A Prospective Longitudinal Data Bank Creation to Study Vaginal Conditions With a Novel Diagnostic Approach
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Summary
The purpose of this study is to identify and elucidate the pattern and perhaps role of atypical proteins, cytokines and vaginal microbial flora in the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of vulvodynia, recurrent fungal and bacterial vaginosis and preterm labor.
Description
Our approach specifically targets the evaluation of the proteins and cytokines present and the bacteriological analysis of the microflora in the vaginal milieu. Conjectures: * An initial insult in the vagina (possibly involving a bacterial, viral or fungal organism or their products) causes modifications in the vaginal milieu * The vaginal milieu responds to the insult by developing an inflammatory reaction characterized by cytokine and protein production * Long lasting or repetitive insults maintain biochemical changes in the vaginal milieu producing a reaction, chemical irritation or micro…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–75 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * All patients willing to participate, and give informed consent, and * Asymptomatic, non-pregnant, healthy women ages 21 to 75 years with no previous history of any chronic or recurrent vulvovaginal condition who attend our clinical offices for their annual well-woman physical examination. * Non-pregnant women ages 21 to 75 years being evaluated for any gynecological vulvovaginal condition. * Pregnant women ages 21 to 75 years who are both asymptomatic and healthy * Pregnant women ages 21 to 75 who have any gynecological vulvovaginal condition Exclusion Criteria: * Asym…
Location
- TTUHSC Permian BasinMidland, Texas