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Inapparent genital herpes simplex infection in women attending a venereal disease clinic.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic genital infection with herpes simplex virus in women attending a venereal disease clinic in Puerto Rico. Genital samples were obtained from 123 consecutively enrolled patients. Vero cells were used for viral isolation; isolates demonstrating cytopathic effect were stored at -70 C and were typed by use of monoclonal antibodies. Herpes simplex virus was isolated from six patients, three of whom were free of any possible complaint that might be associated with a genital herpes virus infection. One patient was diagnosed as having herpetic cervicitis, and the remaining two were clinically diagnosed as well as laboratory confirmed cases of genital herpes. Virus isolated from all six women was identified as herpes simplex virus type 2. Thus the prevalence of laboratory confirmed genital herpes infection in women attending this clinic was 4.9% (6/123). Inapparent virus infection was detected in 2.5% (3/120) of the patients.

Adolescent↗

Can serology diagnose upper genital tract Chlamydia trachomatis infections? Studies on women with pelvic pain, with or without chlamydial plasmid DNA in endometrial biopsy tissue.

BACKGROUND: Upper genital tract chlamydial infections in women are on the increase, and serology might be a convenient tool for diagnosis. Evaluations of this approach are needed in women with or without microbiologic evidence of organisms in the upper genital tract. GOALS: To compare the results of antibody assays with cervical culture and upper genital tract histopathology in women with pelvic pain and chlamydial plasmid DNA in endometrial biopsies. STUDY DESIGN: Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on extracted deparaffinized endometrial biopsy tissue. Five antichlamydial antibody assays were performed measuring total antibodies or immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA classes on sera from 14 women with plasmid DNA as well as 31 without plasmid DNA. RESULTS: Accepting the presence of plasmid DNA as the gold standard, no single test had total diagnostic accuracy. The best sensitivity and specificity occurred with the following assays: whole inclusion fluorescence (WIF) (100% and 80.6%); microimmunofluorescence IgM (MIF IgM) (78.6% and 93.6%); and heatshock protein-60 enzyme immunoassay (42.9% and 100%). Although recombinant anti-lipopolysaccharide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays measured anti-chlamydial antibodies in a large proportion of these women, specificity was low. The sensitivity and specificity of cervical culture was 28.6% and 100% and of endometrial histopathology was 71.4% and 48.4%. Analysis of patient serological profiles suggested that and 6 women without plasmid DNA may have been cases that were missed by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluations of assays to diagnosis Chlamydia trachomatis upper genital tract infections could use the presence of organisms or their markers in the upper genital tract as a standard of comparison. Some of these serological assays, such as WIF or MIF IgM, may be helpful in diagnosis, but more studies are needed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Treatment of external genital warts in men using 5% imiquimod cream applied three times a week, once daily, twice daily, or three times a day.

BACKGROUND: Medical therapy for genital warts remains suboptimal. The topical interferon and cytokine inducer, imiquimod, has been proved effective for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts, but there is a substantial difference in the response rates between men and women. When 5% imiquimod cream is applied three times a week up to 16 weeks, approximately two thirds of women treated with imiquimod achieve complete clearance of genital warts, whereas only about one third of men clear completely. GOAL: This study was undertaken to determine whether more frequent application of topical imiquimod cream would improve the rate of genital wart clearance in men. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized treatment trial involving adult men with biopsy-proven genital warts was conducted at nine centers in the United States and Canada using four different application frequencies. RESULTS: Complete clearance rates during the 16-week treatment period were as follows for the different imiquimod treatment frequencies: three times a week (35 %), once daily (28 %), twice daily (24%), and three times a day (27%)(P = 0.88). The four treatment groups all showed comparable reductions in the total lesion area, with a median of more than a 90% reduction in the lesion area by the end of treatment. There was a significant increase in the incidence and severity of local skin reactions including erythema, vesicle formation, ulceration, and excoriation as the dosing frequency increased from three times a week to three times a day. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the optimal dosage regimen was the approved three times a week regimen. More frequent application (up to three times a day) did not improve clearance and was associated with an increase in local adverse events.

