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The developmental origins of health and disease concept illustrates that exposure in early life to various factors may affect the offspring's long-term susceptibility to disease. During development, the nervous system is sensitive and vulnerable to the environmental insults. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are divided into dioxin-like (DL-PCBs) and non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs), are synthetic persistent environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The toxicological mechanisms of DL-PCBs have been associated with the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and NDL-PCBs have been associated with ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium ion channels, which affect neuronal migration, promote dendritic growth and alter neuronal connectivity. In addition, PCB accumulation in the placenta destroys the fetal placental unit and affects endocrine function, particularly thyroid hormones and the dopaminergic system, leading to neuroendocrine disorders. However, epidemiological investigations have not achieved a consistent result in different study cohorts. The present review summarizes the epidemiological differences and possible mechanisms of the effects of intrauterine PCB exposure on neurological development.

BACKGROUND Studies have shown that the concentration of interleukin (IL)-6 in peritoneal fluid is increased in patients with endometriosis; however, whether the disorders involving IL-6 contribute to the development of endometriosis is still unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the potential role of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined activated macrophages and the expression of membrane-binding receptor (mIL-6R) in peritoneal fluid using flow cytometry. The levels of IL-6 and the IL-6 soluble receptor (sIL-6R) in peritoneal fluid and plasma in patients with endometriosis was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Activated macrophages and mIL-6R in peritoneal fluid were increased in patients with endometriosis. IL-6 and sIL-6R in peritoneal fluid were also increased in patients with endometriosis; however, there was an increase in plasma IL-6 and a decrease in plasma sIL-6R. The endometriosis group was categorized into 2 groups according to the retrospective American Fertility Society Score (r-AFS): group A and group B. Peritoneal fluid sIL-6R in endometriosis group B was significantly higher than in endometriosis group A and the control group. CONCLUSIONS Disorders involving IL-6 and IL-6R are correlated with the etiology of endometriosis. An increase in sIL-6R in peritoneal fluid promotes the development of endometriosis by enhancing the bioactivity of IL-6.

Objective This study was performed to assess the predictive value of the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum level for spontaneous pregnancy in women after endometriosis surgery. Methods In total, 124 patients with suspected ovarian endometrioma planning to undergo laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy were divided into a high AMH group (AMH > 2 ng/mL) and low AMH group (AMH ≤ 2 ng/mL) according to their preoperative AMH levels. The postoperative AMH levels were also measured, and pregnancy outcomes were followed up. Results Twenty-one patients were excluded, and 52 pregnancies were registered in the remaining 103 patients diagnosed with endometriosis. The pregnancy rate was significantly greater in the high than low AMH group. Receiver operator characteristics analysis of preoperative AMH, postoperative AMH, and the AMH decline rate showed that preoperative AMH was associated with the greatest area under the curve. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that women in the high AMH group had a significantly higher cumulative pregnancy rate than those in the low AMH group. Conclusion The preoperative AMH level might be a useful marker to predict the occurrence of natural pregnancy and could be offered as part of the fertility strategy to women who desire pregnancy after endometriosis surgery.

Endometriosis is associated with inflammatory reaction, and reactive oxidative species (ROS) are highly pro-inflammatory factors. Mitochondria are responsible for the production of ROS and energy. However, little is known about how mitochondria regulate ROS generation and energy metabolism in endometriosis. In our study, we investigated mitochondrial structure and function of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in ovarian endometriosis. We found mitochondria in ectopic ESCs generated more ROS and energy than controlled groups. Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2), as an antioxidant enzyme, was found highly expressed in ectopic endometrium compared with normal endometrium. Due to its antioxidant role, SOD2 promoted the development of endometriosis by maintaining functional mitochondria to support high energetic metabolism of ectopic ESCs. We also showed that SOD2 promoted cell proliferation and migration in ovarian endometriosis. Inhibiting SOD2 expression reduced proliferation and migration of ectopic ESCS, and increased cell apoptosis. Therefore, understanding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and SOD2 in ovarian endometriosis may provide new strategies to treat this disease.

