Sonographic signs of deep infiltrative endometriosis among women submitted to routine transvaginal sonography: clinical and imaging aspects.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of sonographic signs suggestive of deep infiltrative endometriosis and endometriomas in patients referred for transvaginal sonography as part of a routine annual gynecological evaluation. We also describe the clinical and imaging aspects associated with the incidental findings of endometriosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study including women (n=339; aged 18-56 years) referred for transvaginal sonography as part of a routine gynecological evaluation (without clinical suspicion of endometriosis).

Site-Specific Regulation of Sulfatase and Aromatase Pathways for Estrogen Production in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a highly prevalent gynecological disease characterized by lesions in different sites. Regulation of specific estrogen pathways may favor the formation of distinct microenvironments and the progression of endometriosis. However, no study has simultaneously evaluated the gene and protein regulation of the main estrogen-synthesizing enzymes in endometriosis.

Altered p16, IL-1β, and Lamin b1 Protein Expression Suggest Cellular Senescence in Deep Endometriotic Lesions.

Endometriosis causes immunological and cellular alterations. Endometriosis lesions have lower levels of lamin b1 than the endometrium. Moreover, high levels of pro-inflammatory markers are observed in the peritoneal fluid, follicular fluid, and serum in endometriosis lesions.

Comparison of senescence progression in mesenchymal cells from human umbilical cord walls measured by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry of p16 and p21.

Objective: To follow the expansion of mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cords by two classic senescence markers, p16 (INK4A) and p21 (CDKN1A), using practical, fast, and less expensive methods than the gold standard Western blotting technique, to evaluate its applicability in the laboratory.

Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cords were isolated from Wharton's jelly and, after quality control, morphological and immunophenotypic characterization by flow cytometry, were expanded in culture until coming close to cell cycle arrest (replicative senescence).

Results: A comparison was made between young cells, at passage 5, and pre-senescent cells, at passage 10, evaluating the protein expression of the classic cell senescence markers p16 and p21, comparing the results obtained by Western blotting with those obtained by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence.

Endometriosis: current challenges in modeling a multifactorial disease of unknown etiology.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory hormone-dependent condition associated with pelvic pain and infertility, characterized by the growth of ectopic endometrium outside the uterus. Given its still unknown etiology, treatments usually aim at diminishing pain and/or achieving pregnancy. Despite some progress in defining mode-of-action for drug development, the lack of reliable animal models indicates that novel approaches are required.