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Journal of Reproductive Immunology Feb 2017Tissue homeostasis in the female genital tract is challenged by infection, damage, and even physiological events during reproductive cycles. We propose that the... (Review)
Review
Tissue homeostasis in the female genital tract is challenged by infection, damage, and even physiological events during reproductive cycles. We propose that the evolutionarily ancient system of innate immunity is sufficient to sense and respond to danger in the non-pregnant female genital tract. Innate immunity produces a rapidly inducible, non-specific response when cells sense danger. Here we provide a primer on innate immunity and discuss what is known about how danger signals are sensed in the endometrium and ovary, the impact of inflammatory responses on reproduction, and how endocrinology and innate immunity are integrated. Endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, and ovarian granulosa cells express pattern recognition receptors, similar to cells of the innate immune system. These pattern recognition receptors, such as the Toll-like receptors, bind pathogen-associated or damage-associated molecular patterns. Activation of pattern recognition receptors leads to inflammation, recruitment of immune cells from the peripheral circulation, and phagocytosis. Although the inflammatory response helps maintain or restore endometrial health, there may also be negative consequences for fertility, including perturbation of oocyte competence. The intensity of the inflammatory response reflects the balance between the level of danger and the systems that regulate innate immunity, including the endocrine environment. Understanding innate immunity is important because disease and inappropriate inflammatory responses in the endometrium or ovary cause infertility.
Topics: Animals; Endocrine System; Endometrium; Female; Genitalia, Female; Granulosa Cells; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Infections; Inflammation; Ovary; Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules; Receptors, Pattern Recognition; Reproduction
PubMed: 27498991
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2016.07.002 -
Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics Jun 2024Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the world, tuberculosis is an important factor affecting women's... (Review)
Review
Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the world, tuberculosis is an important factor affecting women's reproductive health, which can cause reproductive tract anatomy abnormalities, embryo implantation obstacles, ovarian reserve and ovulation dysfunction, leading to female infertility. This group of women usually need to seek assisted reproductive technology to conceive. Latent tuberculosis infection during pregnancy has no clinical manifestation, but may develop into active tuberculosis, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most pregnant women do not need to be treated for latent tuberculosis infection, unless they are combined with high-risk factors for tuberculosis progress, but they need close follow-up. Early diagnosis and treatment of active tuberculosis in pregnancy can reduce the incidence rate and mortality of pregnant women and newborns, and treatment needs multidisciplinary cooperation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Tuberculosis; Infertility, Female; Latent Tuberculosis; Pregnancy Outcome; Risk Factors; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Antitubercular Agents
PubMed: 38631867
DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2024.01007 -
Veterinary Journal (London, England :... Apr 2008Bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen is common in cattle after parturition, often leading to infection and uterine disease. Clinical disease can be diagnosed and... (Review)
Review
Bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen is common in cattle after parturition, often leading to infection and uterine disease. Clinical disease can be diagnosed and scored by examination of the vaginal mucus, which reflects the presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Arcanobacterium pyogenes. Viruses may also cause uterine disease and bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is tropic for endometrial cells, causing a rapid cytopathic effect. The elimination of pathogens by the innate immune system is dependent on pattern recognition receptors binding pathogen-associated molecules. Uterine epithelial and stromal cells express receptors such as Toll-like Receptor 4 that binds E. coli lipopolysaccharide. The infertility associated with uterine disease is caused by damage to the endometrium and disruption of ovarian cyclic activity. Bacteria modulate endometrial prostaglandin secretion, and perturb ovarian follicle growth and function. Understanding the molecular basis of uterine disease will lead to novel approaches to treating infertility.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Infertility; Postpartum Period; Puerperal Infection; Uterine Diseases; Vagina
PubMed: 18329302
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.12.031 -
Acta Biochimica Et Biophysica Sinica Oct 2022The novel coronavirus, namely, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), broke out two years ago and has caused major global health issues. Adequate treatment options are still lacking for... (Review)
Review
The novel coronavirus, namely, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), broke out two years ago and has caused major global health issues. Adequate treatment options are still lacking for the management of COVID-19 viral infections. Many patients afflicted with COVID-19 may range from asymptomatic to severe symptomatic, triggering poor clinical outcomes, morbidity, and mortality. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is pertinent to re-examine cancer prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent mortality and complications. Understanding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on cancer is key to appropriate healthcare measures for the treatment and prevention of this vulnerable population. Data was acquired from PubMed using key search terms. Additional databases were utilized, such as the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, American Cancer Society (ACS), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cancer patients are more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and exhibit poor health outcomes, possibly due to a chronic immunosuppressive state and anticancer therapies. Male sex, older age, and active cancer disease or previous cancer are risk factors for COVID-19 infection, leading to possible severe complications, including morbidity or mortality. The speculated mechanism for potentially higher mortality or COVID-19 complications is through reduced immune system function and inflammatory processes through cancer disease, anticancer therapy, and active COVID-19 infection. This review includes prostate, breast, ovarian, hematologic, lung, colorectal, esophageal, bladder, pancreatic, cervical, and head and neck cancers. This review should help better maintain the health of cancer patients and direct clinicians for COVID-19 prevention to improve the overall health outcomes.
