Sexual transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) accounts for the majority of newly acquired infections. Vaccination efforts have induced only modest protection in HIV clinical trials. HIV-1 induces a robust local immune response in genital mucosa of exposed individuals. Understanding the function of naturally occurring antibodies against HIV-1 in genital mucosa, the primary site of transmission, might be instrumental to improving vaccines and antibody-based microbicides. This study focused on HIV-specific antibody responses in the male genital tract (MGT), which is underexplored. We characterized antibody subclasses and specificities in genital tract secretions (seminal plasma, urethral secretions) and blood from a cohort of HIV-1-infected men to determine the origin and distinct nature of antibodies in the MGT. We detected similar HIV-1 IgG titers and specificities in all three body fluids, indicating that MGT IgG likely originates from blood. In contrast, gp41-specific IgA was restricted to genital secretions suggesting a local niche of IgA antibody production. Genital secretions from a subset of individuals neutralized cell-free HIV-1 and blocked cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Statistically, these functions correlated positively with gp41 IgA titers. HIV-specific IgA monoclonal antibodies were also effective in these assays. To explore cell-dependent activities of HIV-specific antibodies in genital mucosa we surveyed Fc receptor expression in mucosal epithelial tissue. The IgG-engaging neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), the IgA receptor FcαRI and the high-affinity intracellular Fc receptor TRIM21 were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blots. In stratified squamous epithelia (foreskin, vagina) FcRn+ epithelial cells were detected primarily in the basal layer, FcαRI+ epithelial cells in suprabasal layers and TRIM21 throughout. Deposits of immunoglobulins in the stratified squamous epithelium colocalized with FcRn, FcαRI and TRIM21. Our findings indicate that the MGT is capable of expressing a local anti-HIV IgA response to achieve antiviral defense through antibody neutralization and cell-dependent functions involving classical immune effector cells and epithelial cells.

by Lai Duen Mun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-91). / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.v / List of Appendices --- p.vii / Introduction --- p.1 / Method --- p.28 / Results --- p.41 / Discussion --- p.63 / Limitation and Recommendation --- p.78 / Reference --- p.82 / Appendices --- p.92

by Wang Wei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-168). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.v / SUMMARY --- p.vi / PUBLICATIONS --- p.viii / STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY --- p.ix / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Chromosome --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Chromosome and Human Disease --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Chromosome and Tumour --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Chromosome in Gynaecologic Tumours --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Cervical tumour --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Uterine corpus tumour --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Ovarian tumour --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5 --- Methodology in cytogenetics --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Materials --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Methods of chromosome preparation --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Karyotype analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 2.6 --- Problems of cytogenetic analysis in solid tumour --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Chemicals and Solutions --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Chromosome preparation from solid gynaecologic tumours --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Solid tumour specimens --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Chromosome preparation --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Chromosome preparation from an established ovarian carcinoma cell line --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Origin of OCC1 cell line --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Characteristics of OCC1 cell line --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Maintaining of OCC1 cell line --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Chromosome preparation --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4 --- Karyotype analysis --- p.65 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.66 / Chapter 4.1 --- Cytogenetic features of gynaecologic solid tumour --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Cervical cancer --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Uterine corpus cancer --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Ovarian cancer --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2 --- Cytogenetic features of OCC1 ovarian carcinoma cell line --- p.114 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.123 / Chapter 5.1 --- Methodology of chromosome preparation in solid tumour --- p.124 / Chapter 5.2 --- Chromosome changes in gynaecologic solid tumour --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Cervical cancer --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Uterine corpus cancer --- p.132 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Ovarian cancer --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- In summary --- p.141 / Chapter 5.3 --- Chromosome changes in an OCC1 ovarian carcinoma cell line --- p.143 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.148 / REFERENCES --- p.154

In Egypt, female genital cutting (FGC) is illegal and declining in prevalence; however, the majority of women continue to support the practice. Using data from the 2005 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys, I examine changes in attitude toward FGC to explain social change through the framework of developmental idealism (Thornton 2015). Models are estimated using logistic regression to test if support for discontinuation of FGC is greater among women who have adopted progressive values or among women who are more traditional. Findings indicate that women who were Christian, rural, married younger, and that underwent FGC became supportive of discontinuation at greater rates than women who were Muslim, urban, married older, and did not undergo FGC. Women at various levels of education, wealth, and other indicators of development changed support at equal rates. Findings indicate that women in all social strata are receptive to messages against FGC.

