Impact of age and anterior fibromuscular stroma preservation on post-enucleation voided volume.

PURPOSE: This study is centered on the critical role of anterior fibromuscular stroma (AFS) preservation in prostate enucleation, an emerging strategy aimed at minimizing postoperative urinary incontinence-a common concern in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgeries. By focusing on postoperative voiding volumes (VV), our research investigates the efficacy of AFS preservation. This approach, distinct in its methodology, is hypothesized to improve urinary function post-surgery, thereby offering a potentially significant advancement in BPH surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted, comparing patients who underwent prostate enucleation in 2017 without intentional AFS preservation to those in 2019 with this technique. We examined variables including age, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and preoperative VV to assess their effect on post-catheter removal VV. The study's methodology includes a thorough review of the primary statistical analysis methods employed. RESULTS: Our analysis indicates that while the 2017 and 2019 cohorts were similar in most preoperative parameters, the 2019 group that underwent AFS-preserved surgery showed a significant improvement in postoperative VVs. This was less pronounced in the patient group aged over 70, underscoring the importance of this demographic in our study. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that intentional preservation of AFS during prostate enucleation positively impacts early postoperative VVs, with limited improvement in older patients. These findings highlight the potential of AFS preservation not only in enhancing urinary outcomes post-surgery but also in shaping future BPH surgical procedures and research directions.

Analysis of urinary retention after endoscopic prostate enucleation and its subsequent impact on surgical outcomes.

PURPOSE: Postoperative urinary retention (PUR) is a common complication after prostate enucleation, which leads to an increased length of hospital stay and decreased postoperative satisfaction. This study determined the predictive factors of postoperative urine retention within 1 month after prostate enucleation and investigated whether PUR influences surgical outcomes at the 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up time points. METHODS: Data were collected from the electronic medical records of 191 patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) during October 2018 to September 2021. Of them, 180 patients who underwent thulium laser or plasma kinetic enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP, PKEP) were separated into the PUR group (n = 24) and the non-PUR (NPUR) group (n = 156). Uroflowmetry and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire were followed up at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The PUR group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) than the NPUR group. Postoperatively, compared with the NPUR group, the PUR group had significantly less improvement in changes in the IPSS Quality of Life scores at 2 weeks, the total IPSS(International Prostate Symptom Score) at all follow-up times, the IPSS-S(IPSS storage subscores) at 2 weeks and 3 months, and the IPSS-V(IPSS voiding subscores) at all follow-up times. Predictive factors for PUR include lower preoperative maximum urinary flow (Qmax), lower preoperative total IPSS, and higher operation time. CONCLUSION: Lower preoperative Qmax, lower IPSS scores, and longer operation time were risk factors for PUR. Furthermore, PUR could be a prognostic factor for prostatic enucleation surgical outcomes.

Routine Emergency Department Screening to Decrease Subsequent Physical Abuse.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency department (ED) screening for child physical abuse has been widely implemented, with uncertain effects on child abuse identification. Our goal was to determine the effect of screening on referrals to child protective services (CPS) identifying abuse. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of children younger than 6 years old with an ED encounter at 1 of 2 large health care systems, one of which implemented routine child abuse screening. The main outcome was initial (<2 days) or subsequent (3 to 180 days) referral to CPS identifying child abuse using linked records. We compared outcomes for the 2-year period after screening was implemented to the preperiod and nonscreening EDs using generalized estimating equations to adjust for sex, age, race/ethnicity, payor and prior ED encounters and clustered by center. RESULTS: Of the 331,120 ED encounters, 41,589 (12.6%) occurred at screening EDs during the screening period. Screening was completed in 34,272 (82%) and was positive in 188 (0.45%). Overall, 7,623 encounters (2.3%) had a subsequent referral, of which 589 (0.2%) identified moderate or severe abuse. ED screening did not change initial (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89 to 1.15) or subsequent referral to CPS when compared to the prescreening period (aOR=1.05, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.18) or to the nonscreening EDs (aOR=1.06, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.21). CONCLUSION: Routine screening did not affect initial or subsequent referrals to CPS.

