Pulsatile atheroprone shear stress affects the expression of transient receptor potential channels in human endothelial cells

The goal of the study was to assess whether pulsatile atheroprone shear stress modulates the expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, TRPC3, TRPC6, TRPM7, and TRPV1 mRNA, in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. Exposure of cultured vascular endothelial cells to defined shear stress, producing a constant laminar flow (generating a shear stress of 6 dyne/cm 2 ), laminar pulsatile atheroprotective flow (with a mean shear stress of 20 dyne/cm 2 ), or laminar atheroprone bidirectional flow (with a mean shear stress of 0 dyne/cm 2 ) differentially induced TRPC6 and TRPV1 mRNA as measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and normalized to GAPDH expression. Thereby, TRPC6 and TRPV1 mRNA expressions were significantly increased after 24 hours of exposure to an atheroprone flow profile compared with an atheroprotective flow profile. Furthermore, the expression of transcription factors GATA1 and GATA4 was significantly correlated with the expression of TRPC6 mRNA. In contrast, after 24 hours of constant laminar flow, the expression of TRPC6 and TRPV1 mRNA was unchanged, whereas the expression of TRPC3 and TRPM7 was significantly higher in endothelial cells exposed to shear stress in comparison with endothelial cells grown under static conditions. There was a significant association between the expression of TRPC6 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA in human vascular tissue. No-flow and atheroprone flow conditions are equally characterized by an increase in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α; however, inflammation-associated endothelial cell reactions may be further aggravated at atheroprone flow conditions by the increase of TRPV1 and TRPC6, as observed in our study. </jats:p

Morbidity and Quality of Life in Bladder Cancer Patients following Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion: A Single-Institution Comparison of Ileal Conduit versus Orthotopic Neobladder

Objective. To evaluate and compare noncontinent and continent urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer. Methods. A total of 301 patients submitted to radical cystectomy at the Charité-University Hospital Berlin from 1993 to 2007 including 146 with an ileal conduit and 115 with an ileal neobladder. Clinical and pathological data as well as oncological outcome were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Quality of life was analyzed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BLM30 questionnaires. Results. 69.1% and 69.6% of all patients who received an ileal conduit and ileal neobladder, respectively, developed early complications. The two groups differed significantly concerning the occurrence of postoperative ileus (P = 0.02) favoring patients who received an ileal conduit but not with regard to any other early-onset complication evaluated. Patients with ileal neobladder had a significantly better global health status and quality of life (P = 0.02), better physical functioning (P = 0.02), but also a higher rate of diarrhoea (P = 0.004). Conclusion. Cystectomy with any type of diversion remains a complication-prone surgery. Even if the patient groups are not homogeneous in all respects, there are many arguments in favor of the ileal neobladder as the urinary diversion of choice

Molecular margin status after radical prostatectomy using glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) promoter hypermethylation

Objective To assess the potential for molecular staging in biopsies of the prostatic fossa after radical prostatectomy (RP) by searching for occult tumour cells through analysis of glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) methylation status. Patients and Methods We analysed 2446 biopsies: 2286 biopsies from a group of 254 patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer who underwent RP and 160 biopsies from a control group of 32 patients. After prostate gland excision, biopsies were obtained from defined areas of the prostatic fossa and bisected for histopathological and molecular genetics analyses. Results were related to clinicopathological data including tumour stage, lymph node status, resection status, tumour grading, initial PSA level, and biochemical recurrence. Results In total, 34 patients (13.4%) had at least one core positive for the GSTP1 promoter hypermethylation, six of whom (17.6%) were characterised as having a clinically localised tumour stage (pT2, pN0) and 28 (82.4%) as an advanced tumour stage (≥pT3 and/or pN1). GSTP1 promoter hypermethylation significantly correlated with tumour stage (P < 0.001), International Society of Urological Pathology grading (P = 0.001), lymph node status (P < 0.001), surgical margin status (P < 0.001), and biochemical recurrence (P = 0.001). Furthermore, in 46 patients (18.1%) further analysis led to a down- or upgrading of conventional surgical margin status. Classical R-status (margins of the specimen) is significantly superior to histological sampling from the fossa (P = 0.006) but not to GSTP1 analysis from the fossa (P = 0.227). Conclusion For the detection of residual tumour in the fossa after RP in order to better predict recurrence, molecular GSTP1 promoter hypermethylation has some value; however, the classical R-status (margins of the specimen) is simpler and more widely applicable with similar results.Projekt DEAL 202

Circular Abscess Formation of the Inner Preputial Leaf as a Complication of a Penile Mondor's Disease: The First Case Report

Introduction. Mondor's disease of the penis is an uncommon condition characterized by thrombosis or thrombophlebitis involving the superficial dorsal veins. An accompanied lymphangitis is discussed. There is typical self-limiting clinical course. Case Presentation. This paper firstly reports a secondary abscess formation of the preputial leaf two weeks after penile Mondor's disease and subcutaneous lymphangitis as complication of excessive sexual intercourse of a 44-year-old man. Sexual transmitted diseases could be excluded. Lesions healed up completely under abscess drainage, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. Conclusion. Previous reports in the literature include several entities of the penile Mondor's disease. Our patient is very unusual in that he presented with a secondary preputial abscess formation due to superficial thrombophlebitis, subcutaneous lymphangitis, and local bacterial colonisation. Abscess drainage plus antiphlogistic and antibiotic medication is the treatment of choice