Metformin ameliorates calcium oxalate crystallization and stone formation by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway: Two birds with one stone.

Deposition of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals and oxidative stress-induced injury of renal tubular epithelial cell are the primary pathogenic factors of nephrolithiasis. In this study we investigated the beneficial effects of metformin hydrochloride (MH) against nephrolithiasis and explored the underlying molecular mechanism. Our results demonstrated that MH inhibited the formation of CaOx crystals and promoted the transformation of thermodynamically stable CaOx monohydrate (COM) to more unstable CaOx dihydrate (COD).

Construction and Characterization of n6-Methyladenosine-Related lncRNA Prognostic Signature and Immune Cell Infiltration in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) lacks effective prognostic biomarkers and the role and mechanism of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in KIRC remain unclear.

Methods: We extracted standard mRNA-sequencing and clinical data from the TCGA database. The prognostic risk model was obtained by Lasso regression and Cox regression.

Tim3scFv-Transforming Lactobacillus Inhibits Transplanted Tumor of Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: T-cell immunoglobulin-3 (Tim-3) antibody drugs can treat malignant renal tumors but are expensive. To overcome this limitation, Lactococcus lactis host bacteria were used to express Tim-3 single-chain antibodies.

Methods: The pLAN-CTB-Tim3scFv plasmid was constructed using molecular cloning technology and transformed into Lactococcus lactis.

Coalbed Methane Production Model Based on Random Forests Optimized by a Genetic Algorithm.

It is of great significance to evaluate and predict coalbed methane (CBM) production for the exploitation and exploration of CBM. The flow characteristics of gas and water are very complicated and important in the process of CBM exploitation. In recent years, machine learning has been introduced to analyze CBM well production and its influence based on the historical production data.

Hierarchical dual-responsive cleavable nanosystem for synergetic photodynamic/photothermal therapy against melanoma.

Currently, the combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) with photothermal therapy (PTT) modalities based on a single near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation and highly selective internalization still remain a challenge. Herein, a hierarchical dual-responsive cleavable nanosystem for synergetic NIR triggered PDT/PTT is reported. The engineered nanoplatform (Au NRs/Cur/UCNPs@PBE) is designed by loading curcumin (Cur, photosensitizer) on gold nanarods (Au NRs) to build PDT/PTT therapy system, which was encapsulated outside with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and then modified with phenylboronic double ester (PBE).

Oncogenic potential of macrophage‑capping protein in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Macrophage‑capping protein (CapG) is a newly characterized oncogene involved in several types of cancer. However, the expression patterns and biological mechanisms of CapG in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of CapG in the prognosis, proliferation and metastasis of ccRCC.

HOTAIR expands the population of prostatic cancer stem-like cells and causes Docetaxel resistance via activating STAT3 signaling.

Prostatic cancer stem-like cells (PCSLCs) play an essential role in PCa development. Accumulating evidence suggests that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or chemotherapy using docetaxel could expand the population of PCSLCs. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for PCSLCs expansion has broadly scientific interest.

Investigation on the pore characteristics of coal specimens with bursting proneness.

To achieve further insight into the pore characteristics, the coal specimens with different bursting proneness before and after uniaxial compression failure are tested and compared in this paper. The data of mercury intrusion test is corrected by that of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and desorption test (LTNAD). The pore size distribution and pore volume of specimens are obtained.

Investigation of the In-Plane Mechanical Anisotropy of Magnesium Alloy AZ31B-O by VPSC⁻TDT Crystal Plasticity Model.

The in-plane mechanical anisotropy of magnesium alloy sheet, which significantly influences the design of the parts produced by Mg alloy sheets, is of great importance regarding its wide application. Though the stress-strain response and texture evolution have been intensively investigated, and the anisotropy of Mg alloy can be significantly substantiated by its R-value, which reveals the lateral response of a material other than the primary response. As a consequence, the conjunction of viscoplastic self-consistent model and twinning and detwinning scheme (VPSC-TDT) is employed to investigate the in-plane anisotropy of magnesium alloy AZ31B-O sheet.

