Endometriosis vs. adenomyosis : is there a common pathogenesis ?

Endometriosis vs. adenomyosis : is there a common pathogenesis ? By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

This is a collaborative review on the pathophysiology of adenomyosis and endometriosis by academicians of the University of Leicester, UK; Fudan University, Shanghai, China and Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, published in a recent issue of “Biomolecules”. The pathophysiology of…

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A herbal product has promising results in experimental endometriosis

A herbal product has promising results in experimental endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Neroli oil (bitter orange) is a nontoxic volatile substance from the flowers of Citrus aurantium that belongs to the Rutaceae family. This oil has notable anti-inflammatory effects besides potent antioxidant activity with 100% singlet oxygen scavenging activity. Contemporary pathophysiological views…

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Novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis

Novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis By Hale Goksever Celik

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a genetic background resulting in familial clustering. Although multiple susceptibility loci have been identified in genome-wide association studies, high-risk predisposing variants have not been defined yet. A group of scientists from Finland, published a study…

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Gene Expression Profiles of Endometriosis and Personalized Treatment

Gene Expression Profiles of  Endometriosis and Personalized Treatment By Bahar Yuksel

The study lead by Dr.McKinnon from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Australia, aimed to understand the gene expression profiles of different endometriosis lesion subtypes and their response to hormonal treatment. The researchers analyzed gene expression data…

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The Importance of "uterine adenogenesis" in endometriosis development

The Importance of By Eylül GÜN

Understanding the complex pathogenetic mechanisms underlying endometriosis has been a big challenge. Several studies have demonstrated that the eutopic and ectopic endometrium exhibit distinct characteristics. Researchers led by Signorile et al. from Italy conducted a review of the recent developments…

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Alterations of mitochondrial dynamics in endometriosis

Alterations of mitochondrial dynamics in endometriosis By Eylül GÜN

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…

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A review for genetics of endometriosis.

A review for genetics of endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

There is an increased risk of developing endometriosis among first-degree relatives, which can raise suspicions of the role of genetic factors in endometriosis. Genome-wide association studies and next-generation sequencing have identified numerous genetic loci and variants relating to the disease.…

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Does ZEB1 Gene Expression Govern Endometriosis Infiltration Pattern?

Does ZEB1 Gene Expression Govern Endometriosis Infiltration Pattern? By Özge Özkaya

The expression of a gene called ZEB1 is different between different types of endometriosis, found a new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. This could affect whether or not lesions become infiltrative.   More importantly,…

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Endometriosis and Genetic Polymorphisms in Proinflammatory Cytokines

Endometriosis and Genetic Polymorphisms in Proinflammatory Cytokines By Hale Goksever Celik

Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed for the chronic inflammatory nature of endometriosis, such as retrograde menstruation, coelomic metaplasia, hormonal change, oxidative stress and inflammation, immune dysfunction, and apoptosis suppression. One of the most widely accepted theories in recent years…

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Exploring tissue origins and age characteristics in endometriosis

Exploring tissue origins and age characteristics in endometriosis By Eylül GÜN

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…

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Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Adenomyosis have different genetic pathways

 Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Adenomyosis have different genetic pathways By Bahar Yuksel

It is still not defined whether adenomyosis is also a deep endometriosis component or not. In the study conducted by Marshall et al, the researchers compared the gene expression patterns between deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and adenomyosis uteri in order…

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Hypoxia and endometriosis: A review of mechanisms

Hypoxia and endometriosis: A review of mechanisms By Eylül GÜN

Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain the development of endometriosis lesions. One of these is hypoxia, which can induce changes in endometrial cells, but the exact mechanism is not yet clear. Zhou et al from China wrote a review…

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Is the pathogenesis of endometriosis hidden in immune-related gene profiles ?

Is the pathogenesis of endometriosis hidden in immune-related gene profiles ? By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Yanan He and colleagues from the Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University, China  have published their manuscript on potential immune markers in endometriosis in a recent issue of  “Journal of Immunology Research” Pathophysiologic mechanisms involving endometriosis are complicated and have…

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Iron and toxic environmental elements in ovarian endometriomas

Iron and toxic environmental elements in ovarian endometriomas By Selma Oransay

It is well-known that the growth of endometriotic lesions is estrogen-dependent and supported by inflammatory processes. In addition to oxidative stress, it is believed that several other factors, including chemicals and environmental factors, and genetic predisposition may play a potential…

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Scientific unfolding will lead new drug targets

Scientific unfolding will lead new drug targets By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Drs. Dolmans and Donnez from academic institutions located in Brussels, Belgium, have published their comprehensive review on the current pathophysiological concepts in endometriosis with possible drug treatment potentials in the recent issue of a scientific journal named “Biomolecules”.  As a…

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Machine learning based potential biomarkers

Machine learning based potential biomarkers               By Bahar Yuksel

To explore potential biomarkers for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, and to elucidate the mechanism of endometriosis, Yi Huang et al, analyzed gene differences between eutopic and ectopic endometrium and the status of the immune microenvironment., and published their results in the…

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Molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrogenesis in endometriosis

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrogenesis in endometriosis By Selma Oransay

Endometriosis lesions are characterized by endometrium-like cell proliferation, invasion, and oxidative stress associated with inflammation and neoangiogenesis. Fibrosis, which occurs due to these events, causes chronic pelvic pain depending on the location and the severity of endometriosis. For the purpose…

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Uterine agenesis patients may have endometriosis too

Uterine agenesis patients may have endometriosis too By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Steinmacher and colleagues at the Tuebingen University Hospital, Germany have published their unique study on a series of patients with congenital Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome in a recent issue of the “Journal of Clinical Medicine”. The absence uterus and upper…

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Scientists Try to Understand Consequences of Genetic Changes in Endometriosis

Scientists Try to Understand Consequences of Genetic Changes in Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

The protocol of the "Endometriosis Research Queensland Study" has been published in the scientific journal BMJ Open. The aim of the study is to collect endometrial tissue associated with the disease and chart its genetic architecture. This way, the researchers aim to…

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Epigenetic changes in endometriosis: A new target area for therapy

Epigenetic changes in endometriosis: A new target area for therapy By Eylül GÜN

Epigenetics is the heritable genetic modifications and changes in chromosomes without alterations in the DNA sequence. Numerous mechanisms, like DNA methylation and RNA editing to mention a couple, have been discovered as epigenetic alterations that are triggered by environmental factors.…

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Endometriosis and the possible mechanisms of pain.

