Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on cryptorchidism: Research hotspots and trends between 2000 and 2022.

Background: Cryptorchidism is defined as failure of unilateral or bilateral testicular descent, which increases the risk of infertility and testicular carcinoma. Although there is much research on cryptorchidism, few studies have used the bibliometric analysis method. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cryptorchidism from muti-dimensional perspectives to summarize the research hotspots and trends in cryptorchidism research. Methods: Relevant studies on cryptorchidism were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from 2000 to 2022. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of cryptorchidism was performed by using the CiteSpace, Tableau Public, and VOSviewer software, including the annual distributions of publications, countries, authors, institutions, journals, references, and keywords. Results: From January 1st, 2000 to May 17th, 2022, a total of 5023 papers concerning cryptorchidism were identified for analysis. The USA contributed the most publications (n = 1193) in this field, and the annual number of publications rose rapidly in China. The University of Melbourne published the largest number of papers (n = 131). "Hutson, John M." was the most core author ranked by publications (n = 51), and "Skakkebaek, Niels E." enjoyed the largest number of citations (4441). The JOURNAL OF UROLOGY published the largest number of papers (n = 225), while the average citations per publication of the 75 papers in HUMAN REPRODUCTION reached 62.38. Additionally, burstness analysis of references and keywords showed that cryptorchidism research was mainly focused on the exploration of the optimal mode of treatment for cryptorchidism, including hypogonadism such as Kallmann syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome. Conclusion: Cryptorchidism has attracted continuous attention from the scientific community concerned. International collaboration in the field has witnessed significant growth in recent years and remains essential to further enhance collaborative efforts between scholars from different countries. In addition, the exploration of the optimal treatment modality for cryptorchidism, especially in the prevention of adult infertility, remains a major focus of future research. High-quality follow-up studies are also needed in the future. The pathogenesis (especially at the genetic level) and treatment of hypogonadism such as Kallmann syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome have attracted increasing attention recently, which may usher in some breakthroughs in coming years.

LRRC59 serves as a novel biomarker for predicting the progression and prognosis of bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein involved in various cancers, but its role in bladder cancer (BC) has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of LRRC59 protein in BC progression and prognosis. METHODS: The expression profile and clinical significance were retrieved from BC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The methylation status of LRRC59 was analyzed by UALCAN and MethSurv databases. Potential signaling pathways and biological functions were explored by functional enrichment analysis. Immunocyte infiltration was evaluated by CIBERSORT analysis. The prognostic value of LRRC59 was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Overall survival (OS) was predicted by the nomogram plot established in this study. LRRC59 expression in 10 pairs BC and adjacent noncancerous tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by CCK8, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and cell scratch assay, respectively. Proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and apoptosis were detected by western blot. RESULTS: LRRC59 overexpression significantly decreased OS, disease-specific survival, and progress-free interval of BC patients. LRRC59 was a prognostic marker for OS and its hypomethylation status signified a poor prognosis. LRRC59 overexpression was correlated with infiltration of resting memory CD4 T cells, memory activated CD4 T cells, resting NK cells, macrophages M0, M1, M2, and neutrophils. IHC showed that the LRRC59 expression in BC tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent noncancerous tissue. Knockdown of LRRC59 expression inhibited the proliferation of BC cells and reduced their migratory ability. Western blot showed that Snail and vimentin protein expressions decreased, while E-cadherin expressions increased. CONCLUSIONS: LRRC59 expression can predict the outcome of BC independently and serve as a new biomarker for diagnosis.