Smart nanoplatform for sequential drug release and enhanced chemo-thermal effect of dual drug loaded gold nanorod vesicles for cancer therapy.

Background: The combination of multiple chemotherapeutics has been used in the clinic for enhanced cancer chemotherapy, however, frequent relapse, chemo-resistance and side effects remains therapeutic hurdles. Thus, the development of co-delivery system with enhanced targeting and synergistic different modal treatments has been proposed as promising strategies for intensive improvement of the therapeutic outcomes.

Results: We fabricated a nanocarrier based on gold nanorods (Au NRs), cRGD peptide-modified and multi-stimuli-responsive paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CUR) release for synergistic anticancer effect and chemo-photothermal therapy (PTX/CUR/Au NRs@cRGD).

Rational design of multi-stimuli-responsive gold nanorod-curcumin conjugates for chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy.

In recent decades, the development of novel photorelated nanomedicines as precise cancer nanotheranostics has received extensive attention. However, strategies aimed at integrating various stimuli-responsive multimodal therapies are needed. Herein, we developed a novel system for combined plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) and chemotherapy using the tumor microenvironment and near-infrared (NIR)-responsive gold nanorod-drug conjugates (Au NR@Curcumin).

[Infiltrating mast cells promote neuroendocrine differentiation and increase docetaxel resistance of prostate cancer cells by up-regulating p21].

Objective: To investigate the effect of infiltrating mast cells on neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) and docetaxel sensitivity of prostate cancer (PCa) cells in vitro.

Methods: Human PCa cell lines (LNCaP and C4-2) were co-cultured with human mast cell line (HMC-1) in Transwell chambers. Androgen receptor (AR) was silenced in C4-2 cells using sh-AR lentivirus, and p21 was knocked down and overexpressed by transfecting C4-2 cells with pLKO.

[Quantitative and comparative proteomics analysis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and adjacent noncancerous tissues by 2-D DIGE].

Objective: To identify specific protein markers for renal cell carcinoma detection and diagnosis, as well as develop new potential therapeutic targets of the disease.

Methods: We used two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) technique conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) for the identification of significant differentially expressed proteins between 15cases of paired clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and adjacent normal renal tissues. The protein spots were considered as differentially expressed if a 1.

Controlled release of insulin-like growth factor 1 enhances urethral sphincter function and histological structure in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in a rat model.

Objectives: To determine the effects of controlled release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) from alginate-poly-L-ornithine-gelatine (A-PLO-G) microbeads on external urethral sphincter (EUS) tissue regeneration in a rat model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), as SUI diminishes the quality of life of millions, particularly women who have delivered vaginally, which can injure the urethral sphincter. Despite several well-established treatments for SUI, growth factor therapy might provide an alternative to promote urethral sphincter repair.

Materials And Methods: In all, 44 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised into four groups: vaginal distension (VD) followed by periurethral injection of IGF-1-A-PLO-G microbeads (VD + IGF-1 microbeads; 1 × 10 microbeads/1 mL normal saline); VD + empty microbeads; VD + saline; or sham-VD + saline (sham).

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 improves spermatogenesis in Immp2l mutant mice.

Previous studies have confirmed that spermatogenesis in homozygous Immp2l mutant male mice was normal at the age of 6 months, but was significantly abnormal at the age of 13 months. Meanwhile, oxidative stress is reported to be involved in spermatogenic impairment in old mutant mice. However, it is unclear whether antioxidant treatment is a suitable intervention for improving spermatogenesis in old mutant mice.

Saikosaponin-d: A potential chemotherapeutics in castration resistant prostate cancer by suppressing cancer metastases and cancer stem cell phenotypes.

Androgen deprivation therapy is the gold standard regimen for advanced Prostate cancer (PCa) patients, nevertheless, patients eventually develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently only a few chemotherapeutics are available for CRPC. Therefore, it is critical for identifying a new drug.

