Vaginal Disorders Research Articles

Research Progress of Immune Mechanisms Related to Persistent HPV Infection in CIN after Cervical Conization

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the grading of cervicalintraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), high-risk HPV infection, multiple HPV infections, high HPV load,HPV infection of surgical margin, and age in CIN after conization. The immune mechanism iscomplex and is primarily related to vaginal microecology disorders, immune escape, immuneresponse impairment, and the release of regulatory cytokines. Currently, the treatment methods forpostoperative persistent HPV infection include surgical treatment, antiviral treatment, vaccination,and other approaches.

КЛИНИЧЕСКАЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ НЕГОРМОНАЛЬНЫХ МЕТОДОВ ТЕРАПИИ ПАТАЛОГИЧЕСКОГО КЛИМАКТЕРИЧЕСКОГО СИНДРОМА У ЖЕНЩИН

The purpose of the study is to study the clinical effectiveness of the dietary supplement "Menophen" in comparison with β-alanine in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women in the perimenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal periods. Menopausal syndrome is a complex of vegetative-vascular, psycho-emotional, metabolic-endocrine, vaginal, sexual and other disorders. According to domestic authors, vasomotor disorders such as hot flashes, lability of blood pressure and pulse, increased sweating, chills, which significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and disrupt the circadian sleep-wake rhythm, come to the fore. Today, menopausal women continue to work actively, but hot flashes and sleep disturbances significantly reduce their level of performance and increase the number of absences from sick leave by 82%, compared to women without hot flashes. At the same time, 87.5% of women refuse to use and prescribe MHT, expressing doubts about the safety of their use; the main fears of patients are weight gain and the development of oncological pathology. Treatment with the dietary supplement Menofen leads to a decrease in the number and severity of psycho-emotional, metabolic-endocrine and neurovegetative disorders in menopausal women.

Vaginal micro-environment disorder promotes malignant prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a prospective community cohort study in Shanxi Province, China.

Emerging evidence suggests that vaginal micro-environment disorder is closely related to the development of cervical lesions. Low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1), as an early stage of cervical lesions, exhibits a high risk of progressing to high-grade lesions or even cervical cancer. However, the effect of vaginal micro-environment on the malignant prognosis of CIN1 remains uncertain. A total of 504 patients diagnosed with CIN1 by pathology, who were from the population-based cohorts established in Shanxi Province, China, were enrolled and followed up for 2years. Micro-environmental factors such as vaginal pH, cleanliness, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), β-glucuronidase (GUSB), leucocyte esterase (LE), and sialidase (SNA) were detected to evaluate their effect on the malignant prognosis of CIN1. Abnormal vaginal pH (HR = 1.472, 95%CI 1.071-2.022), cleanliness (HR = 1.446, 95%CI 1.067-1.960), H2O2 (HR = 1.525, 95%CI 1.155-2.013), GUSB (HR = 1.739, 95%CI 1.235-2.448), LE (HR = 1.434, 95%CI 1.038-1.981), and SNA (HR = 1.411, 95%CI 1.065-1.870) could promote a higher incidence of CIN1 malignant prognosis, and the combined effects of these micro-environmental factors resulted in a nearly twofold increased risk (HR = 2.492, 95%CI 1.773-3.504) compared to any single factor alone, especially under the high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Notably, the cumulative incidence of malignant prognosis for CIN1 gradually increased during the early follow-up period, reaching its peak at approximately 8months, and then stabilizing. Vaginal micro-environment disorder could promote CIN1 malignant prognosis, particularly in HR-HPV-infected women. Taking micro-environmental factors as the breakthrough, our study provides a feasible vision for preventing early stage cervical lesions.

Biophysical Mechanisms of Vaginal Smooth Muscle Contraction: The Role of the Membrane Potential and Ion Channels.

The vagina is an essential component of the female reproductive system and is responsible for providing female sexual satisfaction. Vaginal smooth muscle contraction plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including sexual arousal, childbirth, and urinary continence. In pathophysiological conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders, aberrations in vaginal smooth muscle function can lead to urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. A set of cellular and sub-cellular physiological mechanisms regulates the contractile properties of the vaginal smooth muscle cells. Calcium influx is a crucial determinant of smooth muscle contraction, facilitated through voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcium release from intracellular stores. Comprehensive reviews on smooth muscle biophysics are relatively scarce within the scientific literature, likely due to the complexity and specialized nature of the topic. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of alterations in the cellular physiology of vaginal smooth muscle contraction. The benefit associated with this particular approach is that conducting a comprehensive examination of the cellular mechanisms underlying contractile activation will enable the creation of more targeted therapeutic agents to control vaginal contraction disorders.

