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Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets 2015Uranium is the heaviest metal known as nuclear fuel, and employed in the production of glass tinting compounds, ceramic glazes, gyroscope wheels, chemical catalysts and... (Review)
Review
Uranium is the heaviest metal known as nuclear fuel, and employed in the production of glass tinting compounds, ceramic glazes, gyroscope wheels, chemical catalysts and X-ray tube targets. Inhalation and ingestion are two of the most usual ways of exposure. Uranium may be released into drinking water through the mining leading to contamination. Uranium is able to damage the DNA by generation of free radicals and acting as a catalyst in the Fenton reactions causing oxidative stress. In fact, reproductive system contains high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and therefore it is highly vulnerable to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sensitive to uranium toxicity. Toxic effects of uranium are generally reported through different mechanisms of action including inflammation, degeneration of testis, vacuolization of Leydig cells, spermatocytes necrosis, and oocyte dysmorphism. The present article provides a comprehensive review of the recent findings mostly about the molecular and biochemical toxicity of uranium on the reproductive system.
Topics: Animals; DNA Damage; Female; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Humans; Leydig Cells; Male; Metals, Heavy; Oocytes; Oxidative Stress; Poisoning; Radiation Injuries; Reproduction; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Uranium
PubMed: 26728775
DOI: 10.2174/1871528114666160105112441 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Dec 2019Because spermatocytic tumors of the testis are rare, only limited evidence exists regarding the malignant potential and the optimal management of localized and...
INTRODUCTION
Because spermatocytic tumors of the testis are rare, only limited evidence exists regarding the malignant potential and the optimal management of localized and metastatic disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a systematic review through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Web of Science to identify reports including patients with testicular spermatocytic tumors.
RESULTS
From originally 7863 studies, we extracted data of 146 patients of which 99% were treated with radical orchiectomy. Metastases in patients with initially localised disease were diagnosed in 7% of patients and detected after a median follow-up of 5.5 months (range 2-21 months). Patients with aggressive histology (sarcoma or anaplastic subtype) were more likely to have metastatic disease (6/124 (5%) vs 9/22 (41%), p < 0.001). Patients with metastatic disease had larger primary tumors (92.5 vs 67.5 mm, p = 0.05). Life expectancy in patients with metastatic disease ranged from 1 to 25 months.
CONCLUSION
The published literature does neither support the use of testis sparing surgery nor adjuvant therapy. Patients with aggressive variants or larger tumors were more likely to have metastases and develop recurrences within the first few years. Patients with metastatic disease have a limited life expectancy and metastatic spermatocytic tumors are not as responsive to chemotherapy as germ cell cancers.
Topics: Humans; Male; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Spermatocytes; Testicular Neoplasms; Testis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31646373
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-03056-1