Immunomodulatory response of layered small intestinal submucosa in a rat bladder regeneration model.

Based on the hypothesis that bioscaffold permeability is a major factor in determining the outcome of histologically complete and functional bladder regeneration, we evaluated regeneration processes of four-layer porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) construct; and compared results between rat bladders augmented with single-layer SIS bioscaffolds. Sprague-Dawley female rats were subjected to hemi-cystectomy followed by anastomosis of a patch of either single- or four-layer porcine SIS. Permeability was analyzed in situ using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at post-operative days 7 and 14.

Transition from androgenic to neurosteroidal action of 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol through the type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in prostate cancer progression.

Androgen ablation is the standard of care prescribed to patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) to slow down disease progression. Unfortunately, a majority of PCa patients under androgen ablation progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Several mechanisms including alternative intra-prostatic androgen production and androgen-independent androgen receptor (AR) activation have been proposed for CRPC progression.

Reduced urothelial regeneration in rat bladders augmented with permeable porcine small intestinal submucosa assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Augmentation enterocystoplasty remains the gold standard surgical bladder reconstruction procedure to increase the capacity and compliance of dysfunctional bladders. Since the use of the patient's intestine has severe risks of complications, alternative biodegradable matrices have been explored. Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has gained immense interests in bladder reconstruction due to its favorable properties.

Cancer Chemopreventive Effects of Boswellia sacra Gum Resin Hydrodistillates on Invasive Urothelial Cell Carcinoma: Report of a Case.

A 52-year-old Hispanic male presented with hematuria and was later diagnosed with a large invasive high-grade urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the urinary bladder, but with ambiguous pT1/pT2 staging regarding musclaris propria invasion by UCC. The conventional treatment including radical cystoprostatectomy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy was presented. The patient decided to delay the standard therapy until a later stage, but elected to go through transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) without Bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation.

Biomatrices for bladder reconstruction.

There is a demand for tissue engineering of the bladder needed by patients who experience a neurogenic bladder or idiopathic detrusor overactivity. To avoid complications from augmentation cystoplasty, the field of tissue engineering seeks optimal scaffolds for bladder reconstruction. Naturally derived biomaterials as well as synthetic and natural polymers have been explored as bladder substitutes.

Differential effects of selective frankincense (Ru Xiang) essential oil versus non-selective sandalwood (Tan Xiang) essential oil on cultured bladder cancer cells: a microarray and bioinformatics study.

Background: Frankincense (Boswellia carterii, known as Ru Xiang in Chinese) and sandalwood (Santalum album, known as Tan Xiang in Chinese) are cancer preventive and therapeutic agents in Chinese medicine. Their biologically active ingredients are usually extracted from frankincense by hydrodistillation and sandalwood by distillation. This study aims to investigate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities of frankincense and sandalwood essential oils in cultured human bladder cancer cells.

Linking γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor to epidermal growth factor receptor pathways activation in human prostate cancer.

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation has been attributed to the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Growth factor pathways including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling have been implicated in the development of NE features and progression to a castration-resistant phenotype. However, upstream molecules that regulate the growth factor pathway remain largely unknown.

Expression of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) in neuroendocrine tumors & adenocarcinomas of pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and lung.

Human aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) was initially identified as an enzyme in reducing 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) to 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol (3α-diol) and oxidizing 3α-diol to androsterone. It was subsequently demonstrated to possess ketosteroid reductase activity in metabolizing other steroids including estrogen and progesterone, 11-ketoprostaglandin reductase activity in metabolizing prostaglandins, and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase x (DDx) activity in metabolizing xenobiotics. AKR1C3 was demonstrated in sex hormone-dependent tissues including testis, breast, endometrium, and prostate; in sex hormone-independent tissues including kidney and urothelium.

Understanding roles of porcine small intestinal submucosa in urinary bladder regeneration: identification of variable regenerative characteristics of small intestinal submucosa.

Neuropathic bladders are the result from damages to the central or peripheral nervous system, and ultimately may require surgical reconstruction to increase bladder volumes and to reduce the risk of damages to the kidneys. Surgical reconstruction through bladder augmentation has traditionally been practiced using a segment of the ileum, colon, or stomach from the patient through enterocystoplasty. However, the use of gastrointestinal segments can lead to serious adverse consequences.

Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and in a xenograft murine model.

Background: Regardless of the availability of therapeutic options, the overall 5-year survival for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer remains less than 5%. Gum resins from Boswellia species, also known as frankincense, have been used as a major ingredient in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat a variety of health-related conditions. Both frankincense chemical extracts and essential oil prepared from Boswellia species gum resins exhibit anti-neoplastic activity, and have been investigated as potential anti-cancer agents.

Chemical differentiation of Boswellia sacra and Boswellia carterii essential oils by gas chromatography and chiral gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Major botanical and scientific references currently identify two species of frankincense, Boswellia carterii and Boswellia sacra, as being synonymous. We evaluated the Somalian (B. carterii) and Omani/Yemeni (B.

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) is expressed in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma but not small cell carcinoma.

Human aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) was initially identified as a critical enzyme in reducing 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) to 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-diol) and oxidizing 3α-diol to androsterone. Based on these enzymatic activities, AKR1C3 was originally named type 2 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)/type 5 17β-HSD. Additionally, AKR1C3 was demonstrated to be capable of metabolizing other steroids including estrogen and progesterone.

