Xin Zhang¹, He Nan¹, Jialong Guo¹, Jinyu Liu²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.32, No.2, pp. 15-22, 2021, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2021.0465

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal synovial hyperplasia and the release of inflammatory cytokines. NLRP12 is a member of the family nod-like receptor (NLR) families that are activators of inflammation. However, the role of NLRP12 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) is still unclear. In the present study, we have investigated the role of NLRP12 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). The results demonstrated that NLRP12 overexpression inhibited proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in RA-FLSs. Moreover, NLRP12 overexpression repressed inflammation by downregulation of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and MCP-1 production and upregulation of More >

Aeen M. Asghar¹, Andrew G. McIntosh¹, Zachary L. Smith², Neil J. Kocher³, Ziho Lee¹, Nimrod N. Barashi², Tianyu Li¹, Jay D. Raman³, Scott E. Eggener², Robert G. Uzzo¹, Alexander Kutikov¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 10620-10624, 2021

Abstract Introduction: To assess whether patients with a large renal mass, treated by radical nephrectomy (RN), could have benefited from preoperative renal mass biopsy (RMB). The decision to perform partial nephrectomy (PN) for an organ-confined > 4 cm renal mass can be complex. Although often feasible, the oncologic safety of PN in this cohort is debated. Yet, a significant portion of large renal masses that undergo RN prove benign or indolent, indicating a potential role for RMB to guide nephron preservation.
Materials and methods: We queried prospectively maintained databases from three institutions to identify patients who underwent RN… More >

Eileen R. Byrne¹, Thomas W. Fuller², Sunchin Kim³, Engy T. Said⁴, Jill C. Buckley¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 10914-10919, 2021

Abstract Introduction: In an effort to decrease physician contribution to the opioid crisis, we utilized a narcotic free pathway (NFP) after urethroplasty. Our objectives were to demonstrate feasibility of a NFP and identify patients at higher risk for requiring postoperative narcotics.
Materials and methods: We implemented a NFP for patients undergoing urethroplasty. Pain was assessed using the Likert scale (1-10). Narcotic use was quantified using oral morphine equivalents (OMEs).
Results: Forty-six patients underwent urethroplasty following the NFP over a 7-month period. Fifteen patients were excluded, leaving 31 patients in the final analysis. Postintervention data was compared to 30 patients… More >

Miguel Rodriguez-Homs¹, Brett Wiesen¹, Mona Rizeq², Colin Randau³, Granville L. Lloyd⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 10565-10567, 2021

Abstract Prostate cancer is rarely metastatic to visceral organs, and even less commonly to the brain. Recent data suggests brain metastasis from prostatic adenocarcinoma occur in 0.16% of patients, and almost universally in the setting of very high-volume disease. We present a man with an abruptly symptomatic brain lesion that developed at a PSA value of 1.5 ng/mL with no other known metastatic disease and required emergent neurosurgical resection. The patient had been initially treated with radiotherapy for Grade Group 4 prostate cancer in 2005 with a long period of PSA suppression. More >

Ankur Choksi¹, Shu Wang¹, Michael Phelan¹, Heather Mannuel², Michael Naslund¹, Mohummad Minhaj Siddiqui¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 10547-10555, 2021

Abstract Introduction: Complete pathologic response (pT0) at time of cystectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been associated with significantly improved clinical outcomes. The goal of this study is to examine whether race is a predictor of pT0 response to NAC at time of cystectomy.
Materials and methods: We analyzed the records of patients diagnosed with a non-metastatic (M0) muscle-invasive (cT2+) urothelial cell bladder cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) who underwent a cystectomy from 2006 to 2014. The cohort was stratified by whether the patient received NAC prior to cystectomy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were… More >

Bofeng Chen¹, Ruchika Talwar¹, Lauren E. Schwartz², Ryan P. Terlecki³, Thomas J. Guzzo¹, Robert C. Kovell¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 10530-10535, 2021

