UNASSIGNED: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as a method of cervical cancer screening can be performed by healthcare providers or by patients through self-sampling directly in the community, removing several barriers experienced by under screened populations. The objective of this scoping review was to determine which HPV self-sampling implementation and engagement strategies have been used to engage under screened populations (i.e., Indigenous, newcomer, and rural and remote communities) in cervical cancer screening.
UNASSIGNED: A scoping review was conducted searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and SocINDEX from inception to August 2023. The inclusion criteria were: (1) Indigenous, newcomer, and rural and remote communities; (2) countries identified as members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; and (3) intervention included HPV self-sampling. The review was registered prior to conducting the search (https://osf.io/zfvp9).
UNASSIGNED: A total of 26 studies out of 2,741 studies met the inclusion criteria. In-person engagement with trusted community leaders was the most widely used and accepted recruitment and engagement strategy across all three populations. Six out of seven studies with Indigenous communities distributed HPV self-sampling kits to eligible participants in person in a clinical setting for collection on site or at home. Similarly, nine of the identified studies that engaged newcomers recruited participants in person through the community, where eligible participants were either given a kit (n = 7) or received one in the mail (n = 2). Lastly, of the 10 identified studies engaging rural and remote participants in HPV self-sampling, six recruited eligible participants in person at various community locations and four used electronic medical records or registries to identify and mail kits to participants.
UNASSIGNED: HPV self-sampling through in person kit distribution and mail out of HPV self-sampling kits is an effective way to increase participation rates amongst under screened populations.

Since its Fast-Track approval by the Federal Drug Administration, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been marked by controversies. Unconfirmed reports of adverse events in both Japan and Denmark led to suspensions of national vaccination programs, which setback the fight against cervical cancer and associated mortality and morbidity. Despite follow-up studies of vaccine adverse reports, additional randomized control trials, and review reports from both the World Health Organization and the European Commission, there is still a great deal of hesitancy around the vaccine. While all three version of the HPV vaccine have been shown to be efficacious and safe, additional ethical dilemmas deserve to be considered as well.

OBJECTIVE: To review the existing evidence to identify the optimum methods for implementing human papillomavirus self-sampling to increase screening uptake for underserved groups.
METHODS: Specific groups are less likely to participate in cervical screening. These include individuals from low socioeconomic status groups, ethnic minority groups, younger age groups (25-29), older age groups (≥50), with a physical disability, with a learning disability and with an LGBTQ+ identity. The advent of human papillomavirus self-sampling for cervical screening presents an opportunity to promote equitable access to screening. Implementation for human papillomavirus self-sampling can vary, for example, opt-out or opt-in approaches. However, it is unclear which of these is the best method of offering human papillomavirus self-sampling to underserved groups.
METHODS: Six databases were searched through May 2023. Studies comparing cervico-vaginal human papillomavirus self-sampling provision using different implementation strategies with the standard screening pathway in underserved groups were identified. A narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS: In total, 4574 studies were identified; 25 studies were included, of which 22 were from high-income countries. Greater uptake was found for offering human papillomavirus self-sampling compared to standard clinician-based sampling. Directly mailing human papillomavirus self-sampling kits to participants resulted in higher uptake of screening than using an \'opt-in\' approach or standard recall in low socioeconomic status and ethnic minority groups, and older women. Strategies that used community health workers or educational materials increased uptake in ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Directly mailing human papillomavirus self-sampling kits to low socioeconomic status groups, ethnic minority groups and older women has the potential to increase uptake of human papillomavirus self-sampling. Using community health workers to offer human papillomavirus self-sampling should be considered for ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status groups. Further research exploring the preferences of younger women is needed.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple conservative treatment options for plantar warts, but none have proven to be universally effective. Nitric acid is often used empirically by podiatrists in the treatment of plantar warts. A novel medical device or topical solution of nitric-zinc complex solution (NZCS) could potentially offer an effective and safe alternative for the targeted treatment of plantar warts.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the rate of complete healing of NZCS in a series of plantar wart cases and to establish the minimum number of product applications and time needed for healing. This will help standardize and protocolize its use.
METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted involving 72 patients who exhibited symptoms of plantar warts. These patients underwent chemical treatment using a nitric-zinc complex.
RESULTS: The cure rate with NZCS was 59.2%. The average number of NZCS applications was 5.9 ± 3.0 and the mean duration of treatment was 9.4 ± 7.1 weeks. A recurrence rate of 6.7% was observed.
CONCLUSIONS: The topical solution of the nitric-zinc complex is an effective treatment for plantar warts, which can be considered a first-line treatment option in the general population.