Topics: United States; Humans; Male; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; Lung; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36269132
DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022147 -
Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging Jun 2012The diagnosis of pelvic infection is most often made clinically, based on a combination of pelvic pain and fever, and possibly a foul discharge. The patient is referred... (Review)
Review
The diagnosis of pelvic infection is most often made clinically, based on a combination of pelvic pain and fever, and possibly a foul discharge. The patient is referred to radiology in two very different circumstances: either in the acute phase where the challenge is to differentiate a pelvic infection from appendicitis, urinary tract infection, and complications of a hemorrhagic luteal cyst; or some time after the infectious episode, which may have gone unnoticed, and the patient presents with an undetermined pelvic mass that needs to be characterized, where the challenge in that situation is not to confuse it with ovarian cancer. The signs and symptoms on the pelvic ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI suggest the correct diagnosis.
Topics: Adnexal Diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Imaging; Endoscopy; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infections; Laparoscopy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 22647749
DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2012.04.002 -
BMC Cancer Nov 2023One of the most frequently reported effects of cancer and its treatments is cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Viral infections may affect inflammation and...
PURPOSE
One of the most frequently reported effects of cancer and its treatments is cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Viral infections may affect inflammation and immune function and therefore may influence patient symptoms, including CRCI. The goal of this study was to describe the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections at diagnosis, during, and after chemotherapy in individuals with ovarian cancer and explore CMV infection at diagnosis with cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) following chemotherapy.
METHODS
We recruited adults newly diagnosed with ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer at a single academic cancer center into two prospective studies. In Study 1 (N = 71), participants provided blood samples at diagnosis. In Study 2 (N = 18), participants provided blood samples and completed symptom surveys before, during and after front-line adjuvant chemotherapy. Serum CMV DNA levels were assessed using digital PCR; >100 copies/mL of serum was considered positive for active CMV infection (CMV+). CRCI was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) questionnaire. Changes in FACT-Cog scores were compared by CMV status at diagnosis using t-tests at each time point.
RESULTS
At diagnosis, 29.2% were CMV+ (28.2% in Study 1, 33.3% in Study 2). Following three cycles of chemotherapy (Study 2), CMV positivity rose to 60.0% and then back down to 31.3% after chemotherapy. We observed significant differences in CRCI following chemotherapy by CMV status at diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that active CMV infection is common among patients undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer and may contribute to symptoms of CRCI.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Ovarian Neoplasms; Cognition; Cytomegalovirus Infections
PubMed: 37923995
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11566-y -
Women's Health (London, England) Mar 2015Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a life-changing diagnosis, with profound physical and psychological consequences. Unfortunately, there are many deficiencies in... (Review)
Review
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a life-changing diagnosis, with profound physical and psychological consequences. Unfortunately, there are many deficiencies in our understanding of the condition as the underlying etiology and optimum management strategies are poorly understood. Improved awareness of POI and its long-term implications has led to increased research interest in recent years. Current research has allowed a greater understanding of the changing epidemiology in POI, genetic factors in its etiology and randomized controlled trials of hormone therapy are underway to provide evidence for treatment. This article reviews the latest literature on POI to summarize current understanding and future directions.
