Ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy associated proteins in human testicular tumors.

Ubiquitin proteasome sytem (UPS) and autophagy govern protein quality control by degradation and clearance of damaged proteins. Many proteins working in these pathways such as p97/VCP, Ubiquitin (Ub), Jab1/CSN5, p62, LC3B and Beclin 1 are known to be essential for different pathological conditions, especially in cancer, but their expression in human testicular tumors has not been characterized yet. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression of UPS (p97/VCP, Ubiquitin, Jab1/CSN5) and autophagic (p62, LC3B, Beclin 1) proteins in human testicular tumors and cancer adjacent normal testicular tissues. We used an immunohistochemical staining technique. 120 cases of testicular germ and non-germ cell tumors, which are 42 seminomas, 31 embryonal carcinomas, 11 yolk sac tumors, 25 intratubular germ cell neoplasms, 6 Leydig cell tumors, 5 Sertoli cell tumors, were collected and evaluated on tissue microarray. For the first time, the expression of p97/VCP, Ub, Jab1/CSN5, p62, LC3B and Beclin 1 in different type of human testicular tumors has been confirmed. We found that p97/VCP, Ub and Jab1/CSN5 were frequently expressed at higher levels in testicular tumours. In contrast to UPS markers, p62, LC3B and Beclin 1 showed significantly diminished expressions in testicular tumors. Accordingly, a negative correlation between p97/VCP and autophagic markers (p62 and LC3B) was found, suggesting a relationship between UPS and autophagy in different type of testicular tumors. The current results displayed elevated level of p97/VCP, Ub and Jab1/CSN5 expressions in contrast to the diminished expression of p62, LC3B and Beclin 1 in human testicular tumors, thereby supporting a correlation between p97/VCP and autophagic markers in testicular tumors.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of genistein in a model of spinal cord injury in rats.

Background: Neurological damage from spinal cord injury (SCI) is a result of primary mechanical injury and secondary damage from oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Although genistein has been shown to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in studies of brain injury, its effect on secondary damage in SCI has remained unknown. Objective: To determine effects of genistein in a model of SCI in rats. Methods: We divided 21 rats evenly into 3 groups, a control group, in which only a laminectomy was performed; a trauma group in which SCI was induced; and a genistein group in which genistein was administered subcutaneously after SCI. The rats were assessed using a Basso-Beattie and Bresnahan functional score at the 12th hour and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Biochemical analyses were conducted at the same time points to determine the serum levels of catalase, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), disulfide (SS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide/total thiol (SS/TT), and native thiol/total thiol (NT/TT). Total oxidant and antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress index were determined in spinal cord tissue obtained on the 7th day together with immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-2 levels. Result: Catalase activity on the 7th day was significantly (P = 0.001) higher in the genistein-treated rats than in other groups, and IMA levels became stable earlier (3rd day) in the genistein group. SS values were significantly (P = 0.004) lower in the genistein group. NT/TT ratio were significantly (P = 0.049) higher in the genistein-treated rats on the 7th day. Conclusion: Genistein has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects in a model of SCI in rats and warrants further study.

Synthetic mesh placement in the presence of abdominal infection: An experimental study of feasibility.

BACKGROUND: There are varying opinions on the feasibility of the placement of synthetic materials in contaminated surgical fields. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of the use of a commercially available composite mesh in the presence of abdominal infection. METHODS: Twenty-four hours after the induction of experimental peritonitis, 20 rats were randomized into 2 groups of 10 subjects. After abdominal cleansing with a second laparotomy, the abdomen was closed with running sutures in the control group and the composite mesh was applied in the experimental group before closure. The rats were followed up for findings of sepsis, mortality, and wound infection. On the 28th day, the rats were sacrificed and evaluated for abdominal infection, abdominal adhesions, and bacterial growth in the mesh and tissue cultures. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 0% and 30% in the control and mesh groups, respectively (p=0.21), and the wound infection rate was 20% and 57.1% (p=0.162). In the mesh group, the adhesions were significantly more intense (p=0.018) and significantly more microorganisms proliferated in the tissue cultures (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The significant increase in the intensity of adhesions and bacterial proliferation, as well as the higher rate of mortality and wound infection in the mesh group indicated that this composite mesh cannot be used safely in the repair of abdominal defects in the presence of abdominal infection.

A Large Posteriorly Located Prostatic Mass Lesion Challenging the Robotic Surgeon: Prostate Leiomyoma.

Background: Prostatic leiomyoma is a benign and rare condition of the prostate. Robotic surgery is increasingly being applied in the surgical management of prostate cancer. Case Presentation: Herein, a mass lesion that was located in the posterior part of the prostate between seminal vesicles that was identified during robotic surgery is presented. This lesion further challenged the console surgeon during performing a robotic radical prostatectomy procedure for a 200 g large prostate with prostate cancer. Conclusion: Prostatic leiomyomas that are benign mesenchymal smooth muscle tumors might present as a posteriorly located mass lesion between seminal vesicles that could challenge the surgeon during surgery, which should be kept in mind.

Bilateral epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma: an extraordinary tumor of the paranasal sinuses.

A 54-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of swelling on the right side of her face. On physical examination she was found to have a huge mass in the right nasal cavity. Magnetic resonance images of the paranasal sinuses revealed a soft tissue mass in the right maxillary sinus and a mass was also seen in the left maxillary sinus. On histopathologic examination, the tumor had a lobular structure with infiltrating margins. Two cell types, an outer layer of myoepithelial and an inner layer of duct-like cells, were found. On immunohistochemical examination, myoepithelial cells stained positively for calponin, p63, GFAP, S-100 protein, alpha-smooth muscle actin cytokeratin-14. The tumors were resected completely and no recurrence or metastasis was found 30 months after surgery. We describe here an unusual case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) arising from the paranasal sinuses. This is the first case report in the literature describing bilateral EMC in the maxillary sinuses.