[Ectopic seminal tract opening in enlarged prostatic utricle: A report of 22 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnosis, classification and treatment of ectopic seminal tract opening in enlarged prostatic utricle (EPU). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 22 cases of ectopic seminal tract opening in EPU confirmed by spermography, EPU open cannula angiography or intraoperative puncture of the vas deferens and treated by transurethral incision of EPU, cold-knife incision or electric incision of EPU, full drainage of the anteriorwal, and open or laparoscopic surgery from October 1985 to October 2017. RESULTS: Five of the patients were diagnosed with ectopic opening of the vas deferens and the other 17 with ectopic opening of the ejaculatory duct in EPU. During the 3－48 months of postoperative follow-up, symptoms disappeared in all the cases, semen quality was improved in those with infertility, and 2 of the infertile patients achieved pregnancy via ICSI. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic seminal tract opening in EPU is rare clinically. Spermography is a reliable method for the diagnosis of the disease, and its treatment should be aimed at restoring the smooth flow of semen based on proper classification and typing of the disease.

[Expression of AXL enhances docetaxel-resistance of prostate cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the AXL expression on the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer PC-3 and DU145 cells to docetaxel and possible mechanisms. METHODS: Using Western blot, we examined the expressions of the AXL protein, p-AXL and Gas6 in the docetaxel-resistant PC-3 (PC-3-DR) and DU145 (DU145-DR) cells stimulated with gradually increased concentrations of docetaxel. We transfected the PC-3 and DU145 cells with negative NC ShRNA and AXL-ShRNA, respectively, which were confirmed to be effective, detected the proliferation, apoptosis and cycle distribution of the cells by CCK8, MTT and flow cytometry after treated with the AXL-inhibitor MP470 and/or docetaxel, and determined the expression of the ABCB1 protein in the PC-3-DR and DU145-DR cells after intervention with the AXL-inhibitor R428 and/or docetaxel. RESULTS: The expression of the AXL protein in the PC-3 and DU145 cells was significantly increased after docetaxel treatment (P <0.05). The expressions AXL and p-AXL were remarkably higher (P <0.05) while that of Gas6 markedly lower (P <0.05) in the PC-3 and DU145 than in the PC-3-DR and DU145-DR cells. The inhibitory effect of docetaxel on the proliferation and its enhancing effect on the apoptosis of the PC-3 and DU145 cells were significantly decreased at 48 hours after AXL transfection (P <0.05). MP470 obviously suppressed the growth and promoted the apoptosis of the PC-3-DR and DU145-DR cells, with a higher percentage of the cells in the G2/M phase when combined with docetaxel than used alone (P <0.05). R428 markedly reduced the expression of ABCB1 in the PC-3-DR and DU145-DR cells, even more significantly in combination with docetaxel than used alone (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The elevated expression of AXL enhances the docetaxel-resistance of PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells and AXL intervention improves their chemosensitivity to docetaxel, which may be associated with the increased cell apoptosis in the G2/M phase and decreased expression of ABCB1.

[Composition and morphology of stones in enlarged prostatic utricle].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the composition and morphology of the stones in the enlarged prostatic utricle (EPU). METHODS: We took out 36 EPU stones from 11 patients by transurethral fenestration between 1992 and 2011, and analyzed the stones by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIS). RESULTS: Under the scanning electron microscope, all the EPU stones were constituted of many intensive minicrystals and amorphous matrix. XRD and FTIS revealed that all were hydroxyapatite crystal. CONCLUSION: EPU stones belong to the category of prostatic pseudo-calculi, whose formation is ascribed not to the abnormal change of urine composition, but to the continuous secretion, absorption and concentration of EPU liquid and ablated epithelial cells from the EPU.

[TRAIL gene polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer in the Chinese Han population of Nanjing].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and the genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa) in the Chinese Han population in Nanjing. METHODS: We performed a case control study on 187 cases of PCa and 237 cancer-free healthy controls. Peripheral blood genome DNA was extracted from the subjects for analysis of the polymorphism of the TRAIL-716 locus by polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR). The correlations between the susceptibility to PCa and different genotypes were compared. RESULTS: An SNP (-716A/G) was found in the promoter of the TRAIL gene. AA, AG and GG genotypes were identified. Logistic regression analysis suggested that AG, GG and AG + GG genotypes had no significant correlation with the risk of PCa (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.54 -1.47; OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.69 -1.27; OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.54 - 1.41). CONCLUSION: The TRAIL-716 polymorphism is not directly related with the genetic susceptibility to PCa in the Chinese Han population of Nanjing.

VEGFA +936C>T polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), a major driver of physiological and pathological angiogenesis, plays important roles in the etiology and metastasis of cancers. The +936C>T polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the VEGFA gene has been implicated in cancer risk and is related to VEGF-A protein production; however, published data have been conflicting. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed of 13,293 cancer cases and 12,308 control subjects from 29 published case-control studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association between +936C>T polymorphism and cancer risk. The meta-analysis indicated that individuals with the +936 T had increased risk of oral cancer (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.03-1.88), although no association was found in the contrast of T versus C (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.91-1.10) in the pooled analyses. This meta-analysis supports the idea that VEGFA + 936 T is associated with increased risk of oral cancer. To draw comprehensive and true conclusions, further prospective studies with larger numbers of participants worldwide are needed to examine associations between VEGFA + 936C>T polymorphism and cancer risk.

(Z)-N-[3-(4-Bromo-benzo-yl)-1,3-thia-zolidin-2-yl-idene]cyanamide.

In the title compound, C(11)H(8)BrN(3)OS, the dihedral angle between the benzene and thia-zolidine rings is 63.4 (2)°. Inter-molecular C-H⋯N inter-actions help to stabilize the crystal structure.

(E)-1-(1H-Benzotriazol-1-yl 3-oxide)-3-methoxy-but-2-en-1-one.

The title compound, C(11)H(11)N(3)O(3), crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules of similar geometry in the asymmetric unit. The mol-ecular conformations are stabilized by intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The crystal packing consists of wave-like layers parallel to the bc plane formed by inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving only one independent mol-ecule.

7-Nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-one.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(8)H(5)N(3)O(3), inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link mol-ecules into centrosymmetric dimers. These dimers are, in turn, linked though weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking inter-actions, with centroid-centroid distances of 3.678 (3) Å, into a three-dimensional network.

5-Phenyl-7,8-dihydro-1,3-dioxano[4,5-g]isoquinoline.

In the title compound, C(16)H(13)NO(2), the two benzene rings make a dihedral angle of 55.5 (2)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak π-π stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.595 (3)Å], linking the mol-ecules into ladders of inversion dimers.