Tese de Mestrado Integrado. Bioengenharia. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2012

Purpose: Egypt has the highest prevalence of chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and also a high prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM). The high prevalence chronic hepatitis C has been attributed to HCV transmission by contaminated injections for the control of schistosomiasis. HCV infection has not been well studied in the context of female genital mutilation (FGM). We sought to identify associations between FGM and HCV using the Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), 2008. Methods: FGM was chosen as the main independent variable of interest. Other independent variables such as age, education, marital status, residence, beliefs associated with FGM, history of blood transfusion, surgery, sharing needles, and history of schistosomiasis were included in the analysis. Throughout the analysis, HCV infection was used as the main dependent variable. Results: Univariate analysis of FGM and HCV showed a statistically significant association with a Prevalence Odds Ratio of 4.82 (2.91 -7.96), after adjusting for age and schistosomiasis injection, the association between FGM and HCV remained statistically significant with an odds of 2.98 (1.76 – 5.05)Among the category for FGM performer and association with HCV infection, the OR was 4.28 (2.31 – 7.91) when the FGM was performed by a ghagaria, 3.68 (2.76 - 4.90) when the FGM was performed by daya, and 3.30 (1.81 -5.88) when the FGM was performed by a barber. Among other independent variables, a lack of education, rural residence, and having religious precepts for FGM had statistically increased odds of association with HCV infection. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between FGM and HCV infection. There are increased odds of HCV when the FGM is performed by providers other than doctors. Participants from a rural residence and who those who did not have any education were at increased odds of HCV. Subjects who believed in religious precepts for FGM and also who answered that FGM can continue had increased odds of association with HCV infections.

Purpose and Questions: The purpose with this thesis is to explore why female genital mutilation (FGM) persist in Ethiopia, and secondly to explore reverberations felt in a wider context from a political and ethical perspective. The aim of this paper is not to argue that traditional female genital mutilation ought to be legalized, but to highlight the double standards of moral involved. Following questions were used as guidance to fulfil the purpose: how is the situation for women and what is the status of FGM in Ethiopia?; are there legal framework mechanisms in place?; what are the attitudes on the biggest challenges in the struggle against FGM and what are the way’s forward?; and what readings can be made with regards to the ‘phenomenon’ of genital alterations in a wider context from a political and ethical perspective? Method: This thesis is a case study of the phenomenon genital mutilation. It has elements of a field study with comparative elements, in terms of the ‘phenomenon’ of genital alterations. The material consists of data from fieldwork conducted in Ethiopia as well as data from literature review. Results:  The paper presents an alternative point of view on previously not so well understood relations on the subject matter. Ethiopia is a poor and highly traditional country, where women lack behind in most areas. The legal provisions in the Criminal Code against FGM are not strong enough, or in place. The Criminal Code only restricts the practice and doesn’t explicitly outlaw it. The country is also democratically crippled, and NGOs has been constrained (indirectly) in their work on FGM.  Ethnicity and culture, rather than religion, seem to be the most decisive factors for the practice in Ethiopia. However, it seems as though the veil of silence has been partially lifted. There seem to be awareness in some segments of the population, however much more work is needed towards the total elimination of the practice. Awareness on the harm as well as implementation and adherence to the law, and thus change takes time. Western cultural norms however seem to prevail over other cultural norms, and various forms of genital alterations undertaken due to individual non-medical reasons might create skewed attitudes and have a negative impact on the struggle against FGM, from a wider perspective.

