New Model Could Help in the Diagnosis of Endometriosis

New Model Could Help in the Diagnosis of Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Researchers from China established a diagnostic model of endometriosis based on disulfidptosis-related genes.  They said that their diagnostic model was a good predictor of endometriosis. The team led by Dr. Yaoyao Zhao from the Department of Gynecology, Zhuji People's Hospital…

Key Points Lay Summary

Study Sheds Light on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Endometriosis

Study Sheds Light on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Three genes, TNFSF12, AP3M1, and PDK2 could be key biomarkers of programmed cell death in endometriosis, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Frontiers in Endocrinology. “These findings provide new directions for the early diagnosis and…

Key Points Lay Summary

Retrograde Menstruation Theory Through Müllerian Anomalies

Retrograde Menstruation Theory Through Müllerian Anomalies By Selma Oransay

The pathogenesis of endometriosis is still under debate. Sampson also described this condition as "developmentally misplaced endometrial tissue" in 1925.  To evaluate the theories of pathogenesis, Vercellini et al. from the Academic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis at…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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,…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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,…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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,…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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)…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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,…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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.…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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. …

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary

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…

Key Points Lay Summary