Eylül GÜN, MD
Dr. Gun is a Turkish histopathologist who currently works in the United Kingdom. She is a member of some national societies as well as international ones such as the European Society of Pathology and the Royal College of Pathologists, UK. She is interested in gynecological and urological pathology and has been doing research on these subjects.
Alterations of mitochondrial dynamics in endometriosis
Mitochondria are known as the batteries of the cell with the ATP that they produce through oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial dynamics are important mechanisms for mitochondria to maintain their integrity by continuously undergoing changes. Mitochondrial fusion is the joining of two mitochondrial ends and fission is the division of one mitochondrion into two. The main genes that regulate these processes are dynamic-related protein-1, mitofusin1 and 2 , and optic atrophy-1 along with lysocardiolipin acyltransferase-1. It is known that the imbalance in these…
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Exploring endometriosis symptoms and their effects on women's lives
Endometriosis symptoms, their severity, and the way they affect patients' lives may vary. With the aim of investigating different personal experiences and perceptions of endometriosis symptoms and the way they impact women's daily lives, Hunsche and colleagues from Switzerland and the US conducted an interview-based study involving 40 American women afflicted with endometriosis-associated pain to explore diverse personal experiences and perspectives regarding the symptoms and their effects on women's everyday lives. The study was published in the June 2023 issue…
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Assessing endometrial receptivity using menstrual blood samples in patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization
Endometrial receptivity is the endometrium's capacity to allow the embryo the chance to adhere, infiltrate, and develop while ensuring an ideal microenvironment. When impaired, it is one of the two major factors contributing to infertility along with embryo quality by causing implantation failure. In patients who are being treated for infertility, endometrial receptivity could not be evaluated thoroughly because of the inability to sample it outside the embryo transfer cycle. Researchers led by Dr. Mark Jain from Moscow, Russia conducted…
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A comparative analysis of male and female perspectives on sexuality in couples dealing with endometriosis
Sexual relationships of patients with endometriosis have been an area of research lately, however, studies have focused mostly on female perceptions and opinions leaving out the males. Helfenstein et al. from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria conducted a multicenter cohort study with the aim of comparing female and male perceptions and experiences on sexual partnership while dealing with endometriosis and also evaluating how couples assess each other’s sexual satisfaction. The study was published in the April 2023 issue of the journal…
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Novel surgical solutions for catamenial pneumothorax
Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that occurs during or right after menstruation and is thought to be caused by thoracic endometriosis that includes the diaphragm, lung, and parietal pleura. The solution is surgical removal of endometrial lesions, however, a high incidence of recurrence rates has been reported after surgery, possibly caused by the rest endometriotic tissue or the re-dissemination of pelvic endometriotic tissue. To overcome this issue, Koike et al. from Japan performed a surgical technique called “total pleural…
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Role of peritoneal dendritic cells in endometriosis development
Dendritic cells (DCs), essential antigen-presenting cells bridging innate and adaptive immunity, play a pivotal role in immune response modulation. They capture process, and present antigens, facilitating T-cell activation. DCs also promote self-tolerance by releasing tolerogenic cytokines, contributing to autoimmune disease pathogenesis. In endometriosis, alterations in DC populations have been observed, impacting disease development. Aiming to examine the impact of peritoneal DC maturation on endometriosis development, Dr. Lihong group from China investigated the altered DC populations in endometriosis patients' endometrium and…
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Endometriosis of the skeletal muscular system
Endometriosis of the skeletal muscular system (ESMS) is characterized by the presence of endometrial cells in skeletal muscles, bones, or joints. Despite its rare occurrence, ESMS has been reported in various muscle and joint locations, leading to atypical symptoms and potential misdiagnosis. Ye et al. from China conducted a systematic review to comprehensively analyze and understand ESMS, its manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and treatment outcomes. The article was published in the January 2023 issue of the journal BMC Women’s Health. The…
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Telemedicine for endometriosis
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread adoption of telemedicine, allowing healthcare professionals to provide care remotely using technology. Telemedicine has proven successful in various medical fields. In obstetrics and gynecology, implementing telemedicine became crucial, especially for conditions like endometriosis. A survey showed that many patients felt the pandemic affected their condition's management. To address this, Dr. Balci from Turkey, implemented a telemedicine model for triaging, counseling, and managing patients via phone calls. The study aimed to determine the proportion…
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Sexual activity during menstruation: Any impact on endometriosis development?
