Reproductive Endocrinology And Infertility Clinical Trai

由詹姆斯·西格斯领导的生殖内分泌学和不孕症小组调查了各种临床生殖疾病的潜在原因和治疗效果。本单元的任务是在生殖内分泌学和不孕症的多机构临床培训计划的背景下进行对生殖重要的基础、转化和临床研究。在过去的一年里，我们继续研究两种非常普遍的生殖疾病，子宫肌瘤（也称为平滑肌瘤）和子宫内膜异位症。我们之前的研究表明，产生细胞外基质（细胞间结缔组织）的基因在子宫肌瘤中表达异常。在过去的一年里，我们发现子宫肌瘤的细胞外基质异常，形成异常，与正常子宫组织的致密纤维相比，肌瘤中的胶原纤维取向随机，间距广泛。这一发现提示肌瘤中的细胞外基质不易降解，可能有助于肿瘤的生长。按照计划，我们已经与美国国立卫生研究院临床中心、国家癌症研究所和国家环境健康科学研究所的研究人员合作，开始了一项涉及肌瘤非手术治疗的研究。在与博士正在进行的合作研究。Heiner Westphal， Chrousos和Kino的实验表明Brx和相关蛋白在激素作用中的生理作用。由于不孕和子宫内膜异位症影响了许多想要孩子的女性，我们继续进行子宫内膜异位症和不孕的临床研究，以努力优化患有子宫内膜异位症或不孕的夫妇的治疗结果。

The Unit on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, led by James Segars, investigates underlying causes and effectiveness of treatment for a variety of clinical reproductive disorders. This unit has the mission to conduct basic, translational, and clinical studies of importance to reproduction in the context of the multi-institutional clinical training program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. In the past year, we have continued our research on two very prevalent disorders of reproduction, uterine fibroids (also known as leiomyoma), and endometriosis. Our previous studies have revealed that genes producing the extracellular matrix (connective tissue between cells) were expressed at abnormal levels in uterine fibroids. In the past year, we have found that the extracellular matrix of uterine fibroids is abnormal is abnormally-formed, as the collagen fibers are randomly oriented and widely spaced in fibroids, compared to the compact fibers in normal uterine tissues. This finding suggests that the extracellular matrix deposited in fibroids may not be easily degraded, and might contribute to growth of the tumors. As planned, we have begun a study involving non-surgical treatment of fibroids in collaboration with investigators at the NIH Clinical Center, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In the ongoing collaborative study with Drs. Heiner Westphal, Chrousos, and Kino experiments have suggested a physiologic role for Brx in and related proteins in hormone action. As infertility and endometriosis affect many women attempting to have children, we continue to conduct clinical studies of endometriosis and infertility in an effort to optimize outcome of treatment for couples experiencing endometriosis or infertility.