PvD1

Introduction: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a women's genito-pelvic pain condition associated with psychosexual impairments, including depression. Body image (BI) has been found to be different in women with primary (PVD1) and secondary (PVD2) PVD. No controlled study has compared BI in women with PVD1 and PVD2 and investigated its associations with sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain. Aims: The aims of this study were to (i) compare BI in women with PVD1, PVD2, and asymptomatic controls and (ii) to examine associations between BI and sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain during intercourse in women with PVD. Methods: Fifty-seven women (20 with PVD1, 19 with PVD2, and 18 controls) completed measures of BI, sexual satisfaction, sexual function, pain during intercourse, and depression. Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures were (i) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction Scale, (ii) Female Sexual Function Index, and (iii) pain numerical rating scale. Results: Controlling for depression, women with PVD1 reported more body exposure anxiety during sexual activities than women with PVD2 and controls F(2,51)=4.23, P=0.02. For women with PVD, more negative BI during sexual activities was associated with lower sexual satisfaction (β=-0.45, P=0.02) and function (β=-0.39, P=0.04) and higher pain during intercourse (β=0.59, P=0.004). More positive body esteem was associated with higher sexual function (β=0.34, P=0.05). Conclusions: Findings suggest that women with PVD1 present more body exposure anxiety during sexual activities than women with PVD2 and asymptomatic women. Body esteem and general attitudes toward women's genitalia were not significantly different between groups. Higher body exposure anxiety during sexual activities was associated with poorer sexual outcomes in women with PVD. Further studies assessing interventions targeting BI during sexual activities in this population are needed, as improving BI during sexual interactions may enhance sexual outcomes in women with PVD.

Introduction: A common subtype of vulvodynia is provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), characterized by severe pain upon contact to the vaginal entrance. Some researchers have further delineated the PVD group based on pain onset (primary vs secondary PVD, referred to as PVD1 and PVD2, respectively). Aim: This study aims to review available evidence regarding sociodemographic variables, pain characteristics, medical history and examination findings, quantitative sensory testing, genetic markers, psychosocial/sexual/relationship function, treatment outcome, and brain imaging in women with PVD1 and PVD2. Methods: All available data related to PVD1 and PVD2 were reviewed. Main outcome measures: There is mixed evidence supporting the assumption that women with PVD1 fare worse on all variables investigated. Results: The review indicated that although women with PVD1 seem to fare worse on many variables examined (eg, pain severity, genetic markers), many studies also indicated no significant group differences or-less commonly-that women with PVD2 fare worse on some variables (eg, sexual function). Conclusion: Although it has been suggested that different pathophysiologic processes are involved in the development and maintenance of PVD1 and PVD2, the data reviewed were mixed. While most studies indicated that women with PVD1 have higher pain intensity, higher sensitivity, more genetic influence, more evidence of inflammation, lower successful treatment outcomes, and different neural activation patterns and structural findings, these results were not consistently reported. In addition, the data for subgroup differences in psychosocial, sexual, and relationship variables were not convincing. A more precise definition of primary and secondary PVD is needed, and importantly, prospective, longitudinal studies are essential for clarifying any differences within these PVD subgroups.

Plant defensins are small cysteine-rich peptides and exhibit antimicrobial activity against a variety of both plant and human pathogens. Despite the broad inhibitory activity that plant defensins exhibit against different micro-organisms, little is known about their activity against protozoa. In a previous study, we isolated a plant defensin named PvD1 from Phaseolus vulgaris (cv. Pérola) seeds, which was seen to be deleterious against different yeast cells and filamentous fungi. It exerted its effects by causing an increase in the endogenous production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and NO (nitric oxide), plasma membrane permeabilization and the inhibition of medium acidification. In the present study, we investigated whether PvD1 could act against the protozoan Leishmania amazonensis. Our results show that, besides inhibiting the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes, the PvD1 defensin was able to cause cytoplasmic fragmentation, formation of multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles and membrane permeabilization in the cells of this organism. Furthermore, we show, for the first time, that PvD1 defensin was located within the L. amazonensis cells, suggesting the existence of a possible intracellular target.