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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Postoperative changes in vaginal smears after vaginal reconstruction with a free skin graft.

Surgical vaginal reconstruction was performed by a free skin graft in two patients without a vagina. The postoperative changes in vaginal smears collected from the artificial vaginas were observed for about two years. Marked operation-induced inflammatory changes were observed until the second postoperative month. After the third postoperative month, the background became relatively clear. Cyanophilic and eosinophilic superficial cells, intermediate cells and Döderlein bacilli were observed occasionally in addition to keratotic cells. Six to 12 months after surgery, the vaginal smears showed little abnormality, except for the presence of keratotic cells. The changes in the vaginal smears after the third month show that the artificial vaginal epithelium changed cytologically to an almost normal vaginal mucosa that, although not histologically complete, responded to hormones. The presence of Döderlein bacilli suggests that the regional environment of the artificial vagina was almost the same as that of the normal vagina.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

[A quick and inexpensive staining method for vaginal smears].

Vaginal cytology is a commonly used method for diagnosis of sexual cycle phases in the rat, but all staining techniques are time consuming. A simple, easy and fast technique is reported here, that is based upon the use of a Lugol solution that allows precise identification of the sexual cycle day of the rat. Following this technique, samples are taken at 8:00 a.m. and a smear is made on the glass slide adding one drop of Lugol solution. This preparation is covered and seen directly under the optic microscope.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Post-menopausal smear patterns--a review of vaginal smears in 480 women.

Cytohormonal evaluation was done on the vaginal smears of 480 normal, asymptomatic, post-menopausal women whose ages ranged from 36 to 74 years. About 50% showed atrophic smears consistent with total oestrogen lack. 41% had mild to moderately proliferative smears compatible with sub-optimal oestrogen stimulus. 9% showed a highly proliferative pattern typical of unopposed oestrogen effect and in this group two women had atypical endometrial cells in their smears, which subsequently were found to come from an atypical endometrial hyperplasia and an endometrial adenocarcinoma-in-situ. The clinical relevance of cytohormonal studies in post-menopausal women is briefly discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Columnar cells in posthysterectomy vaginal smears.

Columnar cells in posthysterectomy vaginal smears are unusual and rare. Nine such cases are reported here during a 6-yr period. All nine patients were asymptomatic and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoophorectomy for gynecological malignancies was performed 8 mo to 25 yr ago. Three patients had local radiation and one had systemic chemotherapy not less than 8 mo before the cytology. The columnar cells showed one of three patterns: 1) long, bipolar cells in sheets, resembling reparative columnar cells (4 cases), 2) goblet-type cells with eccentric nuclei (3 cases), and 3) tight clusters of small round cells (2 cases). No consistent relationship with age, treatment, or background was seen with any of the patterns. Follow-up of all cases by thorough pelvic examination, repeat smears, colposcopy, and biopsy showed no vaginal pathology. Benign mucinous or goblet cell metaplasia in atrophic vaginal epithelium may be the source of some of these cells in the vaginal smears.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Artificial intelligence in automated classification of rat vaginal smear cells.

Microscopic examination of vaginal smears has been used routinely to determine the stage of the estrous cycle of female rats in reproductive research. The stage of the estrous cycle is based on relative counts of nucleated epithelial cells, cornified epithelial cells and leukocytes. The purpose of this project was to explore automation of vaginal smear analysis using image processing and artificial intelligence techniques. A fully connected back-propagation neural network was used to locate all potential objects in a digitized scene. A unique algorithm was then employed to center a subsequent sampling box to collect pixel intensity values from the red and green components of each image. A final neural network was used in the classification of cell type. Neural networks were used because of their ability to generalize among input patterns and to tolerate extraneous noise due to variations in staining artifacts and aberrant illumination of the microscope field. This preliminary cell diagnosing system not only provides the basis for the fully automated system but also provides a method by which many other cytologic image processing problems can be automated.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Toxoplasma cysts in vaginal smears.