Se realizo un estudio anatómico, histológico y evolutivo de los testículos de 80 codornices de la variedad japónica, con el fin de determinar los cambios que se producen desde el nacimiento hasta la pubertad, las aves fueron obtenidas de la unidad de producción de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, los animales se tomaron al azar de una población recientemente instalada y regulada bajo las mismas condiciones de manejo y alimentación. Se hizo un muestreo de 10 aves por semana registrándose peso corporal, largo y ancho de ambos testículos y aspectos externos de los mismos; también se realizaron cortes histológicos de los testículos. Se encontró un intervalo de pesos desde 35 gr, en la primera semana hasta 180gr. En la octava semana. La relación entre la aparición de Células de Leydig y caracteres sexuales secundarios en la séptima semana, pero no se observaron espermatozoides aun en a octava semana. / Was made in anatomic, histology and evolutive study of 80 quail japanese testis, in order to determine changes from born to puberty, the quails were obtained from the farm of the Veterinary Faculty of San Marcos University, the animals were chosen at random of a recently installed population with the same conditions of feed and managment. They were took samples of 10 animals per week, registering corporal weight, longitud of the testis and external aspects of the same one; they were also carried out courts testis histology. The weight corporal variates from 35 grams in the first week to 180grams at week 8. The testis long variates from 0.1mm at the first week to 8 mm at 8 week, it noticed a relation beetwen leydig cels apear and secondary sexual characters at week 7, but there were not spermatozoa observed either at 8 week.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the genital tract are now recognized to be among the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases and also a contributing factor to some cancers of the lower genital tract of women and men. Presence of HPV in a clinical specimen is confined to detection of the HPV genome by DNA hybridization techniques. In this thesis, the commonly used DNA hybridization techniques Southern blot and filter in situ hybridization (FISH), were first used for detection of genital HPV infection. In order to increase and simplify the detection of HPV in clinical specimens a more sensitive technique, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was subsequently utilized. For type-specific amplificaiton of HPV 6, 16, 18 and 33 by PCR, oligonucleotide primers located in the E6 and E7 regions of the HPV genome were selected. They were found to specifically amplify the four types. To be able to amplify a broad spectrum of genital HPV types, general primers located in the E7 and El region of the HPV genome, were designed and evaluated. They were found to amplify a wide range of genital HPV types. To further increase the sensitivity and specificity, a two-step PCR using general primers, was assembled and evaluated against a one-step PCR on cervical scrapes from young women in a population-based study. The two-step PCR increased the sensitivity about three-fold compared to the one-step PCR. By Southern blot and FISH, 46% of women with abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears were shown to carry HPV DNA. Of the women analysed by Southern blot, 39 % harboured HPV DNA and 25 % proved HPV 16 positive. Of the samples analysed with FISH, 27 % contained HPV DNA, compared to 11 % of samples from a group of reference women with normal cytology. With the Southern blot technique, HPV DNA was detected in 66% of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) lesions. Fifty-four percent of the women with CIN III lesions were positive for HPV 16 DNA. By type-specific PCR, 12 out of 13 women with cervical squamous carcinoma were shown to carry HPV 16 and/or 18. Among women with adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix, HPV 18 was the most prevalent type (26%) but HPV 16 was also found in a proportion of the women(15 %). Nine of 13 premenopausal cases with cervical adenocarcinoma were HPV positive compared to only 2 of 13 postmenopausal cases (p&lt; 0.015). HPV 16 DNA was detected in 48%of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), by the use of type-specific PCR. Three different groups of women with normal cytology were studied. Among women attending a family planning clinic in Kenya, 19% were shown to carry HPV virus, by the use of general primers. HPV 16 was found in 5.2% of these women and HPV 18 in 3.9%. In anothergroup of women, attending the gynecological department in Umeå, HPV 16 DNA was detected in 21 % by type-specific PCR. However, if consideration was taken to the medical status of the women, only 10% of women without any medical history were HPV 16 DNA positive, versus 54% of women with diseases and women with a relative progesterone dominance. Finally, by use of a two-step PCR using general primers, 20% of young women from Umeå taking part in a population-based study were demonstrated to carry HPV DNA. The most prevalent types were HPV 6 (2.0%) and HPV 16(2.7%). Among the women in this study with normal cytology, 19%were HPV positive. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1991, härtill 9 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Abstract In recent decades there has been increased immigration to New Zealand of women from East Africa. These countries have the highest prevalence rates (between 90-97%) of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) worldwide. FGM therefore has become part of the care experience of some New Zealand health providers. Information on FGM is available on the New Zealand Ministry of Health website. This study captures the experience of a group of East African women in Christchurch who have undergone FGM and given birth in Christchurch Hospitals. Two focus groups, each with ten women, were held so that women could talk about their health services experience. A narrative approach was adopted, listening to their stories in order to explore, to gain insight and to understand how these women felt during reproductive and antenatal care, childbirth and after childbirth. Interviews with three health providers sought their experiences of caring for women with FGM. The study identifies diverse potential explanations with the focus group members telling their stories and identifying issues related to FGM. Several short case histories are presented to illustrate these experiences. The thematic analysis reported four themes: satisfaction with clinical care, concern about infibulation, barriers to knowledge for women, and problems of cross-cultural communication. Health providers reported similar issues, with themes related to their own clinical experience, knowledge gaps, and need for greater cultural understanding and communication. These themes reflect the journey of the East African women with FGM in Christchurch and the challenges faced by them and their providers. This research recommends that women with FGM receive more education and support to manage their relationships with the health system and their own health. Health providers need continuing education and further support in the psychosocial, psychological and physical health needs of East African women living in Christchurch. Service outcomes should be evaluated.