Incidental Tuberculosis Epididymitis/Epididymo-orchitis: A Retrospective Analysis at a Tertiary Center in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the earliest noticeable manifestation and diagnosis in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis incidentally and to analyze their responses to surgical and medical treatment. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for the preliminary impression of chronic epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis or epididymal/testicular tumor from 2000 to 2019 were included in the study. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, radiological examinations, and operative findings were analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes were assessed by the responses to anti-TB chemotherapy and post treatment radiographic evaluations. RESULTS: All of our 25 patients with a mean age of 60.6 years were diagnosed incidentally with TB epididymitis (48.0%) and TB epididymo-orchitis (52.0%) according to the histopathological findings from their surgeries. The presence of a palpable scrotal mass (76.0%), was the major presentation. Nineteen (76.0%) patients had undergone complete chemotherapy after the surgery and 15 (78.9%) patients showed complete recovery. Four (21.1%) patients had unfavorable outcomes, 3 had TB autonephrectomies and 1 required re-surgery years after complete chemotherapy. Of the 3 (12.0%) patients who did not receive chemotherapy after their surgeries, 1 had a TB relapse in the spine and lung and 1 developed bladder cancer years later. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis is difficult to diagnose. However, some clinical clues can assist including aged patients, extragenital TB histories, poor responses to antibiotic treatment and scrotal skin lesion. Complete anti-TB chemotherapy is mandatory even after the total removal of TB lesion. Supplemental surgical interventions can be considered when the symptoms are not relieved after chemotherapy. Lifespan follow-up is recommended due to high relapse rate.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate impairs erythropoiesis via inducing Klotho expression and not via bioenergetic reprogramming.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used phthalate to manufacture various plastic products. However, the potential effects of DEHP on erythropoiesis have not been investigated comprehensively. Here, we aimed to investigate whether DEHP modulated the function of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to influence erythropoiesis, and to explore the associated mechanisms. In the present study, human cell lines with a capacity to differentiate into erythroid cells and murine bone marrow cells were treated with DEHP. DEHP not only impaired HSPC function, but also suppressed erythroid differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, DEHP removal restored HSPC activity. To explore how DEHP interfered with erythroid differentiation, we focused on energy metabolism and Klotho expression. DEHP suppressed erythroid differentiation via upregulating Klotho expression, while it did not via modulating cellular bioenergetics. Therefore, our results provided a novel insight into the pathophysiological link between phthalates and dysregulated erythroid differentiation.

Temperature-dependent optical properties of CuFeO2 through the structural phase transition.

Delafossite CuFeO2 has recently attracted considerable attention because of its complex phase transitions and practical applications. A thorough understanding of the optical properties of CuFeO2 is essential for its further exploration. In this paper, we investigated the temperature-dependent optical properties of CuFeO2 single crystals through Raman scattering spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The room temperature Raman scattering spectrum exhibited six phonon modes at approximately 352, 509, 692, 1000, 1052, and 1171 cm-1. Upon cooling across 11 K, which is the rhombohedral to monoclinic structural phase transition temperature, a softening of the E g-symmetry 352 cm-1 mode and a hardening of the A 1g-symmetry 692 cm-1 mode were observed. Moreover, analysis of the temperature-dependent real part of the dielectric function and direct band gap revealed anomalies at 11 K. These results demonstrate a profound connection between the structural phase transition, lattice dynamics, and electronic structure of CuFeO2 and provide key information for CuFeO2-based device design and fabrication.

Temperature-dependent optical constants of monolayer [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]: spectroscopic ellipsometry and first-principles calculations.

The temperature-dependent ([Formula: see text]) optical constants of monolayer [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] were investigated through spectroscopic ellipsometry over the spectral range of 0.73-6.42 eV. At room temperature, the spectra of refractive index exhibited several anomalous dispersion features below 800 nm and approached a constant value of 3.5-4.0 in the near-infrared frequency range. With a decrease in temperature, the refractive indices decreased monotonically in the near-infrared region due to the temperature-dependent optical band gap. The thermo-optic coefficients at room temperature had values from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] for monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides at a wavelength of 1200 nm below the optical band gap. The optical band gap increased with a decrease in temperature due to the suppression of electron-phonon interactions. On the basis of first-principles calculations, the observed optical excitations at 4.5 K were appropriately assigned. These results provide basic information for the technological development of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides-based photonic devices at various temperatures.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 modulates the intracellular localization of DNA methyltransferase 3A to regulate erythrocytic differentiation.

