The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus-containing vaginal tablets in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and in the restoration of a healthy vaginal flora. Thirty-nine women with BV were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients received either one Lactobacillus-containing tablet or placebo daily for 7 days. Clinical criteria, vaginal Gram stain scores and symptoms were compared with those at the initial visit and those at completion of therapy and 2 weeks later. After completion of therapy, all of the patients in the Lactobacillus-treated group (n = 18) were free of BV, showing a normal (83%) or intermediate (17%) vaginal flora, as compared with only two patients free of BV with intermediate flora (12%) from among the 16 placebo-treated women (p <0.001). Two weeks after completion of therapy, treatment was successful (score <7) in 61% of Lactobacillus-treated patients as compared with 19% of those in the placebo group (p <0.05). In the treatment group, the total number of symptomatic patients and the intensity of their symptoms, in particular vaginal malodour, were significantly reduced at both follow-up visits. The data indicate that intravaginal administration of exogenous selected strains of lactobacilli can restore a normal vaginal microbiota and be used in treating bacterial vaginosis.

The objective of the present study was to investigate in healthy young women the fluctuations in serum concentration of human epididymal secretory protein human epididymis-specific protein 4 (HE4) and CA125 during the phases of the menstrual cycle and the correlation between HE4 and CA125 values and age. Forty women with regular menstrual cycles were included in the study. Pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound were performed in order to exclude ovarian pathologies. Blood samples were collected at follicular (FP), ovulatory (OP), and luteal (LP) phases of the hormonal cycle. The values of HE4 (expressed as picomoles per liter) observed were (mean ± SEM) 39.1 ± 1.1 (FP), 45.3 ± 1.19 (OP), and 42.0 ± 1.3 (LP). The difference between FP and OP was statistically significant (p = 0.0002). By contrast, serum CA125 levels (expressed as units per milliliter) were 14.35 ± 0.66 (FP), 13.15 ± 0.54 (OP), and 13.70 ± 0.54 (LP), respectively. The levels of HE4 observed in serum samples of women below 35 years were 37.5 ± 1.28 in the FP, 46.6 ± 1.4 in the OP, and 42.8 ± 1.49 in the LP. In this group, a statistically significant difference was observed in the FP compared with the OP (p < 0.0001), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed during the different hormonal phases in the group of women over 35. In conclusion, the correct interpretation of laboratory data is essential to define a threshold of normality, and for what concerns HE4 levels, the menstrual cycle phase-dependent variability appears indicated in the interpretation of the results.

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In a series of young subjects, travel abroad, sex with more than one partner, and teen age, combined together, were significant risk factors for the acquisition of Chlamydia trachomatis genitourinary infection.