The dynamics of vaginal and rectal Lactobacillus spp. flora in subsequent trimesters of pregnancy in healthy Polish women, assessed using the Sanger sequencing method

Background Lactobacilli play an important role in maintaining vaginal health and protection against bacterial infections in the genital tract. The aim of this study is to show the dynamics of changes of the vaginal and rectal Lactobacillus flora during pregnancy by using the Sanger sequencing method. Method The study included 31 healthy pregnant women without clinical signs of genitourinary infections. The material was taken in the three trimesters of pregnancy by vaginal and rectal swabs and grown on the MRS agar quantitatively to estimate the number of Lactobacillus spp. [CFU/ml]. Afterwards, 3 to 8 morphologically different lactobacilli colonies were taken for identification. Bacterial species identification was performed by 16 s rDNA sequence fragment analyses using the Sanger method. Results Among the patients tested, the most common species colonizing the vagina in the first trimester were: L. crispatus 29%, L. gasseri 19.4% and L. rhamnosus 16.1%, in the second trimester: L. crispatus 51.6%, L. gasseri 25.8%, L. rhamnosus 19.4% and L. amylovorus 16.1%, and in the third trimester the most common Lactobacillus species were: L. crispatus 25.8%, L. gasseri 25.8% and L. johnsonii 19.4%. In rectal species, the number decreased in the second and third trimesters in comparison to the first trimester (p = 0.003). An analysis of rectal dynamics showed that in the first trimester, the most common species were: L. johnsonii 19.4%, and L. plantarum 9.7%, in the second trimester: L. crispatus 9.7% and L. mucosae 6.5%, and in the third trimester: L. casei 9.7% and L. rhamnosus 9.7%. Individual dynamics of the Lactobacillus species composition showed variability, characterized by continuous, intermittent, or periodic colonization. The patients examined were mostly colonized by three Lactobacillus species in vagina (32.3%), whereas for the rectum, one Lactobacillus species during the whole pregnancy duration was common (32.3%). Conclusion This study showed that in the examined group of healthy, pregnant Polish women, the vaginal Lactobacillus flora, both qualitative and quantitative, was stable during the three subsequent trimesters. In contrast, the number of rectal Lactobacillus species dramatically decreased after the first trimester

Next-generation sequencing as a tool to detect vaginal microbiota disturbances during pregnancy

The physiological microbiota of the vagina is responsible for providing a protective barrier, but Some factors can disturb the balance in its composition. At that time, the amounts of the genus Lactobacillus decrease, which may lead to the development of infection and severe complications during pregnancy. The aim of the study was the analysis of the bacterial composition of the vagina in 32 Caucasian women at each trimester of pregnancy using the next-generation sequencing method and primers targeting V3-V4 regions. In the studied group, the dominant species were Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Lactobacillusplantarum. Statistically significant differences in the quantitative composition between trimesters were observed in relation to Lactobacillus jensenii,Streptococcus agalactiae, Lactobacillus iners, Gardnerella spp. Out of the 32 patients, 20 demonstrated fluctuations within the genus Lactobacillus, and 9 of them, at different stages of pregnancy, exhibited the presence of potentially pathogenic microbiota, among others: Streptococcus agalactiae, Gardnerella spp., Atopobium vaginae, and Enterococcus faecalis. The composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy was subject to partial changes over trimesters. Although in one-third of the studied patients, both the qualitative and quantitative composition of microbiota was relatively constant, in the remaining patients, physiological and potentially pathogenic fluctuations were distinguished

Updating the recommendations of the Working Group for the Preservation of Fertility in Oncological and Hematological Patients and Other Patients Treating Gonadier Therapies “ONCOFERTILITY” (GROF) of the Polish Society of Oncological Gynecology regarding cryopreserves and autologous transplant

