Backgrounds: Deficiency or excess of trace elements can induce body metabolic disorders and cellular growth disturbance, even mutation and cancerization. Since there are few studies of the effect of trace elements in bladder carcinoma in China, the aim of this study was thus to assess variation using a case control approach. Methods: To determine this, 81 patients with bladder carcinoma chosen as a study group and 130 healthy persons chosen as a control group were all assayed for urinary and serum trace elements (calcium [Ca], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], selenium [Se]) using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the results were analyzed by independent sample t tests. The correlative factors on questionnaires answered by all persons were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: The results showed urinary Ca, Zn and serum Cu levels of the study group to be significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of he control group. Serum Ca and Se levels of study group were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of control group. Conclusion: There were higher urinary Zn and serum Cu concentrations in bladder carcinoma cases. Bladder carcinoma may be associated with Ca metabolic disorder, leading to higher urinary Ca and lower serum Ca. Low serum Se and smoking appear to be other risk factors for bladder carcinoma in China.

The present study was performed to examine the effect of 5-bromo-3-(3-hydroxyprop-1-ynyl)-2H-pyran-2-one (BHP) on the rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in the PC3, human prostate carcinoma cell line. The cell viability was assayed by using sulphorhodamine B staining and apoptosis by annexin V and flow cytometry analyses. The results revealed that BHP treatment in PC3 cells caused a significant reduction in the rate of cell proliferation in dose-and time-dependent manner. Compared to the untreated cells, the formation of HUVEC tubes was markedly inhibited on treatment with BHP at a concentration of 30 µM. Further investigation revealed the expression of HMGB1, IL-6 and IL-8, pro-inflammatory cytokines was also inhibited on treatment with BHP. Therefore, BHP treatment plays an important role in inducing apoptosis in the prostrate cells and can be of therapeutic value for the prostate cancer treatment. Article InfoReceived:25 June 2015 Accepted:9 5-Bromo-3-(3-hydroxyprop-1-ynyl)-2H-pyran-2-one targets prostate cancer cells by down-regulating inflammation-related genes