Adult↗

Natural history of genital herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been increasingly reported as a cause of genital herpes, yet there have been few studies on the long-term natural history of this infection. GOAL The goal was to examine the clinical course of genital HSV-1 infection. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cohort study of patients presenting with culture-proven primary genital HSV-1 infection. RESULTS: The median follow-up of the 77 patients was 736 days. The overall rate of recurrences was 1.3/year in the first year of infection, decreasing to 0.7/year in the second year. In the first year of infection, 43% of study patients did not have a recurrence. In the second year of infection, 67% of study patients did not have a recurrence. CONCLUSION: Genital HSV-1 recurs infrequently in most patients, and the rate decreases further in the subsequent years of infection. Because the prognoses of genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections differ, determination of the viral type is important for patient counseling.

Adolescent↗

Duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detection and quantification of herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 in genital and cutaneous lesions.

BACKGROUND: A sensitive and specific method for detecting herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is important for diagnosing genital and cutaneous infections. GOAL: The goal of this study was to compare quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with virus culture for diagnosis of genital and cutaneous HSV-1 and HSV-2. STUDY DESIGN: A duplex qPCR system for quantification of DNA from HSV-1 and HSV-2 was developed. Duplicate swabs for PCR and virus culture were collected from 89 patients attending our sexually transmitted infection and dermatology clinic. RESULTS: The duplex qPCR had a linear measure interval of 10-10 copies/mL. The detection limit was between 1 and 5 copies per reaction. qPCR detected HSV in 57 (64%) specimens and virus was isolated in 45 (50%) cases. First-episode infections showed higher viral quantities with a median value of 4.2 x 10 copies per reaction compared with recurrent infections with 1.0 x 10 (P = 0.0002). HSV-1 was more likely to be the cause of first-episode genital infections (72%), and HSV-2 of recurrent and atypical genital manifestations (73%). CONCLUSION: Real-time PCR is a sensitive method for diagnosing genital herpes, and the duplex format is convenient for typing. The method increased the detection rate by 27% compared with virus culture.

Adolescent↗

Idiopathic genital ulcers in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

A national survey of investigators caring for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women was undertaken to describe the clinical presentation of idiopathic genital ulcer disease. Patients with negative syphilis and herpes simplex testing and/or negative genital ulcer biopsy were included in this study. Study participants (n = 29) were generally severely immunocompromised (median CD4 cell count was 50/mm3, and 68% had an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]-defining opportunistic process). Thirty-seven percent had coexistent oral ulcers and 19% had their genital ulcer progress to fistula formation (four rectovaginal and one vaginal-perineal). There was generally a favorable response to topical, systemic, and intralesional steroid treatment. This study suggests that idiopathic or probable aphthous genital ulcers in women have similar clinical characteristics to aphthous oroesophageal ulcers. Although infrequent, these genital ulcers can cause severe morbidity. Further research is warranted to better define the pathophysiology and optimal management.

Adult↗

Coccidioidomycosis of the male genital tract.

PURPOSE: Symptomatic genital tract infection is a rare manifestation of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. We characterized the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and outcome in male patients with genitourinary coccidioidomycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all cases of genital tract coccidioidomycosis involving testes, epididymis or prostate at our institution between 1990 and 2000, and searched the medical literature for all reports since the first reported case in 1943. RESULTS: A total of 30 male patients with a median age of 58 years who had coccidioidomycosis of the genital tract were identified, including 6 at our institution. Four patients (13%) had a simultaneous pulmonary infection and 63% (19) had a remote history of primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. The most commonly involved genital tract sites were the epididymis in 18 cases, prostate in 14 and testes in 6. Patients with prostatitis presented with urinary obstruction, prostatic enlargement, tenderness and palpable nodules. Most patients with epididymal infection presented with scrotal swelling, tenderness and induration. All 30 patients (100%) had histopathological evidence of granulomatous inflammation with fungal spherules. Urine fungal cultures were positive in 19 cases (63%). A total of 12 patients received combined medical and surgical treatment, and 18 underwent surgical excision only. Most immunocompetent patients with isolated genital coccidioidomycosis did well with surgical resection alone. Six deaths occurred in patients with multifocal, extragenital, disseminated disease. CONCLUSIONS: Male genitourinary coccidioidomycosis is rare but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with exposure to the endemic area who present with prostatitis or epididymitis.

