51 research outputs found

    Human endometrial epithelial cells modulate the activation of gelatinase a by stromal cells.

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    peer reviewedMetalloproteinases (MMPs) are central effectors in endometrial physiology. Their production is tightly regulated by ovarian steroids and cytokines. Using zymography, we investigated MMP-2 production by human endometrial cells treated with estradiol-17beta + progesterone (E(2)+P) and by various key cytokines in endometrial physiology (IL-1beta, LIF, TGF-beta, and TNF-alpha). No gelatinase activity was detected in the culture media of epithelial cells. In basal conditions, stromal cells produced the pro form of MMP-2. MMP-2 production/activation was not directly affected by cytokine treatment. Interestingly, activated MMP-2 was only detected after treatment of stromal cells with culture medium from epithelial cells. Cytokine treatment of epithelial cells increased the capacity of conditioned medium to stimulate stromal cells to activate MMP-2. As the tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) is a regulator of gelatinase A activity, its concentration was measured by ELISA. TIMP-2 production by stromal cells was not affected by cytokines or by epithelial cell-conditioned medium. These results strongly suggest that regulation of stromal MMP-2 activation involves soluble factor(s) derived from the epithelial compartment

    Comprehensive Analysis of Leukocytes, Vascularization and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Menstrual Xenograft Model

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    In our previous study, menstrual-like changes in mouse were provoked through the pharmacologic withdrawal of progesterone with mifepristone following induction of decidualization. However, mouse is not a natural menstruation animal, and the menstruation model using external stimuli may not truly reflect the occurrence and development of the human menstrual process. Therefore, we established a model of menstruation based on human endometrial xenotransplantation. In this model, human endometrial tissues were transplanted subcutaneously into SCID mice that were ovarectomized and supplemented with estrogen and progestogen by silastic implants with a scheme imitating the endocrinological milieu of human menstrual cycle. Morphology, hormone levels, and expression of vimentin and cytokeratin markers were evaluated to confirm the menstrual-like changes in this model. With 28 days of hormone treatment, transplanted human endometrium survived and underwent proliferation, differentiation and disintegration, similar to human endometrium in vivo. Human CD45+ cells showed a peak of increase 28 days post-transplantation. Three days after progesterone withdrawal, mouse CD45+ cells increased rapidly in number and were significantly greater than human CD45+ cell counts. Mouse CD31+ blood vascular-like structures were detected in both transplanted and host tissues. After progesterone withdrawal, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, and 9 were increased. In summary, we successfully established a human endometrial xenotransplantation model in SCID mice, based on the results of menstrual-like changes in which MMP-1, 2 and 9 are involved. We showed that leukocytes are originated from in situ proliferation in human xenografts and involved in the occurrence of menstruation. This model will help to further understand the occurrence, growth, and differentiation of the endometrium and the underlying mechanisms of menstruation

    Neuroendocrine–immune disequilibrium and endometriosis: an interdisciplinary approach

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    Endometriosis, a chronic disease characterized by endometrial tissue located outside the uterine cavity, affects one fourth of young women and is associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. However, an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology and effective treatment strategies of endometriosis is still largely elusive. Inadequate immune and neuroendocrine responses are significantly involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, and key findings are summarized in the present review. We discuss here the role of different immune mechanisms particularly adhesion molecules, protein–glycan interactions, and pro-angiogenic mediators in the development and progression of the disease. Finally, we introduce the concept of endometrial dissemination as result of a neuroendocrine-immune disequilibrium in response to high levels of perceived stress caused by cardinal clinical symptoms of endometriosis

    A Systematic Review of Global Health Assessment for Education in Healthcare Professions

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    Objective: Emphasis on global health education is growing, with schools/colleges developing relevant courses, areas of concentration, and other didactic content. Organizations such as the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) provide guidance for competencies in global health, but evaluation strategies are lacking. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to identify methods and tools utilized to assess knowledge, skills, and attitudes in global health courses for health science students. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The initial search was conducted using controlled vocabularies to screen PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health using Ovid, CINAHL, and ERIC from January 1997 to March 2020. Included articles detailed students in health professions, described a didactic educational intervention related to global health, and described assessment strategies and results. Results: A total of 12,113 titles/abstracts were identified. Based on the study inclusion criteria, 545 full texts were reviewed, and 79 full-text articles were selected for qualitative synthesis. Findings of the research revealed that cultural competence (70.9%) was evaluated most often, followed by health disparities (26.6%) and global health itself (12.7%). Most articles used quantitative assessment methods (86.1%), with surveys being the predominant method. A total of 91.1% of studies assessed perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs, while fewer evaluated knowledge (43.0%) and skills (19.0%). The most common validated tool employed was the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence (IAPCC). Conclusions: Based of the results of this study, the majority of the assessment tools utilized for global health education focused on cultural competence. One of the important findings of this research is the lack of validated instruments to assess students\u27 skills in health disparities and global health. Given the recent global pandemic, these skills are essential for educating health care professionals to enhance global health

    Adipose tissue dysfunction and metabolic syndrome among childhood acute leukaemia survivors

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    Background and aims: Long-term survivors of childhood acute leukemia are at very high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolic syndrome (MS), a major risk factor for CVD, is a common complication in this population, especially for patients who received total body irradiation (TBI). Consequences of radiation exposure on adipose tissue (AT) in human in unknown.Materials and methods: To assess impact of TBI on AT, we compared the morphological and functional characteristics of AT between long-term survivors of childhood acute leukemia (patientsfrom LEA cohort) with MS who received TBI (n=12) or not (n=12). We analyzed AT repartition byDEXA and MRI, and TG content in the liver by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We performed needle-aspirated of abdominal subcutaneous AT and studied characteristics of this tissue using RT-qPCR, flow cytometry and preadipocytes’ cultures.Results: Mean age was 32 years old. Patients who received TBI had more components of MS (and components were more pronounced) than those without TBI, despite a trend for a lower body massindex and waist circumference. Hepatic triglycerides content was two time higher in TBI group. No difference was found in body composition (DEXA) and visceral and subcutaneous fat surface (IRM) between the two groups. Sub-cutaneous AT gene expression of fibrosis and lipidic fat storage wassignificantly lower in AT of TBI group. Furthermore, AT gene expression of several genes involved inpreadipocytes’ differentiation were decreased in TBI group.Conclusion: These functional abnormalities of subcutaneous AT observed in patients treated with TBI could be the cause of ectopic fat storage in the liver, increasing the risk of Insulin resistance and MS. Supported by: AORC AP-H
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