Age-related impairment in testosterone elevation after anterior fibromuscular stroma preserved enucleation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the impact of anterior fibromuscular stroma preserved enucleation (AFSPE) of the prostate on serum testosterone levels in patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and to explore age-related differences in postoperative testosterone elevation. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, 304 patients from a pool of 560 who underwent AFSPE at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 2018 and December 2021 were evaluated. Patients were stratified based on preoperative testosterone levels into low (<3.5 ng/mL) and normal (≥3.5 ng/mL) groups. Serum testosterone levels were measured preoperatively, at 1.5 and 3-6 months postoperatively. Age and other demographic data were analyzed as potential factors influencing testosterone changes. RESULTS: The low-testosterone group (n = 90) showed significant testosterone increases, from an average of 2.61 ng/mL preoperatively to 3.3 ng/mL at 1.5 months and 3.59 ng/mL at 3-6 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001). The normal-testosterone group (n = 214) maintained stable testosterone levels at 1.5 months but exhibited a significant rise to 6.06 ng/mL by 3-6 months (p = 0.0079). Older age was inversely associated with postoperative testosterone elevation in both groups. Improvements in nocturia were notable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: AFSPE of the prostate significantly elevates serum testosterone levels in men with BPO, particularly benefiting those initially with low levels. Age is a crucial factor influencing postoperative testosterone changes, indicating that younger patients may benefit more from this intervention. AFSPE offers a promising approach for improving hormonal health in BPO patients, alongside alleviating urinary symptoms.

Prognostic impact of lactylation-associated gene modifications in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Insights into molecular landscape and therapeutic opportunities.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) stands as a challenging subtype of kidney cancer, frequently complicating patient prognosis due to factors like postsurgical recurrences or late-stage diagnoses. In this study, we employed bioinformatics to investigate lactylation modifications in ccRCC, focusing on the TCGA-KIRC cohort. Out of 328 lactylation-associated genes, 31 emerged as differentially expressed, with 16 showing a marked correlation with overall survival. These genes exhibited strong protein-protein interactions and significant expression correlations. Intriguingly, a notable loss of gene copy numbers suggests potential implications in tumor progression. Utilizing unsupervised clustering, KIRC samples were grouped into two distinct subcategories, each showcasing different survival outcomes. While pathway enrichment highlighted an aggressive, inflammation-driven profile for subgroup 2, subgroup 1 was characterized by metabolic prominence. Furthermore, subgroup 2 presented an intensified inflammatory response, hinting at potential immune exhaustion. Capitalizing on machine learning, we developed a risk model using the TCGA-KIRC dataset, efficiently categorizing ccRCC patients into high- and low-risk clusters. Notably, those in the low-risk group indicated a more favorable survival trajectory. Clinical evaluations further corroborated these findings, linking better outcomes with reduced risk scores. Additionally, observed mutation patterns allude to a potential association between elevated risk scores and cytokine storms. TIDE analysis illuminated possible immunotherapeutic benefits for the low-risk group, underscored by an evident rise in microsatellite instability. Finally, our drug sensitivity evaluations revealed distinct therapeutic responses between the groups. In summary, this research underscores the pivotal role of lactylation modifications in ccRCC and introduces a promising prognostic model. These revelations pave the way for enhanced prognostic precision, presenting a promising path toward personalized treatment strategies and enriching our comprehension of the multifaceted molecular landscape of the disease.

