Lactobacillus plantarum NK3 and Bifidobacterium longum NK49 Alleviate Bacterial Vaginosis and Osteoporosis in Mice by Suppressing NF-κB-Linked TNF-α Expression.

Excessive expression of TNF-α worsens bacterial vaginosis (BV) and osteoporosis. Therefore, to understand whether probiotics could alleviate vaginosis and osteoporosis, we isolated anti-inflammatory Lactobacillus plantarum NK3 and Bifidobacterium longum NK49 from kimchi and human fecal lactic acid bacteria collection and examined their effects on Gardnerella vaginalis (GV)-induced vaginosis and ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in female mice. Oral gavage of NK3 and/or NK49 significantly alleviated GV-induced vaginosis; these inhibited NF-κB activation and TNF-α expression in the vagina and uterus, and decreased the GV population in the vagina. Furthermore, treatment with NK3 and/or NK49 alleviated ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and obesity; these increased blood calcium, phosphorus, and osteocalcin levels and suppressed body weight. GV-induced vaginosis and ovariectomy increased colonic myeloperoxidase activity, TNF-α expression, and fecal Proteobacteria population. NK3 and/or NK49 treatments reduced TNF-α expression and NF-κB activation in the colon. NK3 and NK49 treatment also restored GV- or ovariectomy-disrupted gut microbiota composition. In conclusion, NK3 and NK49 may simultaneously alleviate BV and osteoporosis by suppressing NF-κB-linked TNF-α expression through the regulation of gut microbiota population.

[Role and place of antibacterial therapy in prophylaxis of disturbances in reproductive function of women].

One-stage retrospective analysis of 350 primary medical documents of the female patients treated under hospital conditions for salpingo-oophoritis in 2010-2011 was performed. The results were compared with those of the investigation of the present etiological pattern of pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) by the data of the microbiological examination of 117 patients with PID and susceptibility of the isolates to the antibacterials. The frequency and efficiency of the use of antibacterials alone or in combinations were analysed in the treatment of various clinical forms of PID. The ovarian reserve was estimated in 87 patients after recovery from salpingo-oophoritis. 52 of them had an episode of the chronic process exacerbation and 35 had the first episode of acute PID. The ovarian reserve was estimated by determination of the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), basal FSH level, ovarian volume and antral follicle count. A statistically significant decrease of the ovarian reserve in the patients with chronic salpingo-oophoritis confirmed the necessity of rational treatment of the acute inflammatory process.

Artemisia princeps Pamp. Essential oil and its constituents eucalyptol and α-terpineol ameliorate bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis in mice by inhibiting bacterial growth and NF-κB activation.

To investigate the inhibitory effects of Artemisia princeps Pamp. (family Asteraceae) essential oil (APEO) and its main constituents against bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, their antimicrobial activities against Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans in vitro and their anti-inflammatory effects against G. vaginalis-induced vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis were examined in mice. APEO and its constituents eucalyptol and α-terpineol were found to inhibit microbe growths. α-Terpineol most potently inhibited the growths of G. vaginalis and C. albicans with MIC values of 0.06 and 0.125 % (v/v), respectively. The antimicrobial activity of α-terpineol was found to be comparable to that of clotrimazole. Intravaginal treatment with APEO, eucalyptol, or α-terpineol significantly decreased viable G. vaginalis and C. albicans numbers in the vaginal cavity and myeloperoxidase activity in mouse vaginal tissues compared with controls. These agents also inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 ß, IL-6, TNF- α), COX-2, iNOS, and the activation of NF- κB and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, they inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of NF- κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages, and α-terpineol most potently inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and NF- κB activation. Based on these findings, APEO and its constituents, particularly α-terpineol, ameliorate bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis by inhibiting the growths of vaginal pathogens and the activation of NF- κB.