Objective This study was performed to assess whether prophylactic uterine artery embolization (UAE) is beneficial for second-trimester abortion with complete placenta previa (CPP). Methods Patients with CPP who underwent second-trimester pregnancy termination by labor induction with or without UAE from January 2010 to January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 25 patients were eligible for analysis. The primary outcomes were the abortion success rate and bleeding volume, and the secondary outcomes were the induction-to-abortion time, length of hospital stay, and complications. Results CPP occurred in all 25 patients. Fifteen patients underwent prophylactic UAE (UAE group) and 10 did not (control group). Abortion was successful in 13 of 15 (86.7%) women in the UAE group and in 9 of 10 (90.0%) women in the control group. There was no significant difference in the bleeding volume or induction-to-abortion time between the two groups. The hospital stay was longer and pyrexia was more common in the UAE than control group. Conclusion Prophylactic UAE did not markedly improve the outcomes of second-trimester abortion in patients with CPP. Conversely, it may increase the risk of complications and prolong the hospital stay.

With the progress of global industrialization and environmental deterioration, the relationship between human health and the living environment has become an increasing focus of attention. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, including dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls), as part of the organic chlorine contaminants, have been suspected as playing a role in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis. Several population-based studies have proposed that exposure to PCBs may increase the risk of developing endometriosis, while some epidemiological studies have failed to find any association between PCBs and endometriosis. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential pathophysiological relationship between endometriosis and PCBs with a focus on both dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common but intractable disease. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms regulating alterations in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation in ONFH. Five patients who were diagnosed with ONFH were enrolled in this study. Bone MSCs (BMSCs) were isolated from the osteonecrotic zone in the femoral head (FH-pMSCs) and from the normal zone in the pelvis (hMSCs) of the same patient. Morphology, cell proliferation and expression of mediators of the Wnt signalling pathway were evaluated. There were significant differences in cell proliferation and expression of surface markers between the two populations of cells. FH-pMSCs exhibited significantly lower osteogenic differentiation compared with hMSCs (P < 0.0001). Dissection of the Wnt pathway showed that FH-pMSCs had significantly higher GSK3β expression compared with hMSCs (P < 0.001). Addition of LiCl, a GSK3β inhibitor, significantly increased osteogenic differentiation in FH-pMSCs, suggesting a relationship between the microenvironment and regulation of stem cell behaviour in ONFH. FH-pMSCs also exhibited significant downregulation of other mediators of the Wnt signalling pathway, including runx2 and β-catenin. Our data suggested that mediators of the Wnt signalling pathway, such as GSK3β could be important therapeutic targets for early-stage ONFH.

Introduction Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are key regulators in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis; specifically, IL-1β is involved in tissue degeneration and NGF is involved in joint pain. However, the cellular and molecular interactions between IL-1β and NGF in articular cartilage are not known. Cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) have recently been identified in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage on the basis of their migratory properties. Here we hypothesize that IL-1β/NGF signaling is involved in OA cartilage degeneration by targeting CSPCs. Method NGF and NGF receptor (NGFR: TrkA and p75NTR) expression in healthy and OA human articular cartilage and isolated chondrocytes was determined by immunostaining, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and western blot. Articular cartilage derived stem/progenitor cells were collected and identified by stem/progenitor cell characteristics. 3D-cultured CSPC pellets and cartilage explants were treated with NGF and NGF neutralizing antibody, and extracellular matrix changes were examined by sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release and MMP expression and activity. Results Expression of NGF, TrkA and p75NTR was found to be elevated in human OA cartilage. Cellular changes upon IL-1β and/or NGF treatment were then examined. NGF mRNA and NGFR proteins levels were upregulated in cultured chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. NGF was chemotactic for cells isolated from OA cartilage. Cells isolated on the basis of their chemotactic migration towards NGF demonstrated stem/progenitor cell characteristics, including colony-forming ability, multi-lineage differentiation potential, and stem cell surface markers. The effects of NGF perturbation in cartilage explants and 3D-cultured CSPCs were next analyzed. NGF treatment resulted in extracellular matrix catabolism indicated by increased sGAG release and MMP expression and activity; conversely, treatment with NGF neutralizing antibody inhibited increased MMP levels, and enhanced tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease-1 (TIMP1) expression in OA cartilage explants. NGF blockade with neutralizing antibody also affected cartilage matrix remodeling in 3D-CSPC pellet cultures. Conclusion Our results strongly suggest that NGF signaling is a contributing factor in articular cartilage degeneration in OA, which likely targets a specific subpopulation of progenitor cells, the CSPCs, affecting their migratory and matrix remodeling activities. These findings provide novel cellular/signaling therapeutic targets in osteoarthritic cartilage. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0840-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.