Cardiac Dual-Targeting Nanocatalysts for Heart Failure Therapy by Breaking the ROS-Inflammation Positive Feedback.

Heart failure (HF) is a global public health challenge closely associated with oxidative stress and immune dysregulation. However, current therapeutic strategies for HF generally lack specific targeting to cardiac tissue, and the high perfusion rate of the heart further exacerbates insufficient drug accumulation at lesion sites, thus compromising therapeutic efficacy. Inspired by the barb-hook of Xanthium strumarium, FeO@UiO-66 is functionalized with tannic acid (TA) to obtain a dual-target nanocatalyst, termed FUTA.

Upregulation of BMP1 through ncRNAs correlates with adverse outcomes and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 2-3% of all adult malignancies. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which comprises 70-80% of all RCC cases, is the most common histological subtype.

Methods: ccRCC transcriptome data and clinical information were downloaded from the TCGA database.

Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer Correlating With Immune Infiltrates.

Opa interacting protein 5 (), overexpressed in some types of human cancers, has been reported to be associated with the carcinogenesis of human cancer. However, its contribution to cancer immunity remains unknown. Furthermore, the relationship between and cancer immunity remains uncertain.

Localized giant solitary fibrous tumor of the scrotum: a rare case report and literature review.

Background: A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a fibroblastic mesenchymal tumor initially thought to originate from the pleura but that may arise at almost any anatomic site. It is mostly benign, and surgical resection is usually the best treatment option. An SFT involving the scrotum is extremely rare.

Vimentin Overexpressions Induced by Cell Hypoxia Promote Vasculogenic Mimicry by Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), the novel approach for tumor cells to obtain blood supply, was reported to be involved in antiangiogenic resistance and poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying VM formed by RCC cells are still not clearly depicted. In the present study, we found that OS-RC-2 acquired the VM forming ability accompanied with the increased expressions of Vimentin and AXL and decreased expression of E-Cadherin by CoCl treatment.

Sea cucumber extract TBL-12 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and intrinsic caspase apoptosis pathway.

Background: Sea cucumber is a kind of nutritious echinoderm that has multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. However, there is no extensive study on the antitumor effect of sea cucumber extract on prostate cancer (PCa). TBL-12 is a new sea cucumber extract.

Efficacy and Safety of Serenoa repens Extract Among Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in China: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia [LUTS/BPH]) in China.

Methods: We conducted a double blind, placebo-controlled study of 354 patients with LUTS/BPH from 19 institutions, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) into the Serenoa repens extract (320 mg) or placebo groups for 24 weeks.

Evaluation of the effects of intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy against intravesical chemotherapy alone after transurethral resection of bladder tumor in T1-staged Grade 3 bladder cancer.

Objective: Comparing intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy against intravesical chemotherapy alone in the treatment of T1-staged Grade 3 (T1G3) bladder cancer after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).

Materials And Methods: From January 2007 to December 2012, 203 patients diagnosed with NMIBC were randomly assigned into either intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy group (Group A, n = 68) or intravesical chemotherapy alone group (Group B, n = 135) after TURBT. Four cycles of intra-arterial chemotherapy were administered after initial TURBT with 1-month interval between each.

MTHFD2 Overexpression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma and is Associated with Cell Proliferation and Vimentin-Modulated Migration and Invasion.

Background/aims: To investigate the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) in the clinical prognosis and cell biology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: A total of 137 RCC tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between MTHFD2 overexpression and clinical parameters and vimentin expression was assessed.

Low-dose Bacillus Calmette-Guerin versus full-dose for intermediate and high-risk of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a Markov model.

Background: To compare the efficacy of low dose (27 mg) Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and a full dose (81 mg) BCG immunotherapy for patients with intermediate and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after a typical transurethral bladder resection.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model for a 20-year simulation of the disease to compare the overall survival of patients with intermediate and high-risk of NMIBC between the full-dose therapy (FD group) and the low-dose therapy (LD group). Base case analysis, one-way and two-way sensitivity analysis and a second-order Monte Carlo analysis were performed based on data from 15 published articles.

Efficacy of intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy in T1G3 bladder cancer when compared with intravesical chemotherapy alone after bladder-sparing surgery: a retrospective study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) combined with intravesical chemotherapy (IVC) in T1G3 bladder cancer (Bca) after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).

Methods: Our study retrospectively reviewed 200 patients with T1G3 BCa who had all undergone TURBT. The patients' medical records were divided into two groups, one group only had IVC with pirarubicin after surgery, and the other group had IAC (cisplatin and epirubicin) combined with IVC after surgery.