DNA methylation, catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), is a heritable epigenetic mark, participating in numerous physiological processes. DNMT3A is of particular relevance to hematopoietic differentiation, because DNMT3A mutations are strongly related to hematopoietic malignancies. Additionally, DNMT3A deficiency has been reported to increase the hematopoietic stem cell pool by limiting their differentiation. Our previous study demonstrated that complete loss of DNMT3A resulted in anemia, while DNMT3A haploinsufficiency caused an elevated population of erythrocytes in the content of oncogenic KRAS. Since erythropoiesis is tightly regulated via the erythropoietin (EPO)-mediated RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK1/2 pathway, the question arises whether DNMT3A cooperates with RAS signaling to modulate erythropoiesis. Human leukemia cell lines were used, with differentiation capabilities towards megakaryocyte and erythroid lineages. Overexpression of DNMT3A was found to enhance erythrocytic differentiation of K562 cells, while DNMT3A knockdown suppressed differentiation. Furthermore, higher DNMT3A expression was detected in late-stage mouse erythroblasts along with the DNMT3A translocation to the nucleus. Further studies demonstrated that both ERK1/2-DNMT3A interaction and serine-255 phosphorylation in DNMT3A led to DNMT3A translocation into the nucleus, and modulated erythrocytic differentiation. Our results not only explore the critical role of DNMT3A in erythropoiesis, but also provide a new insight into ERK1/2-DNMT3A interaction in the hematopoietic system.

Characterizing temperature-dependent optical properties of (MA0.13FA0.87) PbI3 single crystals using spectroscopic ellipsometry.

In this paper, we present spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of (MA0.13FA0.87)PbI3 single crystals assessed at photon energies of 0.73-6.42 eV and at temperatures between 4.4 and 400 K. At room temperature, the refractive index was dispersed as a function of frequency, which is typical of a semiconductor. The absorption spectrum exhibited several electronic transitions. We estimated a room temperature direct band gap of 1.66 ± 0.02 eV and exciton binding energy of 40 meV. With decreasing temperature, the refractive index increased. The room-temperature thermo-optic coefficients were -1.7 × 10-4 and -2.5 × 10-4 K-1 at wavelength of 600 and 1200 nm. The exciton peak position and bandgap energy exhibited a redshift, which was attributed to a reverse ordering of the band structures. Additionally, an anomaly in exciton peak position and bandgap occurred at approximately 100-200 K due to the structural phase transition. This phenomenon was associated with the coexistence of MA/FA-disordered and MA/FA-ordered domains. Our results provide a foundation for the technological development of lead halide perovskites-based photonic devices at various temperatures.

Disabled life expectancy with and without stroke: a 10-year Japanese prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: A stroke is a debilitating condition that can cause lifelong disability, severely limiting the ability of individuals to perform daily activities. In Japan, strokes are the fourth leading cause of death; however, no previous studies have examined the influence of strokes on a disabled or disability-free life for older Japanese residents. This study aims to address this gap. METHODS: The study used data from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (NUJLSOA) and incidence-based multistate life tables to estimate disabled and disability-free life expectancy based on the stroke status of Japanese residents aged 65 and older. RESULTS: Japanese stroke survivors aged 65 who experienced an initial disability-free state could expect to live approximately 3 fewer total years of life, 4-5 fewer years in a disability-free state, and 1-2 more years in a disabled state compared to those without history of a stroke (p < 0.05). For those disabled at the beginning of the survey interval, the differences between individuals with and without stroke history were also similar to those disability-free at the beginning of the survey interval (2-4 and 5-6 fewer total and disability-free years, respectively) (p < 0.05). The same pattern was observed for older age groups. CONCLUSION: Older adults who have experienced a stroke could experience a shorter total life expectancy, shorter disability-free life expectancy, and longer disabled life expectancy than those who have not experienced a stroke. These results can inform policymakers and rehabilitation practitioners on stroke survivor long-term care needs and their post-stroke health status.

