It is suggested that the mechanisms governing the production of amniotic fluid might vary in importance at different periods of gestation. Following intramuscular injection of aminoguanidine, a diamine oxidase inhibitor, in 10 pregnant women significantly lower enzyme activity was found in both maternal plasma and in amniotic fluid than in nontreated subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to define the relationship between various criteria of female lower genital tract inflammation, we examined wet smears, cervical smears and biopsies from 131 patients. The presence of clue cells in rehydrated dry smears showed a positive correlation to the presence of clue cells in Papanicolaou stained smears, and to some extent with cytological evidence of inflammation (Kappa 0.48). Cytological inflammatory findings correlated well with the presence of clue cells in rehydrated dry smears, but signs of inflammation diagnosed by histopathology did not correspond to findings in cytological smears, probably because these methods reveal inflammation at different sites.

Genital warts and intraepithelial neoplasia caused by infection with human papillomavirus are usually treated with CO2 laser or electrocoagulation. In this study, contamination of personnel and operating theatres with human papillomavirus DNA during treatment sessions was investigated. Samples were taken from the nostrils, nasolabial folds and conjunctiva of the operating physician before and after operating sessions and from Petri dishes left open in the operating theatres. Human papillomavirus DNA was demonstrated by the polymerase chain reaction technique. The results show that there is a risk of contamination of the operator by human papillomavirus DNA, detectable with the polymerase chain reaction technique, during both CO2 laser and electrocoagulation treatment.

Altogether 51 regular female consorts of men attending a venereal disease clinic for genital warts were examined using colposcopy, vaginal cytology and--when needed--surgical biopsy. Abnormal cytological smears were found in 18 out of 49 consorts (37%), which should be compared with 8 out of 124 (6%) matched female controls from a family planning clinic (p less than 0.001). Possibly premalignant lesions, i.e. atypical condylomata and/or frank dysplasia, were found in 14 (27%) out of 51 consorts. The prevalence of abnormal smears or biopsy-proven dysplasia was approximately the same in consorts with and without external warts. These findings call for close attention to the risk of development of cervical dysplasia in female consorts of men with genital warts.

Transplant surgery is now a widely established practice and the associated immunosuppressive treatment is followed by various complications. The present report on vaginitis emphysematosa in a woman with renal transplantation indicates that even this benign condition may have a connection with immunosuppressive therapy.