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Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of... Apr 2023Smooth muscle cells contribute to the mechanical function of various soft tissues, however, their contribution to the viscoelastic response when subjected to multiaxial...
Smooth muscle cells contribute to the mechanical function of various soft tissues, however, their contribution to the viscoelastic response when subjected to multiaxial loading remains unknown. The vagina is a fibromuscular viscoelastic organ that is exposed to prolonged and increased pressures with daily activities and physiologic processes such as vaginal birth. The vagina changes in geometry over time under prolonged pressure, known as creep. Vaginal smooth muscle cells may contribute to creep. This may be critical for the function of vaginal and other soft tissues that experience fluctuations in their biomechanical environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop methods to evaluate the contribution of smooth muscle to vaginal creep under multiaxial loading using extension - inflation tests. The vaginas from wildtype mice (C57BL/6 × 129SvEv; 3-6 months; n = 10) were stimulated with various concentrations of potassium chloride then subjected to the measured in vivo pressure (7 mmHg) for 100 s. In a different cohort of mice (n = 5), the vagina was stimulated with a single concentration of potassium chloride then subjected to 5 and 15 mmHg. A laser micrometer measured vaginal outer diameter in real-time. Immunofluorescence evaluated the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and myosin heavy chain in the vaginal muscularis (n = 6). When smooth muscle contraction was activated, vaginal creep behavior increased compared to the relaxed state. However, increased pressure decreased the active creep response. This study demonstrated that extension - inflation protocols can be used to evaluate smooth muscle contribution to the viscoelastic response of tubular soft tissues.
Topics: Female; Mice; Animals; Potassium Chloride; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Muscle, Smooth; Muscle Contraction; Vagina
PubMed: 36764168
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105702 -
Annales de Biologie Clinique Aug 2016Decades of research have shown that the lactobacilli inhabiting the human vagina are the first line of defense in the female urogenital and reproductive tracts. In... (Review)
Review
Decades of research have shown that the lactobacilli inhabiting the human vagina are the first line of defense in the female urogenital and reproductive tracts. In healthy cervicovaginal microbiota, Lactobacillus crispatus is prevalent and beneficial with production of copious amounts of lactic acid potent broad spectrum bactericide virucide and immunomodulator. Future and preventic approaches may need to include probiotics, prebiotics also have the potential to optimize and restore the vaginal ecosystem.
Topics: Biomarkers; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Health; Humans; Lactic Acid; Lactobacillus crispatus; Neoplasms; Vagina; Women's Health
PubMed: 27492695
DOI: 10.1684/abc.2016.1169 -
Gynecologic Oncology Feb 2021Vaginal necrosis is a late radiation tissue injury with serious morbidity complications. It is rare, and its incidence is not well assessed in prospective trials.... (Review)
Review
Vaginal necrosis is a late radiation tissue injury with serious morbidity complications. It is rare, and its incidence is not well assessed in prospective trials. Patient comorbidities and radiation dose can significantly increase the risk. As treatment of gynecologic malignancies often involve a multidisciplinary approach, timely diagnosis and appropriate management by physicians of the team are crucial. Untreated vaginal necrosis can lead to infection, hemorrhage, necrosis-related fistulation to the bladder or rectum, perforation, and death. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of vaginal necrosis, its clinical course, and management options.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Debridement; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Incidence; Necrosis; Radiation Injuries; Radiotherapy Dosage; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vagina; Vaginal Douching
PubMed: 33303211
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.11.025 -
MSphere Jun 2023A balanced vaginal microbiome dominated by can help promote women's reproductive health, with Lactobacillus crispatus showing the most beneficial effect. However, the...
