Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on Cultured Human Endometrial Stromal Cells and Its Role in the Interaction With Natural Killers

PROBLEM: Recent evidence emphasizes the role of natural killer cells (NKs) as potential effectors of peritoneal immune surveillance directed against the outgrowth of endometrial cells, refluxed with menstrual debris, in ectopic sites. This NK-mediated cytotoxicity toward autologous endometrial antigens seems to be significantly decreased in endometriosis patients. METHOD: We set up experiments to clarify which molecules are involved in NK-endome-trial cell interaction. In particular, we evaluated the surface expression and functional activity of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a cell surface glycoprotein that has been identified as one of the ligands for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), present on almost all leucocyte cell types. Immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to assess ICAM-1 expression on resting and IL 1β-activated endometrial stromal cells in culture. Dermal fibroblasts were used as control cells. Cytotoxicity and binding assays by ⁵¹Cr release in presence and absence of a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) against ICAM-1 were then performed in order to determine the effect of this molecule on NK-mediated cytotoxic and binding activity toward endometrial stromal cells. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that ICAM-1 expression on endometrial stromal cells seems to be constitutively higher than on dermal fibroblasts and can be up-regulated upon exposure to IL 1β. Furthermore, a mAb against ICAM-1 strongly inhibits the binding but not the cytotoxicity of NKs toward endometrial cells. No difference in the expression of this molecule was observed throughout the cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ICAM-1 on human endometrium might relate to the action of the immunocompetent cells in human specific reproductive events.     

Eutopic endometrium and peritoneal,ovarian and bowel endometriotic tissues express a different profile of matrix metalloproteinases-2, -3 and -11, and of tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases-1 and -2

Endometriosis is subsequent to the ability of endometrial glands to invade normal tissues. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)—enzymes that mediate normal tissue turnover, including endometrial breakdown during menstruation—appear to be involved in this invasive process. Here, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-11, tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 in endometrium from women with (n=9) or without endometriosis (n=18) in comparison with peritoneal (n=20), ovarian (n=20) and colorectal endometriosis (n=20). Women with endometriosis showed decreased endometrial MMP-2 expression compared with women without endometriosis (mean±SD positive cells: 24.3±28.3% and 69.3±12.1%), together with loss of MMP-3 expression (0 versus 17.5%±20.2). MMP-11, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression was similar in the two groups. Endometrial MMP-2, -3 and -11 expression and TIMP-1 and -2 expression were similar in women with endometriosis and in those with peritoneal endometriosis. MMP-2, -3 and -11 expression was higher in colorectal endometriosis than in ovarian and peritoneal endometriosis. TIMP-2 expression was lower in colorectal endometriosis (P=0.0002) and ovarian endometriotic cysts (P=0.003) than in peritoneal endometriosis. TIMP-1 expression did not vary according to the location of endometriotic lesions. These results suggest that MMP-2 and -3 and TIMP-2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Interestingly, MMP-2 and -3 overexpression was related to the infiltrative nature of endometriotic lesions, with possible sequential expression from peritoneal to colorectal endometriosis.     

Precursor lesions of ovarian epithelial malignancy

Most ovarian carcinomas arise from the mesothelial surface lining of the ovaries, or from invaginations of this lining into the superficial ovarian cortex to form cortical inclusion cysts. The native ovarian surface mesothelium is of an 'uncommitted' phenotype, and has potential to modulate to epithelial or mesenchymal phenotypes in response to signals such as those associated with ovulation. The exposure of the mesothelial lining of an inclusion cyst to the ovarian stromal microenvironment may be responsible for the phenotypic change to Müllerian epithelium so commonly seen in these cysts. Müllerian metaplasia is usually to a serous phenotype, and it is possible that undefined molecular events occurring in an inclusion cyst that has undergone Müllerian metaplasia may initiate neoplastic change in these cysts. This may be the developmental pathway of most invasive serous carcinomas. Occasional rare cases of ovarian intraepithelial neoplasia, manifested by epithelial atypia in an inclusion cyst or on the surface epithelium without invasive carcinoma, are identified histologically. Serous borderline tumours represent a separate category and in most cases probably do not progress to frank carcinoma. Mucinous carcinomas may in some cases have arisen from pre-existing benign and borderline mucinous tumours. Endometriosis of the ovary is associated with genetic abnormalities and is frequently found in association with clear cell and endometrioid carcinomas, suggesting that in many cases these latter two types of carcinoma may have arisen directly from endometriotic deposits. Ovaries removed prophylactically from women with a family history of ovarian carcinoma or with a mutation in one of the genes predisposing to ovarian carcinoma should be processed in their entirety, and examined closely not just for obviously neoplastic lesions, but also for more subtle morphological abnormalities of the surface epithelium or the epithelium lining cortical inclusion cysts.     

