Ovarian reserve after treatment of ovarian endometriomas by ethanolic sclerotherapy compared to surgical treatment

OBJECTIVE

To preserve ovarian reserve, we treated ovarian endometriomas by ultrasound-guided aspiration followed by sclerotherapy of the cyst mucosa. We compared the results with laparoscopic cystectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 96 women with ovarian endometriomas. In 54 of the women, ultrasound-guided aspiration of the contents was performed, followed by chemical sclerotherapy of the cyst plaque with ethanol. Laparoscopic cystectomy was performed in the remaining 42 women.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels before and after the procedures showed a significant decrease in the case of cystectomy compared with ethanolic ovarian sclerotherapy (EOS).

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative treatment by echo-assisted puncture and sclerotherapy with ethanol proved to be a viable treatment for the removal of ovarian endometriomas. It is a simple procedure that does not affect ovarian reserve or fertility.

Qualifying Osteogenic Potency Assay Metrics for Human Multipotent Stromal Cells: TGF-β2 a Telling Eligible Biomarker

Potency assays are critical for regenerative medicine, addressing the known challenge of functional heterogeneity among human multipotent stromal cells (hMSC). Necessary laboratory cell expansion allows analysis before implantation in the patient. Levels of induction of five signature gene biomarkers, ALPL, COL1A2, DCN, ELN and RUNX2, constituted a previously reported proof-of-principle osteogenic potency assay. We tested assay modification to enhance reproducibility using six consistent bone marrow derived hBM-MSC and explored applicability to three adipose tissue derived hAT-MSC. Using a potent proprietary osteogenic induction factor, the GUSB/YWAHZ reference gene pair provided real time PCR consistency. The novel assay conditions supported the concept that genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins one week after osteogenic induction were informative. Nonetheless, relatively low induction of COL1A2 and ELN encouraged search for additional biomarkers. TGFB2 mRNA induction, important for osteogenic commitment, was readily quantifiable in both hBM-MSC and hAT-MSC. Combined with DCN, TGFB2 mRNA induction data provided discriminatory power for resolving donor-specific heterogeneity. Histomorphometric decorin and TGF-β2 protein expression patterns in eight-week heterotopic bone implants also discriminated the two non-bone-forming hMSC. We highlight progress towards prompt osteogenic potency assays, needed by current clinical trials to accelerate improved intervention with enhanced stem cell therapy for serious bone fractures.

Identification of [CuCl(acac)(tmed)], a copper(II) complex with mixed ligands, as a modulator of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1p) activity in yeast

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) stand in the prime line of enzymatic antioxidant defense in nearly all eukaryotic cells exposed to oxygen, catalyzing the breakdown of the superoxide anionic radical to O(2) and H(2)O(2). Overproduction of superoxide correlates with numerous pathophysiological conditions, and although the native enzyme can be used as a therapeutic agent in superoxide-associated conditions, synthetic low molecular weight mimetics are preferred in terms of cost, administration mode, and bioavailability. In this study we make use of the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the SOD-mimetic action of a mononuclear mixed-ligand copper(II) complex, [CuCl(acac)(tmed)] (where acac is acetylacetonate anion and tmed is N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine). Taking advantage of an easily reproducible phenotype of yeast cells which lack Cu-Zn SOD (Sod1p), we found that the compound could act either as a superoxide scavenger in the absence of native Sod1p or as a Sod1p modulator which behaved differently under various genetic backgrounds.