Yeung Sze-wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Anatomy of the Cervix --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Histology --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Squamous Epithelium --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The Endocervical Epithelium --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The Squamo-columnar Junction --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- The Embryology --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Definition --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Structure of the Viruses --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- The Nomenclature --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- HPVs Genomic Structure and Properties of Gene Products --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Target Tissues --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Role of HPVs in the Carcinogenesis of Lesions --- p.1-9 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Risk Groups of HPVs --- p.1-10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Pathology --- p.1-11 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Macroscopic Features --- p.1-11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Symptoms and Diagnosis --- p.1-12 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Histopathology --- p.1-13 / Chapter 1.4.3.1 --- Histopathological Grading of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia --- p.1-19 / Chapter 1.4.3.2 --- Staging of Cervical Cancer --- p.1-24 / Chapter 1.5 --- Epidemiology of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cervical Cancer --- p.1-27 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Descriptive Epidemiology --- p.1-28 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Risk Factors --- p.1-30 / Chapter 1.6 --- Human Papillomavirus Type 16 --- p.1-42 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Role of HPV16 in CIN and Cervical Carcinoma --- p.1-42 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Viral Load of HPV 16 in CIN --- p.1-43 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- HPV 16 Viral Load as a Screening Tool --- p.1-46 / Chapter 1.7 --- Quantitation of HPV 16 --- p.1-48 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Methods in Viral Quantification --- p.1-48 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Selection of Methodology --- p.1-51 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- Correlation of HPV 16 Viral Loading with Severity of Cervical Lesions --- p.1-54 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- AIMS OF STUDY --- p.2-1 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1 --- Materials --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Patients and Specimens --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- DNA Extraction --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.3-7 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Gel Electrophoresis --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Real-time Quantitation Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.3-11 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.3-15 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1 --- Grading of Cervical Smears --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- Incidence of HPV 16 Detected in Cervical Smears --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Detection of HPV 16 in Women for Routine Pap Smear --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Detection of HPV 16 in Women for Colposcopic Examination --- p.4-5 / Chapter 4.3 --- Quantification of HPV 16 by Real-time PCR --- p.4-5 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Range of Detection --- p.4-10 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Standard Curve --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Reproducibility of Quantitative Real-time PCR --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Sensitivity of Quantitative Real-time PCR --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Detection and Quantification of HPV 16 E6/7 Genes in HPV16 Positive Cervical Scrapes --- p.4-21 / Chapter 4.4 --- Comparison of HPV 16 Copy Number Detected among Three Lesion Groups --- p.4-22 / Chapter 4.5 --- Clinical Analysis --- p.4-27 / Chapter 4.6 --- HPV 16 DNA Copy Number in Lesion Groups --- p.4-28 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.1 --- Selection of Material (Scrapes) --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Detection of HPV 16 in Cervical Scrapes --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Selection of HPV Type --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Techniques in Detecting HPV Viral Load --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Advantages of Quantitative Real-time PCR --- p.5-6 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Parameters Affecting the Performance of Real-time PCR --- p.5-8 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Selection of Detection Sites --- p.5-9 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Standard Curve Establishment --- p.5-10 / Chapter 5.3 --- Comparison between Real-time PCR and Traditional PCR --- p.5-12 / Chapter 5.4 --- Role of HPV Viral Load in Cervical Neoplasm --- p.5-13 / Chapter 5.5 --- HPV Infection in Hong Kong Chinese Women --- p.5-17 / Chapter 5.6 --- Clinical Significance of HPV 16 Viral Load Detected in Cervical Neoplasm --- p.5-18 / Chapter 5.7 --- Future Prospect --- p.5-20 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.6-1 / REFERENCES --- p.R-I

AIMS: The rapidly growing industrial and medical use of nanomaterials, especially zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, has led to growing concerns about their toxicity. Accordingly, the intrinsic genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of these nanoparticles have been evaluated. MATERIALS & METHODS: Using a HEp-2 cell line, cytotoxicity was tested along with mitochondrial activity and neutral red uptake assays. The genotoxic potential was determined using the Comet and the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assays. In addition, tyrosine phosphorylation events were investigated. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: We found concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity and an increase in DNA and cytogenetic damage with increasing nanoparticle concentrations. Mainly for zinc oxide, genotoxicity was clearly associated with an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Our results suggest that both types of nanoparticles can be genotoxic over a range of concentrations without being cytotoxic.