The potential applicability of Fourier transform infrared (FM) spectroscopy for the study of biomolecules, has been investigated through the investigation of three specific applications. Two of the applications selected involve the classification of whole cells, whereas the third concerns the study of peptides and proteins isolated from tissues as well as synthetic peptides. In the microbiological application, for the differentiation of bacteria on the basis of their FTIR spectra, it has been found that classification is most efficiently achieved through the utilisation of artificial neural networks, and that a wide, variety of bacteria can be correctly identified with minimal sample preparation after being grown on a single growth medium. The suitability of low-cost, disposable materials as supports for the deposition of bacteria samples has also been demonstrated. In contrast to the successful classification of bacteria, it has been found that the examination of cytological smears by FTIR spectroscopy does not allow the classification of cervical cell populations into the recognised diagnostic categories. In a microscopic investigation of the same cell populations utilising infrared imaging, localised areas of the smear were found to exhibit distinct characteristics not observed in the spectra of the entire population. This indicates that infrared imaging system may be required for this type of application because the infrared spectrum recorded from a whole cervical smear does not allow the detection of the small spectral features arising from the molecular changes associated with a localised pathological state. Finally, the investigation of factors affecting the stability of peptides related to amyloidosis has shown that temperatures above 70°C, hydrostatic pressure greater than 6 kbar, and alkaline pH promote the disaggregation of the typical intermolecular beta-sheet structure of amyloid peptides. Peptides utilised as model systems for amyloidosis showed

Despite the availability, accessibility and affordability of cervical cancer screening (CCS) in Malawi, many women do not utilize the CCS services. This research was conducted in Blantyre district, Malawi. The main objective of the study was to identify factors that act as barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening programs among urban and rural women in the Blantyre district of Malawi. A quantitative design was used and convenience sampling was applied in selecting a sample of 196 women from the population of women aged 18 and over in two Reproductive Health clinics, one urban clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and one rural clinic at Mlambe hospital in Blantyre district, Malawi. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was translated from English into the local Chichewa language so that respondents were interviewed and responded in a language that they were able to comprehend. Analysis and discussion of findings are presented in five sections. Data were processed into numeric values using SPSS version 15.0 and Microsoft Excel to give meaning to the findings of the study. In order to test for statistically significant associations between variables, the Pearson correlation was applied. The study revealed that the main barrier to CCS was that women lack knowledge and information about cervical cancer and there is a lack of publicity about CCS services. Lack of knowledge was found in relation to - risk factors, prevention of, detection of and benefits of cervical cancer screening with a greater knowledge deficit being found in the rural women. Higher levels of education in both the urban and rural groups did not have a positive influence on the screening behaviours of the women. Commencing sexual intercourse at ages 15 to 19 years and having multiple sexual partners were the main risk factors to cervical cancer among the women in the study. It was also found that although rural women perceived themselves being very likely to be at risk of cervical cancer, this perception did not translate into CCS behaviour. v / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

[Abstract not available]

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Also available in print.

O carcinoma escamoso do colo uterino é uma das neoplasias de maior incidência em todo o mundo, inclusive no Brasil, sendo responsável pela morte de milhares de mulheres a cada ano, grande parte delas ocorrendo em plena idade produtiva. Ao longo dos últimos cinqüenta anos, diversos pesquisadores têm estudado esta neoplasia. Sabe-se que a fase invasora do carcinoma escamoso do colo uterino é precedida por uma fase intra-epitelial, precursora (neoplasias intra-epiteliais cervicais/ NICs). As lesões precursoras podem ser divididas em dois grandes grupos: as de baixo grau e as de alto grau (Sistema de Bethesda). Se por um lado, o percentual de lesões de alto grau que evoluem para carcinoma escamoso invasor é grande, por outro lado, somente uma pequena parcela de mulheres que têm lesões precursoras de baixo grau vai desenvolver uma lesão invasora. Entretanto, ainda não somos capazes de identificar entre estas mulheres, quais são as que irão progredir para carcinoma escamoso do colo uterino. O presente estudo procurou avaliar a expressão da p16INK4 em pacientes com lesão de baixo grau do colo uterino, correlacionando com a presença de HPV-DNA e sua evolução ao longo do tempo. O estudo acompanhou 118 pacientes por um período máximo de 33 meses, examinando-as com intervalos de 6 meses. A conclusão foi que a p16INK4 se relacionada positivamente com infecção múltipla por HPV e que nestas pacientes a expressão da mesma chega a 100% de células neoplásicas coradas. Algumas pacientes evoluíram para lesão de alto em um período curto de tempo (alguns meses). / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-30T17:01:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Alessandra Eifler Guerra Godoy.pdf: 1370166 bytes, checksum: 0965c1e23a9ee5918d5880f1bd52fb52 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-30T17:01:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Alessandra Eifler Guerra Godoy.pdf: 1370166 bytes, checksum: 0965c1e23a9ee5918d5880f1bd52fb52 (MD5) / The squamous carcinoma of the cervix uterine is one of the neoplasias of bigger incidence in the whole world, also in Brazil, being responsible for the death of thousand of women to each year, great part of them occurring in full productive age. Throughout last the fifty years, diverse researchers have studied this neoplasia. We know that the invading phase of the squamous carcinoma of the cervix uterine is preceded by an intra-epithelial phase, precursory (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia - CIN). The precursory injuries can be divided in two great groups: of low degree and of high degree (Bethesda System). If on the other hand, the percentage of injuries of high degree that evolve for invading squamous carcinoma is great, on the other hand, a small parcel of women whom they have precursory injuries of low degree only goes to develop an invading injury. However, not yet we are capable to identify between these women, which are the ones that will go to progress for squamous carcinoma of the cervix uterine. The present study it looked for to evaluate the expression of p16INK4 in patients with injury of low degree of the uterine col, correlating with the presence of HPV-DNA and its evolution throughout the time. The study it folloied 118 patients for a maximum period of 33 months, examining them with intervals of 6 months. The conclusion was that p16INK4 if related positively with multiple infection for HPV and that in these patients the expression of the same one arrives the 100% of neoplastic cells stained. Some patients developed high lesion in a short period of time (several months).

