DNA methylation is a common event in malignancies and implicated in tumor initiation and progression. There is a battery of genes involved in critical cell processes such as DNA damage repair, which are hypermethylated in prostate cancer. DNA methylation has also been found in premalignant lesions such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, but to a less extent compared with that in prostate cancer. Intensive study on DNA methylation would provide a new opportunity for the early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

To investigate the mechanisms of serine/threonine kinase Pim-3 inhibition of fulminant hepatic apoptosis. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 each): normal controls (A); pretreatment with Ringer's solution (B), vector plasmid (C), or Pim-3 recombinant plasmid (D) by hydrodynamics-based procedure followed by intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN) after one day. At 8 h after the LPS/D-GalN injections, liver tissues were collected from all groups of mice and analyzed for cell apoptosis by detecting caspase-3 activity (measured in relative fluorescence units, RFU). Changes in expression of relevant genes were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Caspase-3 activity was induced in response to LPS/D-GalN injection. Pim-3-pretreated rats showed a lower level of caspase-3 activity than the Ringer's-pretreated or vector plasmid-pretreated rats [(141.7+/-13.7)RFU vs. (508.1+/-32.0) or (493.5+/-33.1) RFU; all P less than 0.01]. High expressions of the liver injury marker gene, iNOS, and the apoptosis-induced genes, p53 and Bax, were found after LPS/D-GalN challenge, and were suppressed by exogenous Pim-3 gene injection. In addition, exogenous Pim-3 gene injection induced high expression of the liver anti-apoptosis protein, Bcl-2, but had no effect on Bax protein expression. The Pim-3 gene can block fulminant hepatic apoptosis by affecting the expression of the iNOS liver injury gene and the p53, Bax and Bcl-2 apoptosis-related genes.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Failure ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different expressions of endothelin-1 ET-1) in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues and their clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 36 BPH and 44 PCa specimens were examined for the expression of ET-1 by immunohistochemical technique (Elivision plus method). The staining intensity for ET-1 was assessed by light microscopy on a scale from "-" to "+ + +".

RESULTSPositive immunoreactivity was found in BPH and PCa, with a positive rate of 100%. Positive staining was located mostly in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelia and smooth muscle cells of both BPH and PCa and was noted in all stroma vascular endothelial cells. These were no significant differences in the intensity of positive staining for ET-1 between the groups of BPH and PCa (P > 0.05), bone metastasis (BM) and non-BM (P > 0.05), and highly and moderately differentiated PCa (P > 0.05), but the staining intensity for ET-1 was significantly higher in the poorly than in the highly and moderately differentiated PCa (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONET-1 has a high expression and the localization is the same in both BPH and PCa. It is involved in the development and progression of BPH and PCa.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

AIM To establish the HPLC characteristic chromatogram of Baqi Rougan Decoction reference sample,and to investigate its quantitative transmission laws.METHODS The contents of calycosin 7-O-glucoside,hesperidin,rosmarinic acid,curcumenol and nystose were determined.The transfer rates of decoction piece-aqueous decoction-reference sample were calculated,after which the paste-forming rate and pH value were recorded.RESULTS There were sixteen characteristic peaks in fifteen batches of reference samples with the similarities of 0.90,nine of which were identified.The average transfer rates of nystose and calycosin 7-O-glucoside in the reference sample were(83.14±6.25)%and(77.81±8.31)%,while those of rosmarinic acid and curcumenol in the aqueous decoction-reference sample were(81.71±6.27)%and(72.16±5.91)%,along with the average paste-forming rate and pH value of(38.91%±1.46%)and 5.13±0.08,respectively.CONCLUSION This stable and feasible method can provide a reference for the selection of preparation process and evaluation of key chemical properties for Baqi Rougan Decoction.