Phenotypic transition of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells subjected to hypoxia.

Corpora cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) have been shown to play a critical role in the male erectile response and are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple causes of erectile dysfunction (ED). To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we studied the changes that CCSMCs undergo under hypoxic conditions in vitro. The identified and characterized CCSMCs were exposed to hypoxia for 48 h and its phenotypic changes were examined by light and electron microscopy, MTS assay and flow cytometry.

Disposable circumcision suture device: clinical effect and patient satisfaction.

In our experience patients undergoing circumcision are mostly concerned about pain and penile appearances. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to assess the benefits of a new disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD). A total of 942 patients were equally divided into three groups (conventional circumcision, Shang ring and disposable suture device group).

Effect of the duration of bladder overdistention on renal function and morphology in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the duration of bladder overdistention (DOBO) on kidney structure and function in rats. Bladder overdistention was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by an infusion of saline. Forty rats were divided into five groups: DOBO 1, 2, 4 or 8 h groups and the control.

Fruit and vegetable intake and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Aims: Recent reports have examined the effect of fruit and vegetable intake on the risk of prostate cancer, but the results are inconsistent. A meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to arrive at quantitative conclusions about the contribution of vegetable and fruit intake to the incidence of prostate cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive, systematic search of medical literature published up to June 2012 was performed to identify relevant studies.

Ureteral obstruction and urinary fistula due to fibrin glue after partial nephrectomy: A case report and review of the literature.

In the present study, we report the case of a 69-year-old female who developed urinary leakage following partial nephrectomy (PN) to remove left renal masses. The results of CT and MR urography revealed left proximal ureteral obstruction and urinary fistula. Reoperation was performed on the 16th postoperative day to explore the left kidney and ureter in order to relieve the obstruction.

Effect of different durations of overdistention on rat bladder function and morphology.

We investigated the contribution of the duration of overdistention (DOD) to rat bladder function and morphology and explored its possible molecular mechanisms. Bladder overdistention was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) by an infusion of saline. Forty rats were divided into 5 groups submitted to different DOD, i.

Inhibition of Bcl-2 enhances the efficacy of epirubicin chemotherapy in PC-3 prostate cancer cells.

Background: Overexpression of Bcl-2 protein in cancer cells can inhibit programmed cell death and engender chemoresistance. Bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide (G3139) has shown its antitumor effects enhanced in preclinical models when combined with taxol-based chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of G3139 combined with epirubicin in the androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Androgen deprivation induces bladder histological abnormalities and dysfunction via TGF-β in orchiectomized mature rats.

Symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism, one of the most common elder diseases, is defined as a syndrome associated with a deficiency in serum testosterone. Recent studies have indicated that androgen deficiency in men is also associated with lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder dysfunction. To determine the pathologic consequences of androgen deprivation in bladder histology and function, we addressed the underlying mechanism.

[Simultaneous inhibition of both hTERT and androgen receptor gene expression in LNCaP cells using single shRNA vector].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of inhibition of hTERT and androgen receptor (AR) gene expression simultaneously in LNCaP cells by single shRNA vector.

Methods: Templates DNA of both hTERT and AR siRNA were inserted into Pgenesil vector to construct a new vector Pgenesil-hTERT-AR-shRNA by RNAi-DNA vector technology. Pgenesil-HK-shRNA, Pgenesil-hTERT-shRNA, Pgenesil-AR-shRNA and Pgenesil-hTERT-AR-shRNA vectors were transfected into prostate cancer LNCaP cells respectively.

Transgelin induces apoptosis of human prostate LNCaP cells through its interaction with p53.

The androgen receptor (AR) and its coregulators have important roles in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer. p53 is an important tumour suppressor gene, and the absence of a fundamental p53 response may predispose to cancer. Transgelin, known as an ARA54-associated AR inhibitor, can suppress AR function in LNCaP cells.

siRNA targeting survivin inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human renal clear cell carcinoma 786-O cells.

We investigated the inhibitory effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting survivin gene on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human renal clear cell carcinoma 786-O cells. qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western Blot were used to detect Survivin gene expression in 786-O cells. Cell proliferation was determined by BrdU assay and PCNA expression.

Up-regulation of microRNA in bladder tumor tissue is not common.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been shown to down-regulate gene expression by targeting mRNA translation and to play a critical role in tumorigenesis; how they regulate bladder tumor development, particularly in patients, is, however, poorly understood. The difference in miRNA expression in a bladder tumor compared with healthy tissue from the same patients was examined using microRNA arrays in seven patients. Here, we showed that up-regulation of miRNA was not commonly found in this limited number of patients, and four miRNAs (miR-26a, miR-29c, miR-30c, miR-30e-5p) were down-regulated as a common marker in patients with a 1-3 grade of disease.

Nkx3.1 and p27(KIP1) cooperate in proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in human androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PC), which responds well to androgen ablation initially, invariably progresses to treatment resistance. The so-called androgen-independent PC is also a concern, since there is no effective therapy so far. Nkx3.

[Protective effect of MEK inhibitor (U0126) on donor testes from ischemia-reperfusion injury after orthotopic testicular transplantation in rats].