Bilateral deep infrapatellar bursitis associated with tibial tuberosity enthesopathy in a case of juvenile ankylosing spondylitis

Summary A case of bilateral deep infrapatellar bursitis is reported in a 19-year-old man suffering from juvenile ankylosing spondylitis and surgically treated for bilateral tibial tuberosity enthesopathy. In addition to erosive nonspecific bone remodelling the excised specimens showed, in the bursa, synovial layer hyperplasia with mild subintimal inflammatory cell infiltration, i.e. changes similar to those of synovitis in ankylosing spondylitis. The respective roles of the inflammatory terrain and of local shearing stress are discussed.     

旋髂深动脉及其临近结构的观测

目的：研究旋髂深动脉与临近结构的位置关系,为临床应用提供解剖学依据。方法：应用成年尸体20具（40侧,男尸12具,女尸8具）,观察旋髂深动脉,髂腹下神经,髂腹股沟神经,股外侧皮神经及它们之间的位置关系,结果：旋髂深动脉与神经之间有密切的毗邻关系,结论：临床上在作髂骨瓣移植分离切断旋髂深动脉及其分支时,应注意保护有关的神经。     

子宫内膜异位症并不孕患者腹腔镜电灼术治疗前后外周血EmAb及CA125值的差异与分析

目的：考察腹腔镜电灼术治疗子宫内膜异位症的疗效以及子宫内胰异位症与 ＥｍＡｂ和 ＣＡ１２５的关系。方法：应用腹腔镜诊断、电灼治疗子宫内膜异位症患者８０例,测定手术前后患者外周血ＥｍＡｂ和ＣＡ１２５,考察术后复孕率,并与非ＥＭＴ组６０例及Ｄａｎａｚｏｌ治疗组１５０例进行比较。结果：①随着患者ＥＭＴ分期的升级,ＥｍＡｂ值也呈上升的趋势,两者间存在良好的线性相关关系（ｒ２＝０．８８６,Ｐ＜０．０１）．同样的趋势也出现在ＣＡ１２５中。②各期ＥＭＴ患者的术前 ＥｍＡｂ和 ＣＡ１２５ 值均较非 ＥＭＴ组高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。③在 Ｉ～Ⅲ期间,术后 ＥｍＡｂ与 ＣＡ１２５ 值均较术前有显著性下降（其中Ⅰ、Ⅲ期组Ｐ＜０．０１;Ⅲ期组Ｐ＜０．０５）。④就总体而言,Ⅰ～Ⅳ期ＥＭＴ患者之间外周血的 ＥｍＡｂ没有显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）,相反,各组间的 ＣＡ１２５则存在非常显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。⑤各期患者的术前、后的ＥｍＡｂ与ＣＡ１２５值之间呈现出显著正相关关系（Ｐ＜０．０１）。⑥腹腔镜组患者复孕率为５１．２５％（４１／８０）,Ｄａｎａｚｏｌ组复孕率为５７．３３％（８６／１５０）,两组间无差异显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论：腹腔镜诊断和治     

