Open-ended urethral catheters reduce catheter obstruction after hypospadias repair.

Backgrounds: Urethral catheter obstruction is a notable issue that pediatric patients with hypospadias may encounter in the early postoperative period. This retrospective study aims to assess the efficacy of open-ended urethral catheters with 2 side holes in mitigating catheter obstruction in pediatric patients following hypospadias repair.

Materials And Methods: The clinical data of pediatric patients who underwent hypospadias repair surgery from January 2021 to October 2023 were retrospectively collected.

Nomogram for soiling prediction in postsurgery hirschsprung children: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of postoperative soiling in patients aged greater than 1 year operated for Hirschsprung disease (HSCR).

Materials And Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed HSCR patients with surgical therapy over 1 year of age from January 2000 and December 2019 at our department. Eligible patients were randomly categorized into the training and validation set at a ratio of 7:3.

Therapeutic targeting of FUBP3 phase separation by GATA2-AS1 inhibits malate-aspartate shuttle and neuroblastoma progression via modulating SUZ12 activity.

Malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) is essential for maintaining glycolysis and energy metabolism in tumors, while its regulatory mechanisms in neuroblastoma (NB), the commonest extracranial malignancy during childhood, still remain to be elucidated. Herein, by analyzing multi-omics data, GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) and its antisense RNA 1 (GATA2-AS1) were identified to suppress MAS during NB progression. Mechanistic studies revealed that GATA2 inhibited the transcription of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) and malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2).

Compared outcomes of high-level cryptorchidism managed by Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy versus the Shehata technique: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The surgical approach for high-level intra-abdominal testis (IAT) is variable. While most pediatric urologists prefer staged Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO), Shehata publicized a novel approach-known as staged laparoscopic traction orchiopexy (SLTO) or the Shehata technique-to better manage IATs.

Objective: This study compares the overall success rates, atrophy rates, retraction rates, and operation times of the two procedures to assist surgeons with developing procedure strategies.

Use of Urethral Sound to Facilitate Locating Retrovesical Ureter for Politano-Leadbetter Pneumovesicoscopic Ureteral Reimplantation.

Background: Pneumovesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation (PVUR) has gained popularity due to its minimal invasiveness. However, most of the reported PVUR procedures were based on the Cohen technique. Only few studies reported their experience of PVUR using the Politano-Leadbetter technique (PVUR-PL).

Hypoxia-induced lncRNA CASC9 enhances glycolysis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer by a positive feedback loop with AKT/HIF-1α signaling.

Increasing evidence indicates the dysregulations and pivotal roles of lncRNAs in the development and progression of various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Enhanced glycolytic flux and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been considered as important factors in driving the malignance of pancreatic cancer. Here, we sought to evaluate the biological role and involved mechanism of lncRNA CASC9 (CASC9) in pancreatic cancer.

Comparison of Stage 4 and Stage 4s Neuroblastoma Identifies Autophagy-Related Gene and LncRNA Signatures Associated With Prognosis.

The spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma (NB) is most prevalent and well-documented in stage 4s NB patients. However, whether autophagy plays roles in the spontaneous regression of NB is unknown. This study aimed to identify autophagy-related genes (ARGs) and autophagy-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) differentially expressed in stage 4 and stage 4s NB and to build prognostic risk signatures on the basis of the ARGs and autophagy-related lncRNAs.

Combined analysis of RNA-sequence and microarray data reveals effective metabolism-based prognostic signature for neuroblastoma.

The relationship between metabolism reprogramming and neuroblastoma (NB) is largely unknown. In this study, one RNA-sequence data set (n = 153) was used as discovery cohort and two microarray data sets (n = 498 and n = 223) were used as validation cohorts. Differentially expressed metabolic genes were identified by comparing stage 4s and stage 4 NBs.

HNF4A-AS1/hnRNPU/CTCF axis as a therapeutic target for aerobic glycolysis and neuroblastoma progression.

Background: Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of metabolic reprogramming that contributes to tumor progression. However, the mechanisms regulating expression of glycolytic genes in neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood, still remain elusive.

Methods: Crucial transcriptional regulators and their downstream glycolytic genes were identified by integrative analysis of a publicly available expression profiling dataset.

Identification of prognostic long noncoding RNAs associated with spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma.

Background: The association between long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma (NB) has rarely been investigated and remains unknown.

Objective: To identify prognostic lncRNAs involved in the spontaneous regression of NB.

Methods: Differential expression analyses were performed between those samples with an outcome of death in stage 4 NB group and those samples with an outcome of survival in stage 4S NB group in two independent public datasets, respectively.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Facilitates the Expression of Resistin-like Molecule Beta in Gastric Carcinoma and Precursor Lesions.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was reported to be associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Resistin-like molecule beta (RELMβ), a recently described goblet cell-specific protein, was demonstrated to aberrantly express in gastric cancer and correlated with its clinicopathological features.

Therapeutic targeting of YY1/MZF1 axis by MZF1-uPEP inhibits aerobic glycolysis and neuroblastoma progression.