The Buschke-Löwenstein tumor (BLT), also known as giant condyloma acuminatum, is a rare, exophytic tumor, arising from pre-existing warty lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly strains 6 and 11, which are considered to have low oncogenic potential. BLT presents as a large, cauliflower-like growth typically affecting the penis, vulva, vagina, perineum, scrotum, anus, and perianal area. Despite being a benign lesion, BLT is locally aggressive with a high recurrence rate, and can potentially undergo malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma, contributing to an overall mortality rate of 20-30%. The primary treatment is complete surgical excision with wide margins, frequently requiring complex reconstructive techniques for defect coverage. We report on a 68-year-old patient, with multiple comorbidities, who presented with a two-year history of a large exophytic tumor in the genital region, affecting the penis, along with progressive erectile dysfunction and urinary problems. The tumor was surgically excised with oncological safety margins, and reconstruction was performed using advancement and rotation flaps from the scrotum and intact penile skin. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of Giant Condyloma (Buschke-Löwenstein tumor), showing acanthosis, papillomatosis, parakeratosis, and koilocytic cell collections, with positive immunohistochemical staining for p16, p63, and ki67. Postoperatively, the patient had a good clinical outcome and a complete surgical cure. This case highlights the critical need for timely intervention and comprehensive management strategies in treating giant condyloma, given its potential for local invasion and substantial impacts on patient quality of life. Early diagnosis and thorough surgical excision are crucial for effective management and to reduce the high recurrence, morbidity and malignant transformation risk associated with this condition.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to the development of various cancers, including head and neck, cervical, vaginal, penile, and anal cancers. The development of therapeutic vaccines against HPV-positive tumors is crucial for protecting individuals already infected with HPV, preventing tumor progression, and effectively treating the disease. The HPV therapeutic peptide-based vaccines demonstrate specificity and safety advantages by targeting specific epitopes while minimizing the risk of allergic or autoimmune reactions. However, HPV therapeutic peptide-based vaccines typically lack immunogenicity and frequently fail to induce effective immune responses. Therefore, there is a need for more effective approaches to improve the immunogenicity of HPV peptide-based vaccines. Here, we review relevant research and possible uses for increasing the immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy of HPV peptide-based vaccines through combined therapy and improved delivery strategies. Additional research is necessary to validate the application of combination therapy and delivery strategy modifications as standard treatment approaches for HPV therapeutic peptide-based vaccines.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays an important role in cervical cancer. HPV is classified within the Papillomaviridae family and is a non-enveloped, small DNA virus. HPV infection can be classified into two distinct scenarios: i) With or without integration into the host chromosomes. Detection of its infection can be useful in the study of cervical lesions. In the present review, the structural and functional features of HPV, HPV typing, infection and transmission mode, the risk factors for cervical susceptibility to infection and HPV detection methods are described in detail. The development of HPV detection methods may have far-reaching significance in the prevention and treatment of cervical disease. This review summarizes the advantages and limitations of each HPV detection method.

UNASSIGNED: Cervical cancer remains a global health challenge, claiming the lives of millions annually and having a significant impact on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary causative agent, plays a central role, with regional variations in prevalence.1 The process from HPV infection to neoplastic changes takes 5-25 years to occur, hence, knowing its prevalence in our community is vital.2.
UNASSIGNED: PubMed and SCOPUS were searched to identify articles related to cervical and anogenital HPV prevalence and genotypes in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) published between 2017 and 2024.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 19 articles were included in this review. Eight studies were from KSA, four were from Kuwait, three were from the UAE, one was from Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, and one presented data collectively from the KSA, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. The prevalence of HPV ranged between 4.7% and 77% in studies from the KSA, between 15% and 54.3% in studies from Kuwait, between 14.7% and 88% in studies from the UAE, was 8.1% and 31.3% in the two studies from Qatar, and was 17.8% and 20% in the studies from Oman and Bahrain, respectively. HPV 16 was the most prevalent high-risk genotype found in studies conducted in the KSA, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. In Oman, HPV 82 predominated. In Bahrain, the majority had other non-HPV 16/18/45 genotypes. In the UAE and Kuwait, HPV 11 was the predominant low-risk type, followed by HPV 6. In Qatar, HPV 81 was the most common low-risk type, followed by HPV 11. In Oman, HPV 54 was the most common low-risk type, followed by HPV 42.
UNASSIGNED: There are no studies with data on HPV prevalence and genotypes among women who have been vaccinated against HPV in GCC countries.

Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia or Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia (MEH), also known as Heck\'s disease, is considered a rare pathology of the oral mucosa associated with human papillomavirus types 13 and 32. For reasons not fully understood, MEH disproportionally affects specific populations of indigenous groups around the world. After the first reports in Native Americans, the epidemiology of the disease has been described in different geographical regions mainly related to particular indigenous populations, the majority of the studies are clinical case reports, but the biological determinants are still unknown. Some suggested risk factors include chronic irritation caused by smoking, a galvanic current, vitamin A deficiency, and/or a familial-genetic predisposition; however, the scientific evidence is not solid due the scarcity of case-control studies or longitudinal cohorts. In light of the evidence, further study of the pathology of MEH should be considered and proper clinical trials for effective treatments should be designed. The disease warrants further study as it is considered as neglected by research and it affects rural/remote population groups usually living in adverse socioeconomic conditions.

BACKGROUND: While the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to affect the outcomes of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), there is a significant gap in research regarding the potential sex-based differences. This systematic review-metanalysis (SR-MA) aims to evaluate if sex is a prognostic factor in HPV-associated OPSCC.
METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. COCHRANE Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus were searched for English-language articles from 1966 to October 2023. Studies with multivariable analysis of overall survival (OS) based on sex were included. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) were presented for the reported outcome. A meta-analysis of single means, proportions, and aHRs with a 95 % CI was conducted.
RESULTS: This SR-MA included 24 studies (n = 101,574). The proportion of female patients was 16.6 % [15.4 %-17.8 %]. A meta-analysis of all included studies with OS showed no significant difference in survival between male and female patients. In US-based studies, no significant difference in OS is observed between male and female patients. International studies reported a better OS for female patients (aHR = 0.68, 95 % CI, 0.48-0.95).
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that sex does not represent a significant prognostic factor for patients affected by HPV associated OPSCC. When stratified by geographic location, findings suggests that female patients from the US with HPV OPSCC have similar OS than male patients but in international studies it suggests male patients have worse OS.