Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Nerea M. Molina, Alberto Sola-Leyva, Thor Haahr, Lusine Aghajanova, Piotr Laudanski, Jose Antonio Castilla, Signe Altmae
Summary: There is increasing evidence that the upper female genital tract is not sterile and has its own microbial communities. However, the role of endometrial microorganisms in reproductive functions is still not fully understood. Studying the endometrial microbiome presents challenges due to the low biomass, requiring well-designed experiments to avoid contamination risks from the lower genital tract. Recommendations for future studies include methodological considerations and good practice guidelines.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Alberto Sola-Leyva, Eduardo Andres-Leon, Nerea M. Molina, Laura Carmen Terron-Camero, Julio Plaza-Diaz, Maria Jose Saez-Lara, Maria Carmen Gonzalvo, Rocio Sanchez, Susana Ruiz, Luis Martinez, Signe Altmae
Summary: The study found that the endometrium of healthy women harbors functionally alive microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi. The composition and metabolic functions of these microorganisms change along the menstrual cycle.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ally Murji, Ari P. Sanders, Ilza Monteiro, Shabbir Haiderbhai, John Matelski, Chris Walsh, Jason A. Abbott, Malcolm G. Munro, Sarah Maheux-Lacroix
Summary: The study found a strong association between cesarean scar defects (CSDs) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Patients with CSD were more likely to experience AUB and presented a unique bleeding pattern, including prolonged menstruation and early-cycle intermenstrual bleeding.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Antonia Navarro, Maria Victoria Bariani, Qiwei Yang, Ayman Al-Hendy
Summary: Uterine fibroids are common benign gynecological tumors in reproductive-age women, causing severe symptoms. Excessive production of ECM components and changes in TGF-β pathways play key roles in fibroid development. miRNA expression modulation also affects fibroid and myometrial cell functions.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rymgul S. Moldassarina
Summary: Adenomyosis is characterized by the enlargement of the uterus due to the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of endometrial glands located in the myometrium. The main symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea. Currently, there is a lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, making it difficult to diagnose and choose the optimal treatment. Histological research methods are considered the gold standard for diagnosis, while imaging methods are used for differential diagnosis. Treatment options include hormonal therapy and minimally invasive techniques.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
B. A. Heil, M. van Heule, S. K. Thompson, T. A. Kearns, E. L. Oberhaus, G. King, P. Daels, P. Dini, J. L. Sones
Summary: Bacterial endometritis is a common cause of subfertility in mares and has a significant economic impact on the equine breeding industry. Detecting uterine microbes using culture-based methods is not very sensitive, leading to a high rate of false negative samples. This study using 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the equine uterus has a distinct microbiome during estrus. The findings could pave the way for innovative treatment methods for endometrial disease and aid sub-fertile mares.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kalle T. Rytkonen
Summary: The menstrual cycle is a crucial factor in female reproductive health. Mao et al. (2022) recently linked heavy menstrual bleeding to deficient glycolysis. This article summarizes these new findings and highlights the importance of glycolysis and decidualization in endometrial function. It also discusses whether menstrual bleeding should be considered as a primary endometrial disorder inherent to the endometrium or as a secondary endometrial disorder caused by other endometrial conditions.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Taurai Tasara, Anja Barbara Meier, Joseph Wambui, Ronan Whiston, Marc Stevens, Aspinas Chapwanya, Ulrich Bleul
Summary: Research on microorganisms in the reproductive tract of cows has gained popularity. Pathogens in the reproductive tract, such as bacteria, contribute to uterine disease and decreased fertility. By comparing the microbiomes of healthy and metritis animals, our study has identified microbiome profiles that are linked to uterine health. This knowledge can help develop treatment options that reduce antibiotic use and improve fertility in cows, as well as identify animals capable of successful pregnancy after calving.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tingting Xie, Xiya Xu, Yi Yang, Cangui Wu, Xiaohan Liu, Lili Zhou, Yali Song