Aged↗

Herpes virus type 2 infection and genital symptoms in primary care patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify whether genital symptoms were associated with unrecognized herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in a primary care population. STUDY DESIGN: Five thousand four hundred fifty-two individuals aged 18 to 59 seeking general care at 36 suburban medical offices in 6 U.S. cities were tested for HSV-2 antibody and asked about 10 types of genital symptoms. In patients with no known history of genital herpes, we assessed whether HSV-2 infection was independently associated with symptoms. RESULTS: HSV-2 infection was associated with increases in reports of "sores, blisters, ulcers, crusts, or small cuts/slits" in men [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.79; 95% CI, 1.24-2.58] and with increases in reports of "redness, irritation, or a rash" among women (adjusted OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.06-2.11). HSV-2 was not significantly associated with other types of genital symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Primary-care physicians should consider unrecognized HSV-2 infection as a potential cause of some common genital symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 infections among patients diagnosed with genital herpes in a Finnish sexually transmitted disease clinic, 1994-2002.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the proportion of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) in genital infections during a 9-year period (1994-2002) in a Finnish sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic population. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed prospectively the proportion of HSV-1- or -2-positive culture samples from our STD clinic patients with genital herpes during years 1994-2002 and compared the proportions of HSV-1 and HSV-2 findings with the age and gender of the patients. RESULTS: The proportion of HSV-1 infections increased from 18.7% (39 of 209) in 1994-1996 to 25.9% (52 of 201) in 2000-2002 (P = 0.032). Female patients with genital herpes and laboratory isolation of HSV-1 were 35.9% of the cohort from 1994-1996 and 67.3% of the cohort from 2000-2002. The mean age of male patients with HSV-1 decreased from 29.3 years in 1994-1996 to 24.1 years in 2000-2002 (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the proportion of genital infections caused by HSV-1 was found. The increase was mainly the result of the increase in the number of female patients with HSV-1. Male patients acquire genital HSV-1 infection at a younger age than 10 years ago.

Adult↗

A comparison of one year of episodic or suppressive treatment of recurrent genital herpes with valacyclovir.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to compare episodic and suppressive therapy for genital herpes about disease characteristics, disease burden, and psychologic impact. STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted a randomized, open-label, 1-year treatment trial. RESULTS: Forty subjects were randomized to episodic therapy with valacyclovir (500 mg twice daily for 5 days) and 40 to suppressive therapy (500 mg daily). Subjects in the episodic arm experienced more outbreaks (7.87 +/- 4.65) than those in the suppressive arm (1.59 +/- 1.93) (P <0.001). Subjects in the episodic arm also had significantly more days with pain and lesions (6.5 +/- 7.3) than those in the suppressive arm (1.1 +/- 3.3) (P < 0.001), and other quantitative measures of disease burden also favored the suppressive arm. Both treatment groups had significant improvements in their recurrent genital herpes quality-of-life scores from baseline that persisted throughout the study; however, there was no significant difference between the treatment arms in these scores. CONCLUSIONS: Suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes with valacyclovir has a greater impact on measures of disease frequency and burden than episodic therapy. However, both treatment strategies lead to significant improvements in recurrent genital herpes quality-of-life scores. Both treatment strategies benefit patients with recurrent genital herpes.

Acyclovir↗

Early archives of genetically-restricted proviral DNA in the female genital tract after heterosexual transmission of HIV-1.

OBJECTIVES AND METHOD: In order to characterize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants that are transmitted in women via heterosexual intercourse, the env V1-V3 sequences of HIV-1 provirus (DNA) and free virus (RNA) in paired samples of blood and cervicovaginal secretions of untreated chronically and primary infected African women were compared. RESULTS: Env RNA sequences retrieved from plasma and genital compartments formed a single cluster in primary infection. In contrast, env RNA sequences from these two compartments were distinct in chronically infected women. Analysis of proviral DNA of primary infected women showed that most HIV-1 sequences derived from the genital epithelia form independent clusters from HIV-1 sequences of DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and RNA recovered from plasma and genital secretions. Similarly, the analysis of proviral DNA in the genital compartment of chronically infected women showed the persistence of genetically-restricted cluster of HIV-1. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that a viral subpopulation is archived as proviral DNA in the female genital tract early in primary infection, and suggest that HIV-1 variants from the male donor are selected in the female mucosal site during male to female transmission of HIV-1.

