Increased expression of ID2, PRELP and SMOC2 genes in patients with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent disease with symptoms such as pelvic pain and infertility, and it is characterized by the ectopic distribution of endometrial tissue. The expression of the ID2, PRELP and SMOC2 genes was compared between the endometrium of women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of their menstrual cycle and the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis in the proliferative phase. Paired tissue samples from 20 women were analyzed: 10 from endometrial and peritoneal endometriotic lesions and 10 from endometrial and ovarian endometriotic lesions. As controls, 16 endometrium samples were collected from women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle. Analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was no significant difference between gene expression in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. The ID2 gene expression was increased in the most advanced stage of endometriosis and in ovarian endometriomas, the PRELP was more expressed in peritoneal lesions, and the SMOC2 was highly expressed in both peritoneal and endometrioma lesions. Considering that the genes studied participate either directly or indirectly in cellular processes that can lead to cell migration, angiogenesis, and inappropriate invasion, it is possible that the deregulation of these genes caused the development and maintenance of ectopic tissue.

Genomic alterations detected by comparative genomic hybridization in ovarian endometriomas

Endometriosis is a complex and multifactorial disease. Chromosomal imbalance screening in endometriotic tissue can be used to detect hot-spot regions in the search for a possible genetic marker for endometriosis. The objective of the present study was to detect chromosomal imbalances by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in ectopic tissue samples from ovarian endometriomas and eutopic tissue from the same patients. We evaluated 10 ovarian endometriotic tissues and 10 eutopic endometrial tissues by metaphase CGH. CGH was prepared with normal and test DNA enzymatically digested, ligated to adaptors and amplified by PCR. A second PCR was performed for DNA labeling. Equal amounts of both normal and test-labeled DNA were hybridized in human normal metaphases. The Isis FISH Imaging System V 5.0 software was used for chromosome analysis. In both eutopic and ectopic groups, 4/10 samples presented chromosomal alterations, mainly chromosomal gains. CGH identified 11q12.3-q13.1, 17p11.1-p12, 17q25.3-qter, and 19p as critical regions. Genomic imbalances in 11q, 17p, 17q, and 19p were detected in normal eutopic and/or ectopic endometrium from women with ovarian endometriosis. These regions contain genes such as POLR2G, MXRA7 and UBA52 involved in biological processes that may lead to the establishment and maintenance of endometriotic implants. This genomic imbalance may affect genes in which dysregulation impacts both eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Estradiol and testosterone concentrations in follicular fluid as criteria to discriminate between mature and immature oocytes

The objective of the present study was to examine the association between follicular fluid (FF) steroid concentration and oocyte maturity and fertilization rates. Seventeen infertile patients were submitted to ovulation induction with urinary human follicle-stimulating hormone, human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). A total of 107 follicles were aspirated after hCG administration, the oocytes were analyzed for maturity and 81 of them were incubated and inseminated in vitro. Progesterone, estradiol (E2), estrone, androstenedione, and testosterone were measured in the FF. E2 and testosterone levels were significantly higher in FF containing immature oocytes (median = 618.2 and 16 ng/ml, respectively) than in FF containing mature oocytes (median = 368 and 5.7 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). Progesterone, androstenedione and estrone levels were not significantly different between mature and immature oocytes. The application of the receiver-operating characteristic curve statistical approach to determine the best cut-off point for the discrimination between mature and immature oocytes indicated levels of 505.8 ng/ml for E2 (81.0 percent sensitivity and 81.8 percent specificity) and of 10.4 ng/ml for testosterone (90.9 percent sensitivity and 82.4 percent specificity). Follicular diameter was associated negatively with E2 and testosterone levels in FF. There was a significant increase in progesterone/testosterone, progesterone/E2 and E2/testosterone ratios in FF containing mature oocytes, suggesting a reduction in conversion of C21 to C19, but not in aromatase activity. The overall fertility rate was 61 percent but there was no correlation between the steroid levels or their ratios and the fertilization rates. E2 and testosterone levels in FF may be used as a predictive parameter of oocyte maturity, but not for the in vitro fertilization rate.

Positive correlation of serum leptin with estradiol levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) usually are obese, insulin resistant and hyperinsulinemic. The known association between leptin, obesity andinsulin action suggests that leptin may have a role in PCOS but this has only been addressed peripherally. This study was designed to assess the relationship between serum leptin and the anthropometric, metabolic and endocrine variables of obese (body mass index, BMI > or = 30 kg/mý) and non-obese (BMI <30 kg/mý) PCOS patients. Twenty-eight PCOS patients and 24 control women subdivided into obese and non-obese groups were evaluated. Leptin, androgens, lipids, gonadotrophins and insulin-glucose response to the oral glucose tolerance test were measured by radioimmunoassay in all participants. The assays were done all in one time. The areas under the insulin curve (AUC-I) and the glycemia curve were calculated to identify patients with insulin resistance. Mean leptin levels were not significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared to the control group (21.2 ñ 10.2 vs 27.3 ñ 12.4 ng/ml). Leptin levels were found to be significantly higher in the obese subgroups both in patients with PCOS (26.9 ñ 9.3 vs 14.1 ñ 7.0 ng/ml) and in the control group (37.3 ñ 15.5 vs 12.9 ñ 5.8 ng/ml). The leptin of the PCOS group was correlated with BMI (r = 0.74; P < 0.0001) and estradiol (r = 0.48; P < 0.008) and tended to be correlated with the AUC-I (r = 0.36; P = 0.05). Of the parameters which showed a correlation with leptin in PCOS, only estradiol and probably insulinemia (AUC-I) did not show a significant correlation with BMI, suggesting that the other parameters were correlated with leptin due to their correlation with BMI. Estradiol correlated with leptin in PCOS patients regardless of their weight.

