Lycopene from tomatoes and tomato products exerts renoprotective effects by ameliorating oxidative stress, apoptosis, pyroptosis, fibrosis, and inflammatory injury in calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis: the underlying mechanisms.

Several mechanisms underlying nephrolithiasis, one of the most common urological diseases, involve calcium oxalate formation, including oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, fibrosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Although lycopene has strong antioxidant activity, its protective effects against CaOx-induced injury have not yet been reported. This study aimed to systematically investigate the protective effects of lycopene and explore its mechanisms and molecular targets.

Characteristics and potential cytotoxicity of halogenated organic compounds in shale gas wastewater-impacted surface waters in Chongqing area， China.

Recent screening surveys have shown the presence of unknown source halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) in shale gas wastewater. However, their occurrence, profile, transport in surrounding surface water and environmental risk potentials remain unclear. Here, a method for the extraction and quantitative determination of 13 HOCs in water by solid phase extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established.

Toxicity Assessment of Octachlorostyrene in Human Liver Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells.

Octachlorostyrene (OCS) is a ubiquitous persistent organic pollutant; however, information regarding the toxicological effects of OCS remains limited. In this study, we studied the toxicity mechanisms of OCS using human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The results showed that OCS reduced cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

New Insights into Human Biotransformation of BDE-209: Unique Occurrence of Metabolites of Ortho-Substituted Hydroxylated Higher Brominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Serum of e-Waste Dismantlers.

Extremely high levels of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) are frequently found in the serum of occupationally exposed groups, such as e-waste dismantlers and firefighters. However, the metabolism of BDE-209 in the human body is not adequately studied. In this study, 24 serum samples were collected from workers at a typical e-waste recycling workshop in Taizhou, Eastern China, and the occurrence and fate of these higher brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated.

The effects of modified RNA-binding proteins HuR on the biological behavior of the bladder cancer T24 cell line.

Background: In tumors, the role of human antigen R () includes regulating tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Previous studies have revealed that the expression of can be detected in bladder cancer, and is related to the biological behavior of malignancy.

Methods: T24 cells were transfected by overexpression and knockdown vectors, and divided into the control group, the overexpression- group, and the cas9- group.

Removal of triclosan from water by sepiolite supported bimetallic Fe/Ni nanoparticles.

A simple and low-cost route to fabricate sepiolite-supported bimetallic Fe/Ni (Sep-Fe/Ni) nanoparticles was obtained by synchronous liquid phase reduction method. The as prepared composite was used to remove triclosan (TCS) from aqueous solutions. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis were used for characterization of the materials.

Effects of targeted silencing on the biological processes of the T24 and 5637 cells .

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of in the biological processes of bladder cancer cells (BCCs) . Short hairpin (sh)RNA targeting was designed and constructed, and the T24 and 5637 BCCs were selected for transfection. The cells were classified into two groups: shRNA negative control (NC) and Notch1 shRNA.

Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma in a 16-year-old male with difficulty in defecation: case report and literature review.

Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma is a rare benign tumor that originates from the prostate gland. It usually is between the rectum and the bladder, and is composed of predominantly cystic enlarged prostatic glands in a fibrous stroma and spreads extensively in the pelvis. The mass usually causes a series of obstructive symptoms by compressing adjacent organs.

Functionalization and optimization-strategy of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials for gene and drug delivery.

Graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) have been widely used in cancer therapy, tissue engineering, antibacterial and biological imaging due to their optical, thermal, and drug absorption properties. When used as drug and gene nanocarrier, the major limitations are aggregation, biocompatibility, and inappropriate release of drugs or genes. To overcome these problems, researchers have developed a variety of functionalization processes.

Biotransformation of Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) in Sediment Microcosms and the Adaptation of Microbial Communities to TCEP.

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), a typical chlorinated organophosphate ester (OPE), is an emerging contaminant of global concern because of its frequent occurrence, potential toxic effects, and persistence in the environment. In this study, we investigated the microbial TCEP biotransformation and the development of microbial communities in sediment microcosms with repeated TCEP amendments. The TCEP degradation fitted pseudo-zero-order kinetics, with reaction rates of 0.

Reaction kinetic study of nonthermal plasma continuous degradation of acetone in a closed-loop reactor.

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) degradation has been shown to be a promising method for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal from air. However, there have been few studies on the degradation of indoor VOCs using NTP, and even less on their reaction kinetics. In this study, NTP degradation of acetone, a representative of oxygenated VOCs, in a closed-loop reactor operating in recirculation mode was investigated.

Prognostic utility of the combination of pretreatment monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with NMIBC after transurethral resection.

To investigate and validate predictive value of combination of pretreatment monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection. Total 358 patients enrolled were assigned into three (MLR-NLR 0, 1 and 2) groups per the cut-off values of MLR and NLR. Kaplan-Meier curves showed MLR, NLR and their combination were statistically associated with DFS (p < 0.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in mangrove sediments of Shantou, China: Occurrence, profiles, depth-distribution, and risk assessment.