Anterior fibromuscular stroma-preserved endoscopic enucleation of the prostate: a precision anatomical approach.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostate obstruction (BOO) is becoming increasingly important in this aging society. Some urge/stress urinary incontinence (UUI/SUI) still occurs after endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP). It remains unclear how post-EEP incontinence can be avoided. Currently, early apical release to ameliorate the traction of the external sphincter is the best technique for incontinence prevention. OBJECTIVE: To describe our surgical technique of anterior fibromuscular stroma (AFS)-preserved EEP for BOO. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The medical records of 60 consecutive patients who underwent AFS-preserved EEP for BOO in our center from September 2019 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: AFS-preserved EEP starts at the 12 o'clock position of the urethra, and the junction between the AFS and transitional zone (T-zone) was identified. The AFS and T-zone were separated first to protect the AFS in the initial operative procedure. Then, following the usual enucleation procedure, AFS-preserved EEP could be achieved. MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone, urethral stricture, and voiding status, such as incontinence, uroflow, and postvoiding residual urine were assessed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The data show that AFS-preserved EEP could achieve similar surgical outcomes as other early apical release approaches. CONCLUSIONS: The preserved AFS provides a nice landmark at the 12 o'clock position during EEP.

Androgen Receptor Upregulates Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue 1 to Induce NF-κB Activity via Androgen-Dependent and -Independent Pathways in Prostate Carcinoma Cells.

The androgen-dependent or -independent pathways are regarded as primary therapeutic targets for the neoplasm of the prostate. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) acting as a paracaspase in the regulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction plays a central role in inflammation and oncogenesis in cancers. This study confirmed the potential linkages between androgen and NF-κB activation by inducing MALT1 in the androgen receptor-full length (ARFL)-positive LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. Although androgen did not stimulate MALT1 expression in AR-null or ectopic ARFL-overexpressed PC-3 cells, the ectopic overexpression of the AR splicing variant 7 (ARv7) upregulated MALT1 to activate NF-κB activities in 22Rv1 and PC-3 cells. Since the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 was facilitated by ARv7 to motivate NF-κB activity, the expressions of MALT1, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) were therefore induced in ectopic ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells. Ectopic ARv7 overexpression not only enhanced 22Rv1 or PC-3 cell growth and invasion in vitro but also the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vivo. These results indicate that an androgen receptor induces MALT1 expression androgen-dependently and -independently in ARFL- or ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells, suggesting a novel ARv7/MALT1/NF-κB-signaling pathway may exist in the cells of prostate cancer.

Efficacy and Safety of Biologic Agents for Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect and safety of biological agents for lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inception up to November 2021. The outcomes were overall response, complete remission, proteinuria, renal activity index, and adverse events (AEs). Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. RESULTS: Nine RCTs (1645 patients) were included. The RCTs evaluated abatacept (n = 2), belimumab (n = 1), obinutuzumab (n = 1), atacicept (n = 1), IL-2 (n = 1), ocrelizumab (n = 1), and rituximab (n = 2). The use of biological agents was associated with higher likelihoods of achieving an overall response (relative risk [RR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.39; p < 0.001; I2 = 14.3%; pQ = 0.301) and a complete response (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.16-1.54; p < 0.001; I2 = 41.8%; pQ = 0.056). The use of biological agents was not associated with improvements in the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (weighted mean difference, 3.83; 95% CI, -3.71 to 11.38; p = 0.319; I2 = 99.4%; pQ < 0.001). The use of biological agents in patients with LN was also not associated with an increased risk of any AEs (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.04; p = 0.519; I2 = 0.0%; pQ = 0.533), serious AEs (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.82-1.09; p = 0.457; I2 = 0.0%; pQ = 0.667), grade >3 AEs (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.67-1.22; p = 0.522; I2 = 0.0%; pQ = 0.977), infections (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.99-1.20; p = 0.084; I2 = 0.0%; pQ = 0.430), and deaths (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.36-1.24; p = 0.200; I2 = 0.0%; pQ = 0.439). The meta-regression analysis showed that follow-up duration and the sample size did not influence the complete response rate, whereas publications in 2012 to 2014 influence the rate compared with 2015 to 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Biological agents seem to be effective and safe for managing patients with LN.

