title: The influence of probiotics on the cervical malignancy diagnostics quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Probiotics help to provide an optimum balance in the intestines. Probiotics species competitive block toxic substances and growth of unwanted bacteria and yeast species while they compete for the space and food. Lactogyn is the first oral probiotics on Serbian market dedicated to maintaining a normal vaginal flora. Lactogyn contains two well studied probiotics strains - Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Both of them are considered as probiotic agents with therapeutic properties increase the population of beneficial lactobacillus organisms within the vagina. The aim of this study was to exam an influence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 on results of cervical smear cytological testing including detection of atypical cells, detection of false positive and false negative findings as well as on vaginal microflora content in patients with vaginal infection signs and symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 250 women with signs of vaginal infection were selected to participate in the study. The study group comprised 125 patients taking studied probiotic strains along with specific anti-infective therapy. The control group comprised, also, 125 patients taking anti-infective agents, only. Probiotic preparation (Lactogyn capsules) was administered orally (one capsule daily) during 4 weeks. Before and six weeks after beginning of the therapy a cervical smear cytological test (the Papanicolaou test), as well as microbiological examination of the vaginal smear were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of cases of inflammation and atypical squamous cells of undeterminated significance (ASCUS) in the study group were significantly higher before administration of the probiotic preparation. The number of lactobacilli was significantly higher, and the number of pathogenic microorganisms lower in the group treated with this preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 concomitantly with specific anti-infective agents provides more reliable cytological diagnostics, reduces the number of false positive and false negative findings on cervical malignancy and normalizes vaginal microflora in higher percentage of patients with vaginal infections comapred with therapy including antiinfective agents only.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Department for Early Cancer Detection, Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic "Narodni front", Belgrade, Serbia. nami172@open.telekom.com
authors.forename: Zivko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perisić
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perisić
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golocorbin Kon
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vesović
authors.forename: Ana Mitrović
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jovanović
authors.forename: Momir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy