title: Visual analysis of vaginal cell binding and retention of a gynecological douche.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gynecological douches may contain various molecules that need to cover and be retained by cutaneous and mucosal cells if they are to act efficaciously in treating local conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of directly visualising the ability of a commercial medical gynecological douche to bind to, and be retained by human vaginal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The commercial gynecological douche under study was "Saugella Attiva douche", bought at local chemist. The vaginal epithelial cells were obtained from healthy, non-pregnant, regularly menstruating women aged 24-52 years. The cells were obtained from the mucosal surface of the mid-vaginal wall by means of gentle scraping with a sterile spatula. Ferric oxide particles and Escherichia coli were used as inorganic and organic markers in order to visualize the adherence of the transparent thin film of a gynecological douche to human vaginal cells by means of Nomarski interference contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both markers made it possible to clearly visualize the binding and retention of the transparent thin layer of the douche also at the dilution 1:2 and 1:4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fact that the douche can be locally retained is useful because its formulation contains thymol and eugenol, which are known to have antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effects but need a period of contact before they act fully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. piercarlo.braga@unimi.it
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spallino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal Sasso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sturla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Culici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005054:Eugenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D053566:Hygiene Products; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D008875:Middle Aged; D033081:Shear Strength; D012915:Soaps / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012996:Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013943:Thymol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D044364:Vaginal Douching; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005054:Eugenol; D053566:Hygiene Products; D012915:Soaps; D012996:Solutions; D013943:Thymol