Advancements in microsponges for the management of vaginal and colorectal diseases: A comprehensive review

The controlled-release drug delivery systems have risen dramatically allowing various factors such as the prohibitive cost of developing new entities, the expiration of existing international patents, and the discovery of new polymeric materials suitable for prolonged drug release and improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Microsponges are the porous microspheres-based polymeric delivery system that allows controlled drug release at a specific site. Microsponges are developed for the efficient delivery of active ingredients at a low dose. They help in improving stability by modifying drug release kinetics, reducing side effects, and enhancing the retention of drug entities. Microsponge compositions are stable throughout a wide pH and temperature range, making them more compatible with numerous vehicles, and ingredients. Several studies have shown that microsponges are non-irritant, non-toxic, non-mutagenic, and non-allergic with self-sterilizing properties. They are typically used for topical administration but have lately been used for oral, vaginal, and colorectal administration as well. The current review contains basic information about microsponges, their method of preparation, and various characterization parameters. The review also discusses the application of microsponges in vaginal and colorectal diseases. The latter portion of the script includes various patents and preclinical trials.

ерсонифицированный подход к диагностике и лечению рецидивирующих форм бактериального вагиноза

According to world statistics, bacterial vaginosis (BV) occupies one of the first places among vaginal diseases. The frequency of its distribution in the population ranges from 12% to 80% and depends on the contingent of women examined. BV develops mainly in women of reproductive age: in 80–87% of women with pathological vaginal discharge and 37–40% of pregnant women. Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of three-stage therapy for recurrent and combined forms of BV based on the characteristics of the microbiome of the genital tract in women of early reproductive age. Materials and methods. We observed 445 women, who were divided into the following clinical groups. The IP group included 174 (39.10±2.31%) women with a confirmed diagnosis of recurrent BV. The IIP group included 153 (34.38±2.25%) women in whom BV was combined with cervicitis of nonspecific etiology. Group IIIP included 85 (19.10±1.86%) patients with a verified diagnosis of recurrent BV in combination with vulvovaginal candidiasis. The comparison group included 33 (7.42±1.24%) women, whose examination results corresponded to the reference values. Verification of the diagnosis in patients was carried out when contacting the antenatal clinic, based on the anamnesis, the nature of the complaints, and the results of clinical and laboratory examination methods. Laboratory examination included: pH – measurement of vaginal fluid using colpotest; bacterioscopic (urethra, cervical canal, vagina, rectum), bacteriological examination and polymerase chain reaction method in real time characterized the vaginal biotope. Patients with recurrent BV were offered three-stage therapy according to a personalized algorithm we developed, taking into account concomitant vaginal pathology. Results. The data obtained indicated an improvement in the quality of life of patients who underwent a course of three-stage therapy. The clinical effect showed that there were no relapses of the disease in patients of the IIIP group in 83% of cases, in the IIP and IP groups – in 90% and 91% of women, respectively. The highest frequency of relapses after therapy after 6 and 12 months was observed in patients of group IIIP, which amounted to 6% and 8% of Clinical cases (p<0.05). Conclusion. Our data indicate that the use of the proposed diagnostic algorithm and three-stage therapy for recurrent and combined forms of BV made it possible to reduce the frequency of reproductive losses in patients in the prospective study groups: spontaneous miscarriages in early and late gestation – in 6.29, ectopic pregnancies – by 5.54 times, premature births by 3.65 times. The frequency of normal term births in women in the prospective study groups after three-stage therapy increased by 1.4 times.