Global research status and hotspots of radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science from 2010-2022.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the important treatments for various cancer types and its application to prostate cancer (PCa) has also gradually gained increasing attention. However, there is a lack of comprehensive and objective studies on the overall status of research on RT for PCa. This article aims to summarize and quantify the dynamic trends of RT in PCa by using bibliometrics. Methods: Studies on RT for PCa were screened from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database between 1 January 2010 and 21 November 2022 to collate and quantify information characteristics by analyzing parameters including annual publications, countries/regions, institutions and authors with the aid of the bibliometric software CiteSpace and VOSviewer. In addition, research trends and hotspots were explored by analyzing keywords and co-cited references. Results: A total of 21338 documents were retrieved. The United States of America (USA) ranked first and maintained the leading position among all countries in the number of publications (8489) and total citations (266342). The University of Toronto was the most active institution in total publications (n=587). Paul L Nguyen enjoyed the most publications (n=179), and Michael J Zelefsky enjoyed the most co-citations (n=3376). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS published the most papers (n=1026), and was the most frequently co-cited journal (n=78550). The largest and closest cluster in the reference cluster analysis was "oligorecurrent prostate cancer". The timeline view of keywords reveals that cluster "biochemical recurrence(BCR)" is ongoing. Moreover, keywords burstness analysis showed that "radiation dosimetry", "dose rate brachytherapy(BT)", "salvage radiotherapy", "stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)", "guideline", and "multicenter" were the terms with great bursts in the past a few years. Conclusion: The application of RT targeting oligometastatic prostate cancer(OMPC) has garnered considerable attention among researchers. SBRT and BT have become hot topics in the field. Additionally, the BCR of PCa has long been a critical issue requiring extensive research and resolution, and salvage radiotherapy has currently emerged as a closely related research focus. Related large-scale multicenter studies have been conducted over the past few years, providing valuable insights. More high-quality research is expected to be employed to guide clinical decision-making.

The prognostic value and immunological role of SULF2 in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) represents the rare urological epithelial cancer of urinary tract, which has a large mass and is usually diagnosed at the advanced stage, thus inducing the poor prognosis. As a result, early detection and diagnosis are more important for the prognosis rather than the treatment of ACC. There is evidence supporting the association of Sulfatase2 (SULF2) with bladder cancer. However, the relationships of SULF2 with the clinical features and immune infiltration of ACC remain unclear. Methods: This work comprehensively investigated the different expression levels of SULF2 within ACC and its prognostic significance through various databases including Gene Expression Profiling Interaction Analysis (GEPIA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter and UALCAN. Besides, SULF2 levels within different tumor and paraneoplastic tissues were examined based on Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and TIMER. Afterwards, this study identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in high-compared with low-SULF2-expression groups. To predict the possible interaction between SULF2 and its targets, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on relevant data collected in STRING database. Besides, the SULF2 functional annotation was carried out, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and GSEA. In addition, gene mutation analysis was also performed based on the cBioPortal database. The relation of SULF2 with immune infiltration was analyzed from various aspects by using the resources of various databases including TIMER, TISIDB, and GEPIA, which was first reported in this work. Finally, R package was utilized to plot the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of diagnosis, time-dependent survival, and the association of SULF2 with cancer stage and the nomogram model. Finally, CellMiner dataset was adopted for SULF2 correlation as well as drug sensitivity analysis. Results: Relative to healthy people, SULF2 level markedly elevated within ACC tissues. Besides, SULF2 up-regulation significantly predicted the dismal prognostic outcome, which may be an important prognostic factor. Afterwards, the PPI network was constructed, and the possible link of SULF2 with the corresponding targets was predicted. Besides, up-regulated SULF2 expression was tightly related to immune regulation and tumor-infiltration immune cell (TIICs), including CD8+, CD4+ and mast cells. Finally, SULF2 expression was speculated to help determine the sensitivity of certain drugs. Conclusions: SULF2 may offer a new therapeutic target for ACC patients and become an important potential prognostic biomarker.