Surface and columnar sediments were collected from four mangrove Wetlands in Shantou coastal areas of South China to investigate the level, distribution, possible sources and ecotoxicological risks of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Total concentration of 14 PBDEs (∑PBDEs) and 41 PCBs (∑PCBs) varied from 0.61 to 180 ng/g and 42-636 pg/g dry weight (dw) in surface sediments, respectively.

Transcriptomic analyses of the biological effects of black carbon exposure to A549 cells.

Ambient black carbon (BC) is found to be associated with increased risk of diverse pulmonary diseases, including acute respiratory inflammation and decreased lung function. Freshly emitted BC (FBC) can be transformed into oxidized BC (OBC) through the photochemical oxidization in the air. How this oxidization process influences the toxicity of BC particles is unclear.

Distribution by influence factors of pyrene removal in chemical enhancers assisted microbial phytoremediation of in co-contaminated soils.

The rehabilitation of soil co-contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has become a serious global issue. Chemical enhancers and strains are often used to remove PAHs from contaminated soil. In this paper, the effects of chemical enhancers, strain HD-1, and in removing pyrene from co-contaminated soil are studied.

Organophosphate esters in the water, sediments, surface soils, and tree bark surrounding a manufacturing plant in north China.

Emission from manufacturing facilities to the surrounding environment is one of the important input source of pollutants. However, no information on the levels of organophosphate esters (OPEs) contamination in the environmental media around the manufacturing facility is available to date. In this study, samples from various environmental media, including sediments, water, surface soils, and tree bark, were obtained near an OPE manufacturing plant in Hengshui, Hebei Province, North China.

Comprehensive Effects of Suppression of MicroRNA-383 in Human Bone-Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Treating Spinal Cord Injury.

Background/aims: Transplantation of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promotes neural cell regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Recently, we showed that suppression of microRNA-383 (miR-383) in MSCs increased the protein levels of glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), resulting in improved therapeutic effects on SCI. However, the overall effects of miR-383 suppression in MSCs on SCI therapy were not determined yet.

Mecambridine induces potent cytotoxic effects, autophagic cell death and modulation of the mTOR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HSC-3 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Plant secondary metabolites including alkaloids, demonstrate a complex diversity in their molecular scaffolds and exhibit tremendous pharmacological potential as anti-cancerous therapeutics. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of a natural alkaloid, mecambridine, against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). An MTT assay was used to evaluate cytotoxic effects of mecambridine on HSC-3 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Plumbagin Triggers ER Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells via Induction of ROS.

Background/aims: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. Currently available therapies for hormone-refractory PCa are only marginally effective. Plumbagin (PLB), a natural naphthoquinone isolated from the traditional folk medicine Plumbago zeylanica, is known to selectively kill tumor cells.

Protective Effect of Pinitol Against Inflammatory Mediators of Rheumatoid Arthritis via Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 22 (PTPN22).

BACKGROUND The aim of the current study was to explore the anti-arthritic effect of pinitol via assessing its effect on various inflammatory mediators and its possible mechanism of action. MATERIAL AND METHODS We assessed the anti-arthritic effect of pinitol in a formaldehyde- and CFA-induced arthritic model in Wistar Swiss albino strain rats divided into 6 groups. The rats received different doses of pinitol and indomethacin for 28 days.

Organophosphate esters in total suspended particulates of an urban city in East China.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment, but little is known on the occurrence and distribution of OPEs in the background atmosphere of urban environments. In this study, air samples were collected from two sites in the city of Shanghai, a typical fast developing metropolitan of East China, for investigating the concentration levels, composition profiles, potential sources and human health risk to OPEs. The annual average (median) values of total suspended particulates ΣOPEs concentrations were 19.

Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus Presented With Bilateral Hydronephrosis and Urinary Infection: A Case Report.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a condition resulting from the kidney's impaired response to circulating antidiuretic hormone (ADH), leading to polydipsia and polyuria. Urinary tract dilatation caused by NDI is a rare situation. Here, we report a case of congenital NDI presented with bilateral hydronephrosis.

[Clinical analysis of renal cell carcinoma with brain metastases (report of 10 cases)].

Objective: To investigate the optimal treatment and prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma with brain metastases (RCCBM) by the analysis of clinical features.

Methods: The clinical data of 10 patients with RCCBM in our hospital from Jul. 2003 to Aug.

Improved sensitivity and specificity for prostate cancer diagnosis based on the urine PCA3/PSA ratio acquired by sequence‑specific RNA capture.

Prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) is a non-coding RNA fragment that is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells. However, the clinical applications of PCA3 are highly limited due to the instability of RNA and the lack of reliable and efficient RNA extraction and purification methods. Thus, in the present study, we compared three different methods of RNA extraction to further confirm the higher yield of commercial magnetic beads with poly-T functionalization and a capturer strand.

Association between PSCA mRNA expression levels and rs2294008 polymorphism in transitional cell cancer of the bladder.

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) was originally identified as a gene that is overexpressed in prostate cancer, and correlates with prostate cancer progression and prognosis. Recently, a significant association has been identified between the PSCA rs2294008 (C>T) polymorphism and the risk of developing bladder cancer. Therefore, the present study investigated the different expression levels of PSCA mRNA in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and normal bladder tissue.