Women & Health

Internal consistency and validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in women with abnormal Pap smear in Serbia

Receiving a report of an abnormal finding of Pap screening test in women often leads to anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the Serbian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in women with abnormal Pap smear results. In 2017, a cross-sectional study was done involving 142 consecutive women attending cervical cancer screening who had received abnormal Pap smear results at one University clinical center in Serbia. We used exploratory factor analysis to establish the structure of the HADS and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for assessing the internal consistency. In our study, the HADS demonstrated high internal consistency, for both subscales (Cronbach's alpha coefficient for subscale Anxiety was 0.862, and for subscale Depression was 0.851). The intra-class correlation coefficients for the two components were significant (0.860 and 0.843,

Evaluation of Comt2, Comt3, Cyp1b1 , and Esr1 gene polymorphisms as risk factor for endometrial polyp

The aim of this study is to evaluate

Stigmatization and social isolation experienced by Human Papillomavirus-positive women: A phenomenological study

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection strongly associated with cervical cancer. Beyond its physical health implications, an HPV-positive diagnosis often leads to stigma, shame, and social isolation, which remain insufficiently explored in the literature. This study was conducted to determine the levels of stigma and social isolation in HPV positive women. This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological research design. A total of 22 women participated in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted in Turkiye. Snowball sampling was employed to recruit participants. The researchers conducted in-depth, individual, open-ended interviews to collect data. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with the participants. Qualitative data were examined using content analysis. A total of three main themes and seven subthemes were generated from the analysis. The analysis identified three main themes: emotional burden and coping with HPV, social loneliness and ısolation, and stigmatization and HPV. This study revealed that HPV-positive women experienced negative emotions such as anger and shame, faced social isolation, and encountered stigma from both their social environment and healthcare professionals. The findings highlight the need for psychosocial support and healthcare policies to improve the well-being of HPV-positive women.

Gene polymorphisms associated with immunosuppression and their implications in the onset of cervical cancer

The immune system plays a crucial role in determining the resolution or development of cervical pre-malignant lesions that culminate in cervical cancer (CC). A microenvironment with low inflammatory patterns is often associated with a worse prognosis. To evaluate polymorphisms rs3087465 in the In this cross-sectional case-control study conducted in the northern region of Paraná, Brazil, 134 women (41 cervical cancer patients and 93 controls) were recruited from public health services. DNA samples were extracted from cervical cells, peripheral blood, and tumor tissues and subjected to PCR for confirmation of HPV presence and subsequent genotyping of Women with limited HPV knowledge, low income, and infrequent preventive exams were at higher risk of CC. Smoking and high parity were also associated with increased risk. Notably, These findings suggest that understanding genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors is essential for the prevention and effective treatment of CC.

Women’s acceptability of HPV self-collection in a healthcare setting following FDA approval in the United States

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection in a healthcare setting as a cervical cancer screening approach in May 2024. It is therefore important to examine women's acceptability of this approach. We conducted an online survey in September 2024 with a national sample of women ages 45-65 from the United States (

Knowledge of breast and cervical cancer symptoms and perceived barriers to seek treatment among urban underserved women

A significant number of Malaysian women are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancers at advanced stages, highlighting the need for early symptom recognition to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality. This study aimed to assess knowledge of breast and cervical cancer symptoms among underserved women and identify the barriers preventing them from seeking treatment. A cross-sectional survey involving 401 women at a public health clinic was conducted using validated questionnaires and convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Over half of the women demonstrated poor knowledge of both breast (55 percent) and cervical (69 percent) cancer symptoms, while only a smaller proportion exhibited good knowledge, 12 percent for breast cancer and 6 percent for cervical symptoms, respectively. Commonly recognized symptoms included a "lump or thickening in the breast' and 'persistent, unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge." The most reported barrier to seeking treatment was fear of diagnosis, reported by 49 percent of women. Logistic regression identified being married and having higher level of education were significantly associated with greater perceived barriers to seeking treatment. The research highlights the need for personalized health education to address individual concerns and barriers, ensuring content is relevant and effective.

