MicroRNA-7 (miR-7) has been described as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers, but the results of a study to identify miRNAs associated with metastatic capability in breast cancer suggested that miR-7 may be characterized as an oncogene. The present study was to determine the expression and function of miR-7 in renal cell carcinoma. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the expressions of miR-7 in 48 paired renal cell carcinomas (RCC) and normal tissues, based on the preliminary sequencing results of miRNAs. Furthermore, the impacts of miR-7 on cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed using wound scratch assay, MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The results demonstrated that miR-7 was up-regulated in RCC compared with normal tissues (p = 0.001). Down-regulation of miR-7 with synthesized inhibitor inhibited cell migration in vitro, suppressed cell proliferation and induced renal cancer cell apoptosis, prompting that miR-7 could be characterized as an oncogene in RCC. The present study was the first to reveal that miR-7 was up-regulated in RCC and it played an important role in RCC by affecting cellular migration, proliferation and apoptosis. Further researches should be conducted to explore the roles and target genes of miR-7 in RCC and other cancers.

Introduction: The use of ketamine as a recreational drug is on the increase among young adults attending clubs and parties. Recreational ketamine users have anecdotally reported increased lower urinary tract symptoms while using the substance. Methods: We describe the severe lower urinary tract symptoms experienced in 6 patients with chronic recreational ketamine use. We obtained a detailed history and physical examination along with further investigation to identify a relationship between recreational ketamine use and these symptoms. Results: The urine cultures were sterile in all cases. Intravenous urography was performed in 3 patients and demonstrated bilateral upper ureteric narrow, mild bilateral hydronephrosis and contracted bladder urodynamic studies showed detrusor instability with urinary leakage when the bladder was filled to a capacity of 30– 50 ml. Cystoscopy revealed a small capacity bladder with erythematous lesions throughout the bladder. Bladder biopsies were performed in 3 patients and showed up as chronic cystitis. Ketamine cessation along with intravesical sodium hyaluronate solution appeared to provide some symptomatic relief. Conclusion: Ketamine-associated urinary tract dysfunction appears to be a relatively new clinical phenomenon. The pathological mechanism of ketamine-associated urinary tract dysfunction is unknown and current management strategies are ketamine cessation along with intravesical sodium hyaluronate solution.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common kidney cancer in adults and has a poor prognosis. cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) is a proto‑oncogenic transcription factor involved in malignancies of various organs. However, its functional role(s) have not yet been elucidated in RCC. We investigated the expression pattern, function and regulation of CREB1 in RCC. CREB1 was overexpressed in the RCC tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of CREB1 inhibited RCC tumorigenesis by affecting cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Multiple computational algorithms predicted that the 3'‑untranslated region (3'‑UTR) of human CREB1 mRNA is a target for miR‑10b‑5p and miR‑363‑3p. Luciferase reporter assay, qPCR and western blot analysis confirmed that miR‑10b‑5p and miR‑363‑3p bind directly to the 3'‑UTR of CREB1 mRNA and inhibit mRNA and protein expression of CREB1. qPCR data also revealed a significantly lower expression of miR‑10b‑5p and miR‑363‑3p in RCC tissues. Introduction of miR‑10b‑5p and miR‑363‑3p mimics led to suppressed expression of CREB1 and inhibited cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis reduction. Taken together, we propose that CREB1 is an oncogene in RCC and that upregulation of CREB1 by loss of tumor suppressive miR‑10b‑5p and miR‑363‑3p plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of RCC.

Urachal carcinomas are rare bladder malignances, which usually present at an advanced stage with a high risk of distant metastases and a poor prognosis. To improve understanding of this uncommon carcinoma, a retrospective review was conducted for the cases observed at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital and Peking University First Hospital. The clinical outcomes were analyzed for 17 patients with a diagnosis of urachal cancer, who were admitted to Peking University Shenzhen Hospital (Shenzhen, China) and Peking University First Hospital (Beijing, China) between 1998 and 2013. The TNM staging system was used to predict outcomes. Among the 17 study patients, there were 10 males and seven females, with a median age at diagnosis of 50 years. A total of four (23%) patients presented with lymph node or distant metastasis. The median overall survival time for all stages was 57.6 months, with five patients (38.4%) alive for more than five years following treatment. The application of the TNM staging system demonstrated a median survival time of 6.2 years for stage I/II patients, compared with a median survival of 1.8 years (log-rank, P<0.001) for patients with advanced disease (stages III and IV). In addition, no significant correlation was observed between tumor size and age, and survival. In conclusion, urachal carcinomas are usually locally advanced at presentation. Surgical excision remains the predominant choice of treatment and lymph node dissection is not required unless lymph node involvement is confirmed by preoperative examination. The current results indicated that the most significant predictor of prognosis was the tumor grade.