This study investigated the effects of microRNA-135a (miR-135a) targeting of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasion of bladder cancer (BC) cells by mediating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. BC and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 165 BC patients. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of GSK3β, β-catenin, cyclinD1, E-cadherin, vimentin and miR-135a in BC tissues and cells. Cells were assigned to blank, negative control (NC), miR-135a mimics, miR-135a inhibitors, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-GSK3β or miR-135a inhibitors+siRNA-GSK3β groups. miR-135a, β-catenin, cyclinD1 and vimentin expression increased, while GSK3β and E-cadherin expression decreased in BC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Compared with the blank and NC groups, the expression of miR-135a, β-catenin, cyclinD1 and vimentin was higher, and cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth were increased in the miR-135a mimics and siRNA-GSK3β groups. These groups showed an opposite trend in GSK3β and E-cadherin expression and cell apoptosis. The miR-135a inhibitors group was inversely correlated with the blank and NC groups. It was concluded that miR-135a accelerates the EMT, invasion and migration of BC cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through the downregulation of GSK3β expression.
Objectives: To investigate the microorganisms in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of both chronic prostatitis patients and normal young male adults and to determine which microorganisms are associated with the degree of intraprostatic inflammation. Methods: Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was performed to confirm Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia trachomatis as well as human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Universal primer PCR technology was carried out to detect 16S bacteria rDNA, followed by cloning and sequencing of the entire 16S rDNA product. Results: The total number of bacteria and/or viruses detected by PCR assays was significantly associated with disease severity (p < 0.001). The white blood cell count and lecithin level was significantly correlated with the number of detected bacteria and/or viruses (p = 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). 17 bacterial isolates were identified from 14 EPS samples by 16S rDNA sequencing. Conclusions: Various microorganisms including Ureaplasma urealyticum, C. trachomatis, CMV, HPV and HSV-2 were identified in the EPS from patients with type III prostatitis. HPV infection may be associated with the degree of intraprostatic inflammation.
BackgroundTo investigate feasibility and safety of treating simple parapelvic renal cysts using flexible ureteroscopy with the Holmium laser.MethodsBetween February 2010 and July 2013, a total of 21 patients, aging from 29 to 71 (49.00 ± 13.23), were diagnosed with parapelvic renal cysts by ultrasonography in combination with contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) and intravenous urography (IVU) in the Department of Urology Surgery, People’s Hospital of the Zhejiang province. Fifteen patients were asymptomatic and 6 patients were symptomatic with flank pain. All patients underwent drainage of the cysts using flexible ureteroscopy with Holmium laser. Patients were followed up 1, 3 and 12 months after the operation.ResultsThe intervention was successful in 20 patients and failed in 1 patient who, subsequently successfully underwent a laparoscopic cyst removal. There were no intra-operative and post-operative complications reported. The mean operation time was 27 min (range: 15 to 45 min). The mean hospital stay was 2.6 days (range: 1 to 5 days). Twenty patients were followed up until 15 months after surgery. After such ureteroscopic management, there were no renal cysts detected in 7 patients (35 %) and a reduction in size of the renal cysts was found in 13 patients (65 %). Flank pain subsided in all 6 (100 %) previously symptomatic patients.ConclusionsFlexible ureteroscopy with the Holmium laser may be a feasible and effective treatment option in selected patients with simple parapelvic renal cysts. Further prospective randomized studies that compare the procedure to laparoscopic treatments are needed.
Increased expression of cullin 4B (CUL4B) is linked to progression in several cancers. This study aims to explore the effects of CUL4B on bladder cancer (BC) metastasis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and potential correlation to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We collected BC tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 124 BC patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were employed in order to detect the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins and EMT markers. MTT and Transwell assays were used in order to measure cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. BC 5637 cells were transfected with control, siRNA scramble control (siRNA-NC), si-CUL4B, and CUL4B or Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF-1) overexpression constructs. Levels of CUL4B mRNA and protein were increased in BC tissues in comparison with the adjacent normal tissues. CUL4B expression was negatively correlated with the expression of E-cadherin and positively correlated to the expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin. Compared to the control group, levels of β-catenin, cyclinD1, c-myc, MMP7, and EMT markers were reduced, whereas phosphorylated GSK3βSer9 and E-cadherin levels were increased in the si-CUL4B and WIF-1 groups. In addition, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were also increased. Increasing CUL4B expression had the opposite effect. These findings suggest that CUL4B induces EMT and promotes metastasis of BC by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
AimTo investigate the use of docetaxel for the treatment of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in real‐world clinical practice in China.MethodsThis single‐arm, prospective, observational study was conducted at 32 study centers in China and included male patients aged ≥18 years with histologically confirmed prostate cancer who received ≥1 dose of docetaxel following failure of hormonal therapy (disease progression with serum testosterone <50 ng/dL). The primary aim was to investigate patterns of docetaxel treatment.ResultsOverall 403 patients were included between August 2011 and June 2016; patients initiated docetaxel after failure of first‐ (42.2% [170]), second‐ (31.0% [125]) and ≥third‐line (12.7% [51]) hormonal therapy, estramustine (11.4% [46]) or other (2.7% [11]). The planned cycles of docetaxel therapy were completed by 30.8% of patients, and the mean (SD) number of cycles received was 4.4 (2.86). Median overall survival (mOS) was 22.4 (95% CI, 20.4–25.8) months and the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) response rate in patients with available data was 70.9% (168/237), with no differences in mOS and PSA response rates between treatment settings. Subgroup analysis revealed higher mOS in patients without visceral metastasis versus those with such metastases (22.9 vs. 17.4 months; P = 0.022). No new safety signals were observed and the most common adverse events associated with docetaxel were granulocytopenia (5%) and leukopenia (4.5%).ConclusionData from this study showed that around three‐quarters of Chinese patients with mCRPC treated with docetaxel initiated treatment following first‐ or second‐line hormonal therapy and no new safety signals were observed.
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