A balanced vaginal microbiome dominated by can help promote women's reproductive health, with Lactobacillus crispatus showing the most beneficial effect. However, the potential role of vaginal microbiomes in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) development is not thoroughly explored. In this nested case-control study based on an assisted reproductive technology follow-up cohort, we prospectively assessed the association between pregestational vaginal microbiomes with HDP by collecting vaginal swabs from 75 HDP cases (HDP group) and 150 controls (NP group) and using 16S amplicon sequencing for bacterial identification. The vaginal microbial composition of the HDP group significantly differed from that of the NP group. The abundance of L. crispatus was significantly lower, and the abundances of Gardnerella vaginalis was significantly higher, in the HDP group than in the NP group. Of note, L. crispatus-dominated vaginal community state type was associated with a decreased risk for HDP (odds ratio = 0.436; 95% confidence interval, 0.229 to 0.831) compared with others. Additionally, network analysis revealed different bacterial interactions with 61 and 57 exclusive edges in the NP and HDP groups, respectively. Compared with the HDP group, the NP group showed a higher weighted degree and closeness centrality. Several taxa, including , , and bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria (, , , and ), were identified as "drivers" for network rewiring. Notable alterations of predicted pathways involved in amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism; membrane transport; and bacterial toxins were observed in the HDP group. The etiology of HDP remains unclear to date. Effective methods for the individualized prediction and prevention are lacking. Pregestational vaginal dysbiosis precedes the diagnosis of HDP, providing a novel perspective on the etiology of HDP. Early pregnancy is the critical period of placental development, and abnormal placentation initiates HDP development. Thus, disease prevention should be considered before pregnancy. Vaginal microbiome characterization and probiotic interventions before pregnancy are preferred because of their safety and potential for early prevention. This study is the first to prospectively assess associations between pregestational vaginal microbiome and HDP. L. crispatus-dominated vaginal community state type is linked to a reduced risk for HDP. These findings suggest that vaginal microbiome characterization may help identify individuals at high risk for HDP and offer potential targets for the development of novel pregestational intervention methods.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Case-Control Studies; Dysbiosis; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Placenta; Vagina
PubMed: 37017519
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00096-23 -
Nutrients Jan 2023Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common disease in women of childbearing age and is caused by the growth of abnormal microbiota in the vagina. Probiotic consumption... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common disease in women of childbearing age and is caused by the growth of abnormal microbiota in the vagina. Probiotic consumption can be an effective alternative treatment to preserve or improve vaginal health. In the present study, MED-01, a complex of five strains of probiotic candidates isolated from the vagina of Korean women, was used. This study was designed as a 12-week, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MED-01 on vaginal health. A total of 101 reproductive-aged women with a Nugent score of 4-6 took MED-01 (5.0 × 10 CFU) or a placebo once a day, and 76 participants completed the procedure. MED-01 significantly reduced the Nugent score compared with the placebo. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed that was significantly increased in the vagina, whereas harmful bacteria such as spp., and were suppressed after 12 weeks of MED-01 ingestion. No adverse events to the test food supplements were observed in the participants. These results confirmed that MED-01 can be used as a probiotic for treating BV, as it improves the vaginal microbiota.
Topics: Female; Humans; Adult; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Probiotics; Gardnerella vaginalis; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 36678202
DOI: 10.3390/nu15020331 -
Differentiation; Research in Biological... 2017We present a detailed review of the embryonic and fetal development of the human female reproductive tract utilizing specimens from the 5th through the 22nd gestational...
We present a detailed review of the embryonic and fetal development of the human female reproductive tract utilizing specimens from the 5th through the 22nd gestational week. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) as well as immunohistochemical stains were used to study the development of the human uterine tube, endometrium, myometrium, uterine cervix and vagina. Our study revisits and updates the classical reports of Koff (1933) and Bulmer (1957) and presents new data on development of human vaginal epithelium. Koff proposed that the upper 4/5ths of the vagina is derived from Müllerian epithelium and the lower 1/5th derived from urogenital sinus epithelium, while Bulmer proposed that vaginal epithelium derives solely from urogenital sinus epithelium. These conclusions were based entirely upon H&E stained sections. A central player in human vaginal epithelial development is the solid vaginal plate, which arises from the uterovaginal canal (fused Müllerian ducts) cranially and squamous epithelium of urogenital sinus caudally. Since Müllerian and urogenital sinus epithelium cannot be unequivocally identified in H&E stained sections, we used immunostaining for PAX2 (reactive with Müllerian epithelium) and FOXA1 (reactive with urogenital sinus epithelium). By this technique, the PAX2/FOXA1 boundary was located at the extreme caudal aspect of the vaginal plate at 12 weeks. During the ensuing weeks, the PAX2/FOXA1 boundary progressively extended cranially such that by 21 weeks the entire vaginal epithelium was FOXA1-reactive and PAX2-negative. This observation supports Bulmer's proposal that human vaginal epithelium derives solely from urogenital sinus epithelium. Clearly, the development of the human vagina is far more complex than previously envisioned and appears to be distinctly different in many respects from mouse vaginal development.
