Measurement of serum and peritoneal levels of amyloid protein A and their importance in the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis.

Objective: To evaluate serum and peritoneal concentrations of amyloid protein A in women with endometriosis and to compare them with those of women without endometriosis.

Study Design: A prospective study evaluated 76 women suspected of having pelvic endometriosis. Fifty-seven women (group A) were confirmed by videolaparoscopy and had their serum and peritoneal amyloid A concentrations measured by ELISA.

Assessment of the health quality of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal): heavy metals and benthic foraminifera.

This work analyses the distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) assessed by total digestion and sequential chemical extraction of the sediments. The influence of environmental parameters on the living benthic foraminiferal assemblages was studied. The most polluted parts in the Ria de Aveiro are areas where the residence time is high and cohesive sediments are deposited.

Common chromosomal imbalances and stemness-related protein expression markers in endometriotic lesions from different anatomical sites: the potential role of stem cells.

Background: Endometriosis is a multifactorial gynecological disease characterized by the presence of functional endometrium-like tissue in ectopic sites. Several studies have focused on elucidating the immunological, endocrine, environmental and genetic factors involved in endometriosis. However, its pathogenesis is still unclear.

Patients with endometriosis of the rectosigmoid have a higher percentage of natural killer cells in peripheral blood.

Study Objective: To estimate the concentration of natural killer (NK) cells in the peripheral blood in patients with and without endometriosis.

Design: Case-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital.

Quality of life after segmental resection of the rectosigmoid by laparoscopy in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis with bowel involvement.

Study Objective: To estimate the quality of life of patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of a segment of the rectosigmoid for the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis with bowel involvement.

Design: Prospective application of the SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire to 151 women before and 1 year after surgical intervention (Canadian Task Force Design Classification II).

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo Medical School, and Samaritano Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of pelvic endometriosis–a case series.

Objective: To describe clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients with pelvic endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy at our service.

Methods: Retrospective study of 892 post-laparoscopy patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis.

Results: Mean age was 33.

Transvaginal ultrasonography with bowel preparation is able to predict the number of lesions and rectosigmoid layers affected in cases of deep endometriosis, defining surgical strategy.

Background: Successful surgical treatment of deep bowel endometriosis depends on obtaining detailed information about the lesions, prior to the procedure. The objective of this study was to determine the capability of transvaginal ultrasonography with bowel preparation (TVUS-BP) to predict the presence of one or more rectosigmoid nodules and the deepest bowel layer affected by the disease.

Methods: A prospective study of 194 patients with clinical and TVUS-BP suspected deep endometriosis submitted to videolaparoscopy.

Endometriosis at several sites, cyclic bowel symptoms, and the likelihood of the appendix being affected.

In patients with endometriosis of the appendix, other sites are use to be affected by the disease, mainly bladder, rectosigmoid and retrocervical endometriosis. When these characteristics are present or if patients have more than three sites affected by endometriosis, the surgeon should evaluate the appendix carefully.

Transvaginal ultrasound for diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis.

Deeply infiltrating endometriosis is the clinical form of the disease that is generally associated with conditions of more intense pain and may require more complex surgical management, consequently resulting in greater risks to the patient. In recent years, various investigators have confirmed the usefulness of methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transrectal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) for the diagnosis of deep endometriotic lesions. The objectives of the present study are to describe the method used to perform TVUS for the detection of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, and to discuss the clinical benefits that the data obtained may offer clinicians providing care for patients suspected of having this type of endometriosis.

Endometriosis lesions that compromise the rectum deeper than the inner muscularis layer have more than 40% of the circumference of the rectum affected by the disease.

Study Objective: To estimate the relationship between the depth of lesions of rectal endometriosis and the percentage of the circumference of the bowel segment affected by the disease.

Design: A prospective pathologic analysis of 45 surgical specimens of bowel endometriosis obtained by laparoscopic segmental resection of the rectosigmoid (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital.

Endometriosis of the ureter and bladder are not associated diseases.

Objective: To verify whether bladder and ureter endometriosis had the same clinical features and disease behavior.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Multidisciplinary group in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Interleukin-12 but not interleukin-18 is associated with severe endometriosis.

Objective: To evaluate interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 levels in the serum and peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: University hospital.

Comparison between clinical examination, transvaginal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of deep endometriosis.

Background: Deeply infiltrating endometriosis affecting the retrocervical region and the rectosigmoid generally requires surgical treatment. Clinical examination, transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful in the preoperative diagnosis of the involvement of these sites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of digital vaginal examination, TVUS and MRI to diagnose rectosigmoid and retrocervical involvement.

Deeply infiltrating endometriosis affecting the rectum and lymph nodes.

Objective: To analyze morphologic aspects of bowel endometriosis.

Design: Prospective study of 35 consecutive cases of bowel endometriosis.

Setting: Multidisciplinary group practice and teaching hospital.

Bowel endometriosis and schistosomiasis: a rare but possible association.

Objective: To report the case of a patient submitted to laparoscopic bowel resection in whom histology revealed endometriosis and schistosomiasis.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Multidisciplinary group practice and teaching hospital.