Update of the recommendations of the Fertility Preservation Working Group in Oncological, Hematological and Other Patients Treated with Gonadotoxic Therapies “ONCOFERTILITY” (GROF) of the Polish Society of Oncological Gynecology regarding cryopreservation and autologous ovarian tissue transplantation.The Fertility Preservation Working Group in Oncological, Hematological and Other Patients Treated with Gonadotoxic Therapies “ONCOFERTILITY” (GROF) of the Polish Society of Oncological Gynecology has developed current clinical guidelines and recommendations to improve the quality of healthcare provision in the area of reproductive health in patients undergoing therapy that may impair their reproductive potential.The guidelines are based on current scientific evidence available at the time of writing this document. In the absence of scientific evidence on some aspects, a consensus was reached among GROF stakeholders.The purpose of the guidelines is to assist healthcare professionals in making decisions in specific clinical situations regarding the selection of an appropriate and effective diagnostic and therapeutic process. The document provides practical guidelines for the management of cryopreservation and autologous ovarian tissue transplantation

Terapia z wykorzystaniem dojrzałych komórek macierzystych w leczeniu nietrzymania moczu u kobiet

Abstract The past few years brought high development in obtaining and culturing autologous adult stem cells. In this paper we review publications of experimental investigations and clinical trials of the muscle-derived cells and the application in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence among women. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be obtained from bone marrow but it is associated with a painful biopsy procedure. Collection of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) is less harmful because the skeletal muscle biopsy is performed with a small caliber needle in local anesthesia. The stem-based therapy could be the next step in the treatment of urinary incontinence. There are still many elements of therapy such as effectiveness or long-term side effects which need to be researched.Streszczenie Ostatnie lata przyniosły znaczący rozwój w pozyskiwaniu i hodowli autologicznych komórek macierzystych. W poniższej publikacji zawarliśmy przegląd doniesień naukowych oraz badań klinicznych dotyczących macierzystych komórek mięśniowych i ich wykorzystania w leczeniu nietrzymania moczu u kobiet. Dotychczasowa konieczność wykorzystania bolesnej procedury biopsji szpiku kostnego w celu otrzymania komórek macierzystych typu mesenchymalnego, niosła z sobą ograniczenia. Możliwość pozyskania dojrzałych komórek macierzystych mięśniowych na drodze cienko igłowej biopsji mięśnia- w znacznym stopniu ułatwia jej powszechne zastosowanie. Terapia nietrzymania moczu w oparciu o komórki macierzyste jawi się jako kolejny krok w ewolucji leczenia nietrzymania moczu. Do wyjaśnienia pozostają jej długoterminowa skuteczność oraz ewentualne skutki uboczne

A study of the effects of therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation in vitro on Lactobacillus isolates originating from the vagina - a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Ionizing radiation is used as a therapeutic option in the treatment of certain neoplastic lesions located, among others, in the pelvic region. The therapeutic doses of radiation employed often result in adverse effects manifesting themselves primarily in the form of genital tract infections in patients or diarrhea. The data available in the literature indicate disorders in the microbial ecosystem caused by ionizing radiation, which leads to the problems mentioned above. In the present study, we examined the influence of ionizing radiation on 52 selected strains of bacteria: Lactobacillus crispatus, L. fermentum, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus L. amylovorus, L. casei, L. helveticus, L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus, L. salivarius and L. gasseri. This collection of Lactobacillus bacteria isolates of various species, obtained from the genital tract and gastrointestinal tract of healthy women, was tested for resistance to therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation. RESULTS: The species studied, were isolated from the genital tract (n = 30) and from the anus (n = 22) of healthy pregnant women. Three doses of 3 Gy (fractionated dose) and 50 Gy (total dose of the whole radiotherapy cycle) were applied. The greatest differences in survival of the tested strains in comparison to the control group (not subjected to radiation) were observed at the dose of 50 Gy. However, the results were not statistically significant. Survival decrease to zero was not demonstrated for any of the tested strains. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic doses of radiation do not affect the Lactobacillus bacteria significantly