Functional testing is a complementary tool for the diagnosis of vaginitis

ObjectiveVaginal microbiota evaluation is a methodology widely used in China to diagnose various vaginal inflammatory diseases. Although vaginal microbiota evaluation has many advantages, it is time-consuming and requires highly skilled and experienced operators. Here, we investigated a six-index functional test that analyzed pH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leukocyte esterase (LEU), sialidase (SNA), β-glucuronidase (GUS), and acetylglucossidase (NAG), and determined its diagnostic value by comparing it with morphological tests of vaginal microbiota.Materials and methodsThe research was conducted using data extracted from the Laboratory Information System of Women and Children’s Hospital. A total of 4902 subjects, ranging in age from 35.4 ± 9.7 years, were analyzed. During the consultation, a minimum of two vaginal swab specimens per patient were collected for both functional and morphological testing. Fisher’s exact was used to analyze data using SPSS.ResultsOf the 4,902 patients, 2,454 were considered to have normal Lactobacillus morphotypes and 3,334 were considered to have normal dominant microbiota. The sensitivity and specificity of H2O2-indicating Lactobacillus morphotypes were 91.3% and 25.28%, respectively, while those of pH-indicating Lactobacillus morphotypes were 88.09% and 59.52%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of H2O2-indicating dominant microbiota were 91.3% and 25.3%, respectively, while those of pH-indicating dominant microbiota were 86.27% and 64.45%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of NAG for vulvovaginal candidiasis were 40.64% and 84.8%, respectively. For aerobic vaginitis, GUS sensitivity was low at 0.52%, while its specificity was high at 99.93%; the LEU sensitivity and specificity values were 94.73% and 27.49%, respectively. Finally, SNA sensitivity and specificity for bacterial vaginosis were 80.72% and 96.78%, respectively.ConclusionFunctional tests (pH, SNA, H2O2, LEU) showed satisfactory sensitivity for the detection of vaginal inflammatory diseases. However, these tests lacked specificity, making it difficult to accurately identify specific pathologies. By contrast, NAG and GUS showed excellent specificity in identifying vaginal inflammatory diseases, but their sensitivity was limited. Therefore, functional tests alone are not sufficient to diagnose various vaginal inflammatory diseases. When functional and morphological tests are inconsistent, morphological tests are currently considered the preferred reference method.

Effect of stress urinary incontinence on vaginal microbial communities

BackgroundPostpartum women often experience stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and vaginal microbial dysbiosis, which seriously affect women’s physical and mental health. Understanding the relationship between SUI and vaginal microbiota composition may help to prevent vaginal diseases, but research on the potential association between these conditions is limited.ResultsThis study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore the association between SUI and vaginal dysbiosis. In terms of the vaginal microbiota, both species richness and evenness were significantly higher in the SUI group. Additionally, the results of NMDS and species composition indicated that there were differences in the composition of the vaginal microbiota between the two groups. Specifically, compared to postpartum women without SUI (Non-SUI), the relative abundance of bacteria associated with bacterial dysbiosis, such as Streptococcus, Prevotella, Dialister, and Veillonella, showed an increase, while the relative abundance of Lactobacillus decreased in SUI patients. Furthermore, the vaginal microbial co-occurrence network of SUI patients displayed higher connectivity, complexity, and clustering.ConclusionThe study highlights the role of Lactobacillus in maintaining vaginal microbial homeostasis. It found a correlation between SUI and vaginal microbiota, indicating an increased risk of vaginal dysbiosis. The findings could enhance our understanding of the relationship between SUI and vaginal dysbiosis in postpartum women, providing valuable insights for preventing bacterial vaginal diseases and improving women’s health.

Vaginal microbiota transplantation is a truly opulent and promising edge: fully grasp its potential.

Vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) is a cutting-edge treatment modality that has the potential to revolutionize the management of vaginal disorders. The human vagina is a complex and dynamic ecosystem home to a diverse community of microorganisms. These microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of the female reproductive system. However, when the balance of this ecosystem is disrupted, it can lead to the development of various vaginal disorders. Conventional treatments, such as antibiotics and antifungal medications, can temporarily relieve the symptoms of vaginal disorders. However, they often fail to address the underlying cause of the problem, which is the disruption of the vaginal microbiota. In recent years, VMT has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach that aims to restore the balance of the vaginal ecosystem. Several studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of VMT in treating bacterial vaginosis, recurrent yeast infections, and other vaginal conditions. The procedure has also shown promising results in reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and preterm birth in pregnant women. However, more research is needed to establish optimal donor selection, preparation, and screening protocols, as well as long-term safety and efficacy. VMT offers a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment option for women with persistent vaginal problems. It could improve the quality of life for millions of women worldwide and become a standard treatment option shortly. With further research and development, it could potentially treat a wide range of other health problems beyond the scope of vaginal disorders.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Vaginal Microbiome Disorders in Women Suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial, heterogeneous endocrine and metabolic disorder in women. Due to its association with the menstrual cycle and fertility disorders, the importance of this problem is emphasized especially in patients of reproductive age. Based on a number of analyses, the effect of PCOS on altering the diversity of the microbiome (e.g., intestinal or vaginal) is suggested. Vaginal dysbiosis can result in BV (bacterial vaginosis). The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of BV in patients with PCOS, as well as to determine the most reliable diagnostic factors. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of microbiological findings (2018-2022) of PCOS patients (n = 594) of reproductive age. The present analysis focused on the results of patients with PCOS (n = 380) and vaginal discharge with pH ≥ 4.4 and suspected BV. Biological material was a vaginal swab/vaginal secretion. The most commonly used routine methods for assessing BV were the Amsel analysis and the Nugent scoring system. Results: Patients with PCOS and vaginal fluid pH ≥ 4.4 and suspected BV (n = 380) accounted for 64% of all PCOS patients (n = 594). The relationship between pH and detection of "clue cells" showed significant dependency and increased with leukocytes. The pH measurement also showed dependency on high G. vaginalis counts. In addition, the elimination of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in vaginal secretions was associated with an increase in the number of leukocytes with increasing pH values. A marked increase in G. vaginalis was found in more than half (56.8%) of PCOS women (n = 380) with suspected BV. No dependency was observed between the absence of LAB and the diagnosis of BV on a positive G. vaginalis culture. Of the n = 380 patients with PCOS, 191 (50%) had a Nugent score ≥ 7 positive for BV. No dependency was observed between the number of patients with Candida sp. in vaginal secretions and pH, BV (with clue cells), or elevated leukocyte levels. The LRM was adjusted and the statistical model represented by the following formula was obtained: log(p/(1 - p)) = -1.18 + 1.24 × Group4.6 + 1.08 × Group4.8 + 1.66 × Group5.4. Conclusions: Based on the present analysis, BV appears to be more common in patients with PCOS than in the non-PCOS population. Chronic inflammation in PCOS patients and abnormalities in the vaginal microbiome may predispose to the development of BV. In women with PCOS, BV may be one of the unrecognized causes of infertility or complications of pregnancy. Despite the potential link between PCOS and the development of BV, the extent to which this syndrome contributes to vaginal dysbiosis and reproductive complications requires further study.

Investigation of the relationship between the changes in vaginal microecological enzymes and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the altered vaginal microecological environment of patients. Initially, HPV genotyping and microecological detection were performed in 1281 subjects in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao (Qinhuangdao, China). The relationship between the enzymes of vaginal microecology, that is, proline aminopeptidase and acetylglucosaminidase, and vaginal inflammatory diseases, as well as the prognosis of HPV infection, was analyzed. The experimental findings indicated a close relationship between the expression of positive prolyl aminopeptidase and trichomonas vaginitis, as well as bacterial vaginitis. In addition, the expression of acetylglucosaminidase is closely associated with trichomonas vaginitis and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Furthermore, the observations indicated that positive prolyl aminopeptidase and acetylglucosaminidase could increase the risk of various subtypes of HPV infection in patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis presented that the expression of prolyl aminopeptidase and acetylglucosaminidase could offer exceptional diagnostic efficacy, indicating their association with persistent HPV infection. In summary, our results highlighted that the expression of positive prolyl aminopeptidase and acetylglucosaminidase in the vaginal microecology could be substantially correlated to the occurrence and the development of vaginal inflammatory diseases, as well as the outcome and the risk of persistent HPV infection.

Effect of Vaginal Microecological Disorders on the Increased Risk of Abnormal Cervical Cytology Among Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in China.

Abnormal cervical cytology is commonly observed in women with human immunodeficiency virus (WWH). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 130 WWH and 147 age-matched healthy controls, who underwent gynecological examinations at Beijing Ditan Hospital. The presence of abnormal cervical cytology in WWH was predicted after performing a logistic regression analysis. Multivariate logistic regression revealed 3 independent factors, among which CD4 cell count ≥350 cells/μL was the protective factor, while human papillomavirus infection and abnormal vaginal pH were the risk factors. Vaginal microecological disorders can increase the risk of abnormal cervical cytology in WWH.

Vaginal microbiome disorders as the prognostic factor in the hpv hr related precancerous lesions

Vaginal microbiome disorders as the prognostic factor in the hpv hr related precancerous lesions

Relationship between vaginal microecology and human papillomavirus infection as well as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in 2,147 women from Wenzhou, the southeast of China.

