Effects of transcription factor SOX11 on the biological behavior of neuroblastoma cell and potential regulatory mechanism

Purpose@#This study aimed to analyze the expression and prognosis of SRY-box transcription factor 11 (SOX11) in neuroblastoma (NB), as well as the biological function and potential regulatory mechanism of SOX11 in NB. @*Methods@#Public RNA sequencing was used to detect the expression level of SOX11. The Kaplan-Meier curve and hazard ratios (HR) were used to determine the prognostic value of SOX11 in NB. Functional analyses were performed using CCK8, wound healing assay, and transwell invasion assay. Finally, the potential target genes of SOX11 were predicted by Harmonizonme (Ma'ayan Laboratory) and Cistrome Data Browser (Cistrome Project) database to explore the potential molecular mechanism of SOX11 in NB. @*Results@#Compared with normal adrenal tissue, the expression of SOX11 in NB tissue was significantly upregulated. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that high expression of SOX11 was associated with poor prognosis in children with NB (HR, 1.719; P = 0.049). SOX11 knockdown suppressed the migration capacity of SK-N-SH cells but did not affect proliferation and invasion capacity. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) may be a potential downstream target gene for the transcription factor SOX11 to play a role in NB. @*Conclusion@#The transcription factor SOX11 was significantly upregulated in NB. SOX11 knockdown suppressed the migration capacity of NB cell SK-N-SH. SOX11 may promote the progression of NB by targeting EZH2.

Nomogram for predicting overall survival in children with neuroblastoma based on SEER database

Purpose@#This study was performed to establish and validate a nomogram for predicting the overall survival in children with neuroblastoma. @*Methods@#The latest clinical data of neuroblastoma in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was extracted from 2000 to 2016. The cases included were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. The survival curves were drawn with a Kaplan-Meier estimator to investigate the influences of certain single factors on overall survival. Also, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to further select the prognostic variables for neuroblastoma. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram. @*Results@#In total, 1,262 patients were collected and 8 independent prognostic factors were achieved, including patients’ age, sex, race, tumor grade, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tumor site, and tumor size. Then we constructed a nomogram by using the data of the training cohort with 886 cases. Subsequently, the nomogram was validated internally and externally with 886 and 376 cases, respectively. The internal validation revealed that the area under the curves (AUC) of ROC curves of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 0.69, 0.78, and 0.81, respectively. Accordingly, the external validation also showed that the AUC of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were all ≥0.69. Both methods of validation demonstrated that the predictive calibration curves were consistent with standard curves. @*Conclusion@#The nomogram possess the potential to be a new tool in predicting the survival rate of neuroblastoma patients.

Nomogram for predicting overall survival in children with neuroblastoma based on SEER database

Purpose@#This study was performed to establish and validate a nomogram for predicting the overall survival in children with neuroblastoma. @*Methods@#The latest clinical data of neuroblastoma in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was extracted from 2000 to 2016. The cases included were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. The survival curves were drawn with a Kaplan-Meier estimator to investigate the influences of certain single factors on overall survival. Also, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to further select the prognostic variables for neuroblastoma. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram. @*Results@#In total, 1,262 patients were collected and 8 independent prognostic factors were achieved, including patients’ age, sex, race, tumor grade, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tumor site, and tumor size. Then we constructed a nomogram by using the data of the training cohort with 886 cases. Subsequently, the nomogram was validated internally and externally with 886 and 376 cases, respectively. The internal validation revealed that the area under the curves (AUC) of ROC curves of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 0.69, 0.78, and 0.81, respectively. Accordingly, the external validation also showed that the AUC of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were all ≥0.69. Both methods of validation demonstrated that the predictive calibration curves were consistent with standard curves. @*Conclusion@#The nomogram possess the potential to be a new tool in predicting the survival rate of neuroblastoma patients.

