Background and aim: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease which is known to involve the female genital tract but the frequency at which this occurs is unknown. There are relatively few reports in the literature of the cytological appearance of PV on cervicovaginal smears. Our aim was to evaluate involvement of the female genital tract and cervicovaginal Papanicolaou ...

The cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) coating the vaginal epithelium is an important immunological mediator, providing a barrier to infection. Glycosylation of CVF proteins, such as mucins, IgG and S-IgA, plays a critical role in their immunological functions. Although multiple factors, such as hormones and microflora, may influence glycosylation of the CVF, few studies have examined their impact on t...

BACKGROUND Kallikreins (KLKs) are a group of 15 secreted serine proteases. Some KLKs are established or candidate cancer biomarkers, but for most the physiological function is unknown. We characterized the protein and mRNA abundance patterns of all 15 KLKs in multiple panels of human tissues and biological fluids. METHODS We used sensitive and specific sandwich-type ELISAs for each KLK. Rever...

A study was undertaken to determine the significance of finding normal endometrial cells in routine cervicovaginal smears. The results indicate that the presence of normal endometrial cells in cervicovaginal smears in patients under 40 is generally not of significance, but similar findings in older patients correlate significantly with pathologic changes in the endometrium. In the older age gro...

background cervicovaginal infections are the most common causes of refereeing to clinics and health centers. objectives the primary aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of genital infections in pap smear specimens and its relationship with variables such as age and contraceptive methods. materials and methods this was a cross-sectional study that carried out in 2010 in ahvaz, ir...

OBJECTIVE Diaphragms are being considered for use with vaginal microbicide gels to provide enhanced protection against sexually transmitted pathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of a diaphragm with microbicide or placebo gel causes cervicovaginal inflammation or perturbations in cervicovaginal immune defense. METHOD OF STUDY Eighty-one non-pregnant women were rando...