Endometriosis Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age. It is an estrogen-dependant disease that affects 10 to 15% of women of reproductive age.1 It is diagnosed in about 20% of women who undergo laparoscopy for pelvic pain or infertility.2 The prevalence rate of laparoscopically biopsy-proven endometriosis in patients with chronic pelvic pain can be as high as 28%.3 Definition It is defined as the presence of endometria-like tissues outside of the uterine cavity commonly located in the gravitationally dependent area of the pelvis, including ovaries, peritoneum, bowel, cul-de-sac, uterosacral ligments and fallopian tubes.4 Etiology Endometriosis is a polygenic disease with a complex, multifactorial etiology. The etiology and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the initiation and development of this disease remain largely unknown.5 Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a versatile eicosanoid that exe rts numerous physiological and pathological functions, has been implicated to play critical roles in…
Introduction Preterm birth is the foremost problem in modern obstetrics and is an important perinatal health problem across the globe. Developing countries, especially India, incur the highest burden in terms of absolute numbers. It is a major determinant of neonatal mortality and morbidity and has long-term adverse consequences for health. The cause for preterm birth is in many situations elusive and unknown; many factors appear to be associated with the development of preterm birth, making the reduction of preterm birth a challenging proposition. Infants born preterm are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including cerebral palsy, sensory deficits, learning disabilities and respiratory illnesses, compared with children born at term. The morbidity associated with preterm birth often extends to later life, resulting in enormous physical, psychological and economic costs.1 Definition In humans, preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby occurring at less than 37 completed weeks…