 Endometriosis and the possible mechanisms of pain. By Selma Oransay

The most common clinical symptoms of endometriosis are chronic pelvic pain and infertility. It is often not enough to treat pain symptoms with hormonal therapy or a surgical approach. Moreover, the stage of endometriosis has weakly associated with the amount,…

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Organizing structural protein Ezrin and its active form in endometriosis biopsies

Organizing structural protein Ezrin and its active form in endometriosis biopsies By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Alessandra Peloggia and colleagues from Brazil have published their results on immunostaining of Ezrin protein and its phosphorylated active form in endometrial tissues in a recent issue of “Clinics” Possible factors on endometrial cell implantation and proliferation in the…

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Endometriosis Prediction by "Machine Learning"

Endometriosis Prediction by By Selma Oransay

To develop a predictive model for endometriosis and to re-assess the contribution of known risk factors, Blass et al. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel used the data of the UK biobank by machine learning-based models. They compared and…

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The effects of resveratrol on endometriotic cells

The effects of resveratrol on endometriotic cells By Eylül GÜN

The current treatment methods for endometriosis still carry recurrence risks and side effects from medications. Herbal medicine has been investigated and used as an additional alternative method. Derived from several plants and found in some dietary sources, resveratrol is a…

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Estradiol metabolism, endometriosis and migraine

Estradiol metabolism, endometriosis and migraine By Bahar Yuksel

Endometriosis and migraine are the leading pain diseases of women of reproductive ages. As both are known to be induced by hormonal changes, in the review conducted by Joy-Fleur van der Vaart et al, the authors aimed to find out the…

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Research Identifies Blood Proteins Associated With Endometriosis in Adolescents

Research Identifies Blood Proteins Associated With Endometriosis in Adolescents By Özge Özkaya

Proteins related to angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels and cellular migration are enriched and more active in the blood of adolescents with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. These are the findings of a new study published in…

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Does inhibiting the formation of the new blood vessels aid in endometriosis treatment?

Does inhibiting the formation of the new blood vessels aid in endometriosis treatment? By Eylül GÜN

Current treatment modalities for endometriosis include a hormonal alteration which has many side effects and surgical removal which has a high postoperative recurrence rate. Alternative non-hormonal treatment methods have been investigated and anti-angiogenic therapy is one of them. Dr.s Chung…

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Potential New Approach to Treat Endometriosis

Potential New Approach to Treat Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Inhibiting ribosome biogenesis could be a potential therapeutic approach for endometriosis according to a new study published in the scientific journal Biomedicines. Ribosome biogenesis plays a key role in protein homeostasis during cell growth and division. Previous research has shown…

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Genetic prediction models for endometriosis diagnosis

Genetic prediction models for endometriosis diagnosis By Bahar Yuksel

There are many studies trying to find a mysterious gene that would solve all the mysteries of endometriosis, yet none have been identified up to now. In the study conducted by She et al, the authors revealed an R system…

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The underlying reason of implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility

The underlying reason of implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility By Hale Goksever Celik

Endometriosis is most frequently encountered in reproductive-aged women, with a prevalence of 10-15% in the general population. However, endometriosis is more frequently diagnosed in infertile women, with a prevalence of 25-40%. Although the exact mechanism explaining the association between endometriosis…

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An important enigmatic promoter of endometriosis: immune dendritic cells

An important enigmatic promoter of endometriosis: immune dendritic cells By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Larinha and associates from a Brasilian academic center have published their comprehensive review on the role of immune dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis in a recent issue of the "Journal of Reproductive Immunology". Antigen-presenting dendritic cells of…

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Is "non-hormonal therapy" effective in women with endometriosis-associated pain?

Is By Hale Goksever Celik

Women with endometriosis require effective treatment due to the negative impact of the disease on quality of life. Hormonal treatments including oral contraceptives, and progestins are usually recommended to suppress ovulation and decrease pelvic pain. However, some women do not…

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Full understanding the role of nervous system in endometriosis could yield new gateways to novel therapeutic approaches

Full understanding the role of nervous system in endometriosis could yield new gateways to novel therapeutic approaches By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Velho and associates from Berlin, Germany have recently published their comprehensive review on the role of the nervous system in endometriosis in a recent issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. Understanding the role of the peripheral nervous system…

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Is it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis

Is it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis By Bahar Yuksel

The trigger mechanism of endometriosis formation is still under investigation. But it is clear that there is an iron overload on endometriotic lesions. In the study conducted by Guojing Li et al, the mechanism of iron on endometriosis formation has been…

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What do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common?

What do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common? By Bahar Yuksel

While endometriosis is not a malignant disease, it is for sure known that it shares genetic disorders with cancers. In the bioinformatics study applied by Leyi Ni et al, the researchers analyzed the genetic pathways shared by both ovarian cancers…

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Cancer invasion genes to explain invasiveness of adenomyosis

Cancer invasion genes to explain invasiveness of adenomyosis By Bahar Yuksel

Adenomyosis looks similar to endometriosis, but it is not the same. However, the invasiveness and migration patterns of both diseases have something in common. The study conducted by Guo et al. questioned whether invasiveness genes that have already been studied…

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Is breastfeeding beneficial to endometriosis pain?

Is breastfeeding beneficial to endometriosis pain? By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Porta team from Italian academic centers have recently published their research in “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” on breastfeeding mothers who were under follow-up for histologically proven endometriosis. The hormonal milieu is believed to have an important…

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Inflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches

Inflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Elisa Giacomini and colleagues from medical centers in Milan, Italy have published their review manuscript on the inflammatory and genetical pathogenetic background of endometriosis in a recent issue of  “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”, suggesting also new therapeutic approaches. The inflammatory…

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Molecular alterations in endometriosis pathogenesis

Molecular alterations in endometriosis pathogenesis By Eylül GÜN

Endometriosis has been in our lives for decades, however little is known about its pathogenesis making it hard to diagnose and manage. A review study conducted by Balasubramanian et al. from India reveals all the characteristics and the underlying conditions…

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Etiopathogenesis of Endometriosis and Links with Endometrial Cancer

Etiopathogenesis of Endometriosis and Links with Endometrial Cancer By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Professor Terzic and colleagues from the Medical School of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan published their review on the molecular aspects of endometriosis and endometrial cancer in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis has remained controversial, with recent studies…

