Korean urobiome platform (KUROM) study for acute uncomplicated sporadic versus recurrent cystitis in women: Clinical significance.

PURPOSE: To investigate urine microbiome differences among healthy women, women with recurrent uncomplicated cystitis (rUC), and those with sporadic/single uncomplicated cystitis (sUC) to challenge traditional beliefs about origins of these infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent both conventional urine culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of urine were retrospectively reviewed. Symptom-free women with normal urinalysis results as a control group were also studied. Samples were collected via transurethral catheterization. RESULTS: In the control group, urine microbiome was detected on NGS in 83.3%, with Lactobacillus and Prevotella being the most abundant genera. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture in both the sUC group (91.2% vs. 32.4%) and the rUC group (82.4% vs. 16.4%). In urine NGS results, Enterobacterales, Prevotella, and Escherichia/Shigella were additionally found in the sUC group, while the recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI)/rUC group exhibited the presence of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Enterobacterales, Escherichia/Shigella, and Propionibacterium. Moreover, distinct patterns of urine NGS were observed based on menopausal status and ingestion of antibiotics or probiotics prior to NGS test sampling. CONCLUSIONS: Urine microbiomes in control, sUC, and rUTI/rUC groups exhibited distinct characteristics. Notably, sUC and rUC might represent entirely separate pathological processes, given their distinct urine microbiomes. Consequently, the use of urine NGS might be essential to enhancing sensitivity compared to conventional urine culture in both sUC and rUTI/rUC groups.

The Correlations between the Intensity of Histopathological Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 11 Staining and Progression of Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), one of the principal phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) deubiquitinases, can reserve PTEN polyubiquitination to maintain PTEN protein integrity and inhibit PI3K/AKT pathway activation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between immunohistochemical USP11 staining intensities and prognostic indicators in individuals with prostate cancer. METHODS: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were performed for human prostate cancer and normal tissue (control) samples. Data on patient's age, Gleason score, plasma prostate-specific antigen (PSA) titer, disease stage, and presence of seminal vesicles, lymph nodes, and surgical margin involvement were collected. A pathologist who was blinded to the clinical outcome data scored the TMA for USP11 staining intensity as either positive or negative. RESULTS: Cancerous tissues exhibited lower USP11 staining intensity, whereas the neighboring benign peri-tumoral tissues showed higher USP11 staining intensity. The degree of USP11 staining intensity was lower in patients with a higher PSA titer, higher Gleason score, or more advanced disease stage. Patients who showed positive USP11 staining were more likely to have more optimal clinical and biochemical recurrence-free survival statistics. CONCLUSIONS: USP11 staining intensity in patients with prostate cancer is negatively associated with several prognostic factors such as an elevated PSA titer and a high Gleason score. It also reflects both biochemical and clinical recurrence-free survival in such patients. Thus, USP11 staining is a valuable prognostic factor in patients with prostate cancer.