miR­30c suppresses prostate cancer survival by targeting the ASF/SF2 splicing factor oncoprotein.

Our previous study revealed that microRNA (miR) ­30c represents a potential tumor suppressor gene, the expression of which is associated with decreased oncogenic potential in prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines. However, the functional role and underlying mechanisms of miR­30c in PCa remain to be fully elucidated. Reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis were used to detect the expression levels of alternative splicing factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2) in PCa tissues. A luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate whether ASF/SF2 may be a direct target gene of miR­30c. In addition, the effects of miR­30c on the proliferation and apoptosis of PCa cell lines were examined, following transfection with miR­30c mimics. Furthermore, correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the expression of miR­30c and ASF/SF2 and various clinicopathological parameters of patients with PCa. The present results demonstrated that PCa tissues exhibited higher levels of alternative splicing factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2), compared with normal tissues. In addition, miR­30c was revealed to targete the 3'­untranslated region of the ASF/SF2 gene, causing a decrease in the mRNA and protein levels of ASF/SF2. Furthermore, miR­30c was reported to decrease cell proliferation, increase the percentage of cells in the G1 cell cycle phase, and promote apoptosis through the inhibition of ASF/SF2. Following correlation analysis using patient samples, the expression of ASF/SF2 was revealed to be tightly correlated with the pathological stage of PCa and biochemical recurrence (BCR). In addition, patients with PCa exhibiting low expression levels of miR­30c and high expression of ASF/SF2 had significantly lower rates of BCR­free survival. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the tumor suppressor miR­30c may be involved in PCa tumorigenesis, possibly via targeting ASF/SF2. The combined analysis of the expression of ASF/SF2 and miR­30c may be a valuable tool for early prediction of BCR in patients with PCa following radical prostatectomy.

[Tadalafil for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Tadalafil, as a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I), has revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Conventional management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is highly complex and likely multifactorial, is associated with unwanted side effects. Innovative once-daily tadalafil regimen is effective in treating the signs and symptoms of BPH. In recent trials in men with BPH, tadalafil significantly improved total IPSS over the initial 12 weeks of medication. Moreover, tadalafil is effective in treating both ED and the signs and symptoms of BPH. In this study, we review the current state of this new management strategy for LUTS secondary to BPH, highlighting the published reports on the efficacy and tolerability of tadalafil.

[Impact of asymptomatic prostatitis on semen quality].

OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of asymptomatic prostatitis on semen parameters. METHOD: Based on the count of WBC in EPS, we assigned 152 patients with asymptomatic (type IV) prostatitis to Groups A (WBC + to + +) and B (WBC + + + to + + + +), and included 68 normal healthy men controls in Group C. All the patients were examined for the volume, pH value and liquefaction time of the semen, sperm concentration, sperm survival rate, grade a sperm percentage, morphologically normal sperm percentage, WBC count, and accompanying inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: The semen liquefaction time, grade a sperm percentage and morphologically normal sperm percentage were (24.5 +/- 5.2) min, 20.0 +/- 4.1 and 10.5 +/- 4.8 in Group A, (30.4 +/- 5.0) min, 10.0 +/- 3.8 and 7.5 +/- 4.2 in Group B, and (18.5 +/- 5.3) min, 32.3 +/- 4.5 and 17.8 +/- 3.6 in Group C, with statistically significant differences between A and B (P < 0.01). The pH value, semen volume, sperm survival rate and sperm concentration were 7.6 +/- 0.3, (3.0 +/- 1.1) ml, 56.0 +/- 6.0 and (65.9 +/- 11.3) x 10(6)/ml in Group A, 7.7 +/- 0.3, (2.8 +/- 1.2) ml, 52.3 +/- 6.3 and (62.5 +/- 10.3) x 10(6)/ml in Group B, and 7.5 +/- 0.2, (2.9 +/- 1.2) ml, 62.1.0 +/- 5.3 and (87.7 +/- 10.1) x 10(6)/ml in Group C, with no significant differences among the three groups (P > 0.05). The contents of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the semen were (58.64 +/- 30.82) pg/ml and (50.57 +/- 27.48) pg/ml in Group B, significantly increased as compared with (17.68 +/- 5.65) pg/ml and (23.50 +/- 4.80) pg/ml in Group C (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic prostatitis effects significant changes in the major parameters of the patient's semen quality.