The DASH diet might be an effective alternative to the low-oxalate diet in reducing calcium oxalate supersaturation and should be studied more.

The aim of this study is to investigate the serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, 1,25 (OH)(2) vitamin D3, estradiol and testosterone in male patients with active renal calcium stone disease compared with controls and investigate their relationship with serum/urinary biochemistry. Male active renal calcium stone formers (ASF) were enrolled from December 2008 to April 2009. Controls were selected from age and sex matched individuals. Two 24-h urine samples and a blood sample were withdrawn from each participant while they were on free diet. Serum 1,25 (OH)(2) vitamin D3 levels in the ASF and control groups were 127 ± 40 and 93 ± 35 pmol/l (p < 0.001). Serum levels of PTH, calcitonin, estradiol and testosterone were not statistically different between the ASF and control groups (all p > 0.05). Serum 1,25 (OH)(2) vitamin D3 was associated with higher urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus in ASF patients. Serum levels of calcitonin were related to less urinary excretion of calcium in the control group. Serum testosterone was related to higher urinary excretion of uric acid in ASF patients and to higher urinary excretion of oxalate in the control group. 1,25 (OH)(2) Vitamin D3 is an important hormone in the pathogenesis of recurrent renal calcium stone disease and could increase renal stone risk by increasing the urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus. There is a possibility of testosterone involvement in the pathogenesis of renal stones through higher urinary uric acid and oxalate excretion.

Objective: The molecular mechanism of prostate cancer is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of promoter hypermethylation of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) and p16 among benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer patients.Methods: In this case-control study, 63 patients were included in three groups; 21 with BPH as the control group, 21 with prostate cancer and good prognostic factors (based on prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score and stage) as good prognosis group, and 21 with prostate cancer and poor prognostic features as poor prognosis group. The prostate biopsy specimen of each individual was examined for hypermethylation of RARB and p16 promoters by methylation specific PCR (MSPCR).Results: Seven (33.3%) patients with good prognosis and 15 (71.4%) patients with poor prognosis were positive for RARB methylation, which were significantly higher than controls (P <0.0001). p16 promoter methylation was shown in 19.0% and 47.6% patients with good and poor prognosis, respectively. The RARB and p16 promoter methylation in the poor prognosis group was significantly higher than that in the good prognosis group (P =0.02 for RARB and P<0.0001 for p16).Conclusion: Hypermethylation of RARB and p16 promoters may predict prognosis in prostate cancer.

Findings indicate that health care providers, within the context of the Iranian social and cultural situation, should pay more attention to psychosocial factors when addressing self-care activities. Delineation of the role of coping styles and social support might be useful for identifying patients in need of particular counselling and support for improving self-care activities and HbA1c levels.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are associated with benign and malignant lesions of the female and male anogenital tract. Currently the possible role of HPV infections in prostate carcinogenesis is a subject of great controversy. In this study we aimed to investigate the role of HPV infection in prostate carcinoma (PCa). The study included formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 104 primary prostate adenocarcinoma cases and 104 control tissues of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). HPV-DNA was purified and amplified through MY09/MY11 and GP5(+)/GP6(+) primers and subsequently subjected to sequencing. HPV-DNA was found in 13 of 104 (12.5%) PCa and 8 of 104 (7.7%) BPH samples. High-risk HPVs were detected in 10 of 13 (76.9%) PCa and 5 of 8 (62.5%) BPH samples with positive HPV-DNA. Low-risk HPVs were detected in 3 of 13 (23.1%) PCa and 3 of 8 (37.5%) BPH specimens with positive HPV-DNA. There was no significant difference between PCa and BPH specimens regarding HPV-DNA presence or the detection of high-risk and low-risk types of HPV. Our data do not support the role of HPV infection in prostate carcinoma. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of HPV infection in human prostate carcinogenesis.