Research trends and hotspots of COVID-19 impact on sexual function: A bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought indelible harms to the world and aroused great concern worldwide. This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on sexual function using bibliometrics, and summarize research hotspots in this field. Methods: Relevant publications concerning the impact of COVID-19 on sexual function in the Web of Science collection database (WoSCC) between January 1, 2020 and March 12, 2022 were screened and analyzed by bibliometric analysis using the visualization software CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results: Of the 1,054 publications screened, the United States (US) contributed the most (398/37.8%), followed by the United Kingdom (UK) (119/11.3%). Among all institutions, the University of Toronto in Canada enjoyed the largest number of publications (30), and Johns Hopkins University in the US enjoyed the highest frequency of citation (235). The journal INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH published the largest number of studies in this field (31), and the most-cited journal was LANCET. "Chow, Eric," "Ong, Jason J," and "Stephenson, Rob" tied for first place in publications (8), and "Fish, Jessica N." enjoyed the highest number of citations (99). Burstness analysis of references and keywords showed that the developing research trends in this field mainly focused on "sexual transmission" and "angiotensin converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2)" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The impact of COVID-19 on sexual function remains an urgent concern at present, and the management of sexual health during the pandemic needs to be further improved. More frequent and deeper cooperation between countries and institutions is required in future. Meanwhile, searching for more evidence on whether COVID-19 can achieve sexual transmission and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the impact of COVID-19 on sexual function remains a focus of research in the coming years.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) for advanced malignancies with multiple DNA-repair genetic aberrations.

INTRODUCTION: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved for the treatment of advanced tumors with defects in genes involved in homologous recombination repair (HRR), including cancers of the prostate, pancreas, breast, and ovary. In these advanced tumors, PARPi afford 'synthetic lethality' by blocking the PARP-associated repair pathway in cancer cells with HRR genetic mutations, resulting in chromosome instability and cellular apoptosis. According to the synthetic lethality theory, patients with a greater burden of genetic alterations, in proportion (relative quantity) or category, would have more satisfactory outcomes after PARPi administration. However, this issue remains obscure based on the existing sporadic evidence. AREAS COVERED: We summarize the therapeutic effects of PARPi in advanced tumors with multiple HRR genetic mutations, and attempted to compare these results with those obtained for cancers with a single mutation. EXPERT OPINION: Limited evidence has provided a possibly encouraging response to PARPi among patients carrying multiple HRR genetic mutations compared with those with a single mutation (although the treatment effect was negative in some patients). Further research is needed to understand the role of PARPi in tumor cells with multiple HRR genetic mutations.

A Novel Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Predicting Prognosis in Kidney Renal Papillary Cell Carcinoma.

Pyroptosis is defined as an inflammatory form of programmed cell death. Increasing studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis is closely related to tumor development and antitumor process. However, the role of pyroptosis in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP) remains obscure. In this study, we analyzed the expression of 52 pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in KIRP, of which 20 differentially expressed PRGs were identified between tumor and normal tissues. Consensus clustering analysis based on these PRGs was used to divided patients into two clusters, from which a significant difference in survival was found (p = 0.0041). The prognostic risk model based on six PRGs (CASP8, CASP9, CHMP2A, GPX4, IL6, and IRF1) was built using univariate Cox regression and LASSO-Cox regression analysis, with good performance in predicting one-, three-, and five-year overall survival. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the high-risk group had a poor survival outcome (p < 0.001) and risk score was an independent prognostic factor (HR: 2.655, 95% CI 1.192-5.911, p = 0.016). Immune profiling revealed differences in immune cell infiltration between the two groups, and the infiltration of M2 macrophages was significantly upregulated in the tumor immune microenvironment, implying that tumor immunity participated in the KIRP progression. Finally, we identified two hub genes in tumor tissues (IL6 and CASP9), which were validated in vitro. In conclusion, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of PRGs in KIRP and tried to provide a pyroptosis-related signature for predicting the prognosis.

[function of the patients' male partners].

