Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a promising regenerative therapy in various medical fields, including the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. PRP promotes regeneration by delivering a concentrated dose of platelets to damaged tissues, triggering healing mechanisms such as hemostasis, revascularization, and connective tissue regeneration through the release of growth factors. Despite evidence supporting the short- and medium-term benefits of PRP, its long-term efficacy remains unclear, largely due to the limited duration of follow-up in existing studies. Furthermore, the lack of standardized protocols for both preparation and administration of PRP poses a significant challenge to accurately assessing and comparing its sustained therapeutic outcomes. This literature review utilized comprehensive searches of PubMed and Google Scholar databases to analyze current evidence regarding PRP’s role in managing SUI in women. SUI, often resulting from weakened pubo-urethral ligament or intrinsic sphincter dysfunction due to childbirth, aging, or hormonal changes, significantly impacts quality of life. PRP offers a safe, minimally invasive, and cost-effective treatment option; however, further large-scale, well-designed studies are necessary to define optimal protocols and confirm long-term benefits. Advancing understanding of PRP therapy could substantially improve clinical management and patient quality of life in SUI.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is quite common in women, impairing the quality of life. Diabetes mellitus may exacerbate pelvic floor dysfunction and alter treatment response. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a regenerative option to treat SUI; however, data in women with diabetes are limited. This prospective, non-randomized comparative cohort study evaluated PRP outcomes in diabetic versus non-diabetic women with SUI. Methods: Women with SUI (n = 102; non-diabetic n = 80, diabetic n = 22) received up to three PRP injections at 4–6-month intervals. They were evaluated using the Stamey scale before and after treatment, via the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), assessed at baseline and after each session. Within-group change was tested using Friedman’s test with Dunn–Bonferroni post hoc comparisons; between-group differences used Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: PRP was associated with significant improvements across KHQ domains, with the largest gains by the second injection and smaller increments thereafter. Non-diabetic participants showed earlier, more uniform improvement and additional gains from post-PRP1 to post-PRP2/3. Diabetic participants improved later, with fewer between-session differences. Regarding the Stamey scores, our study concluded that diabetics and non-diabetics improve with PRP treatment, whereas the diabetics treated with insulin have not reached statistical significance in improving SUI. Conclusions: PRP was associated with meaningful, multi-domain improvement in women with SUI, with the most benefit by the second injection and continued reduction in symptom burden thereafter. Although patients with diabetes improved, they had higher total KHQ scores at baseline and later visits, supporting tailored counseling and potential protocol optimization for this subgroup.

Influenza in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of severe respiratory disease and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, particularly later in gestation. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on epidemiology, pathophysiology, placental and fetal consequences, clinical presentation, diagnosis, antiviral management, and vaccination. Pregnancy involves dynamic immune adaptation together with reduced respiratory reserve, increased oxygen consumption, and cardiovascular changes that may amplify the effects of influenza pneumonia. Placental and fetal consequences appear to be mediated predominantly by maternal hypoxemia, fever, systemic inflammation, and hemodynamic disturbance; transplacental viral transmission is rare. Therefore, adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes are more closely linked to the severity and timing of maternal illness, placental dysfunction, and prematurity than to direct fetal infection. Prompt recognition is essential, and antiviral treatment should not await laboratory confirmation when influenza is suspected. Oseltamivir remains the preferred antiviral therapy and should be initiated as early as possible, including in patients presenting after 48 h with progressive or severe disease. Seasonal inactivated or recombinant influenza vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention, protecting both the mother and the infant through transplacental transfer of influenza-specific IgG. This integrated perspective supports vaccination, early diagnosis, and timely treatment to reduce maternal and perinatal risk.

