The prostate and testis expression (PATE)-like family of proteins are expressed mainly in the male genital tract. They are localized in the sperm head and are homologous to SP-10, the acrosomal vesicle protein also named ACRV1. Our aim was to characterize the expression and functional role of three PATE-like proteins in the testis and ejaculated sperm.

The expression and localization of PATE-like proteins in human testis biopsies (n= 95) and sperm cells were assessed by RT–PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining (at least 600 sperm cells per specimen). The function of the PATE protein was tested by the hemizona assay and hamster egg penetration test (HEPT).

PATE and PATE-M genes and proteins were present almost exclusively in germ cells in the testis: immunoflourescence showed that the percentage of germ cells positive for PATE, PATE-M and PATE-B was 85, 50 and 2%, respectively. PATE and PATE-M proteins were localized in the equatorial segment of the sperm head, while PATE-B protein was localized in the post-acrosomal region. A polyclonal antibody (Ab, at 1:50 and 1:200 dilutions) against the PATE protein did not inhibit sperm–zona binding in the hemizona assay (hemizona index of 89.6 ± 10 and 87 ± 36%, respectively). However, there was inhibition of sperm–oolemma fusion and penetration in the HEPT (penetration index: without Ab 7 ± 3.9; Ab dilution of 1:100, 4 ± 3.5; Ab dilution of 1:20, 0.6 ± 1.2, P < 0.001).

Our data suggest that PATE protein is involved in sperm–oolemma fusion and penetration but not sperm–zona binding.

Approximately 80% of childhood cancers can now be cured but a side effect of treatment results in about one-third of the surviving boys being infertile or severely subfertile when they reach reproductive age. Currently, more than 1 in 5000 men of reproductive age who are childhood cancer survivors suffer from this serious quality of life problem. It is possible to obtain a testicular biopsy before treatment to preserve the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of the male by cryopreservation, but the results of long-term storage of SSCs on their subsequent functional ability to generate normal offspring has not been examined in any mammalian species. Moreover, it will be necessary to increase the number of these cryopreserved SSCs to remove any contaminating malignant cells and assure regeneration of spermatogenesis.

In this report, we demonstrate that long-term cryopreservation (>14 years) of testis cells from mouse, rat, rabbit and baboon safeguards SSC viability, and that these cells can colonize the seminiferous tubules of recipient testes. Moreover, mouse and rat SSCs can be cultured and re-establish complete spermatogenesis, and fertile mouse progeny without apparent genetic or epigenetic errors were generated by the sperm produced.

These findings provide a platform for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys undergoing gonadotoxic treatments.

Gestational iron-deficiency anaemia has adverse pregnancy outcomes. Antenatal iron supplementation can be beneficial in anaemic women, but the effects in non-anaemic women are controversial. This observational study assessed the relationship of maternal iron stores (depleted or non-depleted) at gestational Weeks 8–12 with birthweight, in non-anaemic pregnant women following the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Spain.

Healthy, non-anaemic pregnant women (n = 205) were studied. At the first antenatal visit, a general clinical assessment was conducted, and basal blood taken. Women were classified as having non-depleted or depleted iron stores [serum ferritin (SF) < 12 µg/l)]. Daily antenatal iron supplements (48 mg on average) were started at 17 (range: 16–18) weeks. Blood haemoglobin, SF and transferrin saturation (TS) were measured in each trimester.

Of the study sample, 20, 54 and 66% had SF < 12 µg/l in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. The prevalence of iron-depletion (SF < 12 µg/l) and iron-deficiency (SF < 12 µg/l and TS < 16%) was greater during the entire pregnancy in women with initial iron depletion versus no depletion (81.6 and 73.7% versus 61.7 and 55.4%, respectively, in the third trimester, P < 0.05). Women with initial iron-depletion delivered babies weighing on average 192 g less than that with initial iron stores, after adjusting for confounding variables (P = 0.028).

Beginning pregnancy with non-depleted iron stores is beneficial for the maternal iron status during pregnancy and infant birthweight. These findings reaffirm the importance of health promotion to ensure that women have adequate iron stores prior to, or early in, pregnancy when supplemented with moderate daily iron doses.

In primate placenta, extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invades maternal tissue in temporally- and spatially-regulated fashions. We previously identified a novel placenta-specific cell-surface aminopeptidase, laeverin/aminopeptidase Q, which is expressed on EVT-lineage cells in the fetal membrane. Laeverin possesses a peptide-binding site that is evolutionally unique to primates, suggesting possible involvement of laeverin in a primate-specific phenomenon during placentation. Thus, this study was designed to elucidate the molecular characteristics and physiological roles of laeverin in human EVT.

Placental tissues of various developmental stages were subjected to immunostaining and western blotting. Effects of siRNA and a soluble form of recombinant laeverin on EVT cells isolated from primary villous explant cultures were examined using Matrigel invasion assays and cell proliferation assays.

