BACKGROUND:Information on the concentrations of steroids in ovarian follicular fluid (FF) from regularly menstruating (RM) women has been limited because of the absence of methods for the simultaneous quantification of multiple steroids in small volumes of FF. We studied steroid profiles in FF during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF), and compared concentrations with published values obtained by immunoassay (IA).

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The local regulation of ovarian aromatase enzyme in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was studied with aromatase conversion and [11C]vorozole-binding assays to analyze aromatase activity, substrate-enzyme affinity and number of aromatase binding sites in non-cultured human granulosa cells (GC) incubated with different sources and preparations of follicular fluid (FF). Incubation with FF from women stimulated in in vitro fertilization cycles with follicle-stimulating hormone yielded higher conversion activity than with FF from healthy women and PCOS patients, paralleled with higher substrate affinity (lower Kd) than with FF from healthy women. In PCOS women, charcoal-pretreated FF yielded higher conversion, whereas the ether-pretreated FF yielded lower conversion activity, than with untreated PCOS FF. Both preparations of FF yielded higher affinity to substrate (lower Kd values) and the ether-pretreated FF a lower number of binding sites (Bmax). It seems that steroids with the presence of proteins in PCOS FF reduced aromatase conversion activity through decreased substrate affinity, whereas FF preparations devoid of proteins reduced the aromatase conversion activity mainly through blocking of aromatase active sites. Identification of specific agents responsible for this rapid regulation of aromatase function might help to understand normal regulation of the menstrual cycle and supposed imbalances of inhibitors/activators in PCOS.

Objective: To observe the effects of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in treatment of chronic pelvic pain associated with adenomyosis (AM) and in prevention of its recurrence. Methods: A prospective continuing study including 180 patients with chronic pelvic pain associated with AM who received insertion of LNG-IUS who were divided into three groups depending on the pain severity. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used for pain assessment before and during the treatment and transvaginal ultrasonic measurement of the uterine size, while various side effects, were observed and recorded. Results: After placement of LNG-IUS, scores of pain and ratio of severe pelvic pain decreased significantly compared with baselines (p50.01), the scores of VAS were 9

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The aim of the study was the analysis of immune inflammatory processes in the development of the pelvic pain syndrome associated with adenomyosis. For morphological examination were used 54 fragments of the myometrium obtained from patients after hysterectomy with pelvic pain on a background of diffuse adenomyosis of II-III degree, and 20 patients with painless form of adenomyosis. The identification of the macrophages distribution was held by means of an immune-hysto-chemical analysis of MAT (monoclonal antibody) for CD68. (Clone PG-M1, 'Diagnostic BioSystems', USA). The results of the study showed a significantly higher expression of CD68 (49.3 ± 2.3 vs. 21.2 ± 1.7 units. p < .01) in patients with painful adenomyosis form in areas of the ectopic endometrium, in the perivascular regions of the myometrium, as compared to those areas in women with painless group. We assume that these factors increase neurogenic inflammation and sensitivity of nociceptors in myometrium, activation of peripheral nerve fibers and, can act as triggers of the pelvic pain syndrome associated with adenomyosis.

Цель исследования: расширить представления о патогенезе тазовой боли (ТБ) при наружном генитальном эндометриозе (НГЭ). Дизайн: когортное проспективное сравнительное морфологическое исследование. Материалы и методы. В исследовании приняли участие 150 женщин. Пациенток с НГЭ (n = 120) разделили на 2 группы с 2 подгруппами (А и B) в каждой. Участницы групп I и II были в возрасте от 20 лет до 41 года (средний возраст-29,1 ± 3,3 года). I группу (n = 60) составили пациентки с НГЭ, осложненным ТБ: IA (n = 30)-c дефицитом 25(ОН)D, IB (n = 30)-без него; II группа (n = 60)-пациентки с НГЭ без ТБ: IIA (n = 30)-c дефицитом 25(ОН)D, IIB (n = 30)-без него. В группу контроля вошли 30 относительно здоровых женщин, направленных на диагностическую лапароскопию по поводу бесплодия неясного генеза, без дефицита 25(ОН)D и диагностированного НГЭ, без ТБ. У всех участниц исходно определяли уровень общего 25(ОН)D в сыворотке крови методом масс-cпектрометрии. Проводили морфологическое, иммуногистохимическое исследования с использованием компьютерной морфометрии. Результаты. Экспрессия VEGF была статистически значимо выше в биоптатах пациенток с ТБ на фоне дефицита 25(ОН)D), чем в подгруппе без него-77,4 ± 3,5% vs 56,3 ± 2,8% (р < 0,05), что свидетельствует об усилении ангиогенеза. Экспрессия NGF как в эутопическом, так и в эктопическом эндометрии также была значимо выше в подгруппе IА по сравнению с IВ: 63,7 ± 2,1% и 47,3 ± 3,2% vs 45,8 ± 1,9% и 36,1 ± 2,8%, что говорит об активации неонейрогенеза. Значимо более низкий апоптоз на фоне дефектной экспрессии VDR (71,1 ± 3,7% vs 31,5 ± 2,1%, p < 0,05) зафиксирован на основании экспрессии CASP3 в биоптатах женщин с ТБ и дефицитом 25(ОН)D: 26,1 ± 1,5% vs 28,4 ± 1,2% в подгруппе без дефицита 25(ОН)D. Заключение. Выявленные изменения показывают смещение пролиферативно-апоптотического индекса в сторону снижения активности апоптоза в клетках эутопического и эктопического эндометрия при диагностированном дефиците 25(ОН)D. Результаты исследования свидетельствуют о дефектном метаболизме 25(ОН)D. Аналогичная зависимость наблюдается в экспрессии VDR, что подтверждает результаты исследования на маркирование VDR в эндометрии и капсулах эндометриоидных кист у пациенток с НГЭ. Она лежит в основе ведущего патогенетического механизма возникновения ТБ при НГЭ в условиях снижения антипролиферативного действия витамина D. Это сопровождается усилением локального неоангиогенеза и роста нервных волокон с изменением пролиферативно-апоптотического паттерна в сторону угнетения апоптоза и усиления пролиферации. Ключевые слова: витамин D, патогенез тазовой боли, наружный генитальный эндометриоз.

Luteal phase deficiency (LPD) is described as a condition of insufficient progesterone exposure to maintain a regular secretory endometrium and allow for normal embryo implantation and growth. There is evidence that both follicular and luteal phase abnormalities can result in LPD cycles. The aim of this randomized prospective noncomparative study is to evaluate the effectiveness of combination therapy in patients with LPD. This prospective study included 35 women of the reproductive age. They were diagnosed with the LPD with sonographically and laboratory-verified methods. The age of patients was 36 ± 0.46 years. The results of the study sonographically demonstrated an increase in the diameter of the corpus luteum from 1.36 ± 0.32 (initially) to 2.16 ± 0.21 mm after combination therapy. In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in the level of estrogens and progesterone in the corresponding phases of the menstrual cycle. Thus, the combination therapy for patients with LPD contributes to the recovery of cyclic events in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system, which determines the restoration of the endocrine function of the ovaries and promotes adequate secretory rearrangement of the endometrium in women of reproductive age.