Characteristic of Uterine Rhabdomyosarcoma by Algorithm of Potential Biomarkers for Uterine Mesenchymal Tumor.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Patients with uterine sarcoma comprise 2-5% of all patients with uterine malignancies; however, the morbidity of uterine sarcoma is low compared with that of other gynecological cancers. For many cases, malignant uterine tumors are diagnosed during follow-up of benign uterine leiomyoma. Of the uterine sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma is considered a mixed tumor containing components of epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. Therefore, the onset of primary uterine rhabdomyosarcoma during follow-up of uterine leiomyoma is extremely rare. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a relatively common malignant tumor in children, but rhabdomyosarcoma in adults is extremely rare, accounting for approximately 3% of all patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma in children is highly sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy; however, the response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in adult rhabdomyosarcoma is low and survival in adult rhabdomyosarcoma with metastatic lesions to other organs is approximately 14 months. We experienced a case of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma during the follow-up of a uterine leiomyoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the oncological properties of uterine rhabdomyosarcoma in adults using molecular pathological techniques on tissue excised from patients with uterine leiomyoma. RESULT: A differential diagnosis was made for this case by molecular pathology, which included candidate biomarkers for uterine smooth muscle tumors. The oncological nature of uterine rhabdomyosarcoma was found to be similar to the oncological properties of uterine leiomyosarcoma. However, in uterine rhabdomyosarcoma, LMP2/ß1i-positive cells were clearly observed. CONCLUSION: It is expected that establishing a diagnostic and treatment method targeting characteristics of mesenchymal tumor cells will lead to the treatment of malignant tumors with a low risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Oncological Properties of Intravenous Leiomyomatosis: Involvement of Mesenchymal Tumor Stem-Like Cells.

Uterine leiomyoma, also known as fibroids, is the most common benign neoplasm of the female genital tract. Leiomyoma is the most common uterine tumor. The leiomyoma subtypes account for approximately 10% of leiomyomas. Intravenous leiomyomatosis, a uterine leiomyoma subtype, is an intravascular growth of benign smooth muscle cells, occasionally with pelvic or extrapelvic extension. Uterine leiomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor, tends to metastasize hematogenously, and distant metastasis to the lungs and liver is common. Therefore, the oncological properties of this intravenous leiomyomatosis resemble those of the malignant tumor uterine leiomyosarcoma. Cancer stem cells migrate to distant organs via intravascular infiltration, leading to micrometastases. We examined the oncological properties of intravenous leiomyomatosis using molecular pathological techniques on tissue excised from patients with uterine leiomyoma. CD44-positive mesenchymal tumor stem-like cells were detected in both patients with intravenous leiomyomatosis and uterine leiomyosarcoma. The oncological properties of intravenous leiomyomatosis were found to be similar to those of uterine leiomyosarcoma. However, in intravenous leiomyomatosis, cyclin E and Ki-67-positive cells were rare and no pathological findings suspecting malignancy were observed. It is expected that establishing a treatment method targeting cancer stem cells will lead to the treatment of malignant tumors with a low risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 ameliorates soft feces induced by metformin without affecting its antihyperglycemic action.

Recent studies of metformin, the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes, have reported the involvement of gut microbiota in the mechanism underlying its antihyperglycemic effect. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of diarrhea and bloating, which are adverse effects of metformin, are unclear, and these effects decrease the quality of life of metformin-receiving patients with diabetes. In this study, we focused on the effects of metformin on gut microbiota. Namely, we examined the effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1), which has the ability to improve dysbiosis, on the changes in gut microbiota and occurrence of soft feces (increased fecal water content) during the administration of metformin. The results showed that coadministration of BBG9-1 and metformin suppressed metformin-mediated changes in the gut microbiota and, thus, soft feces. Meanwhile, BBG9-1 did not influence the antihyperglycemic effect of metformin. Based on these results, we believe that BBG9-1, which could improve gut microbiota, suppresses metformin-induced soft feces without influencing the drug's antihyperglycemic effect.

Probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 ameliorates phytohemagglutinin-induced diarrhea caused by intestinal dysbiosis.

Diarrhea is largely caused by dysbiosis accompanying the hyperproliferation of Escherichia coli (E. coli). While current treatments can resolve the symptoms, they cannot suppress the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. Probiotics have numerous beneficial effects on host health, including restoring the balance of the intestinal microbiota. This study investigated the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1), which is active in intestinal dysbiosis, in the incidence of diarrhea, in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and in the intestinal tissue of a rat model of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced diarrhea. The rats were treated with PHA, with and without BBG9-1, and the microbiota composition throughout the intestine and stool was examined using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. In line with previous reports, PHA administration caused diarrhea as well as dysbiosis due to E. coli hyperproliferation. Histological findings indicated that the jejunal villus length was shortened. Rats that received BBG9-1 showed clear improvements in dysbiosis, diarrhea symptoms, and jejunal villus length. Principal coordinates analysis demonstrated the microbiota profile to be more similar between the BBG9-1 and normal groups than between the PHA and normal groups. These results indicated that BBG9-1 suppresses the hyperproliferation of E. coli and restores the jejunal villus length, thereby improving dysbiosis, and in turn, alleviating the symptoms of diarrhea.

Alleviation of low-fiber diet-induced constipation by probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 is based on correction of gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Constipation, a functional disorder of the digestive system, is common in children and adults and may compromise patient quality of life. Because many patients are not satisfied with the efficacy of existing therapies, in this study, we investigated the efficacy of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1) in constipation induced by a low-fiber diet. After inducing constipation in rats by feeding a low-fiber diet, rats were fed a low-fiber diet mixed with BBG9-1 in 14 days to determine the efficacy of BBG9-1 for alleviating constipation. BBG9-1 significantly alleviated the dysbiosis induced by a low-fiber diet and improved the fecal counts, fecal weights, and fecal water contents. Moreover, it also improved organic acid concentrations in the cecal contents. These results suggested that in low-fiber diet-induced constipation, BBG9-1 could alleviate dysbiosis and constipation and may improve the intestinal environment, supporting its potential application in the treatment of constipation.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Lychnis wilfordii (Caryophyllaceae) with newly developed 17 microsatellite markers.

Lychnis wilfordii (Regel) Maxim. is a perennial plant designated as an endangered species by the Korean government because of rapid reduction in its population size. Thus, a population genetic study of this species is needed to establish the strategy for management and conservation based on scientific evidences. The goals of this study were to develop useful microsatellite markers for L. wilfordii and to understand current genetic status of L. wilfordii in Korean peninsula. Seventeen microsatellite markers were identified using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analysis and then analyzed genetic diversity in one hundred forty-five individuals from Korea (KI1, KI2, and KP), China (CX, CF) and Russia (RP). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE results consistently showed discontinuity among L. wilfordii populations. AMOVA showed that the percentage of variation among populations was 53%, which was higher than the variation within populations (19%). PCoA showed that the populations were divided into three genetic clusters, (1) Chinese (CX, CF), (2) Russian (RP) populations and Korean populations (KI1, KI2) excluding KP, and (3) the KP population. In particular, KP, the most southern population on the Korean peninsula, showed significantly lower observed and expected heterozygosity, number of effective alleles, and Shannon index (I) than those of KI1 and KI2. L. wilfordii showed high differentiation between populations with low genetic diversity within populations. Among Korean populations, KP is likely to be affected by genetic drift due to small population size, low genetic diversity and limited gene flow.