Diversas alterações de expressão proteica decorrentes do desenvolvimento canceroso cervical e dependentes do papilomavírus humano (HPV) vêm sendo apontadas na literatura, dentre elas destacam-se proteínas diretamente influenciadas pela ação de oncoproteínas do HPV, como: transglutaminase 2 (TG2) e p53 e proteínas com expressão modificada relacionada a alterações de controle de ciclo celular, como: p16INK4a, ki-67 e bcl-2. Neste estudo, objetivou-se analisar níveis expressionais de TG2, p16INK4a, p53, Ki-67 e bcl-2 em amostras de lesões escamosas intraepiteliais de baixo (LEIBG) e alto grau (LEIAG), precursoras do carcinoma escamoso de colo uterino e relacionar esta expressão a diferentes tipos virais do HPV. Foram utilizadas amostras histológicas obtidas por biópsia dirigida do colo uterino de pacientes, previamente confirmadas quanto à presença do HPV-DNA por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) e tipagem viral. A quantificação da expressão ocorreu por meio da técnica de imunohistoquímica. Observou-se em LEIBG a elevada expressão de TG2 (p<0.05) e diminuída expressão de p16INK4a (p<0.05) enquanto que em LEIAG, esta proporção inverteu-se (Pearson value = -0.269). A expressão de p53 demonstrou-se variável em relação aos graus de lesão. As expressões de Ki-67 e bcl-2 variaram conforme os níveis teciduais das biópsias coletadas. A proteína p16INK4a apresentou sua expressão associada a HPV considerados de alto risco oncogênico (p<0.001), TG2 teve sua expressão associada ao HPV tipo 11 (p<0.05). Não foram evidenciadas associações significantes entre a expressão de p53, Ki-67 e bcl-2 e os tipos virais. Conclui-se que a expressão dos marcadores estudados foi influenciada pelo processo canceroso no colo uterino e pela infecção do HPV. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2016-12-01T15:25:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Karen Olivia Bazzo.pdf: 1961310 bytes, checksum: 63b5807c5c5cf317075c1e19cf0f168c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-01T15:25:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Karen Olivia Bazzo.pdf: 1961310 bytes, checksum: 63b5807c5c5cf317075c1e19cf0f168c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-01 / Universidade de Caxias do Sul, UCS. / Changes in protein expression resulting from cervical cancer development and dependent on human papillomavirus (HPV) have been indicated in the literature, among them there are proteins directly influenced by HPV oncoproteins, such as transglutaminase 2 (TG2), p53; and proteins with modified expression related to cell cycle control changes, such as p16 INK4a a, ki-67 and bcl-2. This study aimed to analyze expressionais levels of TG2, p16INK4a, p53, ki-67 and bcl-2 in High-grade (HSIL) and low-grade (LSIL) squamous intraepithelial lesion and relate this expression to different viral types of HPV. Tissue samples obtained by biopsy were used directed cervical patients, previously genotyped HPV-DNA. Expression quantification were performed by immunohistochemical technique. It was observed in LSIL the overexpression of TG2 (p<0.05) and decreased expression of p16INK4a (p<0.05) although in HSIL, the proportion was reversed (Pearson value = -0.269). P53 expression was variable in relation to the degree of injury. The expression of ki-67 and bcl-2 levels varied depending beyond the basal layer. p16INK4a presented its expression associated with high-risk types of HPV (p<0.001) and TG2 expression was associated with HPV 11 (p<0.05). No significant associations were found between the viral types and the ki-67, p53 and bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, the expression of the marker is affected by cancerous process and by HPV infection, and expression analysis of these markers may reveal new biomarkers associated with cervical cancer process.

Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011. / The focus of this study is on the presentation patterns of invasive cancer of the cervix (CaCx) in Zimbabwe. The study was undertaken at a large referral cancer treatment centre in Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe. The main study question addressed was: Are there any changes in the presentation patterns of invasive CaCx in Zimbabwe? This was subdivided into three sub questions: 1) What are the presentation patterns of invasive CaCx among the Zimbabwean women presenting to the major referral centre in terms of histology, stage of the disease, ages of patients, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and socioeconomic status? 2) What is the trend in the presentation patterns of invasive CaCx in terms of the study variables during the period of study? 3) Are there any correlations that exist among the study variables? This study was conducted because of the sharp contrast that exists in invasive CaCx presentation patterns and incidence between the developed and developing countries. The incidence is now very low in developed countries while it is continuing to rise in developing countries resulting in death among women at a time when they are supposed to be more effective in their families and the nation at large. A retrospective documentary study of patients' files using an observation check list was done from 1998 to 2010. A systematic sample of four years was selected with 1998 as the base year (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010). To strengthen the sample all the available patients' files for the selected years were considered. On average the majority of the patients (91.75%) presented with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 5.5% presented with adenocarcinoma and 2.75% with other types of histology. It was found that (89%) of women presented with late stage disease (stage liB and above). The ages of patients at presentation were between 40 to 60 years. Very few patients had recorded HIV status in 1998 and 2002 but a significant increase in proportion of patients with known HIV status was noted in 2006 (48%) and 2010 (73%). The average percentage for HIV positive patients for 2006 and 2010 was 57% and the average percentage for HIV negative patients was 43%. The majority (58.25%) of the patients were of low socioeconomic status. No significant change in trend was noted for variables except for HIV status where there was a downward trend in the percentage of HIV positive patients and an upward trend in the percentage of HIV negative patients. When correlation analysis was done among the variables no significant association was noted among the variables except that a low degree of association was recorded for the ages of patients and HIV status. The association indicated that young invasive CaCx patients are associated with HIV infection at presentation. The recommendations are that the government should mobilize resources towards prevention and control of invasive cancer of the cervix and awareness campaigns on early presentation should increase. Furthermore the cancer registry should expand its services to cover all health institutions nationwide. It is also recommended that further studies should be done on the presentation patterns of invasive CaCx and of HIV status. Longitudinal studies are recommended in order to monitor changes in presentation patterns.