Lifestyle and Diet as Risk Factors for Urinary Stone Formation: A Study in a Taiwanese Population.

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract stones have long been a common ailment afflicting the population, with a high incidence and a wide distribution across different age groups. Effectively preventing the occurrence of urinary tract stones is of paramount importance. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the correlations between individual characteristics, water consumption habits, dietary habits, exercise habits, and the occurrence of urinary tract stones in a Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: This study is cross-sectional research conducted over one month in 2022. One hundred eligible urinary stone cases were recruited through physician screening at outpatient clinics, and an additional one hundred samples from surgical outpatients without urinary tract stones were included as the control group. A questionnaire survey was employed to gather information on demographic variables, dietary habits, water consumption, and exercise habits of the cases. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to explore the impact of relevant factors on urinary stone formation. Results: The analysis results revealed that among the demographic variables, males exhibited a higher risk of contracting urinary tract stones than females, and the majority of cases fell within the 40- to 49-year-old age group. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and betel nut chewing also demonstrated a higher susceptibility to urinary tract stones. A logistic regression analysis showed that individuals who engaged in physical activity more than three times per week and those with inadequate water intakes had a higher risk of developing urinary tract stones. Conclusions: There is a close relationship between lifestyle and urinary tract stones. It is recommended that individuals continue to hydrate adequately during exercise.

Comparative Analysis of Surgical Outcomes of Flexible Ureteroscopy and Da Vinci Robotic Surgery in Community Patients with Renal Pelvic Stones Larger than 2 cm.

Background and Objectives: This study evaluated and compared the surgical outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) lithotripsy versus robot-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (RAPL) in community patients with renal pelvic stones larger than 2 cm. Materials and Methods: A total of 77 patients who underwent RIRS (RIRS group, n = 50) or RAPL (RAPL group, n = 27) at our institution between December 2016 and July 2022 were recruited. A single surgeon performed all surgical operations. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were recorded. The study evaluated various clinical outcomes, namely, urinary tract infections, analgesic use, emergency room readmissions, stone clearance rates, surgical complications, and medical expenditures associated with the treatment courses, and compared them between the groups. Results: The RAPL group had a larger mean stone diameter and higher degree of hydronephrosis than the RIRS group did. The RIRS group had superior outcomes regarding operative time, length of postoperative hospital stay, surgical wound pain, and medical expenditures. Regarding postoperative outcomes, comparable rates of postoperative urinary tract infection, prolonged analgesic use, and emergency room readmissions were observed between the groups. However, the RAPL group had a higher stone clearance rate than the RIRS group did (81.5% vs. 52.0%, p = 0.014). Conclusions: For the surgical treatment of renal pelvis stones larger than 2 cm, RAPL has a superior stone clearance rate than RIRS; however, RIRS achieves superior outcomes in terms of medical expenditures, length of hospital stay, and surgical wound pain. Both procedures were equally safe.

A Faster, Novel Technique to Detect COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibodies.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has spread globally in a short period of time. It is known that antibody (nAb) level can effectively predict vaccine efficacy, which leads to the exploration of vaccine trials for efficacy assessment. Thus, the current study aimed to develop a platform to quantify nAb levels faster, at lower cost, and with better efficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 69 sera samples were collected for the research, 28 of which were from unvaccinated participants. The other 27 samples and the remaining 14 samples were from the participants who had received the first and second dose, respectively, of AZ vaccine 1 month before. With cPass assays (Genscript cPass nAb ELISA assay) used as a criterion standard and lateral flow immunoassay kit (Healgen Scientific - LFIA test kit) coupled with a spectrometer (LFIA+S) for checking each specimen, we aimed to detect the presence of neutralizing antibodies in sera and to confirm the relationship between the inhibition rate from cPass assays and the nAb index from the LFIA+S. RESULTS Data analysis of the research were taken from the certified ELISA and LFIA+S, which indicated a high consistency (Pearson's r =0.864; ICC=0.90138) between the 2 methods. CONCLUSIONS The dataset demonstrated that LFIA+S was affordable, had a strong correlation with results of the cPass nAbs detection kit, and has potential clinical applications, with an exclusive feature that allows non-experts to use it with ease. It is believed that the proposed platform can be promoted in the near future.

