Dr. Vita Silvana, Sp.O.G, Subs.F.E.R, a lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (UI), won the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) Congress Encouragement Award as Best Paper in the field of Reproductive Medicine. The award was presented at the 76th Annual Congress of JSOG held in Yokohama, Japan on April 19-21, 2024. The congress was attended by more than 1,500 participants who were experts and health practitioners in the field of obstetrics and gynecology from many countries.
The research presented by Dr. Vita was titled “Endometriosis induces DNA double-Strand Breaks in Oocytes, and its inhibition by melatonin administration” won from 1,416 research abstracts selected by the congress scientific committee. This research was done by Dr. Vita during her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) education at the University of Tokyo, Japan.
Endometriosis is a female reproductive disease that occurs when the tissue of the mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. This condition can cause various health problems, including fertility disorders. One of the causes of fertility disorders in endometriosis patients is a decrease in egg reserves. However, the mechanism of the decline in egg reserves in endometriosis is still unclear.
“Therefore, this study aims to determine the mechanism of decreased egg reserves in endometriosis. In addition, this study also aims to determine the effect of melatonin as an antioxidant substance that can prevent the decline in egg reserves in endometriosis. The research was conducted with immunohistochemical and TUNEL-assay study methods, using samples derived from oocytes of endometrisis patients and endometriosis mouse models,” said Dr. Vita.
Furthermore, she explained that this study can prove that endometriosis causes DNA damage (DNA double-strand breaks) in primordial follicular oocytes of endometriosis patients and endometriosis mouse models which causes a decrease in egg cell reserves. In addition, this research also creates a novelty, that melatonin can prevent DNA damage in primordial follicular oocytes and in endometriosis mouse models so that it can prevent the decline in egg reserves caused by endometriosis.
dr. Vita expressed her gratitude and happiness. “Thank you to Prof. Kaori Koga, M.D, Ph.D, and Prof. Yutaka Osuga, M.D, Ph.D as supervisors in my doctoral study. Of course, this success cannot be done without their support and guidance. I also hope that this achievement can benefit and inspire many people, especially lecturers in Indonesia, to continue to contribute in producing research that is beneficial to the advancement of science and society.”
The Dean of FKUI, Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, Sp.PD-KGEH, MMB, was also proud of dr. Vita’s achievements. “On behalf of the management of FKUI, I congratulate you for this extraordinary achievement that makes us proud. Her success is the result of her dedication and hard work to continue learning and innovating. This achievement also proves that the reputation of FKUI teaching staff can compete in the medical world globally.”
