Assessing watercourse quality using results-based indicators in an agri-environment scheme.

Small watercourses are essential contributors to catchment water quality, but they continue to suffer degradation across Europe. A results-based agri-environment scheme, aimed at improving watercourse quality in Ireland, developed a rapid drainage assessment to identify point source risks. The assessment uses a scoring system based on visual indicators of nutrient and sediment risk, linking the outcomes to farmer payments. To understand how this novel drainage risk assessment relates to instream watercourse quality, we used three macroinvertebrate-based biotic indices (Q-value, Small Stream Impact Score and Proportion of Sediment Sensitive Invertebrates). Macroinvertebrate kick-sampling and physiochemical analysis were completed in May and July 2021 for 12 'At Risk' and 12 'Not at Risk' small watercourses as identified by the results-based scheme. Results show that the scheme's drainage risk assessment can identify point source risks but we found it does not directly reflect local instream quality as assessed by the biotic indices. Unexpectedly, the biotic indices showed watercourse degradation in 58% of the upstream (control) sampling points, indicating impacts not captured by the drainage risk assessment. Small watercourses displayed high heterogeneity, with significant species turnover between the sampling months. The Small Stream Impact Score was less influenced by temporal change than the Q-value index. There was a significant relationship between instream watercourse quality and sedimentation, as quantified by the Proportion of Sediment Sensitive Invertebrates. Including a measurement of instream sedimentation in the drainage assessments would improve the identification of risks and management. These results show that by linking farmer payments to the drainage risk assessments results-based payment schemes could positively contribute to improving catchment scale watercourse quality, but further work is required to capture wider sources of freshwater impacts.

Using open-source software and digital imagery to efficiently and objectively quantify cover density of an invasive alien plant species.

The most commonly used method for measuring vegetation cover is visual estimation, which is highly subjective, potentially leading to measurement errors. This poses serious implications to the assessment and continued management of plant species cover, for example in the control of invasive plant species. Morphological analysis of digital imagery has, to date, been primarily applied in the classification of landscape features. Our novel application of morphological image analysis provides an objective method for detection and accurate cover assessment of an invasive alien plant species (IAS), giving reduced measurement errors when compared to visual estimation. Importantly, this method is entirely based on free software. Guidos Toolbox is a collection of generic raster image processing routines, including Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), which classifies and quantifies features according to shape. MSPA was employed in this study to detect and quantify cover of invasive Petasites pyrenaicus (Winter heliotrope) in digital images of 1 m × 1 m plots. Its efficacy was compared to that of two other methods- GIS Digitisation (used as an accurate baseline) and Visual Estimation (standard method). We tested the limit of MSPA usability on images of varying complexity, i.e. "simple", intermediate" or "complex", depending on presence/absence of other vascular plant species and the species richness of plot. Our results show good agreement between all three methods. MSPA measurement of P. pyrenaicus cover was most closely aligned with the GIS Digitisation (concordance correlation coefficients of 0.966). Visual Estimation was less closely aligned with GIS Digitisation (concordance correlation coefficients of 0.888). However, image complexity resulted in differing levels of agreement; with the closest agreement being achieved between MSPA and GIS Digitisation when used on images of lower and higher complexity. MSPA consistently provides higher accuracy and precision for P. pyrenaicus cover measurement than the standard Visual Estimation method. Our methodology is applicable to a range of focal vegetation species, both herbaceous and graminoid. Future application of MSPA for larger-scale surveying and monitoring via remote sensing is discussed, potentially reducing resource demands and increasing cover measurement consistency and accuracy. We recommend this method forms part of vegetation management toolkits for not only environmental managers, but for anyone concerned with plant cover assessment, from agricultural systems to sustainable resource use.

Mitostatin is down-regulated in human prostate cancer and suppresses the invasive phenotype of prostate cancer cells.

MITOSTATIN, a novel putative tumor suppressor gene induced by decorin overexpression, is expressed in most normal human tissues but is markedly down-regulated in advanced stages of mammary and bladder carcinomas. Mitostatin negatively affects cell growth, induces cell death and regulates the expression and activation levels of Hsp27. In this study, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of Mitostatin in PC3, DU145, and LNCaP prostate cancer cells not only induced a significant reduction in cell growth, but also inhibited migration and invasion. Moreover, Mitostatin inhibited colony formation in soft-agar of PC3 and LNCaP cells as well as tumorigenicity of LNCaP cells in nude mice. Conversely, targeting endogenous Mitostatin by siRNA and anti-sense strategies in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells enhanced the malignant phenotype in both cell lines. In agreement of these anti-oncogenic roles, we discovered that Mitostatin was absent in ∼35% (n = 124) of prostate tumor samples and its overall reduction was associated with advanced cancer stages. Collectively, our findings indicate that MITOSTATIN may acts as a tumor suppressor gene in prostate cancer and provide a novel cellular and molecular mechanism to be further exploited and deciphered in our understanding of prostate cancer progression.

