[...]... future cytogenetic research of UL, including examination of the exact role of HMGA2 and HMGA1 in UL pathobiology, evaluation of the significance of t(12;14) and del(7q) appearing both together and independently, identification of candidate genes on chromosomes X, 3, 10, and 13, and performance of linkage analysis on the candidate region of chromosome 1 important in HLRCC and Reed’s syndrome in nonsyndromic... suggesting wider expression of HMGA1 than HMGA2 [68] Comparison of HMGA2 and HMGA1 Although HMGA2 and HMGA1 are similar structurally and mechanistically, both contributing to the development of UL when disrupted or dysregulated, they differ in their expression patterns, function, and means of regulation In a study of 17 UL, none showed both HMGA2 and HMGA1 expression, and expression of neither gene was observed... use in pursuit of these research endeavors, and a number of studies using transcriptional profiling have been performed [68] This multigene approach to gene identification has only been made possible with the use of data from the Human Genome Project, and UL are excellent candidates for this type of analysis because of the ability to control for environmental and hormonal influences by obtaining multiple... UL of white women [158,160] Other research examined 123 families with at least one affected sister pair, and performed linkage analysis on patient DNA to evaluate the role of FH mutations in predisposition of UL This analysis confirmed the involvement of FH in a subset of nonsyndromic UL, and also found evidence suggesting earlier age of onset of UL is correlated with FH gene mutations Because of the... access by this procedure [22] Uterine artery embolization on the other hand is particularly useful in the treatment of intramural UL [23] Although uterine artery embolization is shown to significantly to improve menorrhagia and pelvic pain by 85% and to reduce tumor size by 50% [24,25], the impact on future fertility and pregnancy is unclear [22] genetic heterogeneity of ul 15 In October 2004, Food and. .. the incidence and size increases with age Most women never attribute or report any symptoms from their fibroids, and because of this the actual contribution of disease to symptoms of pelvic pain, menstrual symptoms, and infertility is poorly understood The presence of fibroids can lead to multiple and disabling difficulties Fibroids may cause pain and menstrual bleeding to the point of anemia Fibroids... research through proteomics, an expanding field used to relate gene expression to protein function, and specifically mass spectophotometry By forming protein arrays and making profiles of the proteins present in diseased and healthy tissues, mass spectophotometry allows for analysis of protein expression and function in UL [181,182] Animal models, such as mice, guinea pigs, and Eker rats, have been widely... rearrangement of UL, and seek to understand the diverse genetic pathways leading to UL pathogenesis Genotypic and phenotypic correlations of uterine leiomyomata In examining UL with abnormal karyotypes, certain correlations between tumor genotype and clinical phenotype have been observed Anatomically speaking, only 12% of submucosal UL have chromosomal rearrangements, followed by subserosal UL (29%) and then... abnormalities in UL are caused by extragenic rearrangements of HMGA2 [44,85] To assess if dysregulation of HMGA2 is a factor in tumor growth in a subgroup of UL, a Northern blot was performed on RNA from uncultured tissue of five UL with t(12;14) rearrangements and their normal matched myometrium Gene expression was observed in four of the UL and none of the matched myometrium HMGA2 expression has also been... and herpes) showed no association It seems that the intrauterine irritation may contribute to the appearance or growth of fibroids Chagas’ disease, the result of a parasitic infection endemic to portions of South America, has been reported to lead to an increased risk of various cancers In an intriguing study [29] it was shown that the incidence of a positive history of Chagas’ disease, diagnosed by . Rayburn, MD Consulting Editor This issue of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Aydin Arici, is a comprehensive overview. their reproductive capacity, and more novel treatments are available on the horizon. This issue of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America is devoted