METHODS: Eutopic endometrium and serum from patients with endometriosis (n = 8 for tissue and n = 4 for serum) are, respectively, compared to endometrium and serum from females without endometriosis (n = 8 for tissue and n = 4 for serum) using a shotgun quantitative proteomics method. All study participants are at the proliferative phase of their menstrual cycle.
RESULTS: At the tissue and serum level, 1214 and 404 proteins are differentially expressed (DEPs) in eutopic endometrium and serum, respectively, of women with endometriosis versus controls. Gene ontology analysis shows that terms related to immune response/inflammation, cell adhesion/migration, and blood coagulation are significantly enriched in the DEPs of eutopic endometrium, as well as serum. Twenty-one DEPs have the same trend of differential expression in both matrices and can be further examined as potential disease- and tissue-specific serological markers of endometriosis.
CONCLUSIONS: The present integrated proteomic profiling of eutopic endometrium and serum from women with endometriosis identify promising serological markers that can be further validated in larger cohorts for the minimally invasive diagnosis of endometriosis.
METHOD: The study used a variety of methods, which involved an on-line survey on the influences of social isolation using a non-probability sampling. More specifically, two techniques were used, namely a convenience sampling (i.e. involving members of the academic community, which are easy to reach by the study team), supported by a snow ball sampling (recruiting respondents among acquaintances of the participants). A total of 711 questionnaires from 41 countries were received. Descriptive statistics were deployed to analyse trends and to identify socio-demographic differences. Inferential statistics were used to assess significant differences among the geographical regions, work areas and other socio-demographic factors related to impacts of social isolation of university staff and students.
RESULTS: The study reveals that 90% of the respondents have been affected by the shutdown and unable to perform normal work or studies at their institution for between 1 week to 2 months. While 70% of the respondents perceive negative impacts of COVID 19 on their work or studies, more than 60% of them value the additional time that they have had indoors with families and others. .
CONCLUSIONS: While the majority of the respondents agree that they suffered from the lack of social interaction and communication during the social distancing/isolation, there were significant differences in the reactions to the lockdowns between academic staff and students. There are also differences in the degree of influence of some of the problems, when compared across geographical regions. In addition to policy actions that may be deployed, further research on innovative methods of teaching and communication with students is needed in order to allow staff and students to better cope with social isolation in cases of new or recurring pandemics.