Health literacy and cancer screening behaviors among community-dwelling female adults in Taiwan

This study was designed to explore the association among health literacy and cancer screening behaviors in Taiwanese females. A total of 353 community-dwelling females were recruited in this cross-sectional study from February to October 2015. Demographic, socioeconomic and personal behavior variables including physical activity, community activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel nut chewing were recorded. Health literacy was evaluated using the Mandarin version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Data on screening behaviors for cervical, breast and colorectal cancers were confirmed by the Taiwanese National eHealth Database. Most respondents with inadequate or problematic general health literacy had no or irregular screening behaviors for cervical, breast and colorectal cancers. In multivariable regression analysis, women with inadequate health literacy were at a greater risk (Odds ratio = 5.71; 95% CI: 1.40-23.26) of having no previous Pap smear screening or >3 years screening interval regardless of education level. However, this association was not detected for breast or colorectal cancer. Women with inadequate health literacy were more likely to have irregular cervical cancer screening, however no associations among health literacy and breast or colorectal cancer were detected. The impact of health literacy on cancer screening behavior warrants further attention and research.

Cervical screening among LGBTQ people: how affirming services may aid in achieving cervical cancer elimination targets

To reach cervical cancer elimination targets it is necessary to increase screening rates among underserved populations such as LGBTQ communities. This paper examines rates of attendance and associated factors of cervical screening in LGBTQ communities. Data from 2,424 people aged 25 to 74 years and assigned female at birth were drawn from an online national Australian survey of LGBTQ adults. Over half of the sample had accessed cervical screening in the past 2 years. Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, significant associations were found between screening, sociodemographic traits and health-care access. Trans men were least likely to access cervical screening, while bisexual, pansexual and queer identified participants were most likely to access screening. People who lived outside inner-suburban areas and those who had a disability were less likely to have had screening. Evidence of trusting relationships with a general practitioner (having a regular GP and GP's knowledge of the individual's LGBTQ identity) increased the likelihood that participants had screened, as did recent access to a medical service that was LGBTQ-inclusive or catered specifically to LGBTQ communities. The findings suggest the importance of training health providers, as well as targeted public health messaging for increasing uptake of cervical screening among LGBTQ people.

HPV Infection, HPV Vaccines and Cervical Cancer Awareness: A Multi-Centric Survey Study in Istanbul, Turkey

Our purpose was to examine the level of knowledge and awareness about HPV (Human papillomavirus) infection, HPV vaccines, and cervical cancer of participants. This study was conducted at students and healthcare workers of Uskudar University as well as the healthcare workers of Umraniye Training and Research Hospital and patients admitted to the gynecology outpatient clinics. A 41-question survey was conducted that investigated the 700 participants' demographic characteristics, HPV infection and cervical cancer status, and attitudes toward vaccination. 44.1% of the participants stated that they knew the cause of cervical cancer, 42.8% did not. 55.9% of those who went to regular doctor control, 38.5% of those who did not, knew that the HPV vaccine prevented warts and cervical cancer. 63.4% of men and 75.4% of women stated that they did not know whether the vaccine was effective against penile, anal and laryngeal cancer. All these were found to be statistically significant (

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of ovarian cancer among women in Canada: 1992–2010

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer among women worldwide. We assessed the effect of socioeconomic status on ovarian cancer incidence in Canada between 1992 and 2010. We linked data from the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR), Canadian Census of Population (CCP), and National Household Survey (NHS) to measure socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of ovarian cancer among Canadian women over the study period. The age-standardized relative and absolute concentration index (RC and AC, respectively) were calculated to quantify income- and education-related inequalities in the incidence of ovarian cancer in Canadian women during this period. Despite a slight increase in the crude incidence of ovarian cancer in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador & Prince Edward Island, and Canada as a whole, the incidence of ovarian cancer in Canada has mostly remained stable, between 13 and 15 new cases per 100,000 per year between 1992 and 2010. The estimated age-standardized RC and AC values for the study period did not indicate any statistically significant relationship between income or education status, and the incidence of ovarian cancer in Canada. Future work should be directed at seeking related risk factors other than socioeconomic status that may contribute to the incidence of this disease.

