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Cervical microbial communities serve a crucial role in the persistence and development of oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) infections. In the present study, the authors hypothesised that disturbed heterogeneity of microbial flora was associated with HPV-induced carcinogenesis. Swabs of the cervical microbiota were collected from 250 women and the 16S ribosomal DNA was sequenced using a high throughput assay. The swabs of cervical microbiota were grouped according to the community state types (CSTs) as follows: Healthy cervical swabs; swabs taken from low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL) and swabs taken from high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (HSIL). Analysis of the bacterial classes revealed that the CST cervical swabs of the volunteers were characterised by Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus taiwanensis, however, Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus were absent. In the CST of patients with LSIL the predominant type of bacteria was Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus iners, however Lactobacillus crispatus was not detected. Swabs from CST women diagnosed with HSIL exhibited abundant Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, however, lacked Lactobacillus taiwanensis, Lactobacillus iners a nd L actobacillus crispatus. T he abunda nce of Lactobacillus acidophilus in swabs from the healthy women was compared with the swabs from the women with LSIL. The results of the present study indicated that the development of HPV-induced cancer is associated with a high diversity of vaginal microbiota, which is involved in the control of viral persistence, and is therefore indicative of disease prognosis.

Abstract. Human papillomavirus (HpV) is widely accepted as the main cause of cervical cancer. However, the presence of HpV DnA does not inescapably lead to the development of the cancerous phenotype of the infected cell. therefore, it is considered that the induction of full cancerous expression of HpV requires additional cofactors. the aim of this study was to assess the expression of estrogen receptor α (erα) and progesterone receptor (pr) in archived tissue blocks of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and to ascertain whether expression of these receptors is associated with the presence of HpV DnA. the investigation was performed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cervical cancer specimens obtained from 250 women who underwent surgery for histologically confirmed neoplastic lesions. the control group consisted of normal cervical tissues obtained from 50 patients who underwent myomectomy. the results of this study revealed that the expression of er and pr in planoepithelial cancers and adenocarcinomas of the cervix were decreased to undetectable levels. only in singular cases in the pattern of staining the expression of er and pr was noted.In stromal cells of the tested neoplasms, higher expression of both types of receptors was found. comparison of the expression of er and pr in the staining pattern and stroma of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcioma of the cervix, showed statistically higher expression in the stromal cells. strong expression (+1, +2, +3) of er and pr was noted in the stromal cells irrespective of HpV infection, histopathological type of cancer, and clinical and histopathological grade.

Introduction and objective. Data on the possible role of peritoneal fluid free radical-mediated oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of endometriosis still remains inconsistent. The aim of the study was to determine iron metabolism markers and their influence on oxidative stress parameters in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. Materials and method. 110 women with endometriosis and 119 patients with benign ovarian cysts were included in the study. All visible peritoneal fluid was aspirated during laparoscopy from the anterior and posterior cul-de-sacs. under direct vision to avoid blood contamination. Haemoglobin, iron, total oxidative status, and total antioxidant status were measured using standard colourimetric kits. Results. Haemoglobin, iron levels, as well as total oxidative status values were significantly higher, whereas total antioxidant status values were significantly lower in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis, in comparison to the reference groups. No differences were observed in peritoneal fluid concentrations of all parameters measured in relation to the phase of the menstrual cycle. Conclusions. Peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis is characterized by disrupted iron metabolism. This is most likely related to an increased number of erythrocytes in the peritoneal cavity of endometriotic women, which leads to a higher concentration of haemoglobin in this environment. Impaired iron homeostasis may have a significant influence on the pathophysiology of peritoneal endometriosis by the direct impact of haemoglobin derivatives and/or formation of the pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative environment. Peritoneal cavity oxidative stress occurs predominantly in women in advanced stages of the disease.

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