Vasculogenic mimicry in bladder cancer and its association with the aberrant expression of ZEB1.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in bladder cancer. VM structure and ZEB1 expression were analyzed by cluster of differentiation 34/periodic acid Schiff (PAS) double staining and immunohistochemical staining in 135 specimens from patients with bladder cancer, and a further 12 specimens from normal bladder tissues. Three-dimensional (3-D) culture was used to detect VM formation in the bladder transitional cancer cell lines UM-UC-3 and J82, and the immortalized human bladder epithelium cell line SV-HUC-1 .

miR‑30c 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 miR‑30c in PCa remain to be fully elucidated. Reverse transcription‑quantitative 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.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the risk of renal cell carcinoma: Evidence from eight case-control studies.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein plays important role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) development and progression. VEGF gene polymorphisms can alter the protein concentrations and might be associated with renal cell carcinoma risk. However, the results of studies investigating the association between VEGF polymorphisms and renal cell carcinoma risk are inconsistent.

Bax-interacting factor-1 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant tumors and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among males. Bax-interacting factor-1 (Bif-1) is a member of Endophilin family, which binds to and activates the BAX protein in response to the apoptosis signaling pathway. Loss of Bif-1 may suppress the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and promote tumorigenesis, but there is also converse evidence that Bif-1 could in part be responsible for the tumorigenesis and the role of Bif-1 in PCa development is not clear.

Vasculogenic Mimicry in Prostate Cancer: The Roles of EphA2 and PI3K.

Background: Aggressive tumor cells can form perfusable networks that mimic normal vasculature and enhance tumor growth and metastasis. A number of molecular players have been implicated in such vasculogenic mimicry, among them the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2, which is aberrantly expressed in aggressive tumors. Here we study the role and regulation of EphA2 in vasculogenic mimicry in prostate cancer where this phenomenon is still poorly understood.

Vasculogenic mimicry plays an important role in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic role of vasculogenic mimicry in adrenocortical carcinoma, and to explore its relationship with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression.

Methods: A total of 46 samples of adrenocortical carcinoma were collected and reviewed. Vasculogenic mimicry and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and double staining.

Tamsulosin combined with solifenacin versus tamsulosin monotherapy for male lower urinary tract symptoms: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin and solifenacin combination therapy compared with tamsulosin monotherapy for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods: We identified all eligible studies that compared tamsulosin and solifenacin combination therapy with tamsulosin monotherapy for male LUTS (up to January 2015). The fixed- or random-effects model was selected depending on the proportion of heterogeneity.

MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism increases the male infertility risk: a meta-analysis involving 26 studies.

Background And Objectives: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism may be a risk factor for male infertility. However, the epidemiologic studies showed inconsistent results regarding MTHFR polymorphism and the risk of male infertility. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to re-examine the controversy.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is required for vasculogenic mimicry by clear cell renal carcinoma cells.

Background: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a new pattern of tumor microcirculation system, has been proved to be important for tumor growth and progression and may be one of the causes of antiangiogenesis resistance. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was shown to correlate with VM formation in some other cancers. However, the relationship between VM formation and MMP9 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been determined.

The performance of transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of seminal vesicle defects: a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is one of the most common causes of male infertility. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has been used to diagnose OA for many years. From 2009 to 2013, we evaluated a prospective cohort of 1249 patients with suspected OA using TRUS.

Proapoptotic PEDF functional peptides inhibit prostate tumor growth--a mechanistic study.

PEDF inhibits tumor growth via anti-angiogenic activity; however, the direct effect of PEDF on prostate carcinoma and its functional epitope as well as the underlying mechanism regulating the pathway from extracellular receptors to nuclear transcription factors has not been fully elucidated. This study investigates the ability and mechanism by which the functional PEDF peptides PEDF34 and PEDF44 suppress tumor growth. The results showed that death receptor pathway was activated by PEDF34 through up-regulation of FasL and activation of caspase-8 in both xenograft tumor tissues and PC-3 cells.

Comparison between laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic ablation therapy: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis of the literature evaluating comparisons on the peri-operative and oncological outcomes between laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and laparoscopic ablation therapy (LAT) in the treatment of small renal masses (SRMs).

Material And Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and CNKI were searched for clinical trials comparing LPN with LAT. Data of peri-operative and follow-up outcomes were extracted and compared.