Cervical cancer elimination: rising up to the challenge

Trends in cervical cancer mortality rate in women aged 20 years and older in Brazil from 2005 to 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of the age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for cervical cancer in Brazil between 2005 and 2019 and investigate its association with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), an indicator of development status strongly correlated with health outcomes. We conducted an ecological time-series study using data from the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. Trend analyses were performed using Prais-Winsten regression. The association between the SDI and ASMR was evaluated using simple linear regression. Between 2005 and 2019, 105,472 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded. The ASMR was 10.18 deaths/100,000 women. The North region presented the highest magnitude (20.23 deaths/100,000 women) and the Southeast region the lowest (7.83 deaths/100,000 women). We observed a decreasing trend of the ASMR for cervical cancer in the country. The Northeast, Central-West and Southeast regions showed a decreasing trend; South stationary trend and the North region showed an increasing trend. Most of the states showed a stationary or decreasing trend. It was found that the SDI was inversely associated with the ASMR and Annual Percent Change (APC). In conclusion, we observed a decreasing trend of ASMR for cervical cancer and inverse association with SDI in Brazil.

Factors associated with persistence and clearance of HPV16/18 among rural Chinese women: a cohort study in Wufeng, Hubei province

Human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence is the most critical cause of cervical cancer. This study focuses on exploring the prevalence and risk factors related to persistent HPV infection among rural Chinese women. Participants were recruited through a multi-stage stratified cluster sample. A total of 847 women were initially selected in 2015, and 159 were detected HPV-DNA positive at baseline. A two-year follow-up was conducted for those who were HPV-DNA positive at baseline. HPV infection was evaluated at both baseline and follow-up. Depending on the results of two HPV tests, women were divided into two categories: (1) persistence; (2) clearance. Student's t, chi-square and logistic regression were employed to find the risk factors for HPV persistence and the relationship between HPV persistence and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Among 129 participants with HPV16/18 infection at baseline, 60 (46.51 percent) were reported to have persistent HPV16/18 infection. Oral contraceptive use and menopause were the significant factors related to persistent HPV16/18 infection. The persistence of HPV infection was significantly related to CIN. Our results indicate that better HPV prevention strategies for rural Chinese women should be developed.

Income and education inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality in Canada: 1990–2019

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among Canadian women. This study aims to investigate trends in socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality over the past three decades, from 1990 to 2019. A dataset was construed at Census Division (

Uterine leiomyomata claim rate estimates and demographic characteristics by county. Florida, 2010–2019

To describe the demographic characteristics and estimate the uterine leiomyomata claim rates (ULCRs) by women 18 years and older in Florida, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2010-2019 administrative claims for uterine leiomyomata and associated study variables (age, race, ethnicity, county of residence, anatomic site, length of stay, and additional diagnoses). ULCR ratios were estimated by race and ethnicity, using ULCR for non-Hispanic White women as the reference group. We identified 232,475 claims, most of which were among non-Hispanic White women in their forties. The overall ULCR estimate [95 percent CI] was 284.8 [284.21, 285.39] per 100,000 women 18 years and older, with a small, nonsignificant trend to increase over time (

Acceptability of vaginal self-sampling with high-risk human papillomavirus testing for cervical cancer screening: a French questionnaire-based study

In France, cervical cancer screening based on cervical smear has a participation rate of around 60%. New screening strategies are encouraged to increase the participation of under-screened women, including vaginal self-sampling with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing. This study was based on the distribution of an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to assess the acceptability of vaginal self-sampling with HR-HPV testing by women aged 25 to 65 years in two French Departments of the South of France, Aude, and Hérault, showing low participation in cervical cancer screening. Factors influencing this acceptability were also analyzed. From May to July 2017, 349 completed questionnaires were collected. Women declared high acceptability for vaginal self-sampling (81%) preferably at home (82.6%). Acceptability was statistically higher in the Department of Herault (

Development and pre/post testing of a decision aid supporting Chinese parental and young women’s HPV vaccination decision-making