Abstract Introduction: Inter-institutional re-review of prostate needle biopsy (PNBx) material is required at many institutions before definitive treatment, but adds time and cost and may not significantly alter urologic management. We aim to determine the utility of universal PNBx re-review on influencing the decision to recommend definitive local therapy for patients with prostate cancer.
Materials and methods: From 2017-2020, 590 prostate biopsy specimens from outside institutions were re-reviewed at our center for patients considering prostatectomy. Clinical and pathologic characteristics from initial and secondary review were analyzed. Potential for change in treatment candidacy (CTC) was determined by re-diagnosis to… More >

USAMA SHARIF AHMAD, KARTHIK SARAVANAN, HONG WAN^*

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.6, pp. 377-391, 2021, DOI:10.32604/or.2022.026085 - 10 November 2022

Abstract The Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a downstream effector of the Hippo pathway and acts as a key transcription co-factor to regulate cell migration, proliferation, and survival. The Hippo pathway is evolutionarily conserved and controls tissue growth and organ size. Dysregulation and heterogeneity of this pathway are found in cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), leading to overexpression of YAP and its regulated proliferation machinery. The activity of YAP is associated with its nuclear expression and is negatively regulated by the Hippo kinase-mediated phosphorylation resulting in an induction of its cytoplasmic translocation. This review focuses More >

JIAFU FENG^1,2,#,*, BEI XU^1,2,#, CHUNMEI DAI^1,2,#, YAODONG WANG^1,4, GANG XIE^1,5, WENYU YANG^1,2, BIN ZHANG^1,2, XIAOHAN LI⁶, JUN WANG³

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.5, pp. 331-349, 2021, DOI:10.32604/or.2022.03554 - 10 October 2022

Abstract Due to its difficulty in early diagnosis and lack of sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be a frequent cause of cancer-related death. Here, we probed into new targets for its early diagnosis and treatment for RCC. microRNA (miRNA) data of M2-EVs and RCC were searched on the Gene Expression Omnibus database, followed by the prediction of the potential downstream target. Expression of target genes was measured via RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. M2 macrophage was obtained via flow cytometry with M2-EVs extracted. The binding ability of miR-342-3p to NEDD4L… More >

KAI WANG^2,#, FENGTIAN ZHANG^1,3,4,#, CHANGLONG WEN⁵, ZHIHUA HUANG⁶, ZHIHAO HU¹, YUWEN ZHANG¹, FUQIANG HU^2,*, LIJUAN WEN^1,6,*

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.5, pp. 351-363, 2021, DOI:10.32604/or.2022.025696 - 10 October 2022

Abstract The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an essential component in regulating and maintaining the homeostatic microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS). During the occurrence and development of glioblastoma (GBM), BBB is pathologically destroyed with a marked increase in permeability. Due to the obstruction of the BBB, current strategies for GBM therapeutics still obtain a meager success rate and may lead to systemic toxicity. Moreover, chemotherapy could promote pathological BBB functional restoration, which results in significantly reduced intracerebral transport of therapeutic agents during multiple administrations of GBM and the eventual failure of GBM chemotherapy. The effective More >

ZAHRA NASRPOUR NAVAEI¹, GHAZALEH KHALILI-TANHA¹, AMIR SADRA ZANGOUEI², MOHAMMAD REZA ABBASZADEGAN³, MEYSAM MOGHBELI^1,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.4, pp. 235-250, 2021, DOI:10.32604/or.2022.025323 - 31 August 2022

Abstract Chemotherapy is one of the main therapeutic modalities for cancer patients. Cisplatin (CDDP), as one of the first-line drugs, is of great importance in the chemotherapy of various tumors. However, a significant percentage of cancer patients are resistant to CDDP treatment. Due to the CDDP side effects on normal tissues, the diagnosis of CDDP resistance is required to suggest the most efficient therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Several molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways are associated with CDDP response. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway has a pivotal role in the transmission of extracellular signals into the cells… More >