No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: Aromatase is the key enzyme for the conversion of C19 steroids into estrogen in certain human tissues. We studied to evaluate the aromatase expression in eutopic endometirum and endometriotic lesion and its relationship to clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODS: The study included 78 cases of endometriotic lesion and 14 cases of eutopic endometrium and 30 cases of normal uterine endometrium obtained through laparoscopic surgery and curettage. The frozen tissue specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry using aromatase. Clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and operative findings were analyzed and compared in according to aromatase expression. RESULTS: We observed positive immunohistochemical expression for aromatase in endometriotic lesion from 46/78 patients (59.0%). Aromatase expression was elevated in comparison to eutopic endometrium (5/14 patients, P=0.032) and the difference was more pronounced when eutopic endometriums from patients with endometriosis were compared with those of healthy controls (2/30 patients, P<0.001). Aromatase-positive patients had more moderate-to-severe chronic pelvic pain, higher CA-125 level significantly. Also in operative findings, severe grade endometriosis, bilateral endometriomas, and associated leiomyoma and adenomyosis were more frequent in aromatase positive patients. High values of white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CA 19-9 were more frequent in aromatase positive patients notwithstanding insignificant differences. CONCLUSION: Unopposed local biosynthesis of estrogens by increased expression of aromatase in eutopic endometrium and endometrial tissue could be involved in the development or maintenance of endometriosis and other uterine estrogen-triggered diseases. Our findings suggest increased expression of aromatase may be related with severity, activity, and chronic pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis.
Adenomyosis ; Aromatase ; Blood Sedimentation ; Curettage ; Endometriosis ; Endometrium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Leukocyte Count ; Pelvic Pain ; Steroids ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Treatment of esophageal perforation when diagnosed late remains controversial. Ten consecutive patients since 1990 were treated late (later than 24 hours) for esophageal perforation with primary repair. Four perforations were iatrogenic, 3 were spontaneous, 2 were foreign body aspiraton and 1 was trauma. The interval from perforation to operation was 116 hours in mean and 48 hours in median value. The principles of repair included (1) a local esophagomyotomy proximal and distal to the tear to expose the mucosal defect and intact mucosa beyond, (2) debridement of the mucosal defect and closure, (3) reapproximation of the muscle, and (4) adequate drainage. The repair was buttressed with parietal pleura or pericardial fat in 9 patients. Associated distal obstruction was treated with dilation and esophagomyotomy intraoperatively. There was one mortality and cause of death was massive gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer on 33rd day after operation. Five patients had leak at the site of repair and these cases were treated completely with conservative treatment except a mortality case. In conclusion, in the absence of malignant or irreversible distal obstruction, meticulous repair of perforated esophagus and adequate drainage are preferred approach, regardless of the duration from the injury to the operation.
Cause of Death ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Mucous Membrane ; Pleura ; Rupture* ; Stomach Ulcer