Increased abundance of bacteria of the family Muribaculaceae achieved by fecal microbiome transplantation correlates with the inhibition of kidney calcium oxalate stone deposition in experimental rats.

Background: The incidence of nephrolithiasis is increasing rapidly worldwide. Calcium oxalate is the most common constituent, contributing to approximately 80% of all kidney stones. The gut microbiome, through its oxalate-degrading ability, may play a role in decreasing morbidity due to urinary calculus.

Kindlin-2 promotes invasiveness of prostate cancer cells via NF-κB-dependent upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases.

Invasive progression is the major lethal cause of prostate cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of kindlin-2, an integrin-binding focal adhesion protein, in the regulation of invasiveness of prostate cancer. We found that downregulation of kindlin-2 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology significantly inhibited the invasion of PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cells in a Matrigel Transwell assay.

Percent free prostate-specific antigen is effective to predict prostate biopsy outcome in Chinese men with prostate-specific antigen between 10.1 and 20.0 ng ml(-1).

Percent free prostatic-specific antigen (%fPSA) has been introduced as a tool to avoid unnecessary biopsies in patients with a serum PSA level of 4.0-10.0 ng ml-1 , however, it remains controversial whether %fPSA is effective in PSA range of 10.

[Effects of adenovirus-mediated PTEN on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and expressions of cyclin D1 and p21].

Objective: To construct a recombinant adenovirus expression vector containing the anti-oncogene PTEN and to investigate the effects of the PTEN gene on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and the expressions of cyclin D1 and p21 in the PC-3 cells.

Methods: The PTEN gene was amplified from the rat hippocampus by RT-PCR and cloned into the shuttle plasmid pEN-TR2A. The plasmids were constructed and amplified in 293A cells.

Role of PSA-related variables in improving positive ratio of biopsy of prostate cancer within serum PSA gray zone.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of predictors of prostate biopsy outcome in order to improve their positive predictive value (PPV). The related variables of PSA such as free/total PSA ratio (F/T), complexed/total PSA ratio (C/T), density of PSA (PSAD) were studied to improve early diagnosis for early PCa within serum PSA gray zone.

Methods: Samples of venous blood were collected early in the morning from 459 patients, aged 50 to 88 years (average 70.

Up-regulation of pVHL along with down-regulation of HIF-1α by NDRG2 expression attenuates proliferation and invasion in renal cancer cells.

The majority of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are characterized by loss of function of the tumor suppressor gene von Hippel Lindau (VHL), which acts as ubiquitin ligase for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). In the absence of VHL, HIF-1α protein becomes stabilized and contributes to tumorigenesis. Recent data demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of VHL promoter in RCC cells.

Flank suspended supine position for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Aims: Prone and supine positions for percutaneous nephrolithotomy are widely used but have their drawbacks. We report a new positioning method called "flank suspended supine position" (FSSP) for PCNL and describe our experience with PCNL in this position to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

Methods: Retrospective study of 150 cases of renal stone patients treated with PCNL in a new position called flank suspended supine position (FSSP) from June 2009 to July 2010.

[Effects of staurosporine on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of staurosporine (ST) on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Methods: Prostate cancer PC-3 cells were treated in vitro with ST at 10(-8) mol/L. The expressions of cyclin A and cyclin D1 proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot, the effect of ST on the proliferation of the cells determined by MTT assay and plate colony formation, the apoptosis of the cells examined by flow cytometry, and their morphological changes observed under the light microscope.

[Effects of intraprostatic injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) on benign prostate hyperplasia].

Objective: To investigate the effects of intraprostatic injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) on benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in rats.

Methods: Models of BPH were established in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of testosterone propionate, and then divided into three BTX-A groups, injected with BTX-A into the ventral prostate at the doses of 5 U, 10 U and 20 U, a negative control group, injected with saline only, and a sham operation group, with 12 in each. The prostates of the animals were harvested at 2 or 4 weeks after the injection, their volumes and weights measured, histological changes examined by HE staining, and glandular and interstitial areas semi-quantified by the image analysis system.

[The mRNA expression of P16(ink4a) and HST2 in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues: a pilot study].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of the aging gene P16(ink4a) and anti-aging gene HST2 in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: Twenty-three BPH and eighteen normal prostate specimens were collected and total RNA was extracted, followed by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expressions of P16(ink4a) was detected by semi-quantitative analysis in BPH and normal prostate tissues.

Heparanase promotes bone destruction and invasiveness in prostate cancer.

Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that plays an important role in angiogenesis and metastasis of cancer. Herein we evaluate the effect of heparanase overexpression on invasiveness and bone destruction in prostate cancer bone metastases. The human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was stably transfected with a plasmid containing the cDNA for human heparanase or with the vector alone as a control.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A inhibits the growth of bladder cancer cells through induction of p21WAF1 and G1 cell cycle arrest.

Purpose: To investigate whether Trichostatin A (TSA) possesses antitumor activity against human bladder cancer cells, and if any, its mechanism.

Materials And Methods: A human bladder cancer cell line, BIU-87, was treated with different concentrations of TSA. After treatment, cell growth was measured by MTT assay.

Renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection for chyluria via retroperitoneoscopy and open surgery: report of 53 cases with followup.

Purpose: We present our experience with retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection. We compared the clinical efficacy of this treatment for chyluria with that of open surgery.

Materials And Methods: From January 1998 to June 2004, 53 patients (55 renal units) with chyluria underwent renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection via the retroperitoneoscopic and conventional open approaches.

[The changes of IGF-I in testis and epididymis on a rat model with oligozoospermia/azoospermia induced by cyclophosphamide].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the levels of IGF-I in the epididymis and the expression of IGF-I in the testis of adult male rat after the administration of cyclophosphamide.

Methods: Ninety-six male adult rats (8 weeks age) were divided into 6 groups. The doses given to the rats of the groups 1 to 5 were 10, 20, 40, 80 and 100 mg/(kg x d), respectively.

Comparison of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy versus open approaches to nonfunctioning tuberculous kidneys: a report of 44 cases.

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated the advantages of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for nonfunctioning tuberculous kidneys by comparing its clinical results, operative methods and skills with those of open nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data on 22 patients with nonfunctioning tuberculous kidneys who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, including simple and subcapsular nephrectomy, were compared with those on 22 who underwent open nephrectomy for a similar indication during the same period. Results in the 2 groups were analyzed.