Publications by authors named "L Rombauts"
Objective: To investigate whether endometrial receptivity is affected in patients with endometriosis using podocalyxin (PCX) as a functional biomarker; to study how endometriotic lesions display PCX and the potential pathological implications.
Design: We have previously reported that PCX, an anti-adhesion glycoprotein and barrier protector, is dynamically regulated in the endometrium and acts as a key negative regulator of epithelial receptivity. Early in the cycle both luminal epithelium (LE, lining the endometrial surface) and glandular epithelium (GE, residing within the tissue) strongly express PCX, but in the receptive window PCX is selectively down-regulated in LE, switching the endometrial surface to an adhesive state for embryo attachment/implantation; meanwhile PCX expression is maintained in GE until post-receptivity.
Article Synopsis
- The endometrium remodels each menstrual cycle to support embryo implantation, but abnormal receptivity can lead to infertility.
- MicroRNA-124-3p is linked to chronic endometritis and is found at elevated levels in women with unexplained infertility, impacting cell adhesion crucial for implantation.
- In studies using mouse models and human endometrial cells, increased microRNA-124-3p was shown to disrupt adhesive capacity and cell polarity, ultimately resulting in implantation failure.
Article Synopsis
- The 2024 Australian evidence-based guideline offers recommendations for diagnosing and treating unexplained infertility in couples, tailored specifically for the Australian healthcare context and approved by national health authorities.
- The guideline contains 40 evidence-based recommendations, addressing areas such as defining infertility, diagnosing various factors contributing to infertility, and treatment options, with a focus on improving patient care.
- Key updates include a refined definition of unexplained infertility and a more comprehensive assessment process, integrating considerations of evidence quality, safety, and practicality for implementing these guidelines in Australia.
Study Question: Can we develop a prediction model for the chance of a live birth following the transfer of an embryo created using donated oocytes?
Summary Answer: Three primary models that included patient, past treatment, and cycle characteristics were developed using Australian data to predict the chance of a live birth following the transfer of an embryo created using donated oocytes; these models were well-calibrated to the population studied, achieved reasonable predictive power and generalizability when tested on New Zealand data.
What Is Known Already: Nearly 9% of ART embryo transfer cycles performed globally use embryos created using donated oocytes. This percentage rises to one-quarter and one-half in same-sex couples and women aged over 45 years, respectively.