We successfully constructed a reliable SSH library of BTCC and found that combination detection insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), hTERT, BLCA-4 and HOXA13 genes could help to evaluate BTCC at different stages.

Dibutyltin dichloride (DBTCl), widely used as plastic stabilizer, can cause comprehensive toxicity. The present study aims to investigate the effects of DBTCl on rat Leydig cell developmental regeneration and characterize the related mechanism. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and gavaged with saline (control) or 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day of DBTCl consecutively for 10 days. At the end of the DBTCl treatment, all rats received a single intraperitoneal injection (i.p.,) of 75 mg/kg ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) to eliminate all the adult Leydig cells and to induce Leydig cell developmental regeneration. Leydig cell developmental regeneration was evaluated by measuring the levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone on days 7, 35, and 56 post-EDS. Leydig cell gene and protein expression levels, as well as cell morphology and cell counts were also carried out on day 56 post-EDS. The present study found that DBTCl significantly reduced serum testosterone levels on days 35 and 56 post-EDS, but increased serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on day 56 at ≥ 5 mg/kg/day. The mRNA and protein levels of Leydig (Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd17b3, and Hsd11b1) and Sertoli cells (Fshr, Amh, and Sox9) were significantly downregulated in the DBTCl-treated testes compared to the control. Immunohistochemical staining showed that DBTCl-treatment caused fewer regenerated Leydig cells and impaired Sertoli cell development and function in the testis on day 56 post-EDS. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that DBTCl retards rat Leydig cell developmental regeneration by downregulating steroidogenesis-related enzymes at the gene and protein levels, inhibiting Leydig cell proliferation and impairing Sertoli cell function and development.

Aims Emerging evidence has related inflammation-based biomarkers to numerous carcinomas, including bladder carcinoma (BC). However, the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the prognosis of BC remains inconclusive. This study aimed to compare preoperative plasma fibrinogen (PF) and other inflammatory biomarkers such as the platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte–monocyte ratio (LMR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and serum albumin level to predict the prognosis of patients with BC. Methods This article focused on a retrospective analysis of 175 patients with newly diagnosed BC who were admitted to our hospital from March 2005 to March 2016. Of these BC patients, 136 had undergone radical cystectomy (RC). Results According to multivariate analysis, high PF level was an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in 136 BC patients receiving RC (HR = 3.759; P = 0.011), but not for all 175 BC patients. Combining the NLR and PF values showed higher predictive accuracy for OS than NLR or PF alone (P < 0.05). Additionally, for 136 BC patients who had undergone RC, a close relationship was found between high PF levels (≥3.39 g/L) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.011) and clinical T stage (P = 0.015). Furthermore, PF was a superior prognostic factor compared with the LMR, PLR, CRP, and albumin values in 136 BC patients who had undergone RC (P < 0.001). Conclusions The preoperative PF level may be a prognostic biomarker; and when combined with the NLR, it can improve the predictive ability of the survival of BC patients, particularly of BC patients who underwent RC.

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BackgroundForkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) and β-catenin were confirmed to associate with numerous cancers, which attracted more attention in recent years. Our research investigated the expression of FOXM1 and β-catenin and their effects on prognosis of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). MethodsIn this study, FOXM1 and β-catenin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in a study cohort including 121 MIBC patients. Results The results showed significant correlations of FOXM1 and β-catenin expression with tumor stage, tumor grade, and lymph node metastases in MIBC patients. Univariate analysis showed that patients with high FOXM1 (HR = 2.986; P = 0.011) and low β-catenin (HR = 2.623; P = 0.001) expression levels, advanced tumor stage (HR = 2.325; P = 0.002), advanced tumor grade (HR = 2.790; P < 0.001), tumor size (HR = 2.080; P = 0.020), lymph node metastases (HR = 3.392; P < 0.001), or recurrence status (HR = 2.016; P = 0.011) had a significantly higher risk of worse overall survival (OS). In the multivariate analysis, tumor stage (HR = 2.095; P = 0.009), tumor grade (HR = 1.962; P = 0.019), FOXM1 expression (HR = 2.196; P = 0.017) and lymph node metastases (HR = 2.136; P = 0.015) predicted worse OS. ConclusionTherefore, FOXM1 and β-catenin expression was relevant to MIBC incidence, tumor stage, tumor grade, metastasis, and survival and might be a reliable index to judge the prognosis of patients with MIBC.