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Cervical adenocarcinoma (AC), a subtype of uterine cervical cancer (CC), poses a challenge due to its resistance to therapy and poor prognosis compared with squamous cervical carcinoma. Streptococcus agalactiae [group B Streptococcus (GBS)], a Gram-positive coccus, has been associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in CC. However, the underlying mechanism interaction between GBS and CC, particularly AC, remains elusive. Leveraging The Cancer Genome Atlas public data and time-series transcriptomic data, the present study investigated the interaction between GBS and AC, revealing activation of two pivotal pathways: 'MAPK signaling pathway' and 'mTORC1 signaling'. Western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and cell viability assays were performed to validate the activation of these pathways and their role in promoting cancer cell proliferation. Subsequently, the present study evaluated the efficacy of two anticancer drugs targeting these pathways (binimetinib and ridaforolimus) in AC cell treatment. Binimetinib demonstrated a cytostatic effect, while ridaforolimus had a modest impact on HeLa cells after 48 h of treatment, as observed in both cell viability and cytotoxicity assays. The combination of binimetinib and ridaforolimus resulted in a significantly greater cytotoxic effect compared to binimetinib or ridaforolimus monotherapy, although the synergy score indicated an additive effect. In general, the MAPK and mTORC1 signaling pathways were identified as the main pathways associated with GBS and AC cells. The combination of binimetinib and ridaforolimus could be a potential AC treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Nguyen et al.)

In RNA-seq data analysis, condensing the gene count matrix size is pivotal for downstream investigations, particularly pathway analysis. For this purpose, harnessing machine learning attracts increasing interest, while conventional methodologies depend on p -value comparisons. In this study, 20 tissue samples from real-world cervical cancers were subjected to sequencing, followed by the application of the Mclust algorithm to delineate an optimal cluster. By stratifying tumor budding into high and low groups and quantifying the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) score to scrutinize tumor budding, we discerned 24 EMT-related genes, with 5 showing strong associations with cervical cancer prognosis. Our observations elucidate a biological flow wherein EMT, Matrix Metallopep-tidase 2 (MMP2), and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation are interconnected, ultimately leading to collagen type VI and exacerbating the prognosis of cervical cancer. The present study underscores an alternative method for selecting useful EMT-related genes by employing an appropriate clustering algorithm, thereby avoiding classical methods while unveiling novel insights into cervical cancer etiology and prognosis. Moreover, when comparing high and low tumor budding, collagen type VI emerges as a potential gene marker for the prognosis of cervical cancer.

The reasons for sex-associated gut microbiota differences have not been determined, and although sex hormones, diet, and other factors are considered to contribute to them, many of these factors are age related. To shed light on this complex interplay, our study aimed to investigate and compare the gut microbial compositions of males and females across a broad range of ages, aiming to identify sex-associated disparities and potential causal factors. Our study encompassed a comprehensive analysis of gut microbiota data obtained from 444 Japanese individuals, ranging from newborns to centenarians, sourced from the DNA Data Bank of Japan. We categorized the subjects into 13 distinct age groups and examined their relative microbial abundances, as well as alpha and beta diversities, in relation to sex and age. No difference was observed between gut microbiota relative abundances or alpha diversities between men and women at any age. However, the study showed that the heterogeneity of gut microbiota among women in their 20s was greater than in men. To confirm the general occurrence of this difference, we conducted additional analyses using seven datasets: three from Japan and four from other countries. Interestingly, this variance was particularly noticeable within Japanese women. We also showed a potential link between the observed heterogeneity and dietary fiber intake. It is hoped this study will provide clues that aid in the identification of factors responsible for sex-associated differences in gut microbiota compositions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2024 BMFH Press.)

Purpose: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization and vaginal microbiome (VMB) dysbiosis are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the role of GBS colonization in maternal VMB remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate this relationship and identify additional pathogens associated with GBS colonization for potential implications in understanding their clinical significance., Materials and Methods: Vaginal swab samples were obtained before delivery from nine women with normal pregnancies for GBS detection and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The diversity analysis and community state types clustering were used to compare the GBS-positive vs. GBS-negative groups. ANCOM-BC was implemented to identify differentially abundant microbes (DAMs) associated with GBS colonization. The correlation and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between DMAs and clinical parameters., Results: There were 6/9 (66,7%) GBS-negative pregnant women. The α-diversity index (p ​= ​0.71 for observed operational taxonomic units and p ​= ​0.90 for Shannon diversity), β-diversity index (p ​= ​0.583), and community state types clustering (p ​= ​0.23) were not significantly different between the GBS-positive and -negative groups. Four DAMs, namely, Actinomyces, Shigella, Fenollaria, and Gemella, were significantly associated with GBS colonization, reflecting the dynamicity of the gestational VMB. Their abundances were negatively correlated with birth weight and had acceptable discriminating ability in premature membrane rupture (area under the curve, 0.9)., Conclusions: Despite the absence of significant effects on overall VMB composition, our preliminary results investigated that maternal GBS colonization related to high abundance of four pathogens with potential clinical utility as microbial signatures., (Copyright © 2023 Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Group B Streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae ) is a Gram-positive bacterium that is commonly found in the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. However, its colonization during pregnancy is an important cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Herein, we specifically looked at GBS in relation to the field of Obstetrics (OB) along with the field of Gynecology (GY). In this review, based on the clinical significance of GBS in the field of OBGY, topics of how GBS is being detected, treated, and should be prevented are addressed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.