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Catching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners

Catching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners By Bahar Yuksel

It should be repetitively pronounced that "endometriosis is very common and it is very important to diagnose it as soon as possible before it causes lifelong damage to women’s lives". The sooner the better concerning the diagnosis, and this is…

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Research Identifies New Genes That Could Be Targeted to Treat Endometriosis

Research Identifies New Genes That Could Be Targeted to Treat Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Researchers identified three new genes that could help understand the invasiveness of endometriosis. They also identified one new gene that could be related to the recurrence of the disease. These genes may potentially be new therapeutic targets for endometriosis. In…

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A new "nonhormonal" treatment target in endometriosis

A new By Eylül GÜN

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects millions of women globally. With pelvic pain being its most common symptom, the cost of the treatment of disease-associated symptoms has been found to be almost as high as type 2 diabetes.…

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New molecular insights in endometriosis pathogenesis

New molecular insights in endometriosis pathogenesis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Rosalba Siracusa and associates from Messina University, Italy, have published their research on cellular pathogenesis of experimental endometriotic lesions in the recent issue of the "International Journal of  Molecular Sciences". Endometriosis is a debilitating chronic estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition and…

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Migraine, endometriosis and plasma "Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide"

Migraine, endometriosis and plasma By Eylül GÜN

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neurotransmitter that takes part in migraine and is now thought to have a role in endometriosis. The role of CGRP is well known in migraine, it is released from neurons during acute attacks and…

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The genomic linkage between ovarian cancer and endometriosis

The genomic linkage between ovarian cancer and endometriosis By Eylül GÜN

Endometriosis has been proven to be the precursor of ovarian clear cell and endometrioid carcinomas, however, it is not well understood why and how endometriosis goes into malignant transformation.  To address this issue, in their review article, Dr. Yachida and…

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Endometriosis from the "EVOLUTIONARY" point of view

Endometriosis from the By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Natalie Dinsdale and associates from the Canadian Simon Fraser University Department of Biological Sciences published a critical review titled “ The evolutionary biology of endometriosis” in a recent issue of the journal “Evolution, medicine and public health”. This review focuses…

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Genetic Predisposition to Endometriosis

Genetic Predisposition to Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Certain genetic polymorphisms, called SNPs, in the ESR2 and CYP19A1 genes, were more prevalent among patients with endometriosis compared to women without the disease according to a study by researchers in Poland.  A better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the…

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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Wertel and associates from Polish academic centers published their sentimental review paper on the role of "Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells" in human diseases, in a recent issue of  Cells. Endometriosis, the most common gynecological disease affecting about 10% of women globally,…

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Targeting Endometriosis From a Different Angle

Targeting Endometriosis From a Different Angle By Özge Özkaya

Dopamine agonists could help reduce the size of endometriosis lesions and minimize pain, while maintaining ovulation, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction. This constitutes a completely different approach in targeting endometriosis according to Dr.…

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Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis

Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Wan-Ning Li and associates from academic institutions from Taiwan have published their review paper on the role of hypoxia and possible therapeutic outcomes in the medical journal named "Reproduction" recently.  Endometriosis is an important ailment with huge medical and social…

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It is time for redefining endometriosis with our contemporary scientific knowledge - Philippe Koninckx, MD, Ph.D.

It is time for redefining endometriosis with our contemporary scientific knowledge -  Philippe Koninckx, MD, Ph.D. By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Endometriosis defined as endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus has a poorly understood natural history. It is a heterogeneous disease having genetic-epigenetic features with many biochemical changes in the lesions. The Sampson hypothesis of implanted endometrial cells following retrograde menstruation is not…

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A Possible genetic target for endometriosis treatment

A Possible genetic target for endometriosis treatment By Dr. Youngran Park

Mutations in the chromosome remodeling complex SWI/SNF subunit ARID1A were first identified in ovarian clear-cell carcinoma and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, two endometriosis-associated epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes. ARID1A gene mutations are also observed in deep ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriosis, atypical endometrial…

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Pain in Endometriosis

Pain in Endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and infertility. It affects approximately 10% of women globally and more than 60% of women diagnosed with endometriosis report CPP. However, the mechanisms underlying the associated pain…

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New Signaling Pathway Could Be Crucial in the Development of Endometriosis

New Signaling Pathway Could Be Crucial in the Development of Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

RAMP1 signaling is crucial for growth and blood and lymphatic vessel formation in endometrial tissue, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. This suggests that blocking RAMP1 could be a new way to…

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Non-coding RNAs and Endometriosis

Non-coding RNAs and Endometriosis By Ellen Tumimbang

Non-coding RNAs may have a fundamental role in the development of endometriosis. Non-coding transcripts have regulatory roles in the expression of protein-coding genes, thus regulate several signaling pathways. Based on their length, these non-coding RNAs are classified into two main classes:…

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The more than expected prevalence of endometriosis in patients with Mullerian abnormalities

The more than expected prevalence of endometriosis in patients with Mullerian abnormalities By Bahar Yuksel

Congenital müllerian anomalies resulting in a spectrum of uterine abnormalities are caused by the abnormal embryologic fusion of the müllerian ducts to form a normal uterine cavity.  They are often unrecognized because they are usually asymptomatic. The presence of a uterine…

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Inhibiting killer on the move

Inhibiting killer on the move By Yu Yu

The three main forms of endometriosis are superficial, ovarian, and deep endometriosis. The latter is defined by the presence of endometriotic nodules that are deeper than 5 mm. Deep endometriosis is considered the most aggressive and is associated with severe…

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Progesterone Receptors and Endometriosis.

Progesterone Receptors and Endometriosis. By Ellen Tumimbang

Endometriosis is characterized as a chronic and inflammatory disease in which the specific cause has not been completely understood. Nonetheless, altered estrogen signaling and progesterone resistance are the common attributes of endometriosis. Progesterone resistance is partly attributed to a decrease…

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Fallopian tubes and endometriosis

Fallopian tubes and endometriosis By Selma Oransay

There are multiple theories to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis, among which the most popular one is Sampson's retrograde menstruation theory. The role of endometrial stem cells/progenitors are widely studied to support the origin of ectopic lesions in recent decades.…

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Cancer-associated mutations and endometriosis

Cancer-associated mutations and endometriosis By Ellen Tumimbang

Endometriosis is thought to benign gynecological disease. However, recent studies compiled in this review paper suggest that spontaneous somatic mutations are driven to occur during the cyclic bleeding resulting in endometriosis tissue undergoing repeated tissue injury and repair. Mutations are…

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Estrogen Receptors and Endometriosis: What do we know now?

