Comment on Meneghini et al. The Impact of Nutritional Therapy in the Management of Overweight/Obese PCOS Patient Candidates for IVF. Nutrients 2023, 15, 4444.

We read with great interest the recent article by Meneghini et al. on the assessment of the effects of different alimentary regimens, included Mediterranean diet (MD), on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients prior to in vitro fertilization cycles [...].

Therapeutic success in primary biliary cholangitis and gut microbiota: a safe highway?

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, cholestatic, autoimmune disease, characterized by destruction of bile ducts. PBC predominantly affects women between 40 and 60 years of age. The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) is a serological feature of PBC. These highly specific antibodies are found in about 95% of patients with the disease. The family of enzymes located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, called the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex represents the target of the AMA. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a synthetic bile acid capable of protecting cholangiocytes from cholestatic damage caused by the accumulation of bile acids with a mechanism of action not yet well clarified. UDCA represents the gold standard therapy for PBC patients with recommended dose of 13-15 mg/kg/day. However, not every patient responds to therapy. On the other hand, the gut microbiota plays a key role in the onset of PBC through still unclear biochemical pathways. Less is known about its role as a potential biomarker after drug treatment. Actually, few studies analyzed the changes in gut microbiota composition before and after UDCA treatment. For this reason, this review represents an examination of the studies carried out on changes in gut microbiota composition in patients affected by PBC before and after treatment.

Augmenting Functional and Sensorial Quality Attributes of Kefir through Fortification with Encapsulated Blackberry Juice.

Kefir is a fermented dairy product claimed to confer many health-promoting effects, but its acidic taste is not appealing to some consumers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to enhance the functional and sensorial quality attributes of kefir through fortification with encapsulated blackberry juice (EBJ). The blackberry juice was successfully encapsulated via freeze-drying using lentil protein isolate (LPI) as the carrier. The encapsulated blackberry juice showed good physicochemical, functional, and morphological properties, as well as microbiological safety for use as a food additive. The kefir was fortified with EBJ in concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5% (w/w), stored for up to 28 days under refrigeration, and periodically evaluated. Parameters such as the viscosity, titrable acidity, and pH indicate that the kefir fortification did not affect its stability during storage. EBJ significantly increased the antioxidant properties of the kefir, depending on the fortification level. Additionally, all the fortified samples provided more anthocyanins than the daily recommended intake. Microbiological profiling demonstrated that good laboratory practice and hygiene were implemented during the experiments. Finally, the panelists showed that higher EBJ concentrations in the kefir resulted in greater overall acceptability, indicating that this encapsulate has the potential to be a substitute synthetic color additive in the dairy industry.

Synergistic Strategies of Heat and Peroxyacetic Acid Disinfection Treatments for Salmonella Control.

The food industry has recognized a pressing need for highly effective disinfection protocols to decrease the risk of pathogen emergence and proliferation in food products. The integration of antimicrobial treatments in food production has occurred as a potential strategy to attain food items of superior quality with respect to microbiological safety and sensory attributes. This study aims to investigate the individual and synergistic effects of heat and peroxyacetic acid on the inactivation of bacterial cells, considering various contact times and environmental conditions. Four Salmonella serotypes, isolated from industrial meat production surfaces, were employed as model organisms. By systematically assessing the impacts of individual factors and synergistic outcomes, the effectiveness of bacterial cell inactivation and the efficiency of heat and peroxyacetic acid could be predicted. To better approximate real-world food processing conditions, this study also incorporated a bovine albumin-rich condition as a simulation of the presence of organic loads in processing steps. The findings revealed the essential need for a synergistic interplay of investigated parameters with the following optimized values: 1.5% concentration of peroxyacetic acid, temperature range of 60-65 °C, and contact time of 3 min for the complete effect regardless of the degree of contamination.

The phenomenon of pregnancy - a psychological view.

Pregnancy is a very specific and complex period in a woman's life. The accompanying changes are observed not only on the biological/physiological plane but also in her psychological and social functioning. Altered psychological functioning can occur from the very beginning to the end of pregnancy, including the postpartum period. During pregnancy, visible changes occur in the body's appearance, as well as in femininity, affections, and sexuality, whereas the woman's position and role are gaining new qualities. To a greater or lesser degree, every expectant mother experiences psychological am-bivalence, frequent mood changes from exhaustion to exaltation, emotional disturbances, and/or mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. In addition, pregnancy causes a number of specific apprehensions concerning the course and outcome, which makes the woman particularly vulnerable and requires adequate treatment, depending on the adaptive capacities of her personality. Furthermore, from a psychosocial aspect, pregnancy could be considered a specific highly emotional state, which may be a potent stressor. Perinatal maternal stress can lead to different complications that may have far-reaching consequences for both somatic and psychic functioning of the newborn. This review considers pregnancy as a complex psychological phenomenon and explores multiple changes in the woman's psychological functioning in both normal and psychologically complicated courses of pregnancy.

