Risk factors for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in women receiving maintenance antifungal therapy: results of a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors for symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis episodes among women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (defined as >/=4 vulvovaginal candidiasis episodes in 1 year) who were receiving maintenance antifungal therapy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 65 women aged >/=18 years with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis who attended vaginitis clinics in Detroit, Mich, and Philadelphia, Pa. RESULTS: The 9-month risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis recurrence was 41.8%. Almost two fifths of the women reported activity limitations because of vulvovaginal candidiasis episodes, most or all of the time. Younger women and those women with a history of bacterial vaginosis were at increased risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis episodes. Behavioral factors that were associated significantly with increasing vulvovaginal candidiasis recurrence >/=2- fold included wearing pantyliners or pantyhose and consuming cranberry juice or acidophilus-containing products. CONCLUSION: The use of pantyliners or pantyhose, consumption of cranberry juice or acidophil-containing products, a history of bacterial vaginosis, and age <40 years were positively associated with a symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis episode.     

外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病（ＶＶＣ）诊治规范修订稿

外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(vulvovaginal candidiasis,VVC)曾称为霉菌性阴道炎、外阴阴道念珠菌病等,其病原菌是以白假丝酵母菌为主的酵母菌,其他如光滑假丝酵母菌、热带假丝酵母菌、近平滑假丝酵母菌等占少数。1VVC的分类VVC分为单纯性VVC和复杂性VVC。     

乳杆菌治疗外阴阴道念珠菌病的临床研究

目的探讨乳酸菌制剂治疗外阴阴道念珠菌病(VVC)的疗效。方法将2004年5月-7月在我院确诊为VVC的患者分为三组，单纯使用达克宁栓者(A组)30例，联合使用达克宁栓及乳酶生片者(B组)30例，单纯使用乳酶生者30例(C组)进行对照。对3组的临床症状及真菌学检查结果进行分析讨论。结果停药7．10d时与停药28～35d时，A、B组患者的疗效差异无显著性(P＞0．05)，C组患者的疗效明显低于A、B两组(P＞0．05)。结论单纯使用乳杆菌组的治疗效果远远不如应用抗真菌药物组及抗真菌药物 乳杆菌组。在应用阴道用乳杆菌治疗VVC时，应首先应用抗真菌药物，当真菌感染得以控制之后再使用乳杆菌，帮助恢复阴道内菌群环境。     

克霉唑阴道片和硝酸咪康唑栓治疗SVVC阴道乳杆菌的变化

目的探讨重度外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(serious vulvovaginal candidiasis,SVVC)患者使用克霉唑和硝酸咪康唑对阴道乳杆菌的影响。方法将2008年11月至2009年6月北京大学第一医院妇科门诊就诊的SVVC患者112例,根据随机表分为克霉唑组(55例)和咪康唑组(57例),采用MRS选择培养基培养法观察用药前、用药后第7~14天和第24~30天阴道乳杆菌数量。结果用药后第7~14天克霉唑组和咪康唑组有效率分别为94.55%和89.47%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。用药后第7~14天,阴道乳杆菌取自然对数后与用药前相比,两组均有增加,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。用药后第24~30天与用药后第7~14天相比,克霉唑组有所增加,咪康唑组有所减少,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。咪康唑组发生4例不良反应,均为外阴阴道瘙痒疼痛,停药后自行缓解。结论克霉唑和咪康唑对SVVC治疗效果相近。克霉唑用药后第24~30天对阴道乳杆菌有辅助生长的作用。     

红核妇洁洗液治疗单纯性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病的随机对照研究

目的:评价红核妇洁洗液治疗单纯性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(VVC)的有效性和安全性。方法:2014年6月至2016年6月在复旦大学附属妇产科医院门诊募集单纯性VVC患者,随机分为研究组(红核妇洁洗液组)和对照组(硝酸咪康唑软胶囊组),分别在治疗前和治疗结束后1~2周、4周、8周进行真菌检测、瘙痒评价、VVC评分、BV五项检测及安全性评估。结果:治疗后1~2周,研究组和对照组的瘙痒阳性率、真菌阳性率、VVC评分均呈显著下降趋势,两组比较无显著差异。两组治疗后4周与基线相比,p H值、唾液酸苷酶、白细胞脂酶、脯氨酸氨基肽酶阳性率显著下降,但两组无显著差异。治疗后8周,研究组的白细胞脂酶阳性率、VVC评分显著低于对照组。两组患者在治疗前后血常规、生化指标、心电图等无显著差异,无明显不良反应。结论:红核妇洁洗液治疗单纯性VVC有效、安全,在临床上值得进一步应用。     