Value of staged repair for hypospadias / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the value and strategy of staged repair in hypospadias surgery.Methods One hundred and sixty-three cases of severe proximal and complex hypospadias were retrospectively analyzed.According to the operation process,all the cases were divided into 2 groups.Staged repair group:there were 46 cases in all,included 31 cases of severe proximal hypospadias and 15 cases cases of complex hypospadias,the diorthosis for penis curvature and urethral reconstruction were completed by staged.One-stage repair group:there were 117 cases as control group,included 108 cases of severe proximal hypospadias and 9 cases of complex hypospadias,their diorthosis for penis curvature and urethral reconstruction were completed in single stage.Results The adverse factors such as a serious deformity in penis or limited local tissue were more common in staged repair group,and the conditions of repair were worse than one-stage repair group.In severe proximal hypospadias,the incidence of penis curvature in staged repair group was obvious lower than one-stage repair group (P ＜ 0.05),within the period of follow up,which only 1 case (3.2％) showed a slight penis curvature.However,there were 23 cases (21.3％) with penis curvature in one-stage repair group,in which 7 cases showed up penis torsion,20 cases with a bowstring shape of breviate urethra in penile ventral,and 19 cases(17.6％) needed reoperation.Compared of 2 groups,the incidences of urinary fistula,urethral stricture and urethral diverticulum showed no difference in statistics (all P ＞ 0.05).In complex hypospadias,the incidence of urinary fistula in staged repair group was significantly lower than one-stage repair group,and then the rate of urinary fistula was 20.0％ vs 66.7％ (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of penis curvature,urethral stricture and urethral diverticulum showed no difference in statistics (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Staged repair is relatively simple and effective,can be used in the treatment of severe proximal or complex hypospadias,especially in the cases with a worse condition.The mode of operation should be chosen not only according to the penial state and tissue conditions,but also combined with the technology and experience of the surgeon,and avoid the forced of one-staged repair for hypospadias.

Modified Mathieu urethroplasty for failed hypospadias repair / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the indications, techniques and complications of reoperation for failed hypospadias repair using modified Mathieu urethroplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using modified Mathieu urethroplasty, we treated 24 hypospadias patients aged 3-12 (mean 4.5) years for whom the first (n = 20) or the second hypospadias repair (n = 4) had failed, including 13 cases of large coronary sulcus urethrocutaneous fistula, 5 cases of urethral meatus retraction and 6 cases of anterior urethra dehiscence. The modified procedure involved median longitudinal incision of the urethral posterior wall, dorsal tunica albuginea plication under the vascular and nerve bundle, and double dartos flap protection of the neourethra.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 24 patients, 19 (79.2%) were successfully treated by the first operation, which achieved desirable straightness, good cosmetic appearance and normal urethral meatus of the penis, without postoperative complications. Small urethrocutaneous fistula developed in 4 cases, of which 3 were cured by fistula repair and 1 self-healed. Urethral meatus stenosis occurred in 1 case, which was restored by meatal dilation. Urethrocele and urethrostenosis were not found in any of the cases. Two cases received urethroscopy postoperatively, which revealed no hypertrophic cicatrix at the site of median longitudinal incision in the urethral posterior wall.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Modified Mathieu urethroplasty can be applied to hypospadias reoperation, particularly in such cases as large coronary sulcus urethrocutaneous fistula, urethral meatus retraction and anterior urethra dehiscence. The modified procedure includes median longitudinal incision of the urethral posterior wall, dorsal tunica albuginea plication under the vascular and nerve bundle, and double dartos flap protection of the neourethra.</p>

Snodgrass Operation for Hypospadias Repairment in 22 Children / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the indication,technique and complications of Snodgrass operation in hypospadias repairment.Methods From Sep.2005 to Nov.2006,22 boys from 2 to 18 years old with hypospadias were treated with Snodgrass modification.The procedure was performed in 16 patients as a primary repairment and in 6 patients as the 2-stage repairment.The entire length of the urethral plate was incised along the midline in primary repairment,and the skin flaps and residual urethral plate were incised in the 2-stage repairment.The length of neourethra was from 1 to 10 cm.The neourethra was tubularized over a F 6 or F 8 catheter.The urethral stent was removed in 10 to 14 days pos-toperatively.Results Of the 22 patients,18(81.8%) required no other surgery as the repairment provided a normal appearing penis(straight,terminal meatus, cosmetics) without complications.Fistul aoccurred in 4 patients(18.2%) and meatal stenosis in 1 patient.Conclusion Snodgrass operation creates a vertical slit-like neomeatus.The procedures restores good function and normal appearance to the penis.