Objective: To determine the effect of MEK inhibitor (U0126) on donor testes from ischemia-reperfusion injury after orthotopic testicular transplantation in rats.

Methods: The rats were divided into 7 groups, Group 1: normal control; Group 2: cold perfusion control; Group 3: sham operation control; Group 4: transplanted for 30 min; Group 5: transplanted for 1 week; Group 6: transplanted for 30 min with pretreatment of U0126; Group 7: transplanted for 1 week with pretreatment of U0126. The orthotopic testicular transplantation model was established with cuff.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with dilatation of bilateral renal pelvis, ureter and bladder.

Objective: Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) with dilatation of upper urinary tract and bladder is rarely reported. This study evaluated the urological manifestations and treatment results of this rare condition.

Material And Methods: According to a fluid deprivation test, seven men and two women were diagnosed as NDI, and underwent ultrasonography, magnetic resonance urography, cystography, and urodynamic and laboratory examination.

[Feasibility and safety evaluation of retrograde inserting of ureteric catheter via flexible cystoscope].

Objective: To introduce a method of retrograde ureteric catheter placement via flexible cystoscope , and to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this method.

Methods: 112 patients, 62 males and 50 females undergoing retrograde ureteropyelography by 2 same physicians in cooperation were randomly divided into two equal groups with 31 males and 25 females each: one group via flexible cystoscope and the other group via rigid cystoscope. The catheterizing time, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, gross hematuria rate, and fever rate were compared between these 2 groups.

Incidental prostate cancer in radical cystoprostatectomy specimens.

Aim: To investigate the rates of prostate cancer (PCa) in radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) specimens for bladder cancer in mainland China. To determine the follow-up outcome of patients with two concurrent cancers and identify whether prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a useful tool for the detection of PCa prior to surgery.

Methods: From January 2002 to January 2007, 264 male patients with bladder cancer underwent RCP at our center.

The use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) density in detecting prostate cancer in Chinese men with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL.

Aim: To investigate the utility of prostate specific antigen density for detecting prostate cancer in men with serum PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL.

Methods: Between January 2003 and November 2007, 237 men (aged 48-84 years, median 71) with total PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL participated in a protocol for prostate cancer screening. Eligible patients were recommended for transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies after measuring prostate volumes transrectally.

Oxidative stress stimulates testicular orphan receptor 4 through forkhead transcription factor forkhead box O3a.

Early studies reveal that testicular orphan nuclear receptor 4 (TR4) modulates signaling pathways that control various cell functions. However, how TR4 activity is regulated without the involvement of specific ligand(s) remains unclear. Here we identify a daf-16 family protein-binding element (DBE; 5'-TGTTTAC-3') in the TR4 promoter that can be recognized by the forkhead transcriptional factor FOXO3a, a key stress-responsive factor, through which TR4 gene expression is activated.

Effects of wortmannin on phosphorylation of PDK1, GSK3-beta, PTEN and expression of Skp2 mRNA after ischemia/reperfusion injury in the mouse kidney.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1), glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3-beta) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), which are the components of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, and expression of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) messenger RNA (mRNA) in renal ischemia/reperfusion.

Materials And Methods: Three experimental groups, sham-operative mice, vehicle-delivered mice and wortmannin-treated ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) mice were designed to examine PDK1, GSK3-beta and PTEN phosphorylation status, as well as expression of Skp2 mRNA at 30 min, 90 min, 24 h and 48 h of reperfusion after ischemia treatment. Wortmannin or its vehicle was given intraperitoneally 4 h before surgery.

Expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha and oestrogen receptor-beta in prostate cancer.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that estrogens are involved in normal and abnormal prostate growth, though their exact role is still controversial. Oestrogens exert inhibitory and stimulatory effects on prostate gland, but the expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and oestrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in malignant prostate tissue remains unresolved. We determined ERalpha and ERbeta in prostate cancer and investigated the relationship between expression of ER and pathological features of prostate carcinoma.

[Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and prostate cancer].

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) has a close relation with prostate cancer. It is involved not only in angiogenesis, cell proliferation/survival and glucose metabolism but also in p53, p21 and signal transduction pathway in prostate cancer. Further studies of HIF-1 may yield new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Expression of Nkx3.1 enhances 17beta-estradiol anti-tumor action in PC3 human prostate cancer cells.

Aim: To explore whether the anti-tumor action of 17beta-estradiol is enhanced by re-expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx3.1 in PC3 human prostate cancer cells.

Methods: PC3 cells were stably transfected with pcDNA3.

[RNA interference inhibits VEGF expression and growth of PC-3 in prostate carcinoma].

Objective: To construct a eukaryotic expression vector carrying human VEGF RNAi and to study the effect of RNA interference on VEGF expression in prostate carcinoma.

Methods: VEGF RNAi was synthesized, inserted into the RNA interference eukaryotic expression vector, and confirmed by the result sequencing. The vector was transfected into prostate cancer PC-3, the VEGF expression detected by Western blot and the cell inhibiting rate determined by MTT.