Laeverin was specifically immunolocalized to HLA-G-positive EVT in placentas from early and term pregnancy. In primary villous explant cultures, laeverin expression was induced on the cell surface of the outgrowing EVT. In western blotting, laeverin protein was detected as two distinct bands at 130 and 160 kDa along with a broad band ranging from 200 to 270 kDa. De-glycosylation treatment showed that these native laeverin isotypes are N-linked glycoproteins sharing a common 115-kDa core protein. In invasion assays, the reduction of laeverin expression by siRNA suppressed migration of the isolated EVT, while the soluble form of recombinant laeverin enhanced its migration.

Laeverin is a specific cell-surface marker for human EVT and plays a regulatory role in EVT migration.

This study aimed to calculate costs and health-related quality of life of women with endometriosis-associated symptoms treated in referral centres.

A prospective, multi-centre, questionnaire-based survey measured costs and quality of life in ambulatory care and in 12 tertiary care centres in 10 countries. The study enrolled women with a diagnosis of endometriosis and with at least one centre-specific contact related to endometriosis-associated symptoms in 2008. The main outcome measures were health care costs, costs of productivity loss, total costs and quality-adjusted life years. Predictors of costs were identified using regression analysis.

Data analysis of 909 women demonstrated that the average annual total cost per woman was 9579 (95% confidence interval 8559–10 599). Costs of productivity loss of 6298 per woman were double the health care costs of 3113 per woman. Health care costs were mainly due to surgery (29%), monitoring tests (19%) and hospitalization (18%) and physician visits (16%). Endometriosis-associated symptoms generated 0.809 quality-adjusted life years per woman. Decreased quality of life was the most important predictor of direct health care and total costs. Costs were greater with increasing severity of endometriosis, presence of pelvic pain, presence of infertility and a higher number of years since diagnosis.

Our study invited women to report resource use based on endometriosis-associated symptoms only, rather than drawing on a control population of women without endometriosis. Our study showed that the economic burden associated with endometriosis treated in referral centres is high and is similar to other chronic diseases (diabetes, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis). It arises predominantly from productivity loss, and is predicted by decreased quality of life.

Mounting evidence shows that nuclear factor-B (NF-B) plays an important role in endometriosis. We therefore evaluated the therapeutic potential of andrographolide, an NF-B inhibitor.

Primary cell cultures were performed using ectopic endometrial tissue specimens and their homologous eutopic endometrial specimens from 16 women with endometriosis, as well as control samples from 4 women without endometriosis. Andrographolide was evaluated for an effect on cell proliferation and cell cycle, DNA-binding activity of NF-B and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tissue factor (TF). In a rat model of endometriosis, andrographolide treatment was evaluated for an effect on lesion size, hotplate response latency and expression of phosphorylated p50 and p65, COX-2 and nerve growth factor (NGF) in ectopic endometrium.

Andrographolide dose dependently suppressed proliferation and cell cycle progression, attenuated DNA-binding activity of NF-B in endometriotic stromal cells and inhibited COX-2 and TF expression. In the rat experiment, induced endometriosis resulted in reduced response latency. Andrographolide treatment significantly reduced lesion size in a dose-dependent manner and significantly increased response latency. Andrographolide treatment also significantly reduced immunoreactivity of COX-2, phosphorylated p50 and p65, and NGF in ectopic endometrium.

Treatment with andrographolide significantly suppresses the growth of ectopic endometrium in vitro and in vivo, and results in a significant improvement in generalized hyperalgesia in rats with induced endometriosis. Therefore, andrographolide may be cytoreductive and may relieve pain symptoms in women with endometriosis. With excellent safety and cost profiles, andrographolide could be a promising therapeutic agent for endometriosis.

Laparoscopic segmental resection as a treatment for intestinal endometriosis can be supported by favorable clinical outcomes, but carries a high risk of major complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate histopathological patterns of colorectal endometriosis and investigate potential relationships between histological findings and clinical data.

We consecutively included 47 patients treated with laparoscopic segmental resection because of symptomatic colorectal endometriosis. All patients underwent follow-up for a median of 18 months (range: 6–35). We examined the histological patterns of colorectal endometriosis and evaluated the relationships between histological findings (satellite lesions, positive margins and vertical infiltration) and clinical outcomes (incidence of recurrence, quality of life and symptom improvement). Moreover, we observed if satellite lesions could influence preoperative scores of the short form-36 health survey (SF-36) questionnaire and visual analogue score (VAS) for pain symptoms.

There were no statistically significant differences in terms of anatomical and pain recurrences, pain symptoms and quality of life improvement among patients with or without positive margins, satellite lesions and different degrees of vertical infiltration (P > 0.05). Furthermore, women with or without satellite lesions were no different in terms of preoperative VAS of pain symptoms and SF-36 scores (P > 0.05).

The presence of satellite lesions or positive resection margins does not seem to influence clinical outcomes of segmental colorectal resection. Similarly, satellite lesions do not appear to have a major role in determining preoperative clinical presentation. These results may be useful to reconsider the surgical strategy for bowel endometriosis.