KDM5C is transcriptionally regulated by BRD4 and promotes castration-resistance prostate cancer cell proliferation by repressing PTEN.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, and it is almost incurable once it has developed into castration-resistance prostate cancer (CRPC). However, the mechanisms underlying the oncogenesis of PCa and CRPC remain elusive. Lysine-specific histone demethylase 5C (KDM5C) is an important member of lysine demethylase family and has recently been found highly expressed in multiple cancer types. In this study, we reported that KDM5C was highly expressed in PCa and CRPC specimens, and the high expression promoted CRPC cell proliferation through repressing phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene epigenetically. Moreover, KDM5C was transcriptionally upregulated by bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), and knockdown KDM5C sensitized the therapeutic effects of CRPC cells to the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) inhibitor. Taken together, our study uncovers that the BRD4-KDM5C-PTEN may be a new oncogenic pathway in CRPC development, and KDM5C is a critical protein and could be an ideal target for CRPC treatment in this oncogenic pathway.

[Meatoplasty with pedicle flap for meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice. RESULTS: The patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis. CONCLUSION: With little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence among Chinese women in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE: A group of healthy females were randomly sampled in Shanghai for the purpose of evaluating the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among Chinese women and its associated risk factors. METHODS: 5,467 registered female residents aged from 20 years were randomly sampled from four communities in Shanghai, and the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Questionnaire (the International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire) was adopted. Detailed information regarding pregnancy, menstruation, and several demographic variables was also collected. Data were subsequently analyzed using McNemar's test, univariate analysis, multinomial logistic regression models, and binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of UI was estimated to be 23.3%. The rate of stress UI (SUI) was 14.0% (761/5433), which was more prevalent than the rate of urgency UI (UUI) and mixed UI (MUI), which were 3.0% (164/5433) and 6.3% (341/5433), respectively. The risk factors associated with developing UI included aging, lack of education, poor living environment (specifically in the rural area), intense manual labor, the absence of physical exercise, hyperlipemia, diabetes, nocturia, consumption of greasy food, divorce or widowing, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), frequent urinary tract infection, and vaginal delivery without episiotomy. We also observed that most Chinese women were not aware of UI, which prevented them from seeking early treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence is a common disorder among Chinese women in Shanghai, and many risk factors contribute to the development of UI. Most Chinese women were not aware of UI, which prevented them from seeking early treatment.

[Diagnosis and treatment of yolk sac tumor of the testis with hydrocele in children: report of 7 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of yolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele in children and the association between the two conditions in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 cases of stage-I yolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 14 (mean 11) months. As treatment, we performed radical high spermatic cord orchiectomy after diagnosis established on intraoperative frozen sections, and conducted follow-up visits by medical examination, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection, chest X-ray, ultrasonography and CT for 3-41 (mean 17) months, every month in the first year, every 3 months in the second year and every 6 months in the third year after surgery. RESULTS: Postoperative pathology confirmed yolk sac tumor in all the cases, with negative incisal margin. The level of serum AFP were decreased to normal in 6 cases within 1 month after surgery, all diagnosed as at stage I, and cured without chemotherapy. The other 1 case, with the serum AFP level of 116 microg/L at 1 month after operation, was diagnosed as at stage II and received PVC chemotherapy, but lost to follow-up at 3 months post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Yolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele is easily misdiagnosed in children. Ultrasonography is necessitated as routine examination in its diagnosis. Radical high spermatic cord orchiectomy can be performed for patients in stage I, and chemotherapy should follow for those in stage II. Its prognosis is similar to that of other yolk sac tumors. Hitherto, there has been no evidence for a definitive correlation between yolk sac tumor of the testis and hydrocele in children.

[Markers of prostate cancer stem cells: research advances].

Prostate cancer is one of the most seriously malignant diseases threatening men's health, and the mechanisms of its initiation and progression are not yet completely understood. Recent years have witnessed distinct advances in researches on prostate cancer stem cells in many aspects using different sources of materials, such as human prostate cancer tissues, human prostate cancer cell lines, and mouse models of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer stem cell study offers a new insight into the mechanisms of the initiation and progression of prostate cancer and contributes positively to its treatment. This article presents an overview on the prostate cancer stem cell markers utilized in the isolation and identification of prostate cancer stem cells.

[Penoplasty with scrotal flap for the treatment of buried penis in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of penoplasty with scrotal skin flap for the treatment of buried penis in children. METHODS: The narrow ring was cut vertically at the ventral side of penis and the prepuce inner plate was circularly cut 0.5 cm from the coronary sulcus. The prepuce was degloved to the base of penis. The abnormal aponeurosis was removed completely. The prepuce was designed to cover the coronary sulcus. The scrotal flaps at both sides were formed and advanced to cover the penile base. Then the prepuce was sutured to reconstruct penile-scrotal angle and scrotum plasty was completed. RESULTS: From March 2009 to July 2011, 24 children with buried penis were treated with scrotal flaps. Adhesion at external orifice of urethra was happened in two cases which recovered after urethra expansion. There was one case of necrosis at the distal end of prepuce. All the cases were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with no penile shrinkage. The penile appearance was good without rotation or lateral curvature during erection. CONCLUSIONS: The buried penis can be best corrected with scrotal flap. It is an ideal method with less complication.

