Decoding 11-oxygenated androgen synthesis: insights from enzyme gene expression and LC-MS/MS quantification.

Background: Adrenal-origin and peripheral tissue-transformed 11-oxygenated androgens are recognized as significant androgens. However, our current understanding of the synthesis of 11-oxygenated androgens, including the organs and cell types involved, remains limited.

Methods: We performed comprehensive analyses on an extensive dataset of normal human tissues, which included bulk RNA data from 30 tissues, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA) data from 16 tissues and proteomics data from 29 tissues, to characterize the expression profiles of enzyme-encoding genes.

Identification of tumor immunophenotypes associated with immunotherapy response in bladder cancer.

Objectives: This study aims to reveal immunophenotypes associated with immunotherapy response in bladder cancer, identify the signature genes of immune subtypes, and provide new molecular targets for improving immunotherapy response.

Methods: Bladder cancer immunophenotypes were characterized in the bulk RNA sequencing dataset GSE32894 and Imvigor210, and gene expression signatures were established to identify the immunophenotypes. Expression of gene signatures were validated in single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE145140 and human proteins expression data source.

Establishment of a risk score model for bladder urothelial carcinoma based on energy metabolism-related genes and their relationships with immune infiltration.

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is a common malignant tumor of the human urinary system, and a large proportion of BLCA patients have a poor prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find more efficient and sensitive biomarkers for the prognosis of BLCA patients in clinical practice. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and 584 energy metabolism-related genes (EMRGs) were obtained from the Reactome pathway database.

A study comparing dusting to basketing for renal stones ≤ 2 cm during flexible ureteroscopy.

Objectives: To compare the dusting efficiency and safety with basketing for treating renal stones ≤ 2 cm during flexible ureteroscopy (fURS).

Materials And Methods: This study included 218 patients with renal stones ≤ 2 cm treated with fURS. Among them, 106 patients underwent dusting, and 112 patients underwent fragmentation with basket extraction.

Integrative Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulatory Features of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) frequently features a high level of tumor heterogeneity. Elucidating the chromatin landscape of ccRCC at the single-cell level could provide a deeper understanding of the functional states and regulatory dynamics underlying the disease. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq) on 19 ccRCC samples, and whole-exome sequencing was used to understand the heterogeneity between individuals.

Long noncoding RNA as a potential diagnostic tool for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To identify consistently expressed lncRNAs and suitable lncRNAs with high sensitivity and specificity from multiple independent studies as potential biomarkers for PCa diagnostics.

Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, and CBMdisc for studies published up to July 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent reviewers based on the QUADAS-2 tool using Review Manager 5.

Machine learning model for the prediction of prostate cancer in patients with low prostate-specific antigen levels: A multicenter retrospective analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer (PCa) detection in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels ≤20 ng/mL at the initial puncture biopsy.

Methods: A total of 146 patients (46 with Pca, 31.5%) with PSA ≤20 ng/mL who had undergone transrectal ultrasound-guided 12+X prostate puncture biopsy with clear pathological results at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (November 2015 to December 2021) were retrospectively evaluated.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Metastatic Testicular Seminoma Reveals the Cellular and Molecular Characteristics of Metastatic Cell Lineage.

Background: Testicular cancer is the most common solid malignancy in young men. Given the many histological classifications of testicular tumors, seminoma is one of the most treatable cancers. The survival rate in early-stage disease was more than 90%.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals cell type diversity of human prostate.

Extensive studies have been performed to describe the phenotypic changes occurring during malignant transformation of the prostate. However, the cell types and associated changes that contribute to the development of prostate diseases and cancer remain elusive, largely due to the heterogeneous composition of prostatic tissues. Here, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of four human prostate tissues by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze their cellular compositions.

Single-cell transcriptomes reveal characteristic features of cell types within the human adrenal microenvironment.

Various cells within the adrenal microenvironment are important in maintaining the body homeostasis. However, our understanding of adrenal disease pathogenesis is limited by an incomplete molecular characterization of the cell types responsible for the organ's multiple homeostatic functions. We report a cellular landscape of the human adrenal gland using single-cell RNA sequencing.

[Reduced zinc concentration in expressed prostatic secretion relates to the pain symptoms of types â…¢ and â…£ prostatitis].

Objective: To determine the zinc levels in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of the patients with different types of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, and explore the reference value of zinc concentration in EPS in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.

Methods: We collected EPS samples from 35 healthy men and 173 patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, including 65 cases of type â…¢A, 69 cases of type â…¢B, and 39 cases of type â…£, according to the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). We compared the zinc levels in the EPS samples among different groups and analyzed the correlations of zinc concentration with the NIH-CPSI scores, WBC count, pH value, and age of the subjects.