Toxoplasma cysts in vaginal smears in women have been found. Exact identification of these cysts is of the greatest importance in order to avoid false positive diagnosis for cancer. From the epidemiological point of view, this finding supports the theory of transmission from cysts located in the female genital tract.

Complement Fixation Tests↗

PubMed1988

Effects of ovarian steroids on vaginal smears in the rat.

A correspondence between the appearance of vaginal smears and the layers of the epithelium from which the cells had desquamated was established in untreated rats during the estrous cycle, in control ovariectomized rats and in spayed rats injected with either estrogen or progesterone. The technique for preparing and staining the smears (modified Shorr's staining procedure) is outlined. A simplified system of classification which allows the accurate identification of the various stages of the reproductive state in the rat is described. Standing estrus, as well as the influence of estrogen on spayed rats, is characterized by marked cornification of the cells and the disappearance of leukocytes. At the end of estrus, the cornified layer is sloughed off and invasion by leukocytes occurs. During diestrus, as well as in untreated ovariectomized rats, the vaginal contents consistently lack cornified cells whereas leukocytes are very plentiful. Proestrus follows diestrus: the vaginal smear is devoid of leukocytes and characterized by nucleated epithelial cells. Pregnancy, as well as the influence of progesterone on ovariectomized rats, is also characterized by epithelial growth and desquamation but at different rates, resulting in the presence of intermediate cells, and polymorphs and mucus forming a noticeable background to the smear. Since vaginal smears display cell pictures characteristic for each hormone after administration of estrogen or progesterone, exfoliate cytology is a good indicator of the stage of the reproductive state in the rat.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

[Vaginal smear cycle in 4-day cyclic Chinese hamsters, Cricetulus griseus].

The contents of vaginal smear of 4-day cyclic Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) was investigated every 3 hours for 5 days. A light-dark cycle of 14--10 hr was used with the lights turned on at 6 : 00 a.m. Estrous cycle of the Chinese hamster determined by vaginal smears can be divided into 6 periods. The proestrous phase started at about 0 : 00 of day 1, the day of the proestrous phase was designated as day 1 of the estrous cycle. In the afternoon of the same day 1, nucleated epithelial cells gradually increased in number (proestrus : I), and the vaginal contents became to consist solely of nucleated epithelial cells at about 18 : 00 to 21 : 00 (estrus : II). At about 0 : 00 of day 2, however, nucleated epithelial cells were superseded suddenly by cornified epithelial cells, and this phase lasted for 9 to 12 hr (metestrus I : III). Towards the end of the cornified stage, nucleated cells appeared in short duration (metestrus II : IV). And then, in the evening of day 2, leucocytes gradually increased in number with degeneration of nucleated cells (diestrus I : V-1). On day 3, vaginal smear contained a large amount of mucus as well as degenerated nucleated cells and leucocytes (diestrus II : V-2). At about 21 : 000 of day 4, some cornified epithelial cells were seen and then proestrous stage was returned. The females were mated with 3 to 5 males in the evening of day 1, copulation was confirmed in 83.7% females in the next morning,thus the copulation in the Chinese hamster may be thought to occur during the vaginal smear stage of nucleated epithelial cells (estrous phase), i.e. about 18 : 00 to 24 : 00 of day 1.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Age- and hormone-related changes in vaginal smear patterns in the gray-tailed vole, Microtus canicaudus.

Female voles, Microtus canicaudus, exhibited age-related changes in vaginal smear patterns when isolated from males after weaning. Between 30 and 50 days of age, nearly all females exhibited persistently leucocytic vaginal smears. By 90-120 days, most females showed vaginal cyclicity with alternating predominance of leucocytes, nucleated epithelial cells or cornified epithelial cells. Most females examined between 150 and 200 days of age exhibited persistent vaginal cornification. The vaginal cyclicity seen in females between 90 and 120 days was not a reflection of cyclic ovulatory changes; plasma progesterone concentrations remained constant, regardless of age or vaginal smear pattern, and corpora lutea were never seen in unmated females. Although progesterone concentrations did not differ among vaginal smear patterns of 120-day-old females, plasma oestrogen values were highest in females exhibiting vaginal cornification.

