[Roles of folate metabolism in prostate cancer].

Epidemiological surveys show that folic acid can prevent prostate cancer, but fortified folic acid may increase the risk of the malignancy. The physician data queries from the National Cancer Institute of the USA describe folate as protective against prostate cancer, whereas its synthetic analog, folic acid, is considered to increase prostate cancer risk when taken at levels easily achievable by eating fortified food or taking over-the-counter supplements. We review the current literature to examine the effects of folate and folic acid on prostate cancer, help interpret previous epidemiologic data, and provide a clarification regarding the apparently opposing roles of folate for patients with prostate cancer. A literature search was conducted in Medline to identify studies investigating the effect of nutrition and specifically folate and folic acid on prostate carcinogenesis and progression. In addition, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database was analyzed for the trends in serum folate levels before and after mandatory fortification. Folate likely plays a dual role in prostate carcinogenesis. There remains some conflicting epidemiologic evidence regarding folate and prostate cancer risk. However, there is growing experimental evidence that higher circulating folate levels can contribute to prostate cancer progression. Further research is needed to clarify these complex relationships.

Positive KI67 and periodic acid-schiff mandates wider range of excision in scrotal extramammary Paget's disease.

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) of the scrotum is a rare disease that requires surgical excision. A positive margin is related to recurrence and poorer prognosis. We aimed to investigate the expression of Ki67 and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) in a biopsy sample and to evaluate their predictive value in true margin status. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with noninvasive scrotal EMPD were included. Immunohistochemical staining of Ki67 and PAS was reviewed and compared statistically with the margin status of intraoperative frozen section examination (FSE). RESULTS: Seventeen of 64 patients had a positive margin discovered at the first FSE. Expression of Ki67 was not significantly different between positive and negative margin status (p = .16). Expression of PAS was higher in samples with positive margins (p = .05). The incidence of positive margins was significantly higher in the double-positive group than in the double-negative group (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Positive expression of both factors in a biopsy sample requires wider excision to ensure negative margins.

Med19 promotes bone metastasis and invasiveness of bladder urothelial carcinoma via bone morphogenetic protein 2.

Bladder cancer (BCa) remained a major health problem. Med19 was related to tumor growth of BCa. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were reported to be critical in bone metastasis of cancer. We therefore investigated the relations between Med19 and BMPs in BCa and their effect on bone metastasis of BCa. Bladder cancer cell lines were cultured and interfered with Med19 shRNA and control. Expressions of BMP-1, BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-9, and BMP-15 were studied between 2 groups. Fifty-two BCa samples were included for immunohistochemical staining of Med19 and BMP-2. Expressions were scored and studied statistically. Invasiveness was studied with Transwell assay. Silencing or Med19 in BCa cells induced altered expressions of BMPs. Increased expressions of BMP-1, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, and BMP-15 and decreased expressions of BMP-2, BMP-5, and BMP-9 were noticed, but only BMP-2 reached statistical significance. Expressions of Med19 and BMP-2 were significantly higher in cases with bone metastasis and were positively correlated in cases with bone metastasis and muscle invasion. Med19 is a critical factor involved in the invasiveness and promotion of bone metastasis of BCa, possibly via BMP-2.

Is there an association between advanced stage of renal cell carcinoma and paraneoplastic syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate any association between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The retrospective analysis included 1,028 patients of Chinese Han nationality with resectable RCC and PNS. The PNS included elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hypertension, cachexia, anemia, pyrexia, abnormal liver function, hypercalcemia, polycythemia, varicocele and neuromyopathy. Staging was categorized as local (T1-2N0M0) and locally advanced (T3-4NxM0). RESULTS: Among patients with at least one PNS, elevated ESR (p = 0.008), cachexia (p = 0.000), varicocele (p = 0.000) and pyrexia (p = 0.021) were related to advanced stage of RCC. Among patients with only one PNS, hypertension (p = 0.012) and hypercalcemia (p = 0.000) were related to advanced stage. The remaining PNS were not associated with tumor stage. CONCLUSION: Pyrexia, elevated ESR, cachexia and varicocele were related to advanced RCC. Hypertension and hypercalcemia occurring as single PNS, although also correlated with advanced stage, require further investigation.

AR-regulated ZIC5 contributes to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.

