Publications by authors named "Zhang-qun Ye"

Article Synopsis
  • - Over the last 30 years, miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) has gained popularity due to its potential to reduce complications compared to standard procedures, but there's still debate over best practices and management strategies that hinders wider use.
  • - An international panel of urology experts developed a consensus document on mPCNL to provide a comprehensive framework for practice, which included reviewing literature, identifying research gaps, and conducting surveys to gather expert opinions.
  • - The study revealed 58 key questions on mPCNL practices, and consensus was achieved on 30 questions, affirming mPCNL as an effective technique for treating upper urinary tract stones in both adults and children.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In this study, HO treatment led to a significant reduction in the mitochondrial distribution of various miRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, with miR-301a-3p showing the most significant changes.
  • * The study identified that the RNA-binding protein Musashi RNA binding protein 2 (MSI2) interacts specifically with miR-301a-3p, influencing its distribution between the cytosol and mitochondria, especially under HO conditions, highlighting MSI2's role in miRNA regulation.
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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.

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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.

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  • The study aimed to establish new normative evaluation criteria for penile tumescence and rigidity in Chinese patients with erectile dysfunction using an audiovisual stimulation test (AVSS-RigiScan) along with a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.
  • A total of 1078 patients were analyzed, identifying parameters such as basal rigidity, average event rigidity, and tumescence increase as key indicators for the evaluation criteria.
  • New norms were established, defining a "normal" erection, which includes specific measurements like basal rigidity over 60% maintained for at least 8.75 minutes and various rigidity and tumescence metrics.
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  • A UC-VEGF-SMC 3D scaffold was created to study its effectiveness in repairing bladder injuries and promoting blood vessel regeneration in rabbits.
  • Rabbit adipose-derived stem cells were used to generate pluripotent stem cells that could develop into bladder cells (urothelial and smooth muscle cells).
  • Results showed that the experimental group demonstrated improved bladder repair functions compared to control groups, indicating the potential of the scaffold for treating bladder damage.
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  • The study investigates how hydrogen sulfide (H2S) impacts kidney injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion in rats, focusing on the role of the SR-A signaling pathway in regulating stress and autophagy in kidney cells.
  • Researchers used various groups of normal and SR-A knockout rats to assess kidney function and cell damage through measures like protein levels, apoptosis, and gene expression related to stress responses.
  • Results indicated that H2S can help reduce kidney damage and control autophagy and stress pathways, showing that the presence of SR-A is crucial for these protective effects.
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  • Renal cell cancer (RCC) is highly lethal, and this study investigates the role of microRNA-206 (miR-206) in RCC pathogenesis, focusing on its effects on tumor growth and spread.
  • Preliminary findings indicate that miR-206 is significantly down-regulated in RCC tissues and cell lines, and low levels of miR-206 correlate with increased expression of cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK), which promotes tumor proliferation and metastasis.
  • The research suggests that miR-206 acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting GAK, potentially offering a new therapeutic target for RCC treatment.
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  • The study focused on how the human tissue kallikrein 1 (hKLK1) gene affects erectile function and corporal fibrosis in aged transgenic rats compared to wild-type rats.
  • Aged wild-type rats (aWTR) showed significantly lower erectile function and a reduced smooth muscle to collagen ratio, indicating increased corporal fibrosis.
  • The research suggests that the RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK/cofilin pathway is activated in aging, contributing to fibrosis, and that hKLK1 may help prevent erectile dysfunction by inhibiting this pathway.
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  • Researchers discovered that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can activate gene expression, specifically the tumor suppressor gene p21, across different organisms, indicating this mechanism is evolutionarily conserved.
  • The study employed various laboratory techniques like PCR, Western blotting, and ChIP assays to investigate how dsRNA influences p21 expression and its associated molecular changes.
  • The findings highlight that dsRNA triggers p21 activation through specific genomic targeting and histone modifications, paving the way for potential cancer treatment strategies.
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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.

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  • This study investigates the relationship between eicosanoids (which influence inflammation) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SH), particularly focusing on how thyroxine replacement therapy (TRT) affects these eicosanoids.
  • Researchers analyzed serum samples from 50 SH patients and 22 healthy volunteers, finding significant elevations in certain eicosanoids and an enzyme (cPLA2) related to inflammation in SH patients.
  • Following three months of TRT, levels of TSH, cPLA2, and specific eicosanoids decreased in SH patients, indicating that TRT can help correct the altered eicosanoid metabolism associated with SH.
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  • The study compared the effectiveness and safety of abiraterone acetate-prednisone against a placebo in Asian patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who didn't respond to docetaxel-based chemotherapy.
  • Patients receiving abiraterone showed a 49% lower risk of prostate-specific antigen progression and improved pain management, alongside a higher PSA response rate compared to those on placebo.
  • While the treatment's impact on overall survival was promising, the study noted a similar rate of adverse events between both groups, highlighting the potential benefits of abiraterone-prednisone in managing disease progression and pain.
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  • The study investigates the levels of H2S-generating enzymes and endogenous H2S production in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction (ED), revealing decreased H2S levels in affected tissues.
  • The research involved isolating smooth muscle and endothelial cells from rats, studying them under various glucose conditions to assess their function and enzyme expression.
  • Results showed that in diabetic rats, there was a significant decline in erectile function and the expression of key H2S-generating enzymes, indicating a link between reduced H2S production and ED in diabetes.
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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.

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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.

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  • The study aimed to analyze the levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the plasma and penile tissues of older rats compared to younger ones.
  • Results showed that older rats had significantly poorer erectile function and lower bFGF concentrations in both plasma and penile tissues, as well as reduced smooth muscle content.
  • The findings suggest that the decrease in bFGF levels might be contributing to the loss of smooth muscle in the penile tissues of the aged rats.
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  • OK-432 is a Streptococcus-based immunotherapy that has shown effectiveness against various cancers, including bladder cancer.
  • In lab tests, OK-432 was found to inhibit the growth and promote the death of bladder cancer cells while also reducing their ability to spread.
  • In animal studies, it further demonstrated tumor growth suppression and reduced metastasis, suggesting its mechanism involves stimulating macrophages to release cytokines that fight cancer.
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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.

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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.

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