Objective: To investigate the sexual behavior and sexual function of the male partners of breast cancer patients and their potential relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted an investigation among 196 male partners (aged 23－59 years) of breast cancer patients between May 2020 and October 2020. We completed the Male Sexual Function Questionnaire (BSFI) by online and telephone interview with the subjects and collected relevant socio-demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The average age of the interviewees was (46.13 ± 7.75) years old, and the mean duration of the patients' breast cancer was (1.58 ± 0.48) years at the time of the investigation. The incidence rate of sexual dysfunction in the male partners of the patients was dramatically higher after the onset of breast cancer than before it (49.76% vs 9.68%, P < 0.01). Low libido was found to be the main type of sexual dysfunction (38.3%) among the male subjects, with an even high incidence rate among those whose wives received mastectomy (OR = 5.533, P = 0.017, 95% CI: 1.366－22.412) and radiotherapy (OR = 3.439, P < 0.044, 95% CI: 1.058－11.171) and significantly correlated with age (OR = 1.134, P = 0.001, 95% CI: 1.053－1.222). CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer and its treatment methods may affect the sexual function of the male partners of the patients. It is necessary for doctors to pay attention to the factors affecting the sexual function of the patients and their partners so as to take appropriate intervention measures.

The relationships of acute kidney injury duration and severity with long-term functional deterioration following partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of acute kidney injury (AKI) duration and severity on long-term renal functional outcomes in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN). METHODS: Altogether 292 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic PN from 2010 to 2018 were identified in two medical centers. In addition, the AKI duration {transient AK [≤ 3d] or persistent AKI [> 3d]} was combined with AKI severity (stages) to elucidate their relationships with long-term functional results. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis was also used to compare among patients with no AKI, transient AKI, and persistent AKI. Moreover, the Cox-proportional hazards regression model was utilized to assess the risk factors for renal function deterioration. RESULTS: Altogether 67 patients (22.9%) experienced postoperative AKI. 75% eGFR preserve rate during the follow-up was compared among patients with no AKI, transient AKI and persistent AKI using KM analysis and log-rank test, which revealed significant difference. After adjusting for age and warm ischemia time by multivariate model proportional hazards analysis, AKI duration and severity were identified as the risk factors (Stage 1-transient AKI vs. non-AKI: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 4.361, 95% confidential interval (CI) [2.062-9.233], p < 0.001; stage 1-persistent AKI vs. non-AKI: adjusted HR 6.706, 95% CI [2.405-18.699], p < 0.001; stage 2/3-transient AKI vs. non-AKI: adjusted HR 8.949, 95% CI [1.571-50.963], p = 0.014; stage 2/3-persistent AKI vs. non-AKI: adjusted HR 13.453, 95% CI [11.353-133.798], p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The AKI duration after PN is an important risk factor for long-term renal functional deterioration. Besides, AKI duration combined with AKI severity can be more comprehensive to understand the role of AKI on ultimately renal function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese ClinicalTrials: ChiCTR2000034080.

Effect of Brachytherapy vs. External Beam Radiotherapy on Sexual Function in Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of brachytherapy (BT) versus external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) on sexual function in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Data were retrieved from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database until March 4, 2021. Analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.4.1. The main clinical outcomes were the Prostate Cancer Symptom Indices (PCSI) scale and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) scale scores for sexual function. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their 95% CI. This study has undergone PROSPERO registration (No. CDR42021245438). Results: Among the 962 studies retrieved, eight prospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, covering a total of 2,340 patients, including 1,138 treated with BT alone and 1,202 treated with EBRT alone. The results demonstrated that BT was to some extent advantageous over EBRT in overall sexual function scores in patients with localized PCa during the immediate post-treatment period (SMD = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.01, p = 0.03), but this difference was not detectable at 3 months (SMD = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.18-0.05, and p = 0.25), 12 months (SMD = -0.01, 95% CI: -0.21-0.20, and p = 0.96), and 24 months (SMD = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.20-0.01, and p = 0.09) after treatment. Conclusion: Our analysis showed that BT showed a short-term advantage over EBRT in terms of sexual function in patients with localized PCa, but this difference diminished over time, though the conclusion needs to be further verified by a longer-term follow-up study.

