transforming-growth-factor-beta and Dysmenorrhea

To determine whether there is a correlation between stiffness measured by strain elastography and the severity of dysmenorrhea and to determine the value of elastography in evaluating severe dysmenorrhea in patients with adenomyosis.. The correlation between tissue stiffness and dysmenorrhea was analyzed by performing elastography on premenopausal women diagnosed with adenomyosis. Expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) were detected by immunohistochemistry; the correlation of TGF-β and α-SMA levels with the tissue stiffness and the degree of fibrosis was further analyzed. Also, the relationship of the PGP9.5 expression level with the tissue stiffness and degree of dysmenorrhea was determined.. The degree of dysmenorrhea was significantly positively correlated with lesion stiffness in patients with adenomyosis but not with the uterine or lesion volume. The cutoff for the strain ratio was > 1.36 between the adenomyosis and control groups, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.987. For severe dysmenorrhea, the cutoff for the strain ratio was > 1.65 in patients with adenomyosis, with an AUC of 0.849. TGF-β, α-SMA, and PGP9.5 expression levels were higher in adenomyotic lesions than in the endometrium of the adenomyosis and control groups. Both TGF-β and α-SMA levels were positively correlated with the tissue stiffness and degree of fibrosis. Additionally, the expression level of PGP9.5 showed a positive correlation with the tissue stiffness and degree of dysmenorrhea.. Elastography can be used to evaluate the degree of dysmenorrhea; the greater the tissue stiffness, the greater the degree of dysmenorrhea. In addition, elastography performed well in the diagnosis of adenomyosis and the evaluation of severe dysmenorrhea in patients with adenomyosis.

Topics: Adenomyosis; Dysmenorrhea; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Female; Fibrosis; Humans; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease. Previous research has shown that abnormal enzymes associated with estrogen (E2) metabolism and an increased number of mast cells (MCs) in endometriomas are implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. However, it remains unclear how MCs mediate the role of E2 in endometriosis. Accordingly, we investigated whether E2 was associated with the number of MCs, and the rate of degranulation, in local ovarian endometriomas, as well as the role of E2 on MCs during the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry, we found that concentrations of E2, and the number and activity of MCs, were significantly higher in ovarian endometriomas than in controls, and that these parameters were correlated with the severity of endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea. By measuring the release of hexosaminidase, we found that the rate of RBL2H3 cell degranulation increased after E2 treatment. Furthermore, activation of RBL2H3 cells by E2 was found to trigger the release of biologically active nerve growth factor, which promotes neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells and also sensitizes dorsal root ganglion cells via upregulation of

Topics: Adult; Cells, Cultured; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Mast Cells; Prognosis; Stromal Cells; Transforming Growth Factor beta

To quantify the expression of transforming growth factor beta1 in nerve fibers in endometriotic lesions and to correlate it with dysmenorrhea and appearance of endometriotic implants.. Prospective comparative study.. University hospital.. Peritoneal endometriotic specimens obtained from 35 patients diagnosed with endometriosis were compared with biopsies of normal peritoneum from 10 patients without endometriosis.. Endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea for each patient was evaluated before surgery using a 10-point visual analog scale, which was followed by a laparoscopic staging of the patient's endometriosis.. Immunohistochemical analysis of the peritoneal endometriotic specimens evaluated the maximal intensity of staining (INTMMAX) of TGFbeta1, defined as higher staining intensity found within a selected structure.. When the nerve fibers of endometriotic lesions were compared with those of normal peritoneum, statistically significant differences were found in the INTMMAX of TGFbeta1. Greater TGFbeta1 INTMMAX was found in red lesions and deep endometriotic foci than in black lesions and normal peritoneum. A statistically significant relationship was found between the TGFbeta1 INTMMAX score and dysmenorrhea; a relationship also was found to the color of the lesions.. The physical appearance of endometriotic implants and the severity of dysmenorrhea appear to be related to the expression of TGFbeta1 in nerve fibers.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Color; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Hysteroscopy; Immunohistochemistry; Infertility, Female; Multivariate Analysis; Nerve Fibers; Pelvic Pain; Peritoneum; Prospective Studies; ROC Curve; Severity of Illness Index; Staining and Labeling; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta1