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Microbial Pathogenesis Dec 2021Human papillomavirus infection is among the leading viral infections in the world, causing severe mortality and morbidity. The virus mainly targets the female genital... (Review)
Review
Human papillomavirus infection is among the leading viral infections in the world, causing severe mortality and morbidity. The virus mainly targets the female genital tract-cervix, vulva, anus but it is also reported to infect the lungs and oropharyngeal region of the body. The host immune response plays a vital role in the persistence of viral infection. Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is mainly secreted by Th17 cells and mediates the immune response that enhances the disease severity in HPV infection. IL-17 is reported to promote lesions and tumour progression by creating a hyperinflammatory condition leading to cancer. The current minireview summarizes the pathogenic role of IL-17 in HPV infection and HPV-induced malignancies. Further study on IL-17 associated pathology of HPV infection would be useful in developing therapeutic measures.
Topics: Cervix Uteri; Female; Humans; Interleukin-17; Neoplasms; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections
PubMed: 34798279
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105294 -
Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica : ADC Nov 2022INTRODUCTION Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus -2 (HSV2) which is usually sexually...
INTRODUCTION Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus -2 (HSV2) which is usually sexually transmitted (1). We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with an unusual case of HSV presentation that rapidly resulted in necrosis and rupturing of the labia less than 48 hours after first appearance of symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION We report the case of a 28-year-old female patient who presented to our clinic with painful necrotic ulcers of both labia minora, urinary retention, and extreme discomfort (Figure 1). The patient reported unprotected sexual intercourse a few days prior to the pain and burning sensation and swelling of the vulva. A urinary catheter was inserted immediately due to intense burning and pain while urinating. The vagina and cervix were covered with ulcerated and crustal lesions. The Tzanck smear test showed multinucleated giant cells, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were conclusive for HSV infection, while syphilis, hepatitis, and HIV tests were negative. Since there was progression of the labial necrosis and the patient became febrile two days after admission, we performed debridement twice under systemic anesthesia, and the patient receive systemic antibiotic together with acyclovir. On the follow-up visit, four weeks later, both labia had epithelized completely. DISCUSSION In primary genital herpes, after a short incubation period, multiple bilaterally located papules, vesicles, painful ulcers, and crusts appear, which resolve over a period of 15 to 21 days (2). Clinically atypical presentations include either unusual sites or atypical morphological forms of genital disease, exophytic (verrucoid or nodular) superficially ulcerated lesions, mostly seen in patients with HIV, fissures, localized recurrent erythema, nonhealing ulcers, and burning sensation in the vulva in a patient with lichen sclerosus (1). This patient was discussed in our multidisciplinary team, as we know that ulcerations could be associated with rare malignant vulvar pathology (3). The golden standard for diagnosis is PCR from the lesion (1). Antiviral therapy should be initiated within 72 hours of primary infection and continued for 7 to 10 days. CONCLUSION The process of removing nonviable tissue is called debridement. Debridement is only necessary when a herpetic ulceration is not healing on its own, which is when necrotic tissue that can harbor bacteria that may cause more extensive infections is formed. Removing the necrotic tissue speeds up healing and reduces the risk of further complications.
Topics: Female; Humans; Adult; Herpes Genitalis; Ulcer; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Infections
PubMed: 36812284
DOI: No ID Found -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Apr 2023Proper recognition and individualized therapy of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is paramount. (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Proper recognition and individualized therapy of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is paramount.
AREAS COVERED
Assessment of VVA should be performed using several questionnaires in combination with wet mount microscopy to determine Vaginal Cell Maturation Index (VCMI) and infections. PubMed searches were carried out between 1 march 2022 and 15 October 2022.Low dose vaginal estriol seems safe, efficient, and could be used in patients with contraindications for steroid hormones such as women with a history of breast cancer, and should therefore be considered as first choice hormonal treatment, when non-hormonal treatments fail. New estrogens, androgens, and several Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) are being developed and tested. Intravaginal Hyaluronic Acid (HA) or Vit D can help women who can't or don't want to use hormones.
EXPERT OPINION
Proper treatment is not possible without a correct and full diagnosis, including microscopy of the vaginal fluid. Low dose vaginal estrogen treatment, especially with estriol, is very efficient and is preferred in most women with VVA. Oral ospemifene and vaginal dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are now considered efficient and safe alternative therapies for VVA. More safety data are waited for several SERMs and for a newly introduced estrogen: estetrol (E4), although so far no major side effects were seen from these drugs. Indications for laser treatments are questionable.
Topics: Female; Humans; Atrophy; Estriol; Estrogens; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Vagina; Vaginal Diseases; Vulva
PubMed: 36951262
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2194017 -
Recent Results in Cancer Research.... 2021Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, currently affecting close to 80 million Americans. Importantly, HPV infection is recognized...
