Adenomyosis and endometriosis. Re-visiting their association and further insights into the mechanisms of auto-traumatisation. An MRI study.

Purpose: In a series of publications, we had developed the concept that uterine adenomyosis and pelvic endometriosis as well as endometriotic lesions at distant sites of the body share a common pathophysiology with endometriosis constituting a secondary phenomenon. Uterine auto-traumatization and the initiation of the mechanism of tissue injury and repair (TIAR) were considered the primary events in the disease process. The present MRI study was undertaken (1) to corroborate this concept by re-visiting, in view of discrepant results in the literature, the association of adenomyosis with endometriosis and (2) to extend our views concerning the mechanisms of uterine auto-traumatization.

Microtopography of the autonomic nerves in the rat knee: a fluorescence microscopic study.

Background: The autonomic innervation of the joint is involved in different functions, such as sensory inputs, modulation of the function of immune cells, and trophic actions. To have a basis for further studies of the arthritic knee joint we have investigated the topographical distribution of different neuropeptides in knees of newborn and adult rats and in adult rats after arthritis induction.

Methods: The distribution of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A (NKA), substance P (SP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) was analyzed using fluorescence immunohistochemistry.