We developed and tested the acceptability and utility of a novel HPV vaccination decision aid (DA) among Chinese young women aged 18-26 years and parents of adolescent girls aged 9-17 years. From March to May 2016, a total of 101 parents plus 109 young women completed baseline surveys assessing their HPV vaccination knowledge, decision self-efficacy, decision conflict, and HPV vaccination intention. Two weeks after receiving the DA, 84 (83.2%) parents and 92 (84.4%) young women completed re-assessments. Chi-square tests or t-tests were performed to compare the before-and-after differences. Cohen's d was calculated to indicate the effect size. After reading the DA, both participating young women's and parents' knowledge of HPV vaccination (Cohen's d = 0.62 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) and decision self-efficacy (d = 0.38 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) significantly increased. Both young women's and parents' decision conflict (d = -0 · 98 and -1.06) significantly decreased. The proportion of young women intending to receive HPV vaccination and parents deciding to vaccinate daughters against HPV significantly increased (

Coexistence of cervical endometriosis with premalignant and malignant gynecological pathologies: report on a series of 27 cases

Although cervical endometriosis represents a rare condition, there is evidence that implicates a complex interaction with other gynecological pathologies. This study aims to highlight this entity and further to explore the impact of oncological pathology of female genital tract on patients with cervical endometriosis. We retrospectively investigated the medical and pathological reports of 27 cases with cervical endometriosis, which were diagnosed by tissue biopsy. The results of the study show a relationship between CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) cases 19/27 (70percent) and cervical endometriosis. CIN I was more frequently found compared to patients with CIN II and CIN III. Furthermore, a high prevalence of HPV (human papilloma virus) was confirmed. Out of 27 patients, 2 cases with cervical (7.4percent), 2 with endometrial (7.4percent) and 3 with ovarian cancer (11.1percent) were detected. We confirmed the coexistence of more than one malignant gynecological pathology with cervical endometriosis in four cases (14.8percent). To conclude, cervical endometriosis is a rare disease co-existing considerably with premalignant and malignant gynecological conditions according to our data. Although the pathophysiology and genetics of cervical dysplasia is well delineated, further research is needed to establish the association between cervical endometriosis and gynecological premalignant and malignant pathology.

The effect of fear of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviors and Pap smear test rates in women

This study was carried out to determine the effect of fear of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviors and Pap smear test rates in women. This study was conducted online between June and September 2021. Women aged 21-65 years were invited to participate in the study via social media. A total of 396 women comprised the sample for this study. Data were collected the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Health-seeking Behavior Scale. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, parametric tests and regression analysis. As a result of the study, 11.1 percent of women were found to have had a Pap smear test during the pandemic period. Fear of COVID-19 was determined to have a positive and significant effect on online health-seeking behavior (t = 7.915,

Distribution of the most common types of HPV in Iranian women with and without cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is an important cause of death in women worldwide. About 99.7% of all cervical cancers have been related to human papillomavirus, especially types 16 and 18. Types 6 and 11 cause genital warts. We aimed to determine the prevalence of common HPV genotypes among women in the general population and women with cervical cancer. A total of 571 healthy women cytology specimens and 113 tissue samples of cervical cancer were investigated using HPV type-specific primers. HPV DNA was detected in 24% of healthy women: 3.3% were positive for high-risk HPV and 11.6% for low-risk HPV. HPV6 (9.3%) had the highest prevalence followed by HPV11 (2.3%), HPV16 (1.8%), HPV18 (1.2%), and 9.1% of samples were positive for unknown types. Among cervical cancer samples, HPV DNA was found in 78.8% including 43.4% HPV16, 8% HPV18, and 27.4% an unknown HPV type. HPV6 and HPV11 were not detected in any cervical cancer cases and 21.2% were negative for HPV. We found no association between HPV-16/18 and age in cervical cancer. The prevalence of HPV infection is relatively high in Iran without vaccination backgrounds. HPV DNA screening and vaccination programs can prevent cervical cancer and health problems caused by genital warts.

