Background: Polybactum (Effik International, Brussels, Belgium) is a vaginal mucoadhesive product (medical device) designed to form a film that acts as a mechanical barrier with the aim of inhibiting colonization by specific pathogens. It contains polycarbophil, a bioadhesive agent, and lauryl glucoside (LG), a nonionic surfactant that reinforces the barrier effect through its tensioactive properties.
Objective: To assess the local safety profile, tolerability, and efficacy of Polybactum formulations.
Methods: The following studies were performed on 3 Polybactum formulations: 2 ovules (Type 1: LG 0.04% and Type 2: LG 0.1%) and 1 gel formulation. Bacteriologic tests assessing the effects on normal vaginal flora and pathogens; in vitro and in vivo tests designed to assess cytotoxicity, as well as irritant and sensitizing potentials; biocompatibility, barrier, residence time, and absorption tests using reconstituted human vaginal epithelium were performed.
Results: Polybactum is a selective bacteriostatic agent that is active against and while sparing normal vaginal flora; that is, spp. It had no cytotoxic, irritant, and sensitizing effects nor did it impair barrier and fence functions of the vaginal epithelium. The Type 1 ovule showed film-forming properties in vitro. Finally, LG absorption through reconstituted human vaginal epithelium was negligible, ruling out the risk for possible systemic toxicity.
Conclusions: This favorable preclinical profile is encouraging and supports clinical studies on Polybactum Type 1 ovules for the prevention and management of recurring bacterial vaginosis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.curtheres.2016.07.002 | DOI Listing |
BMC Microbiol
January 2025
Chair of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, 18 Czysta Street, Cracow, 31-121, Poland.
Background: Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a state of abnormal vaginal microbiota, which is associated with increased numbers of aerobic, enteric bacteria and inflammation of the vaginal epithelium. Anti-microbial treatment combined with anti-inflammatory therapy could be useful in the treatment of this condition. It is known that calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, plays an important role in modulating the immune response in several inflammatory diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dr Soetomo General Hospital, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the cervix is rare and has high mortality and recurrence rates. The clinical symptoms of cervical NEC, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge, are similar to those of other cervical cancers. Here, we describe a case involving a 42-year-old woman with cervical NEC accompanied by an isolated large ovarian metastasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArthropod Struct Dev
January 2025
Zoological Museum, University of Kiel, Hegewischstrasse 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of the not well understood egg-transportation mechanisms through the female reproductive systems of crabs. For this, Carcinus maenas was chosen as a model to study the cuticular epithelium underlying the cuticle of the vagina and the ventral seminal receptacle. This cuticular epithelium is investigated by performing histochemical and ultrastructural analyses of the epithelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Reprod Immunol
January 2025
Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.
Problem: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) affects 5%-10% of all women, negatively impacting their reproductive health and quality of life. Herein, we investigated the molecular effects of RVVC on the vaginal mucosa of otherwise healthy women.
Method Of Study: Gene expression analysis was performed on vaginal tissue biopsies from women with RVVC, including those with a current episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC, n = 19) and women between infections (culture negative RVVC [CNR], n = 8); women asymptomatically colonized with Candida albicans (asymptomatic [AS], n = 7); and healthy controls (n = 18).
Microorganisms
November 2024
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent women's infection characterized by excessive inflammation and damage of the vaginal epithelium that, in its recurrent form (RVVC), causes more than three symptomatic episodes per year, impacting nearly 8% of women globally. Current antifungal treatments alleviate symptoms but often fail to restore the inflammatory homeostasis of mucosal tissue and prevent recurrences. α-Tocopherol (α-TOH) and garcinoic acid (GA), a vitamin E metabolite, with immunomodulatory properties, were investigated for the first time in vaginal epithelial cells exposed to infection to assess their effects on inflammatory signaling parameters important to restore cellular homeostasis.
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