Background: Postpartum anemia frequently requires packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion; however, the contribution of intravenous iron to early hematologic recovery remains uncertain. This study evaluated hemoglobin dynamics following transfusion and the effect of adjunctive intravenous iron therapy. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 61 obstetric patients requiring PRBC transfusion were included. Hematologic parameters were assessed at admission, postoperatively, post-transfusion, and at day 7. Patients were stratified according to the administration of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. Hemoglobin changes and reticulocyte response were analyzed, including a subgroup receiving two PRBC units. Results: Mean hemoglobin decreased from 9.36 ± 1.16 g/dL at admission to 6.33 ± 1.05 g/dL postoperatively, increased to 8.32 ± 0.78 g/dL after transfusion, and reached 8.75 ± 0.97 g/dL at day 7 (p < 0.001). No significant differences between groups were observed before or immediately after transfusion. At day 7, hemoglobin was significantly higher in patients receiving intravenous iron compared with those without supplementation (9.63 ± 1.03 vs. 8.03 ± 0.36 g/dL, p < 0.001). The increase in hemoglobin from post-transfusion to day 7 was greater in the iron group (1.14 ± 0.84 vs. −0.15 ± 0.33 g/dL, p < 0.001), accompanied by a higher reticulocyte response (2.56 ± 0.49% vs. 0.93 ± 0.26%, p < 0.001). Similar findings were observed in the two-unit subgroup. Conclusions: Adjunctive intravenous iron was associated with improved early hemoglobin recovery after transfusion without affecting immediate correction, supporting its clinical use in obstetric patients.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization during pregnancy increases neonatal infection risk and is managed with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. We evaluated whether oral probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced persistence of vaginal GBS colonization. Methods: This prospective, non-randomized, contemporaneous controlled intervention study included pregnant women with confirmed vaginal GBS colonization at 24–26 weeks of gestation. Participants selected either oral Lactobacillus crispatus M247 (20 billion colony-forming units (CFU) daily for eight weeks) or standard prenatal care. Vaginal cultures were repeated at 34–36 weeks. The primary outcome was persistent GBS colonization. Fisher’s exact test and relative risk (RR) were used. Exploratory Firth logistic regression adjusted for age, body mass index, and previous GBS colonization status; sensitivity analysis excluded unknown status. Trial registration: ISRCTN47071089, retrospectively registered. Results: Of 53 enrolled women (24 probiotic; 29 control), one control participant was lost to follow-up, leaving 52 for analysis. Persistent colonization was less frequent in the probiotic group than in controls (12.5% vs. 57.1%; p = 0.001; RR 0.219, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.072–0.661). In the primary Firth model (n = 52; 19 events), probiotic use was associated with lower odds of persistence (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.13, 95% CI 0.03–0.46; p = 0.001). Sensitivity analysis yielded similar results (n = 44; 15 events; aOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03–0.63; p = 0.007). Self-reported adherence was complete, and no adverse events were reported among participants receiving the probiotic. Conclusions: Oral L. crispatus M247 supplementation from 24–26 weeks of gestation was associated with substantially lower persistence of vaginal GBS colonization in late pregnancy. Larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is one of the most common pelvic floor disorders in women, often impairing quality of life (QoL). Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is the standard conservative therapy, while autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a newer minimally invasive regenerative option. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of three periurethral PRP injections versus PFMT in women with SUI. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 169 women diagnosed with SUI, divided into a PRP group (n = 131), receiving three periurethral PRP injections at 4–6-month intervals, and a PFMT group (n = 38), completing a 12-week PFMT program. Outcomes were measured using the Stamey incontinence scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), and the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Results: At baseline, PRP patients had more severe symptoms and worse QoL scores. After one injection, PRP achieved improvements in Stamey and VAS scores comparable to PFMT (lower scores), though KHQ remained superior in PFMT (significantly higher baseline scores in the PRP group than the PFMT group). The PRP group showed consistently larger within-group improvements across all scales (p < 0.001), in contrast to the PFMT group, which produced smaller and less consistent changes. Conclusions: Repeated PRP treatment provides greater, controlled, and more consistent benefits than PFMT for SUI.