Influence of estrogens on serum free fatty acid levels in women.

A relationship between plasma levels of FFA and incidence of hormone-dependent breast cancer has been suggested. This observation has drawn our attention to possible complementary actions of ovarian steroids on circulating FFA levels. Measurements taken in normal women during the menstrual cycle and in ovariectomized women with and without estrogen replacement therapy demonstrate that 1) levels of FFA present in serum are lower during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase; 2) levels of FFA are significantly higher after ovariectomy; and 3) these are again reduced by substitutive estrogen therapy.

[Saprophytic and opportunistic non spore-forming anaerobic microflora of the vagina (author's transl)]. / Commensalismo ed opportunismo della flora anaerobia non sporigena della vagina.

A microbiological survey has been carried out on 179 healthy, child-bearing aged, non-pregnant women, with the aim to evaluate the incidence of anaerobic non-spore forming bacteria in the normal vaginal flora. This group of bacteria has been isolated in 50.3% of women, with a clear prevalence of "anaerobic Streptococci " and Bacteroides, followed by Fusobacterium and Veillonella. No Propionibacterium, Eubacterium or Bifidobacterium have been isolated. According to many Authors the non-spore forming anaerobes must be considered opportunistic bacteria, responsible of many infections of the female genital tract, especially when associated with other aerobic or facultative bacteria. Antibiograms have demonstrated a wide spectrum of activity of chloramphenicol and clindamycin; although not widely distributed, antibacterial activity have also shown metronidazole, penicillins, cephalosporins and lincomycin.