As a hallmark of metabolic reprogramming, aerobic glycolysis contributes to tumorigenesis and aggressiveness. However, the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies regulating aerobic glycolysis in neuroblastoma (NB), one of leading causes of cancer-related death in childhood, still remain elusive. : Transcriptional regulators and their downstream glycolytic genes were identified by a comprehensive screening of publicly available datasets.

The Prognostic Role of Glasgow Prognostic Score and C-reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio for Sarcoma: A System Review and Meta-Analysis.

Backgrounds: Both pretreatment serum CRP (C-reactive protein) level and ALB (albumin) level have been found to be predictive of survival for multiple malignancies including sarcoma. Since both of the GPS (Glasgow prognostic score) and CAR (C-reactive protein to albumin ratio) are based on the combination of CRP and ALB, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic role of these two parameters for sarcoma patients.

Methods: A detailed literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library for relevant research publications written in English.

Long Noncoding RNA NHEG1 Drives β-Catenin Transactivation and Neuroblastoma Progression through Interacting with DDX5.

Recent studies suggest that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in tumor progression. However, the functional roles and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in neuroblastoma (NB), the most common malignant solid tumor in pediatric population, still remain elusive. Herein, through integrating analysis of a public RNA sequencing dataset, neuroblastoma highly expressed 1 (NHEG1) was identified as a risk-associated lncRNA, contributing to an unfavorable outcome of NB.

The Antioxidant Alpha-Lipoic Acid Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion of Human Gastric Cancer Cells via Suppression of STAT3-Mediated MUC4 Gene Expression.

Background: Metastasis and invasion are the main causes of mortality in gastric cancer. To improve the treatment of gastric cancer, the development of effective and innovative antitumor agents toward invasion and proliferation is needed. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring thiol antioxidant, showed antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on several cancers.

Therapeutic targeting of circ-CUX1/EWSR1/MAZ axis inhibits glycolysis and neuroblastoma progression.

Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of metabolic reprogramming in tumor progression. However, the mechanisms regulating glycolytic gene expression remain elusive in neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial malignancy in childhood. Herein, we identify that CUT-like homeobox 1 (CUX1) and CUX1-generated circular RNA (circ-CUX1) contribute to aerobic glycolysis and NB progression.

Therapeutic Targeting of /PARP1/E2F1 Axis Inhibits Proline Synthesis and Neuroblastoma Progression.

Proline synthesis plays an important role in the metabolic reprogramming that contributes to tumor progression. However, the mechanisms regulating expression of proline synthetic genes in neuroblastoma (NB) remain elusive. Herein, through integrative screening of a public dataset and amino acid profiling analysis, myeloid zinc finger 1 () and antisense RNA 1 () are identified as transcriptional regulators of proline synthesis and NB progression.

The value of C-reactive protein as an independent prognostic indicator for disease-specific survival in patients with soft tissue sarcoma: A meta-analysis.

Backgrounds: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level has been shown to be a predictor of survival for multiple cancer types. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pretreatment serum CRP level could serve as a reliable independent prognostic indicator for survival in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Methods: A detailed literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase and Cochrane for relevant research publications written in English.

MnTE-2-PyP Attenuates TGF--Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway.

Background: As a key step in enhancing cancer cell invasion and metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in colorectal cancer progression. EMT is triggered by a variety of signaling pathways, among which the transforming growth factor (TGF-) signaling pathway has been implicated as a primary inducer. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that MnTE-2-PyP (chemical name: manganese(III) -tetrakis-(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl), a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, inhibits TGF- signaling; however, its ability to inhibit TGF--induced EMT in colorectal cancer has not yet been explored.

-Acting Promotes β-Catenin Signaling and Cancer Progression via DDX3-Mediated Transactivation of YY1.

Circular RNAs (circRNA), a subclass of noncoding RNA characterized by covalently closed continuous loops, play emerging roles in tumorigenesis and aggressiveness. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of circRNA in regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cancer progression remain elusive. Here, we screen -acting circRNA generated by β-catenin ()/transcription factor 7-like 2 genes and identify one intronic circRNA derived from () as a novel driver of cancer progression.

Valproic acid suppresses Warburg effect and tumor progression in neuroblastoma.

Altered glucose metabolism is a hallmark for cancer, which is characterized by a unique metabolic phenotype known as Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis. Emerging studies show that valproic acid (VPA), an established histone deacetylase inhibitor, possesses tumor suppressive properties. However, the effects of VPA on the regulation of Warburg effect in neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial malignancy in childhood, still remain elusive.

Circular RNA circAGO2 drives cancer progression through facilitating HuR-repressed functions of AGO2-miRNA complexes.

Argonaute 2 (AGO2), the core component of microRNA (miRNA)-induced silencing complex, plays a compelling role in tumorigenesis and aggressiveness. However, the mechanisms regulating the functions of AGO2 in cancer still remain elusive. Herein, we indentify one intronic circular RNA (circRNA) generated from AGO2 gene (circAGO2) as a novel regulator of AGO2-miRNA complexes and cancer progression.