PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Stephan Gordts

Publications and source records attributed to Stephan Gordts.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

High endometrial aromatase P450 mRNA expression is associated with poor IVF outcome.

BACKGROUND: The success of IVF treatment is dependent upon embryo quality and coordinated growth and differentiation of the endometrium. Aromatase P450 expression in the human endometrium is thought to be restricted to women with proliferative reproductive tract disorders such as endometriosis, leiomyomas and adenomyosis. METHODS: To determine whether endometrial aromatase P450 mRNA expression is prognostic of IVF outcome, we quantified transcript levels in biopsy specimens from a cohort of subfertile patients awaiting IVF treatment using real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Aromatase P450 transcripts were detected in all endometria examined, although the levels varied considerably between samples, ranging from 0.22 to 486.6 arbitrary units (a.u.). The clinical pregnancy rate in women with high endometrial aromatase P450 mRNA levels (> or = 8.3 a.u.; n = 21) was 9.5% compared with 30.1% in those patients with low expression levels (<8.3 a.u.; n = 101) (P < 0.05). The cycle day of the endometrial biopsy, cause of infertility, age, parity, number of oocytes collected and number of embryos transferred did not differ between patients with high versus low endometrial aromatase P450 mRNA levels (P > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that endometrial P450 mRNA levels can identify women at increased risk of IVF treatment failure.

Aromatase↗
PubMed2003

Bowel injury in gynecologic laparoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To review surveys of the last decade on bowel injuries to evaluate the prevalence, causes, management, and outcomes of these events occurring during or as a result of laparoscopy. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Surveys and databases. PATIENTS: None. INTERVENTION: Data analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Combined data show that diagnostic and minor operative laparoscopy are associated with a 0.08% risk of bowel injury, and in major operative laparoscopy the risk increases to 0.33%. Injuries occurring during access and operative procedure decrease significantly with experience, but even in experienced hands injury during access cannot be avoided. Delayed diagnosis remains a major problem. Up to 15% of these injuries are not diagnosed during laparoscopy, and one of five cases of delayed diagnosis results in death. Perioperative diagnosis and immediate repair by laparoscopy or laparotomy reduce the likelihood of severe complications and consequently medicolegal actions. CONCLUSIONS: Several surveys on complications of gynecologic laparoscopy tend to underestimate the risk of bowel injury. Prevention starts by awareness that such injury is an inherent risk of the technique, even in hands of experienced surgeons.

Belgium↗
PubMed2003

Non-invasive methods of diagnosis of endometriosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis but the need for visual evidence of the disease is a major stumbling-block for both effective clinical management of affected patients as well as for research into this common and debilitating reproductive disease. Laparoscopy is invasive and often causes a delay in diagnosis and treatment, especially in symptomatic teenagers and young women. Moreover, the visual inspection of the pelvis has major limitations, particularly for the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lesions. It is therefore not surprising that considerable efforts are being made to improve imaging techniques and to evaluate the diagnostic value of potential molecular markers of disease. RECENT FINDINGS: High-resolution transvaginal ultrasonography and, in selected cases, magnetic resonance imaging improve the diagnosis of retroperitoneal pelvic endometriosis as well as the identification of lesions that involve pelvic organs. A variety of serum and endometrial markers are being evaluated for their diagnostic potential, particularly in endometriosis associated infertility. The first gene profiling studies are showing positive results and proteomic technology is being applied to identify novel diagnostic protein expression patterns. SUMMARY: Current imaging techniques, such as transvaginal ultrasonography, are useful to screen the pelvis for the presence of retroperitoneal endometriosis but fail to diagnose peritoneal lesions, small ovarian endometriomas and adhesions. Postgenomic technologies and identification of novel serum and endometrial markers are likely to revolutionize future diagnosis of endometriosis.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2002

Aromatase P450 messenger RNA expression in eutopic endometrium is not a specific marker for pelvic endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether expression of aromatase P450 mRNA in eutopic endometrium is predictive of the presence of pelvic endometriosis. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, observational study. SETTING: Four tertiary centers for reproductive medicine. PATIENT(S): Sixty subjects of reproductive age undergoing laparoscopy for subfertility exploration, pain assessment, or sterilization. INTERVENTION(S): Endometrial biopsy at time of laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The expression of aromatase P450 mRNA in endometrial specimens was determined by single-tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA was amplified in parallel to exclude amplification failure. RESULT(S): The RT-PCR amplification was successful in 56 of the 60 biopsies (93%). Pelvic endometriosis was diagnosed in 34 patients (61%) and was strongly associated with aromatase P450 mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium. As a diagnostic marker for endometriosis, aromatase P450 mRNA expression yielded a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 59%, a positive predictive value of 76%, and a negative predictive value of 67%. If additional uterine pathology was taken in account, the sensitivity increased to 84%, the specificity to 72%, the positive predictive value to 87%, but the negative predictive value remained unchanged (67%). CONCLUSION(S): Although endometrial aromatase P450 gene expression is highly predictive of the presence of pelvic disease, the relative high incidence of false-negative results and lack of specificity is likely to impair clinical application.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Endoscopic visualization of oocyte release and oocyte retrieval in humans.

Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) allows the inspection of the tubo-ovarian structures in their natural position without supplementary manipulation. Saline is used at 37 degrees C as distension medium, which keeps the organs afloat. Using this technique it was possible to visualize and record for the first time the process of oocyte release and capture by the fimbriae in humans. THL was performed in the peri-ovulatory period, in order to collect data that would give a better insight into events at the moment of ovulation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Minimally invasive exploration of the female reproductive tract in infertility.

