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Objective To compare profiles of microRNA between the LNCaP and LNCaP-AI cell lines, so as to futher elucidate the post-transcritional mechanism regulating the progression to androgen-independence. Methods The microRNA profiles of LNCaP and LNCaP-AI cell lines were examined by Agilent's microassay. The expression of six microRNAs was verified by RT-PCR. The functions of differentially expressed microRNAs were eludicated by a search with miRBase software (http://www.mirbase.org/). Results The Aglint's microRNA microassay showed that 11 microRNAs were up-regulated and 27 were down-regulated during the LNCaP progression to androgen-independence. RT-PCR results were consistent with those of the Agilent's microassay chips. By searching the targets of microRNAs in the miRBase software, we found that the differentically expressed microRNAs were mainly involved in regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), Bcl-2, and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) and genes mediating androgen metabolism. Conclusion There is alteration of microRNA during the progression of LNCaP to androgen-independence, which may involve androgen receptor related pathway, metalloenzyme, anti-apoptotic gene and genes related to androgen metabolism.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical efficiency of retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy combinedwith auxiliary small-incision and real-time B ultrasonic imaging in treatment of central renal cell carcinoma and to summarize the surgical experience. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients (9 males and 3 females) with central renal cell carcinoma, who were treated from Aug. 2010 to Mar. 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients had a mean age of (56.2±2.8) years old and a mean tumor diameter of (2.2±1.4) cm. The patients underwent preoperative ultrasonograpy, CT, MRI or CT angiography. The renal artery, renal vein and kidney were separated under general anesthesia. A small incision was made between A(posterior axillary line) and B(anterior axillary line) Trocar. The tumor location and the operative margin were determined by auxiliary real-time B ultrasound placed on the kidney surface via the incision. Ice slush was scattered around the kidney and nephron-sparing operation was done after blocking renal artery. Results All the 12 cases were operated successfully and the renal tumors were removed completely, with the mean operation time being (124.5±5.8) min, mean warm ischemia time (WIT) being (26.3±8.6) min, mean blood loss being (65.8±21.6) mL, mean incision length being (8.8±2.4) cm, and mean postoperative hospital stay being (12.4±2.6) d. All the patients had a negative surgical margin and there were no severe perioperative complications. All the patients had normal renal function and had no tumor recurrence or metastasis during a mean follow-up of (13.6±7.4) months. Conclusion Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy combined with auxiliary small- incision and real-time B ultrasonic imaging is safe and effective for treatment of patients with central renal cell carcinoma, with less trauma, less blood loss, shorter WIT, and faster recovery, and it has a promising clinical future.
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Objective: To observe the initial effectiveness of retrograde urethrotomy with a cold knife combined with the lucency via antegrade flexible cystoscopy in treatment of patients with obliterative urethral stricture. Methods: From September 2007 to April 2010, 8 patients with obliterative urethral stricture (0.8-2.0 cm in length) underwent antegrade-retrograde via flexible cystoscopy endoscopic urethrotomy with a cold knife: the initial effectiveness was observed. Results: All the 8 patients were successfully treated with antegrade-retrograde via flexible cystoscopy endoscopic urethrotomy with a cold knife. The operation time ranged 15-30 min, with a mean of 21 min. Urethral catheter (20-22F) was maintained for 4-6 weeks, and all the patients had passable urinary tract, with no urinary incompetence. The 8 patients were followed for 6-24 months (with a mean of 18 months). Three patients had no stricture recurrence and needed no further treatment. Four patients needed further intermittent urethral dilations(6-16 procedures, mean 12 procedures) to keep normal urination. One patient received a second endoscopic urethrotomy due to recurrent stricture 3 months after first treatment. Conclusion: The antegrade-retrograde urethrotomy via flexible cystoscopy with a cold knife can improve the successful rate of endoscopic surgery, with shorter operation time and satisfactory short-term outcome, but the long-term outcome needs to be further observed.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Erectile dysfunction (ED) is now recognized as a comorbid condition, especially in men with cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. This randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of long-term small-dose tadalafil in the treatment of ED.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 98 men older than 18 years with at least a 6-month ED history were enlisted and divided into two groups to receive once-daily treatment with tadalafil at 5 mg (n = 60) and 20 mg (n = 38), respectively, for 12 months. The effects of medication were analyzed and compared using IIEF, Global Assessment Questionnaire (GAQ) and Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP), and so were the safety and tolerance of the two doses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no statistically significant differences in the therapeutical results between the 5 mg and 20 mg groups (P < 0.05). The IIEF-5 score was raised by 8.1 points in the former and 7.9 points in the latter; the YES answers to SEP2 in the two groups were 51.3% and 49.2% before the treatment and 82.6% and 84.9% after it. No serious adverse events were observed, except some common ones, such as rubeosis (11.9% vs 8.7%) and headache (5.3% vs 4.9%) in the 5 mg and 20 mg groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oral tadalafil at 5 mg once daily is efficacious with good tolerance in the treatment of ED, and it can be an alternative to on-demand medication for some men to eliminate the inconvenience of planned intercourse within a limited timeframe.