Laparoscopic and Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy: An Overview of Hot Issues.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy are attracting increased attention from urologists. They can achieve the same effect of oncology control as radical nephrectomy; moreover, they can offer better preservation of renal function, thus obtaining long-term living benefits. The indications are also expanding, making it possible for larger and more difficult tumors. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy can be performed by transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches, with their individual advantages and limitations. In addition, the renal tumor scoring systems have been widely used and studied in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. In -order to better preserve renal function, the zero-ischemia technique is widely used. The application of intraoperative imaging technology provides convenience and greater benefits. Besides, whether minimal invasive partial nephrectomy can be performed without stop antiplatelet treatment is still disputed. Clinicians perform substantial exploration and practice to achieve the "trifecta" of surgery: complete resection of the tumor, maximum protection of renal function, and no complications.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the renal parenchyma presenting as hydronephrosis: a case report and review of the recent literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the renal parenchyma is extremely rare, only 5 cases were reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We probably report the fifth case of primary Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the renal parenchyma in a 61-year-old female presenting with intermittent distending pain for 2 months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) revealed hydronephrosis of the right kidney, but a tumor cannot be excluded completely. Finally, nephrectomy was performed, and histological analysis determined that the diagnosis was kidney parenchyma squamous cell carcinoma involving perinephric adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The present case emphasizes that it is difficult to make an accurate preoperative diagnosis with the presentation of hidden malignancy, such as hydronephrosis.

Prevention of Prostate Tumor Development by Stimulation of Antitumor Immunity Using a Standardized Herbal Extract (Deep Immune®) in TRAMP Mice.

Low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) does not require immediate treatment, but PCa progression after years of active surveillance will need the treatment. This study was to test the efficacy of immunostimulant Deep Immune (DI) in controlling PCa progression. DI is an extract of eight different medicinal herbs. In vitro activity of DI was determined by phagocytosis activation using flow cytometric analysis of fluorescence-labeled latex bead uptake, expression of immune-modulating 84 genes using PCRarray, and tumor killing using coculturing with immune cells. Anti-PCa activity of DI in vivo was examined in male TRAMP mice. In vitro DI stimulated phagocytosis and expression of a panel of inflammatory mediators (C4b, CXCL3, lymphotoxin, NOS2, TLR1, TNF, and TNFSF14) in cultured macrophages and increased tumor killing of both macrophages and TRAMP mouse splenocytes. Daily intake of this herbal product significantly suppressed the tumor size (P = 0.0368) with lower histopathologic scores (P = 0.0364) in TRAMP mice, which were associated with an increase in both splenocyte cytotoxicity against tumor cells and numbers of CD8 T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells in the spleens in vivo. In conclusion, daily intake of DI prevents PCa progression in TRAMP mice, suggesting the possible effectiveness of the immunostimulant herbal products on prevention of PCa progression after diagnosis of low-risk PCa.

Daily Intake of Grape Powder Prevents the Progression of Kidney Disease in Obese Type 2 Diabetic ZSF1 Rats.

Individuals living with metabolic syndrome (MetS) such as diabetes and obesity are at high risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study investigated the beneficial effect of whole grape powder (WGP) diet on MetS-associated CKD. Obese diabetic ZSF1 rats, a kidney disease model with MetS, were fed WGP (5%, w/w) diet for six months. Kidney disease was determined using blood and urine chemical analyses, and histology. When compared to Vehicle controls, WGP intake did not change the rat bodyweight, but lowered their kidney, liver and spleen weight, which were in parallel with the lower serum glucose and the higher albumin or albumin/globin ratio. More importantly, WGP intake improved the renal function as urination and proteinuria decreased, or it prevented kidney tissue damage in these diabetic rats. The renal protection of WGP diet was associated with up-regulation of antioxidants (Dhcr24, Gstk1, Prdx2, Sod2, Gpx1 and Gpx4) and downregulation of Txnip (for ROS production) in the kidneys. Furthermore, addition of grape extract reduced H2O2-induced cell death of cultured podocytes. In conclusion, daily intake of WGP reduces the progression of kidney disease in obese diabetic rats, suggesting a protective function of antioxidant-rich grape diet against CKD in the setting of MetS.