Summary: Adenomyosis is a benign disease with malignant behavior that affects the quality of life of many women of reproductive age. Currently, there is no effective treatment and the pathogenesis is unclear. Recent research suggests that the uterus junctional zone may play an important role in the development of adenomyosis, providing new insights for future treatment strategies.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma E. Don, Mei-An Middelkoop, Wouter J. K. Hehenkamp, Velja Mijatovic, Arjan W. Griffioen, Judith A. F. Huirne
Summary: Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors in women, often causing abnormal uterine bleeding. They are also associated with infertility, particularly if the fibroids protrude into the uterine cavity. Hormonal therapy and hysterectomy are not suitable for women who desire to conceive. This study evaluated endometrial angiogenesis in women with fibroids and explored the influence of pharmaceutical therapies. Results showed aberrant angiogenesis in patients with fibroids, and various treatments, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, ulipristal acetate, and continuous oral contraception pills, reduced angiogenic parameters. Additionally, altered angiogenic pathways were found in infertile patients with fibroids. These findings could be valuable for developing new therapeutic targets for fibroid-related symptoms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hiroshi Mitao, Toshiyuki Yoshizato, Tomoyuki Fujita, Mayumi Fukagawa, Akira Nakashima, Takashi Horinouchi, Kimio Ushijima
Summary: This study aimed to describe the physiological changes in endometrial blood flow from ovulation to the mid-luteal phase using superb microvascular imaging. The results showed a decrease in endometrial blood flow from ovulation to D5-7 after ovulation in the normal menstrual cycle, and the endometrial thickness in the ovulatory phase was related to endometrial perfusion.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Irene O. Aninye, Melissa H. Laitner
Summary: Uterine fibroids have detrimental effects on women's health and quality of life, but there are significant knowledge gaps that hinder care for individuals with this condition. Systematic studies are needed to address these gaps and improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient care. Immediate actions include increasing research investment, improving fibroid assessment, addressing disparities, and advancing personalized patient care.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Acoustics
M. J. Harmsen, L. M. Trommelen, R. A. de Leeuw, T. Tellum, L. J. M. Juffermans, A. W. Griffioen, I. Thomassin-Naggara, T. Van den Bosch, J. A. F. Huirne
Summary: The uterine junctional zone is an area in the myometrium that aids in peristalsis and transport of spermatozoa and blastocysts. Alterations in its appearance on imaging are associated with adenomyosis, but the lack of standardization and ill-defined boundaries hinder its diagnosis. This review investigates the definition of the junctional zone and how imaging findings can be linked to histological findings in diagnosing adenomyosis.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leo Foyle, Matthew Burnett, Abbey Creaser, Rachel Hens, Julia Keough, Lauren Madin, Ruby Price, Hayley Smith, Samuel Stone, Robert T. Kinobe
Summary: The extensive use of antibiotics in food animal production and disposal of untreated wastewater from food animal slaughter facilities may cause a change in microbiomes of different ecosystems, leading to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. This global epidemiological problem has been poorly characterized and needs further study. A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution patterns of antimicrobial resistance in effluent wastewater from animal slaughter facilities worldwide. The results showed variable incidences of resistance against all major antimicrobial classes, indicating a significant contribution of anthropogenic activities in farming systems to the spread of antimicrobial resistance into the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Tanvi T. Bhardwaj, K. M. Hiwale, Sunita Vagha
Summary: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common menstrual condition that negatively affects a female's well-being. It is caused by factors such as chronic endometritis, endometrial erosions, and hormonal imbalance.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Wanxin Wang, Felipe Vilella, Pilar Alama, Inmaculada Moreno, Marco Mignardi, Alina Isakova, Wenying Pan, Carlos Simon, Stephen R. Quake
Summary: The monthly remodeling, shedding, and regeneration of the endometrium are driven by gene expression changes. There is significant heterogeneity among cell types in the endometrium, with different cell types undergoing dramatic state changes and rapid differentiation during the menstrual cycle.
OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Carlos Simon
Summary: The application of transcriptomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing technologies provide important foundations for personalized reproductive care. These technologies accurately identify the receptive period of the maternal endometrium for embryo implantation, as well as the association between microbial colonization in the endometrium and reproductive outcomes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Mary Towner, J. Julie Kim, Melissa A. Simon, Daniela Matei, Dario Roque
Summary: This review explores the survival rate disparities between black and white women in ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers, and proposes a theoretical framework to explain how racial differences in experience of preventive strategies, implementation of screening efforts, early detection of symptomatic disease, and appropriate treatment contribute to these disparities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
(2022)
Letter
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Carlos Simon, Maria Ruiz-Alonso, Carlos Gomez, Diana Valbuena
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmad Altiti, Mingzhu He, Sonya VanPatten, Kai Fan Cheng, Umair Ahmed, Pui Yan Chiu, Ibrahim T. Mughrabi, Bayan Al Jabari, Ronald M. Burch, Kirk R. Manogue, Kevin J. Tracey, Betty Diamond, Christine N. Metz, Huan Yang, LaQueta K. Hudson, Stavros Zanos, Myoungsun Son, Barbara Sherry, Thomas R. Coleman, Yousef Al-Abed
Summary: Peptides, important therapeutic agents, are limited by rapid degradation. The authors developed a method using functionalized thiocarbazate scaffolds to integrate aza-amino acids into peptide sequences, extending their bioavailability. This platform was demonstrated on two well-studied peptides, showing its superiority in peptide optimization.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caterina Ivaldo, Mario Passalacqua, Anna Lisa Furfaro, Cristina d'Abramo, Santiago Ruiz, Prodyot K. Chatterjee, Christine N. Metz, Mariapaola Nitti, Philippe Marambaud
Summary: Oxidative stress induced efficient proteolysis of VE-cadherin by MMPs and gamma-secretase in HUVECs. The cytoplasmic domain of VE-cadherin produced by gamma-secretase, VE-Cad/CTF2, was tightly regulated and sequentially produced from an ADAM10/17-generated C-terminal fragment. BMP9 and BMP10 reduced VE-Cad/CTF2 levels and mitigated H2O2-mediated actin cytoskeleton disassembly.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Javier Gonzalez Fernandez, Javier Moncayo Arlandi, Ana Ochando, Carlos Simon, Felipe Vilella
Summary: Embryo-maternal cross-talk is crucial for embryo development and implantation, involving secreted factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). EV cargo influences target cells and prepares them for reproductive stages like embryo development and implantation. Recent research suggests that EVs and their cargo can be used as a powerful, non-invasive tool to assess the quality of embryos and maternal tissues in assisted reproduction treatments. This review focuses on intercellular cross-talk between embryos and maternal tissues, examining human biology and signaling mechanisms identified in animal models.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Stephanie Bissiere, Blake Hernandez, Carmen Rubio, Carlos Simon, Nicolas Plachta
Summary: Preimplantation development is the stage of human development that can be observed and studied in real time outside the body. This is possible because human embryos can be created using in vitro fertilization and cultured until the blastocyst stage. This article focuses on the cellular and morphogenetic processes that transform a 1-cell embryo into a blastocyst ready for implantation. While most of our understanding of preimplantation human development comes from studying mouse embryos, this article discusses the potential differences in humans and highlights new approaches for studying this process using noninvasive imaging and genetic technologies.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Laura Girardi, Matteo Figliuzzi, Maurizio Poli, Munevver Serdarogullari, Cristina Patassini, Silvia Caroselli, Ilaria Pergher, Francesco Cogo, Onder Coban, Fazilet Kubra Boynukalin, Mustafa Bahceci, Roser Navarro, Carmen Rubio, Necati Findikli, Carlos Simon, Antonio Capalbo