Topics: Age Factors; Androgens; Body Image; Chromosomes, Human, X; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Infections; Infertility, Female; Mental Health; Ovarian Reserve; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Quality of Life; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Women's Health
PubMed: 25776291
DOI: 10.2217/whe.14.82 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2022As the coronavirus pandemic is far from ending, more questions regarding the female reproductive system, particularly fertility issues, arise. The purpose of this paper... (Review)
Review
As the coronavirus pandemic is far from ending, more questions regarding the female reproductive system, particularly fertility issues, arise. The purpose of this paper is to bring light upon the possible link between COVID-19 and women's reproductive health. This review emphasizes the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the hormones, endometrium and menstrual cycle, ovarian reserve, follicular fluid, oocytes, and embryos. The results showed that endometrial samples did not express SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Regarding the menstrual cycle, there is a large range of alterations, but they were all reversible within the following months. The ovarian reserve was not significantly affected in patients recovering from both mild and severe infection in most cases, except one, where the levels of AMH were significantly lower and basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were increased. All COVID-19 recovered patients had positive levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the follicular fluid. The amount of retrieved and mature oocytes and the fertilization rate were unharmed in three studies, except for one study, where the quantity of retrieved and mature oocytes was reduced in patients with higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The numbers of blastocysts, top-quality embryos, and euploid embryos were affected in most of the studies reviewed.
Topics: COVID-19; Female; Humans; Oocytes; Ovarian Reserve; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35055804
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020984 -
International Journal of Gynecological... Aug 2020The spleen plays a role in the immune and coagulative responses, yet a splenectomy may be required during ovarian cancer surgery to achieve complete cytoreduction. The...
INTRODUCTION
The spleen plays a role in the immune and coagulative responses, yet a splenectomy may be required during ovarian cancer surgery to achieve complete cytoreduction. The aim of the study was to correlate hematologic changes with the development of infection and venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing splenectomy.
METHODS
This single-institution retrospective review includes all patients undergoing splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, March 2001 to December 2016. We compared postoperative hematologic changes (evaluated daily before discharge) in patients developing infection within 30 days' post-surgery (Infection group) with those who did not (No-Infection group). We also compared patients developing venous thromboembolism with those without.
RESULTS
A total of 265 patients underwent splenectomy. Median age was 64 years (range 22-88): 146 (55%) patients had stage IIIC and 114 (43%) patients had stage IV. The majority, 201 (76%) patients underwent splenectomy during primary debulking. A total of 132 (50%) patients comprised the Infection group (most common: urinary tract infection, 54%). Median time from surgery to infection was 8 days (range, 0-29). After initial rise in white blood cell count in both groups, the Infection group had a second peak on postoperative day 10 (median 16.6K/mcL, IQR 12.5-21.2) not seen in the No-Infection group (median 12K/mcL, IQR 9.3-16.3). A total of 40 (15%) patients developed venous thromboembolism, median time of 6.5 days (range, 1-43). All patients demonstrated a continuous rise in platelets during postoperative days 0-15. Thrombocytosis was present in 38/40 (95%) patients with venous thromboembolism vs 183/225 (81%) patients without (P=0.036). Median days with thrombocytosis was higher in venous thromboembolism (8 days, range 1-15) vs non groups (6 days, range 1-16, P=0.049).
CONCLUSION
We identified initial leukocytosis after splenectomy in all patients. The Infection group had a second peak in white blood cell count on postoperative day 10, not present in the No-Infection group. Among patients with venous thromboembolism, thrombocytosis was more frequent and of longer duration.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures; Female; Humans; Infections; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytosis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Ovarian Neoplasms; Platelet Count; Postoperative Complications; Postoperative Period; Retrospective Studies; Splenectomy; Thrombocytosis; Time Factors; Venous Thromboembolism; Young Adult
PubMed: 32665236
DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2020-001368 -
American Family Physician Mar 2006Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper genital tract in women that can include endometritis, parametritis, salpingitis, oophoritis, tubo-ovarian... (Review)
Review
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper genital tract in women that can include endometritis, parametritis, salpingitis, oophoritis, tubo-ovarian abscess, and peritonitis. The spectrum of disease ranges from subclinical, asymptomatic infection to severe, life-threatening illness; sequelae include chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. PID is diagnosed clinically, with laboratory and imaging studies reserved for patients who have an uncertain diagnosis, are severely ill, or do not respond to initial therapy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diagnostic criteria include uterine, adnexal, or cervical motion tenderness with no other obvious cause in women at risk of PID. Empiric treatment should be initiated promptly and must cover Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae; the possibility of fluoroquinolone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae also should be considered. Hospitalization for initial parenteral therapy is necessary for patients with tubo-ovarian abscess and for those who are pregnant, severely ill, unable to follow a prescribed treatment plan, or unable to tolerate oral antibiotics. Patients also should be hospitalized if a surgical emergency cannot be excluded or if no clinical improvement occurs after three days. Routine screening for asymptomatic chlamydial infection can help prevent PID and its sequelae.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; Female; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; United States
PubMed: 16529095
DOI: No ID Found