克霉唑阴道片治疗复发性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病疗效分析

目的探讨应用克霉唑阴道片强化治疗联合巩固治疗复发性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis RVVC)的效果和RVVC患者的假丝酵母菌种类。方法回顾性分析北京大学深圳医院2014年8月至2019年8月收治的267例RVVC患者的假丝酵母菌种类和应用克霉唑阴道片强化治疗联合巩固治疗的效果。结果患者年龄(32.75±6.68)岁,均无人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染。全部患者治疗前培养出假丝酵母菌,包括:白假丝酵母菌236株(占88.4%)、光滑假丝酵母菌22株(占8.2%)、其他非光滑假丝酵母菌非白假丝酵母菌9株(占3.4%)。患者强化治疗治愈219例,治愈率82.0%(219/267);巩固治疗治愈159例,治愈率72.6%(159/219);完成巩固治疗6个月内复发41例,巩固治疗后复发率25.8%(41/159)。白假丝酵母菌所致RVVC患者强化治疗治愈率、巩固治疗治愈率和完成巩固治疗后6个月内复发率依次为85.2%(201/236)、74.6%(150/201)、24.7%(37/150)。光滑假丝酵母菌所致RVVC患者强化治疗治愈率、巩固治疗治愈率和完成巩固治疗后6个月内复发率依次为50.0%(11/22)、36.4%(4/11)、25.0%(1/4)。其他非光滑假丝酵母菌非白假丝酵母菌所致RVVC患者强化治疗治愈率、巩固治疗治愈率和完成巩固治疗后6个月内复发率依次为77.8%(7/9)、71.4%(5/7)、60.0%(3/5)。没有患者在治疗过程中出现药物严重不良反应。结论克霉唑阴道片治疗RVVC安全有效。     

Itraconazole vs fluconazole for the treatment of uncomplicated acute vaginal and vulvovaginal candidiasis in nonpregnant women: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

In this metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) we aimed to compare the in vivo and in vitro activity and the safety of per os itraconazole and fluconazole treatment of uncomplicated acute vaginal/vulvovaginal candidiasis in nonpregnant women. We used PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify the studies that were relevant to our metaanalysis RCTs. Six RCTs were included in this study that comprised 1092 enrolled patients with signs and symptoms of vaginal/vulvovaginal candidiasis that was confirmed by microscopy and/or microbiologic cultures that were obtained from the ectocervix and/or vaginal fundus. Overall, there was no difference between itraconazole and fluconazole regarding clinical cure and improvement at the first and second scheduled visit assessments (pooled odds ratio [OR], 0.94 [95% CI, 0.6-1.48] and 1.09 [95% CI, 0.68-1.75], respectively), mycologic cure at the first and second scheduled visit assessments (OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.31-1.7] and 0.71 [95% CI, 0.49-1.03], respectively), withdrawal of patients because of severe adverse events (OR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.16-3.32]), and adverse events noted from the nervous and digestive systems (OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.42-2.73] and 1.84 [95% CI, 0.3-11.27], respectively). In conclusion, effectiveness and safety of oral itraconazole and fluconazole in the treatment of acute uncomplicated vaginal/vulvovaginal candidiasis are similar.     

