STUDY QUESTION What are the similarities and differences in endometrial B cells in the normal human endometrium and benign reproductive pathologies? SUMMARY ANSWER Endometrial B cells typically constitute less than 5% of total endometrial CD45+ lymphocytes, and no more than 2% of total cells in the normal endometrium, and while their relative abundance and phenotypes vary in benign gynaecological conditions current evidence is inconsistent. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY B cells are vitally important in the mucosal immune environment and have been extensively characterised in secondary lymphoid organs and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), with the associated microenvironment germinal centre. However, in the endometrium, B cells are largely overlooked, despite the crucial link between autoimmunity and reproductive pathologies and the fact that B cells are present in normal endometrium and in benign female reproductive pathologies, scattered or in the form of lymphoid aggregates (LAs). A comprehensive summary of current data investigating B cells will facilitate our understanding of endometrial B cells in the endometrial mucosal immune environment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This systematic review retrieved relevant studies from four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL) from database inception until November 2021. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The search strategy combined the use of subject headings and relevant text words related to ‘endometrium’, ‘B cells’ and B cell derivatives such as ‘antibody’ and ‘immunoglobulin’. Non-benign diseases were excluded using cancer related free-text terms, and searches were limited to English language and human subjects. Only peer-reviewed research papers were included. Each paper was graded as ‘Good’, ‘Fair’, or ‘Poor’ quality based on the NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA quality assessment scale. Only ‘Good’ quality papers were included. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Twenty-seven studies met the selection criteria and were included in this review: 10 cross-sectional studies investigated B cells in the normal endometrium; and 17 case-control studies compared the characteristics of endometrial B cells in control and benign female reproductive pathologies including endometritis, endometriosis, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial polyps and uterine fibroids. In all studies, B cells were present in the endometrium, scattered or in the form of LAs. CD20+ B cells were more abundant in patients with endometritis, but the data were inconsistent as to whether B cell numbers were increased in endometriosis and patients with reproductive pathologies. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although only “good” quality papers were included in this systematic review, there are variations in patients’ age, diagnostic criteria for different diseases and sample collection time among included studies. Additionally, a large number of the included studies only used immunohistochemistry as the identification method for endometrial B cells, which may fail to provide an accurate representation of the numbers of endometrial B cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Histological studies found that endometrial B cells are either scattered or surrounded by T cells in LAs: the latter structure seems to be under hormonal control throughout the menstrual cycle and resembles TLSs that have been observed in other tissues. Further characterisation of endometrial B cells and LAs could offer insights to endometrial B cell function, particularly in the context of autoimmune-associated pathologies such as endometriosis. Additionally, clinicians should be aware of the limited value of diagnosing plasma cell infiltration using only CD138. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by Finox Biotech. The authors have no conflicts of interests to declare. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO in January 2020 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42020152915).

A group of 45 women meeting DSM-III diagnostic criteria for bulimia were followed for a 9-week period to assess a possible relationship between a premenstrual syndrome and exacerbations of binging and other eating problem behaviors. A possible interface with a cyclothymic behavior disorder was also evaluated. The results of the daily recording (with subjects blind to the study hypotheses) identified eight women with a premenstrual pattern, but these changes in mood and physical complaints were unrelated to changes in food consumption. A cyclothymic behavior pattern was found in 10 women (22.2%), with a relatively earlier age of onset of bulimia in this group.

Our results do not support Cloninger's etiological hypotheses for alcoholism. Cultural differences may be responsible for the different drinking patterns observed.

Latinos are exposed to adverse psychosocial factors that impact their health outcomes. Given the heterogeneity and rapid growth of this population, there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms through which psychosocial factors impact substance abuse and anxiety between immigrant and U.S. born Latino adults. The present study employs a multi-group path analysis using Mplus 7.2 to examine generational differences in the paths between affiliation culture, years of formal education, contact with important people, and length of full-time employment to substance abuse and anxiety in immigrant and U.S. born Latino adults who completed substance abuse treatment. A total of 131 participants (Mage= 36.3, SD ± 10.5, 86.3% males, 48.1% non-U.S. born with a mean length of stay of 19 years in the U.S. (SD ± 13.71) in recovery from substance abuse completed self-report measures. Results from the multi-group path analysis suggest that being more affiliated to the U.S. culture is associated with substance abuse, whereas years of formal education and longer full-time employment is associated with reduced anxiety in the immigrant group. Conversely, frequent contact with important people and affiliation to the U.S. culture are associated with fewer years of substance abuse, whereas longer full-time employment is associated with substance abuse in the U.S. born group. Anxiety and substance abuse was correlated only in the U.S. born group. The implications of these findings are discussed.

The development of PTSD has been shown to be dependent on a variety of factors, including ethnicity, whether the trauma was experienced as a child or adult, and degree of acculturation. Using 104 Latinos who had completed treatment for substance abuse disorder(s), this study compared PTSD symptomatology for individuals reporting their Worst Traumatic Event (WTE) in childhood versus adulthood. The moderating effect of acculturation was also examined. Although many studies have reported on the pernicious effects of childhood trauma, very few have provided direct comparisons of child and adult trauma in terms of PTSD symptoms. Results indicated that those reporting their WTE in childhood had greater PTSD symptomatology than those reporting in adulthood. Acculturation moderated the relationship between timing of the trauma and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, those who reported their WTE in childhood and had the lower levels of acculturation, reported the higher number of PTSD symptoms. Implications and future directions are discussed.