Amygdalin (vitamin B 17 ; previously called laetrile) is one of many nitrilosides, which are natural cyanide-containing substances abundant in the seeds of prunasin family, plant such as apricots, almonds, peaches, apples, and other rosaceous plants. Among the prunasins, Armeniacae semen has been used for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, leprosy, colorectal cancer, leucoderma, and pain. [1][2][3] Amygdalin is composed of two molecules of glucose, one of benzaldehyde, which induces an analgesic action, and one of hydrocyanic acid, which is an anti-neoplastic compound. Apart from the above indications, amygdalin has been used to treat cancers and relieve pain. [4][5][6] In particular, D-amygdalin (D-mandelonitrile-b-D-gentiobioside) is known to exhibit selective killing effect on cancer cells. 7)Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in men. This malignant tumor most often arises in the outer part of the prostate, and as the tumor grows it metastasizes to the tissues around the prostate or into the seminal vesicles. 8)Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, occurs in several pathological situations in multicellular organisms and constitutes part of a common mechanism of cell replacement, tissue remodeling, and removal of damaged cells. Apoptosis is a complex process characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and formation of "apoptotic bodies." 9) Two important groups of proteins involved in apoptotic cell death are the members of the Bcl-2 family 10) and a class of cysteine proteases known as caspases.11) The Bcl-2 family can be classified into two functionally distinct groups: antiapoptotic proteins and pro-apoptotic proteins. Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, is known to regulate apoptotic pathways and protects against cell death. Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein of that family, is expressed abundantly and selectively during apoptosis and promotes cell death. Increasing the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax has commonly been used to determine the induction of apoptosis in several tissues.12) The caspases are aspartate-specific cysteine proteases that have emerged as the central executioner of apoptosis. Among the caspases, activation of caspase-3 is regarded as primary mechanism of apoptosis. 11,13) Caspase-3 can be activated through cytosolic release of cytochrome c by Bax protein. 14)Numerous studies have documented that induction of apoptosis is a very important mechanism in the spontaneous regression of tumors and in the development of anti-tumor agents.15) Apoptosis of tumor cells contributes to the tumor reduction and promotes tumor regression.16) Moreover, anticancer drugs are known to induce apoptosis of tumor cells by damaging their DNA, inhibiting DNA synthesis, depleting intracellular nucleotide pool, and disrupting mitotic apparatus. 17,18) In the present study, we prepared the aqueous extract of the amygdalin from Armeniacae semen and investigated whether this extract induces apoptotic cell death in human DU145 and LNCaP p...

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RESULTSNo relationship was found between prostate volume and digit ratio [correlation coefficient ( r ) = − 0.038, P = 0.466]. But, significant negative correlations were found between digit ratio and PSA ( r = − 0.140, P = 0.007). When the patients were divided into two groups (Group A: digit ratio < 0.95, n = 184; Group B: digit ratio ≥ 0.95, n = 182), Group A had a higher mean PSA level than Group B (3.26 ± 5.54 ng/mL vs 1.89 ± 2.24 ng/mL, P = 0.002) and had significantly higher risks of prostate biopsy [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.07-2.84] and prostate cancer (OR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.33-7.78). CONCLUSIONSPatients with a lower digit ratio have higher risks of prostate biopsy and prostate cancer. KEYWORDSDigit ratio, prostate volume, prostatespecific antigen, prostate cancer What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The Homeobox genes, Hox a and d , control urinogenital system differentiation and digit development. The patterns of digit formation may be related to gonad function and may be reflected in 2nd to 4th digit ratio (digit ratio). Digit ratio is negatively correlated with prenatal testosterone levels and androgen receptor activity which is related to the increased prostate cancer risk.Patients with a lower digit ratio have a higher risk of prostate biopsy due to high PSA level, and of prostate cancer. Digit ratio could be a predictor of high PSA level and the presence of prostate cancer.Study Type -Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationships between the 2nd to 4th digit ratio (digit ratio) and prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and the presence of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODSOf the men that presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) at a single tertiary academic center, 366 men aged 40 or older with a PSA level ≤ 40 ng/mL were prospectively enrolled. Right-hand 2nd and 4th digit lengths were measured prior to the PSA determinations and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Prostate volumes were measured by TRUS without information about digit length. Patients with a PSA level ≥ 3 ng/mL underwent prostate biopsy.

Circadian clocks are the endogenous oscillators that harmonize a variety of physiological processes within the body. Although many urinary functions exhibit clear daily or circadian variation in diurnal humans and nocturnal rodents, the precise mechanisms of these variations are as yet unclear. In this review, we briefly introduce circadian clocks and their organization in mammals. We then summarize known daily or circadian variations in urinary function. Importantly, recent findings by others as well as results obtained by us suggest an active role of circadian clock genes in various urinary functions. Finally, we discuss possible research avenues for the circadian control of urinary function.

PurposeThe overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterized by urgency usually with frequency and nocturia. Tamsulosin, α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, is widely used to reduce symptoms of urinary obstruction and prostatic hyperplasia. Tamsulosin can across the blood-brain barrier. We investigated the effects of tamsulosin on the symptoms of OAB in relation to neuronal activity using rats.MethodsAdult female Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250±10 g (9 weeks old), were used in this study. The animals were divided into five groups (n=8 in each group): control group, OAB-induced group, OAB-induced and 0.01 mg/kg tamsulosin-treated group, OAB-induced and 0.1 mg/kg tamsulosin-treated group, and OAB-induced and 1 mg/kg tamsulosin-treated group. OAB was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg) every third day for 10 days. The rats in the tamsulosin-treated groups orally received tamsulosin once a day for 14 consecutive days at the respective dose of the groups, starting 1 day after the induction of OAB. Cystometry for bladder pressure determination, immunohistochemistry for c-Fos, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemistry for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the neuronal voiding centers and western blot for inducible NOS in the bladder were conducted.ResultsCyclophosphamide injection enhanced contraction pressure and time, representing the induction of OAB. Contraction pressure and time were significantly suppressed by tamsulosin treatment. c-Fos and NOS expressions in the neuronal voiding centers were enhanced by induction of OAB. OAB-induced c-Fos and NOS expressions were suppressed by tamsulosin treatment.ConclusionsTamsulosin exerts inhibitory effect on neuronal activation in the neuronal voiding centers of OAB. The present results suggest the possibility that tamsulosin is effective therapeutic modality for ameliorating the symptoms of OAB.