The roles and regulatory mechanisms of cigarette smoke constituents in vascular remodeling.

Vascular remodeling is a dynamic process involving cellular and molecular changes, including cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis or degradation, which disrupt the homeostasis of endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) is thought to promote vascular remodeling, but the components are complex and the mechanisms are unclear. In this review, we overview the progression of major components of cigarette smoke (CS), such as nicotine and acrolein, involved in vascular remodeling in terms of ECs injury, VSMCs proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and ECM disruption.

Apalutamide for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: final analysis of the Asian subpopulation in the TITAN trial.

The final analysis of the phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen (TITAN) trial showed improvement in overall survival (OS) and other efficacy endpoints with apalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus ADT alone in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). As ethnicity and regional differences may affect treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer, a post hoc final analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of apalutamide in the Asian subpopulation. Event-driven endpoints were OS, and time from randomization to initiation of castration resistance, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, and second progression-free survival (PFS2) on first subsequent therapy or death.

Transcriptional regulation and ubiquitination-dependent regulation of HnRNPK oncogenic function in prostate tumorigenesis.

Background: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HnRNPK) is a nucleic acid-binding protein that regulates diverse biological events. Pathologically, HnRNPK proteins are frequently overexpressed and clinically correlated with poor prognosis in various types of human cancers and are therefore pursued as attractive therapeutic targets for select patients. However, both the transcriptional regulation and degradation of HnRNPK in prostate cancer remain poorly understood.

Apalutamide for patients with metastatic castrationsensitive prostate cancer in East Asia: a subgroup analysis of the TITAN trial.

Ethnicity might be associated with treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with apalutamide in East Asians with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). The original phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen (TITAN) trial was conducted at 260 sites in 23 countries.

Does Postoperative Rehabilitation for Radical Cystectomy Call for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The aim of this review was to systematically compare the outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) with standard care (SC) after radical cystectomy. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies published until September 2017 which involved a comparison of ERAS and SC. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the outcomes of ERAS versus SC.

The putative tumour suppressor miR-1-3p modulates prostate cancer cell aggressiveness by repressing E2F5 and PFTK1.

Background: Previous studies report that miR-1-3p, a member of the microRNA-1 family (miR-1), and functions as a tumor suppressor in several different cancers. However, little is known regarding the biological role and intrinsic regulatory mechanisms of miR-1-3p in prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: In this study, the expression levels of miR-1-3p were first examined in PCa cell lines and tumor tissues by RT-qPCR and bioinformatics.

Audiovisual Sexual Stimulation and RigiScan Test for the Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction.

Background: Currently available evaluation criteria for penile tumescence and rigidity have been fraught with controversy. In this study, we sought to establish normative Chinese evaluation criteria for penile tumescence and rigidity by utilizing audiovisual sexual stimulation and RigiScan™ test (AVSS-Rigiscan test) with the administration of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.

Methods: A total of 1169 patients (aged 18-67 years) complained of erectile dysfunction (ED) underwent AVSS-RigiScan test with the administration of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.

UC-VEGF-SMC Three Dimensional (3D) Nano Scaffolds Exhibits Good Repair Function in Bladder Damage.

We constructed a UC-VEGF-SMC three dimensional (3D) scaffold to explore its effect on blood vessel regeneration and bladder repair function in a rabbit model with bladder injury. Rabbit adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were cultured to construct pluripotent stem cell systems that can be induced to differentiate into urothelial cells (UCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, MTT assay and HE staining were used in our study.

Roles of the Exogenous H2S-Mediated SR-A Signaling Pathway in Renal Ischemia/ Reperfusion Injury in Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Autophagy in a Rat Model.

Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of the exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-mediated scavenger receptor A (SR-A) signaling pathway on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) by regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced autophagy in rats.

Methods: A total of 48 normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and SR-A knockout rats were selected and divided into six groups (n = 8): wild-type (WT) + sham, WT + ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), WT + I/R + NaHS, SR-A-/- + sham, SR-A-/- + I/R and SR-A-/- + I/R + NaHS. The concentrations of urinary protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2S in renal tissue were detected.

miR-206 inhibits renal cell cancer growth by targeting GAK.

Renal cell cancer (RCC) remains one of the most lethal types of cancer in adults. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in the pathogenesis of RCC. The role of miR-206 in RCC has not been fully understood.