Management of nocturnal enuresis in Taiwan: Consensus statements of the Taiwan enuresis expert committee.

Nocturnal enuresis causes significant psychological distress to affected children and their family and requires appropriate management. A 12-member expert committee of pediatric urologists and pediatric nephrologists in Taiwan with extensive experience in treating enuresis was established to develop consensus statements and a recommended treatment algorithm for the management of patients with nocturnal enuresis in Taiwan after careful consideration of current evidence, existing guidelines, and expert opinion as well as local practice and culture. The finalized consensus statements were reviewed by and have received endorsement from the Taiwan Urological Association and the Taiwan Pediatric Association. Patients with suspected enuresis should undergo a thorough initial assessment to fully evaluate urinary signs and symptoms and to rule out underlying causes of diurnal and nocturnal incontinence. Behavioral therapy is recommended throughout the course of management. Desmopressin in the fast-melting formulation is the recommended first-line pharmacological treatment. Combination therapy may be effective in patients who have failed first-line treatment. These consensus statements and a recommended treatment algorithm were created by the expert committee to provide practical support for clinical decision making by physicians in Taiwan.

Mitochondrial DNA Variation Dictates Expressivity and Progression of Nuclear DNA Mutations Causing Cardiomyopathy.

Nuclear-encoded mutations causing metabolic and degenerative diseases have highly variable expressivity. Patients sharing the homozygous mutation (c.523delC) in the adenine nucleotide translocator 1 gene (SLC25A4, ANT1) develop cardiomyopathy that varies from slowly progressive to fulminant. This variability correlates with the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineage. To confirm that mtDNA variants can modulate the expressivity of nuclear DNA (nDNA)-encoded diseases, we combined in mice the nDNA Slc25a4-/- null mutation with a homoplasmic mtDNA ND6P25L or COIV421A variant. The ND6P25L variant significantly increased the severity of cardiomyopathy while the COIV421A variant was phenotypically neutral. The adverse Slc25a4-/- and ND6P25L combination was associated with impaired mitochondrial complex I activity, increased oxidative damage, decreased l-Opa1, altered mitochondrial morphology, sensitization of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, augmented somatic mtDNA mutation levels, and shortened lifespan. The strikingly different phenotypic effects of these mild mtDNA variants demonstrate that mtDNA can be an important modulator of autosomal disease.

The impact of climate factors on the prevalence of urolithiasis in Northern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is a common disease with high prevalence and recurrence. Its incidence varies in different geographic locations, and there are evidences that meteorological factors also affect urinary stone formation. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of climate parameters on the numbers of shockwave treatments for urinary stones in our hospital, in order to understand the effects of these parameters on the prevalence of urolithiasis in northern Taiwan. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) performed in our hospital from December 2006 to November 2011. Repeated ESWL performed in the same patient within 1 month was excluded, and we only counted as one ESWL in our study. Climate data of the corresponding months were collected from Central Weather Bureau. The available monthly meteorological data included highest, lowest, and average temperatures, humidity, rainfall, total rain days, sunshine hours, average atmospheric pressure, and wind speed. RESULTS: Monthly ESWL number was positively correlated to temperature (r = 0.696), sunshine hours (r = 0.515), and wind speed (r = 0.369), while it was negatively correlated to humidity (r = -0.441) and atmospheric pressure (r = -0.568). Average monthly temperature had the strongest correlation to ESWL number (r2 = 0.484). Monthly rainfall and rain days were not significantly correlated to ESWL number. To investigate the climate parameters together, we introduced these correlated factors into the multivariate linear regression model which demonstrated only temperature (ß = 1.438, 95% CI: 3.703-9.144, p < 0.001) and atmospheric pressure (ß = 0.803, 95% CI: 0.790-5.428, p = 0.010) to be independently related to monthly ESWL number. CONCLUSION: Temperature and atmospheric pressure are associated with monthly ESWL number. Ambient temperature is the most important climate factor affecting the prevalence of urolithiasis in northern Taiwan.

