H4K5 Butyrylation Coexist with Acetylation during Human Spermiogenesis and Are Retained in the Mature Sperm Chromatin.

Male germ cells experience a drastic chromatin remodeling through the nucleo-histone to nucleo-protamine (NH-NP) transition necessary for proper sperm functionality. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of H4 Lys5, such as acetylation (H4K5ac), play a crucial role in epigenetic control of nucleosome disassembly facilitating protamine incorporation into paternal DNA. It has been shown that butyrylation on the same residue (H4K5bu) participates in temporal regulation of NH-NP transition in mice, delaying the bromodomain testis specific protein (BRDT)-dependent nucleosome disassembly and potentially marking retained nucleosomes.

Sperm acquire epididymis-derived proteins through epididymosomes.

Study Question: Are epididymosomes implicated in protein transfer from the epididymis to spermatozoa?

Summary Answer: We characterized the contribution of epididymal secretions to the sperm proteome and demonstrated that sperm acquire epididymal proteins through epididymosomes.

What Is Known Already: Testicular sperm are immature cells unable to fertilize an oocyte. After leaving the testis, sperm transit along the epididymis to acquire motility and fertilizing abilities.

Cancer-Specific Survival Stratification Derived from Tumor Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 in Non-Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Degradation of the extracellular matrix is a prerequisite for the processes of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to assess the association of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9) and their inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression and cancer-specific survival (CSS), using immunohistochemical analysis of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of tumor tissue and normal tissue near the tumor from surgical T1-3bN0 M0 RCC specimens. Significant overexpression of MMP-2 in tumor and normal tissue was correlated with advanced stages, tumor size, sarcomatous differentiation and clinical symptoms.

Prognostic microRNAs in upper tract urothelial carcinoma: multicenter and international validation study.

Objective: To validate previously discovered miRNAs (miR-31-5p and miR-149-5p) as prognostic factors for UTUC in an independent cohort of UTUC patients.

Patients And Methods: Multicenter, international and retrospective study of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 103 UTUC patients (45 progressing and 58 non-progressing) who underwent radical nephroureterectomy. Total RNA was isolated and reverse transcribed.

Prospective evaluation of CT indeterminate renal masses using US and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of Ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of renal nodules indeterminate on CT by identifying benign cystic lesions not requiring further examination.

Methods: 72 patients with 83 indeterminate renal nodules on CT underwent baseline US and CEUS that classified lesions as benign (Bosniak I, II or IIF cysts) or potentially malignant (Bosniak III or IV cysts, solid nodules). The accuracy of US and CEUS in the differentiation between benign cysts and potentially malignant nodules was analyzed and compared with the final diagnosis obtained by histology or follow-up of at least 23 months with CEUS ± a conclusive CT/MR study.

Prognostic value of microRNA expression pattern in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Objective: To examine the microRNA (miRNA) expression pattern in tumour samples from patients with progressing and non-progressing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in order to identify putative miRNAs that may be used as prognostic markers.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 150 patients with UTUC who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy. Global miRNA expression patterns were analysed in 18 selected samples from patients with UTUC using TaqMan arrays.

Interface membrane is the best sample for histological study to diagnose prosthetic joint infection.

The objective of our study was to study which is the most accurate specimen for histological diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (pseudocapsule or interface membrane). This is a prospective study including hip revision arthroplasties performed from January 2007 to June 2009. Specimens from pseudocapsule and from interface membrane were obtained from each patient.

Accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the detection of bladder cancer.

Objective: To assess the accuracy contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in bladder cancer detection using transurethral biopsy in conventional cystoscopy as the reference standard and to determine whether CEUS improves the bladder cancer detection rate of baseline ultrasound.

Methods: 43 patients with suspected bladder cancer underwent conventional cystoscopy with transurethral biopsy of the suspicious lesions. 64 bladder cancers were confirmed in 33 out of 43 patients.

HER-2/AKT expression in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: prognostic implications.

Aim: To assess HER-2 and p-AKT expression in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in order to determine their value as prognostic factors of tumour progression and cancer-specific survival.

Patients And Methods: One hundred consecutive UTUC patients were retrospectively included, between 1990-2004, in 4 tissue microarrays for immunostaining. Median follow-up: 33.

Adhesion molecules alpha, beta and gamma-catenin as prognostic factors of tumour progression in upper urinary tract urothelial tumours: the role of AKT-P/GSK-3beta/beta-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate alpha, beta and gamma-catenin expression in upper urinary tract urothelial tumours (UUTC) and determine their value as prognostic factors; to investigate the correlation between the catenin complex and the AKT pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed 114 consecutive patients treated at our institution from 1990 to 2004; the mean follow-up was 54 months. Tumour samples were available from 70 patients, and included in tissue microarrays for immunohistochemical analysis.

Neutrophils in frozen section and type of microorganism isolated at the time of resection arthroplasty for the treatment of infection.

Introduction: The histology of periprosthetic tissue is a gold standard for the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection. However, the specificity and sensitivity of histology has never been 100%. In the present study we hypothesized that the type of microorganism could be related to the effectiveness of histology in the detection of infection.

Usefulness of histological analysis for predicting the presence of microorganisms at the time of reimplantation after hip resection arthroplasty for the treatment of infection.

Background: Appropriate interpretation of a frozen section has a relatively high specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of infection when septic loosening of a prosthesis is suspected. However, its usefulness for predicting the presence of microorganisms at the time of reimplantation after hip resection arthroplasty for the treatment of infection is not well defined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of histological analysis in this situation.

Low sensitivity of histology to predict the presence of microorganisms in suspected aseptic loosening of a joint prosthesis.

Intraoperative histology has a high specificity and sensitivity when a septic prosthesis loosening is suspected. However, its usefulness to predict the presence of microorganisms when aseptic loosening is suspected is not well defined. Intraoperative histology and cultures from periprosthetic tissue of 61 revision arthroplasties performed owing to suspected aseptic loosening were retrospectively reviewed.

Hoffa's fat pad resection in total knee arthroplasty.

The authors have studied the consequences of resection of Hoffa's fat pad during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sixty eight patients undergoing primary TKA were randomised to have Hoffa's fat pad either resected or preserved. Biopsy specimens of Hoffa's fat pad were taken for pathological study in all patients.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of matched primary tumour and lymph-node metastasis of D1 (pT2-3pN1M0) prostate cancer.

Objective: To describe the chromosomal numerical changes present in primary prostate tumours and their matched lymph-node metastases, to identify a clonal cell migration process which could account for the metastatic behaviour.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight cases of unsuspected stage D1 (pT2-3pN1M0) prostate cancer were detected among patients who had a radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using centromeric probes to enumerate chromosomes 7, 8, 10 and 12, was used to assess numerical chromosomal changes.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the head and neck: criteria for diagnosis in a study of 12 cases.

Aims: Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the head and neck is an unusual neoplasm in which a general consensus with regard to diagnostic criteria has not yet been reached. In this study we report the clinicopathological results of 12 ASCs, with special attention to their histological and immunohistochemical characteristics in order to define this neoplasm more precisely.

Methods And Results: All the patients were male with a peak incidence in the sixth decade of life.

Antiangiogenic effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy with infliximab in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Neovascularization, with an increased number of synovial vessels with a characteristic morphology, seems to contribute to the progression of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Accordingly, angiogenesis may be an important therapeutic target in PsA. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of infliximab on angiogenesis in the synovial membrane of patients with PsA who responded to this therapy.