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Analytica Chimica Acta Mar 2024Label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based metabolic profiling has great potential for early cancer diagnosis, but further advancements in analytical...
Cancer screening through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy fingerprinting analysis of urinary metabolites using surface-carbonized silver nanowires on a filter membrane.
BACKGROUND
Label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based metabolic profiling has great potential for early cancer diagnosis, but further advancements in analytical methods and clinical evidence studies are required for clinical applications. To improve the cancer diagnostic accuracy of label-free SERS spectral analysis of complex biological fluids, it is necessary to obtain specifically enhanced SERS signals of cancer-related metabolites present at low concentrations.
RESULTS
This study presents a novel 3D SERS sensor, comprising a surface-carbonized silver nanowire (AgNW)-stacked filter membrane, alongside an optimized urine/methanol/chloroform extraction technique, which specifically changes the molecular adsorption and orientation of aromatic metabolites onto SERS substrates. By analyzing the pretreated urine samples on the surface-carbonized AgNW 3D SERS sensor, distinct and highly enhanced SERS peaks derived from semi-polar aromatic metabolites were observed for pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer samples compared with normal controls. Urine metabolite analysis using SERS fingerprinting successfully differentiated pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer groups from normal control group: normal control (n = 56), pancreatic cancer (n = 40), and prostate cancer (n = 39).
SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY
We confirmed the clinical feasibility of performing fingerprint analysis of urinary metabolites based on the surface-carbonized AgNW 3D SERS sensor and methanol/chloroform extraction for noninvasive cancer screening. This technology holds potential for large-scale screening owing to its high accuracy, and cost effective, simple and rapid detection method.
Topics: Male; Humans; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Nanowires; Early Detection of Cancer; Silver; Chloroform; Methanol; Metal Nanoparticles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 38309850
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342233 -
World Neurosurgery Apr 2024A 29-year-old man from Comoros presented with rapidly progressive paraplegia and sexual dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a contrast-enhanced conus...
A 29-year-old man from Comoros presented with rapidly progressive paraplegia and sexual dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a contrast-enhanced conus medullaris lesion. Differential diagnoses included tumors, abscesses, and inflammatory diseases. Neurosurgery was delayed to complete examinations. Cerebral MRI showed three abscesses. Body computed tomography scan showed supracentimetric polyadenopathies, pulmonary nodules, prostatic lesion, and enhanced seminal vesicle, with hypermetabolism on positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose scan. Histology of lymph node biopsy showed granulomatous infiltration without acid-fast bacilli, and positive polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lymph node culture was positive after 2 months, urine culture after 3 weeks, but cerebrospinal fluid and sputum cultures were negative. A 1-year antituberculosis therapy was initiated, associated with corticosteroids because the patient developed tuberculosis-immune reconstitution syndrome, revealed by the recurrence of neurological symptoms. After 2 months the patient completely recovered and could run. MRI showed stability of the voluminous tuberculoma with decrease of medullary edema. Avoiding surgery in those cases may prevent iatrogenic neurological deterioration.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Abscess; Tuberculoma; Spinal Cord Diseases; Tuberculosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38309650
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.01.144 -
Bioactive Materials May 2024Recently, the term theragenerative has been proposed for biomaterials capable of inducing therapeutic approaches followed by repairing/regenerating the tissue/organ....
Recently, the term theragenerative has been proposed for biomaterials capable of inducing therapeutic approaches followed by repairing/regenerating the tissue/organ. This study is focused on the design of a new theragenerative nanocomposite composed of an amphiphilic non-ionic surfactant (Pluronic F127), bioactive glass (BG), and black phosphorus (BP). The nanocomposite was prepared through a two-step synthetic strategy, including a microwave treatment that turned BP nanosheets (BPNS) into quantum dots (BPQDs) with 5 ± 2 nm dimensions . The effects of surfactant and microwave treatment were assessed : the surfactant distributes the ions homogenously throughout the composite and the microwave treatment chemically stabilizes the composite. The presence of BP enhanced bioactivity and promoted calcium phosphate formation in simulated body fluid. The inherent anticancer activity of BP-containing nanocomposites was tested against osteosarcoma cells , finding that 150 μg mL was the lowest concentration which prevented the proliferation of SAOS-2 cells, while the counterpart without BP did not affect the cell growth rate. Moreover, the apoptosis pathways were evaluated and a mechanism of action was proposed. NIR irradiation was applied to induce further proliferation suppression on SAOS-2 cells through hyperthermia. The inhibitory effects of bare BP nanomaterials and nanocomposites on the migration and invasion of bone cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer cells were assessed to determine the anticancer potential of nanomaterials against primary and secondary bone cancers. The regenerative behavior of the nanocomposites was tested with healthy osteoblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells; the BPQDs-incorporated nanocomposite significantly promoted the proliferation of osteoblast cells and induced the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. This study introduces a new multifunctional theragenerative platform with promising potential for simultaneous bone cancer therapy and regeneration.