miR-27b-3p Improved High Glucose-Induced Spermatogenic Cell Damage via Regulating Gfpt1/HBP Signaling.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced testicular damage is characterized by abnormal apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. Here, we clarified the roles and the molecular mechanism of microRNA (miR)-27b-3p in high glucose (HG)-induced spermatogenic cell damage. METHODS: GC-1 spg cells were treated with 30 mmol/L glucose for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed by 2.3 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. And, levels of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (OGT), apoptosis-related proteins, and autophagy-related proteins were evaluated using Western blot. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1ß, IL-6, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cells were determined using kits. Cell apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry assay. Besides, dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to verify the binding relationship between miR-27b-3p and glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (Gfpt1). RESULTS: miR-27b-3p was markedly downregulated in HG-treated GC-1 spg cells. HG treatment caused decreased cell viability, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, and induced autophagy and apoptosis, which were abolished by miR-27b-3p overexpression. miR-27b-3p suppressed the activation of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) signaling in HG-treated spermatogenic cells. miR-27b-3p directly bound to Gfpt1 and negatively regulated its expression. CONCLUSION: miR-27b-3p could improve HG-induced spermatogenic cell damage via regulating Gfpt1/HBP signaling, providing a new treatment strategy for the treatment of DM-induced testicular damage.

WNT1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 Is a Stroma-Specific Secreting Protein Inducing a Fibroblast Contraction and Carcinoma Cell Growth in the Human Prostate.

The WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a member of the connective tissue growth factor family, plays a crucial role in several important cellular functions in a highly tissue-specific manner. Results of a RT-qPCR indicated that WISP1 expressed only in cells of the human prostate fibroblasts, HPrF and WPMY-1, but not the prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Two major isoforms (WISP1v1 and WISP1v2) were identified in the HPrF cells determined by RT-PCR and immunoblot assays. The knock-down of a WISP1 blocked cell proliferation and contraction, while treating respectively with the conditioned medium from the ectopic WISP1v1- and WISPv2-overexpressed 293T cells enhanced the migration of HPrF cells. The TNFα induced WISP1 secretion and cell contraction while the knock-down of WISP1 attenuated these effects, although TNFα did not affect the proliferation of the HPrF cells. The ectopic overexpression of WISP1v1 but not WISP1v2 downregulated the N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) while upregulating N-cadherin, slug, snail, and vimentin gene expressions which induced not only the cell proliferation and invasion in vitro but also tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells in vivo. The results confirmed that WISP1 is a stroma-specific secreting protein, enhancing the cell migration and contraction of prostate fibroblasts, as well as the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells.

An Exploratory Study of a New Vancomycin Eye Drops Formulation for Extemporaneous Compounding.

