Presence and active synthesis of the 67 kDa elastin-receptor in human circulating white blood cells.

Early after the identification of the elastin-receptor (El-R) on mesenchymal cells, it was demonstrated that phagocytic cells and lymphocytes could also respond to elastin peptides. Nevertheless, the level of El-R expression has never been demonstrated on immune cells and no data exist whether these cells actively synthesize this El-R. Thus, our aim in the present work was to study the expression and number of El-R on white blood cells (WBC) using a specific 67 kDa El-R antibody and to demonstrate the presence of mRNA corresponding to the gene coding for El-R.

Evaluation of risk factors associated with endometriosis.

Objective: To investigate the association between several factors such as demographics, personal habits, reproductive factors, menstrual characteristics, contraception, and clinical profile and the probability of having endometriosis.

Setting: Ten clinical institutions in the Montreal area.

Patient(s): A total of 2777 subjects who underwent surgery for diagnostic laparoscopy, tubal ligation, or hysterectomy between January 1998 and July 2002.

Concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, c-erbB-2, and epidermal growth factor in serum of patients with endometriosis.

Objective: Endometriosis, although it is a benign disorder, shares many similarities with cancer. There is increasing levels of evidence suggesting that some circulating factors involved in gynecologic cancers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), c-erbB-2 (HER-2/neu), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), could also play a role in endometriosis. Hence, the present study was aimed at evaluating whether the levels of these molecules are modulated in the serum of patients with endometriosis.

Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 and angiogenin in endometriosis patients.

Problem: Many soluble factors contributing to the pathophysiology of endometriosis are found at abnormal levels in patients suffering from the disease. We postulated that levels of these factors could also be altered in the serum of patients. We compared levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), soluble form of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) receptor-1 (sTNFR-1) and angiogenin in the serum of patients with endometriosis and controls.

Development of a nonsurgical diagnostic tool for endometriosis based on the detection of endometrial leukocyte subsets and serum CA-125 levels.

Objective: To determine whether the proportion of several leukocyte subsets is modulated in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis and, if yes, whether it can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Eight clinical institutions of the Montreal area.

Blood leukocyte subsets are modulated in patients with endometriosis.

Objective: To determine whether blood leukocyte populations could be modulated in endometriosis.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Eight clinical institutions of the Montreal area.