Topics: Animals; Embryonic Development; Epithelium; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha; Humans; Mice; Mullerian Ducts; PAX2 Transcription Factor; Reproduction; Vagina
PubMed: 28918284
DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2017.08.002 -
BMJ Case Reports Jun 2022
Topics: Female; Humans; Neoplasms, Fibroepithelial; Polyps; Vagina
PubMed: 35710231
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250076 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age and has been associated with serious health complications, mainly in pregnant...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age and has been associated with serious health complications, mainly in pregnant women. It is characterized by a decrease in the number of species in the healthy vaginal microbiota and an overgrowth of strict and facultative anaerobic bacteria that develop a polymicrobial biofilm. Despite over 60 years of research investigating BV, its etiology is not fully understood. spp. is a crucial microorganism that contributes to the formation of the biofilm and the development of BV, but the role of other BV-associated bacteria is not clear. Nevertheless, (previously known as ) is a highly specific species for BV, and co-colonization with is thought to be a very specific diagnostic marker. The diagnosis of BV still presents some limitations, since currently used methods often fail to accurately detect BV. This work aims to develop a novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe targeting . This probe was further validated in a multiplex assay, which included a specific PNA probe, as a possible method for diagnosis of BV, and was compared with quantification by qPCR. The new PNA probe showed excellent sensitivity and specificity and could discriminate - biofilms, confirming the potential to be used for the detection of BV-associated pathogens.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Pregnancy; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 34869078
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.779376 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Jul 2018Little is known about the presence of mycoplasmas in the genital tracts of domestic and stray bitches or in the vaginas of ovariohysterectomized (OHE) bitches. Moreover,...
Little is known about the presence of mycoplasmas in the genital tracts of domestic and stray bitches or in the vaginas of ovariohysterectomized (OHE) bitches. Moreover, to our knowledge, there has been no research to investigate the presence of canine vaginal mycoplasmas during the different stages of the reproductive cycle. We investigated the occurrence of mycoplasmas in the vaginas of healthy domestic and stray intact bitches, to correlate their presence with specific stages of the reproductive cycle, and to compare them with those in OHE bitches. We also investigated the presence of uterine mycoplasmas. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 41 of 122 vaginal swabs (34%) from domestic (27%) and stray (39%) bitches. Mycoplasma canis was the most commonly identified species ( n = 26; 63%), and was detected in both intact (60%) and OHE (73%) bitches. Mycoplasma isolates from the vaginas of healthy bitches did not vary during the various stages of the estrous cycle. Mycoplasmas were not detected in uterine samples.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Female; Mycoplasma; Vagina
PubMed: 29790451
DOI: 10.1177/1040638718778745 -
Acta Biomaterialia Aug 2022Polypropylene meshes used in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair are hampered by complications. Most POP meshes are highly unstable after tensioning ex vivo, as evidenced...
Polypropylene meshes used in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair are hampered by complications. Most POP meshes are highly unstable after tensioning ex vivo, as evidenced by marked deformations (pore collapse and wrinkling) that result in altered structural properties and material burden. By intentionally introducing collapsed pores and wrinkles into a mesh that normally has open pores and remains relatively flat after implantation, we reproduce mesh complications in vivo. To do this, meshes were implanted onto the vagina of rhesus macaques in nondeformed (flat) vs deformed (pore collapse +/- wrinkles) configurations and placed on tension. Twelve weeks later, animals with deformed meshes had two complications, (1) mesh exposure through the vaginal epithelium, and (2) myofibroblast proliferation with fibrosis - a mechanism of pain. The overarching response to deformed mesh was vaginal thinning associated with accelerated apoptosis, reduced collagen content, increased proteolysis, deterioration of mechanical integrity, and loss of contractile function consistent with stress shielding - a precursor to mesh exposure. Regional differences were observed, however, with some areas demonstrating myofibroblast proliferation and matrix deposition. Variable mechanical cues imposed by deformed meshes likely induce these two disparate responses. Utilizing meshes associated with uniform stresses on the vagina by remaining flat with open pores after tensioning is critical to improving outcomes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Pain and exposure are the two most reported complications associated with the use of polypropylene mesh in urogynecologic procedures. Most meshes have unstable geometries as evidenced by pore collapse and wrinkling after tensioning ex vivo, recapitulating what is observed in meshes excised from women with complications in vivo. We demonstrate that collapsed pores and wrinkling result in two distinct responses (1) mesh exposure associated with tissue degradation and atrophy and (2) myofibroblast proliferation and matrix deposition consistent with fibrosis, a tissue response associated with pain. In conclusion, mesh deformation leads to areas of tissue degradation and myofibroblast proliferation, the likely mechanisms of mesh exposure and pain, respectively. These data corroborate that mesh implantation in a flat configuration with open pores is a critical factor for reducing complications in mesh-augmented surgeries.
Topics: Animals; Female; Fibrosis; Humans; Macaca mulatta; Pain; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Polypropylenes; Surgical Mesh; Vagina
PubMed: 35671876
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.05.051