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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most widespread endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age with detrimental effects on life quality and health. Among several mechanisms involved in its aetiopathogenesis, recent studies have also postulated the involvement of the vaginal and intestinal microbiota in the development of this disorder. In this study, an accurate insight into the microbial changes associated with PCOS was performed through a pooled-analysis highlighting that this syndrome is characterized by intestinal and vaginal dysbiosis with a reduction of beneficial microorganisms and a higher proportion of potential pathogens. Based on this observation, we evaluated the ability of a milk-derived protein exerting positive outcomes in the management of PCOS, that is, α-lactalbumin (α-LA), to recover PCOS-related dysbiosis. In vitro experiments revealed that this protein improved the growth performances of members of two health-promoting bacterial genera, that is, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, depleted in both intestinal and vaginal microbiota of PCOS-affected women. In addition, α-LA modulated the taxonomic composition and growth performances of the microbial players of the complex intestinal and vaginal microbiota. Finally, an in vivo pilot study further corroborated these observations. The oral administration of α-LA for 30 days to women with PCOS revealed that this protein may have a role in favouring the growth of health-promoting bacteria yet limiting the proliferation of potential pathogens. Overall, our results could pave the way to the use of α-LA as a valid compound with 'prebiotic effects' to limit/restore the PCOS-related intestinal and vaginal dysbiosis., (© 2024 The Author(s). Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The management of mastodynia plays a central role in improving women quality of life. Despite its high occurrence, specific therapeutic guidelines for mastalgia are still lacking. Available therapies include unspecific anti-inflammatories, even though they may often expose to undesirable effects and low compliance., Objective: The aim of this study was to highlight the efficacy of the topical application of combined natural molecules including Boswellia serrata, Betaine and myo-Inositol in improving cyclic mastalgia., Methods: In this retrospective pilot clinical study, patients with cyclic mastalgia applied a specific breast gel for three months. The severity of the pain was measured through the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) in the treated group compared to untreated one. Treated patients also filled in a questionnaire evaluating acceptance and safety of the breast gel., Results: This pilot clinical study demonstrated for the first time the efficacy of the topical application of a breast gel based on Betaine, Boswellia serrata, and myo-Inositol in improving cyclic mastodynia. The completed questionnaires also revealed high levels of acceptance, as both safety and compliance., Conclusions: Besides confirming the positive effects of these natural molecules in the management of conditions affecting breast physiology - so far evaluated as oral supplementation - the obtained results pave the way for further studies supporting the use of such molecules as a tailored medical device in the management of breast pain, thus also opening toward a combined oral and topical approach.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of β-glucan in women with ASCUS or L-SIL, as detected by cervical cytologic screening., Methods: A total of 356 women with ASCUS or L-SIL were enrolled and divided into two groups: 1) 176 patients, treated with topical β-glucan; and 2) 180 patients who were only followed-up. The treatment consisted of two cycles of topical β-glucan applied once a day for 20 consecutive days and treatment separated by ten days. The effect of β-glucan was evaluated comparing Pap cytology results and colposcopic findings between treated patients and controls after 6 and 12 months of follow-up., Results: After 6 months from enrollment, 63.1% (111/176) of patients treated with β-glucan had a negative Pap smear versus 45% (81/180) of controls (P<0.001), and 43.4% (36/83) of treated patients versus 18.2% (14/77) of controls experienced the disappearance of colposcopic lesions (P=0.001). At the end of the 12-month follow up, 83.5% (147/176) of treated patients versus 60% (108/180) of controls had a negative Pap smear (P<0.001), and 55.4% (46/83) of treated patients versus 24.7% (19/77) of controls experienced the disappearance of colposcopic lesions (P<0.001). No side effects were observed in treated patients., Conclusion: β-glucan increases the spontaneous regression rate of low-grade cytologic abnormalities as well as cervical findings.

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) is a rare, benign, lymphocytic tumour-like lesion reported in various organs. It has been previously identified in 18 cases in the English-language literature, but only 5 of them were related to oncological disease. No previous cases have been described of RLH occurring in ovarian cancer patients. We describe a case of hepatic RLH which developed in a patient treated for ovarian cancer 11 years previously. Radiological features on computed tomography (CT) scan and PET-CT (positron emission tomography-computed tomography) were strongly suggestive of oncological disease, in contrast to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the volume increment of the nodular lesion and the rise in carbohydrate antigen 125 corroborated the hypothesis of malignancy. The patient was subjected to resection of the 7th segment of the liver and the final histological report showed RLH. RLH should be considered in the presence of hepatic lesions in suspected ovarian cancer recurrence. Imaging techniques should be thoroughly investigated to exclude tumor recurrence promptly, in order to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Cervical cancer isolated splenic recurrence is a rare event.We report a case of splenic cervical cancer metastasis treated with salvage surgery 30 months after supralevator anterior pelvic exenteration. In this patient the plasmatic level of squamous cell carcinoma antigen increased in the absence of any evidence of disease at the instrumental examination 24 months after surgery. Surgery had a high impact on quality of life.

Microinvasive squamous cell cervival carcinoma is characterized by an exceptional incidence of lymph nodal metastasis. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman affected by IA1 squamous cell carcinoma, found to have massive pelvic lymph nodal metastasis. After a systematic pelvic and aortic selective lymphadenectomy, at 16 months of follow-up, she is still disease-free. Patients suitable for conservative therapy should be carefully counselled about the established risks and benefits of nondestructive treatment options.