The female reproductive tract is a significant microecological region, and its micro-environment can directly affect women's cervical health. This research aimed to investigate the effect of vaginal microecology on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN). A retrospective cohort study enrolling 2,147 women who underwent a colposcopic examination between August 2021 and August 2022 was conducted. The relationship between vaginal microecology and HPV infection as well as cervical lesions were assessed using the chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and Cochran-Armitage trend test. HPV infection was linked to the imbalance of vaginal microecology [odds ratio (OR)=3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.66-5.43; P<0.001]. Clue cell (OR=1.59, 95% CI=0.99-2.54; P=0.054) and sialidase (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.01-2.35; P<0.046) were considered as significant risk factors for HPV infection. Further analysis showed that vaginal microecological disorder was more likely to be detected in patients infected with HPV 16/18 subtypes (OR=9.86, 95% CI=2.37-41.80; P=0.002). Although there was no significant correlation between the incidence of vaginal microecological disorder and the severity of cervical lesions (P > 0.05), the proportions of abnormal PH value (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.63-10.42; P=0.001) and abnormal vaginal cleanliness (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.36-4.0; P= 0.004) increased as the histological stage progressed. Vaginal microecology associates with HPV infection and the progression of cervical lesions. Detection of vaginal secretion may contribute to the development of targets for micro-environmental modulation with probiotics and the reduction of the incidence of cervical cancer.

Бактериальный вагиноз: современные оценки осложнений и стратегия лечения

The article provides review data on bacterial vaginosis as the most common reason for the vaginal microbiota disorders; the latter result in replacement of lactobacilli with opportunistic anaerobic bacterial microflora and formation of a bacterial film. Emphasis is placed on the role of such dysbiosis in the development of urinary tract infections and cervical intraepithelial dysplasia. The difficulties of bacterial vaginosis therapy are highlighted, which are due to the development of resistance to the standard treatment regimen; possible ways of overcoming it are described.

Listing and Comparing the Immunogenicity, Safety, and Effectiveness of 9vHPV Vaccinations for Different Age Groups: 9-15 Years Old, 16-26 Years Old, 27-45 Years Old

The effectiveness of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in preventing high-risk HPV infections and accompanying serious vaginal, cervical, and vulvar disorders was verified. The development of the 9-valent HPV(9vHPV) vaccine yields greater coverage versus the quadrivalent (qHPV) vaccine. This study aims to assess the 9vHPV from immunogenicity, safety, and effectiveness in three different age groups respectively: 9-15 years old, 16-26 years old, and 27-45 years old. This paper searched PubMed and Embase databases to include related clinical trials of these three age groups and ensure a large-scale study population. Immunogenicity analysis for different age groups reported that the geometric mean titers (GMTs) decreased with age but could still stimulate robust and effective immune responses. The antibody levels of the subjects significantly increased to reach protective levels and persisted for a long time after vaccination. Besides, the 9vHPV vaccine has a high protective effect against the infection of nine subtypes of HPV. Both HPV infection rates and rates of associated diseases significantly decreased versus those who did not receive the vaccine. Additionally, the outcomes also demonstrated that the safety of the 9vHPV vaccines was good across all age groups. The intensity of most reported injection-site adverse events (AEs) and vaccine-related systemic AEs were not serious. Serious adverse reactions are very rare. In total, immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety in different age groups of the 9vHPV vaccination are overall good. These findings provide scientific evidence for the immunization of the 9vHPV vaccine and recommend the optimal age for vaccination.

Vaginal Microenvironment Imbalance and Its Influence on HPV, Multiple Infections, and Cervical Lesions in the Elderly

The vaginal microenvironment in elderly women undergoes dysregulation due to changes in the endocrine and immune systems, thereby increasing the risk of persistent HPV infection, multiple infections, cervical lesions, and related issues. These challenges have become a focal point in clinical attention. This study aims to analyze the role of vaginal microenvironment dysregulation in the development of persistent HPV infection, multiple infections, and cervical lesions. Additionally, it seeks to explore interventions targeting the vaginal microenvironment in older women. Using a literature review method and comparative analysis, this study examines the relationship between vaginal microenvironment disorders and persistent HPV infection, multiple infections, and cervical lesions in middle-aged and elderly women. It comprehensively compares the efficacy of various interventions. According to the literature review and comparative analysis, the vaginal microenvironment is closely linked to persistent HPV infection, multiple infections, and cervical lesions in elderly women. Simultaneously, this paper explores interventions for the vaginal microenvironment in the elderly. It reveals that the vaginal microenvironment in older women can be effectively addressed through local hormone replacement therapy, active probiotics, and pH regulation. The study delves into the role of vaginal microenvironment dysregulation in the development of persistent HPV infection, multiple infections, and cervical lesions. It provides a research foundation for targeted interventions for the vaginal microenvironment in the elderly. The hope is that the discussions presented in this study can offer a more comprehensive and effective support framework for the health management of elderly women.