Overexpression of LAPTM4B-35: a novel marker of poor prognosis of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4b-35 (LAPTM4B-35) is a member of the mammalian 4-tetratransmembrane spanning protein superfamily, which is overexpressed in several solid malignancies. However, the expression of LAPTM4B-35 and its role in the progression of prostate cancer (PCa) is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the LAPTM4B-35 expression in PCa and its potential relevance to clinicopathological variables and prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of LAPTM4B-35 protein in 180 PCa tissues in comparison with 180 normal benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens. The correlation between the expression of the LAPTM4B-35 protein and the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with PCa was analyzed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that LAPTM4B-35 expression was significantly elevated in PCa compared with the BPH controls. High LAPTM4B-35 staining was present in 71.11% of all the cases with PCa. The overexpression of LAPTM4B-35 was significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis, seminal vesicle invasion, PCa stage, higher Gleason score, higher preoperative PSA, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the high expression of LAPTM4B-35 was related to the poor overall survival and BCR-free survival of patients with PCa. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that LAPTM4B-35 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival and BCR-free survival of patients with PCa. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of LAPTM4B-35 may be associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in PCa and thus may serve as a new molecular marker to predict the prognosis of PCa patients.

Clinical significance of hTERC gene detection in exfoliated cervical epithelial cells for cervical lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of abnormal human telomerase RNA gene component (hTERC) gene amplification tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization in cervical lesions. METHODS: In 373 patients with cytologic abnormalities, high-risk human papilomavirus (HR-HPV) was detected by the hybrid capture II method, and abnormal amplification of the hTERC gene in exfoliated cells was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Cell smear findings suggested atypical squamous cells in 148 patients, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 62 patients, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 107 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 56 patients, and cervical biopsy-revealed inflammation in 89 patients, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I in 36 patients, CIN II in 43 patients, CIN III in 129 patients, and infiltrating carcinoma in 76 patients. In the inflammation, CIN I, CIN II, CIN III, and infiltrating carcinoma groups, the infection rates of HR-HPV were 29.21%, 52.78%, 74.42%, 92.25%, and 93.42% (P < 0.01), respectively; the positive rates of hTERC gene amplification were 0.00%, 13.89%, 41.86%, 78.29%, and 89.47% (P < 0.01), respectively. With respect to advanced cervical lesions (≥CIN II), cytology (≥ low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion), HR-HPV testing, and hTERC testing differed insignificantly in the negative predictive value (P > 0.05), but they differed significantly in the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (P < 0.01). Among the 3 methods, hTERC testing showed the highest specificity and positive predictive value, and HR-HPV testing showed the highest sensitivity. In 41 patients with untreated CIN I and CIN II, the sensitivity of detection of hTERC gene amplification to predict lesion progression was 88.89%, and the specificity was 93.75%. CONCLUSION: Detection of abnormal amplification of the hTERC gene can assist in screening cervical lesions and identifying CIN I/II patients with a high progression risk.

Imaging diagnosis, transurethral endoscopic observation, and management of 43 cases of persistent and refractory hematospermia.