The stimulation of the vaginal immune system with short-term administration of a vaginal gel containing fraction of Propionibacterium acnes,hyaluronic acid and polycarbophil is efficacious in vaginal infections dependent on disorders in the vaginal ecosystem

The vaginal immune system (VIS) is the first defense against antigens recognized as foreign. Substances capable of locally activating the VIS could be a valid strategy to treat vulvo-vaginal infections (VVI), caused by changes in the vaginal ecosystem, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (CA), and mixed vaginitis (MV). Bacterial lysates, obtained by crushing bacterial cultures, exert immuno-modulatory activities. The parietal fraction from Propionibacterium acnes is a patent of Depofarma (MoglianoVeneto, Italy). The preparation that associates such fraction to hyaluronic acid and polycarbophil is a registered trademark, commercially available in Italy as vaginal gel, Immunovag^®. The study aimed to evaluate whether a 5-day-treatment with Immunovag^® improves the symptoms and signs of VVI, in 60 women with Gardnerella vaginalis (GV), 154 with CA, 95 with MV, diagnosed with vulvar vaginal swab (VVS), and in 283 with BV, diagnosed with the Amsel criteria. At the end of the treatment (visit 2), the symptoms and signs of VVI disappeared in a significant number of subjects (χ²p?vs pre-treatment) in all VVI groups, and their intensity was significantly (p?® represents a valid treatment of VVI induced by changes in the vaginal ecosystem.     

白假丝酵母菌对人阴道上皮细胞TLR4mRNA表达的影响

目的探讨白假丝酵母菌对人阴道上皮细胞Toll样受体4（Toll-like receptor4，TLR4）mRNA表达的影响。方法用白假丝酵母菌热灭活孢子刺激体外培养的人阴道上皮细胞12h和24h，应用实时定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（QRT-PCR）检测细胞TLR4mRNA的表达水平。结果正常人阴道上皮组织和体外培养人阴道上皮细胞均表达TLR4mRNA。白假丝酵母菌热灭活孢子刺激12h，上皮细胞中TLR4 mRNA表达明显高于对照组和刺激24h组P〈0．05，刺激24h组与对照组比较，无明显差异P=0．50。结论人阴道上皮细胞构成性表达少量TLR4，白假丝酵母菌刺激12h时人阴道上皮细胞表达TLR4 mRNA增加，推测TLR4可能在人阴道上皮细胞识别白假丝酵母菌和启动防御感染的早期起一定作用。     

Abdominal sacral colpopexy or vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse: a prospective randomized study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the abdominal sacral colpopexy and vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy in the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-five women with vaginal vault prolapse were allocated randomly to sacral colpopexy (47 women) or sacrospinous colpopexy (48 women). Primary outcome measurements include subjective, objective, and patient-determined success rates. Secondary outcomes include the impact on bowel, bladder, and sexual function, cost, and quality of life. RESULTS: Two years after the operation (range, 6-60 months), the subjective success rate was 94% in the abdominal and 91% in the vaginal group (P=.19). The objective success rate was 76% in the abdominal group and 69% in the vaginal group (P=.48). The abdominal approach was associated with a longer operating time, a slower return to activities of daily living, and a greater cost than the sacrospinous colpopexy (P<.01). Both surgeries significantly improved the patient's quality of life (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal sacral colpopexy and vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy are both highly effective in the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse.     

Feasibility and safety of vaginal myomectomy: a prospective pilot study

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Classic myomectomy was performed via laparotomy. More recently, laparoscopic myomectomy has become a valuable treatment option. Vaginal myomectomy is a surgical procedure that has recently been evaluated. However, few trials have been reported in past literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and complication rate of patients submitted to vaginal myomectomy. DESIGN: Prospective study with review of literature (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S. Filippo Neri Hospital of Rome, Italy. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with symptomatic myomas who refused hysterectomy. INTERVENTIONS: After preoperative assessment, patients were submitted to vaginal myomectomy using posterior colpotomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Operative time, perioperative complications, and hospital stay were prospectively recorded. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 and 12 months postoperatively. Data on possible symptoms, fertility, and pregnancy outcome during follow-up periods were recorded. Myomectomy was completed vaginally in 17 (94%) of 18 patients. Mean operating time was 48 +/- 22 minutes; mean operative blood loss and hospital stay were 210 +/- 350 mL and 3.5 +/- 2.4 days, respectively. Only 2 (11%) patients required blood transfusion. Three patients have conceived spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Vaginal myomectomy is a feasible and safe surgical procedure, with low morbidity and short hospital stay, and could represent a valid alternative to open or laparoscopic myomectomy in selected cases.     

