Absence of aromatase protein and mRNA expression in endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Aromatase has been reported to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients. The objective of the present study was to investigate its expression and localization in three distinct types of endometriosis. METHODS: Human peritoneal, ovarian and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions and matched eutopic endometrium were collected from patients during laparoscopy. Aromatase protein localization (immunohistochemistry, n = 63) and mRNA expression [quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), n = 64] were assessed. RESULTS: No aromatase protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in either the glandular or stromal compartment of endometriotic lesions or eutopic endometrium, while it was strong in placental syncytiotrophoblasts, granulosa and internal theca cells from pre-ovulatory follicles, and luteal cells from corpus luteum. By Q-PCR, low but discernible levels of aromatase expression were found in endometriomas, probably due to follicular expression. Transcripts for aromatase were barely detectable in only a few peritoneal and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions, and a few eutopic endometrium samples, probably due to contaminating surrounding tissues (adipose tissue, intact peritoneum). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previous studies, we observed no aromatase protein in any of the endometriosis types, and barely detectable aromatase mRNA expression, suggesting that locally produced aromatase (within endometriotic lesions) may be less implicated in endometriosis development than previously postulated. Potential factors responsible for these discrepancies are discussed

Dioxin/polychlorinated biphenyl body burden, diabetes and endometriosis: findings in a population-based study in Belgium

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants widely distributed in the food chain, which is the main source of human exposure. Their effects on human health at background exposure levels are still poorly understood. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests a possible association between these pollutants and diabetes. We report here the results of a population-based study in Belgium on 257 (142 women and 115 men) environmentally exposed subjects, including 10 cases of endometriosis and nine cases of diabetes. Seventeen 2,3,7,8-polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs or dioxins), four coplanar PCBs (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry [IUPAC] nos 77, 81, 126 and 169) and 12 PCB markers ( IUPAC nos 3, 8, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 194, 206 and 209) were quantified in serum fat from fasting blood samples in order to estimate the body burden of these pollutants. Whilst no difference was found between women with endometriosis and their controls, diabetic patients had significantly increased serum levels of dioxins, coplanar PCBs and the 12 PCB markers. After adjustment for age and other covariates, serum total toxic equivalent activity (sum of PCDD/Fs and coplanar PCBs) and 12 PCB marker concentrations in diabetics were 62% (p=0.0005) and 39% (p=0.0067) higher, respectively, than in controls. The risk of diabetes was significantly increased in subjects in the top decile for adjusted concentrations of dioxins (odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-21.7), coplanar PCBs (odds ratio 13.3, 95% CI 3.31-53.2) or 12 PCB markers (odds ratio 7.6, 95% CI 1.58-36.3). These findings warrant further studies to assess the significance of the associations between diabetes and environmental exposure to polychlorinated pollutants

Elevated levels of whole blood nickel in a group of Sri Lankan women with endometriosis: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endometriosis is characterized by the persistence of endometrial tissue in ectopic sites outside the uterine cavity. Presence of nickel, cadmium and lead in ectopic endometrial tissue has been reported previously. While any association between blood levels of nickel and endometriosis is yet to be described in literature, conflicting reports are available with regards to cadmium and lead levels in blood and urine.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In fifty patients with endometriosis and fifty age-matched controls confirmed by laparoscopy or laparotomy, whole blood samples were collected and digested using supra pure 65% HNO₃. Whole blood levels of nickel and lead were measured using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) while cadmium levels were evaluated using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFASS). Women with endometriosis had significantly higher (<it>P</it>=0^.016) geometric mean (95% CI) whole blood nickel levels [2.6(1.9-3.3) μg/L] as compared to women without endometriosis [0.8 (0.7-0.9) μg/L]. Whole blood levels of cadmium and lead were similar between the two groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although women with endometriosis in this study population had higher levels of nickel in whole blood compared to controls, whether nickel could be considered as an aetiological factor in endometriosis remains inconclusive in view of the smaller sample that was evaluated.</p

Dépistage, prise en charge et suivi des personnes potentiellement surexposées à l’arsenic inorganique du fait de leur lieu de résidence

International audienceBackground and objectives. - The French national authority for health (Haute Autorite de sante: HAS) and the French clinical toxicology society (Societe de toxicologie clinique: STC) received a formal request from the French ministry for heath to elaborate recommendations for the screening of environmental overexposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs), for the medical management of overexposed patients and for the medical surveillance of exposed population.Methods. - The method used for the elaboration was the Clinical practice guidelines method recommended by HAS in this situation (HAS, 2010).Results. - The recommendations are presented in the present article. They concern: a) identification of those sites with a high risk of iAs overexposure for the residents (using bioaccessible concentrations in soils); the target population for Asi overexposure screening and screening modalities (using measurement of iAs and its metabolites in urine); b) the biomonitoring indications and modalities for overexposed individuals; c) the fraction of the population with iAs environmental exposure which should be the target for the detection and the diagnosis of complications, and the modalities of these operations; d) the treatment and prevention of iAs environmental overexposure. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.RésuméContexte et objectifsÀ la demande de la Direction générale de la santé, la Haute Autorité de santé (HAS), en partenariat avec la Société de toxicologie clinique (STC) et avec la collaboration de la Société française de médecine du travail (SFMT), la Société française de santé publique (SFSP), la Société française de toxicologie analytique (SFTA) et la Société francophone de santé-environnement (SFSE) a élaboré des recommandations pour le dépistage des surexpositions environnementales à l’arsenic inorganique (Asi) et la prise en charge des populations concernées.MéthodeLa méthode d’élaboration utilisée est celle des Recommandations pour la pratique clinique (RPC) de la HAS (HAS, 2010).RésultatsLes recommandations élaborées identifient : les sites susceptibles d’entraîner des surexpositions environnementales, à partir de la concentration d’Asi dans leur sol ; la fraction des résidents qui constitue la population cible du dépistage ; les modalités de ce dépistage qui utilise le dosage de l’Asi et de ses métabolites dans les urines. En fonction des résultats du primo-dépistage, elles précisent les indications et le déroulement de la surveillance biométrologique. Elles indiquent la fraction de la population exposée qui constitue la cible de la recherche de complications de la surexposition environnementale à l’Asi. Elles précisent les modalités de cette recherche. Enfin, elles proposent des mesures pour le traitement et la prévention des contaminations par l’Asi de l’environnement