Prenatal DEHP exposure induces lifelong testicular toxicity by continuously interfering with steroidogenic gene expression.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggested the association between prenatal di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and disorders of sex development (DSD), adult male disorders, and reproductive aging. Inhibiting testosterone synthesis by interfering with steroidogenic gene expression induces testicular toxicity, however, whether prenatal DEHP exposure induces testicular toxicity through this mechanism remains uncertain.

Methods: C57BL/6JGpt male mice underwent different doses (0, 100, 500, 1,000 mg/kg) of prenatal DEHP exposure during gestational day 10 to delivery day, the testicular toxicity (genital development, testosterone, semen quality, and morphology of testis tissue) in the neonatal, post-puberal and middle-aged stages was observed, and the steroidogenic gene (, , , , , and ) expression was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot (WB).

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure induces premature testicular senescence by disrupting mitochondrial respiratory chain through STAT5B-mitoSTAT3 in Leydig cell.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a prevalent plasticizer, is known to have endocrine-disrupting effects on males and cause reproductive toxicity. There were causal effects of DEHP on testosterone levels in the real world by Mendelian randomization analysis. Exposure to DEHP during the preadult stage might lead to premature testicular senescence, but the mechanisms responsible for this have yet to be determined.

Prenatal DEHP Exposure Induces Premature Testicular Aging by Promoting Leydig Cell Senescence through the MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Previous studies show that prenatal di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure induces premature testicular aging. However, the evidence is weak, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. p38/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK pathways participate in aging.

Ningmitai capsules have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects in the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome mouse model through systemic immunity.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) seriously affects the physical and mental health of approximately 90% of males. Due to its complex and unclear etiology, the treatment methods that are currently available for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome are controversial, and their efficacy is unsatisfactory. At present, most researchers believe that this kind of prostatitis is caused by autoimmune inflammation.

Salvage I brachytherapy for liver metastases of colorectal cancer in anatomically challenging locations after failure of systemic chemotherapy-A retrospective study.

Purpsoe: Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CCLM) in anatomically challenging locations is difficult to treat. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of permanent I seeds implantation (ISI) for treatment of CCLM in anatomically challenging locations after failure of systemic chemotherapy.

Methods And Materials: A total of 31 liver metastases (in 25 patients) were treated by ISI under computerized tomography guidance from January 2011 to December 2017.

46,XY disorders of sex development: the use of NGS for prevalent variants.

46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) present with diverse phenotypes and complicated genetic causes. Precise genetic diagnosis contributes to accurate management, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and whole-exome sequencing are powerful tools for investigating DSD. However, the prevalent variants resulting in 46,XY DSD remain unclear, especially those associated with mild forms, such as isolated hypospadias, inguinal cryptorchidism, and micropenis.

Application of the Mathieu combined tunnel technique for repairing glans dehiscence after failed hypospadias repair.

Repairing glans dehiscence after failed hypospadias repair is challenging for pediatric surgeons. Here, we introduced and evaluated a newly modified Mathieu technique, Mathieu combined tunnel (MCT), which involves multiple custom-designed flaps for the shortage of flap source material after repeated operations; we also constructed a tunnel to avoid the glans incision that may carry new risks of dehiscence. This retrospective study included 26 patients who were consecutively admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou, China) for glans dehiscence repair after failed hypospadias repair from October 2014 to October 2020; sixteen patients underwent surgery using the MCT (MCT group) and ten patients underwent surgery using the tubularized incised plate (TIP) technique (TIP group).

Iodine-125 seed implantation treatment of lung metastases < 2.5 cm using 5-ml syringe as a guide.

Purpose: Small lung metastases change their location with respiration, making difficult to localize, therefore, increasing the number of punctures. Accurate puncture can reduce trauma to lung tissue and accelerate patient's recovery. The aim of the study was to present our experience with the technique of using local anesthesia 5-ml syringe as a guide for computerized tomography-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (CT-ISI).

Iodine-125 seed implantation for residual hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocellular carcinoma in challenging locations after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: Initial experience and findings.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 (I) seed implantation (ISI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) lesions in challenging locations after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Material And Methods: A retrospective single-center review of 24 patients with HCC or CCC tumors in challenging locations (hepatic dome or close to the heart/diaphragm/hepatic hilum) was conducted. Patients who underwent CT-guided I implantation from May 2014 to January 2019 were recruited.

NLGN3 promotes neuroblastoma cell proliferation and growth through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, previous studies show synaptic protein neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) promotes glioma proliferation and growth, However, no investigation about the role of NLGN3 in neuroblastoma was reported. Here, we found NGLGN3 was significantly upregulated in neuroblastoma cells and tissues, its overexpression significantly promoted neuroblastoma cell proliferation and growth determined by MTT analysis, colony formation assay, cell cycle progression analysis, BrdU incorporation assay and animal model, while its knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and growth. Then we found NLGN3 could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT and the transcription activity of FOXO family, suggesting NLGN3 activated PI3K/AKT pathway, inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway in NLGN3 overexpressing cells inhibited cell proliferation, confirming NLGN3 promoted neuroblastoma proliferation through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

How many times I seed implantation brachytherapy can be repeated for pulmonary metastases: clinical efficacy and complications.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine how many times iodine-125 (I) seed brachytherapy (ISB) for recurrent pulmonary metastases (RPM) can be done, and the clinical efficacy and complications of repeated ISB in RPM treatment.

Material And Methods: Between September 2013 and August 2018, 18 patients with RPM, after conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and trans-arterial chemoembolization, received CT-guided repeated ISB. Patients were followed up, and local control, survival, and post-operative complications were analyzed retrospectively.

I seeds implantation for treating residual hepatocellular carcinoma located beneath the diaphragm after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Purpose: The effect of I seed implantation for the treatment of local residual tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma located beneath the diaphragm (HCC-LBD) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has not yet been reported. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of I seeds implantation (ISI) for the treatment of residual HCC-LBD after TACE.

Methods And Materials: A total of 18 patients treated with ISI between August 2012 and March 2018 for residual HCC-LBD after single or multiple TACE were enrolled.

GDNF family receptor alpha 2 promotes neuroblastoma cell proliferation by interacting with PTEN.

Neuroblastoma is a childhood tumor, and high-stage neuroblastoma has a poor prognosis. The regulatory mechanisms for neuroblastoma progression are poorly understood. In present study, we found that GDNF family receptor alpha 2 (GFRA2) was upregulated in neuroblastoma cells and tissues, and its overexpression promoted neuroblastoma cell proliferation, as revealed using colony formation, soft agar growth, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays Tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) pathway that interacts with GFRA2.

Comparison of clinical efficacy and complications of I seed brachytherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy for recurrent pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacies of I seed implantation and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in treatment of recurrent lung metastases from colorectal cancer, to compare the tolerance of lung tissue to both forms of radiotherapy, and to analyze the factors that affect the prognosis.

Material And Methods: According to treatment received, thirty colorectal cancer patients with post-operative lung metastases were separated into two groups: I seed implantation group (group A; = 16) and SBRT group (group B; = 14). Patients were followed up, and local control rate, survival, and post-operative complications were analyzed retrospectively.

Impact of 3D printing technology on the comprehension of surgical liver anatomy.

Background And Aims: Surgical planning in liver resection depends on the precise understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) relation of tumors to the intrahepatic vascular trees. This study aimed to investigate the impact of 3D printing (3DP) technology on the understanding of surgical liver anatomy.

Methods: We selected four hepatic tumors that were previously resected.

Computed tomography-guided implantation of I seeds brachytherapy for recurrent multiple pulmonary oligometastases: initial experience and results.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy using I radioactive seeds for multiple pulmonary metastatic tumors.

Material And Methods: Between September 2013 and December 2015, 22 patients with multiple pulmonary metastases, who after conventional chemotherapy and trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy were considered unable to withstand stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), received CT-guided I brachytherapy. Clinical data were studied retrospectively.

miR-1303 promotes the proliferation of neuroblastoma cell SH-SY5Y by targeting GSK3β and SFRP1.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common solid tumors in children, many microRNAs regulate progression and development of NB. Here, we found miR-1303 was upregulated in NB cells and tissues, miR-1303 overexpression promoted the proliferation of SH-SY5Y NB cell investigated by MTT assay, colony formation assay and anchorage-independent growth ability assay, while miR-1303 knockdown reduced this effect. mechanism analysis suggested glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) were the target of miR-1303, luciferase assay revealed miR-1303 directly bound to the 3'UTR of GSK3β and SFRP1.

CT-guided implantation of (125)I seeds (permanent brachytherapy) for metastatic tumors of the hepatic portal system: Effectiveness and safety in 13 patients.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided implantation of (125)I seeds (permanent brachytherapy) for metastatic tumors of the hepatic portal system (HPS).

Methods And Materials: Between January 2012 and January 2015, 13 patients with metastases measuring >3.0 cm in short-axis diameter, which remained in the HPS after conventional chemotherapy and/or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, and for which an effective therapeutic dose from external beam radiotherapy could not be delivered, received CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy.

[Foley catheter versus urethral stent plus gastric tube for urine drainage following urethroplasty].

Objective: To compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Foley catheter draining method versus the urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty for hypospadias.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 361 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After operation, 91 of the cases received urine drainage with the Foley catheter (group A) and 270 with a urethral stent plus a gastric tube (group B).

Two-stage repair with long channel technique for primary severe hypospadias.

Objective: To introduce a 2-stage repair with long channel technique for primary severe hypospadias.

Patients And Methods: Between March 2010 and November 2013, 16 children with primary severe hypospadias underwent 2-stage repair with long channel technique. The technique applied in the first stage was almost the same as Bracka 2-stage repair.

Quantitation of plasma circulating DNA using quantitative PCR for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Circulating DNA is a potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis. This study was aimed to quantify the circulating DNA in plasma from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using quantitative PCR and evaluate its potential clinical value. Blood samples were collected from 72 patients with HCC, 37 with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis and 41 healthy volunteers.