Boswellia sacra essential oil induces tumor cell-specific apoptosis and suppresses tumor aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells.

Background: Gum resins obtained from trees of the Burseraceae family (Boswellia sp.) are important ingredients in incense and perfumes. Extracts prepared from Boswellia sp.

Differential expression of type 2 3α/type 5 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C3) in tumors of the central nervous system.

Human aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C3, type 2 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSC)/ type 5 17β-HSD, is known to be involved in steroids, prostaglandins, and lipid aldehydes metabolism. The expression of AKR1C3 has been demonstrated in hormone-dependent normal tissues such as breast, endometrium, prostate, and testis; and de -regulated AKR1C3 expression has been shown in breast carcinoma, endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma, and prostate carcinoma. AKR1C3 expression has also been demonstrated in hormone-independent normal tissues (renal tubules and urothelium) and neoplastic tissues (renal cell carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, and urothelial cell carcinoma).

Elevated AKR1C3 expression promotes prostate cancer cell survival and prostate cell-mediated endothelial cell tube formation: implications for prostate cancer progression.

Background: Aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C family member 3 (AKR1C3), one of four identified human AKR1C enzymes, catalyzes steroid, prostaglandin, and xenobiotic metabolism. In the prostate, AKR1C3 is up-regulated in localized and advanced prostate adenocarcinoma, and is associated with prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness. Here we propose a novel pathological function of AKR1C3 in tumor angiogenesis and its potential role in promoting PCa progression.

Protective essential oil attenuates influenza virus infection: an in vitro study in MDCK cells.

Background: Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The recent pandemic of a novel H1N1 influenza virus has stressed the importance of the search for effective treatments for this disease. Essential oils from aromatic plants have been used for a wide variety of applications, such as personal hygiene, therapeutic massage and even medical practice.

Bladder regeneration in a canine model using hyaluronic acid-poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) nanoparticle modified porcine small intestinal submucosa.

Objective: • To determine if hyaluronic acid (HA) can be incorporated into porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) through poly (lactide-co-glycolide-acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles to improve the consistency of the naturally derived biomaterial and promote bladder tissue regeneration.

Methods: • Beagle dogs were subjected to 40% partial cystectomy followed by bladder augmentation with commercial SIS or HA-PLGA-modified SIS. • Urodynamic testing was performed before and after augmentation to assess bladder volume.

Suppressed expression of type 2 3alpha/type 5 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C3) in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma.

The diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial type adenocarcinoma arising within the uterine cavity has long been rested on morphologic criteria. Although distinction between normal endometrial epithelium from adenocarcinoma is usually straightforward, the separation between normal and hyperplastic endometrium, particularly those cases without atypia, can be a diagnostic challenge. The same is true in separation of hyperplastic endometrium with atypia from endometrial-type endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Enhanced angiogenesis of modified porcine small intestinal submucosa with hyaluronic acid-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles: from fabrication to preclinical validation.

Hyaluronic acid-poly(de-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (HA-PLGA NPs) were synthesized to stabilize the porous structure of porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), to improve surface biocompatibility and to enhance performance in tissue regeneration. HA-PLGA NPs were characterized for size, zeta potential, surface morphology, and HA loading. Human microvascular endothelial cells responded to HA-PLGA NPs and HA-PLGA modified SIS (HA-PLGA-SIS) with elevated cell proliferation.

Expression of AKR1C3 in renal cell carcinoma, papillary urothelial carcinoma, and Wilms' tumor.

Human aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C3 is a monomeric cytoplasmic multifunctional enzyme that reduces ketosteroids, ketoprostaglandins, and lipid aldehydes. AKR1C3 was initially identified as an enzyme involved in steroid metabolism. However, immunohistochemistry has demonstrated AKR1C3 in normal adult kidneys with expression in Bowman' capsule, the mesangial cells, proximal and distal tubules, as well as mature urothelial epithelium.

Developmental evaluation of aldo-keto reductase 1C3 expression in the cryptorchid testis.

Objectives: To characterize aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) expression in surgically-removed cryptorchid testes. Human AKR1C3 is a monomeric, cytoplasmic, multifunctional enzyme that reduces ketosteroids, ketoprostaglandins, and lipid aldehydes. AKR1C3 expression has been demonstrated in normal adult Leydig cells and peritubular fibromyocytes.

Regional variations in small intestinal submucosa evoke differences in inflammation with subsequent impact on tissue regeneration in the rat bladder augmentation model.

Objective: To examine the histological differences in the inflammatory response and regenerative outcomes of distal vs proximal porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) grafts in the rat bladder, as SIS from distal small intestine yields reliable and reproducible bladder regeneration, while SIS from proximal portions of small intestine does not provide similar results.

Materials And Methods: In all, 30 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent hemi-cystectomy followed by anastomosis of a bladder patch of SIS prepared from either distal or proximal small intestine. After bladder harvest, immunohistochemistry was used to quantify mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and neutrophils (PMNs).

Age-dependent vascular endothelial growth factor expression and angiogenic capability of bladder smooth muscle cells: implications for cell-seeded technology in bladder tissue engineering.

Cell seeding technology is commonly used in the field of tissue engineering to enhance the performance of bioscaffolds and promote tissue regeneration. The age of cells used for ex vivo seeding to achieve maximal tissue regeneration has not been defined. Since rapid angiogenesis is the most critical step for tissue graft survival and success, we evaluated passage-dependent vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs) obtained from urinary bladder and endothelial cell response to bladder SMCs.