This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical/comparative trial study, involving the recurrence of vaginal candidiasis (VVC) after initial treatment with oral fluconazole in patients undergoing prophylactic management with a probiotic and placebo for 6 months. Fifty-nine VVC patients who were diagnosed based on their history, physical examination, and culture of vaginal discharge were initially treated by a single dose of 150 mg fluconazole. According to the table of random numbers, the sample was divided into two groups. The patients from one group took probiotics, while those from the other group took a placebo, with all of them being continuously monitored for 6 months. The patients complaining of vaginal candidiasis symptoms, such as burning, pruritus, and a vaginal (curd-like) discharge, were examined and the discharge was cultured for candida. The positive cultures were considered to be recurring for the patients in each group. Thirty-one cases from the placebo group and 28 cases from the probiotic group were carefully observed. In total, the 6-month recurrence in the control group was eleven (35.5 %) and in the research group was two (7.2 %). The results from Fisher's exact test for the value p = 0.01 and OR 0.14 95 % CI (0.028-0.7) showed significant recurrence in the placebo group. The findings demonstrated that taking probiotics withazole antifungal drugs could be highly effective in treating VVC, resulting in a lower recurrence rate as well.
Objectives: The present study attempted to provide a clear view of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) with the focus on resistance to treatment approaches in Iran. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the medical records of 272 patients with the definitive diagnosis of GTN referring to Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran during 2007-2017. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.19 ± 7.46 years. The abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) was the most common clinical manifestation in 64.3% of patients. Regarding the risk scoring condition according to the World Health Organization criteria, 77.6%, 9.1%, and 13.3% were categorized as low-, intermediate-, and high-risk cases. Single therapy with methotrexate was used in 22.8% of patients and actinomycin-D was planned for 42.3% whereas 11.0% and 1.5% were considered for treatment with the EMA-CO (Etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, vincristine) and EMA-EP (Etoposide methotrexate and actinomycin-D/ etoposide and cisplatin) regimens, respectively. Good response to methotrexate was 66.7% but it was 83.6% in the ACT group (P = 0.001). The resistance to single-agent chemotherapy in low- and intermediate-risk groups was 16% and 92%, respectively. In addition, 20.2% of patients in stage one had tumor invasion pattern in the uterus in pretreatment Doppler ultrasonography, but 52% and 30% had resistance to chemotherapy treatment in invasive and noninvasive groups, respectively (P = 0.008). Conclusions: In general, due to the high resistance of the intermediate-risk subgroup to a single therapy, a combination therapy may be more useful to treat this disorder. The close association between tumor invasion pattern in the uterus in Doppler ultrasonography and drug resistance can be considered as a new criterion for tumor risk scoring.
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