Estrogen Receptors and Endometriosis: What do we know now? By Yu Yu

It has been well known that endometriosis is closely associated with steroid hormone metabolism and pathways. Estradiol promotes the growth and progression of endometriotic tissue, together with the associated inflammation and pain-related symptoms. Excess estradiol in endometriosis is mainly produced…

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Role of race in science

Role of race in science By Nadire Duru

Although genome pioneers and social scientists agreed on not using the race as a variable in genetic research during human genome sequencing time, the use of race as a biological category has risen since. Traditionally ‘race’ has been used as…

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Race, socioeconomic status, and health

Race, socioeconomic status, and health By Dr. Youngran Park

Racial disparities in health have been long noted in the United States. The differences in socioeconomic status across racial groups are a major contributor to racial disparities in health. However, race reflects multiple dimensions of social inequality. Understanding and effectively…

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Steroid hormone receptors in endometriosis

Steroid hormone receptors in endometriosis By Yohan Suryo

Therapeutics that target the steroid hormones are the standard treatment for women with endometriosis because steroid hormones play an important role in endometrial physiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis. Examples of these therapeutics include anti-estrogens, estrogen receptor (ER) modulators, progestins, and…

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Oxidative stress leads to elevated cytokines, excessive structural damage and angiogenesis

Oxidative stress leads to elevated cytokines, excessive structural damage and angiogenesis By Yu Yu

Endometriosis is characterized by elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species, which is then believed to upregulate inflammatory cytokines. Reactive oxygen species also regulate the activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), which is closely linked with immune responses.…

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Polymorphisms and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

Polymorphisms and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analyses. By Yohan Suryo

The symptoms of endometriosis are varied among women and include chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and fatigue. There are no reliable blood tests and medical imaging techniques such as MRI and ultrasound are not always satisfactory. The lack of endometriosis-specific symptoms…

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The relationship of serum concentrations of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and endometriosis

The relationship of serum concentrations of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and endometriosis By Irem Onur

Although many serum biomarkers or biomarker panels for endometriosis are evaluated, none of them is exact enough to be used in daily laboratory practice. In a recent study, which has been published in Scandinavian Journal Of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Barberic…

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The genetic mutations in uterine adenomyosis

The genetic mutations in uterine adenomyosis By Hale Goksever Celik

Adenomyosis is defined as the localization of endometrial stromal and glandular cells in the myometrium. This disease is a reproductive-aged women disease, like endometriosis. Additionally, adenomyosis is frequently observed together with endometriosis and leiomyomas due to common histological features and…

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Understanding endocannabinoid system in endometriosis

Understanding endocannabinoid system in endometriosis By Yu Yu

Endocannabinoids and their receptors are expressed throughout the body but have only been recently studied in depth since endocannabinoids were being discovered in 1992. In the female reproductive system, the cannabinoid receptor is expressed in the endometrium, the myometrium, the…

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Integrated bioinformatic analysis for endometriosis diagnosis

Integrated bioinformatic analysis for endometriosis diagnosis By Nadire Duru

Endometriosis is considered as a non-malignant disease, but it is associated with several unfavorable conditions including non‑menstrual pelvic pain and infertility. Surgical resection and hormone suppression are common means of treatments; however, several side-effects and the recurrence are not preventable.…

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An important environmental contaminant dioxin has links to the pathogenesis of endometriosis

An important environmental contaminant dioxin has links to the pathogenesis of endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Giampaolinoa and associates from the University of Genoa, Italy published a review on environmental contaminant dioxin and its possible epigenetic role related to endometriosis development in "Gynecological Endocrinology". The authors made a narrative review, with the results of their search…

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Impact of Genetic Variations in Endometriosis

Impact of Genetic Variations in Endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. This disease affects approximately 7% to 10% of reproductive-aged women and causes negative impacts on society. The underlying causes are unclear; therefore, the understanding of this disease remains a major clinical challenge. Endometriosis has a…

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A comprehensive review on the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis

A comprehensive review on the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Endometriosis, being a heterogeneous disease has a highly complex etiopathogenesis.  A multicenter comprehensive review on this important subject from Italy, Germany, and the USA by Lagana and associates, was recently published in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences" an open-access journal. Computerized…

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The role of inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

The role of inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a very common gynecological disorder affecting approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women, and it is known by the abnormal growth of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterus. Though the pathogenesis of endometriosis is not clearly understood so far,…

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A rigorous literature review on endometriosis

A rigorous literature review on endometriosis By Irem Onur

Bulun SE. et al., from Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, conducted a rigorous literature review on endometriosis. This outstanding review by Dr. Bulun et al. addresses the definition, remarkable medical features, clinically useful research findings, prevalence and distribution,…

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A new technique for laparoscopic management of ovarian endometriosis.

 A new technique for laparoscopic management of ovarian endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

To cause a minimal hazardous effect on ovarian reserve during laparoscopic surgery of endometriomas is always a great concern for clinicians. Shaltout et al. from Cairo University, Egypt, examined the effect of "Surgicel" on preventing the recurrence of endometriomas and…

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Is there an association between endometriosis and sexual activity during menstruation ?

Is there an association between endometriosis and sexual activity during menstruation ? By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

This recent case-control study with 185 women having endometriosis and  370 women as a control group was conducted in Tebriz University, Iran by Dr. Mollazadeh and associates.  Contemporarily, retrograde menstruation is a valid theory for disseminating endometrial tissue to the…

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Endometriosis Knowledgebase

Endometriosis Knowledgebase By Yu Yu

Several studies have pointed to possible genetic factors in endometriosis. Targeted gene-based and high-throughput methods such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have been previously employed to identify endometriosis-associated genes. However, the accuracy of these data are difficult to evaluate and…

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Normal endometrium and cancer-associated mutations

Normal endometrium and cancer-associated mutations By Yu Yu

Next-generation sequencing technology has enabled the detection of genetic mutation with high efficiency. It is believed that tumor progression is a result of accumulating mutations, so-called “driver mutations”, which confer growth advantages to the cell. Although such a process is…

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Importance of monocytic myeloid derived supressor cells in endometriosis