Evaluating the necessity of endocone resection during LLETZ: Impact of routine ECC and follow-up testing in predicting persistent/recurrent cervical dysplasia

The risk of cervical dysplastic changes, re-surgery, and abnormal Pap smear for patients after LLETZ due to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions is highest within patients with endocervical positive (surgical resection) margins of precancerous lesions and with cells of HSIL in the endocervical curettage in their primary LLETZ. This research aimed to determine whether performing endocone resection during LLETZ procedure with routine ECC reduces the risk of recurrent/persistent cervical dysplastic changes and to assess the significance of the Pap smear and high-risk human papillomavirus test in follow-up care. A retrospective analysis of 404 patients at the University of Wuerzburg was conducted. The risk of recurrent dysplastic changes was similar between patients with or without endocone resection when HSIL was present in the ECC (OR 19.66 vs OR 19.11). Abnormal Pap smears occurred in 21.4% patients without endocone resection and 27.3% with resection, both showing HSIL in the ECC. Regardless of endocone status, 50% patients with HSIL in the ECC required further surgery. HR-HPV positivity after surgery is correlated with higher rates of re-surgery (SR = 1.3) and recurrent dysplastic changes (SR = 4.0). This study indicates that performing an endocone resection is redundant, as ECC results sufficiently predict clinical outcomes.

Frequency of post-treatment disease after excisional procedure in stage IA1 squamous cervical carcinoma – a case series

Early stages of cervical cancer in young women need conservative treatments. Electrosurgical therapies (LLETZ, LEEP, SWETZ, NETZ) have been recommended for these women. However, there are recommendations to perform a second excision when the specimen margins are not free of disease. This can lead to some important complications. This article aims to verify the frequency of residual invasive or microinvasive disease after the excisional procedure in women with IA1CC. Data on women with IA1CC diagnosed between 1990 and 2022, were retrieved from medical records. Post-treatment disease was detected during a second surgical procedure or postoperative follow-up. Among the 69 included women, three (4.3 percent; CI95 percent 0-9.2) had residual microinvasive lesions, while none showed invasive disease during a second procedure or follow-up. Only the age of 37 years or more was significantly related to the presence of preinvasive or microinvasive residual lesions. Nearly 80 percent of the women who underwent a second procedure showed no residual lesions. The absence of invasive disease in a second procedure or during the follow-up of these women and the large proportion of women with no residual lesion questions the need for a new surgical procedure even when the surgical margins of the initial specimen are involved.

A barrier to participation in cervical cancer screenings: fatalism

Cervical cancer is a significant disease affecting women's health in terms of its incidence and is one of the most preventable cancers. However, participation in early cervical cancer-screening programs has been unsatisfactory for various reasons. In this descriptive, relationship-seeking study, we examined the relationship between fatalism tendency, an individual barrier to participation in early cancer screening programs, and women's attitudes toward the early diagnosis of cervical cancer and undergoing the Pap smear test. Research data were collected between August 1, 2019 and December 1, 2019, in a city in northern Turkey from 602 women using a participant information form, the Attitudes Toward Early Diagnosis in Cervical Cancer Scale, and the Fatalism Tendency Scale. We found that fatalistic tendencies in women were a predictor of their attitudes toward the early diagnosis of cervical cancer (odds ratio [OR] = -0.64, β = .47,

Pattern of infection and genotypes of human papillomavirus in Zhengzhou City based on a four–year (2015-2018) epidemiological study

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been associated with the development of cervical cancer. To reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and promote awareness of HPV, a government-sponsored epidemiological study was conducted from 2015 to 2018 in Zhengzhou City. A total of 184,092 women aged 25-64 years were included, of which 19,579 were infected with HPV, reflecting a prevalence of 10.64 percent (19,579/184,092). The HPV genotypes found were classified as high-risk (13 genotypes) and low-risk (8 genotypes). Single and multiple infections were detected in 13,787 (70.42 percent) and 5,792 (29.58 percent) women, respectively. The five most common high-risk genotypes detected, listed in descending order, were HPV52 (2.14 percent; 3,931/184,092), HPV16 (2.04 percent; 3,756/184,092), HPV58 (1.42 percent; 2,607/184,092), HPV56 (1.01 percent; 1,858/184,092), and HPV39 (0.81 percent; 1,491/184,092). Meanwhile, the most common low-risk genotype was HPV53 (0.88 percent; 1,625/184,092). The prevalence of HPV gradually increased with age, with the highest occurring in women aged 55-64 years. The prevalence of single-type HPV infection decreased with age, whereas that of multiple-type HPV infection increased with age. This study indicates a high burden of HPV infection in women in Zhengzhou City.

