Rab25 is involved in hypospadias via the ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is a common congenital abnormality of the penile. Abnormal regulation of critical genes involved in urethral development leads to hypospadias. We used the Rab25-/- mice and foreskin fibroblasts transfected with lentivirus in vitro and in vivo to investigate the role of Rab25 in hypospadias. METHODS: The expression levels of various molecules in tissue samples and foreskin fibroblasts were confirmed using molecular biology methods (western blotting, PCR, immunohistochemistry, etc.). A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to visualize the external morphology of genital tubercles (GTs) of gestation day (GD) 18.5 male wild-type (WT) and Rab25-/- mice. RESULTS: An expanded distal cleft and V-shaped urethral opening were observed in GD 18.5 Rab25-/- mice. We demonstrated that Rab25 mediated hypospadias through the ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway. In addition, silencing Rab25 inhibited cell proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis in the foreskin fibroblasts; Ki-67- and TUNEL-positive cells were mainly concentrated near the urethral seam. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Rab25 plays an essential role in hypospadias by activation of ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway, and Rab25 is a critical mediator of urethral seam formation in GD18.5 male fetal mice.

A grading system for evaluation of bladder trabeculation.

PURPOSE: To establish a parameter-based grading system for evaluating bladder trabeculation (BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with posterior urethral valve (PUV) or neurogenic bladder (NB) who underwent voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), urodynamic testing, and urological ultrasonography between January 2016 and October 2022. Cases involving urologic surgery, secondary bladder pathology, and an interval of more than 12 months between examinations were excluded. A parameter named Bladder Dispersion (BD) was calculated through fluoroscopic images, and the grading system was developed as follows: BD < 40 (Grade 0), 40 ≤ BD < 60 (Grade 1), 60 ≤ BD < 90 (Grade 2), BD ≥ 90 (Grade 3). Grades 0-1 were classified as low-risk group, while grades 2-3 were classified as high-risk group. Analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-square test were performed to compare urodynamic results and complications across different grades and groups. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were eligible to participate, which included 46 boys (62.2%) and 28 girls (37.8%), the mean age was 75.18 ± 48.39 months. Among them, 11 (14.9%) were PUV, 50 (67.6%) were NB, and 13 (17.5%) were PUV and NB. Significant differences were observed in maximum detrusor pressure, post-void residual urine ratio, and compliance among grades 0-3. Severe hydronephrosis and histories of urinary tract infection were more prevalent in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: A reliable grading system with objective standards was proposed which could aid in the assessment of BT severity.

Selective separation of zinc and iron/carbon from blast furnace dust via a hydrometallurgical cooperative leaching method.

Blast furnace dust (BFD) contains ferrous and nonferrous metals and carbon, and is usually categorized as a typical secondary resource and hazardous waste produced by the iron-making process. The thermodynamic calculation and experimental investigation of the selective separation of zinc and iron/carbon from BFD via a NaCl-HCl-H2O system were carried out. Quantitative zinc and iron/carbon separation and recovery was achieved via a zinc-chloride (ZnCli2-i (i = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4)) cooperative leaching methodology using 3 mol/L NaCl at pH of 4, an L/S ratio of 4:1, a leaching temperature of 70 °C, a HCl concentration of 0.25 mol/L, and a leaching time of 2 h. Moreover, the total Cl- concentration used in for leaching was 2.09 mol (as concluded by the dosages of HCl and NaCl, and material). Results demonstrate that zinc was effectively leached from BFD, while the leaching of iron was hindered, in the acidic region. 93.2% of the zinc was extracted into a leaching solution containing 19.8 g/L zinc under the optimal conditions, and the ratio of the leaching agent to BFD was 300 mL to 75 g. The XRD and SEM-EDS analysis results of the residue reveal that ZnO and ZnS were leached, and the zinc-iron spinel (ZnFe2O4) was not leached and was present together with the iron oxide in the leaching residue. Iron and carbon in the leaching residue was enriched from 49.4% to 60.38%, and the iron and carbon were recovered as secondary resources that can be reused in the iron-making system.