Anal incontinence after vaginal delivery: a five-year prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The long-term prevalence of anal incontinence after vaginal delivery is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of anal incontinence in primiparous women 5 years after their first delivery and to evaluate the influence of subsequent childbirth. METHODS: A total of 349 nulliparous women were prospectively followed up with questionnaires before pregnancy, at 5 and 9 months, and 5 years after delivery. A total of 242 women completed all questionnaires. Women with sphincter tear at their first delivery were compared with women without such injury. Risk factors for development of anal incontinence were also analyzed. RESULTS: Anal incontinence increased significantly during the study period. Among women with sphincter tears, 44% reported anal incontinence at 9 months and 53% at 5 years (P = .002). Twenty-five percent of women without a sphincter tear reported anal incontinence at 9 months and 32% had symptoms at 5 years (P < .001). Risk factors for anal incontinence at 5 years were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.2), sphincter tear (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-5.0), and subsequent childbirth (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.1-5.6). As a predictor of anal incontinence at 5 years after the first delivery, anal incontinence at both 5 months (OR 3.8; 95% CI 2.0-7.3) and 9 months (OR 4.3; 95% CI 2.2-8.2) was identified. Among women with symptoms, the majority had infrequent incontinence to flatus, whereas fecal incontinence was rare. CONCLUSION: Anal incontinence among primiparous women increases over time and is affected by further childbirth. Anal incontinence at 9 months postpartum is an important predictor of persisting symptoms.     

Adding HPV16 testing to abnormal cervical smear detection is useful for predicting CIN3: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to estimate whether adding human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) testing to abnormal cervical smears is useful in the prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3). METHODS: Between October 1994 and May 1996, a total of 207 patients at the Akita University Hospital had abnormal smears. Of these patients, 153 patients with CIN1,2 or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) were enrolled in this study and followed until June 2001. At the initial visit, a cervical swab was collected for cytology and for HPV16 testing using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When the HPV16 test was positive, HPV16 testing was performed every 3 to 6 months. We compared the prevalence of progression to CIN3 between the HPV16-positive group (n = 16) and the HPV16-negative group (n = 137). We also investigated the risk of progression to CIN3 associated with persistent HPV16 infection. RESULTS: At the end of the study period, four patients (25%) in the HPV16-positive group developed CIN3, and all of these patients were found to have persistent HPV16 infection during this period. Only three patients (2.2%) in the HPV16-negative group developed CIN3. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of progression to CIN3 in the HPV16-positive group was significantly higher than that in the negative group (p = 0.0023). The odds ratio of progression to CIN3 was 14.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.98-74.4]. In particular, the risk of progression to CIN3 increased with persistent HPV16 infection. Adding HPV16 testing when abnormal cervical smears are detected promises to be useful for predicting CIN3.     

复发性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病药物敏感性与耐药基因表达的相关性分析

目的:探讨复发性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(RVVC)患者的致病白假丝酵母菌对6种抗真菌药物(两性霉素B、制霉菌素、咪康唑、益康唑、伊曲康唑、氟康唑)敏感性与耐药基因MDR1、CDR1、CDR2和PDR1表达水平的关系。方法:菌株取自昆明医科大学第一附属医院妇产科门诊外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病患者,经菌种鉴定取白假丝酵母菌213株(RVVC 76株,VVC 137株)后做体外药敏试验;荧光定量PCR对已确定敏感、中敏或耐药的菌株进行耐药基因表达检测。结果:PDR1基因仅在部分菌株中有表达,RVVC组的PDR1基因表达率明显低于VVC组(P<0.05);两性霉素B的VVC-耐药组高于VVC-中敏组(P<0.05),伊曲康唑的RVVC-耐药组高于VVC-敏感组、VVC-耐药组和RVVC-敏感组(P<0.05),即对两性霉素B耐药的VVC菌株、对伊曲康唑耐药的RVVC菌株PDR1表达均升高;CDR1、CDR2、MDR1在所有白假丝酵母菌中均有表达,仅CDR1基因表达量存在差异咪康唑VVC-中敏+耐药组高于VVC-敏感组(P<0.05),氟康唑VVC-中敏组表达高于VVC-敏感组和VVC-耐药组(P<0.05),即对咪康唑耐药的VVC菌株表达高于其敏感菌株,对氟康唑中敏菌株表达高于其敏感和耐药组。结论:RVVC的治疗可优选制霉菌素。致RVVC菌株对伊曲康唑明显耐药,且与PDR1基因高表达有关。致VVC菌株对咪康唑、氟康唑产生耐药可能与CDR1高表达有关。PDR1和CDR1可能同时参与RVVC的耐药机制,而与CDR2和MDR1关系不大。     