Indigo naturalis upregulates claudin-1 expression in human keratinocytes and psoriatic lesions.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Indigo naturalis is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various dermatoses. Our previous clinical studies showed that indigo naturalis is an effective treatment for psoriasis. Herein, the capabilities of indigo naturalis extract and its derivatives to increase claudin-1 expression and tight junction (TJ) function in human keratinocytes and psoriatic lesions were further studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Claudin-1 expression in psoriatic plaques with or without indigo naturalis treatment was analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. In primary human keratinocytes, the expression of claudin-1 was analyzed by fluorescent immunostaining, a real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. The effect of indigo naturalis on TJs was evaluated by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and paracellular tracer flux. RESULTS: The indigo naturalis extract upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of claudin-1 and function of TJs in primary human keratinocytes in concentration-dependent manners. Its main components, indirubin, indigo, and tryptanthrin, exerted synergistic effects on upregulating TJ functions in primary human keratinocytes. In addition, indigo naturalis increased the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), and a known potent PKC inhibitor, Ro318220, attenuated the indigo naturalis-induced claudin-1 expression. Significantly, restoration of claudin-1 was observed in healed psoriatic lesions after indigo naturalis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Indigo naturalis upregulates claudin-1 expression and restores TJ function in keratinocytes. Our data also suggest that indirubin, indigo, and tryptanthrin have a synergistic effect on TJ function.

Male median raphe cysts: serial retrospective analysis and histopathological classification.

BACKGROUND: To review the clinical and pathological characteristics of median raphe cysts and to classify the lesions according to pathogenesis and histopathological findings. METHODS: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with median raphe cysts between 2001 and 2010 were reviewed to document the clinical presentation and pathological findings of the cysts. RESULTS: Most patients were asymptomatic; however, 9 patients had inflammatory or infectious cysts that were tender or painful. Four patients who had cysts on the parameatus and distal prepuce had difficulty voiding. Hematuria and hematospermia were noted in 2 cases. Thirty-one cysts were lined with an urothelium-like epithelium, and a squamous epithelium lining was found in 3 cases. In 2 cases, a well-formed mucinous glandular structure was observed. The other 20 cysts consisted of mixed epithelia. After excision of the cysts under local or general anesthesia, an urethral fistula developed as a complication in only 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Median raphe cysts are benign lesions formed due to tissue trapping during the development of urethral folds. The cysts can be defined into 4 types based on pathological findings: urethral, epidermoid, glandular, and mixed. The associated symptoms and signs should be taken into consideration when determining the treatment for the cysts. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http//http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/7727074877500751.

Temporary vesicostomy-assisted urethroplasty for recurrent obliterated posterior urethral stricture.

BACKGROUND: We report the outcomes of temporary vesicostomy- assisted anastomotic urethroplasty in patients with recurrent obliterated posterior urethral stricture. METHODS: A review of the medical records identified 12 men (mean age 35.8 years) who had undergone anastomotic urethroplasty for recurrent obliterated posterior stricture. Preoperative evaluation of the urethral defect included a simultaneous retrograde urethrogram and cystogram. The mean estimated preoperative radiographic length of the urethral disruption was 4.25 cm. All patients underwent 1-stage bulboprostatic anastomotic repair which was assisted by an intraoperative temporary vesicostomy. RESULTS: The initial objective success rate was 83%. The mean follow-up was 22 months. Voiding cystourethrography performed postoperatively demonstrated a wide, patent anastomosis in all but two cases. Urethroscopy performed 1 month after surgery revealed a patent anastomosis with normal urethral mucosa in all but two patients. The mean peak flow rate at the last follow-up visit was 16.3 ml/s. Two patients developed an anastomotic stricture 6 weeks after surgery that was successfully treated by direct visual internal urethrotomy. Finally, all patients had a patent urethra after salvage treatment postoperatively. CONCLUSION: An open 1-stage temporary vesicostomy- assisted urethroplasty for recurrent obliterated posterior urethral stricture provides satisfactory outcomes and minimal morbidities.

