Identification of Plant Viruses Infecting Pear Using RNA Sequencing.

Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a widely cultivated and commercially important fruit crop, which is occasionally subject to severe economic losses due to latent viral infections. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine and provide a comprehensive overview of virus populations infecting a major pear cultivar ('Singo') in Korea. From June 2017 to October 2019, leaf samples (n = 110) of pear trees from 35 orchards in five major pear-producing regions were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing.

Optimal treatment for penile verrucous carcinoma: a systematic literature review.

Background: Verrucous carcinoma, a rare low-grade well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, is known for its favorable biological behavior and lack of metastatic potential. However, aggressive resection is problematic in terms of compromised function and aesthetics. Hence, more conservative treatments are needed.

Effects of Variant Histology on the Oncologic Outcomes of Patients With Upper Urinary Tract Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the prognostic effect of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) with variant histology (VH) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Patients And Methods: The data of 1173 patients who received RNU for UTUC without neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 11 institutions between 2002 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. A matched propensity score analysis was performed.

The current status of hormone treatment for prostate cancer patients in Korean real-world practice: a multi-institutional observational study.

We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs.

Local Excision for the Treatment of Penile Verrucous Carcinoma.

Penile verrucous carcinoma is known for its favorable biologic behavior and lack of metastatic potential. For preservation of function, treatment has been focused on partial penectomy. Despite partial penectomy for preservation of minimal functional and aesthetic aspects, patients have experienced psychosexual problems.

The Case of Huge Pure Lipoma of the Spermatic Cord Misdiagnosed as Inguinal Hernia.

Clinically, pure spermatic-cord lipoma has not been recognized as a disease entity but regarded as an incidental finding at the time of hernia repair, because it presents groin symptoms and clinical findings indistinguishable from those of inguinal hernia. We report the successful treatment of case of huge pure spermatic-cord lipoma originally misdiagnosed as inguinal hernia. The patients had tumor excision without orchiectomy.

Prognostic Factors for Recurrence and Progression in Korean Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients: A Retrospective, Multi-Institutional Study.

Purpose: To identify the prognostic factors related to tumor recurrence and progression in Korean patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected and analyzed for 2412 NMIBC patients from 15 centers who were initially diagnosed after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) from January 2006 to December 2010. Using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, the prognostic value of each variable was evaluated for the time to first recurrence and progression.

Combination of AG490, a Jak2 inhibitor, and methylsulfonylmethane synergistically suppresses bladder tumor growth via the Jak2/STAT3 pathway.

Human urinary bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer, with a worldwide estimate of about two million patients. Recurrence after complete transurethral prostatic resection is the most important problem in therapy. Combination therapy is a new approach in the treatment of cancers that do not respond to current therapies.

Does phosphorylation of cofilin affect the progression of human bladder cancer?

Background: We determined the differently expressed protein profiles and their functions in bladder cancer tissues with the aim of identifying possible target proteins and underlying molecular mechanisms for taking part in their progression.

Methods: We examined the expression of proteins by proteomic analysis and western blot in normal urothelium, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs), and muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs). The function of cofilin was analyzed using T24 human bladder cancer cells.

Effect of Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion on the Characteristics of Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Change after 12-Week Drug Medication: A Prospective Analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify whether intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) is related to the characteristics of voiding symptoms improvement after drug treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients.

Methods: Ninety male patients with more than 30 g prostate volume were prospectively enrolled. All patients were evaluated with International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine (PVR), prostate volume and IPP measurement by transrectal ultrasound.

Isolation and characterization of smooth muscle cells from rat corpus cavernosum tissue for the study of erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: Primary culture of the cavernous smooth muscle cells from corpus cavernous tissues is known to be difficult, mainly because of contamination with fibroblasts. We applied a new method for better isolation of rat penile smooth muscle cells (RPSMCs) from rat corpus cavernosum tissue for reliable ex vivo research on erectile dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: With the use of 8-week-old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, ex vivo migrations of rat cavernous tissue were measured by penis and aortic ring assay by use of a Matrigel-based D-valine-modified culture method.

Current status of transurethral prostatectomy: a korean multicenter study.

Purpose: We aimed to verify the current status of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in Korea.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 1,341 men who underwent TURP in 9 Korean medical centers between 2004 and 2008 were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to time periods: 2004-2005 (group 1) and 2006-2008 (group 2).

The contribution of abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia to metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients.

