Soluble cervicovaginal biomarkers of inflammation, immune activation and risk of HIV acquisition are needed to reliably assess the safety of new biomedical prevention strategies including vaccines and microbicides. However, a fuller understanding of expression profiles in women at high risk for HIV infection is crucial to the effective use of these potential biomarkers in Phase 3 trial settings...

Preterm birth is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Various biomarkers in cervicovaginal secretions related to preterm birth have been investigated, of which foetal fibronectin (fFN) shows the greatest potential because of its high negative predictive value. The immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) assay has emerged as a novel quantitative method to detect biomarkers. In this pr...

Lactobacillus crispatus 2029 isolated upon investigation of vaginal lactobacilli of healthy women of reproductive age was selected as a probiotic candidate. The aim of the present study was elucidation of the role of L. crispatus 2029 in resistance of the female reproductive tract to genitourinary pathogens using cervicovaginal epithelial model. Lactobacillus crispatus 2029 has surface layers (...

Worldwide, preterm birth annually affects more than 15 million infants. Despite increasing knowledge of the risk factors and mechanisms associated with preterm labor, the preterm birth rate has risen in most industrialized countries. The ability to identify women at high risk for spontaneous preterm birth is crucial yet remains difficult. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of ...

Mucus secretions play an important role in the immune system by immobilizing foreign particles and neutralizing invading pathogens. The protective effect of these slippery linings that coat the eyes, airways, and other organs, however, prevents the effective delivery of therapeutics. Benjamin Tang et al. developed a biodegradable nanoparticle that may be able to penetrate thick mucus layers, in...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether offering self sampling of cervicovaginal material for high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is an effective screening method for women who do not attend regular cervical screening programmes. DESIGN Cohort study (the PROHTECT trial). Settings Noord-Holland and Flevoland regions of the Netherlands, December 2006 to December 2007, including 13 laboratories,...

BACKGROUND Laboratory detection of Human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in liquid-based cervicovaginal cytology specimens is now based on identification of the DNA sequences unique to these infectious agents. However, current commercial test kits rely on nucleotide probe hybridization to determine DNA sequences, which may lead to diagnostic errors due to c...

Background: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis is one of the most common vaginal infections and identification of candida species can be helpful in medical treatment. Intra uterine devices (IUDs) are effective, long-term methods of contraception, which in some cases may lead to Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. This study was developed to assess the effect of IUD insertion on Candida fungal flora in cervicovagin...