• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fruit juices on Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens involved in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among tribal women in the district Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods: Fresh juices of lemon (Citrus limon), amla/Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), pineapple (Ananas comosus), mosambi/sweet lime (Citrus limetta), orange (Citrus sinensis), kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), and pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruits were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens involved in UITs and STIs among tribal women. Physico-chemical analysis of fresh fruits was also carried out by measuring the pH, moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate, and ascorbic acid content. Results: Lemon and amla juice showed better antibacterial activity against the pathogens as compared to other juices. MIC results fruit juices against UTIs and STIs pathogens vary depending on the specific pathogen and juice chemical constituents. The physico-chemical analysis showed that the moisture content was highest in mosambi (90%), followed by orange (87%). Ascorbic acid content was found highest in amla (540 mg/100 g), followed by kiwi (90.3 mg/100 g). Pomegranate showed highest concentration of carbohydrate (15.28 g/100 g), fat (1.28 g/100 g), and protein (1.65 g/100 g). Lemon juice had lowest pH of 2.20, followed by amla 2.67. Conclusion: The lemon juice showed highest antibacterial activity against MDR bacterial pathogens involved in UTIs and STIs among tribal women in district Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The low pH of lemon may be responsible for its high antibacterial activity as compared to other juices.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7325-7329
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• 2013

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infectious agents, and the effectiveness of vaccine delivery programs will depend largely upon whether providers recommend vaccines. The objectives of this study were to examine pediatrician characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes associated with HPV and HPV immunization. Materials and Methods: Attendees of the national pediatric meeting in 2011, were asked to complete a questionnaire that, aside from demographic information, elicited level of agreement with statements regarding HPV, its related diseases, and HPV vaccination. It also documented attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccination. Results: Of the 480 attendees, 226 (47%) filled in the questionnaire. The level of pediatrician HPV-related knowledge varied. The majority (78%) were aware that HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection, while 51% were unaware that a condom is ineffective protection against HPV infection. Between 60-80% of respondents were aware of the effectiveness of HPV vaccination for women. On the other hand, only 10% were aware of reasons why men should be vaccinated against HPV. The majority (75%) of Turkish pediatricians were likely to recommend HPV vaccination to their daughter, if they had one. Seventy percent of pediatricians agreed that the HPV vaccination should be added to the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Turkey. However, the respondents documented concerns about the cost of the vaccination. Conclusions: Increasing pediatricians' knowledge and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccination may assist with the implementation of an effective NIP.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2017

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of infections with human papillomavirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium in the semen of Korean infertile couples and their associations with sperm quality. Methods: Semen specimens were collected from 400 men who underwent a fertility evaluation. Infection with above five pathogens was assessed in each specimen. Sperm quality was compared in the pathogen-infected group and the non-infected group. Results: The infection rates of human papillomavirus, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, and M. genitalium in the study subjects were 1.57%, 0.79%, 16.80%, 4.46%, and 1.31%, respectively. The rate of morphological normality in the U. urealyticum-infected group was significantly lower than in those not infected with U. urealyticum. In a subgroup analysis of normozoospermic samples, the semen volume and the total sperm count in the pathogen-infected group were significantly lower than in the non-infected group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that infection with U. urealyticum alone and any of the five sexually transmitted infections are likely to affect sperm morphology and semen volume, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.799-802
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• 2012