Aging↗

PubMed1976

[Impulse cytophotometry in neoplasm prevention. The behavior of normal vaginal smears in the impulse cytophotometric histogram].

Evaluation of histograms of normal cervical and vaginal smears, produced by ""rapid flow through'' cytophotometry. Normal cytological cervical and vaginal smears were examined for their appearance in histograms in order to find criteria for the classification of ""normal non-pathological'' cytological slides. Simultaneously, the reliability of the standardized method for preparation of vaginal and cervical smears was checked. The diagrams and data produced by the histograph were also coded on line and analyzed by a computer; thus obtaining an objective mathematical analysis and avoiding errors due to subjective visual analysis of the histograms. The objective interpretation of histograms of normal vaginal smears is an important step to the realisation of automatic pre-screening.

Computers↗

PubMed1990

How frequently need vaginal smears be taken after hysterectomy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia?

A retrospective longitudinal review identified 341 women who had had a hysterectomy in association with CIN 3, in Tayside Region, during the years 1967-1977; 219 (64%) had completed 10 years of cytology follow-up and of 140 women eligible for 15-year smears 79 (56%) completed the 15-year follow-up. Eight (4%) of the 219 patients developed abnormal cytology, but in six, smears reverted to normal spontaneously. Two patients had persistently abnormal smears and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) was diagnosed. Only one patient completing 15-year follow-up had an abnormal smear and VAIN later diagnosed. No patient over this 15-year period developed invasive vaginal carcinoma. Sixty vaginal carcinomas were identified during the period 1957-1987 from the gynaecology cancer register; only one was associated with a previous diagnosis of CIN 3 at hysterectomy. With such data we would propose screening 6-monthly during the first post-operative year and then at 2 years. If these smears were normal, the patient could then revert to the normal screening programme.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

An indirect immunofluorescence method for detection of Mycoplasma hominis in vaginal smears.

We developed a novel method for the detection of Mycoplasma hominis from vaginal swabs using an indirect immunofluorescence technique. It is a rapid and simple method that can be finished in only 5 hr and is more sensitive than the usual culture isolation method. The indirect immunofluorescence method was applied to vaginal smears from 193 healthy women and 33.7% gave a positive test. This value was much higher than that (11.4%) obtained from the same specimens by the culture method. When vaginal smears were subjected to Papanicolaou staining after the indirect immunofluorescence method, the specific immunofluorescence of the epithelial cells was located exactly at the sites of granular aggregates stained with Papanicolaou stain. A histological examination by Papanicolaou staining showed that the incidence of inflammation seems to be slightly higher in M. hominis-carriers than in non-carriers.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Oestrus and the vaginal smear cycle of the river otter, Lutra canadensis.

Vaginal smears of river otters contained specific cellular associations which can be used to monitor their reproductive cycle. The anoestrous period was identified by the presence of large intermediate epithelial cells while the onset of pro-oestrus was gradual and the duration difficult to determine. Oestrus was indicated by an influx of nucleated and non-nucleated cornified cells which continue after mating. The metoestrous smear was characterized by large quantities of leucocytes and mucus.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

[Eggs of Enterobius vermicularis in vaginal smears].

The technique of exfoliative cytology is used especially for early cancer diagnosis with cervical and vaginal smears. In these smears, some parasites eggs can be seen together with some kind of cells. One of these parasites is Enterobius vermicularis. Normally, this is intestinal parasite. But sometimes, especially in children, this parasite eggs can migrate in vagina by itching, and can cause vaginal discharge. The shape of egg is, one border is flat but the other is convex, and it may contain larva inside. We also observed the egg of Enterobius vermicularis which contains larva inside with squamous epithelial cells and polymorphonuclear leucocytes in a vaginal smear. As is seen, routine Papanicolaou smears are very useful to see unusual eggs of parasites during cancer detection.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Quantification of Candida albicans morphology in vaginal smears.