Summary: How well can whole chromosome copy number analysis from a single trophectoderm biopsy predict true mosaicism configurations in human blastocysts? When a single trophectoderm biopsy is tested, wide mosaicism thresholds increase false positive calls compared to more stringent ones without improving true detection rate, while binary classification provides the highest diagnostic accuracy.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
S. Caroselli, M. Figliuzzi, L. Picchetta, F. Cogo, P. Zambon, I Pergher, L. Girardi, C. Patassini, M. Poli, D. Bakalova, D. Cimadomo, N. Findikli, O. Coban, M. Serdarogullari, F. Favero, S. Bortolato, A. Anastasi, F. Capodanno, A. Gallinelli, F. Brancati, L. Rienzi, F. M. Ubaldi, J. Jimenez-Almazan, D. Blesa-Jarque, J. Miravet-Valenciano, C. Rubio, C. Simon, A. Capalbo
Summary: This study developed an integrated genetic testing platform that accurately detects chromosomal abnormalities, including ploidy level and microdeletions, expanding the clinical utility of preimplantation genetic testing.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Hutton, Aida Mustafa, Soha Patil, Saira Rathod, Gautam Shrikhande, Arnold Advincula, Jessica Drummond, Peter Gregersen, Jason Hall, Christine Metz, Alexandra Milspaw, Iris Kerin Orbuch, Peter Stahl, Amy Stein, Allyson Shrikhande
Summary: This article examines the healthcare utilization, cost burden, and quality-of-life restrictions experienced by patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP). It analyzes data from new patient visit progress notes and the FAIR Health Consumer online database, revealing a significant cost burden for CPP patients in terms of surgeries, diagnostics, and treatments.
Article
Cell Biology
Jose Ramon Hernandez Mora, Claudia Buhigas, Stephen Clark, Raquel Del Gallego Bonilla, Dagne Daskeviciute, Ana Monteagudo-Sanchez, Maria Eugenia Poo-Llanillo, Jose Vicente Medrano, Carlos Simon, Marcos Meseguer, Gavin Kelsey, David Monk
Summary: During pre-implantation stages, stored material in mammalian development promotes epigenetic profile erasure and genome activation. Through single-cell methylome and transcriptome sequencing, we analyzed the expression and methylation in oocytes and human embryos, identifying key events in epigenetic reprogramming and genome activation. Failure to achieve these milestones negatively impacts the developmental potential of embryos and may affect the success of assisted reproductive cycles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Domingo-Muelas, Robin M. Skory, Adam A. Moverley, Goli Ardestani, Oz Pomp, Carmen Rubio, Piotr Tetlak, Blake Hernandez, Eric A. Rhon-Calderon, Luis Navarro-Sanchez, Carmen M. Garcia-Pascual, Stephanie Bissiere, Marisa S. Bartolomei, Denny Sakkas, Carlos Simon, Nicolas Plachta
Summary: Combining fluorescent dyes with live imaging, this study reveals the dynamics of early development in human embryos, including chromosome segregation, compaction, polarization, blastocyst formation, and hatching. The study also shows that blastocyst expansion mechanically affects trophectoderm cells, causing nuclear budding and DNA shedding into the cytoplasm. Moreover, the study suggests that aneuploidies in human embryos may not only result from chromosome segregation errors during mitosis, but also from nuclear DNA shedding.
Review
Physiology
Inmaculada Moreno, Antonio Capalbo, Aymara Mas, Tamara Garrido-Gomez, Beatriz Roson, Maurizio Poli, Eva Dimitriadis, Xavier Santamaria, Felipe Vilella, Carlos Simon
Summary: Pregnancy is established during the periconceptional period from blastocyst attachment to placenta formation, significantly impacting the health of both the child and the mother. Advances in understanding the periconceptional space, including the preimplantation human embryo and maternal endometrium, offer opportunities for preventative interventions. This review discusses the role of maternal decidua, the maternal-embryonic interface, the endometrial microbiome, and the myometrium in pregnancy health during the periconceptional period.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)