Classically, invasive and non-invasive tests are performed to evaluate the causes of infertility. Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) allows the exploration of the pelvic structures with a mini-endoscope, using a vaginal needle-guided trocar introduction technique and saline as a distension medium. A first study on 349 patients demonstrated the feasibility of the procedure and gave a high patient satisfaction. Access to the pouch of Douglas was achieved in 330 patients (94.5%) under local anaesthesia and in an ambulatory environment. The mean pain score measured on a visual analogue scale of 10 was 2.7, comparable to the score of mini-hysteroscopy only and significantly lower than the scores of hysterosalpingography with either metal cannula or balloon catheter. A total of 96% of the patients agreed to repeat the procedure under the same circumstances if required. The diagnostic accuracy of the technique was demonstrated in a prospective study, in which two independent endoscopists explored 10 patients with both THL and standard laparoscopy. The inter-observer agreement for ovarian adhesions was 75% for standard laparoscopy and 90% for THL. In addition, in patients with mild endometriosis, more peri-ovarian adhesions were detected with THL than with standard laparoscopy. A multinational survey to evaluate the risk and outcome of bowel injury during THL registered 24 (0.65%) cases in 3667 procedures. In all cases, the diagnosis was made immediately and the treatment was conservative without complications.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed2002

Reproductive disorders affecting fertility in endometriosis.

The classical concept of endometriosis as a cause of infertility is challenged. Traditionally, both surgical and medical therapy of endometriosis-associated infertility has focused on eliminating or reducing the visible implants. The classic 6-month medical approach has been a failure, and surgery may moderately enhance fertility, but its benefit in the absence of adhesions is still doubtful. Recent studies have shown that endometriosis is characterized by an aberrant response to sex steroid hormones, resulting in pleiotropic dysfunctions of the reproductive system involving the uterine, peritoneal and ovarian micro-environment. Studies on endometriosis and IVF have been highly relevant in revealing the pleiotropic dysfunctions in patients with endometriosis, although the results should be interpreted with caution. The conclusion seems to support the view that infertility in patients with endometriosis is primarily dysfunctional, rather than lesional, in origin. It is concluded that the place of medical therapy in endometriosis should be reviewed and that the surgical approach needs to be complemented by appropriate medical therapy to restore fertility.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed2002

Experience with transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy for reconstructive tubo-ovarian surgery.

The transvaginal approach to tubo-ovarian surgery allows easy and direct access to the tubo-ovarian structures and the fossa ovarica without additional manipulation. In the absence of a panoramic view, the proximity of the tubo-ovarian structures allows operative procedures for treatment of superficial and cystic ovarian endometriosis, drilling of the ovarian capsule, adhesiolysis and salpingostomy. Operative procedures were performed in 78 patients. No conversion to standard laparoscopy was necessary, and no complications occurred. All procedures were carried out on an ambulatory basis with a very low morbidity.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed2002

Investigation of the infertile couple: a one-stop outpatient endoscopy-based approach.

Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) is a new culdoscopic technique for exploration of the pelvic cavity that takes advantage of micro-endoscopic technology and uses aquaflotation for inspection of the tubo-ovarian structures. In infertility patients, THL is systematically combined with mini-hysteroscopy, chromopertubation, fimbrioscopy and, when indicated, salpingoscopy. Mini-hysteroscopy in combination with the chromopertubation test allows accurate assessment of the uterine cavity and tubal patency. The transvaginal access combined with the aquaflotation during THL facilitates detailed inspection of the tubo-ovarian structures and detection of subtle pelvic disease. This combined transvaginal endoscopic approach allows complete evaluation of the reproductive tract. THL is better tolerated than hysterosalpingography, less invasive than standard laparoscopy, and can be used safely as a first line investigation of the female partner in a one-stop infertility clinic.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

One-stop endoscopy-based infertility clinic.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The investigation of the infertile couple is currently a highly debated issue. The purpose is to review whether transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in combination with mini-hysteroscopy and chromopertubation can be offered as a one-stop infertility investigation. RECENT FINDINGS: The technique is based on the direct visualization of the reproductive organs and the presence of tubal patency, and has been clinically validated during the past year for its accuracy, safety and patient tolerance. SUMMARY: Further prospective randomized studies are required to prove the superiority of transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in comparison with hysterosalpingography as a first-line investigation in predicting the fertility outcome.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of parental gonosomal mosaicism detected in peripheral blood on preimplantation embryos.

This study evaluated the chromosomal condition of embryos generated by patients with an altered karyotype due to gonosomal mosaicism and the clinical outcome after preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for aneuploidy. Thirty-six patients aged 34.6 +/- 3.6 years performed 54 treatment cycles and had 295 embryos diagnosed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). Thirty-seven per cent of the embryos were chromosomally normal and generated 19 clinical pregnancies after replacement in 39 cycles. Only one pregnancy miscarried, yielding a take-home baby rate of 33.3%. Autosomal monosomy and trisomy contributed 36.1% of total abnormalities and gonosomal aneuploidy 5.9%, similar to the results detected in patients who undergo PGD for increased maternal age. Reanalysis was performed on 114 non-transferrable embryos: 41 were found to be mosaics, which were grouped in three different types, chaotic mosaics (56%), aneuploid mosaics (29%) and diploid/haploid/polyploid mosaics (15%). The incidence of aneuploid mosaics was higher than expected compared with PGD patients of the same age and resembled the condition observed in patients of advanced maternal age. These findings suggest that constitutional carriers of sex chromosome mosaicism are predisposed to autosomal mosaicism of embryos, possibly due to errors of cell division. There is an indication that this tendency is higher in female than male carriers.

Adult↗