Objective To explore the expression level and significance of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in renal tissue with calcium oxalate stone.Methods 20 kidney specimens were collected as the experimental group from patients with calcium oxalate stone who underwent nephrectomy because of stones in our hospital between January 2008 and December 2014;another 20 renal specimens were get as the control group from patients with renal carcinoma,the renal tissues were obtained 2cm far from the tumor and proved as normal tissue.Immunohistochemical detection was carried out to analyze the expression level of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and IL-1β in the 40 renal samples.Animal experiment:fourteen male SD rats were randomly divided into calcium oxalate stone group and control group.For calcium oxalate stone group we established an ethylene glycol method induced hyperoxaluric rat model featured by crystalline material within tubule lumens;for control group normal feeding was performed.After 6 weeks,all rats were sacrificed,and the kidneys were harvested for further experiments.HE staining and Pizzolato staining were used to detect calcium oxalate crystals within tubule lumens.Western boltting and RT-PCR was applied to detect protein level and mRNA quantity of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and IL-1β from tissue lysates in rat model.Results In renal tissue samples obtained from patients with calcium oxalate stone disease,we demonstrated that the expression level of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and IL-1β were above to the normal renal tissue samples.We established a hyperoxaluric rat model character with crystalline material within tubule lumens examined by renal histology with HE staining and Pizzolato staining.And we detected that the protein and mRNA levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and IL-1β were remarkably increased in the lysates from the hyperoxaluric rat model (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The NLRP3 inflammasome has overexpression in the renal tissue of patients with calcium oxalate stone as well as in the renal tissue of hyperoxaluric rat,and it provides a new thought to reveal the formation of calcium oxalate stone.

Objective To explore the clinicopathological significance of the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in the high-grade stage pT1 bladder cancer (BC) after first transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).Methods The retrospective study was performed with 27 patients of high-grade stage pT1 BC after first TURBT from January 2006 to December 2011,and another 54 patients were matched as negative control in terms of gender,age,pathological pattern,grading and staging.All the data were calculated by using SPSS17.0 software.Qualitative variables were compared by using chi-square test.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate total survival and cancer-specific survival and differences were assessed with the Log-rank statistic.Results Twenty-four patients (89％) experienced cancer recurrence in LVI group,while 19 cases (35％) experienced recurrence in control group.Progress developed in 56％ (15/27) and 24％ (13/54) in the 2 groups respectively.LVI was detected to be a prognostic factor for overall recurrence (x2 =20.845,P＜0.001) and progress (x2 =7.887,P =0.005) in patients with high-grade T1 stage BC.Furthermore,overall survival and recurrence-free survival according to the presence or absence of LVI was 54±6 months and 84±3 months,17±5 months and 67±5 months,respectively.LVI was proved to be associated with worse overall survival (x2=13.443,P＜0.001) and recurrence free survival (x2=33.094,P＜0.001).Conclusion In patients with high-grade T1 stage BC,LVI in first TURBT specimens predicts disease recurrence,progression and overall recurrence and recurrence free survival.

Adverse reactions commonly associated with apalutamide include hot flashes, fatigue, joint pain, rash, hypertension, and anemia. Apalutamide-induced agranulocytosis is relatively rare. In this paper, we reported a case with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer who developed agranulocytosis after taking apalutamide for one month. The patient’s neutrophil count returned to normal with appropriate supportive therapy, and no significant decrease in neutrophil count was observed during 10 months of follow-up after discharge.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of radical prostatectomy without biopsy for patients with highly suspected localized prostate cancer diagnosed by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Methods:Patients were enrolled in this single-arm prospective study from March 2019 to January 2022 in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Eligible patients were aged ≤80 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance-status score of 0 or 1. Based on mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, patients were diagnosed with highly suspected localized prostate cancer with no evidence of distant lymphatic, bone or visceral metastases. Patients were excluded if they had obvious important organs dysfunction, suspected metastatic lesions or history of other malignant tumor. After fully informed of the surgical risks and possibilities of final pathology, patients received laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. According to final pathological results, the diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was evaluated. Pathological features were compared between low 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) group (SUV max<10) and high SUV max group (SUV max≥10). Baseline characteristics were compared between clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) and clinically insignificant prostate cancer (cisPCa) + high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) patients. Additional analysis of the correlation between baseline parameters and different subgroups including pathological stage, ISUP grades and risk groups were performed in CsPCa patients. Results:31 patients were enrolled. Median age was 68 (ranging 48-79)years old. Median BMI was 25.6(ranging 21.9-31.4)kg/m 2. Median prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 23.5 (ranging 5.6-94.7)ng/ml. Median prostate volume was 37.6(ranging 16.2-127.9)ml. Median PSA density (PSAD) was 0.56(ranging 0.11-2.86)ng/ml 2. Fifteen cases were scored prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) 4 and 16 cases were scored PI-RADS 5. Median 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max was 13.3 (ranging 4.6-36.7). All surgeries were successfully accomplished without open conversion. Median postoperative hospitalization time was 5 (ranging 4-7)d. No major complication occurred perioperatively. Recovery of urinary continence was within 6 months in all patients. According to the final pathological results, 1(3.2%) patient was confirmed with HGPIN. 30 (96.8%) patients were confirmed with adenocarcinoma, including 26 (86.7%) patients with CsPCa and 4(13.3%) patients with cisPCa. Among prostate cancer cases, the pathological stage of 11(36.7%) was T 2 and 19(63.3%) was T 3. Four(13.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 1, 7(23.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 2, 7(23.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 3 and 12 (40.0%) cases were with ISUP grade≥4.Two(6.7%) cases were in low risk group, 3(10.0%) cases were in intermediate risk group and 25 (83.3%) cases were in high risk group. Twelve(40.0%) patients had positive surgical margins. Standard pelvic lymph node dissection was carried out in 18 (17 prostate cancer and 1 HGPIN) cases. Sixty-two lymph nodes were dissected and none of them was positive. The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was 96.8%(30/31) in prostate cancer. Compared to low SUV max group, patients in high SUV max group had higher ISUP grade ( P=0.003) but there was no significant difference in positive surgical margin, seminal vesical invasion or pathological stage ( P>0.05). Among CsPCa patients, 10 (38.5%) cases were scored PI-RADS 4 and 16(61.5%) cases were scored PI-RADS 5. Median 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max was 14.3 (range 6.1-36.7). Compared to cisPCa and HGPIN patients, a smaller median prostate volume (34.3 vs. 73.0 ml, P=0.006), higher median PSAD (0.70 vs. 0.13 ng/ml 2, P=0.001), higher rates of PI-RADS 5 patients (61.5% vs. 0, P=0.018) and higher 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max (14.3 vs. 6.1, P=0.001) were found in CsPCa patients. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference between SUV max and pathological stage (25.5 vs. 13.9), ISUP grades (15.4 vs. 14.4 vs. 14.0) and risk groups (9.7 vs. 14.9) in CsPCa patients ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is high in prostate cancer. With efficient communication, radical prostatectomy without biopsy for patients with highly suspected localized prostate cancer diagnosed by mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is safe.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of pre-biopsy serum inflammatory markers on positive prostate biopsy results, establish a nomogram model based on pre-biopsy inflammatory markers combined with other parameters, and evaluate its predictive ability for prostate biopsy results.Methods:The clinical data of 601 patients undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy who were admitted to the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from August 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 68(35, 89)years, and the median tPSA was 9.56(4.01, 19.95)ng/ml. The median fPSA was 1.36(0.88, 2.02)ng/ml, the median PSAD was 0.16(0.11, 0.26)ng/ml 2, and the median platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)was 129.90(98.95, 169.89). PI-RADS v2.1 score<3 points in 189 cases(31.45%), 3 points in 174 cases(28.95%), 4 points in 190 cases(31.61%), and 5 points in 48 cases(7.99%). A simple randomization method was used to obtain 421 cases(70.00%)in the modeling group and 180 cases(30%)in the validation group.There was no significant difference in the clinical data between the two groups ( P>0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed in the modeling group to screen independent influencing factors for the prediction of positive prostate biopsy results. A nomogram model was established and internal verification was conducted. External validation of the model was performed in the validation group. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to verify model discrimination, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to verify model calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the net benefit and clinical utility of the predictive model. Results:The results of univariate analysis showed that the age( OR=1.060, P<0.01), histological inflammation( OR=0.312, P<0.01), the number of biopsy needles( OR=0.949, P=0.009), f/tPSA( OR=0.954, P=0.003), PV( OR=0.973, P<0.01), PSAD( OR=29.260, P<0.01), PI-RADS v2.1 score(3-point OR=3.766, P=0.001; 4-point OR=11.800, P<0.01; 5-point OR=57.033, P<0.01), lymphocyte count( OR=1.535, P=0.013), NLR( OR=0.848, P=0.044), PLR( OR=0.994, P=0.005)and SII( OR=0.999, P=0.009)were statistically different between the prostate patients and non-prostate cancer patients in the modeling group; Multivariate analysis showed that age( OR=1.094, P<0.001), fPSA( OR=0.605, P=0.002), histological inflammation ( OR=0.241, P<0.001), PSAD ( OR=7.57, P=0.013), PLR ( OR=0.994, P=0.005) and PI-RADS v2.1 Score(3-point OR=2.737, P=0.016; 4-point OR=8.621, P<0.001; 5-point