Purpose: Compounded eye drop solutions of vancomycin hydrochloride have important clinical applications, such as postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and bacterial keratitis. There exists a plethora of data to support the use of various liquid vehicles to compound vancomycin hydrochloride eye drops. However, there are a number of limitations for implementation, especially the frequent shortage or discontinuation of the vehicle products. This study was designed to investigate the use of an OTC eye wash product as the evergreen vehicle and to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of the new formulation. Methods: The Advance Eye Relief® eye wash and vancomycin hydrochloride for injection vials were used to prepare 10 and 50 mg/mL vancomycin eye drop solutions. The solutions were packaged in Steri-Droppers® bottles and stored in a freezer for 14 days followed by 28 days in refrigeration. The 14-day period of freezing was included to allow time for sterility testing. At pre-determined stability time points, samples were taken for visual inspection, pH and osmolality measurement, and analysis by a stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results: Freshly prepared vancomycin eye drops were clear, colorless, and free of particulates. The pH readings were 7.03 and 6.28 for the 10 and 50 mg/mL solutions, respectively. The osmolality of both solutions were within the range of 300-330 mOsmol/kg and considered isotonic. Initial drug concentrations of all samples were confirmed by HPLC to be within 100%-103% of the label claims. Throughout the stability study period, there were no significant changes in the appearance, pH, or osmolality of any samples. The HPLC results also confirmed that the drug concentrations in all stability samples were within 98%-101% of the initial time zero values and no significant degradation product peaks were observed. Conclusion: A new compounded vancomycin eye drop formulation was developed to mitigate vehicle sourcing issues. This eye drop formulation was easy to prepare, exhibited satisfactory properties for ophthalmic applications, and remained stable chemically and physically when stored for 14 days in freezer followed by 28 days in refrigerator.

Diagnostic value of the interferon-γ release assay for tuberculosis infection in patients with Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the diagnostic value of the interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) for detecting tuberculosis (TB) infection in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: We retrospective analyzed the data collected from 173 BD patients hospitalized between 2010 and 2015. Ninety-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled as a control group. IGRA was performed using T-SPOT.TB. The diagnosis of active TB (ATB) was based on clinical, radiological, microbiological, histopathological information and the response to anti-TB therapy. Latent TB (LTB) infection was defined as asymptomatic patients with positive T-SPOT.TB. RESULTS: TB infection was documented in 59 BD patients (34.1%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of T-SPOT.TB for the diagnosis of ATB were 88.9%, 74.8%, 29.1%, 98.3%, 3.53 and 0.15, respectively. The receiver-operating-characteristic curve demonstrated that spot-forming cells (SFCs) of 70/106 PBMC was the optimal cutoff for diagnosing ATB, with an area under the curve of 0.891. Furthermore, the median SFCs in ATB group was significantly higher than those in LTB infection (466/106 PBMC vs. 68/106 PBMC, p = 0.007) or previous TB infection (466/106 PBMC vs. 96/106 PBMC, p = 0.018). A significant discrepancy between T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin test was noted (kappa coefficient = 0.391, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: T-SPOT.TB, an IGRA, may assist in the diagnosis of ATB in BD patients, and the higher SFCs suggest ATB in BD patients.

The use of non-contrast-enhanced MRI to evaluate serial changes in endoleaks after aortic stenting: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection is a life-threatening syndrome that sometimes requires emergency intervention, and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a treatment option. Long-term image follow-up is also required for patients after EVAR due to possible complications. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 73-year-old male with underlying chronic renal disease diagnosed with a type A aortic dissection who underwent EVAR. Four-dimensional (three spatial dimensions combined with time) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D PC-MRI) was performed during regular follow-up in preference to contrast-enhanced computed tomography or simple MRI while taking his poor renal function into consideration. CONCLUSIONS: We considered this preferable given his issues with renal function.

Transgelin, a p53 and PTEN-Upregulated Gene, Inhibits the Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Human Bladder Carcinoma Cells in Vitro and in Vivo.