Acute Disease↗

Copulation, genital damage and early death in Callosobruchus maculatus.

Antagonistic sexual coevolution stems from the notion that male and female interests over reproduction are in conflict. Such conflicts appear to be particularly obvious when male genital armature inflicts damage to the female reproductive tract resulting in reduced female longevity. However, studies of mating frequency, genital damage and female longevity are difficult to interpret because females not only sustain more genital damage, but also receive more seminal fluid when they engage in multiple copulations. Here, we attempt to disentangle the effects of genital damage and seminal fluid transfer on female longevity in the beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Males copulating for the sixth time in succession inflicted greater levels of genital damage, but transferred smaller ejaculates in comparison with virgin males. The number of copulations performed by males was negatively related to female fecundity and positively related to female longevity, suggesting a trade-off between fecundity and longevity. However, inclusion of fecundity as a covariate revealed sperm and/or seminal fluid transfer to have a negative impact on female longevity above that caused by the fecundity-longevity trade-off. The consequences of multiple copulations on female longevity were examined. Females that mated twice laid more eggs and died sooner than those that mated once. However, incorporation of fecundity as a covariate into our statistical model removed the effect of female mating frequency on female longevity, indicating that double-mated females suffer greater mortality owing to the trade-off between fecundity and longevity. Males of this species are known to transfer very large ejaculates (up to 8% of their body weight), which may represent a significant nutritional benefit to females. However, the receipt of large ejaculates appears to carry costs. Thus, the interpretation of multiple mating experiments on female longevity and associated functional explanations of polyandry in this species are likely to be complex.

Animals↗

Impact of vaginal surgery on sexuality and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence or genital descensus.

AIM: To study the effect of vaginal surgery for urinary incontinence and genital descensus on sexual function and quality of life. METHODS: The day before surgery, 118 women, of whom 41 were admitted for urinary incontinence and 77 for genital descensus, accepted to complete a questionnaire containing questions of uterovaginal symptoms, quality of life, and sexuality. One year later, 101 women, of them 88 were sexually active, accepted to complete the same questionnaire by mail. RESULTS: The women reported improvement in two different scales for quality of life, and there was no difference between surgery for genital descensus and that for urinary stress incontinence. The total score for sexual variables was deteriorated, and the mean frequency of sexual intercourse was reduced. Among women with genital descensus, 14% experienced more urinary incontinence and 13% more dyspareunia after the operation. CONCLUSION: Although pelvic floor disorders are known to impair sexual function, there was no improvement in sexuality after surgery for urinary incontinence or genital descensus. On the contrary, it seems that sexual function might deteriorate and dyspareunia get worse after vaginal surgery. The explanation for this might be vulnerability to disturbance of vaginal nerve and blood supply of the vaginal wall resulting in impaired sexual arousal and lubrication.

Dyspareunia↗

Cytokine expression pattern in the genital tract of Chlamydia trachomatis positive infertile women - implication for T-cell responses.

Human genital infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis is thought to be immunologically mediated, resulting in local recruitment of lymphocyte subsets and inducing the production of cytokines. Little information is available about the role of lymphocyte recruitment and the regulation of cytokine production in the genital tract of C. trachomatis positive infertile women. We have evaluated the recruitment of lymphocyte subsets in the genital tract and production of Th1/Th2 cytokines in cervical secretions and laparoscopic specimens from the fallopian tubes of C. trachomatis positive infertile women (n = 17) and compared them with controls, viz. C. trachomatis negative infertile women (n = 20) using ELISA and flow cytometry. None of these patients were found to be infected either with Candida sps., bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum in the cervix. Flow cytometric analysis of cervical secretions in Chlamydia positive women revealed recruitment of both CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes to the genital tract was up-regulated and a variation in the production rates of different cytokines in cervical secretions and fallopian tube was observed. We found that the immune responses in cervical secretions were of Th0 type, since all the analysed cytokines, viz. IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-12 were up-regulated. As, both CD4 and CD8 cells contribute to the production of IFN-gamma and IL-10, these results suggest that along with CD4 cells, CD8 lymphocytes also may be important for local regulation of Th1/Th2 responses in the genital tract during C. trachomatis infection.