OR=47.65, P<0.001) was an independent influencing factor for prostate cancer at initial biopsy; a nomogram model based on age, fPSA, PSAD, PLR and PI-RADS v2.1 scores was established. The AUC of the modeling group was 0.849(95% CI 0.810-0.888), and the sensitivity was 80.9%, and the specificity was 76.1%; the AUC of the validation group was 0.862(95% CI 0.809-0.915), and the sensitivity was 91.9%, and the specificity was 67.8%, suggesting that the diagnostic prediction model had a good discrimination. The calibration curve showed that the prediction model was well calibrated ( χ2=6.137, P=0.632). The decision curve analysis (DCA) of the modeling and validation groups indicated a larger net benefit of the predictive model. Conclusions:The nomogram model established in this study based on age, fPSA, PSAD, PLR and PI-RADS v2.1 score showed good predictive efficacy for prostate biopsy in patients with PSA between 4-20 ng/ml.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of spleen-invigorating, dampness-removing and stasis-dissolving formula (SDSF) combined with endocrinotherapy for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).Methods:A retrospective case control study was conducted. The clinical data of 193 mHSPC patients treated at First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2018 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with continuous endocrinotherapy and they were divided into the combination therapy group (82 cases) and the monotherapy group (94 cases) based on whether they received SDSF treatment or not. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), serum testosterone, blood lipids (triglyceride, total cholesterol), fasting blood glucose, and international prostate symptoms score (I-PSS) and Karnofsky score were compared between the 2 groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the progression-free survival (PFS), and log-rank test was performed. The Cox proportional risk model was used to make univariate analysis and multivariate analysis on the influencing factors of PFS.Results:A total of 176 mHSPC patients were finally enrolled and the age was 67±11 years. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of PSA, serum testosterone, triglyceride, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose, I-PSS score and Karnofsky score between the two groups (all P > 0.05). A total of 91 mHSPC patients developed metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), including the combination therapy group (40 cases) and the monotherapy group (51 cases), and 9 patients died because of the progression to mCRPC. The median PFS time of all patients was 19 months, that was 17.9 months in the monotherapy group and 20.4 months in the combination therapy group; and the difference was statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that combination therapy with SDSF and the lowest testosterone level were independent influencing factors of PFS ( P = 0.001). The total cholesterol at 6-, 9-, 12-month in the combination therapy group was lower than that in the monotherapy group (all P < 0.05), triglyceride at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-month in the combination therapy group was lower than that in the monotherapy group (all P < 0.05); and the differences in fasting blood glucose after treatment at different time points were not statistically significant between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05); I-PSS score at 9-, 12-month in the monotherapy group was lower than that in the monotherapy group (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:The combination of SDSF with endocrinotherapy can delay the progression of mHSPC, improve treatment-related complications, and enhance patients' quality of life.

[Objective] To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of treatment-naive patients with highly suspected prostate cancer (PCa) with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥20 ng/mL, to provide reference for promoting early screening of PCa. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of treatment-naive patients with PSA level ≥20 ng/mL, undergoing prostate biopsy for highly suspected PCa at the Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital during Jan.2013 and Jun.2023. The correlation between patients' age, body mass index (BMI), PSA, prostate volume (PV), prostate cancer-specific antigen density (PSAD), prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score, and International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade with highly suspected PCa metastasis and PSA stratification were analyzed. [Results] A total of 1778 suspected patients were enrolled. Pathological findings confirmed PCa in 1465 cases (82.4%), with 487(33.2%) diagnosed as metastatic PCa. Over the past decade, the number of patients undergoing prostate biopsy for highly suspected PCa and being confirmed has been increasing annually, with the proportion of metastatic cases remaining at around 30%. Compared with those with PSA level being 20-50 ng/mL, patients with PSA level >50 ng/mL had older age, lower BMI, higher PSAD, higher PI-RADS, higher ISUP, more diverse pathological types, and a higher incidence of metastasis (P<0.05) with lower proportion of urban residents. Additionally, analysis of metastatic PCa cases showed that 46.8%(228/487) had oligometastasis (≤5 metastatic lesions), including 99.0% bone metastasis, 4.1% extraregional lymph node metastasis, and 4.3% other organ metastasis. [Conclusion] Over the past 10 years, there has been a continuous increase in the number of treatment-naive biopsied cases and newly diagnosed cases of highly suspicious PCa with PSA level ≥20 ng/mL, while the proportion of metastatic cases remains high. Therefore, proactive efforts should be made to promote early screening of high-risk suspected cases.