The 109th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association was held in Orlando, Florida, USA in May 2014, which received more than 1,000 abstracts on prostate cancer (PCa), covering new epidemiological data about PCa, new theories of early screening, novel molecular markers, new surgical methods, new ideas of diagnosis and treatment of castration-resistant PCa, and progress in basic researches. This paper focuses on the new theories of early screening and novel molecular markers of PCa, including the risk factors of PCa, a revolutionary understanding of the relationship between testosterone and PCa, and new application of PSA, new imaging techniques and molecular markers in the early diagnosis of PCa.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Florida ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Risk Factors ; Societies, Medical ; Testosterone ; blood ; United States ; Urology

The study aims to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from 5 manufacturers. By testing molecular mass and trypsin-digested peptide mass mapping, the amino acid sequence was verified and post-translational modifications such as disulfide bond were identified. Results show that the molecular mass and amino acid sequence were consistent with theory; the disulfide bonds of 4 lots of interferon were Cys1-Cys98/Cys29-Cys138, 1 lot was Cys29-Cys139/Cys86-Cys99; N-terminal "+Met", acetyl N-terminal and Met oxidation were identified in part of the sample. UPLC-MS can be used to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from different manufacturers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Interferons ; standards ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peptide Mapping ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Reference Standards

Crigler-Najjar Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; etiology

Objective To study the prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of HIV-related lipodystrophy syndrome (HIV-LD) in our cohort of HIV-1 infected Chinese adults. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 55 HIV-infected patients were recruited from the HIV clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital; most of them were undergoing the first-class highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) of today in China. Lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy was defined if there was concordance between the report of fat change and clinical examination of the participants. Whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning was performed. Results Prevalence of clinical body fat redistribution in the present study was 47.3%. Comparing with non-LD patients, HIV-LD patients had elder age and longer exposure to HAART(P<0.05). HAART exposure and stavudine(d4T) usage were two independent risk factors for HIV-LD. Conclusions HIV-related fat redistribution does exist in Chinese HIV population. Peripheral lipoatrophy occurs commonly in HIV-infected adults but is not associated with increased trunk fat. HAART exposure and especially d4T usage are independent risk factors for HIV-LD.

AIM: To observe the inhibition of c-Met inhibitor on proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs).METHODS: Human's LECs were cultured and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and K252a were added to second passage of cells supplied with Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium (DMEM). MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation of LECs, and Western-blot was used to detect the expression change of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3.RESULTS: The photodensity (A) of HGF (50nmol/L) + K252a (30nmol/L) was not significantly different from that of DMEM control (P＞0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were not significantly different from that in the control group.CONCLUSION: K252a, the inhibitor of c-Met, can effectively inhibit the proliferation of LECs.

Objective To compare clinical outcomes of modified hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devacularization for treatment of portal hypertension due to cirrhosis.Methods From Jan 2007 to Dec 2011,modified hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy plus esophagogastric devascularization (MHLSED) and total laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) were performed on 47 and 38 patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis,respectively.For the MHLESD group,we performed hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy first,then converted during operation to totally laparoscopic esophagogastric devascularization.The operating time,intra-operative blood loss,postoperative complications and postoperative hospitalization time were analyzed.Results MHLSED were performed on 47 patients successfully without any need to convert to open surgery,and LSED were performed on 36 patients with 2 patients having to convert to open surgery.The mean operative time [(154 ±32)min] and mean intra-operative blood loss [(115± 73)ml] in the HLSED group were significantly lower than the LSED group [(212±45)min and (172±57)ml,respectively].There was no mortality.There were no significant differences in the time period for gastrointestinal function to recover,postoperative hospital stay and overall complication rate between the two groups.Conclusions MHALSD is a relatively safe and efficacious treatment for portal hypertension due to cirrhosis.It combines the advantages of hand-assisted and totally laparoscopic operations.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified hand-assited laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) plus pericardial devascularization for the treatment of cirrhotic portal hypertension.MethodsFrom March 2009 to Dec 2011,modified hand-assited laparoscopic splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization was performed on 47 patients with portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.We performed HALS first, thenconvertedtototallylarparocopicpericardialdevascularizationduring operation.ResultsAll patients received modified HALS plus pericardial devascularization without convertion to open surgery,the mean operative time was ( 154 ± 32) min,the mean intraoperative blood loss was ( 115 ±73) ml,and the mean postoperative hospitalization was (9.2 ± 1.6) days.The perioperative complications included plural effusion in 3 cases,ascites in 4 cases,pancreatic leakage in 1 case and wound dehiscence in 1case. Therewasnoperioperativemortality.ConclusionsModifiedHALSpluspericardial devascularization is a relatively safe and effective procedure in the treatment of portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis,it has the advantage of hand-assisted and totally laparoscopic procedures.

Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) has been proven to be an effective drug for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). However, the lack of ideal administration route is the biggest bottleneck preventing PEDF from wider clinical use. In this study, we developed a novel PEDF-carrying system which employed immuno-nano-liposomes (INLs) under ultrasound exposure. PEDF-loaded INLs were prepared by conjugating nanoliposomes to the peptide ATWLPPR specifically targeting the receptor-2 for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR-2) and reversely encapsuling PEDF. RF/6A cells were incubated with PEDF-loaded INLs. CNV models of BN rats were injected with PEDF-loaded INLs. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the INLs on RF/6A cells. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect the apoptotic rate of cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was employed to observe the binding and transmitting process of PEDF-loaded INLs and to calculate the area of CNV in the rat model. The results showed that the PEDF-loaded INLs could exclusively bind to CNV but not to the normal choroidal vessels. The CNV area was significantly decreased in PEDF treatment groups in comparison with control group (P<0.05). Moreover, PEDF-loaded INLs exposed under ultrasound were more efficient in reducing the CNV area (P<0.05). It was concluded that INLs in combination with ultrasonic exposure can transmit PEDF into cytoplasma with high specificity and efficiency, which strengthens the inhibitory effects of PEDF on CNV and reduces its side effects. PEDF-loaded INLs possibly represent a new treatment paradigm for patients with ocular neovascularization.

Background Clinical and genetic heterogeneity of congenital cataract is well substantiated.Researchers often identify disease loci by linkage analysis and screen candidate gene by direct sequencing.Objective This study was to localize and identify the disease-causing genes for two Chinese families with congenital coralliform cataracts.Methods Two Chinese families(CC1 and CC2) with autosomal dominant inheritance congenital coralliform cataracts were ascertained and patients in the families underwent ophthalmological examination.Periphery blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted from 17 subjects including 11 cataract patients and 4 phenotype normal and 2 spouses.A linkage scan of genomic regions containing 25 known candidate genes was performed using 50 polymorphic microsatellite markers on genomic DNA from affected and unaffected family members and LOD scores were calculated.Candidate genes were sequenced and mutations were analyzed.Three single nucleotyde polymorphisms(SNP)(rs2305429,rs2305430,rs2242074) were sequenced and genotyped for the detect of the possibility of a common origin between CC1 and CC2.This study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by Ethic Committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital.The informed consent was obtained from subjects and their guardian before the protocol.Results A significant LOD score of 3.28(θ=0) in family CC1 and a maximum LOD score of 1.50(θ=0) in family CC2 were both produced at the microsatellite marker D2S325 linked with CRYGD gene.Sequencing of CRYGD gene showed a heterozygous single base pair change c.70C＞A in exon2,predicting to result in a P23T amino acid change.The haplotypes of two probands in their respective families was quite distinct.Conclusion These results indicate that c.C70A(p.P23T) mutation in CRYGD gene is the underlyingmolecular pathogenesis of the two families with congenital coralliform cataracts,and this mutation occurs independently in these two families rather than descending from a common ancestor.

BACKGROUND: In the elderly, the cervical vertebrae will appear with different degrees of spinal stenosis caused by various factors. Notably, the incidence of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation is high, accounting for 3%-16% of cervical spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of MRI in the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation, and to analyze the influencing factors for surgical effectiveness.METHODS: Fifty-one patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation in Zibo Central Hospital from August 2014 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients underwent anterior, posteror, or anterior-posterior fusion, respectively, and then the intraoperative ligament injury and MRI images were compared. The age, injury type, spinal cord injury type revealed on MRI, time from injury to hospital, signal length of spinal cord injury,American Spinal injury Association grade, degree of cervical stenosis, whether hormone used or not within 8 hours after injury, time from injury to surgery, and surgical approaches were analyzed based on univariate analysis and multivariate analysis by Logistic regression analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) MRI showed more comprehensive damage of the spinal cord and intervertebral disc ligament complex than the intraoperative findings (χ2=5.966,P < 0.05), and the cervical spinal cord injury was related to the injury of the corresponding intervertebral disc ligament complex (χ2=1.53, P > 0.05). (2) Univariate analysis results showed that the spinal cord injury type revealed on MRI, signal length of spinal cord injury, American Spinal injury Association grade, degrees of cervical stenosis, whether hormone used or not within 8 hours after injury, and time from injury to surgery were related to the functional recovery of spinal cord (P < 0.01). (3) Multivariate analysis results indicated that the type revealed on MRI, signal length of spinal cord injury and degrees of cervical stenosis were significantly related to the functional recovery of spinal cord (P < 0.05). (4) These results suggest that MRI has a high tissue resolution, so it plays an important role in the diagnosis of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation.Moreover, the degrees of spinal cord injury and spinal stenosis, as well as operation time are main factors for curative efficacy.