Reduced corporal fibrosis to protect erectile function by inhibiting the Rho-kinase/LIM-kinase/cofilin pathway in the aged transgenic rat harboring human tissue kallikrein 1.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that erectile function was preserved in aged transgenic rats (TGR) harboring the human tissue kallikrein 1 (hKLK1), while the molecular level of hKLK1 on corporal fibrosis to inhibit age-related erectile dysfunction (ED) is poorly understood. Male wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats (WTR) and TGR harboring the hKLK1 gene were fed to 4- or 18-month-old and divided into three groups: young WTR (yWTR) as the control, aged WTR (aWTR), and aged TGR (aTGR). Erectile function of all rats was assessed by cavernous nerve electrostimulation method.

Urodynamic characteristics of awake rats under retrained versus freely moving condition: Using a novel model.

Urodynamic investigation in conscious rats is widely employed to explore functional bladder disorders of various etiologies and pathogeneses. Rats can be placed in restraining cages or wide cabinets where they are allowed to move freely during cystometry. However, the requirements of special devices hampered the application of urodynamic test in freely moving rats, and whether the restraint has any effects on urodynamic parameters in conscious rats remains obscure.

Thyroxine therapy ameliorates serum levels of eicosanoids in Chinese subclinical hypothyroidism patients.

Aim: The eicosanoids derived from phospholipids play key roles in inflammation. However, the profiles of serum eicosanoids in subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) patients and the effects of thyroxine replacement therapy (TRT) on these eicosanoids remain unclear. Many studies show that TSH regulates lipid metabolism.

Abiraterone acetate for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel failure: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 bridging study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate-prednisone versus placebo-prednisone in Asian metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients who have failed docetaxel-based chemotherapy.

Methods: In this double-blind, phase 3 study from China, 214 patients were randomized (2:1) to abiraterone acetate 1000 mg once daily plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily and placebo plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily in 28-day treatment cycles.

Results: Abiraterone acetate-prednisone treatment significantly decreased prostate-specific antigen progression risk by 49%, with longer median time to prostate-specific antigen progression of 5.

Decreased Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Generation in Penile Tissues of Diabetic Rats with Erectile Dysfunction.

Introduction: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter. The levels of H2S-generating enzyme expression and endogenous H2S production in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction (ED) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the H2S-generating enzymes and endogenous production of H2S in penile tissues of diabetic ED rats.

[Androgen may improve erectile function in castrated rats by regulating the ERK1/2 pathway].

Objective: To investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by the absence of testosterone (T).

Methods: We randomly divided 30 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into groups A (control) , B (castration), and C (castration + androgen replacement). The rats in groups B and C were castrated surgically, and those in C injected with T undecanoate (100 mg/kg) at 1 week after castration, while the others with 0.

Prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion in bladder cancer after surgical resection: A meta-analysis.

Bladder cancer remains a commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, bringing huge economic burden and high morbidity for patients. Assessment of prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a critical issue in the surgical management of bladder cancer after transurethral resection or radical cystectomy. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed up to Oct 10, 2014 to identify eligible studies.

[Concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor in plasma and cavernous corpus of aged rat].

Objective: To investigate the concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in aged rat plasma and penile tissues.

Methods: Twelve 24-month-old rats and ten 12-week-old rats were selected. We assessed the erectile responses of rats to cavernous nerve electrostimulation.

OK-432 Suppresses Proliferation and Metastasis by Tumor Associated Macrophages in Bladder Cancer.

OK-432, a Streptococcus-derived anticancer immunotherapeutic agent, has been applied in clinic for many years and achieved great progress in various cancers. In the present study, we investigated its anticancer effect on bladder cancer through tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). MTS assay validated OK-432 could inhibit proliferation in both T24 and EJ bladder cell lines.

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.

A multicenter, randomized clinical trial comparing the three-weekly docetaxel regimen plus prednisone versus mitoxantone plus prednisone for Chinese patients with metastatic castration refractory prostate cancer.

Purpose: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of docetaxel plus prednisone for Chinese population with metastatic castration refractory prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 228 patients recruited from 15 centers were randomized to receive 10 cycles of D3P arm (docetaxel: 75 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, every three weeks; Prednisone 10mg orally given daily) or M3P arm (mitoxantrone: 12 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, every three weeks; Prednisone 10mg orally given daily). Primary end point was overall survival, and secondary end points were events progression-free survival (PFS), response rate, response duration.