子宫内膜异位症合并不孕者生殖内分泌的改变

[目的]通过检测血液及腹腔液中生殖内分泌激素水平,了解内分泌因素在子宫内膜异位症所致不孕中的作用.[方法]运用荧光微粒子发光法(MEIA),于卵泡期对78例不孕或子宫内膜异位症(EM)患者(EM合并不孕32例,单纯EM者20例,单纯不孕者26例)及14名健康绝育者的血液及腹腔液进行生殖内分泌激素的检测.[结果]EM者血中催乳素(PRL)、雌二醇(E2)及睾酮(T)水平高于无EM者(P<0.05),EM合并不孕者PRL及T高于EM非不孕者;重度EM的PRL、E2及T高于中度和轻度EM(P<0.05);无EM的不孕者除LH较正常对照组高外,其余与正常对照组之间无差异;卵泡刺激素(FSH)及孕酮(P)水平在以上各组之间无差异(P>0.05).EM合并不孕组腹腔液中PRL、LH、E2及T水平高于其他各组(P<0.05),而FSH及P与其他各组之间无差异(P>0.05).EM非不孕者PRL高于非EM不孕及正常对照组(P<0.05)、LH则与正常对照组无差异,但低于非EM不孕组(P<0.05),而FSH、E2及P与非EM不孕及正常对照组间无差异(P>0.05);非EM不孕组与正常对照组之间除LH较高外,其余各项无差异;不同程度EM组之间除FSH无差异外,其余各项均有差异,重度高于中度,中度又高于轻度EM(P<0.05).[结论]子宫内膜异位症特别是合并不孕者血及腹腔液中PRL和T水平较高,这可能是EM导致不孕的原因之一.     

大鼠子宫内膜异位症模型的建立及其组织学观察

【目的】研究大鼠子宫内膜异位症模型的建立及异位病灶的组织学形态。【方法】采用外科诱导法对80只大鼠行建模手术,在术后的第3周、第5周、第7周和第12周动态观察病灶的生长情况和大鼠的动情周期变化,取健侧子宫角中段的在位内膜、异位内膜行组织学研究。【结果】建模成功率为65%;生长良好的囊肿囊内壁有内膜上皮细胞生长,有与正位子宫内膜接近同步的发情周期改变;病灶随移植时间的推延先逐渐增大之后又有缩小趋势(P<0.05),同一时间内子宫旁韧带处病灶明显大于肠系膜处病灶(P<0.05)。【结论】将实验动物自体子宫内膜移植到子宫旁韧带或肠系膜上形成子宫内膜异位病理模型,是子宫内膜异位病实验研究的简便方法,此种异位内膜随动情周期有周期性改变,生理特性与正位子宫内膜基本相同。     

Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects in the Hand with a Free Anterolateral Thigh Deep Fascia Flap

ObjectiveTo report our experience in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the hand with a free anterolateral thigh deep fascia flap and describe the clinical outcomes.MethodsThis study was a retrospective trial. From November 2016 to January 2020, six patients (four men and two women) with soft tissue defects in the hand were included in this study. The average age of the patients was 33.7 ± 12.7 years (range, 20 to 50 years). All patients underwent reconstructions with free anterolateral thigh deep fascia flaps. Relevant clinical characteristics were recorded prior to surgery. The size and thickness of the deep fascia flap and the thickness of the skin were measured intraoperatively. The survival of the flaps and skin grafts and the occurrence of infection were recorded after the operation. At follow‐up, donor site complications and postoperative effects were evaluated according to the outcome satisfaction scale. The pain in the injured hand was assessed using the visual analog scale.ResultsThe average body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 ± 1.7 kg/m² (range, 23.9 to 28.7 kg/m²). The defect sizes ranged from 5 cm × 5 cm to 13 cm × 8 cm (average, 53.1 ± 27.9 cm²). The six anterolateral thigh deep fascia flaps ranged from 7 cm × 6 cm to 14 cm × 9 cm in size (average, 71.8 ± 29.1 cm²). The thicknesses of skin ranged from 25 mm to 40 mm (average, 32.5 ± 4.8 mm), and the thicknesses of the deep fascia flaps ranged from 2 mm to 3 mm (average, 2.5 ± 0.5 mm). After the operation, the blood supply of the deep fascia flap was normal in all cases. The second‐stage skin grafts of most patients survived completely. The skin graft in one case was partially necrotic and healed after a dressing change. No infection occurred. At follow‐up (average, 16.3 ± 6.9 months), there was only a linear scar and no loss of sensation at the donor site of each patient. According to the outcome satisfaction scale, the outcome satisfaction score ranged from 6 to 8 (average, 7.2 ± 0.9), all of which were satisfactory. Apart from one patient who reported mild pain, all the other patients reported no pain. Three typical cases are presented in this article.ConclusionsThe free anterolateral thigh deep fascia flap, which is suitable for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the hand, can provide very good outcomes both functionally and aesthetically.