Downregulation of ST3GAL5 is associated with muscle invasion, high grade and a poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer.

In patients with bladder cancer (BC), the association between ST3 β-galactoside α-2,3-sialyltransferase 5 (ST3GAL5) expression and clinical outcomes, particularly regarding muscle-invasive disease, high tumor grade and prognosis, remain unknown. In the present study, the expression of ST3GAL5 and its association with clinical outcomes in patients with BC was analyzed using various public bioinformatics databases. The difference in ST3GAL5 expression between BC and healthy bladder tissues was also evaluated using data from the Oncomine database, The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Low dose of interferon-α improves the clinical outcomes of docetaxel in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer: A pilot study.

The aim of this study was to test whether a low dose of interferon-α-2b (IFN-α2b) enhances the clinical outcome of docetaxel (DXT) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). A prospective controlled trial of 40 CRPC patients receiving 5 mg of prednisone twice daily was conducted, where patients were randomly assigned to be administered 75 mg/m DXT plus 3 mIU/m IFN-α2b (group A, n=20) or 75 mg/m DXT alone (group B, n=20). The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

Interstitial cells of Cajal mediate excitatory sympathetic neurotransmission in guinea pig prostate.

Morphological and functional studies have confirmed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are involved in many enteric motor neurotransmission pathways. Recent investigations have demonstrated that human and guinea pig prostate glands possess a distinct cell type with morphological and immunological similarities to ICCs. These prostate ICCs have a close relationship with nerve bundles and smooth muscle cells.

[Inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin on the growth of human prostate cancer PC-3M cells and its mechanism].

Objective: To study the effects of dihydroartemisinin on the apoptosis of and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in prostate cancer cell line PC-3M in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Methods: PC-3M cells were treated with different doses (0, 25, 50 and 100 micromol/L) of dihydroartemisinin for 48 hours, their growth activity analyzed by MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry, and changes in the activities of caspase-3 and -8 detected by colorimetric assay. The expression of VEGF mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and that of the VEGF protein by Western blotting.

[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testis and penis: clinical analysis of 5 cases].

Objective: To improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of male genitalia.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 5 cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of male genitalia, 4 in the testis and 1 in the penis, we also analyzed the relevant literature and clinical significance of the disease.

Results: All the 5 cases were treated by surgery and pathologically confirmed to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[Clone, expression and identification of penicillin binding protein 2a of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients].

Objective: To clone, express and identify the mecA fragment which encoded penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP2a) from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from patients by gene recombination method.

Methods: According to the sequence of mecA gene recorded in GenBank, the primer of mecA fragment which encoded amino acids 25 - 668 of PBP2a was designed. Then the mecA fragment was amplified by PCR and cloned into pQE30 plasmid.