Evaluation of In vitro and Ex vivo Models for Studying the Effectiveness of Vaginal Drug Systems in Controlling Microbe Infections: A Systematic Review

The survey gives an in-depth examination of medicate assimilation challenges within the genital range and the improvement of vaginal medicate conveyance gadgets to overcome these challenges. It investigates the components involved in medicate discharge within the genital locale and examines commonly utilized vaginal sedate conveyance frameworks such as nanoparticles and hydrogels. The survey centers on the applications of these conveyance frameworks in controlling bacterial vaginal diseases. The plan issues related to vaginal sedate conveyance gadgets are moreover examined, highlighting the significance of considering variables such as mucoadhesion and bodily fluid porousness. The survey portrays different in vitro and ex vivo models utilized for assessing these frameworks, counting organoids and new human cervical bodily fluid. The choice of show depends on the particular objectives and characteristics of the definition. The audit emphasizes the noteworthiness of utilizing these models to pick up important bits of knowledge and make precise forecasts with respect to the execution of medicate conveyance frameworks in vivo. Moreover, grandstands progressed models utilized for other mucosal locales as a potential motivation for future models of the female regenerative framework. Generally, the audit highlights the significance of understanding organic instruments and planning compelling vaginal drug conveyance frameworks to progress sedate conveyance within the genital region. It emphasizes the require for suitable models to evaluate and anticipate the execution of these conveyance frameworks.

HPV infection and vaginal microecological disorders in women with intrauterine adhesion: cross-sectional study in a Chinese population

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the vaginal microecology and the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes in patients with uterine adhesions and explore the correlation between HPV infection and vaginal microecology imbalance and the occurrence of intrauterine adhesion (IUA).MethodsA total of 479 women were enrolled in the study, including 259 in the normal group and 220 in the IUA group. Vaginal microecological and HPV analyses were performed on all participants. Significant differences between the two groups were analyzed, and Spearman correlation analysis was performed.ResultsThe incidence of IUA in patients between 31 and 40 years of age was high. The I-II degree of vaginal cleanliness in the IUA group was significantly lower than that in the normal group, and the number of III-IV degree was significantly higher than that in the normal group. Moreover, the incidences of VVC (vulvovaginal candidiasis) and vaginal disorders and infections with HPV 16 and HPV 52 subtypes were significantly higher in the IUA group than in the normal group. The incidence of high-risk HPV infection combined with vaginal disorders in the IUA group was higher than that in the normal group. Correlation analysis showed that the occurrence of IUAs was positively correlated with HPV infection and negatively correlated with PH and vaginal microecological imbalance.ConclusionThe HPV infection rate and vaginal microecology disorders affect the occurrence of IUAs. For patients with IUAs, control of the HPV infection rate and the prevention of vaginal microecological disorders should be improved.

Effects of resveratrol on macrophages after phagocytosis of Candida glabrata

Candida glabrata is believed to be the underlying cause of many human ailments, including oral, gastrointestinal, and vaginal disorders. C. glabrata-caused deep-seated infections, coupled with its resistance to antifungal drugs, may contribute to a high mortality rate. Resveratrol is a polyphenol and can achieve better therapeutic effects when administered in combination with micafungin, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we investigate the effects of varying doses of resveratrol on the proliferation, apoptosis, and activity of macrophages, which were co-cultured with micafungin-pretreated C. glabrata. Resveratrol can restore the decreased proliferative activity of macrophages caused by the phagocytosis of C. glabrata. Further investigations demonstrated that this restoration ability exhibited a dose-dependent manner, reaching the highest level at 200 µM of resveratrol. Resveratrol tended to be more effective in inhibiting macrophage apoptosis and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels with concentration increases. In addition, at medium concentrations, resveratrol may down-regulate the expression of most inflammatory cytokines, whereas at high concentrations, it started to exert pro-inflammatory functions by up-regulating their expressions. Macrophages may shift from an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype to an inflammatory (M1) phenotype by resveratrol at 200 µM, and from M1 to M2 at 400 µM. Our research shows that resveratrol with micafungin are effective in treating C. glabrata infections. The resveratrol-micafungin combination can reduce the production of ROS, and promote the proliferation, inhibit the apoptosis, and activate the polarization of macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This study offers insights into how this combination works and may provide possible direction for further clinical application of the combination.