Diversas alterações de expressão proteica decorrentes do desenvolvimento canceroso cervical e dependentes do papilomavírus humano (HPV) vêm sendo apontadas na literatura, dentre elas destacam-se proteínas diretamente influenciadas pela ação de oncoproteínas do HPV, como: transglutaminase 2 (TG2) e p53 e proteínas com expressão modificada relacionada a alterações de controle de ciclo celular, como: p16INK4a, ki-67 e bcl-2. Neste estudo, objetivou-se analisar níveis expressionais de TG2, p16INK4a, p53, Ki-67 e bcl-2 em amostras de lesões escamosas intraepiteliais de baixo (LEIBG) e alto grau (LEIAG), precursoras do carcinoma escamoso de colo uterino e relacionar esta expressão a diferentes tipos virais do HPV. Foram utilizadas amostras histológicas obtidas por biópsia dirigida do colo uterino de pacientes, previamente confirmadas quanto à presença do HPV-DNA por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) e tipagem viral. A quantificação da expressão ocorreu por meio da técnica de imunohistoquímica. Observou-se em LEIBG a elevada expressão de TG2 (p<0.05) e diminuída expressão de p16INK4a (p<0.05) enquanto que em LEIAG, esta proporção inverteu-se (Pearson value = -0.269). A expressão de p53 demonstrou-se variável em relação aos graus de lesão. As expressões de Ki-67 e bcl-2 variaram conforme os níveis teciduais das biópsias coletadas. A proteína p16INK4a apresentou sua expressão associada a HPV considerados de alto risco oncogênico (p<0.001), TG2 teve sua expressão associada ao HPV tipo 11 (p<0.05). Não foram evidenciadas associações significantes entre a expressão de p53, Ki-67 e bcl-2 e os tipos virais. Conclui-se que a expressão dos marcadores estudados foi influenciada pelo processo canceroso no colo uterino e pela infecção do HPV. / Universidade de Caxias do Sul, UCS. / Changes in protein expression resulting from cervical cancer development and dependent on human papillomavirus (HPV) have been indicated in the literature, among them there are proteins directly influenced by HPV oncoproteins, such as transglutaminase 2 (TG2), p53; and proteins with modified expression related to cell cycle control changes, such as p16 INK4a a, ki-67 and bcl-2. This study aimed to analyze expressionais levels of TG2, p16INK4a, p53, ki-67 and bcl-2 in High-grade (HSIL) and low-grade (LSIL) squamous intraepithelial lesion and relate this expression to different viral types of HPV. Tissue samples obtained by biopsy were used directed cervical patients, previously genotyped HPV-DNA. Expression quantification were performed by immunohistochemical technique. It was observed in LSIL the overexpression of TG2 (p<0.05) and decreased expression of p16INK4a (p<0.05) although in HSIL, the proportion was reversed (Pearson value = -0.269). P53 expression was variable in relation to the degree of injury. The expression of ki-67 and bcl-2 levels varied depending beyond the basal layer. p16INK4a presented its expression associated with high-risk types of HPV (p<0.001) and TG2 expression was associated with HPV 11 (p<0.05). No significant associations were found between the viral types and the ki-67, p53 and bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, the expression of the marker is affected by cancerous process and by HPV infection, and expression analysis of these markers may reveal new biomarkers associated with cervical cancer process.