The mechanisms by which prostate cancer (PCa) progresses to the aggressive castration-resistant stage remain uncertain. Zinc finger of the cerebellum 5 (ZIC5), a transcription factor belonging to the ZIC family, is involved in the pathology of various cancers. However, the potential effect of ZIC5 on PCa malignant progression has not been fully defined. Here, we show that ZIC5 is upregulated in PCa, particularly in metastatic lesions, in positive association with poor prognosis. Genetic inhibition of ZIC5 in PCa cells obviously attenuated invasion and metastasis and blunted the oncogenic properties of colony formation. Mechanistically, ZIC5 functioned as a transcription factor to promote TWIST1-mediated EMT progression or as a cofactor to strengthen the ß-catenin-TCF4 association and stimulate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Importantly, ZIC5 and the androgen receptor (AR) form a positive feed-forward loop to mutually stimulate each other's expression. AR, in cooperation with its steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), increased ZIC5 expression through binding to the miR-27b-3p promoter and repressing miR-27b-3p transcription. In turn, ZIC5 potentiated AR, AR-V7, and AR targets' expression. Besides, ZIC5 inhibition reduced AR and AR-V7 protein expression and enhanced the sensitivity of PCa to enzalutamide (Enz) treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that the reciprocal activation between AR and ZIC5 promotes metastasis and Enz resistance of PCa and suggest the therapeutic value of cotargeting ZIC5 and AR for the treatment of advanced PCa.

Long Non-coding RNAs LINC01679 as a Competitive Endogenous RNAs Inhibits the Development and Progression of Prostate Cancer via Regulating the miR-3150a-3p/SLC17A9 Axis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been indicated as the candidate factors to predict cancer prognosis. However, it is still unknown whether lncRNA combinations may be utilized for predicting overall survival (OS) of prostate cancer (PCa). The present work focused on selecting the potent OS-related lncRNA signature for PCa and studying its molecular mechanism to enhance the prognosis prediction accuracy. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) or differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained based on TCGA database by R software "edgeR" package. lncRNAs or mRNAs significantly related to PCa were screened through univariate as well as multivariate Cox regression, for the construction of the risk model for prognosis prediction. Moreover, this constructed risk model was validated through ROC analysis, univariate regression, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis. Additionally, we built a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network through bioinformatics analysis. Colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry, scratch, and Transwell assays were performed based on PCa cells subjected to small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting LINC01679/SLC17A9 and vector expressing LINC01679/SLC17A9 transfection. Thereafter, the ceRNA mechanism was clarified via qRT-PCR, Western blotting (WB), RNA pull-down, and luciferase reporter assays. Nude mouse tumor xenograft was established to examine LINC01679's oncogenicity within PCa cells. According to our results, LINC01679 depletion promoted cell proliferation, metastasis, tumor growth, and inhibited cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, which was also associated with poor survival. LINC01679 regulated miR-3150a-3p level by sponging it. Importantly, miR-3150a-3p overexpression was related to the increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of PCa cells. Rescue assays suggested that miR-3150a-3p mimics rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation, but SLC17A9 downregulation reversed the miR-3150a-3p inhibitor-mediated repression on PC progression. Importantly, SLC17A9 downregulation rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation. LINC01679 and SLC17A9 are tightly associated with certain clinicopathological characteristics of PCa and its prognostic outcome. In addition, LINC01679 is the ceRNA that suppresses PCa development through modulating the miR-3150a-3p/SLC17A9 axis.

Preparation of halloysite nanotubes-encapsulated magnetic microspheres for elemental mercury removal from coal-fired flue gas.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as a natural and inexpensive clay mineral with hollow nanotubular structures, good biocompatibility and active surfaces have been ubiquitously applied in many fields. In this work, a novel multifunctional core-shell sorbent based on HNTs, CuCl2-HNTs encapsulated magnetic microspheres (SiO2@Fe3O4), was successfully fabricated and applied for Hg0 removal from flue gas with good performance for the first time. The core-shell structure prevented the composites from aggregating but kept their magnetism, which enabled the adsorbents being easily separated for reuse by an external magnetic field. In addition, the special structure also significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of the composites by dispersing the CuCl2 modified HNTs on the prepared magnetic microspheres. The adsorption performance was comprehensively investigated and fitted by dynamic models. The adsorption followed surface adsorption, particle diffusion and chemisorption with very good SO2 tolerance. The Cu+, Cl- and lattice oxygen were the crucial components for Hg0 removal. In order to further understand the possible mechanism, an online home-made coupling system of temperature-programmed decomposition (TPD) was used to investigate the mercury species on the spent adsorbent in addition to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The results confirmed the mercury species adsorbed were primarily Hg0, HgO and HgCl2.

Tumor- and Osteoblast-Derived Periostin in Prostate Cancer bone Metastases.