Importance of monocytic myeloid derived supressor cells in endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells MDSCs are immature myeloid cells that play a major role in immunosuppression in various disease processes.  Ya Sun and associates have investigated these cells in endometriosis utilizing various laboratory methods. published their results in the "American Journal of…

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Endometriosis pathophysiology: research in genes updated

Endometriosis pathophysiology: research in genes updated By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Endometriosis has a broad spectrum of environmental influences and genetic factors. I In this recently published review article in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, Vassilopoulou and associates present information about gene‑gene and gene‑environment interactions involved in endometriosis and discuss the effectiveness…

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Another Genetic Polymorphism That May Increase Risk of Endo

Another Genetic Polymorphism That May Increase Risk of Endo By Özge Özkaya

A single letter change in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene may significantly increase the risk of endometriosis.  This is according to a study conducted among women in Southwest China and published in the journal Medicine. Identifying genetic risk…

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Searching new biomarkers for endometriosis

Searching new biomarkers for endometriosis By Selma Oransay

This recent article published in Advances in Clinical Chemistry, is an overall summary of characteristics, physiopathological theories, diagnostic approaches and variety of biomarkers to diagnose endometriosis and penned by Coutinho et al. from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Belo Horizonte,…

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The reason for lower BMI and less body fat in women with endometriosis.

The reason for lower BMI  and less body fat in women with endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

Zolbin et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA, recently published the results of their prospective controlled research on adipocyte alterations in endometriosis, in the journal "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology". Endometriosis can…

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Fibrogenesis in endometriosis: The role of neuropeptides

Fibrogenesis in endometriosis: The role of neuropeptides By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a debilitating gynaecologic disease affecting 6–10% of women of reproductive age. Endometriotic lesions are known to be hyperinnervated due to neurogenesis resulting from neutrophins secreted by endometriotic lesions and possibly platelets. These neutrophins seem to preferentially favor the…

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The genetic predisposition to endometriosis

The genetic predisposition to endometriosis By Hale Goksever Celik

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease mostly encountered in reproductive-aged women. Although endometrium is a non-malignant disease, its symptoms can range from mild to severe due to the inflammation that ectopic endometrial tissue forms around itself. The exact etiopathogenetic mechanism…

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New Link Between Endometriosis and Genetics?

New Link Between Endometriosis and Genetics? By Özge Özkaya

Two new genes have been identified that may be associated with endometriosis. This finding increases our understanding of the biology of endometriosis and may take us one small step further towards the development of new ways of treating the condition. …

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Anti-angiogenic treatment for endometriosis

Anti-angiogenic treatment for endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder. The wide variety of surgical and medical treatment has been applied for treating endometriosis, but a definitive therapy has not been achieved so far. Thus, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. Among…

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Impact of Menstrual Symptoms on Everyday Life

Impact of Menstrual Symptoms on Everyday Life By Dr. Youngran Park

Menstrual symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and significant perimenstrual mood disorders, are common gynecological conditions. About 30% of women consider their menstrual bleeding heavy, and 34–94% of women experience pain during their menstrual period. Menstrual symptoms have a significant…

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Menstrual blood-derived stem cells

Menstrual blood-derived stem cells By Selma Oransay

Chen et al.  from the Center of Diagnosis and Treatment of İnfectious Disease, Zhejiang University, China penned this recent review in the Journal of Stem Cell Research Therapy which is presenting the clinical potential of MenSCs (Menstrual blood-derived stem cells). …

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Polymorphisms of STAT4 gene in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Polymorphisms of STAT4 gene in the pathogenesis of endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in reproductive-age women characterized by the occurrence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Researchers have put forward numerous hypotheses to explain ectopic endometrial tissue, and the bulk of the evidence…

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Gal-3 can be a pharmacological target in endometriosis treatment

Gal-3 can be a pharmacological target in endometriosis treatment By Demet Candaş Green

Galectins are known to play a significant role in angiogenesis, which is a key event contributing to the development of many disease conditions, one of which is endometriosis. Past studies, upon examining several human endometriotic lesions, showed that Galectin-3 (Gal-3)…

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Estrogen Receptor Signaling and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer

Estrogen Receptor Signaling and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer By Selma Oransay

Andersen et al. published a prospective cohort study in the Journal of Hormones and Cancer to enlighten the estrogen signaling pathway during the transition from endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer. Given the shared pathway of endometriosis and ovarian cancer as…

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A link between endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and endometriosis.

A link between endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

Ciavattini et al.from Polytechnic University Ancona, Italy create a pilot study which recently published in Oncology Letters to clarify the link between endometriosis and endometrioid ovarian cancer. The unfolded protein response (UPR) activity as a promoter of neoplastic progression of malignancies is…

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Additional research in understanding the causative link between Notch signaling and endometriosis

Additional research in understanding the causative link between Notch signaling and endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dustin M. Brown and associates from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences published their unique complex molecular research in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. This study group previously showed that decreased expression of the progesterone receptor (PGR) resulted from…

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Endometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects

Endometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects By Hale Goksever Celik

Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence of the disease ranges between 6-10% in reproductive-aged women. However, endometriosis is more frequently encountered in women with chronic pelvic pain and…

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Clonal Proliferation and Cancer Associated Mutations in normal uterine endometrium and endometriosis

Clonal Proliferation and Cancer Associated Mutations in normal uterine endometrium and endometriosis By Serdar Balci

Suda et. al., from Niigata University, Japan, has published the article entitled "Clonal Expansion and Diversification of Cancer-Associated Mutations in Endometriosis and Normal Endometrium" in Cell Reports. There are many theories for endometriosis development (retrograde menstruation, coelomic metaplasia, Müllerian remnants),…

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A new theory in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

A new theory in the pathogenesis of endometriosis By Serdar Balci

Koninckx et. al., from various countries, have conducted this review, which will be published in Fertility and Sterility. Endometriosis is known for a century. The disease has a variable course in a patient, which may include pain, infections, and infertility.…

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Factors related to delay in endometriosis diagnosis

Factors related to delay in endometriosis diagnosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Dr. Moniek van der Zanden, a gynecologist from Netherlands has recently made a nationwide survey on the impact of key recommendations of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines on endometriosis and aimed to assess factors influencing diagnostic delay of…

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What clinicians know about adenomyosis? Any association with severe endometriosis?

