Natural hydrogels are widely used as biomedical materials in many areas, including drug delivery, tissue scaffolds, and particularly wound dressings, where they can act as an antimicrobial factor lowering the risk of microbial infections, which are serious health problems, especially with respect to wound healing. In this review article, a number of promising strategies in the development of hydrogels with biocidal properties, particularly those originating from natural polymers, are briefly summarized and concisely discussed. Common strategies to design and fabricate hydrogels with intrinsic or stimuli-triggered antibacterial activity are exemplified, and the mechanisms lying behind these properties are also discussed. Finally, practical antibacterial applications are also considered while discussing the current challenges and perspectives.

Cervical cancer is a significant health problem with increasing occurrence and mortality. This infection-associated tumour is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection is cleared by the immune system within 6–18 months in most patients; however, persistent high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infections can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Virus persistence is promoted by immunodeficiency, Chlamydia trachomatis infection, smoking, and age, as well as the imbalance of cervicovaginal microbiota and inflammation. The abundance of bacteria in the vagina favours the maintenance of a dynamic balance; their coexistence influences health or disease states. The eubiotic vaginal microbiota of reproductive-aged women is composed mostly of various Lactobacillus species (spp.), which exert protective effects via the production of lactic acid, bacteriocins, polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), lowering pH, raising the viscosity of cervicovaginal mucus, and hampering both the adhesion of cells to epithelial tissue and the entry of HPV. The depletion of beneficial microorganisms could increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Emerging therapies involve mucosal, intranasal vaccines, which trigger systemic and mucosal immune responses, thus protecting against HPV-induced tumours. The use of probiotics has also been suggested to affect various biological processes associated with tumourigenesis (inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis).

The study was undertaken to evaluate macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma of patients with ovarian cancer (n = 93) in relation to regulatory T cells (Tregs; n = 75). The peritoneal fluid CCL22 concentrations were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients than in patients with benign tumors-serous cystadenoma (n = 32). There was no difference in plasma levels of CCL22 in EOC patients compared with the non-cancer and healthy volunteers (n = 10). There were no significant differences in the plasma and PF CCL22 levels based on tumor grade. However, women with stage IV FIGO (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians) had significantly higher plasma CCL22 levels than patients with stages I and III. Women with stage I FIGO had significantly higher PF CCL22 levels than patients with stages II and III. Women with endometrioid cystadenocarcinoma had higher PF CCL22 levels than women with undifferentiated carcinoma. The percentage of tumor-infiltrating Tregs (11.06 %) was significantly higher compared to PF (3.05 %) and peripheral blood (PB) (2.01 %). Moreover, the percentage of Tregs was higher in the PF than in the PB of EOC patients. There were no significant differences in the PB, PF, and tumor-infiltrating Tregs percentage based on tumor stage, grade, or histology. Elevated levels of CCL22 found in the ascites could create a chemokine gradient aiding in Treg cells migration. Increased Tregs percentage in the local microenvironment of ovarian cancer might be an important mechanism of immunosuppression.

The aim of the report was to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) in menopausal women. MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published in English during 1995–2019. Studies were identified and reviewed for inclusion and exclusion eligibility. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated for each study and were pooled by using the random effects model. Eighteen randomized controlled trials were selected for meta-analysis. Different types of soy phytoestrogens, i.e., genistein extracts, soy isoflavones extracts, soy protein isolate, and foods containing diverse amounts of isoflavones were used in the studies. The analysis showed that daily intake of 106 (range, 40–300) mg of isoflavones for 6–24 months moderately but statistically significantly positively affects BMD, compared with controls: lumbar spine WMD = 1.63 (95% CI: 0.51 to 2.75)%, p = 0004; femoral neck WMD = 1.87 (95% CI: 0.14 to 3.60)%, p = 0.034; and total hip WMD = 0.39 (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.69)%, p = 0.013. Subgroups analyses indicated that the varying effects of isoflavones on BMD across the trials might be associated with intervention duration, racial diversity (Caucasian, Asian), time after menopause, form of supplements (especially genistein), and dose of isoflavones. Our review and meta-analysis suggest that soy isoflavones are effective in slowing down bone loss after menopause.

Summary: Immunotherapies based on anti-programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway inhibitors may turn out effective in ovarian cancer (OC) treatment. They can be used in combination with standard therapy and are especially promising in recurrent and platinum-resistant OC. There is growing evidence that the mechanism of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can be specific for a particular histological cancer type. Interestingly, the data have shown that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockade may be effective, especially in the endometrioid type of OC. It is important to identify the cause of anti-tumor immune response suppression and exclude its other mechanisms in OC patients. It is also necessary to conduct subsequent studies to confirm in which OC cases the treatment is effective and how to select patients and combine drugs to improve patient survival.

According to recent data, changes in the vaginal microbiota could affect the risk of gynaecological cancers. Women suffering from endometrial cancer present significant changes in cervicovaginal microbiota composition. The objective of our study was to characterize the cervicovaginal microbiota of women undergoing hysterectomy due to benign disease, atypical hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer; The study included 96 patients, who undergone surgical treatment due to benign uterine disease, precancerous endometrial lesion, and endometrial cancer. Quantitative and qualitative real-time PCR analysis of DNA isolated from vaginal fornix and endocervical canal samples was performed to detect the 19 most commonly identified microorganisms, including different Lactobacillus spp., Atopobium, Bifidobacterium, Chlamydia, and Gardnerella; At least one of the tested microorganisms was identified in 88.5% of vaginal and 83.3% of cervical samples. Lactobacillus iners was significantly more frequent in patients with benign condition, whereas Dialister pneumosintes and Mobiluncus curtisii was more frequent in cancer patients; Mobiluncus curtisi and Dialister pneumosintes, which were identified as significantly more common in endometrial cancer vaginal samples, may be considered as potential endometrial cancer co-factors which promote/stimulate carcinogenesis. However, the exact mechanism of such activity remains unexplained and requires further investigations.