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Carbolines , Therapeutic Uses , Erectile Dysfunction , Drug Therapy , Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors , Therapeutic Uses , Tadalafil , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of prostate cancer cell line PC-3 conditioned medium (PC- 3-CM) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow human basalis mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>hBMSCs were isolated and culture-expanded by density gradient centrifugation from normal volunteers. PC-3 cells were cultured till the time of logarithmic growth and then transferred to a fresh medium, which, after 24 hours of incubation, was collected as PC-3-CM. Passage 3 hBMSCs were cultured in the fresh medium alone (the control group) or that with 50% PC-3-CM (the experimental group), and the effect of PC-3-CM on the proliferation activity of the hBMSCs was detected by WST-8 assay. Based on the types of medium used, the hBMSCs were divided into Groups I (control), II (50% PC-3-CM), III (osteoblast inducer) and IV (osteoblast inducer containing 50% PC-3 CM). The effects of PC-3-CM on the osteoblastic differentiation of the hBMSCs were determined by ALP staining, ALP activity detection, Von Kossa staining, and calcium quantitation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of incubation, the absorbance values of the cells in the experimental group were 0.4370 +/- 0.0285, 0.7980 +/- 0.0213, 1.9090 +/- 0.0612 and 2.3023 +/- 0.0610, and those in the control group were 0.4060 +/- 0.0223, 0.6643 +/- 0.0075, 1.3727 +/- 0.0176 and 1.7947 +/- 0.0115, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01) except on day 1 (P > 0.05). The positive rate and intensity of ALP staining were gradually increased in the four groups, with the ALP activities of 0.29 +/- 0.03, 1.30 +/- 0.03, 2.13 +/- 0.08, and 3.80 +/- 0.03, respectively (P < 0.01), and so was the intensity of Von Kossa staining, with the calcium depositions of 0.04 +/- 0.01, 0.44 +/- 0.05, 0.98 +/- 0.03, and 1.27 +/- 0.04, respectively (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PC-3- CM can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Bone Marrow Cells , Cell Biology , Cell Differentiation , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media, Conditioned , Pharmacology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Osteoblasts , Cell Biology , Osteogenesis , Prostatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tamsulosin hydrochloride can significantly improve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms after the first dose and achieve long-term efficacy in European and American populations; however, the corresponding studies from China are rarely seen. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of tamsulosin hydrochloride 0.2 mg once daily in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of BPH in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chinese patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH were enrolled in a 4-week placebo run-in period and subsequent 60-week open-label study. Tamsulosin hydrochloride 0.2 mg was administered daily during the period of the study. The efficacy and safety parameters were evaluated at the end of treatment period I (0 - 12 weeks) and period II (13 - 60 weeks). The BPH patients were divided into tamsulosin monotherapy group and combination therapy group which received concomitant medication of finasteride 5 mg once daily after the evaluation at the end of treatment period I.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 113 patients were recruited to the study. Eighty-two patients received tamsulosin monotherapy and twenty-nine received combination therapy during the treatment period II. Tamsulosin hydrochloride produced a great improvement in mean maximum urinary flow rate (Q(max)) (1.7 ml/s, 3 ml/s) and a significant decrease in mean international prostate symptom score (IPSS) (4.1, 6.4) after 12-week and 60-week treatments, respectively. At the end of treatment period II, there were significant improvement in IPSS, quality of life (QOL) score, Q(max) and average flow rate (Q(ave)) for combination therapy group compared with the treatment period I (all P < 0.05). No serious adverse events (SAE) were recorded during the study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Long-term tamsulosin hydrochloride therapy is a safe, effective and well-tolerated method for the treatment for LUTS suggestive of BPH in China.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists , Therapeutic Uses , China , Placebos , Prostatic Hyperplasia , Drug Therapy , Prostatism , Drug Therapy , Sulfonamides , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
Objective: To establish and identify androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell line LNCap by culturing LNCaP cells with gradual deprivation of hormone. Methods: LNCaP cells were cultured in the medium with gradual deprivation of hormone (treated by active carbon to simulate androgen deprivation) for 10 days; and then the cells were cultured with complete deprivation of androgen for 3 months till the cell entered the rapid proliferation phase again. The cell growth and expression of PSA and androgen were examined by CCK-8, immunfluorescence and RT-PCR methods. Results: LNCaP cells grew slowly after deprivation of hormone and took on a neuroendocrine phenotype and cluster growth pattern. After 3 months' non-androgen culture,the cells regained original morphology and growth. CCK-8 indicated that LNCaP cells could grow in non-androgen condition; immunofluorescence assay indicated that LNCaP-AI cells could regain PSA-secreting activity in non-androgen condition; and RT-PCR suggested that androgen was highly expressed in LNCaP-AI cells. Conclusion: Androgen-independent LNCaP cell line can be established by culturing with gradual deprivation of hormone for 3 months.