What clinicians know about adenomyosis? Any association with severe endometriosis? By Selma Oransay

Dior et al. from the Royal Women's Hospital in Parkville, Australia, designed a prospective study to assess the association between severity of endometriosis and sonographic evidence of adenomyosis (SEOA) in their recently published article appearing in The Journal of Minimally…

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Immune dysregulation in endometriosis

Immune dysregulation in endometriosis By Yu Yu

The connection between endometriosis and the immune system has long been proposed. However, to date, there is no real consensus on whether immune adaptations actually facilitate endometriotric lesion progression or they are a consequence of endometriosis re-occurrence. Thus, this article…

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Drugs targeting estrogen biosynthesis opening up new approaches to the treatment of endometriosis.

Drugs targeting estrogen biosynthesis opening up new approaches to the treatment of endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

Gibson et al., from the Univerity of Edinburgh, UK, take over a new interest about endometriosis occurrence and progress by endometrial tissue intracrinology in their recently online published article in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The authors summarize the last…

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The pain and its severity in deeply infiltrating endometriosis patients

The pain and its severity in deeply infiltrating endometriosis patients By Selma Oransay

Liang et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China, recently published an interesting paper in the Journal of Pain Research, a prospective study to reveal the relationship between neurogenesis and other potential…

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Could Endometriosis-Related Infertility Be Genetic?

Could Endometriosis-Related Infertility Be Genetic? By Özge Özkaya

Researchers identified genetic polymorphisms or individual differences in two genes called AMA5 and KAZN among women with endometriosis who were infertile and control women who were fertile. The identification of these polymorphisms could help scientists better understand why some women…

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MTA1 as a predictor for the progression of endometriosis.

MTA1 as a predictor for the progression of endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

Jing Zhang et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Hainan, China, published their article in the open access medical journal "Medicine". Their aim was to evaluate the relationship between…

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Endometriosis in adolescents

Endometriosis in adolescents By Irem Onur

Dr. Mama S. T. from Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA, recently has published his review on advances in the management of endometriosis in the adolescent in the journal “Current Opinion Obstetrics and Gynecology”. In adolescence, there is a…

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A Balancing Act: How Endometriosis Invades the Body

A Balancing Act: How Endometriosis Invades the Body By Murat Osman

Endometriosis is a disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. Ectopic endometrial tissues have been shown to have some features that mimic malignancy. For example, endometriosis can invade surrounding structures and attach to surfaces such…

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CARD10 and CARD11 Mutations: Another Piece of the Puzzle

CARD10 and CARD11 Mutations: Another Piece of the Puzzle By Kasthuri Nair

Zou et al., a research group from China, recently published a study titled “Analysis of CARD10 and CARD11 somatic mutations in patients with ovarian endometriosis” in Oncology Letters. The paper looked at the effects of caspase recruitment domain family member…

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Polymorphism of IL12B May Help Solve Endometriosis

Polymorphism of IL12B May Help Solve Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

Zhao et al. recently published a paper titled “A functional promoter polymorphism in interleukin 12B gene is associated with an increased risk of ovarian endometriosis” in Gene. The research group from Hebei Medical University wanted to explore the potential roles…

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The pathogenesis of endometriosis : New discoveries with clinical impact

 The pathogenesis of endometriosis : New discoveries with clinical impact By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

In this recent review article that appeared in Current Women’s Health Reviews, compiled by researchers from the Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Human Genetics, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience Frankfurt, Germany the following important points in regard to the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of…

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Epigenetic link between endometriosis and cancer

Epigenetic link between endometriosis and cancer By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Although endometriosis is considered a benign condition the cellular, histologic, and molecular data strongly demonstrate that endometriosis has neoplastic characteristics. There is strong evidence that endometriosis shares striking features with malignancy like normal tissue dissemination, invasion, and organ damage, as well as new vessel formation (neoangiogenesis).  In…

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Expert discussion on mechanisms of endometriosis development and progression

Expert discussion on mechanisms of endometriosis development and progression By Yu Yu

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the occurrence and worsening of endometriosis. Classically, it is believed that retrograde menstruation causes endometriosis. However, the presence of endometriosis in newly menarcheal or pre-menarcheal girls cannot fully explain this early onset endometriosis.…

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The comparison of Chinese women in terms of risk factors, genetics and treatment of endometriosis

The comparison of Chinese women in terms of risk factors, genetics and treatment of endometriosis By Hale Goksever Celik

Endometriosis is characterized by endometrial implants outside of the uterine cavity. There is a wide spectrum of symptoms of this disease including dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, extragenital symptoms. The pathogenesis of endometriosis appears to be multifactorial, including ectopic endometrial…

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Altered Immunity in Endometriosis

Altered Immunity in Endometriosis By Yu Yu

In recent years, there has been increased attention on the role of immune system in endometriosis development. Normally, immune reactions are supposed to destroy endometrial cells seeding in the peritoneal cavity. Nonetheless, in endometriosis, these cells are able to evade,…

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Endometriosis in a Man as a Rare Source of Abdominal Pain

Endometriosis in a Man as a Rare Source of Abdominal Pain By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis occurs when a tissue resembling endometrial glands and stroma grows in ectopic sites, commonly causing infertility and pain. Endometriosis has largely been found in women of reproductive age. However, in extremely rare cases, it is also found in men…

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Extending the Female Fertility Clock

Extending the Female Fertility Clock By Kasthuri Nair

Varela, Sanchez-de-Puerta, and Garcia-Velasco are a group of scientists from various institutions in Spain and they recently published a review article titled “Fertility, IVF and reproductive genetics” in Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In this publication, the authors discussed…

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HOXA10: A Culprit in Endometriosis Disease Progression

HOXA10: A Culprit in Endometriosis Disease Progression By Kasthuri Nair

Zheng et al., a group of authors from the Aerospace Center Hospital in Bejing and from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, recently published a paper in Reproductive Sciences entitled “Decreased Expression of HOXA10 May Activate the…

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Endometriosis From an Epigenetic Lens

Endometriosis From an Epigenetic Lens By Kasthuri Nair

Samadieh et al. from the Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, recently published an article in Reproductive Sciences titled “Epigenetic Dynamics of HOXA10 Gene in Infertile Women With Endometriosis.” In this paper, the researchers wanted to observe HOXA10 gene expression in…

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Direct shedding of endometrioma contents visualized by ultrasonography

Direct shedding of endometrioma contents visualized by ultrasonography By Murat Osman

Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of chronic pelvic pain in women during their childbearing years. Researchers from Italy have recently published a case report in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology observing the direct shedding of endometriotic…