The dilemma in the diagnosis of acute scrotum: clinical clues for differentiating between testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute painful scrotum is one of the most challenging urological emergencies. Irreversible parenchymal damage will develop if a testicle is twisted. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of different clinical clues to help differentiate the causes of this devastating condition. METHODS: The medical charts of teenagers with acute scrotal pain between January 2003 and December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were included in this study, including 47 initially suspected of having testicular torsion and 29 suspected of having epididymo-orchitis. Testicular torsion was confirmed in 39 of the suspected 47 cases after surgical exploration. Twnety-one of these 39 testicular torsion patients underwent orchiectomy, and 18 were rescued and underwent orchiopexy. The mean pain duration was significantly longer in the orchiectomy group than the orchiopexy group (38.05 hours vs 14.14 hours, p = 0.009). In the testicular torsion group, fewer patients had elevated C-reactive protein levels no patients had pyuria, and the pain duration was shorter compared with the epididymo-orchitis group (5/11 vs 13/22 [p = 0.045], 0/28 vs 8/28 [p = 0.004] and 27.0 vs 74.5 hours [p = 0.0003], respectively). The sensitivity of color Dopper ultrasound in diagnosing testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis was 84.09% vs 92.59%. Logistic regression for multivariate analysis showed that left side manifestation and pain duration were significantly different between testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis with odds ratios of 4.76, p = 0.020 and 0.98, p = 0.029, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pain duration and left side manifestation are independent risk factors of testicular torsion. Prompt surgical exploration should be done if testicular torsion is highly suspected.

Comparison of male chimeric mice generated from microinjection of JM8.N4 embryonic stem cells into C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac blastocysts.

To identify ways to improve the efficiency of generating chimeric mice via microinjection of blastocysts with ES cells, we compared production and performance of ES-cell derived chimeric mice using blastocysts from two closely related and commonly used sub-strains of C57BL/6. Chimeras were produced by injection of the same JM8.N4 (C57BL/6NTac) derived ES cell line into blastocysts of mixed sex from either C57BL/6J (B6J) or C57BL/6NTac (B6NTac) mice. Similar efficiency of production and sex-conversion of chimeric animals was observed with each strain of blastocyst. However, B6J chimeric males had fewer developmental abnormalities involving urogenital and reproductive tissues (1/12, 8%) compared with B6NTac chimeric males (7/9, 78%). The low sample size did not permit determination of statistical significance for many parameters. However, in each category analyzed the B6J-derived chimeric males performed as well, or better, than their B6NTac counterparts. Twelve of 14 (86%) B6J male chimeras were fertile compared with 6 of 11 (55%) B6NTac male chimeras. Ten of 12 (83%) B6J chimeric males sired more than 1 litter compared with only 3 of 6 (50%) B6NTac chimeras. B6J male chimeras produced more litters per productive mating (3.42 ± 1.73, n = 12) compared to B6NTac chimeras (2.17 ± 1.33, n = 6). Finally, a greater ratio of germline transmitting chimeric males was obtained using B6J blastocysts (9/14; 64%) compared with chimeras produced using B6NTac blastocysts (4/11; 36%). Use of B6J host blastocysts for microinjection of ES cells may offer improvements over blastocysts from B6NTac and possibly other sub-strains of C57BL/6 mice.

Protective effect of indigo naturalis extract against oxidative stress in cultured human keratinocytes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Indigo naturalis is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various skin disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aims were to explore the effect of indigo naturalis on suppressing oxidative stress and protein modifications by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a lipid peroxidation product, in cultured primary human keratinocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Indigo naturalis extract at a dose that did not cause cytotoxicity was added to cultured keratinocytes in the absence or the presence of H(2)O(2) or HNE. The degree of cytotoxicity, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and amount of protein carbonyl groups were evaluated. RESULTS: Indigo naturalis extract at the concentration of 10µg/ml had no protective effect against H(2)O(2) or HNE-induced cytotoxicity, but decreased intracellular levels of ROS after H(2)O(2) treatment and suppressed the increase of protein carbonyl groups induced by HNE. CONCLUSION: Indigo naturalis possesses an inhibitory effect on formation of intracellular ROS induced by exogenous ROS and protein modification induced by HNE in human keratinocytes, which is relevant to the alleviation of inflammatory skin diseases.