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted disease affecting both men and women and is responsible for different ano-genital cancers in either sex. Co-existing sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV have been considered as important co-factors for carcinogenesis induced by HPV. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of any HPV, HPV 16 and HPV 18 and also concomitant STIs among female sex workers (FSW), men having sex with men (MSM) and injectable drug users (IDU). Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 45 FSWs, 26 MSMs and 58 IDUs who attended the STI or de-addiction clinics. Genital scrape samples collected from glans penis and coronal sulcus in males and cervical squamo-columnar junction in females were tested for HPV DNA by PCR using HPV L1 consensus primer. Type specific PCR to detect HPV 16 and 18 was done on the samples positive on consensus PCR. All participants were tested for associated STIs including HIV and hepatitis B and cervical cytology was done on all females. Results: Among the FSWs, HPV was detected in 73.3% and HPV 16 and 18 was detected in 25.7%. Though the HPV prevalence was similarly high among MSMs (69.2%) and IDUs (72.4%), the prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 was much lower in these groups compared to the FSWs. Prevalence of cervico-vaginal infection with Trichomonas vaginalis and syphilis was significantly higher in the HPV positive women compared to the HPV negative women. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of other STIs among HPV positive and negative women and men. Conclusion: HPV infection is highly prevalent among FSW, MSM and IDUs. Trichomonas vaginalis infection is more frequent in HPV positive women.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of high risk Human papilloma virus (HPV), Herpes simplex virus type 1, 2 (HSV-1,2), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human Immuno deficiency virus (HIV) infection with sexual transmitted viral diseases in Busan during 2004 to 2005. six hundred seventy four samples of cervical swabs were tested for sexually transmitted viral diseases. Among the isolated viruses, 23 (3.4%) samples were HPV and 3 (0.4%) and 9 (1.3%) samples were HSV 1 and 2, respectively. Among the 586 serum samples tested for viruses, HSV IgM 121 (3.6%), HSV-1 IgG 487 (83.1%), HSV-2 IgG 135 (23.0%), HBsAg 26 (4.4%), HBeAg 7 (1.2%), and HIV (0%) types were found. HPV genotypes were detected in 16 patients, of which 13 cases were high risk type HPV, 3 cases were low risk type HPV, and multi infection were detected in 7 cases. In the age distribution of the patients, 7.2% of infection tested from cervical swabs occurred in under the age of 20, while 100% of infection was found to occur in those who were 40 years old or older in the serum samples. The outbreak pattern in their occupations was found to be the highest at the health organization (amusement quarter) for the cervical swabs, and at infirmary (commercial sex worker) for the serum samples, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.255-266
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• 2004

Papillomaviruses infect a wide variety of animals, including humans. The human papillomavirus (HPV), in particular, is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease. More than 200 types of HPV have been identified by DNA sequence data, and 85 HPV genotypes have been well char­acterized to date. HPV can infect the basal epithelial cells of the skin or inner tissue linings, and are, accordingly, categorized as either cutaneous or mucosal type. HPV is associated with a panoply of clin­ical conditions, ranging from innocuous lesions to cervical cancer. In the early 1980s, studies first reported a link between cervical cancer and genital HPV infection. Genital HPV infections are now rec­ognized to be a major risk factor in at least $95\%$ of cervical cancers. 30 different HPV genotypes have been identified as causative of sexually transmitted diseases, most of which induce lesions in the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and anus, as the result of sexual contact. There is also direct evidence demon­strating that at least four of these genotypes are prerequisite factors in cervical cancer. The main aim of this review was to evaluate the current literature regarding the pathovirology, diagnostics, vaccines, therapy, risk groups, and further therapeutic directions for HPV infections. In addition, we reviewed the current status of HPV infections in South Korean women, as evidenced by our data.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3983-3988
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer though preventable is still the leading cause of cancer death among women secondary to breast cancer. Persistent infection with HPV has been causally linked to the disease. A school based HPV vaccination program was introduced in late 2010 in Malaysia and nurse support is essential for its success. Objectives: To determine nurses knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and its vaccines, and factors associated with their knowledge. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working at primary health clinics in Kelantan from mid-June till the end of July 2014. Its involved 330 nurses selected through multistage random sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items for the knowledge domain and eight items for the attitude domain was used. Results: The response rate of the study was 93.7%. The mean knowledge and mean attitude (SD) scores were 5.37 (1.76) and 29.8 (3.51) respectively. Only 24% knew that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and 67% correctly answered that Gardasil vaccine can protect against four types of HPV. Nearly 60% of participants wrongly answered that HPV vaccines cannot be offered to sexually active women. Likewise, 70.9% participants were not aware that HPV vaccine may be appropriate for females aged 9 through 26 years. Though 90% of participants believed that the vaccine is safe, nearly half of them were unsure about efficacy. From multiple linear regression analysis, among the factors tested only participant's level of education showed a statistically significant association with the HPV knowledge score (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study indicates nurses have favorable attitudes towards HPV vaccination; however they have significant knowledge deficit and major misunderstanding in critical knowledge items. Among the factors tested, nursing qualification is the only factor that is significantly associated with the nurses knowledge score.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8085-8091
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• 2016