Prevention of urinary bladder cancer in the FHIT knock-out mouse with Rofecoxib, a Cox-2 inhibitor.

OBJECTIVES: Aberrant or increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer. However, the exact mechanism by which COX-2 may influence tumorigenesis has yet to be described. To investigate the chemopreventive role of a COX-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, in the development of urinary bladder cancer, we studied the effect of this drug in heterozygous and nullizygous fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene-deficient mice in a chemically induced carcinogenesis model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred eight mice consisting of 50 FHIT +/+, 63 FHIT +/- and 95 FHIT -/-, were divided into five treatment groups and followed up for 15 weeks. Mice were treated with freshly prepared solution of 0.1% or 0.01% N-butyl-N-(-4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water and rofecoxib was administered in mouse chow at 150 parts per million concentration. Mice were sacrificed, and accurate histological analysis of the bladder was performed. RESULTS: Rofecoxib treatment significantly reduced the incidence of preneoplastic lesions/bladder tumors (P = 0.016). Comparing the incidence of neoplastic lesions in mice treated with rofecoxib and BBN (22/56, 39.3%) and mice treated only with BBN (32/57, 56.1%), a protective role of rofecoxib on the BBN tumor induction has been observed (P = 0.024). A similar result (P = 0.002) has been reached observing the incidence of mild and moderate dysplasia in mice treated with a lower concentration of BBN (8/16, 50.0% vs. 20/24, 83.3%).Moreover, as previously observed, a significant increase in neoplastic lesions in the FHIT +/- and FHIT -/- vs. FHIT +/+ mice after BBN treatment has been observed (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that rofecoxib provides a therapeutic defense against bladder carcinogenesis in our model and confirmed that the FHIT knock-out mouse is a suitable system to study in vivo bladder carcinogenesis.

Correlation of pathology with tumor size of renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: The current standard of care for radiographically identified enhancing renal lesions is surgical removal. However, some of these lesions prove to be benign and did not truly warrant extirpation. Mass size has been traditionally described as a parameter to predict the malignant potential. We compiled our experience with surgically treated renal masses and correlated lesion size with final pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of extirpative renal surgery and resultant renal mass pathology from 1998- January 2006. Nephrectomies performed for non-malignant disease or transitional cell carcinomas were excluded. Renal tumors were staged by the 2002 TNM classification system. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-four patients with 460 lesions were identified. Overall, 24% of masses were determined to be benign and 76% were malignant. Three hundred forty-three malignant lesions were renal cell carcinoma (98%). Masses were stratified by size. Two hundred thirty masses were smaller than 4 cm and 72 (31.3%) of these were benign. There were 166 lesions between 4 cm and 7 cm with an 18% benign rate. Sixty-four lesions were > 7 cm in size. Only eight of these were benign (12.5%). Chi square testing revealed the 31.3% benign rate of the < 4 cm group to be significantly different than the benign rates of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The preponderance of renal lesions removed for benign pathology occurs when lesion size is small, typically less than 4 cm. This information may be useful in deciding to offer expectant management of an otherwise surgical lesion in a patient who is a poor candidate to undergo an operative procedure.

Micro-RNA profiling in kidney and bladder cancers.

