The effects of vitamin D and calcium on primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review.

Dysmenorrhea, affecting approximately 80% of adolescents, significantly impairs quality of life, disrupts sleep patterns, and induces mood changes. Furthermore, its economic impact is substantial, accounting for an estimated $200 billion in the United States and $4.2 million in Japan annually. This review aimed to identify the effects of vitamin D and calcium on primary dysmenorrhea. We conducted a comprehensive literature search across Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct, focusing on studies published from 2010 to 2020. Keywords included 'primary dysmenorrhea', 'vitamin D', '25-OH vitamin D3', 'cholecalciferol', and 'calcium'. The quality assessment of the articles was done using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklists, and the risk bias was assessed using the Cochrane assessment tool. Abnormal low Vit. D levels increased the severity of primary dysmenorrhea through increased prostaglandins and decreased calcium absorption. Vitamin D and calcium supplements could reduce the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and the need for analgesics. This systematic review found an inverse relation between the severity of dysmenorrhea and low serum Vit. D and calcium.. Vitamin D and calcium supplements could reduce the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and the need for analgesics.

Comparative Analysis of Vaginal Microbiota in Women with Breast Cancer in Kazakhstan.

OBJECT: The relevance of the article is that the breast cancer is a leading oncological disease in women in developed countries and has the highest mortality caused by malignant neoplasms in women. The purpose of the study is to evaluate vaginal microbiota in women with various breast cancer subtypes and compared groups. METHODS: The study involved 278 women with breast cancer, of whom 174 were patients receiving combination therapy; the control group consisted of 104 patients who had had breast cancer 2-4 years ago. RESULTS: It was found that despite a significant decrease in the total number of Lactobacillus spp., there were no statistically significant changes in the numbers of microorganisms in patients with different subtypes of breast cancer. According to the results of the comparative analysis, the representatives of obligate anaerobic flora Peptostreptococcus spp. prevailed in vaginal microbiota in luminal A and luminal B subtypes, and the representative of the facultative anaerobic organisms Staphylococcus spp. - in unfavourable outcomes in Her2/Neu+ and triple-negative subtypes. CONCLUSION: The observed features of the vaginal microbiota in women with different subtypes of breast cancer require further studies for preventive purposes.
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Correlations between Specific and Nonspecific Vaginal Immunity in Women with Breast Cancer in Kazakhstan.

Background: The most common malignant tumor in women is breast cancer (BC). The ability of regulatory cells to inhibit cellular immune response as well as to participate in the modulation of antitumor immunity has attracted much interest of scientists. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the specific and nonspecific vaginal immunity in women with BC. Methods: This was an experimental study. The study involved 278 women, 174 of whom received chemotherapy. The sampling was performed using a universal probe. The qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vaginal microflora was done using the polymerase chain reaction method. Statistical processing of the analysis was performed using the Statistica 10.0 licensed software. The parameters of the immune status before and after chemotherapy were analyzed, and the correlation between the number of cells in the main populations of lymphocytes before and after chemotherapy was investigated. Results: The study of the correlation between the number of cells of the main lymphocyte populations before and after chemotherapy showed an inhibition of B-lymphocytes (CD3-CD19+) in the study group, as the subpopulations of T-cytotoxic (CD4-CD8+) and CD3+HLA-DR+ (activated E-lymphocytes) were increased in both groups. Direct correlations were observed between local vaginal immunity and the immune status of the examined women in the study group between Megasphaera spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, with a certain population of immunocompetent cells. Conclusion: It was concluded that impaired biocenosis and suppression of local immune responses in women with BC were the reason for the active involvement of the components of the immune system.