The morphology index (Mi) of Candida albicans cells was determined by microscopic image analysis in vaginal smears from 26 patients. The morphology of the cells typically showed a broad distribution of forms, but the mean Mi was greater than 2.0 in 23/26 instances, indicating a preponderance of pseudohyphal and hyphal forms. No association could be found between Mi and the clinical assessment of signs or symptoms of Candida infection. Comparison of these 26 patients with 43 others who had Candida-positive vaginal smears but with fewer than 15 fungal cells in the smear revealed significantly lower scores for vulvovaginal symptoms among the latter.

Candida albicans↗

PubMed1992

DNA cytometry in postirradiation cervical-vaginal smears.

Benign radiation change (BRC) in cervical-vaginal smears may be difficult to distinguish from postirradiation dysplasia (PRD) or recurrent cervical carcinoma. The utility of DNA analysis in postirradiation smears was evaluated retrospectively in 71 patients. Representative Papanicolaou smears were restained with a Feulgen method and 100 to 250 cells were analyzed for DNA content using the CAS 200 image analysis system. Thirty-three control irradiated patients had negative smears with a minimum 3-year follow-up. Thirty controls (91%) had diploid histograms with a mean coefficient of variation of 8.2% and an average of 6.8% of cells in S and G2/M phase. Three control patients had atypical nondiagnostic histograms. Twenty-three patients had abnormal smears and subsequent local recurrence; 21 (91%) had abnormal histograms, with seven showing polyploidy and 14 showing aneuploidy. The remaining 15 patients had abnormal smears diagnosed as PRD but no evidence of recurrent carcinoma. Five were polyploid, six were aneuploid, one was diploid, and three were atypical but nondiagnostic. Interactive DNA cytometry is useful in differentiating BRC from PRD and recurrent cancer. Aneuploidy is rarely, if ever, seen in negative smears with BRC. However, BRC may be associated with broad diploid peaks and increased proliferating cells. An abnormal histogram can be seen with PRD and does not always correlate with recurrent disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Sequential radiation changes in cytology of vaginal smears in carcinoma of cervix uteri during radiotherapy.

The study deals with acute/immediate radiation changes in 2020 sequential vaginal smears in 101 patients of carcinoma of the cervix uteri, 97 were of squamous cell carcinoma and 4 of adenocarcinoma. The smears were collected after 12-14 days, 15-24 days and 25 days to 6 weeks following radiotherapy. The pretreatment vaginal smears were collected and examined for percentage of cancer cells. Subsequent smears were studied for radiation changes in benign and malignant cells, such as cell size, vacuolation of cytoplasm, multinucleation and nuclear changes, etc. A gradual and linear decline in cancer cells was observed until the end of therapy; 41.6% of patients had less than 10% cancer cells within 12-14 days of therapy, 63.4% of patients between 15 and 24 days and 74.6% after 25 days to 6 weeks following radiation. Eighty three percent of the patients attained zero level at the end of therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytolysis and karyopyknosis in postmenopausal vaginal smears as markers of endometrial cancer, diabetes and obesity. Studies based on a ten-year follow-up.

The vaginal cytology of 507 postmenopausal women was followed prospectively for ten years. Of the subjects, the 207 with cytolytic or karyopyknotic vaginal smears constituted the study group and the 300 with atrophic smears (indicating an absence of estrogenic activity) constituted the control group at the beginning of the follow-up. A woman whose initial smear was cytolytic usually had a cytolytic smear ten years later, which implies that high postmenopausal estrogenic activity is constitutional. Both at the beginning of the study and ten years later, the mean body weights were higher in the study group than in the control group. The mean karyopyknotic index and the prevalence of cytolytic smears were significantly higher among women with impaired glucose tolerance than among subjects with a normal glucose tolerance test. During the follow-up period, 3.6% of the women in the study group and 0.7% of the women in the control group developed endometrial cancer (P less than .02). The incidence of 3.6% of endometrial cancer is significantly higher than the corresponding age-specific incidence (P less than .001). We conclude that obese and/or diabetic postmenopausal women with cytolytic or markedly karyopyknotic vaginal smears exhibit a high intrinsic estrogen activity and may thus be at risk for endometrial cancer.

Diabetes Complications↗