OBJECTIVES: Micro-RNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs with modulator activity of gene expression. Recently, micro-RNA genes were found abnormally expressed in several types of cancers. To study the role of the micro-RNAs in human kidney and bladder cancer, we analyzed the expression profile of 245 micro-RNAs in kidney and bladder primary tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 27 kidney specimens (20 carcinomas, 4 benign renal tumors, and 3 normal parenchyma) and 27 bladder specimens (25 urothelial carcinomas and 2 normal mucosa) were included in the study. Total RNA was used for hybridization on an oligonucleotide microchip for micro-RNA profiling developed in our laboratories. This microchip contains 368 probes in triplicate, corresponding to 245 human and mouse micro-RNA genes. RESULTS: A set of 4 human micro-RNAs (miR-28, miR-185, miR-27, and let-7f-2) were found significantly up-regulated in renal cell carcinoma (P < 0.05) compared to normal kidney. Human micro-RNAs miR-223, miR-26b, miR-221, miR-103-1, miR-185, miR-23b, miR-203, miR-17-5p, miR-23a, and miR-205 were significantly up-regulated in bladder cancers (P < 0.05) compared to normal bladder mucosa. Of the kidney cancers studied, there was no differential micro-RNA expression across various stages, whereas with increasing tumor-nodes-metastasis staging in bladder cancer, miR-26b showed a moderate decreasing trend (P = 0.082). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that different micro-RNAs are deregulated in kidney and bladder cancer, suggesting the involvement of these genes in the development and progression of these malignancies. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of micro-RNAs in neoplastic transformation and to test the potential clinical usefulness of micro-RNAs microarrays as diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Rhabdomyolysis after laparoscopic nephrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic renal surgery has become a widely applied technique in recent years. The development of postoperative rhabdomyolysis is a known but rare complication of laparoscopic renal surgery. Herein, 4 cases of rhabdomyolysis and a review of the literature are presented with respect to pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of this dire complication. METHODS: A retrospective review of over 600 laparoscopic renal operations over the past 8 years was performed. All cases of postoperative rhabdomyolysis were identified. A Medline search was performed to find articles related to the development of postoperative rhabdomyolysis. Cases of rhabdomyolysis developing after laparoscopic renal surgery and common risk factors between cases were identified. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative rhabdomyolysis in our series is 0.67%. It is similar to the rate reported in other series. Male sex, high body mass index, prolonged operative times, and the lateral decubitus position are all risk factors in its development. CONCLUSION: The prevention and optimal management of postoperative rhabdomyolysis following laparoscopic renal surgery has yet to be defined. The risk factors we identified should be carefully addressed and minimized. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis will also be a key component in its prevention.

Outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in technically challenging cases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with significant complicating clinical factors. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 322 hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy cases that were completed at a single institution from 1998 to 2004. Patients with a history of extensive abdominal surgery or prior procedures on the affected kidney, evidence of perirenal inflammation, renal lesions 10 cm or more in diameter, or level I renal vein thrombus were included. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were included in this series. Of these, 16 patients had a lesion 10 cm or larger, 10 had a renal vein thrombus, and 10 had undergone prior major abdominal surgery. Many patients had more than one complicating factor. Another 6 patients had a history of prior renal procedures or chronic inflammatory processes involving the affected kidney. One Stage T4 renal tumor with paraspinous muscle invasion was successfully managed without conversion. The overall mean operative time and estimated blood loss was 235 minutes and 439 mL, respectively, with a mean hospital stay of 4 days. Four patients (9.5%) required open conversion (one renal hilar injury, two failure to progress, and one persistent bleeding from the renal fossa). Postoperative complications included pulmonary embolism in 1, ileus in 1, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation in 1 patient. One patient developed an incarcerated port site hernia requiring reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy is an attractive minimally invasive option in the setting of significant complicating factors. This technique may facilitate the successful laparoscopic completion of these challenging cases with reasonable operative times, blood loss, and complication rates.

Leukocyte subtypes in electroejaculates of spinal cord injured men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of leukocytospermia and seminal leukocyte subtypes in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the findings with those of fertile, able-bodied controls. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: University infertility practice. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen able-bodied fertile men age matched to 17 men with SCI seeking reproductive rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Vibratory stimulation and antegrade electroejaculation for SCI group; manual ejaculation for controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunoperoxidase technique on a panel of antileukocyte monoclonal antibodies to obtain the leukocyte subpopulations: B cells, T cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Immunohistochemical staining and scoring to obtain the mean number of leukocytes and spermatozoa per high power field. The ratios of leukocyte to sperm and leukocyte subtype to sperm were tabulated. RESULTS: Total white blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in the SCI population were significantly higher than those in the ejaculates of controls. Although not significantly elevated, all the other evaluated subsets were higher in the SCI group then in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Leukocytospermia appears to be a pervasive abnormality in the semen recovered from men with SCI. The SCI group had significant elevations of total seminal leukocytes after electroejaculation. Compared with controls, men with SCI had significantly more seminal neutrophils and macrophages. Asthenospermia, universally observed in men with SCI, may be attributable, among other causes, to leukocytospermia.