BACKGROUND To investigate the expression of Beclin-1 mRNA and protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis, and evaluate the association of Beclin-1 protein expression and serum CA125 levels in the endometriosis group due to CA125 being a well-known biomarker of endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression levels (mean ± SD) of the mRNA and protein...

BACKGROUND Studies have shown that the concentration of interleukin (IL)-6 in peritoneal fluid is increased in patients with endometriosis; however, whether the disorders involving IL-6 contribute to the development of endometriosis is still unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the potential role of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS...

Endometriosis, one of the most common benign gynecological diseases, affects millions of women of childbearing age. Endometriosis-associated pain is a major cause of disability and compromised quality of life in women. Neuropathic mechanisms are believed to play an important role. An imbalanced sympathetic and sensory innervation (reduced sympathetic innervation, with unchanged or increased sen...

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a highly prevalent pain condition, estimated to affect 15%-20% of women in the United States. Endometriosis is often associated with CPP, however, other factors, such as preexisting or concomitant changes of the central pain system, might contribute to the development of chronic pain. We applied voxel-based morphometry to determine whether women with CPP with and wi...

BACKGROUND The association of endometriosis with hyperprolactinemia is controversial. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to determine the frequency of endometriosis and association of prolactin with endometriosis in infertile women. MATERIALS AND METHODS 256 infertile women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for the evaluation of infertility, referred to Fatemezahra Infertility and Reprodu...

Ovarian endometriosis can transform into malignant tumors, and ovarian carcinomas relatively frequently contain foci of endometriosis. In this study, the author reviewed 15 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary in the last 15 years of our pathology laboratory in search for the presence of endometriosis within the tumor. Six (40%) of the 15 endometrioid adenocarcinoma were found to h...

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is an important clinical situation associated with subfertility. It would be very useful to identify patients at increased risk for endometriosis prior to laparoscopy. In the present study, we evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics in a cohort of Portuguese subfertile women in relation to the presence of endometriosis. METHODS Consecutive subfertile pat...

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease, but the pathogenesis of endometriosis and pathophysiological basis for endometriosis-associated painful symptoms are still uncertain. Little is known about neuroendocrine (NE) cells in the uterus. METHODS For this study, 38 premenopausal women with histologically diagnosed ovarian endometrioma or peritoneal endometriosis and 24 wome...

Histopathology and epidemiology studies have consistently demonstrated a strong link between endometriosis and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers (EAOCs)--in particular, the endometrioid and clear cell subtypes. However, it is still unclear whether endometriosis is a precursor to EAOCs, or whether there is an indirect link because similar factors predispose to both diseases. In order to s...

BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of bowel endometriosis on fertility, and to study whether its removal improves fecundity in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. METHODS Three groups of infertile patients were included in the study. Group A (60 women) consisted of patients who underwent surgery for endometriosis with colorectal segmental resection...