Fast clearance of lipid droplets through MAP1S-activated autophagy suppresses clear cell renal cell carcinomas and promotes patient survival.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is composed of cells whose cytoplasm filled with lipid droplets, subcellular organelles coated with adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADFP) for the storage of triacylglycerol converted from excess free fatty acids. Mammalian cells primarily use the autophagy-lysosome system to degrade misfolded/aggregated proteins and dysfunctional organelles such as lipid droplets. MAP1S (originally named C19ORF5) is an autophagy activator and promotes the biogenesis and degradation of autophagosomes.

Toxic effect of zinc nanoscale metal-organic frameworks on rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells in vitro.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess unique properties desirable for delivery of drugs and gaseous therapeutics, but their uncharacterized interactions with cells raise increasing concerns of their safety in such biomedical applications. We evaluated the adverse effects of zinc nanoscale MOFs on the cell morphology, cytoskeleton, cell viability and expression of neurotrophin signaling pathway-associated GAP-43 protein in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. At the concentration of 25 μg/ml, zinc MOFs did not significantly affect morphology, viability and membrane integrity of the cells.

[Value of MN/CAIX in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the expression of MN/CAIX in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and assess the value of MN/CAIX in the diagnosis of RCC.

Methods: RT-PCR was employed to detect MN/CAIX mRNA in the carcinoma tissue and peripheral blood of 62 patients with RCC, using normal renal tissue and peripheral blood sample from 32 patients without RCC as control. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MN/CAIX protein in the tissue specimens of clear cell RCC (n=36), non-clear cell renal neoplasm (n=17) and normal kidney (n=16).

Paclitaxel-loaded poly(n-butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticle delivery system to overcome multidrug resistance in ovarian cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the ability of paclitaxel-loaded poly(butylcyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) in human ovarian resistant cells (A2780/T) and investigate its possible mechanism.

Methods: We prepared paclitaxel-loaded PBCA nanoparticles by interfacial polymerization method. The physicochemistry of the nanoparticles was characterized.

[Synchronous squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter: report of two cases and review of literature].

Objective: To study the clinicopathological characteristics of synchronous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter.

Methods: The clinical data of two cases of synchronous SCC of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. In case 1, a 68-year-old man with hematuria for a month, imaging modalities revealed a right renal pelvis tumor and a right distal ureter tumor.

Mimotopes selected with a neutralizing antibody against urease B from Helicobacter pylori induce enzyme inhibitory antibodies in mice upon vaccination.

Background: Urease B is an important virulence factor that is required for Helicobacter pylori to colonise the gastric mucosa. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit urease B enzymatic activity will be useful as vaccines for the prevention and treatment of H. pylori infection.

[Detection of Skp2 and p27kip1 expression in human renal cell carcinoma using tissue chip technique].

Objective: To detect the expression of skp2 and p27kip1 in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using tissue chip technique, and evaluate the relationship between the proteins and the biological behavior of RCC.

Methods: Tissue chip technique and immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of skp2 and p27kip1 in normal and tumor tissues.

Results: The positivity rate of Skp2 in RCC was significantly higher than that in normal renal tissues (P=0.

[Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in renal cell carcinoma and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and its clinical significance.

Methods: The expression levels of hTERT mRNA and protein were detected using RT-RCR and Western blotting in 45 RCC tissues, 45 adjacent tissues and 786-0 cell line, and the associations of hTERT expression with the tumor size, clinical stage, pathological type and grade were evaluated.

Results: hTERT mRNA and protein was expressed at significantly higher levels in RCC tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P=0.

[Fusion expression of human renal cell carcinoma-associated antigen G250/MN/CA IX in prokaryotic expression system].

Objective: To achieve high expression of human renal cell carcinoma-associated antigen G250 in Escherichia coli.

Methods: The gene fragments encoding the protein obtained by PCR was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET32a(+) and expressed in E. coli Rosseta.