Correlacao entre o quadro clinico e os niveis sericos de prolactina em pacientes de clinica ginecologica.Estudo retrospectivo. / Correlation between clinical features and serum prolactin levels in patients of a gynecologic out-patient clinic. A retrospective study

Diante da crescente importancia dos estados hiperprolactinemicos atendidas nos ambulatorios do Departamento de Ginecologia, Obstetricia e Pediatria do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto - USP. Para o grupo controle (grupo I), tomaram-se outras 71 pacientes normoprolactinemicas (PRL entre 5 e 50ng/ ml) atendidas no referido servico, com doencas variaveis. As pacientes hiperprolactinemicas foram divididas nos grupos II (PRL) entre 50 e 100ng/ml, n igual 27) e III (PRL maior que 100ng/ml,n igual 21).A amenorreia foi mais frequente nos grupos II e III, enquanto os outros I, em menstruais foram mais frequentes no grupo I. A galactorreia esteve presente em 17% das pacientes do grupo I, em 18,6% do grupo II e em 62% do grupo III, sendo que a forma espontanea predominou no grupo III. Diante dos dados encontrados, os autores sugerem a dosagem da PRL nos casos de amenorreia ou outros disturbios menstruais, galactorreia, esterilidade e hipotiroidismo, assim como a investigacao radiologica sistematica de hipofise nos casos de hiperprolactinemia. Propoe-se ainda um protocolo pratico de conduta na sindrome amenorreia e/ou galactorreia

Aumento da PRL plasmatica frente ao estimulo com TRH em pacientes normo e hiperprolactinemicas. Resposta clinica e laboratorial apos tratamento com bromoergocriptina. / Plasma PRL rise due to stimulation with TRH in normo and hyperprolactinemic patients. Clinical and laboratorial response after treatment with bromoergocriptine

Submeteram-se 19 pacientes (9 normo e 10 hiperprolactinemicas) ao teste de estimulacao com TRH, 200 microgramo EV.Observou-se que, quanto maior o nivel de PRL plasmatica, menor foi seu incremento maximo frente ao estimulo. As pacientes normoprolactinemicas apresentaram incremento superior a 280% nos niveis de PRL enquanto que todas as pacientes com tumor hipofisario (PRL > 100 mg/ml) tiveram resposta inferior a 100%. No grupo de pacientes hiperprolactinemicas, sem tumor radiologicamente detectado, observou-se tanto resposta positiva (incremento > 280%) como resposta negativa (incremento < 100%) ao teste. Nas pacientes com galactorreia, apos o tratamento com bromoergocriptina, por 30 dias, observou-se que, quanto maior o nivel inicial, maior o decrescimo maximo da PRL plasmatica. Tambem em todos os grupos, observou-se melhora clinica das pacientes tratadas com bromoergocriptina. Os autores recomendam o uso desta droga, principalmente nos casos de hiperprolactinemia sem tumor detectado, e justificam, inclusive, o seu uso em recidivas e tumores avancados de hipofise, como opcao terapeutica, sendo indubitavel sua acao sobre a diminuicao do tamanho dos adenomas

O uso do estimulo sonoro repetitivo sobre o feto como prova de avaliacao do bem-estar fetal. / The use of a repeated sound stimulation of the fetus as test for evaluation of fetal well-being

O efeito do som sobre o feto humano foi estudado em 20 gestantes normais entre a 34o. e 40o. semana de gravidez. A aplicacao de um estimulo sonoro sobre o abdome adjacente ao polo cefalico fetal, com intensidade de 120 db, frequencia de 850 cps, duracao de 5 s, repetido a cada 3-4 minutos durante 30 minutos aumentou significativamente o numero de movimentos fetais (mf) e das aceleracoes dos batimentos cardiacos fetais (bcf) quando comparado a um teste nao-estressante executado na mesma gestante por identico periodo de tempo. Os resultados mostram sensivel reducao dos testes nao-reativos. Finalmente, os autores propoem um criterio de tres ou mais aceleracoes dos bcf como reacao normal ao estimulo sonoro repetitivo e definem um protocolo que utiliza o teste sonoro como prova primaria na propedeutica da gestacao de risco