[A multi-omics study on NKX3.1-related node genes in prostate cancer].

Objective: The NKX3.1 homeobox gene is closely associated with the development and progression of prostate cancer. This study was to explore NKX3.

Genetic variations affecting serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels and status of regional lymph nodes in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer from Southern China.

Background: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (sCEA) level might be an indicator of disease. Indeed, an elevated sCEA level is a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, the genetic determinants of sCEA level in healthy and CRC population remains unclear.

Antineoplastic effect of calycosin on osteosarcoma through inducing apoptosis showing in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Recently, increasing studies have documented that tumorigenesis closely relates to apoptotic processes. Thus, inducing apoptosis is an anti-cancer strategy against osteosarcoma. Here we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of calycosin on human osteosarcoma cell (143B) in vitro.

Cigarette smoking has a positive and independent effect on testosterone levels.

Previous studies have suggested that testosterone levels are linked to a variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, erectile dysfunction, depression, stroke and osteoporosis. Since cigarette smoking is a major health problem and highly prevalent among men, several groups have studied the effects of cigarette smoking on testosterone levels in men. However, the results have been conflicting.

Formononetin protects TBI rats against neurological lesions and the underlying mechanism.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability or death worldwide, especially in the young. Thus, effective medication with few side effects needs to be developed. This work aimed to explore the potential benefits of formononetin (FN) on TBI rodent model and to discuss the regarding mechanism.

Genome-wide association study of sex hormones, gonadotropins and sex hormone-binding protein in Chinese men.

Background: Sex hormones and gonadotropins exert a wide variety of effects in physiological and pathological processes. Accumulated evidence shows a strong heritable component of circulating concentrations of these hormones. Recently, several genome-wide association studies (GWASs) conducted in Caucasians have identified multiple loci that influence serum levels of sex hormones.

Role of metabolic factors in the association between osteocalcin and testosterone in Chinese men.

Objective: Osteocalcin can regulate energy metabolism and increase testosterone production. Although previous studies have shown the positive association between osteocalcin and testosterone, the effect of metabolic factors in the association is unclear.

Design And Setting: Osteocalcin, testosterone, and metabolic factors were accessed in 2400 men aged 20 to 69 years, who participated in the population-based Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey in Guangxi province of China from September 2009 to December 2009.

Both total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin are independent risk factors for metabolic syndrome: results from Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey in China.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is often beneficial from testosterone replacement therapy. Although testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are inversely associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome, it is controversial whether the association between testosterone and metabolic syndrome is independent of SHBG.

Methods: Testosterone, SHBG and metabolic syndrome were evaluated in 2361 men aged 20-73 years, who participated in the population-based Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey.

Distribution characteristics of leukocytes in EPS and correlation with serum PSA levels: results from a Chinese male population survey.

Objective: To explore the distribution characteristics of leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in a large Chinese male population and the correlation with leukocytes and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Materials And Methods: From September to December 2009, EPS specimens were collected from 2504 men (age 20-69 years) who had undergone prostatic massage and were recruited from a large-scale community-based population survey in Southern China. The EPS specimens were divided into 5 categories according to the leukocyte count.

Genome-wide association study identified novel genetic variant on SLC45A3 gene associated with serum levels prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a Chinese population.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a commonly used cancer biomarker for prostate cancer, and is often included as part of routine physical examinations in China. Serum levels of PSA may be influenced by genetic factors as well as other factors. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in a European population successfully identified six genetic loci that were significantly associated with PSA level.

Prostaglandin E2 induces stromal cell-derived factor-1 expression in prostate stromal cells by activating protein kinase A and transcription factor Sp1.

Recent reports indicate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can modulate tumor environment and promote angiogenesis through induction of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) production. We investigated the mechanism of PGE2-induced SDF-1 regulation in human prostate stromal cell and analyzed the effects in a stromal-epithelial interaction model. PGE2 stimulation increased SDF-1 expression in the prostate stromal cell lines WPMY-1 and NAF.

Genome-wide scan identifies variant in TNFSF13 associated with serum IgM in a healthy Chinese male population.

IgM provides a first line of defense during microbial infections. Serum IgM levels are detected routinely in clinical practice. And IgM is a genetically complex trait.

Genome-wide association study identifies TNFSF13 as a susceptibility gene for IgA in a South Chinese population in smokers.

IgA is an important factor in our immune system. There are many diseases associated with it, such as IgA nephropathy, IgA deficiency, and so on. In order to describe the relationship between the genes and the IgA level, we performed a genome-wide association study of serum IgA with 1,999 healthy Chinese men in the first stage and replicated on an independent Chinese sample with 1,496 subjects in the second stage.