Novel Reversible-Binding PET Ligands for Imaging Monoacylglycerol Lipase Based on the Piperazinyl Azetidine Scaffold.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a 33 kDa serine protease primarily responsible for hydrolyzing 2-arachidonoylglycerol into the proinflammatory eicosanoid precursor arachidonic acid in the central nervous system. Inhibition of MAGL constitutes an attractive therapeutic concept for treating psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of multiple reversible MAGL inhibitor candidates based on a piperazinyl azetidine scaffold.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Reversible and Irreversible Monoacylglycerol Lipase Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracers Using a "Tail Switching" Strategy on a Piperazinyl Azetidine Skeleton.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a serine hydrolase that degrades 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the endocannabinoid system (eCB). Selective inhibition of MAGL has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of diverse pathological conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Herein, we disclose a novel array of reversible and irreversible MAGL inhibitors by means of "tail switching" on a piperazinyl azetidine scaffold.

EORTC risk tables are more suitable for Chinese patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer than AUA risk stratification.

Background: Patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) need accurate estimations of the risk of recurrence and progression. Physicians can offer individualized therapy after identifying high-risk tumors. In our study, we compared the applicability of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables and American Urological Association (AUA) risk stratification in Chinese patients with NMIBC.

LanCL1 protects prostate cancer cells from oxidative stress via suppression of JNK pathway.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in male. Numerous studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression, aiming at developing new therapeutic strategies. Here we describe Lanthionine synthase C-like protein 1 (LanCL1), a member of the LanCL family, is a potential prostate cancer susceptibility gene.

Overexpression of WDFY2 inhibits prostate cancer cell growth and migration via inactivation of Akt pathway.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and is the second leading deadly reason among male cancer. WDFY2, which is found to be a cancer-specific fusion gene with CDKN2D in ovarian cancer, is a new gene with unknown function in carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of WDFY2 in prostate cancer development.

Genetic scores based on risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can reveal inherited risk of renal cell carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could reflect the individual inherited risks of RCC. A total of 346 RCC patients and 1,130 controls were recruited in this case-control study. Genetic scores were calculated for each individual based on the odds ratios and frequencies of risk-associated SNPs.

Germline genetic variations in PDZD2 and ITPR2 genes are associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in Chinese population.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with RCC in European and African American population. In this study, we evaluated whether these SNPs are associated with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) in Chinese population. All reported RCC risk-associated SNPs from GWAS were evaluated in 346 ccRCC cases and 1,130 controls.

Periostin Mediates TGF-β-Induced Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Background: In our previous study, we found that periostin was upregulated in prostate cancer, and its expression could be modulated by TGF-β. TGF-β could upregulate periostin expression in some cells, and both TGF-β and periostin could induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). We aimed to study the effect of periostin in the process of TGF-β-induced EMT in prostate cancer cells.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2: a significant indicator for predicting progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer especially in high-risk groups.

Purpose: Current pathological and clinical parameters provide important prognostic information. However, they are still limitations for predicting the true malignant potential of a specific cancer. The aim of this study was to validate the predicting role of HER-2 expression and demonstrated that combination of the high-risk factors with HER-2 expression is more valuable for determining which non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is more aggressive.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for proximal ureteral calculi in selected patients.

Objectives: To summarize our experience of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for ureteral calculi and evaluate the safety and efficiency of this procedure.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 197 patients with proximal ureteral calculi who accepted retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy from June 2005 to June 2014.

Results: All procedures were performed successfully and the mean operating time and estimated blood loss were 87 min and 64 mL.

Snail is an independent prognostic indicator for predicting recurrence and progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Objective: Snail, an inducer of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, increases motility and invasiveness of cancer cells by repressing E-cadherin expression. We investigate the relationship between Snail expression and clinicopathological parameters and evaluate its prognostic significance in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Materials And Methods: A total of 332 patients treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor between October 2002 and July 2010 were histopathologically confirmed to be NMIBC.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal tumors.

Objective. To evaluate the indication and the clinical value of laparoscopic adrenalectomy of different types of adrenal tumor. Methods.

Are EORTC risk tables suitable for Chinese patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer?

Objective: To evaluate the applicability of using EORTC risk tables in Chinese patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Material And Methods: Between October 2000 and July 2009, 301 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) at our hospital were followed up. The probability of recurrence and progression at 1 year and 5 years post-operatively was calculated along with the 95% confidence intervals.

Ki-67 is an independent indicator in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC); combination of EORTC risk scores and Ki-67 expression could improve the risk stratification of NMIBC.

Objective: To prove the predicting role of Ki-67 expression and to demonstrate that the combination of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk scores and Ki-67 staining status could improve the risk stratification in a large series of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Material And Methods: From October 2002 to July 2010, in our cohort, 332 patients who were treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor were diagnosed with NMIBC by histopathologic analysis. Two experienced uropathologists rereviewed the slides.

The prognostic value of C-reactive protein in renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been reported to be associated with poorer prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, conflicting results exist. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the prognostic value, and a meta-analysis was done if the extracted data could be merged.

Materials And Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Search library for published studies that analyzed the effect of CRP in RCC.

Synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic CoFe2O4/MWCNT hybrids for tumor-targeted therapy.

Owing to their great potentialities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based magnetic nano-composites, numerous applications of them have been found in nanotechnology, integrated functional system, and in medicine. Herein, nearly monodisperse CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have been deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by high-temperature hydrolysis and inorganic polymerization of ionic Co(II) and Fe(III) salts and MWCNTs in a polyol solution. X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the final products.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence comparing laparoendoscopic single-site adrenalectomy and conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of laparoendoscopic single-site adrenalectomy (LESS-A) and conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) as a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Methods: We conducted a thorough search for comparative studies that compared LESS-A and conventional LA in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library. Studies were reviewed independently and rated by Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

The 1973 WHO Classification is more suitable than the 2004 WHO Classification for predicting prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Background: Predicting the recurrence and progression of Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC) is critical for urologist. Histological grade provides significant prognostic information, especially for prediction of progression. Currently, the 1973 and the 2004 WHO classification co-exist.

Periostin: a promising target of therapeutical intervention for prostate cancer.

Background: In our recent study, Periostin was up-regulated in prostate cancer(PCa) compared with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) by proteomics analysis of prostate biopsies. We investigated the effect of sliencing Periostin by RNA interference (RNAi) on the proliferation and migration of PCa LNCap cell line.

Methods: All the prostate biopsies from PCa, BPH and BPH with local prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm(PIN) were analyzed by iTRAQ(Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) technology.