Cho HY, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2015 Dec;30(12):1777-1783. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.12.1777

Background and Objectives: Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor type 1 (ROR1) plays a critical role in embryogenesis and is overexpressed in many malignant cells. These characteristics allow ROR1 to be a potential new target for cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ROR1 through in vitro experiments in endometrial cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: ROR1 expression was identified in endometrial cancer cell lines using Western blot and RT-qPCR. The effects of ROR1 on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed in two endometrial cancer cell lines (HEC-1 and SNU-539) using either ROR1 silencing or overexpression. Additionally, chemoresistance was examined by identifying MDR1 expression and IC50 level of paclitaxel. Results: The ROR1 protein and mRNA were highly expressed in SNU-539 and HEC-1 cells. High ROR1 expression resulted in a significant increase in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. It also resulted in a change of EMT markers expression, a decrease in E-cadherin expression, and an increase in Snail expression. Moreover, cells with ROR1 overexpression had a higher IC50 of paclitaxel and significantly increased MDR1 expression. Conclusions: These in vitro experiments showed that ROR1 is responsible for EMT and chemoresistance in endometrial cancer cell lines. Targeting ROR1 can inhibit cancer metastasis and may be a potential treatment method for patients with endometrial cancer who exhibit chemoresistance.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of YouTube videos for helping patients become informed about robotic myomectomy. Methods: We searched YouTube using “robotic myomectomy” and “Da Vinci myomectomy.” Videos were sorted by view count, with the 150 most highly viewed videos being selected. From each video, content type, source, view count, video length, time on YouTube, likes, and dislikes were extracted. A scoring system was used to evaluate video quality. Results: The most prevalent content was recordings of actual surgical procedures of robotic myomectomy, and the most common provider was gynecologic surgeons. Videos directly related to robotic myomectomy were mainly provided by medical groups, had been present on YouTube for a significantly longer time (p = 0.003), and had a higher rate of no responses from viewers (p = 0.014) than videos indirectly related to robotic myomectomy. Videos uploaded by nonmedical groups had more likes, more dislikes, and a higher view ratio (p = 0.029, 0.042, and 0.042, respectively). Scores reflecting video quality did not differ between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression revealed that low-quality videos (less than score 5) were significantly correlated with content indirectly related to robotic myomectomy, poor general quality, fewer views, fewer likes, and no response by viewers. Conclusions: Patients who want to get informed about robotic myomectomy on YouTube should exclude low-quality videos according to such parameters as content, views, and response by viewers. In addition, medical groups should provide videos of good quality for instructing patients about this procedure.

(1) Background: To examine miR-429-meditated DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 53 (DDX53) function in endometrial cancer (EC). (2) Methods: DDX53 and miR-429 levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays, cell invasion and migration using Transwell invasion and wound healing assays, and cell proliferation using colony-forming/proliferation assays. A murine xenograft model was also generated to examine miR-429 and DDX53 functions in vivo. (3) Results: DDX53 overexpression (OE) promoted key cancer phenotypes (proliferation, migration, and invasion) in EC, while in vivo, DDX53 OE hindered tumor growth in the murine xenograft model. Moreover, miR-429 was identified as a novel miRNA-targeting DDX53, which suppressed EC proliferation and invasion. (4) Conclusions: DDX53 and miR-429 regulatory mechanisms could provide novel molecular therapies for EC.

To evaluate the association between red blood cell (RBC) indices (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], MCH concentration [MCHC], red cell distribution width [RDW], hemoglobin [Hb], hematocrit [Hct], and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) and the severity of endometriosis. Data were obtained from the medical records of 200 patients with endometriosis (stage I/II and stage III/IV groups), and 100 patients with benign ovarian tumors (control group), treated between September 2011 and April 2021. The mean Hb and Hct were significantly lower in the stage III/IV group compared to those in the control and stage I/II group (P = .015 and P = .004, respectively). The mean MCV, MCH, and Hb at postoperative day (POD)#1 were significantly lower in the stage III/IV group compared to those in the control and stage I/II group (P = .007, P = .032, and P < .0001, respectively). In addition, NLR at POD#1 was significantly higher in stage III/IV group compared to that in the control and stage I/II group. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age (≤38 years old), lower preoperative MCV (≤88.5 fL), lower POD#1 Hb (2.5) were independent risk factors of stage III/IV endometriosis. Lower levels of RBC indices, including preoperative MCV and postoperative Hb, and higher postoperative NLR were significantly associated with the severity of endometriosis, which is potentially derived from a dysregulation in iron metabolism and inflammation.

Background: Lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio (NLR) is a rapid and simple marker for systemic inflammation and stress after major surgery. In this study, we aimed to compare NLR changes according to surgical methods of hysterectomy. Methods: A retrospective chart review for all patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign uterine disease from 2016 to 2020 was performed. A total of 1549 women were assigned to total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) (n = 419), vaginal hysterectomy (VH) (n = 608), and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) (n = 522) groups. Patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, and NLR changes were compared among women who underwent TLH, VH, and TAH. Results: Preoperative mean NLR was similar among three groups (p = 0.056). However, mean NLR on postoperative day 1 (p< 0.0001) and day 3 (p = 0.011) was significantly lower in TLH group than others. Also, mean NLR change on postoperative day 1 was significantly lesser in TLH group than others (1.9 in TLH vs. 5.4 in VH vs. 4.7 in TAH; p < 0.0001). Mean NLR change on postoperative day 3 was greater in TAH group than others, although there were no statistically significant differences (0.2 in TLH vs. 0.3 in VH vs. 0.7 in TAH; p = 0.354). Multivariate analysis revealed that massive NLR change (>5.0) on postoperative day 1 was significantly associated with types of hysterectomy (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our data showed that acute NLR change was lesser in TLH group comparing to VH and TAH group, which suggests that TLH might be associated with less systemic inflammation and tissue trauma after surgery.