Background/aims: Metabolic syndrome is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among psychiatric patients in order to identify the dominant factors of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We enrolled 225 patients who had been admitted to a chronic psychiatric hospital from October 2005 to February 2006.

Clinical implication of serum C-reactive protein in patients with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis as marker of prolonged hospitalization and recurrence.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of prolonged hospitalization and a predictor of recurrence in patients after uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis (APN).

Methods: A total of 202 consecutive adult patients with APN were prospectively enrolled from September 2005 to June 2007. APN was defined as the concomitant presence of 4 major and >/=2 minor clinical or laboratory signs or symptoms suggestive of APN.

A multi-institutional study on histopathological characteristics of surgically treated renal tumors: the importance of tumor size.

Purpose: The incidence of accidentally detected small renal tumors is increasing throughout the world. In this multi-institutional study performed in Korea, histopathological characteristics of contemporarily surgically removed renal tumors were reviewed with emphasis on tumor size.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1995 and May 2005, 1,702 patients with a mean age of 55 years underwent surgical treatment at 14 training hospitals in Korea for radiologically suspected malignant renal tumors.

Laparoscopic management of complicated urachal remnant in a child.

A few cases of laparoscopic surgery for urachal remnant in children has been reported in English literature. With recent developments in minimal invasive surgery, laparoscopic approach for urachal remnant in adulthood is recommended by some laparoscopic surgeons because of its technical feasibility and safety as well as cosmesis. Recently we experienced a case of complicated urachal remnant in a 14-month-old girl, who was managed by laparoscopic approach.

Detection rate of prostate cancer on biopsy according to serum prostate-specific antigen in Korean men: a multicenter study.

Objectives: To evaluate the detection rate of prostate cancer on biopsy according to the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in Korean men and compare the detection rate with those of Japanese and American men in other studies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2422 Korean men who had undergone prostate biopsy at 12 medical centers from 1993 to 2002. In the case of a PSA level greater than 4.

Molecular signaling cascade in DNA bisintercalator, echinomycin-induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells: evidence of the apoptotic process via activation of the cytochrome c-ERK-caspase-3 pathway.

The DNA-interactive drug, echinomycin, is a potent antitumor agent, which is able to induce apoptosis in a multitude of cancer cell lines. Previously, we showed that echinomycin strongly inhibited the growth of a variety of cancer cell lines, and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in human colon cancer cells (HT-29). However, little information currently exists regarding the details of intracellular signaling pathways such as the MAPK, mitochondrial, and caspase pathways.

Gene therapy for prostate cancer by controlling adenovirus E1a and E4 gene expression with PSES enhancer.

PSES is a chimeric enhancer containing enhancer elements from prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) genes that are prevalently expressed in androgen-independent prostate cancers. PSES shows strong activity equivalent to cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, specifically in PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells, the major cell types in prostate cancer in the absence of androgen. We developed a recombinant adenovirus (AdE4PSESE1a) by placing adenoviral E1a and E4 genes under the control of the bidirectional enhancer PSES and enhanced green fluorescent protein gene for the purpose of intratumoral virus tracking under the control of CMV promoter.

Targeting prostate cancer with conditionally replicative adenovirus using PSMA enhancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and accounts for significant mortality and morbidity in the United States. Initially androgen-dependent, prostate cancer ultimately becomes androgen-independent, which makes the disease extremely difficult to cure. In this study, we examined the use of conditionally replication-competent adenovirus for the treatment of hormone-independent prostate cancer.

NFATc1 with AP-3 site binding specificity mediates gene expression of prostate-specific-membrane-antigen.

Prostate-specific-membrane-antigen (PSMA) is a marker protein expressed primarily in prostate epithelium. Its prostate-specific expression is conferred by PSMA enhancer (PSME), localized within the third intron of PSMA-encoding gene FOLH1. We recently reported that the 5'-end 90 bp of PSME harbored crucial enhancer elements for high PSMA expression.

Novel prostate-specific promoter derived from PSA and PSMA enhancers.

The expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), two well characterized marker proteins, remains highly active in the hormone refractory stage of prostate cancer. In this study, an artificial chimeric enhancer (PSES) composed of two modified regulatory elements controlling the expression of PSA and PSMA genes was tested for its promoter activity and tissue specificity using the reporter system. As a result, this novel PSES promoter remained silent in PSA- and PSMA-negative prostate and non-prostate cancer cell lines, but mediated high levels of luciferase in PSA- and PSMA-expressing prostate cancer cell lines in the presence and absence of androgen.