title: Evaluation of Micronuclei, Nuclear Anomalies and the Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Ratio of Exfoliated Cervical Epithelial Cells in Genital Candidiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections. The aim of this study was to fill the gaps in the current knowledge on the frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies, and the nucleus/cytoplasmic ratio in genital candidiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 Papanicolaou- stained cervical smears, which comprised Candida spp. (n = 44) and control cases with no infectious agent (n = 44), were studied. In each smear, cells with micronuclei and nuclear anomalies were counted in 1,000 epithelial cells and also nuclear and cellular areas were evaluated using image analysis software at a magnification of ×400.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of micronucleated and binucleated cells and cells with perinuclear halos, and the nucleus/cytoplasmic ratio of epithelial cells were higher in the Candida-infected group compared with the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genital candidiasis is able to induce changes in the size and shape of epithelial cells. The nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and the frequency of micronuclei may reflect the DNA damage in the cervical epithelium. Micronucleus scoring could be used to screen the genomic damage profile of epithelial cells in candidiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Bulent Ecevit University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Safi Oz
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dogan Gun
authors.forename: Sukru Oguz
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ozdamar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D053144:Cell Nucleus Shape; D053145:Cell Nucleus Size; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D048429:Cell Size; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014626:Vaginal Smears