[The clinical study of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation on the management of refractory glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the management of refractory glaucoma. METHODS: ECP procedures were performed on fifty-one eyes of 47 patients with refractory glaucoma by using the Microprobe (Endo Optiks, URAM E2) integrated laser endoscope system. All patients were followed-up from 6 to 16 months (mean 10.8 months), with four eyes receiving a second treatment. The changes of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity and complication were pre- and post-operatively observed. RESULTS: Compared to preoperation, the IOP of postoperation was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased at week 1, 4, 12, and 24 [(35.3 +/- 13.0) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs (19.9 +/- 13.2) mm Hg, (22.0 +/- 11.6) mm Hg, (17.6 +/- 11.6) mm Hg, and (17.0 +/- 10.4) mm Hg, x +/- s, respectively]. The mean number of IOP-decreased drugs used was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced from 3.3 to 1.0 of postoperation. 51.0% of all 51 eyes with the postoperative IOP less than 21 mm Hg did not receive any drug, and 25.5% with supplemental drug treatment. The visual acuity was significantly (P < 0.01) improved postoperatively. Postoperative hyphema were found in 4 eyes, fibrous exudates in 23 eyes, and exudative choroids detachment in 2 eyes, all of which occurred at the early postoperative stage and were healed within 2-16 days. No other complications were observed. CONCLUSION: ECP is a safe and effective procedure for the management of refractory glaucoma without serious complications.

[Preliminary study of inhibition of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro by RNA interference targeting IKK-beta].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting the inhibitor of kappaB kinase-beta (IKK-beta) could be used to suppress the IKK-beta expression, and inhibit the proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro. METHODS: IKK-beta specific siRNA designed from the human gene sequence was transfected into the cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts, and a non-targeted siRNA was transfected as a negative control. The mRNA of IKK-beta was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expression was determined by Western blotting. Cell viability of the cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts with series of RNA interference at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 nmol/L was evaluated by MTT assay 48 hours after transfection. RESULTS: The expression of IKK-beta was significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed at both mRNA and protein levels after transfection. The proliferation of the cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts was inhibited at all the transfected concentrations at different rates (10.72%, 23.35%, 30.84%, 51.25%, 50.06% and 49.63% respectively). The highest level of inhibition was observed at 50 nmol/L of siRNA concentration. CONCLUSIONS: IKK-beta specific siRNA is effective in suppressing the IKK-beta expression and inhibiting the proliferation of the cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. RNA interference may offer a new alternative to post-operational management of scar tissue formation.

[The experimental histopathologic changes of applying perfluoropropane to filtering surgery in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the histopathologic changes of filtering blebs by subconjunctival application of perfluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) after trabeculectomy in rabbit eyes. METHODS: Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, each group consisting of 10 rabbits. Trabeculectomy with topical application of C(3)F(8) was performed on one eye and trabeculectomy alone on the other eye in first group. Whereas, trabeculectomy with topical application of mitomycine (MMC) was performed on one eye and trabeculectomy with topical application of C(3)F(8) on the other eye in second group. Histopathologic changes in filter bleb were investigated by immunostaining at 3 days, and at week 1, 2, 3, and 4 after surgery. RESULTS: Fibroblasts: The numbers of fibroblasts in eyes after trabeculectomy with C(3)F(8) gas as well as trabeculectomy with MMC were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) compared to eyes with trabeculectomy alone. There was no significant statistical difference in the numbers of fibroblasts between trabeculectomy with C(3)F(8) gas group and trabeculectomy with MMC group. Newly formed collagen fiber: Immunostaining of collagen fibers showed that the numbers of newly formed collagen fibers in trabeculectomy with C(3)F(8) gas group and trabeculectomy with MMC group were significantly decreased compared to trabeculectomy alone group. However, there was no significant statistical difference between numbers of fibers in trabeculectomy with C(3)F(8) gas group and trabeculectomy with MMC group. Neovascularization and inflammation of filtering blebs: The differences were not statistically significant among trabeculectomy with C(3)F(8) gas, trabeculectomy with MMC group and trabeculectomy alone group. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy with subconjunctival retention of C(3)F(8) gas can enhance the success rates of surgery by suppressing the growth of fibroblasts and synthesis of newly formed collagen fibers, and by inhibiting scar formation.