[Composition and histopathological features of prostatic calculi in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the composition of prostatic calculus in patients with BPH and explore its pathogenic factors and histopathological characteristics. METHODS: Strictly following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included in this retrospective study 580 cases of bipolar transurethral plasma kinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP) performed in our hospital from May 2015 to May 2019, analyzed the histopathological and calculus-composition features of the patients with BPH complicated by prostatic calculi (the BPH+PC group) and the histopathological data of those with BPH only (the BPH group). We compared the related factors between the two groups of patients and performed uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the data on those in the BPH+PC group. RESULTS: The incidence rate of chronic inflammation was significantly higher in the BPH+PC than in the BPH group (83.1% vs 61.1%, P < 0.05), 90% of the cases moderate to severe and 81% with inflammatory cells mainly distributed in the prostate gland in the BPH+PC group, and 74% with inflammatory cells chiefly distributed in the prostate gland and stroma in the BPH group, with statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Prostatic calculi were found in 302 (52.1%) of the patients, including 71 cases of simple calculi (23.5%) and 231 cases of mixed calculi (76.5%). As for the chemical composition, calcium oxalate was detected in 212 cases (70.2%), carbonate apatite in 206 (68.2%), magnesium ammonium phosphate in 158 (52.3%), and uric acid calculi in 19 (6.3%). The calculus composition was not correlated with the age of the patients. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in age, prostate volume and IPSS (P < 0.05), but not in the PSA level, postvoid residual urine volume (PRV) or maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) (P > 0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that prostatic calculus was significantly correlated with chronic inflammation of the prostate, the patient's age and IPSS (P < 0.05) but not with the PSA level, PRV or Qmax (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prostatic calculus has a high incidence in BPH patients and varies widely in composition, chiefly consisting of calcium oxalate and carbonate apatite. The major factors contributing to prostatic calculi include chronic inflammation of the prostate (primarily the severe type), age and BPH. Prostate calculi may aggravate lower urinary tract symptoms, especially urinary storage symptoms, in patients with BPH, but not significantly affect the PSA level.？.

Evaluation of biophysical as well as biochemical potential of curcumin and resveratrol during prostate cancer.

Purpose: The present study evaluated biochemical as well as biophysical mechanisms behind the synergistic effects of curcumin and resveratrol during prostate carcinogenesis.Methods: The rats were segregated into five groups that included normal control, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB)treated, DMAB + curcumin treated, DMAB + resveratrol-treated and DMAB + curcumin + resveratrol-treated.Results: The DMAB treatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in DMAB treated rats. Also, significant changes were recorded in the enzyme activities of both drug metabolising enzyme and antioxidant enzymes after DMAB treatment. Further, radiorespirometric studies showed a significant increase in the 14C-glucose turnover as well as 14C-glucose uptake in the prostate slices of DMAB treated rats. Moreover, a significant rise in cell proliferation was confirmed indirectly by enhanced uptake of 3H-thymidine in the prostate slices of DMAB treated rats. Interestingly, combined treatment of curcumin and resveratrol to DMAB treated animals resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, 14C glucose uptakes/turnover and 3H-thymidine uptake in the DMAB treated rats. Besides this, curcumin and resveratrol in combination significantly modulated biochemical indices including drug-metabolising enzymes; antioxidant enzymes in DMBA treated rats.Conclusion: The study, therefore, concludes that the combination of curcumin and resveratrol holds strong modulatory potential against prostate carcinogenesis.

Hepcidin and iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between Hepcidin and iron metabolism, and cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. METHODS: PC3 prostate cancer cells were cultured in vitro and divided into the control group, Hepcidin overexpression group, and Hepcidin low expression group. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels were measured by ELISA. The levels of the Hepcidin receptor membrane transporter, Ferroportin, were determined by Western blot. The intracellular iron distribution was determined by immunofluorescence assay. The cell proliferation rate was determined by MTT assay. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, higher PSA level (p<0.05), lower sTfR level (p<0.05), lower Ferroportin level (p<0.05), lower intracellular iron level (p<0.05), higher cell proliferation and migration rate, and lower apoptotic rate (p<0.05) were found in the Hepcidin overexpression group. The opposite results were found in the Hepcidin low expression group. CONCLUSIONS: Hepcidin is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, and can regulate cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis by increasing intracellular iron transportation.

miR-106a* inhibits the proliferation of renal carcinoma cells by targeting IRS-2.

MicroRNAs play critical roles in the development and progression of human cancers. Although it has been reported that miR-106a* is downregulated in follicular lymphoma, its role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unknown. This study investigated the expression and role of miR-106a* in human RCC. Our results showed that the miR-106a* expression decreased dramatically in clinical RCC tissues and cell lines. In vitro, overexpression of miR-106a* suppressed RCC cell proliferation and S/G2 transition, whereas inhibition of miR-106a* promoted cell proliferation and S/G2 transition. It was also found that miR-106a* expression was inversely correlated with the expression of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2). IRS-2 was determined to be a direct target of miR-106a* by a luciferase reporter assay. Importantly, silencing IRS-2 resulted in the same biologic effects as those of miR-106a* overexpression in RCC cells, including inhibition of RCC cell proliferation and triggering of S/G2 cell cycle arrest with inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These results indicate that miR-106a* affects RCC progression by targeting IRS-2 with suppression of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in RCC cells. The findings suggest miR-106a* as a novel strategy for RCC treatment.

Lycopene ameliorates erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by oxidative stress, which is one of the major pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED). Lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants among the natural carotenoids. The present study was aimed to investigate whether lycopene could lower oxidative stress and attenuate ED in diabetic rats. Lycopene (10, 30, 60 mg/kg/d) was administered via intragastric intubation for 8 weeks to streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg, i.v.) induced diabetic rats. The results showed that chronic lycopene treatment significantly and dose dependently restored ED in diabetic rats by lowering blood glucose, reducing oxidative stress and up-regulating eNOS expression. These results indicated that lycopene treatment is potentially a new strategy for treating diabetic ED.