Human papillomavirus is a virus that is distributed worldwide, and persistent infection with high-risk genotypes (HR-HPV) is considered the most important factor for the development of squamous cell cervical carcinoma (SCC). However, by itself, it is not sufficient, and other factors may contribute to the onset and progression of lesions. For example, infection with other sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be a factor. Previous studies have shown the relationship between HPV infection and SCC development among HIV-infected women in many regions of the world, with great emphasis on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Brazil is considered a LMIC and has great disparities across different regions. The purpose of this review was to highlight the current knowledge about HPV infection and cervical abnormalities in HIV+ women in Brazil because this country is an ideal setting to evaluate HIV impact on SCC development and serves as model of LMICs and low-resource settings.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.4 s.44
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• pp.541-550
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• 1993

In order to investigate psychological and behavioral characteristics of homosexuals and to present evidence that homosexuals are in danger of HIV infection in Korea, this study was done by self-administered questionnaire and then direct interview with the 28 (35%) HIV infected homosexual/bisexuals of 79 HIV infected persons reported in 1992. Homosexuals without heterosexual activity were 9 and the others were bisexuals. Sixty-five percent of respondents had a guilty conscience for their homosexual activty. Twenty (71%) were in twenties and 5 (18%) in thirties. Twelve(43%) were detected via health card checking by health office, 21% by blood donation, 18% by hospital visit, and 7% by partner notification. Motivations for homosexual activity were curiosity (36%), temptation or recommendation (14%) and compulsion (11%). Eighteen (72%) never used condom on anal sex. Nine of 26 respondents had experience for anal sex with foreigners. Fourteen (54%) of 26 respondents had history for sexually transmitted diseases. Fighty percent did not have sexual contact after HIV infection and the others usually used condom. It was confirmed that over 57% of the respondents were infected within 1 year before HIV diagnosis and over 82% within 2 years. These data suggest that HTV infection among homosexual group is rapidly spreading.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2016

This study explored epidemiological trends in trichomoniasis in Daegu, South Korea. Wet mount microscopy, PCR, and multiplex PCR were used to test for Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swab samples obtained from 621 women visiting 2 clinics in Daegu. Of the 621 women tested, microscopy detected T. vaginalis in 4 (0.6%) patients, PCR detected T. vaginalis in 19 (3.0%) patients, and multiplex PCR detected T. vaginalis in 12 (1.9%) patients. Testing via PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for T. vaginalis. Among the 19 women who tested positive for T. vaginalis according to PCR, 94.7% (18/19) reported vaginal signs and symptoms. Notably, more than 50% of T. vaginalis infections occurred in females younger than 30 years old, and 58% were unmarried. Multiplex PCR, which simultaneously detects pathogens from various sexually transmitted infections, revealed that 91.7% (11/12) of patients were infected with 2 or more pathogens. Mycoplasma hominis was the most prevalent co-infection pathogen with T. vaginalis, followed by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis. Our results indicate that PCR and multiplex PCR are the most sensitive tools for T. vaginalis diagnosis, rather than microscopy which has been routinely used to detect T. vaginalis infections in South Korea. Therefore, clinicians should take note of the high prevalence of T. vaginalis infections among adolescent and young women in order to prevent persistent infection and transmission of this disease.