Screening and Studying of Blood miRNAs as Potential Diagnostic Markers for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Objective: MiRNAs play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and development by exerting negative regulation on the expression of target genes. In this study, bioinformatics techniques and online database were employed to investigate the specific miRNA-target gene regulatory network in PTC, which was subsequently validated using human blood samples and compared to existing tumor markers.

Methods: The miRNA (GSE50901) and Gene Expression (GSE113629) chip screening data of human PTC tissues were retrieved from GEO database.

Gemcitabine as first-line therapy for high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: results from a tertiary center in the contemporary BCG-shortage era.

Background: To evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine as first-line adjuvant therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in the setting of ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage.

Methods: We performed an institutional, retrospective review of patients treated with intravesical gemcitabine induction and maintenance therapy from March 2019 to October 2021. Patients with intermediate or high-risk NMIBC who were BCG-naïve or experienced a high-grade (HG) recurrence after 12 months since the last dose of BCG were included in the analysis.

Gender, Racial and Ethnic Differences in Pathologic Response Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Bladder Cancer Patients.

Objective: To evaluate trends and racial variations of pathologic complete response (CR) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The primary endpoints, CR and mortality, were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage test, multivariable regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Assessment of blended biochemistry classes based on massive open online courses and a "semi-flipped" learning environment.

Flipped classroom based on active learning is becoming an increasingly popular pedagogical method in higher education capable of increasing student performance in higher-order learning outcomes including application, analysis, evaluation, and creation. However, the success of a flipped classroom model relies on various supporting elements such as the accessibility of technology, and it may not be appropriate for all students and courses. In this study, a new blended biochemistry classroom model based on massive open online courses and a "semi-flipped" environment was applied to the students enrolled in three majors (stomatology, pharmacy, and preventive medicine) at Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China.

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling confers ferroptosis resistance by targeting GPX4 in gastric cancer.

The development of chemotherapy resistance is the most vital obstacle to clinical efficacy in gastric cancer (GC). The dysregulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is critically associated with GC development and chemotherapy resistance. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, induced by an iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides during chemotherapy.

How Do Blended Biochemistry Classes Influence Students' Academic Performance and Perceptions of Self-Cognition?

The flipped classroom is becoming a popular new instructional model in higher education capable of increasing student performance in higher-order learning outcomes. However, the success of a flipped classroom model depends on various supporting elements, and it may not be appropriate for all students and courses. In this study, a new blended Biochemistry classroom model based on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and a "semi-flipped" environment was applied to Biochemistry instruction of Nursing and Clinical Medicine majors.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preoperative Surgical Wait Time and Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Characteristics.

Racial/ethnic minority groups have a disproportionate burden of kidney cancer. The objective of this study was to assess if race/ethnicity was associated with a longer surgical wait time (SWT) and upstaging in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic time with a special focus on Hispanic Americans (HAs) and American Indian/Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs). Medical records of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients who underwent nephrectomy between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed ( = 489).

Symptom Resolution and Recurrent Urinary Incontinence Following Removal of Painful Midurethral Slings.

Objective: To evaluate pain improvement and recurrent stress incontinence (SUI) following painful synthetic midurethral sling (MUS) removal.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent synthetic MUS removal at our institution from 2009-2016 for the indication of pain. We recorded sling type (transobturator vs retropubic), complete vs partial removal, and presenting symptoms.

Histone chaperone FACT complex inhibitor CBL0137 interferes with DNA damage repair and enhances sensitivity of medulloblastoma to chemotherapy and radiation.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant pediatric brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Post-surgical radiation and cisplatin-based chemotherapy have been a mainstay of treatment, which often leads to substantial neurocognitive impairments and morbidity, highlighting the need for a novel therapeutic target to enhance the sensitivity of MB tumors to cytotoxic therapies. We performed a comprehensive study using a cohort of 71 MB patients' samples and pediatric MB cell lines and found that MB tumors have elevated levels of nucleosome remodeling FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) complex and DNA repair enzyme AP-endonuclease1 (APE1).

Nephrectomy Delay of More than 10 Weeks from Diagnosis Is Associated with Decreased Overall Survival in pT3 RCC.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of surgical wait time (SWT) on outcomes of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and to investigate risk factors associated with prolonged SWT. Using the National Cancer Database, we retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pT3 RCC treated with radical or partial nephrectomy between 2004 and 2014. The cohort was divided based on SWT.

Leiomyosarcoma of the scrotum: a case report and literature review.

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is one of the most common forms of soft tissue sarcoma with approximately 2,500 cases per year in the United States. The symptoms LMS vary depending upon the location, size, and spread of the tumor. In early stages, it may not be associated with any obvious symptoms so diagnosis and treatment may be delayed.

Perioperative outcomes of open vs. robotic radical cystectomy: a nationwide comparative analysis (2008-2014).

Introduction: Radical cystectomy (RC) is a complex procedure with high perioperative morbidity. In an effort to reduce complications, robotic-assisted RC (RARC) has been adopted as a minimally invasive alternative to the open approach (ORC). Herein, we examine post-operative outcomes of the two surgical approaches in the United States (US) using a large all-payer database.

Induces a Novel NF-kB/LIN28A/let-7a/hTERT Axis to Promote Gastric Carcinogenesis.

Reactivated telomerase is a crucial event in the development and progression of a variety of tumors. However, how telomerase is activated in gastric carcinogenesis has not been fully uncovered yet. Here, we identified a key role of the NF-κB/LIN28A/let-7a axis to promote human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression for gastric cancer initiation.

Partial Penectomy for Dry Penile Gangrene in a Patient With Penile Calciphylaxis.

Penile calciphylaxis is a difficult urologic condition to manage. First described by Wood et al in 1997, penile calciphylaxis is a rare cause of penile gangrene. One study found the overall mortality rate associated with penile calciphylaxis to be 64%, with a mean time to death of 2.

Robotic Cystoprostatectomy With Intracorporeal Ileal Conduit Diversion in a Patient With Chronic Schistosomiasis.

We present an interesting case of a patient who initially presented with urinary retention and was subsequently found to have bilateral grade 5 vesicoureteral reflux, a thick and noncompliant bladder, and biopsy proven ova of Schistosoma haematobium. This patient was subsequently managed surgically with a robotic radical cystoprostatectomy with intracorporeal ileal conduit diversion. Final pathology revealed chronic schistosomiasis with numerous ova present throughout the bladder.

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate Is Safe and Feasible as a Same Day Surgery.

Objective: To assess the safety, feasibility and treatment outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a same day surgery (SDS).

Methods: HoLEPs performed from November 2013 to December 2018 at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria for same day surgery (SDS) included living in the local metropolitan area with access to local hospital and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2, regardless of prostate size and anticoagulation status.

Targeting Histone Chaperone FACT Complex Overcomes 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Colon Cancer.

Fluorouracil (5-FU) remains a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer. However, a subset of colorectal cancer patients who have defective mismatch-repair (dMMR) pathway show resistance to 5-FU. Here, we demonstrate that the efficacy of 5-FU in dMMR colorectal cancer cells is largely dependent on the DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway.

Racial/ethnic disparities in renal cell carcinoma: Increased risk of early-onset and variation in histologic subtypes.

Background: Racial/ethnic minority groups have a higher burden of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but RCC among Hispanic Americans (HAs) and American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) are clinically not well characterized. We explored variations in age at diagnosis and frequencies of RCC histologic subtypes across racial/ethnic groups and Hispanic subgroups using National Cancer Database (NCDB) and Arizona Cancer Registry Data.

Methods: Adult RCC cases with known race/ethnicity were included.