Retrograde menstruation is among the theories for the etiology of endometriosis and there is a hypothesis that sexual activity during menstruation could potentially increase retrograde menstruation, leading to the implantation of endometrial tissue in other areas and consequently increasing the risk of endometriosis. Some studies suggest a potentially higher risk of endometriosis in women who engage in sexual activity during menstruation, while others indicate a lower risk. The systematic review and meta-analysis by Mollazadeh et al. from Iran sought to…
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A new potential biomarker proposal from leukorrhea of endometriosis patients
Endometriosis is typically diagnosed through laparoscopic surgery, which can be invasive and discourages some patients from participating. Therefore, there is a need for a non-invasive diagnostic method. Exosomes, small vesicles containing biological information, can be found in almost every type of body fluids. They have been extensively studied for their role in diseases and as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Specifically, exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown promise as diagnostic markers for various inflammatory disorders and cancers. A recent study reported…
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Conditioned medium from adipose tissue derived stem cells for endometriosis treatment
Despite the effectiveness of both surgical and medical treatments in addressing complications related to endometriosis, there is still a high recurrence rate indicating the need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to enhance the effectiveness of endometriosis treatment. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from adipose tissue have shown therapeutic potential in organ repair and exhibit beneficial effects in regulating inflammation and promoting wound healing. Huang et al. from Taiwan and the United States conducted a study aiming to explore the…
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Melatonin for endometriosis-associated pain
Treatment options for endometriosis-associated pain include analgesics, hormonal therapy, and surgery. However, these treatments may be ineffective for some women, leading to a search for alternative approaches. Melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles, possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-estrogenic properties, making it a promising candidate for managing EAPP. Previous studies have demonstrated that melatonin can impair the cellular invasion, migration, and proliferation of endometriotic tissue. Söderman et al. from Stockholm, Sweden conducted a randomized, double-blinded, parallel placebo-controlled trial on…
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Pelvic pain in transgender individuals on testosterone therapy
Pelvic pain is a common issue among individuals assigned female at birth who are transgender or gender diverse (referred to as trans individuals) and are undergoing testosterone therapy as part of their gender-affirming hormone treatment. However, this topic remains poorly understood, despite the growing demand for gender-affirming healthcare globally. Aiming to shed light on the characteristics of pelvic pain in trans individuals undergoing testosterone therapy and explore potential factors associated with the onset of pelvic pain after starting hormone treatment,…
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Interleukin-35 expression in B lymphocytes: A new potential biomarker?
Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and B-cells (Bregs) play a crucial role in establishing tolerance to self-antigens and suppressing immune activity. Therefore, in endometriosis, they are requisite for the endometriotic cells to survive outside the uterus. They suppress immune activity by producing cytokines. A new immunosuppressive cytokine produced by Bregs; Interleukin-35 (IL-35) has been studied. Slawek et al. from Poland focused on investigating the frequency of different subpopulations of Bregs and their ability to produce IL-35 in women with endometriosis compared to healthy…
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Nutritional recommendations for endometriosis patients
Diet and lifestyle factors have been implicated in the development and progression of endometriosis, in addition to genetic determinants. Piecuch et al. from Poland conducted a review study discussing the importance of different nutrients and nutritional recommendations in endometriosis. The article was published in the December 2022 issue of the journal Nutrients. Estrogen is a key factor in endometrial cellular growth, and certain nutrients can affect endogenous estrogen levels. Phytoestrogens, found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and soybean, have been associated…
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Improving the quality of life: The role of cognitive behavioral therapy after endometriosis surgery
Endometriosis and its symptoms have been associated with poor mental health and reduced quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy is recognized as an effective psychological treatment for managing depression, anxiety, and stress. Although surgery for endometriosis improves a patient's quality of life, it may not reach the same level as that of a healthy woman. To bridge this gap, Wu et al. from China conducted a preliminary case-control study aiming to determine if combining usual care with cognitive behavioral therapy…
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A rare and challenging site for endometriosis: Pancreas
Pancreas presents as a rare site for extragenital endometriosis. Gkegkes et al. performed a systematic review of the literature on pancreatic endometriosis. The article was published in the Jan-Feb 2023 issue of the journal Annals of Gastroenterology. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus databases in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. There were 18 pancreatic endometriosis patients from 17 case reports that met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 39.3. Studies revealed that pancreatic endometriosis can…
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Exploring tissue origins and age characteristics in endometriosis
Despite its widespread occurrence, the precise factors leading to endometriosis and the nature of its symptoms remain uncertain. To better understand the disease and improve treatment, Leap et al. from the US and Austria explored the use of DNA methylation age to predict tissue origin and aimed to understand the age characteristics and potential tissue origins of endometriosis. The study was published in the December 2022 issue of the journal Scientific Reports. DNA methylation is involved in gene regulation and…
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The role of IL-33 and "T-regs" in lesion progression and fibrosis in endometriosis
It has been recognized that immune regulation likely plays a crucial role in endometriosis. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important immune regulators, and studies have linked Tregs to endometriosis development through signaling pathways involving TGF-β1 and PDGF. IL-33, an inflammatory molecule, has been found to play a role in tissue injury and fibrogenesis in various organs. It is elevated in endometriosis patients promoting fibrosis. It interacts with Tregs, promoting their activation and secretion of Th2 cytokines, thereby driving type 2…
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Neuroendocrine pathway in endometriosis-related infertility
Dr. Robert Taylor from Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo presented on the newly defined neuroendocrine pathway and its role in endometriosis-related infertility and how implantation and pregnancy establishment might be disrupted in endometriosis at the Annual International Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation of America held in New York on April 1-2, 2023. It was shown that within the eutopic endometrial cavity, the decidualized stromal phenotype in women with endometriosis is quite different at a molecular level than the normal population. He…
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