The excision of uterine fibroids by vaginal myomectomy: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the excision of uterine fibroids by vaginal myomectomy. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: A gynecology department of a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Women with menorrhagia, pelvic pain, symptoms of pressure, or subfertility attributable to moderate-sized uterine fibroids who otherwise would have required abdominal or laparoscopic myomectomy. INTERVENTION(S): Vaginal myomectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The feasibility of vaginal surgery, operative complications, postoperative recovery, and relief of symptoms. RESULT(S): Myomectomy was completed vaginally in 32 (91.4%) of 35 patients and none required hysterectomy. The overall operating time was 78 minutes, the estimated operative blood loss was 313 mL, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. Pelvic hematomas developed in 4 patients, and one colpotomy required resuture. Seventy-four percent of the women reported relief of their symptoms at 3 months' follow-up. Three patients have had full-term pregnancies since the operation. CONCLUSION(S): Myomectomy can be performed by the vaginal route in selected cases with low morbidity and a good short-term success rate. Unlike open myomectomy, it requires no skin incision, and unlike laparoscopic myomectomy, it can be used in patients who have numerous, relatively large, and intramural fibroids.     

Anal incontinence after vaginal delivery: a prospective study in primiparous women

Objective To investigate the incidence and degree of anal incontinence after vaginal delivery among primiparous women and to define associated risk factors.
Design Prospective observational study.
Setting Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden, a university hospital.
Participants Three hundred and forty-nine primiparous women.
Methods Questionnaires distributed within the first days after delivery and re-distributed five and nine months postpartum. Analysis of delivery records.
Results Eighty percent of the women answered all questionnaires. At five months postpartum, 2% of the women had symptoms of faecal incontinence and 25% had symptoms of involuntary flatus. At nine months postpartum, 1 % of the women had symptoms of faecal incontinence and 26% had symptoms of involuntary flatus. The majority of the women had infrequent symptoms and a decrease in severity was noted at nine months. Symptoms of incontinence were more common in women who sustained a sphincter tear at delivery. Risk factors for incontinence at five months included maternal age, duration of the second stage of labour, instrumental vaginal delivery, and clinically diagnosed sphincter tear at delivery. Development of incontinence at nine months was associated with maternal age and clinically diagnosed sphincter tear at delivery.
Conclusions The present study demonstrates that infrequent involuntary flatus is a common symptom after vaginal delivery in primiparous women. These symptoms of involuntary flatus frequently improved and only a few women suffered from frank faecal incontinence. Factors associated with an increased risk of anal incontinence and sphincter tears should be considered during delivery.     

Associations with asymptomatic colonization with candida in women reporting past vaginal candidiasis: an observational study

Objective

Asymptomatic vaginal colonization with Candida species is a known risk factor for vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Taking known risk factors for symptomatic VVC, the authors sought to identify factors associated with asymptomatic colonization.

Study design

As part of a randomized controlled trial which compared vaginal candidal colony counts in women taking garlic tablets or placebo, 192 asymptomatic women collected a baseline screening swab for Candida species. Eligibility for this study included at least one self-reported episode of VVC in the previous 12 months and age 18–50 years. Known risk factors for VVC were compared in women colonized with candida and those without colonization.

Results

37% of asymptomatic women who self-reported VVC in the previous 12 months were colonized with vaginal Candida species. Using multivariate analysis, two factors were associated with asymptomatic colonization: a current sexual partner (P = 0.02) and being born outside of Australia (P = 0.05). Use of oral contraceptives was not statistically significant (P = 0.27).

Conclusions

Clinical relevance of asymptomatic colonization with vaginal yeast and its link to episodes of VVC warrants further investigation.