The goal of this study was to explore minimally invasive transurethral imaging and surgery for the treatment of severe, persistent hematospermia in cases that were refractory to conservative treatments. The study included 43 patients (aged 22-77 years; average, 44.6 years) with long-lasting, severe hematospermia, accompanied by discomfort or pain in the lumbosacral or perineal region, dysuria, frequent micturition, decreased semen volume, and/or azoospermia. Patient symptoms had persisted for 1 to 10 years (average, 5.3 years). Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of each patient was evaluated, and transurethral surgery was performed. The causes of hematospermia were identified in all 43 patients, and their ejaculatory duct obstruction or seminal vesiculitis was successfully treated. No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Pathologic analyses revealed that all of the resected or biopsied seminal vesicle tissues had chronic nonspecific inflammation in the seminal vesicle wall, and no tumors were identified. Preoperative symptomology of hematospermia disappeared in all patients followed up for 2 to 30 months (average, 16 months). A single patient experienced recurrence at 11 months and had a second minimally invasive surgery that was curative. A total of 95.3% (41 of 43) of the patients experienced normal orgasmic intensity after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable and accurate diagnostic method for the identification of causative factors underlying hematospermia. Transurethral dilation of ejaculatory ducts, incision of the verumontanum or the distal end of the ejaculatory ducts, and incision or resection of the relevant cysts represent simple, safe, and reliable approaches for the management of refractory cases of hematospermia that do not respond to conservative treatments.

Expression and clinical implications of homeobox gene Six1 in cervical cancer cell lines and cervical epithelial tissues.

INTRODUCTION: The homeobox gene Six1 is overexpressed in multiple human tumors, playing a role in promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis. The present study was aimed to investigate the clinical implications of Six1 expression in cervical cancer. METHODS: Six1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression was detected by reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively, in human cervical cancer cell lines CaSki, HeLa, C33A and 20 normal cervical specimens, 21 specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs), and 54 specimens of cervical cancer tissue, and the clinical implications of Six1 gene expression was analyzed. RESULTS: There was Six1 mRNA and protein overexpression in cervical cancer cell lines CaSki, HeLa, and C33A. The Six1 expression level was higher in CaSki and HeLa cells than in C33A cells (P < 0.05). Six1 mRNA and protein expression increased from normal cervical epithelial tissues, to CINs, and then to cervical cancer tissue (normal cervical epithelial tissue vs CIN, P < 0.05; normal cervical epithelial tissue vs cervical cancer, and CIN vs cervical cancer, P < 0.01). The status of Six1 overexpression was correlated to clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer (P < 0.01) but not to pathological grading, tumor size, and age of the patient (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Six1 was overexpressed in cervical cancer cell lines and in cervical cancer tissues. Alteration of Six1 expression might contribute to the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.

Construction of a DNA vaccine encoding Flk-1 extracellular domain and C3d fusion gene and investigation of its suppressing effect on tumor growth.

Although the critical role of complement component C3d as a molecular adjuvant in preventing virus infection is well established, its role in cancer prophylaxis and treatment is unclear. In this study, we constructed a recombinant plasmid encoding Flk-1 and C3d3 fusion proteins and investigated its transient expression in vitro in transfected eukaryotic cells and its antibody response in immunized mice. Subsequently, we investigated the vaccine's ability to elicit an immune response leading to suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice bearing bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Using Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry, we detected the expression of Flk-1 and C3d3 fusion proteins in COS-7 cells transfected with these recombinant plasmids. Further binding experiment using CR2 (C3d receptor) positive Raji cells that were incubated with transfected COS-7 supernatant indicated that C3d was successfully fused to Flk-1. Although both vaccines elicited peak antibody levels at 5 weeks, Flk-1-specific antibody titer in pSG.SS.Flk-1(ECD).C3d3.YL-immunized mice was significantly higher when compared to pSG.SS.Flk-1(ECD).YL-immunized mice. The results of experiments with bladder tumor-bearing mice showed that the vaccine inhibited tumor growth significantly. These results suggest that C3d plays a critical role in tumor immunotherapy by promoting antibody response in Flk-1-based DNA vaccines. This approach may provide a new strategy for the rational design of anti-angiogenic therapies for the treatment of solid tumors and provide a basis for the further exploitation and application of the anti-angiogenesis DNA vaccines.