Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42315947›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Quantitative analysis of collagen architecture in the human uterotubal junction (UTJ) using optical coherence tomography imaging (OCT).

Dilara Long, Robert Klein, Makayla Johnson, Jillian Leaver, Photini Rice, Julia Fisher, Arielle Joasil, Victoria Fewell, John Heusinkveld, Christine Hendon and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Dilara LongDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Robert KleinDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Makayla JohnsonDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Jillian LeaverDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Photini RiceDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Julia FisherStatistics Consulting Laboratory, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Arielle JoasilDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Victoria FewellDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
John HeusinkveldDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Christine HendonDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Jennifer BartonDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. barton@arizona.edu.

Funding

Ovarian Cancer Detection with Blood- and Imaging-Based BiomarkersR01CA260399 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · PI Jennifer Kehlet Barton, David A. Fishman · 2022 to 2026
$3.9M
Revealing Cilia Function in the Human Fallopian TubesR01HD118973 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · PI Jennifer Kehlet Barton, Irina Larina · 2025 to 2026
$1.2M
Imaging the Uterotubal Junction for Endometriosis DetectionF30HD115314 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · PI Dilara Long · 2024 to 2026
$139k
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation Margaret "Peg" Moseley ScholarshipEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 1R01HD118973Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development F30HD115314NCI NIH HHS 1R01CA260399NCI NIH HHS R01 CA260399NICHD NIH HHS F30 HD115314NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD118973U.S. Department of Defense W81XWH1810371 #OC170427
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Abnormal uterotubal junction (UTJ) structure is implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and infertility; however, this relationship remains poorly characterized. We quantitatively characterized the orientation of collagen fiber bundles in the UTJ using optical coherence tomography (OCT). UTJ tissue from nine individuals undergoing hysterosalpingectomy were collected and longitudinally opened to expose the lumen. Volumetric OCT images were acquired from proximal (uterine), middle, and distal (isthmic) UTJ segments. Images were preprocessed to enhance contrast and continuity of fiber bundles. Local fiber bundle orientation was extracted from Sobel-filtered intensity gradients. Orientation values were binned corresponding to the expected alignment of collagen fiber bundle groups in UTJ smooth muscle: longitudinal (0°-30°), oblique (30°-60°), and circumferential (60°-90°). Proportions were plotted as a function of depth, and depth-dependent trends in alignment were compared across UTJ segments using mixed-effects models. Measurements revealed a prominent inner longitudinal muscle layer which emerged proximally and thinned distally, and an outer muscle layer composed of oblique uterine fiber bundles proximally and a mixed oblique-circumferential contribution distally. These findings provide the first quantitative, depth-resolved analysis of UTJ collagen architecture and establish an analytical framework which can support future studies investigating how UTJ structure relates to function and disease.

Indexed as

CollagenFallopian TubesTomography, Optical CoherenceUterusAdultEndometriosisFemaleHumansCollagenCollagen architectureEndometriosisFallopian tubesInfertilityOptical coherence tomographyUterotubal junction

Identifiers

PMID42315947
PMCPMC13550653

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.