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Endocrine and inflammatory factors in current understanding of endometriosis

Endocrine and inflammatory factors in current understanding of endometriosis By Yu Yu

There are three forms of endometriosis: peritoneal, ovarian, and deep infiltrating. All three forms consist of endometriotic lesions containing endometrial glands, stroma, nerves, blood vessels, and inflammatory cells. Endometriosis symptoms can be accounted by these elements and the involving organs.…

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Endometrial stem cells and Endometriosis

Endometrial stem cells and Endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Human endometrium is a cyclically proliferative tissue, and this monthly regeneration is likely mediated by endometrial stem (or progenitor) cells.The upper functional layer of the endometrium breaks down and is shed into the uterine cavity during menstruation. Re-epithelialization and repair…

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Independent development of endometrial epithelium and stroma within the same endometriosis

Independent development of endometrial epithelium and stroma within the same endometriosis By Murat Osman

Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of chronic pelvic pain in women during their childbearing years. A popular theory for the pathogenesis of endometriosis posits that circulating progenitor cells differentiate into the endometrial stroma and glandular tissue once they…

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The use of histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis

The use of histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis By Murat Osman

Histone deacetylase inhibitors prevent the deacetylation of specific gene sequences thereby allowing the increased transcription of certain genes. Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been seen to induce the expression of a pro-apoptotic gene called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene…

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Inflammatory mediators in endometriosis pathogenesis

Inflammatory mediators in endometriosis pathogenesis By Yu Yu

Proinflammatory cytokines play an important function in mediating inflammatory reactions in chronic inflammatory diseases and in endometriosis. IL-32 is a new proinflammatory cytokine, and can also induce other proinflammatory cytokines in the body such as Tumour Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and…

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Potential New Target to Treat Endometriosis?

Potential New Target to Treat Endometriosis? By Özge Özkaya

Special cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) could be playing a role in the development of endometriosis, suggests a study published in the European Journal of Immunology.  These cells could, therefore, be targeted by novel therapeutic agents to treat endometriosis. …

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Blood vessels formation in endometriosis

Blood vessels formation in endometriosis By Yu Yu

The endometrium undergoes dynamic changes during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen-driven angiogenesis is associated with the proliferative phase, and progesterone-driven vascular maturation occurs in the secretory phase. Hence, it is reasonable that the vascularization of endometriosis is also under complex regulation…

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Inhibition of Histone methyltransferase for fighting endometriosis

Inhibition of Histone methyltransferase for fighting endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Although the histone methyltransferase EZH2 and its product H3K27me3 are well studied in cancer, little is known about their role and potential as therapeutic targets in endometriosis. It has been previously reported that the endometriotic lesions are characterized by global…

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Endometriosis “Changes” the Brain

Endometriosis “Changes” the Brain By Özge Özkaya

Endometriosis changes the electrical properties of the brain as well as gene expression, according to a study by Yale researchers. These changes increase sensitivity to pain, anxiety, and depression. “While medications can be used to treat endometriosis directly, the effects…

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"N-myc Downstream-Regulated Gene 1" and Endometriosis.

By Dr. Youngran Park

NDRG1 is implicated in many different cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, invasion, and vascularization. In endometriosis, NDRG1 is identified as an inhibitor of several important pathways. To focus on the potential function of NDRG1 in endometriosis, Lou et…

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When Endometriosis Becomes Malignant

When Endometriosis Becomes Malignant By Kasthuri Nair

Anglesio and Yong recently wrote a review titled “Endometriosis-associated Ovarian Cancers” that was published in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. This review explored the relationship between endometriosis and ovarian cancers. It is important to note that this review is a compilation of…

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Epigenetic regulation of the pathological process in endometriosis.

Epigenetic regulation of the pathological process in endometriosis. By Dr. Youngran Park

Epigenetic mechanisms have been recognized as important players in the development of a broad range of human diseases including endometriosis. A growing body of evidence shows that the remodeling of retrograde endometrial tissues to the ectopic endometriotic lesions involves multiple epigenetic…

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Biomarker Networks Might Help Reveal the Mechanism Behind Endometriosis

Biomarker Networks Might Help Reveal the Mechanism Behind Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

Scientists have yet to uncover the molecular mechanisms that promote endometriosis disease progression. Xiao et al. recently published a study in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine where they hoped to shed new light on the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In their study…

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The Deregulated Molecular Functions Involved in Malignant Transformation of Endometriosis to Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Carcinoma

The Deregulated Molecular Functions Involved in Malignant Transformation of Endometriosis to Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Carcinoma By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) is postulated to be transformed from endometriosis. Though different deregulated functional areas were proposed accounting for the pathogenesis of EAOC transformation, there is a lack of data-driven analysis to prove this. To understand the EAOC pathogenesis…

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Autophagy in endometriosis

Autophagy in endometriosis By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease affecting both fertile (5-10%) and infertile (20-50%) women, and it commonly causes chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Recent research found that the autophagy exerts a pro-apoptotic effect on normal human endometrial cells and…

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The Heritability of Endometriosis

The Heritability of Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

The mechanisms underlying endometriosis, genetic or otherwise, have yet to be understood. Thus, very little is known about how one can be afflicted with this disease. Isidor et al. recently published a paper titled “Familial deep endometriosis: A rare monogenic…

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Endometriosis-related Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Polymorphisms Found in Brazil

Endometriosis-related Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Polymorphisms Found in Brazil By Kasthuri Nair

The genetic basis for the formation of endometriosis is still at large. Andres et al. from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil,  looked at various individuals, with and without endometriosis, to determine polymorphisms in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region that…

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Endometriosis pathogenesis through the lens of reactive oxygen species

Endometriosis pathogenesis through the lens of reactive oxygen species By Yu Yu

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species is an essential factor in endometriosis pathogenesis. The harmful effects of reactive oxygen species have been implicated in many diseases, although the multiple biological changes caused is unclear especially in endometriosis. The article…

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EFA.MC.2017.“The Abnormal Embryos That Aren’t”,“Tens of thousands of women thought they couldn't have babies: But what if they could.”Dr. Norbert Gleicher Dr. Monica Halem

EFA.MC.2017.“The Abnormal Embryos That Aren’t”,“Tens of thousands of women thought they couldn't have babies: But what if they could.”Dr. Norbert Gleicher Dr. Monica Halem By Özge Özkaya