Barriers and facilitators to the HPV vaccine among mothers of adolescent girls: a qualitative study conducted in Trinidad and Tobago

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may prevent thousands of cases of cervical cancer. The current study explored barriers and facilitators that affected the acceptance of the HPV vaccine by mothers of adolescents. This paper explores the qualitative findings from a larger mixed-methods study. Six focus groups were conducted (N = 33) throughout Trinidad and Tobago with mothers of adolescent girls. Three major themes emerged: a) cervical cancer and vaccine knowledge, b) barriers to uptake, and c) rephrasing the vaccine strategy. Data indicated that no widespread strategies to educate the population about the vaccine had occurred. Barriers to uptake of the vaccine were related to a lack of information on the efficacy and safety of HPV vaccines. Parents were unaware that the HPV caused cervical cancer. It is recommended that physicians and other health professionals be used to deliver targeted messages to parents and adolescents to improve uptake of the vaccine.

Sức Khỏe là Hạnh Phúc (Health is Happiness): promoting mammography and pap test adherence among Vietnamese nail salon workers

Vietnamese nail salon workers have low cancer screening rates and confront multiple socioeconomic disparities as immigrants to the US. The

Barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening uptake among women in Nepal – a qualitative study

The global incidence of cervical cancer is approximately 570,000 cases and 311,000 deaths annually. Almost 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Screening is the most effective tool in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. Nepal has no national cervical cancer screening programme, and data from 2003 showed that only 2.8% of Nepalese women had ever been screened. We conducted a qualitative study to obtain better insight into barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening among women in Nepal to generate data to inform interventions. In February 2019, four focus group discussions with previously screened and non-screened women, and Female Community Health Volunteers and four in-depth interviews with health workers were conducted in Pokhara Metropolitan City. Semi-structured interview guides were used, interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using grounded theory approach with open coding. This resulted in five main themes: 1) lack of husband's support for screening, 2) prevalent stigma and discrimination, 3) lack of awareness about screening options, 4) getting screened, and 5) health care providers. We encourage policymakers and stakeholders apply these findings to improve awareness, access to information, and better screening services in Nepal.

State of knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and testing: a cross-sectional study among female university students in Cyprus

This study aimed to evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV)-related knowledge of women aged 18-25 years and estimate the reported uptake of HPV vaccine and testing. A cross-sectional study was conducted among female students of the University of Cyprus between March and April 2017. The participants self-completed a questionnaire, which consisted of 37 items on demographics, general HPV-related knowledge, and HPV vaccination and testing. In total, 283 young females (mean age: 19.7 ± 1.5 years) took part in the study. Of these, about half (53.7%) reported that they were aware of HPV; one-third (30.7%) reported having been vaccinated; 38.8% had been informed of the recent introduction of the HPV vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule in Cyprus, while 14.3% reported a previous Pap-test and 3.4% a previous HPV DNA test. The mean Overall Knowledge Index (max: 25 correct answers) was 6.1 (±3.8) and was positively associated with the reported uptake of the HPV vaccine (adjusted Odds ratio: 1.14, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.04-1.24). Knowledge about HPV has to be improved as it is associated with increased reported rates of HPV vaccination.

A bioinformatics analysis of gene expression in endometrial cancer, endometriosis and obesity

Endometrial cancer (EC), endometriosis (ENDO), and obesity (OBY) are interconnected conditions in women that may share underlying genetic pathways. This study aimed to identify shared genetic pathways and differential gene expressions across these conditions to uncover potential therapeutic targets. A bioinformatics pipeline was applied using gene expression datasets from the GEO database, incorporating differential expression analysis, functional and pathway enrichment, PPI network construction, survival analysis, and mutational profiling across 198 samples. The analysis revealed 26 shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with IGF-1, CREBBP, EP300, and PIAS1 identified as key hub genes. Elevated IGF-1 expression was significantly linked to poorer survival outcomes in EC patients (