Adult↗

Surgical management of genital prolapse: is chain cystourethrography useful for evaluating anatomical corrections and urinary symptoms after surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between chain cystourethrography and surgery for genital prolapse and urinary symptoms. METHODS: A retrospective study of women with genital prolapse was conducted from January 1991 through December 1997. To assess the preoperative and postoperative anatomical situations objectively, chain cystourethrography was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients underwent surgical repairs for genital prolapse. All of them recovered from the genital prolapse both subjectively and objectively after surgery. Chain cystourethrography is useful for evaluating postoperative anatomical corrections. However, 6 patients (12%) suffered from a recurrent feeling of genital prolapse, and 14 patients (28%) had urinary symptoms postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment showed good anatomical corrections based on chain cystourethrography, and there were no prognostic differences among the surgical procedures. However, anatomical correction does not always mean improvement of urinary symptoms. Further studies are needed to clarify what factors contribute to the prognosis in such cases.

Adult↗

A new classification for genital ambiguity and urogenital sinus anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new system for classifying genital ambiguity and urogenital sinus abnormalities. Prader's classification (which attempts to describe the degree of masculinization) has been used for decades, while the urogenital sinus has generally been described as simply high or low; neither classification fits the spectrum of anomalies, nor do they allow for outcome data research. METHODS: An ideal description of genital ambiguity and urogenital sinus anomalies should include the degree of masculinization, phallic size, external genital appearance, and the true location of the vaginal confluence in relation to the bladder neck and the perineal meatus. We describe a new system to define these variables. RESULTS: In the PVE classification developed, P represents stretched phallic length and width, V the true vaginal location according to the distance from the bladder neck to the vagina and the distance from the vagina to the perineal meatus, and E the external genital appearance or Prader number. CONCLUSIONS: The PVE classification system aids in surgical planning and will be helpful in the analysis of surgical outcomes of genital ambiguity and urogenital anomalies.

Child↗

Lower genital tract swabs in the prediction of intrauterine infection in preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the genital tract flora in women with preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes and to determine the relationship of these microorganisms to those found in fetal blood and amniotic fluid. DESIGN: Prospective study of 97 patients with preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes. SETTING: Maternal-fetal medicine centre. METHODS: High vaginal and endocervical swabs were taken for routine culture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Cordocentesis and amniocentesis were performed and fetal blood and amniotic fluid were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Amniotic fluid was also cultured for Mycoplasma spp. The sensitivities and specificities of genital tract colonisation in the prediction of fetal blood and amniotic fluid infection were calculated. RESULTS: Positive genital tract cultures for aerobic and anaerobic organisms predicted 40% of positive fetal blood and 53% of positive amniotic fluid cultures with false positive rates of 24% and 25%, respectively. The sensitivity and false positive rates for genital tract colonisation with Mycoplasma spp in the prediction of amniotic fluid infection with these organisms were 85% and 35%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes lower genital tract cultures provide poor prediction of intrauterine infection.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Female genital mutilation--experience of The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne.

This study was performed to improve our knowledge and understanding of the needs of women affected by female genital mutilation. We looked at the types of complications of these practices which present to a large metropolitan women's hospital in order to determine how we can appropriately treat and support affected women. This was an observational study of women from countries with a high prevalence of female genital mutilation who presented to the Royal Women's Hospital between October, 1995 and January, 1997. Fifty-one patients with a past history of female genital mutilation who were attending the hospital for antenatal or gynaecological care consented to participate in the study. We found that 77.6% of women identified as having had female genital mutilation had undergone infibulation. More than 85% of the women in our study reported a complication of the procedure. The major complications were dyspareunia, apareunia and urinary tract infections; 29.4% of these women required surgery to facilitate intercourse. In our study group there was no difference in Caesarean section rates between the women who had previously delivered in Australia compared with those who had delivered in Africa. Women who have had a female genital mutilation procedure have specific needs for their care which present challenges to both their general practitioners and obstetrician/gynaecologists. These women have significant complications related to their procedure including social and psychosexual problems which require sympathetic management.

Adult↗