Antimicrobial Potential of Rosmarinus officinalis Commercial Essential Oil in the Treatment of Vaginal Infections in Pregnant Women.

Treating inflammatory conditions .such as vaginosis, vaginitis, and vulvovaginitis in pregnancy is- a special problem due to limitations. of available drugs. However, possible treatment options can be found also in naturally originated products, such as essential oils (EOs) of different plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate in -vitro antimicrobial and toxic activities of the commercial EO of Rosmiarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) against five Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and two Candida strains obtained from pregnant women with Vaginal infection. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the tested EO revealed oxygenated monoterpenes to be the major ingredients, while microdilution assay showed the highest activity on Staphylococcus aureus II strain at 6.2 mg/mL. After 24 hours, toxicity was determined at 19.4 mg/mL on Artemia salina nauplii. The obtained results show this EO to be a promising alternative therapy for vaginal infections, although further toxicity and safety research is required.

Comparison of the efficiency of clomiphene citrate and letrozole in combination with metformin in moderately obese clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive-age. Therapy for those who want to get pregnant involves ovulation induction using clomiphene citrate, metformin, letrozole and gonadotropins. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of combinations of clomiphene citrate-metformin and letrozole-metformin in obese patients who are resistant to clomiphene citrate alone. METHODS: The investigation was conducted as a retrospective study involving 60 moderately obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Thirty-one of them received the clomiphene citrate-metformin, and 29 letrozole-metformin therapy. Stimulation was carried out for the procedures of intrauterine insemination (IUI). RESULTS: The age of patients, duration of infertility, and body mass index in both groups were similar. There was statistically significant difference in the thickness of the endometrium in favor of the group having the letrozole-metformin therapy (8.9 ± 1.7 mm) compared with the group receiving the clomiphene citrate-metformin treatment (6.3 ± 1.3 mm). The number of follicles was not statistically significantly different. Pregnancy rate in the first cycle of IUI in the clomiphene citrate group was 6.4%, and 17.2% in the letrozole group, which also was not statistically different. After the third IUI cycle, the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the letrozole group (20.6%), while in the clomiphene citrate group it was (9.6%). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study demonstrated the advantages of the use of letrozole over clomiphene citrate in combination with metformin in moderately obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who are resistant to stimulation with clomiphene citrate alone.

[Course and outcome of adolescent deliveries--a comparative analysis for 1992 and 2002].

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent pregnancy is considered to be risky, with potential psychosocial and health risks. From a medical point of view, adolescent pregnancy and delivery are risky and mortality of mothers and newborns is higher than in women aged 20-30. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis included all adolescent deliveries at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Novi Sad in 1992 and 2002. These data were compared with those observed in women aged 19 and older, for the same years. RESULTS: In respect to the number of adolescent deliveries, a decreasing tendency is observed. Also, there is an increasing trend in the number of cesarean sections in adolescents, which follows the trend of higher rates of cesarean deliveries in general. Episiotomy is more often performed in adolescents than in older women, but a decreasing trend is also observed in this population, which was also the case in women over 19. Vacuum extraction is less frequent in cases of adolescent deliveries. A very small percentage of malformed and stillborn newborns is registered in adolescents, whereas the percentage of premature births is similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Although adolescent pregnancy and delivery are risky, good obstetrical care and efficient control during delivery provide optimal conditions for successful deliveries among adolescents.

[Fistulas in gynecologic and obstetric surgical procedures]. / Fistule kod ginekoloskih i akuserskih operacija.

INTRODUCTION: The study pointed to the significance and most frequent causes of development of fistula following gynecologic and obstetric surgical procedures. PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF FISTULAS: Some possibilities of prevention, i.e. the necessity of correct administration of surgical procedures have been described. The authors pointed to the imperative of knowing the structure of vesicovaginal region and administration of adequate surgical technique. They described surgical procedures in most frequent gynecologic operations in prevention of ureteral injuries. They have presented 25-year result of operative treatment of these patients and treatment of postoperative fistulas at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Novi Sad. In regard to the number of gynecologic operations in that period (23067), the incidence of fistulas was not high (43). CONCLUSION: During the last years, the incidence is constantly decreasing, due to application of appropriate surgical techniques, careful manipulation, and administration of up-to-date surgical materials.