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, currently affecting close to 80 million Americans. Importantly, HPV infection is recognized as the etiologic factor for numerous cancers, including cervical, vulval, vaginal, penile, anal, and a subset of oropharyngeal cancers. The prevalence of HPV infection and its associated diseases are a significant problem, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Likewise, the incidence of HPV infection poses a significant burden on individuals and the broader healthcare system. Between 2011 and 2015, there were an estimated 42,700 new cases of HPV-associated cancers each year in the United States alone. Similarly, the global burden of HPV is high, with around 630,000 new cases of HPV-associated cancer occurring each year. In the last decade, a total of three preventive major capsid protein (L1) virus-like particle-based HPV vaccines have been licensed and brought to market as a means to prevent the spread of HPV infection. These prophylactic vaccines have been demonstrated to be safe and efficacious in preventing HPV infection. The most recent iteration of the preventive HPV vaccine, a nanovalent, L1-VLP vaccine, protects against a total of nine HPV types (seven high-risk and two low-risk HPV types), including the high-risk types HPV16 and HPV18, which are responsible for causing the majority of HPV-associated cancers. Although current prophylactic HPV vaccines have demonstrated huge success in preventing infection, existing barriers to vaccine acquisition have limited their widespread use, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of HPV-associated diseases is highest. Prophylactic vaccines are unable to provide protection to individuals with existing HPV infections or HPV-associated diseases. Instead, therapeutic HPV vaccines capable of generating T cell-mediated immunity against HPV infection and associated diseases are needed to ameliorate the burden of disease in individuals with existing HPV infection. To generate a cell-mediated immune response against HPV, most therapeutic vaccines target HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. Several types of therapeutic HPV vaccine candidates have been developed including live-vector, protein, peptide, dendritic cell, and DNA-based vaccines. This chapter will review the commercially available prophylactic HPV vaccines and discuss the recent progress in the development of therapeutic HPV vaccines.
Topics: Alphapapillomavirus; Female; Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaccination
PubMed: 33200366
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-57362-1_8 -
Journal of Wound Care Jul 2022Vulvar necrotising fasciitis (VNF) is a severe soft tissue infection associated with substantial morbidity and high mortality. At Stony Brook Medicine, US, patients with... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Vulvar necrotising fasciitis (VNF) is a severe soft tissue infection associated with substantial morbidity and high mortality. At Stony Brook Medicine, US, patients with known or suspected VNF are treated by a structured multidisciplinary team consisting of members of the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Medicine, the Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology, Burn and Surgical Intensive Care Units, Infectious Disease and Plastic Surgery, and the nursing, nutrition, physical/occupational therapy and social work services.
METHOD
This is a retrospective review of patients presenting to Stony Brook University Hospital with VNF over an 18-month period.
RESULTS
A total of 10 patients were treated for VNF during the study period. All patients were treated by the structured multidisciplinary team, including extensive initial surgical debridement by the gynaecologic oncologists. All patients survived to discharge.
CONCLUSION
The results of this review demonstrated that prompt diagnosis, rapid implementation of appropriate antibiotic coverage, surgical debridement of necrotic tissue, and comprehensive care delivered by a structured multidisciplinary team contributed to positive clinical outcomes and decreased the risk of death from VNF.
Topics: Debridement; Fasciitis, Necrotizing; Female; Humans; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Retrospective Studies; Soft Tissue Infections; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35797247
DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.Sup7.S20 -
Clinical Laboratory Aug 2023The aim was to discover the infectivity characteristics of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and provide a reference for RVVC...
BACKGROUND
The aim was to discover the infectivity characteristics of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and provide a reference for RVVC clinical diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS
The clinical data of 500 patients with RVVC were retrospectively analyzed, including life history, clinical symptoms, combined gynecological diseases, age, and distribution of pathogenic fungi, and the in vitro drug sensitivity of isolated fungi to antifungal drugs was assessed.
RESULTS
Among the 500 patients with RVVC, 486 (97.20%) had a sexual history, and the main clinical symptoms were vulva pruritus (394, 78.80%) and abnormal discharge (232, 46.40%). Common gynecological diseases were cervicitis (156 patients, 31.20%), human papillomavirus infection (130 patients, 26.00%), and coinfection with oth-er pathogens (127 patients, 25.40%). The high-incidence population was mainly concentrated in the 31 to 40-year-old age group, followed by the 20 to 30- and 41 to 50-year-old age groups. The number of patients gradually increased with time. Fungal culture was dominated by Candida albicans (69.80%), followed by Candida glabrata (28.40%), and Candida cerevisiae (0.60%). In vitro susceptibility testing showed that the highest drug resistance rate to antifungal drugs was to terbinafine (96.40%), followed by voriconazole (32.00%), fluconazole (26.40%), and itraconazole (17.40%), whereas the drug resistance rates to 5-fluorocytosine, caspofungin, amphotericin B, and micafungin were relatively low (1.80%, 0.60%, 0.40%, and 0.00%, respectively); the drug resistance rate to azoles gradually increased with age.
CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of RVVC is closely related to sexual history. The most common cases are in women of childbearing age aged 20 - 50. The main pathogen is C. albicans, and the resistance rate to common azole antifungal drugs is increasing over time.
Topics: Humans; Female; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Retrospective Studies; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Candida albicans; Communicable Diseases
PubMed: 37560852
DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2023.230304 -
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent... Jun 2022Periclitoral abscesses are rare and lack a defined management strategy due to the limited number of cases available for review. Regardless of the initial management,...
BACKGROUND
Periclitoral abscesses are rare and lack a defined management strategy due to the limited number of cases available for review. Regardless of the initial management, recurrence remains common.
CASE
A 17-year-old presented with clitoral pain and swelling consistent with periclitoral abscess. Conservative treatment with antibiotics failed, and underwent 2 incision and drainage procedures prior to resolution of the abscess.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Spontaneous periclitoral abscess is rare, and the optimal treatment strategy has not been defined, with a high rate of recurrence being noted regardless of either conservative management with antibiotics or incision and drainage as initial treatment. In many cases of recurrent periclitoral abscess, hair was removed from the abscess cavity, suggesting that retained foreign material in the abscess cavity could be the nidus for recurrence.
Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clitoris; Conservative Treatment; Drainage; Female; Humans
PubMed: 34871791
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.11.005 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2023Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, rectum, and...
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, rectum, and oropharynx. In 2016, the bivalent HPV-16/18 vaccine was included in the Korea National Immunization Program. This vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18 and other oncogenic HPV types predominant in cervical and anal cancers. This post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study assessed the safety of the HPV-16/18 vaccine in Korea. The study was conducted in males and females aged between 9 and 25 years, from 2017 to 2021. Safety was measured in terms of frequency and intensity of adverse events (AEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and serious adverse events (SAEs) after each vaccine dose. The safety analysis included all participants who were vaccinated as per prescribing information and who completed a 30-day follow-up after at least one dose. Data were collected using individual case report forms. The total safety cohort included 662 participants. A total of 220 AEs were reported in 144 subjects (21.75%), and there were 158 ADRs in 111 subjects (16.77%), with the most common being injection site pain in all cases. No SAEs or serious ADRs were reported. Most AEs were reported after the first dose and were injection site reactions with mild intensity that recovered. No individuals required hospitalization or an emergency department visit. Safety results showed that the HPV-16/18 vaccine was generally well tolerated in the Korean population, and no safety concerns were identified.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03671369.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Human papillomavirus 16; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Papillomavirus Infections; Human papillomavirus 18; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Injection Site Reaction; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Republic of Korea
PubMed: 36896702
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2184756 -
Primary Care Dec 2021While Bartholin gland abscesses are less commonly seen outpatient pathology, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to preventing serious complications such as... (Review)
Review
While Bartholin gland abscesses are less commonly seen outpatient pathology, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to preventing serious complications such as sepsis and rectovaginal fistula. Owing to an unacceptably high recurrence rate, simple incision and drainage is insufficient for primary treatment; preferably, placement of a Word catheter or Jacobi ring device to reepithelize the duct may be done under local anesthesia in an outpatient clinic. Destruction of the gland through silver nitrate application or alcohol sclerotherapy is an alternative. Marsupialization is often reserved for recurrent cases, although can be offered as primary management in some situations.
Topics: Abscess; Bartholin's Glands; Cysts; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Office Management
PubMed: 34752270
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2021.07.013 -
Revista de La Facultad de Ciencias... Dec 2020Bartholin's glands, also known as major vestibular glands, are responsible for a large number of gynecological diseases of the vulva. Bartholin's gland cysts and...
INTRODUCTION
Bartholin's glands, also known as major vestibular glands, are responsible for a large number of gynecological diseases of the vulva. Bartholin's gland cysts and abscesses can present with different symptoms and the required surgical management should be marsupialization and not incision and drainage. Although the incision and drainage procedure was shown to be relatively quick and easy to perform, and the cure rate is rapid among patients receiving this type of surgical technique, it has nevertheless been shown that the recurrence trend has increased.
OBJECTIVE
to carry out an updated bibliographic review on the subject and its best management.
DATA SOURCE
A systematic bibliographic search of the PubMed, Hinari and academic google databases was carried out from 1985 to 2020.
CONCLUSIONS
The best level of care for women with Bartholin's gland cysts or abscesses could never achieved without interprofessional collaboration.
Topics: Abscess; Bartholin's Glands; Drainage; Female; Humans; Vulvar Diseases
PubMed: 33351378
DOI: 10.31053/1853.0605.v77.n4.28267