Exploring the biological function of periostin (POSTN) in prostate cancer (PCa) bone metastasis is of importance. It was observed that the expression of POSTN was high in PCa, especially highest in PCa metastasized to bone. In this study, we found that inhibiting POSTN in PCa cells could significantly alleviate PCa bone metastasis in vivo, suggesting POSTN is a promising therapeutic target. Since, due to the secreted expression of POSTN in osteoblasts and PCa, we hypothesized the positive feedback loop between osteoblasts and PCa mediated by POSTN in PCa bone metastasis. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that osteoblast-derived POSTN promoted PCa cell proliferation and invasion and PCa cell-derived POSTN promotes proliferation of osteoblasts. Furthermore, we found that POSTN regulated PCa and osteoblast function through integrin receptors. Finally, 18F-Alfatide II was used as the molecule probe of integrin αvß3 in PET-CT, revealing high intake in metastatic lesions. Our findings together indicate that targeting POSTN in PCa cells as well as in the osteoblastic may be an effective treatment for PCa bone metastasis.

[Application of iTRAQ in proteomic study of prostate cancer].

Amine-specific isobaric tagging (iTRAQ) reagents, as a new class of isobaric reagent, were developed in 2004, which, combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) , have been applied to the identification and quantification of proteins in a wide range of biological samples, including bacteria, yeasts, human tissues, cells, and fluids. As a new method of quantitative proteomics, the technique of iTRAQ allows for the quantitative analysis of four samples simultaneously and displays its advantages of high-flux, food reproducibility, and high sensitivity; it also provides a potential technological platform for studying the mechanisms of the development and progression of prostate cancer.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder and rectum pouch: the initial experience of 28 cases in China.

BACKGROUND: We presented the technique and outcomes of laparoscopic radical cystectomy performed in 28 patients with bladder cancer to evaluate its clinical efficacy and feasibility. METHODS: Among the 28 patients, aged from 58 to 73 years (mean 68.5 years), 26 were transitional cell carcinoma grads II - III and 2 squamous carcinoma. Laparoscopic radical cystectomy plus bladder reconstruction was performed in all cases, among them 15 with ileum, 10 with rectum pouch, and 3 with ureterostomy. The operating time, the blood loss, the intestine function and the complications were observed. RESULTS: All procedures were successful. The operating times were 7 - 10 hours, the blood loss was 400 - 1500 ml (mean 850 ml), the intestine function recovered at 72 hours after operation, and all ureteral catheters were removed at 2 weeks after surgery. The results of intravenous urography were normal at 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer is safe and efficient, with good operating field, reliable hemostasis, mini-invasion, less celiac complications, and rapid recovery. This surgery is worth being extended.

[The diagnosis and treatment of acute prostatitis: report of 35 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis and treatment of acute prostatitis. METHODS: The data of 35 cases of acute prostatitis who were admitted from January 2001 to March 2004 were reviewed. The main clinical manifestations were chills, fever, frequency, urgency and dysuria. All patients were treated with antibiotics and supportive measures. Two patients underwent surgical drainage for prostate abscess. Three patients were indwelled catheter for acute urinary retention. RESULTS: All patients'temperatures returned to normal within 3 to 5 days. Blood and urine routine tests, urine culture and transurethral ultrasound examination results returned to normal 2 weeks later. Q maximal urinary flow rate improved in patients with dysuria. CONCLUSIONS: After diagnosis of acute prostatitis, full-dose of sensitive antibiotics should be given to all patients for some time as early as possible. At the same time, supportive therapy may be important to some patients. Surgical drainage should be used for patients with prostate abscess.

Relationship between expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and apoptosis in radiation compound wound healing of rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 proteins, and apoptosis in radiation compound wound healing of rats. METHODS: Apoptosis, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were estimated by in situ terminal labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: (1) Changes of the apoptosis in wound healing showed three typical characteristics: early occurrence, high frequency and delayed disappearance after radiation to rats when compared with those of simple wound group, which might be an important reason for radiation-induced delayed wound healing. (2) The expression of Bax protein increased evidently with the increment of apoptosis and showed a good corresponding relationship with the apoptotic frequency in the process of wound healing. While the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased obviously as the apoptosis reached a maximum and showed increasing tendency up to normal level when the apoptosis decreased distinctively. CONCLUSIONS: Bax and Bcl-2 proteins play an important role in the apoptotic regulation of radiation compound wound healing in rats.

[Treatment of long-segment urethral stricture by free internal prepuce lamina patch urethroplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of free internal prepuce lamina patch urethroplasty on long-segment urethral stricture. METHODS: Eight patients of long-segment urethral stricture underwent resection of atresia posterior urethra and/or incision of stricture anterior urethra, free internal prepuce lamina patch as of corresponding length and width were taken for the reconstruction of the urethra, and mean while multi-hole silica ge tract was placed in the urethra. RESULTS: Miction was easy and fluent in 7 cases, and unobstructed in 1 case after two urethral soundings. CONCLUSION: Free internal prepuce lamina patch urethroplasty was a good method for treating long-segment urethral stricture.

[Soil respiration characteristics in the clear-cutting site of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest in Xiaolong Mountain in Qinling Mountains].