The presentation started with the story of Monica Halem who had endometriosis and had been trying to conceive using in vitro fertilization VF), but was told that none of her fertilized embryos would be viable based on pre-implantation genetic screening…

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Endometriosis-associated Gene Polymorphisms in Women of Greek Origin

Endometriosis-associated Gene Polymorphisms in Women of Greek Origin By Kasthuri Nair

Endometriosis research has yet to elucidate the genetic and environmental mechanisms that contribute to the rise of the disease. In their paper titled “The role of gene polymorphisms in endometriosis,” Matalliotakis et al. concentrate on the genetic component of the…

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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 modulates Inflammation in Endometriosis

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 modulates Inflammation in Endometriosis By Yu Yu

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a serine/threonine kinase, which transduces signals within the cell in response to various environmental stimuli. In doing so, it mediates intracellular signaling of cytokine production, cell proliferation, and apoptosis amongst many other cellular…

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The role of gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

The role of gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of endometriosis By Murat Osman

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic variations that exist among individuals. These polymorphisms differ by a single nucleotide base pair and are scattered throughout the human genome. Scientists use SNPs as a biological marker to…

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Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Epigenetics

Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Epigenetics By Kasthuri Nair

In this chapter titled “A Review of the Epigenetic Contributions to Endometriosis,” Grimstad and Decherney examine various epigenetic influences that drive endometriosis disease progression. The epigenetic alterations they discuss include DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin architecture changes, nuclear receptor modulation,…

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Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Genetics

Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Genetics By Kasthuri Nair

This chapter written by Krishnamoorthy and Decherney re-evaluate the literature concerning the genetics of endometriosis. The genetic mechanisms and signaling pathways that led to endometriosis are updated and the tools that help researchers find these abnormal genes and pathways are…

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Updates in the Field of Endometriosis

Updates in the Field of Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

A lot of progress has been made thus far in the field of endometriosis. Research has discovered various genetic and epigenetic components involved in endometriosis. There has also been a progression in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease since…

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Combination Polymorphisms of Three "Estrogene-Related" Genes Increase the Risk of Endometriosis

Combination Polymorphisms of Three By Kasthuri Nair

Cardoso et al. recently published a paper titled “Combined Effect of the PGR +331C > T, CYP17A1 -34A > G and CYP19A1 1531G > A Polymorphisms on the Risk of Developing Endometriosis” in Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetrician. The…

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The Potential Molecular Mechanisms that Drive Endometriosis Progression

The Potential Molecular Mechanisms that Drive Endometriosis Progression By Kasthuri Nair

Endometriosis is a mysterious disease in that the exact mechanism that causes the illness is still at large. Yang et al. recently published a paper in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences that hopes to elucidate the molecular…

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DNA methylation changes in endometrium during the transition from pre-receptive to receptive phase

DNA methylation changes in endometrium during the transition from pre-receptive to receptive phase By Yu Yu

The endometrium is unique in that it undergoes remarkable changes during menstrual cycle under the control of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. The function of the endometrium is crucial for embryo implantation, during which the endometrium is receptive around a week…

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The Role of IL-35 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

The Role of IL-35 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

The molecular mechanism that drives endometriosis remains elusive to this day. Zhang et al believe that interleukin 35 (IL-35) plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Their recent publication in Reproductive Sciences titled “Upregulation of Interleukin 35 in…

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Reduced vascularization in ovarian endometriomas associated with less pain

Reduced vascularization in ovarian endometriomas associated with less pain By Yu Yu

Angiogenesis, i.e., the development of new blood vessels is believed to play an important role in endometriosis pathogenesis and symptoms. Endometriosis is associated and requires neovascularization to proliferate, invade surrounding normal structure in order to establish an endometriotic lesion. Ovarian…

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New Genetic Variants Associated with Endometriosis May Offer New Opportunities

New Genetic Variants Associated with Endometriosis May Offer New Opportunities By Yu Yu

Endometriosis is a heritable gynecological condition. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain complex with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. Previous studies based on female twins and common SNPs have suggested the heritability of endometriosis. In the May 2017 issue of…

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Retinoic Acid Signaling Involved in Endometrial Decidualization

Retinoic Acid Signaling Involved in Endometrial Decidualization By Murat Osman

Decidualization occurs in the eutopic endometrium during the luteal phase and is controlled by signaling pathways such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and progesterone. Researchers from the Northwestern University School of Medicine reported in their recent paper entitled "Altered Retinoid…

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How ERα is regulated in endometriosis?

How ERα is regulated in endometriosis? By Yu Yu

Endometriosis pathogenesis is largely influenced by estrogen. Ectopic endometrium has altered expression of ERα compared to the eutopic endometrium. It is unclear what biological processes regulate such alteration. The article by Toderow et al. in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics…

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The Endometrium Itself is Genetically Different in Endometriosis Patients

The Endometrium Itself is Genetically Different in Endometriosis Patients By Özge Özkaya

Researchers in China identified a number of genes that are differentially expressed in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and those without. The researchers think that these genes may be involved in the development of endometriosis and that they…

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Combination Therapy Proves More Efficient in the Treatment of Endometriosis

Combination Therapy Proves More Efficient in the Treatment of Endometriosis By Kasthuri Nair

In their recent paper in British Journal of Pharmacology, entitled “Combination therapy with telmisartan and parecoxib induces regression of endometriotic lesions,” Nenicu et al. illustrate the increased effectiveness of telmisartan used along with a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory…

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Mutations Associated with Cancer Were Identified in "Endometriosis without Cancer"

Mutations Associated with Cancer Were Identified in By Özge Özkaya

Lesions in deep infiltrating endometriosis harbor genetic mutations that are associated with cancer, found a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  The authors believe that this new discovery may help to distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive forms of…

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Unexpected "cancer-related" mutations in "non-cancerous" endometriosis: Do they predict aggressiveness?

Unexpected By Laura Ardighieri

A study supported by Endometriosis Foundation of America, reported by scientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore, USA) and the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) have identified the molecular alterations of deep infiltrating endometriosis trough a wide exome­ sequencing (protein-coding genetic alphabet…

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Genetic Variations May Link Risk of Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer

Genetic Variations May Link Risk of Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer By Özge Özkaya

Variations in a gene called HNF1B could be linked to the risk of endometriosis, according to a study published in the medical journal Gynecologic Oncology. Previous studies had identified the same genetic variation as a risk factor for ovarian cancer.…

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