Pin1 promotes prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration through activation of Wnt/b-catenin signaling

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the peptidylprolyl isomerase Pin1 is an oncoprotein that acts as a novel therapeutic target in a variety of tumors. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance of Pin1 and its function in prostate cancer (PCa) tumor progression. Methods: Immunohistochemical and quantitative RT-PCR analyses were performed to detect the expression of Pin1 in 86 PCa tissue samples. The functional role of Pin1 was evaluated by small interfering RNA-mediated depletion in PCa cells followed by analyses of cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the association between expression of Pin1 and levels of b-catenin and cyclin D1 was also evaluated. Results: Our results showed that the high expression of Pin1 staining was 66 of 86 (76.74 %) PCa samples, and in 25 of 86 (29.07 %) BPH tissues, the difference was statistically significant (P 0.001). Pin1 was significantly elevated in all PCa cell lines when compared to the normal RWPE-1 cells. We observed that proliferation and migration of LNCaP cells were inhibited by Pin1 knockdown. The levels of b-catenin and cyclin D1 in clinical PCa specimens were positively associated with Pin1 expression. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Pin1 plays an important role in tumorigenesis of PCa, suggesting that targeting Pin1 pathway could represent a potential modality for treating PCa. Pin1 have not yet been identified in PCa. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the expression of Pin1 in clinical Pca tissues and cell lines, and analyzes the biological characteristics of Pin1 to explore the mechanism of PCa in vitro (AU)

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Scientific Letter : Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS Symptoms of Women Receiving Termination of Pregnancy; Bloemfontein

In 2002; we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and to find out whether TOP was being used as a family planning method. The participants' contraceptive use and termination of pregnancy profile have been described elsewhere. This letter describes the knowledge of STD and HIV/AIDS symptoms of women seeking TOP

Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?

"Background: This study determined the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and whether TOP was used as a family planning method. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty women (15-47 years old) seeking TOP at the Reproductive Health Unit of the National Hospital in Bloemfontein were included in this cross-sectional study. The women who gave verbal consent completed a questionnaire during counselling. Results: The median age of the participants was 24 years and 77.3 were single. Most participants (73.3) were not using any family planning method at the time of the study. One-fifth (19.1) had previously had at least one TOP; while for 80.9 of the participants it was their first visit. Some participants (16.6) considered TOP a family planning method; 39.7 were unsure and 43.7 indicated that TOP is not a family planning method. Thirty-nine women failed to answer this question. When asked the reason for TOP; 3.5 chose the option ""contraceptive method"". Conclusions: The relatively high percentage of participants who consider TOP a contraceptive method or are unsure; associated with the fact that most were young; single; not using contraception and had applied for induced abortion just because the conception represented an unwanted pregnancy; implies that some of our population is not aware that termination of pregnancy is not a family planning method."