A mitochondrial etiology of Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND: The genetics and pathophysiology of Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Parkinson Disease (PD) appears complex. However, mitochondrial dysfunction is a common observation in these and other neurodegenerative diseases. SCOPE OF REVIEW: We argue that the available data on AD and PD can be incorporated into a single integrated paradigm based on mitochondrial genetics and pathophysiology. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Rare chromosomal cases of AD and PD can be interpreted as affecting mitochondrial function, quality control, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity. mtDNA lineages, haplogroups, such haplogroup H5a which harbors the mtDNA tRNA(Gln) A8336G variant, are important risk factors for AD and PD. Somatic mtDNA mutations are elevated in AD, PD, and Down Syndrome and Dementia (DSAD) both in brains and also systemically. AD, DS, and DSAD brains also have reduced mtDNA ND6 mRNA levels, altered mtDNA copy number, and perturbed Aß metabolism. Classical AD genetic changes incorporated into the 3XTg-AD (APP, Tau, PS1) mouse result in reduced forebrain size, life-long reduced mitochondrial respiration in 3XTg-AD males, and initially elevated respiration and complex I and IV activities in 3XTg-AD females which markedly declines with age. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction provides a unifying genetic and pathophysiology explanation for AD, PD, and other neurodegenerative diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biochemistry of Mitochondria.

Waist circumference is an independent risk factor for prostatic hyperplasia in Taiwanese males.

PURPOSE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common disease affecting older males. As obesity becomes an increasing problem worldwide, its role in prostatic hypertrophy has been discussed recently. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between waist circumferences and prostatic hyperplasia in Taiwan. METHODS: There were 539 men enrolled in the study who had health examinations at the Healthcare Center of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; 53 were excluded because of history of conditions affecting prostatic volume. Their anthropometry was measured and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels as well as lipid profiles were analyzed. Prostate volume was measured by transrectal ultrasonography performed by experienced urologists. RESULTS: The mean prostate volume was 26.43 mL, whereas mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.27 kg/m(2) and mean waist circumference (WC) was 90.81 cm. By age-adjusted logistic regression, PSA > 4 ng/mL, WC ≥ 90 cm, and BMI > 24 kg/m(2) are associated with increased risk of developing prostatic hyperplasia; only WC ≥ 90 cm can be validated by multiple logistic regression. Further analysis of obesity patterns showed that abdominal overweight/obesity places patients at increased risk independently rather than high WC or high BMI alone. CONCLUSIONS: Study results showed that waist circumference ≥ 90 cm is an independent risk factor of prostatic hyperplasia in Taiwan. Men with abdominal overweight/obesity (WC ≥ 90 cm and BMI > 24 kg/m(2)) have a twofold risk of developing prostatic hyperplasia.

PNPASE regulates RNA import into mitochondria.

RNA import into mammalian mitochondria is considered essential for replication, transcription, and translation of the mitochondrial genome but the pathway(s) and factors that control this import are poorly understood. Previously, we localized polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPASE), a 3' --> 5' exoribonuclease and poly-A polymerase, in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, a location lacking resident RNAs. Here, we show a new role for PNPASE in regulating the import of nuclear-encoded RNAs into the mitochondrial matrix. PNPASE reduction impaired mitochondrial RNA processing and polycistronic transcripts accumulated. Augmented import of RNase P, 5S rRNA, and MRP RNAs depended on PNPASE expression and PNPASE-imported RNA interactions were identified. PNPASE RNA processing and import activities were separable and a mitochondrial RNA targeting signal was isolated that enabled RNA import in a PNPASE-dependent manner. Combined, these data strongly support an unanticipated role for PNPASE in mediating the translocation of RNAs into mitochondria.