Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and subfertility. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear and accurate non-invasive diagnostic methods are unavailable. Although clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, and imaging studies, such as transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful diagnostic aids, laparoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The treatment of endometriosis should be individualized and a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended based on degree of disease-associated symptoms, patient characteristics and preferences, reproductive plans, and desired quality of life. Surgical management is effective for subfertility, chronic pain, and ovarian endometriomas. The principle of surgery is removal of all ectopic endometrial lesions while ensuring that no lesions are missed. Currently, numerous medical treatment options are available to manage endometriosis-associated symptoms; however, all modalities are suppressive rather than curative. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact pathophysiology of endometriosis to enable the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for early detection and to indicate potential therapeutic targets for this chronic and frustrating disease.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and subfertility. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear and accurate non-invasive diagnostic methods are unavailable. Although clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, and imaging studies, such as transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful diagnostic aids, laparoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The treatment of endometriosis should be individualized and a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended based on degree of disease-associated symptoms, patient characteristics and preferences, reproductive plans, and desired quality of life. Surgical management is effective for subfertility, chronic pain, and ovarian endometriomas. The principle of surgery is removal of all ectopic endometrial lesions while ensuring that no lesions are missed. Currently, numerous medical treatment options are available to manage endometriosis-associated symptoms; however, all modalities are suppressive rather than curative. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact pathophysiology of endometriosis to enable the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for early detection and to indicate potential therapeutic targets for this chronic and frustrating disease.
Biomarkers ; Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Dysmenorrhea ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvic Pain ; Quality of Life ; Ultrasonography

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate whether microRNA-139-5p is involved in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyoma. Materials and Methods: Human leiomyoma and matched human smooth muscle samples were obtained from 10 women who underwent hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To assess the effects of miR-139-5p on cultured leiomyoma cells, cell migration, collagen gel contraction, wound healing, and the expression levels of hallmark proteins were evaluated in cells transfected with a miR-139-5p mimic. Results: The expression of miR-139-5p was significantly lower in leiomyoma tissues than in matched smooth muscle tissues. Restored miR-139-5p expression in miR-139-5p mimic-transfected human leiomyoma cells resulted in decreased contractility of the ECM and cell migration. In addition, upregulation of miR-139-5p decreased the protein expression of collagen type 1 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Conclusion Expression of miR-139-5p is downregulated in leiomyoma cells and modulation of miR-139-5p may be involved in the pathogenesis of leiomyomas through the regulation of collagen type 1 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Therefore, miR-139-5p is a potential therapeutic target for leiomyoma.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate whether microRNA-139-5p is involved in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyoma. Materials and Methods: Human leiomyoma and matched human smooth muscle samples were obtained from 10 women who underwent hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To assess the effects of miR-139-5p on cultured leiomyoma cells, cell migration, collagen gel contraction, wound healing, and the expression levels of hallmark proteins were evaluated in cells transfected with a miR-139-5p mimic. Results: The expression of miR-139-5p was significantly lower in leiomyoma tissues than in matched smooth muscle tissues. Restored miR-139-5p expression in miR-139-5p mimic-transfected human leiomyoma cells resulted in decreased contractility of the ECM and cell migration. In addition, upregulation of miR-139-5p decreased the protein expression of collagen type 1 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Conclusion Expression of miR-139-5p is downregulated in leiomyoma cells and modulation of miR-139-5p may be involved in the pathogenesis of leiomyomas through the regulation of collagen type 1 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Therefore, miR-139-5p is a potential therapeutic target for leiomyoma.

Tibolone, a selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator, is a synthetic steroid with distinct pharmacological and clinical characteristics in contrast to conventional menopausal hormone therapy. Tibolone induces estrogenic activity in the brain, vagina, and bone but remains inactive in the endometrium and breast. In particular, several studies have investigated whether tibolone usage increases the risk of breast cancer. This study aims to determine the effects of tibolone on the breast by focusing on the relation between tibolone use and breast cancer. Our investigation emphasizes recent studies, particularly those based on Asian populations.

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is a common chromosomal abnormality, which is caused by loss of all or part of one X chromosome. Hormone replacement therapy in TS is important in terms of puberty, growth and prevention of osteoporosis however, such a study has never been conducted in Korea. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine relationship between the starting age, duration of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in TS and develop a hormone replacement protocol suitable for the situation in Korea. Methods: This is retrospective study analyzed the medical records in TS patients treated at the Severance hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea from 1997 to 2019. Total of 188 subjects who had received a bone density test at least once were included in the study. Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used for achieving bone mineral density (BMD) of normal control group. Student’s t-test, MannWhitney U test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 18.0. Results: Each BMD measurement was significantly lower in women with TS than in healthy Korean women. Early start and longer duration of ERT is associated with higher lumbar spine BMD but not femur neck BMD. Femur neck BMD, but not lumbar spine BMD was significantly higher in women with mosaicism than 45XO group. Conclusion Early onset and appropriate duration of hormone replacement therapy is important for increasing bone mineral density in patients with Turner syndrome. Also, ERT affects differently to TS patients according to mosaicism.