ABSTRACT
The mucosal immune system is the first line of defense against pathogens such as bacteria and viruses invading the bodies. The female reproductive tract mucosal immune system not only resists the invasion of pathogens through innate and adaptive immunity, but also contribute to successfully fertilization and pregnancy, thus maintaining the health of women′s reproductive system. The innate immunity of female genital tract involves the mechanical barrier of the mucosal epithelium, microbial barrier of commensal bacteria, immunological barrier of immune cells and their receptors, and adaptive immunity including B cell-mediated humoral immunity and T cell-mediated cellular immunity. Female genital mucosal immunity is not only involved in local inflammation, but may also have anti-tumor effects. Moreover, the female genital tract mucosal immune is also regulated by sex hormone to maintain a homeostasis of local microenvironment. Herein, this paper summarized recent progress in female genital mucosal immunity.
ABSTRACT
Lactic acid is the main substance produced by Lactobacillus and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy vaginal microecology. Recent studies indicates that both L- and D-chiral isomers of lactic acid can be protonated and destroy the cell membranes of pathogens, thereby inhibiting bacterial vagi-nosis- and aerobic vaginitis-related pathogens. Lactic acid also can inhibit the pathogens of sexually transmit-ted diseases such as Chlamydia trachomatis and human immunodeficiency virus. Moreover, lactic acid acts as an immunomodulator to inhibit the inflammatory responses caused by pathogenic microorganisms and as an epigenetic regulator regulating gene expression in vaginal epithelial cells. In this paper, we reviewed the pro-gress in lactic acid-mediated maintenance of a healthy vaginal microbiology in recent years for providing ref-erence for further research.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the value of vaginal microecological detection in evaluating therapeutic effect of simple vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC), and explore microecological factors which can affect the cure rate of simple VVC.Methods 75 patients with simple VVC in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled.Vaginal secretion was collected and applied for vaginal microecological detection.The patients were treated with clotrimazole based monotherapy later. The relationship between vaginal microecological characters and therapeutic effects was analyzed.Results PH values,leukocyte counts,flora density,flora diversity,small bacilli and cocci counts had no influence on therapeutic effects(P>0.05).The cure rate of patients with lactobacillary gradesⅠ-Ⅱa was higher than that with lactobacillary gradesⅡb-Ⅲ(83.33% vs 53.33%,P=0.033), while lower with lactobacilli≤22.8/hpf than that with lactobacilli >22.8/hpf(59.26% vs 87.50%,P=0.007), which indicate that lactobacilli counts was the main factor that affects therapeutic effects.Conclusions Vaginal microecological detection plays an important role in predicting the therapeutic effect of simple VVC.For the patients with lower lactobacillus counts,the follow-up after treatment should be strengthened.(Chin J Lab Med,2018, 41:292-295)