Transgelin (TAGLN/SM22-α) is a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, affecting the survival, migration, and apoptosis of various cancer cells divergently; however, the roles of TAGLN in bladder carcinoma cells remain inconclusive. We compared expressions of TAGLN in human bladder carcinoma cells to the normal human bladder tissues to determine the potential biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of TAGLN in bladder carcinoma cells. Results of RT-qPCR and immunoblot assays indicated that TAGLN expressions were higher in bladder smooth muscle cells, fibroblast cells, and normal epithelial cells than in carcinoma cells (RT-4, HT1376, TSGH-8301, and T24) in vitro. Besides, the results of RT-qPCR revealed that TAGLN expressions were higher in normal tissues than the paired tumor tissues. In vitro, TAGLN knockdown enhanced cell proliferation and invasion, while overexpression of TAGLN had the inverse effects in bladder carcinoma cells. Meanwhile, ectopic overexpression of TAGLN attenuated tumorigenesis in vivo. Immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays showed that TAGLN was predominantly in the cytosol and colocalized with F-actin. Ectopic overexpression of either p53 or PTEN induced TAGLN expression, while p53 knockdown downregulated TAGLN expression in bladder carcinoma cells. Our results indicate that TAGLN is a p53 and PTEN-upregulated gene, expressing higher levels in normal bladder epithelial cells than carcinoma cells. Further, TAGLN inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and blocked tumorigenesis in vivo. Collectively, it can be concluded that TAGLN is an antitumor gene in the human bladder.

Metallothionein 3 Is a Hypoxia-Upregulated Oncogene Enhancing Cell Invasion and Tumorigenesis in Human Bladder Carcinoma Cells.

Metallothioneins have been viewed as modulators in a number of biological regulations regarding cancerous development; however, the function of metallothionein 3 (MT3) in bladder cancer is unexplored. We determined the regulatory mechanisms and potential function of MT3 in bladder carcinoma cells. Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) assays revealed that TSGH-8301 cells expressed more MT3 levels than RT-4, HT1376, and T24 cells. Immunoblot and RT-qPCR assays showed that arsenic (AS2O3) treatments enhanced the gene expression of MT3. Hypoxia induced HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and MT3 expression; furthermore, HIF-2α-knockdown attenuated hypoxic activation on MT3 expression. Ectopic overexpression of MT3 increased cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis significantly in T24 and HT1376 cells in vitro and in vivo; however, MT3-knockdown in TSGH-8301 cells had the reverse effect. Moreover, knockdown of MT3 enhanced arsenic-induced apoptosis determined by the Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay. MT3-overexpression downregulated the gene expressions of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), and the mammary serine protease inhibitor (MASPIN) in HT1376 and T24 cells, whereas MT3-knockdown in TSGH-8301 cells had the opposite effect. The experiments indicated that MT3 is an arsenic- and hypoxia-upregulated oncogene that promotes cell growth and invasion of bladder carcinoma cells via downregulation of NDRG1, NDRG2, and MASPIN expressions.

Capillarisin blocks prostate-specific antigen expression on activation of androgen receptor in prostate carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Capillarisin (Cap), an active ingredient of Artemisia capillaris extracts, has known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Functions of Cap in prostate cancer are not clear. We investigate effects of Cap on downregulation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) via modulation of androgen receptor (AR) in prostate carcinoma cells. METHODS: Cell proliferation was measured by water-soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) cell proliferation assays. The PSA and AR expressions were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-qPCR assays. Effects of Cap on PSA expressions were determined by ELISA, immunoblotting, and reporter assays. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting assays were used to define the effects of Cap on dissociation of AR-heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) interaction. RESULTS: Cap inhibited LNCaP cell growth in a dose- and/or time-dependent way without inducing poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Cap not only effectively suppressed AR and PSA protein expressions, but also attenuated activations of synthetic androgen (R1881) on PSA promoter activity dose- and time-dependently. The Cap pretreatment abrogated effects of R1881 on AR activity by reducing AR translocation to the nucleus. Immunoblotting assays indicated that Cap promoted a degradation of AR proteins dose-dependently in either cycloheximide pretreated-LNCaP cells or AR-ectopic expressed PC-3 cells. Pretreatment of MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, attenuated effect of Cap on AR degradation. Cap lessened AR stability by dissociation of AR-Hsp90 interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that Cap inhibited growth of LNCaP cells. Cap effectively suppressed androgen activation on AR-mediated transactivation, which is AR-dependent through AR degradation and dissociation of AR-Hsp90 in prostate carcinoma cells.