Renal Artery Embolization Before Radical Nephrectomy for Complex Renal Tumour: Which are the True Advantages?

Introduction: Renal artery embolization is performed before radical nephrectomy (RN) for renal mass in order to induce preoperative infarction and to facilitate surgical intervention through decrease of intraoperative bleeding. Moreover, in metastatic renal cancer it seems to stimulate tumour-specific antibodies, even if no established benefits in clinical response or survival have been reported. The role of preoperative renal artery embolization (PRAE) in management of renal masses has been often debated and its real benefits are still unclear.

Relationship between cellular and exosomal miRNAs targeting NOD-like receptors in bladder cancer: preliminary results.

Background: Exosomes are membrane vesicles secreted by both cancerous and normal cells which play important roles during intercellular communications and oncogenic transformation. Many reports highlight the importance of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) as pro-tumorigenic mediators during carcinogenesis, since they regulate all these pathways at the post-transcriptional level. Since bladder cancer cells have a high immunogenic potential, from one hand, and inflammation process is intimately connected to carcinogenesis, from the other, the interest in analyzing inflammasome-related exo-miRNAs is apparent.

Expression of urinary miRNAs targeting NLRs inflammasomes in bladder cancer.

Aim Of The Study: Inflammasome, a large complex of NOD-like receptors (NLRs), drives tumor growth and progression. The present study aimed at exploring the alteration in expression of urinary inflammasome-related microRNAs (miRNAs) in bladder cancer (BC). Our previous report demonstrated the up-regulation of NLRs genes (, , and ) in urine sediments of patients harboring BC.

Different levels of serum microRNAs in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia: evaluation of potential diagnostic and prognostic role.

Introduction: Diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is based on prostate biopsy that is performed when prostate specific antigen (PSA) is persistently altered over time and/or abnormal digital rectal examination is found. Serum PSA levels increase in both PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia, leading to an increased number of unnecessary biopsies. There is an urgent need to unravel PCa-specific molecular signatures.

Expression of inflammasome-related genes in bladder cancer and their association with cytokeratin 20 messenger RNA.

Background: Inflammation plays a crucial role in different stages of cancer development and has long been associated with various types of cancer. Strong associations between dysregulated inflammasome activity and human heritable and acquired inflammatory diseases highlight the importance of this pathway in the immune response. The inflammasome is a large complex of NOD-like receptors called NLRs and drives growth and progression of different tumors.

Stability Assessment of Candidate Reference Genes in Urine Sediment of Prostate Cancer Patients for miRNA Applications.

We aimed at assessing the stability of candidate reference genes in urine sediments of men subjected to digital rectal examination for suspected prostate cancer (PCa). Two microRNAs (miR-191 and miR-25) and 1 small nucleolar RNA (SNORD48) were assayed in 35 post-DRE urine sediments of men with PCa and in 26 subjects with histologically confirmed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The stability of candidate reference genes was assessed through BestKeeper algorithm and equivalence test.

Pneumoscrotum: report of two different cases and review of the literature.

Pneumoscrotum is the term used to describe the presence of air within the scrotum and includes scrotal emphysema as well as pneumatocele. The etiology varies; in some cases, pneumoscrotum may be due to life-threatening disease like pneumothorax or Fournier gangrene. Despite this, pneumoscrotum is a rarely debated issue.

Circulating microRNAs and kallikreins before and after radical prostatectomy: are they really prostate cancer markers?

The aim of our study was to monitor serum levels of two miRNAs (miR-21 and miR-141) and three KLKs (hK3/PSA, hK11, and hK13) before and 1, 5, and 30 days after radical prostatectomy, in order to characterize their fluctuations after surgery. 38 patients with prostate cancer were included. miR-21 and miR-141 were quantified through real-time PCR, while ELISA assays were used to quantify hK3 (PSA), hK11, and hK13.

Proteomic analysis of a spring wheat cultivar in response to prolonged cold stress.

Cold represents one of the major abiotic factors influencing plant growth and development worldwide. We analysed the long-term responsiveness of an Iranian spring wheat (cv. Kohdasht) to cold from a proteomic point of view, in order to unravel the molecular mechanisms helping a cold-sensitive cultivar to survive exposure to suboptimal temperatures.

Proteomic analysis of plasma derived from platelet buffy coats during storage at room temperature. An application of ProteoMiner™ technology.

The present study was aimed at revealing new insights into the analysis of storage-related processes occurring in the supernatants of platelet concentrates (PCs) derived from pooled buffy coats suspended in whole plasma. To reduce the dynamic range of plasma protein concentrations and access low-abundance proteins, we made use of a solid-phase combinatorial peptide ligand library, known under the trade name of ProteoMiner™. Afterwards, two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) to reveal changes in proteomic profiles.

The influence of temperature on plant development in a vernalization-requiring winter wheat: A 2-DE based proteomic investigation.

In this work, proteomics was used to study the influence of both optimal and low temperatures on growth and development in a vernalization-requiring winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Cheyenne) after prolonged times of treatment. For this purpose, plants were grown at optimal temperature (20°C) for 14 days (zero point) after which half were transferred to conditioned chambers kept at 4°C for a period of 63 days.

Proteomics and transcriptomics investigation on longissimus muscles in Large White and Casertana pig breeds.

Consumer complaints against the blandness of modern lean meat and the frequent reference to the more strongly flavored meat that was available years ago have prompted reconsideration of high fat-depositing typical pig breeds. Casertana and Large White pig breeds are characterized by a different tendency toward fat accumulation as they exhibit opposite genetic and physiological traits with respect to the energy metabolism. These physiological differences were investigated in longissimus lumborum muscles through proteomics (2-DE, MS/MS) and microarray approaches.

Proteomics applied on plant abiotic stresses: role of heat shock proteins (HSP).

The most crucial function of plant cell is to respond against stress induced for self-defence. This defence is brought about by alteration in the pattern of gene expression: qualitative and quantitative changes in proteins are the result, leading to modulation of certain metabolic and defensive pathways. Abiotic stresses usually cause protein dysfunction.