By using Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system with soil chamber, the soil respiration rates (Rs) of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest land (control site) and their clear-cutting site were measured in Xiaolong Mountain of Qinling Mountains from May 2011 to April 2012 to understand the diurnal and monthly dynamics of soil respiration rate and the influences from soil temperature, soil moisture, soil physical and chemical properties. The results showed that both diurnal and monthly dynamics of soil respiration rate presented a single-peak curve, similar to the variation of soil temperature at the clear-cutting and control sites. During the study period, the maximum monthly mean values of soil respiration rate at the clear-cutting and control sites occurred in July (4.63 and 4.01 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1), respectively) and the minimum values presented in February (0.10 and 0.30 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1), respectively). Soil respiration rate in 4-6 months after clear-cutting was higher than at the control site, and became lower afterwards. 89. 6% -90. 8% of soil respiration rate variation was interpreted by the multiple regression models of soil temperature, soil moisture and their interaction at the clear-cutting site, and 94.7%-95.5% at the control site. The Q10 values computed by exponential equations were 3.47-4.22 and 3.54-3.96 at the clear-cutting and control sites, respectively. The C fluxes at the clear-cutting and control sites were 344.8 and 512.9 g x m(-2) annually, and 24.2 and 40.9 g x m(-2) in winter, respectively.

Paraneoplastic symptoms: cachexia, polycythemia, and hypercalcemia are, respectively, related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in renal clear cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether there is a relation between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and any of the paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 667 patients with ccRCC and at least one PNS were included. Thorough history taking, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were used to diagnose PNS. Immunohistochemistry was performed for VEGF evaluation. RESULTS: There were 10 different PNS identified in the population. Sixty patients had a single paraneoplastic presentation. In all patients, presence of cachexia (n = 267, P < 0.0001), polycythemia (n = 40, P = 0.0014), and hypercalcemia (n = 48, P = 0.0006) was correlated to VEGF expression. Correlation was neither acquired in Stauffer's syndrome, pyrexia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), anemia, thrombocytosis, hypertension, neuromyopathy nor obtained within patients with single PNS. CONCLUSIONS: Relations between PNS and VEGF expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been studied yet. The results we gained hereby can help us further understand the mechanistic of PNS in RCC.

Small interference RNA targeting Krüppel-like factor 8 inhibits the renal carcinoma 786-0 cells growth in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) plays an important role in oncogenic transformation and is highly overexpressed in several types of human cancer. We investigated the expression of KLF8 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues and the role of small interference RNA targeting KLF8 on growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-0 in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The expression of KLF8 protein and mRNA in human renal carcinoma samples was detected by immunochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting KLF8 on growth, invasiveness, cell cycle, and apoptosis of 786-0 cells were evaluated by MTT assay, Matrigel Invasion Assay, and flow cytometry in vitro. We also investigated effect of siRNA targeting KLF8 on growth of 786-0 cells in nude mice in vivo. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR results showed the expression of KLF8 protein and mRNA in RCC specimens was significantly higher than that in the adjacent non-tumorous renal tissues (P < 0.001). KLF8-siRNA depressed the cellular growth and invasion of 786-0 cells in vitro. The flow cytometry results revealed that KLF8-siRNA could induce an increase in G0/G1 phase cells and induce cell apoptosis. Intratumor injection of siRNA targeting KLF8 inhibited the growth of 786-0 cells in vivo in nude mice tumor model. CONCLUSIONS: KLF8 possibly involved in regulating the cell growth, invasion, apoptosis, and proliferation of renal carcinoma cancer cells. Blocking the KLF8 channel might be a potential therapeutic strategy for RCC.

Population study of genetic polymorphisms and superficial bladder cancer risk in Han-Chinese smokers in Shanghai.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between the polymorphisms of DNA repair genes, metabolic enzyme genes, and superficial bladder cancer to better understand the role of gene polymorphisms in bladder carcinogenesis for the Han-Chinese population in Shanghai. METHODS: The SNPs in the XPC, XPG, XRCC1, NQO2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 genes were genotyped using the TaqMan Probe-based polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The AC + CC genotypes of XPC Lys939Gln and the CC genotype of XPG His1104Asp were more frequent in patients of superficial bladder cancer at the initial diagnosis (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.89 [1.21-3.24]; adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.07 [0.86-1.87], respectively). The risk for carriers of the XPC-33512C allele increased after stratifying by smoking habits (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.95 [0.56-6.09]). There was a significant trend for an increased carcinogenesis risk with an increasing number of putative high-risk alleles. We found no significant associations between any of the ten polymorphisms and clinicopathological features of superficial bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the polymorphism in XPC Lys939Gln may modulate superficial bladder cancer risk, and these effects may preferentially affect current smokers. The data also support the possibility of an increased risk for superficial bladder cancer in individuals with a higher number of genetic variations in DNA repair and metabolic enzyme genes.