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T Zreik

Publications and source records attributed to T Zreik.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Macrophage derived growth factors modulate Fas ligand expression in cultured endometrial stromal cells: a role in endometriosis.

Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) interactions play a significant role in the immune privilege status of certain cell populations, and several cytokines and growth factors can modulate their expression. When a FasL-expressing cell binds a Fas-bearing immune cell, it triggers its death by apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrate that normal human endometrial epithelial but not stromal cells express FasL. Moreover, we showed that macrophage-conditioned media induced FasL expression by endometrial stromal cells in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate which macrophage product was responsible for the up-regulation of FasL, endometrial stromal cell cultures were treated with the macrophage products platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The first two (which are known to be elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis) induced a dose-dependent up-regulation of FasL expression, which was specifically inhibited by the antibody. Interestingly, bFGF (which is not elevated in peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis) did not induce any response. These results suggest that the pro-inflammatory nature of the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis induces the FasL expression by regurgitated endometrial cells, and signals Fas-mediated cell death of activated immune cells. This could be a mechanism for endometrial cells to escape immune surveillance, implant and grow.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1996

Cryomyolysis in the Conservative Treatment of Uterine Fibroids

Conservative surgical options for uterine fibroids are abdominal myomectomy, laparoscopic myomectomy, and, more recently, myolysis. Another option for the conservative surgical treatment of fibroids is freezing the structures. This procedure, cryomyolysis, can be performed rapidly by laparoscopic or hysteroscopic access. We performed a pilot study of 14 women with uterine fibroids. All were pretreated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for 3 months to reduce uterine and myoma size. Cryomyolysis was performed in each, and the GnRH agonist was discontinued. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed in 10 of the 14 women after GnRH agonist treatment before surgery and 4 months postoperatively. Total uterine volume ranged from 41.3 to 1134.8 ml preoperatively and 49.5 to 1320 ml postoperatively, for a mean increase of 22%. Normal uterine volume ranged from 35.6 to 548.7 ml preoperatively and 45.1 to 729.6 ml postoperatively, for a mean increase of 40%. Myoma volume showed a mean decrease of 6% (range 87-28%). Analysis of frozen fibroids revealed a mean volume decrease of 10%. We conclude that cryomyolysis is able to maintain (or slightly reduce) the uterine fibroid at its post-GnRH agonist size, whereas all other uterine tissues return to pretreatment size.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Office Microlaparoscopy Under Local Anesthesia

We assessed the utility, tolerance, and costs associated with office microlaparoscopy under local anesthesia using fiberoptic microlaparoscopes (<2 mm) and accessory instrumentation (<2 mm) for 100 of the following procedures: diagnostic laparoscopy to evaluate infertility including chromopertubation; diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain (CPP), including biopsy of endometriosis and conscious pain mapping; and early second-look laparoscopy including lysis of adhesions. A prospective nonselected cohort study was conducted on all women with CPP or infertility who consented to office microlaparoscopy under local anesthesia. A questionnaire was developed to follow all aspects of patient acceptance and tolerance of the procedures, and women were screened preoperatively, and 30 minutes and 1 week postoperatively. Pain was evaluated with modification of the McGill pain inventory relative intensity scale. A subset of questions evaluated the recovery period, and time and length of all aspects of the procedure and recovery were recorded. Second-look procedures were significantly more painful than diagnostic ones, and women with CPP experienced significantly greater pain than those with infertility. Virtually all expressed high satisfaction with the procedure. There were no complications, and no procedures required general anesthesia. Compared with traditional laparoscopy, there was a reduction in costs greater than 70%.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Decreased Performance of Skilled Laparoscopic Surgeons at Microlaparoscopy versus Traditional Laparoscopy

The skill requirements for microlaparoscopy are significantly higher than those for the traditional technique. This program was designed to meet the demands of compensated two-dimensional depth perception, instrument accuracy, and ambidexterity. Three specialized drills were constructed and 60 experienced laparoscopists with advanced operative skills were evaluated. The three skill-assessment tasks were first performed using traditional laparoscopic instrumentation (10-mm laparoscopes, 5-mm accessory instruments). The performance of the study group was compared with an extensive database of over 1000 laparoscopic surgeons from around the world and did not reveal any significant deficits with traditional-size equipment. Next, the tasks were performed using miniature 2-mm laparoscopes and accessory instruments. Performance levels for all tasks were significantly lower than with traditional-size equipment. These results demonstrate the increased difficulty of performing laparoscopy with 2-mm instruments and underscore the importance of formal training and objective skill assessment. The relationship of skill to credentialing must be considered.

Journal Article↗