PubMed: 38283385
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.01.018 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Apr 2024Prostate and lung cancers are the most common types of cancer and affect a large part of the population around the world, causing deaths. Therefore, the rapid... (Review)
Review
Prostate and lung cancers are the most common types of cancer and affect a large part of the population around the world, causing deaths. Therefore, the rapid identification of cancer can profoundly impact reducing cancer-related death rates and protecting human lives. Significant resources have been dedicated to investigating new methods for early disease detection. Cancer biomarkers encompass various biochemical entities, including nucleic acids, proteins, sugars, small metabolites, cytogenetic and cytokinetic parameters, and whole tumor cells in bodily fluids. These tools can be utilized for various purposes, such as risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment efficacy, toxicity evaluation, and predicting a return. Due to these versatile and critical purposes, there are widespread studies on the development of new, sensitive, and selective approaches for the determination of cancer biomarkers. This review illustrates the significant lung and prostate cancer biomarkers and their determination utilizing electrochemical sensors, which have the advantage of improved sensitivity, low cost, and simple analysis. Additionally, approaches such as improving sensitivity with nanomaterials and ensuring selectivity with MIPs are used to increase the performance of the sensor. This review aims to overview the most recent electrochemical biosensor applications for determining vital biomarkers of prostate and lung cancers in terms of nanobiosensors and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biosensors.
Topics: Humans; Male; Biomarkers, Tumor; Lung Neoplasms; Molecular Imprinting; Prostate; Lung; Electrochemical Techniques
PubMed: 38279011
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05134-x -
Small Methods Jan 2024Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in males worldwide. The Gleason scoring system, which classifies the pathological growth pattern of cancer, is...
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in males worldwide. The Gleason scoring system, which classifies the pathological growth pattern of cancer, is considered one of the most important prognostic factors for PCa. Compared to indolent PCa, PCa with high Gleason score (h-GS PCa, GS ≥ 8) has greater clinical significance due to its high aggressiveness and poor prognosis. It is crucial to establish a rapid, non-invasive diagnostic modality to decipher patients with h-GS PCa as early as possible. In this study, ferric nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (FeNPALDI-MS) to extract prostate fluid metabolic fingerprint (PSF-MF) is employed and combined with the clinical features of patients, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), to establish a multi-modal diagnosis assisted by machine learning. This approach yields an impressive area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 to diagnose patients with h-GS, surpassing the results of single-modal diagnosis using only PSF-MF or PSA, respectively. Additionally, using various screening methods, six key metabolites that exhibit greater diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.96) are identified. These findings also provide insights into related metabolic pathways, which may provide valuable information for further elucidation of the pathological mechanisms underlying h-GS PCa.
PubMed: 38258603
DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301684 -
Biomedicines Dec 2023Prostate cancer is among the top five cancer types according to incidence and mortality. One of the main obstacles in prostate cancer management is the inability to... (Review)
Review
Prostate cancer is among the top five cancer types according to incidence and mortality. One of the main obstacles in prostate cancer management is the inability to foresee its course, which ranges from slow growth throughout years that requires minimum or no intervention to highly aggressive disease that spreads quickly and resists treatment. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous studies have attempted to find biomarkers of prostate cancer occurrence, risk stratification, therapy response, and patient outcome. However, only a few prostate cancer biomarkers are used in clinics, which shows how difficult it is to find a novel biomarker. Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) through integrins is among the essential processes that govern its fate. Upon activation and ligation, integrins form multi-protein intracellular structures called integrin adhesion complexes (IACs). In this review article, the focus is put on the biomarker potential of the ECM- and IAC-related molecules stemming from both body fluids and prostate cancer tissue. The processes that they are involved in, such as tumor stiffening, bone turnover, and communication via exosomes, and their biomarker potential are also reviewed.
PubMed: 38255186
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010079 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry Jan 2024Chronic prostatitis is a highly prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life and fertility of men. Because of its heterogeneous nature, there is no...
Chronic prostatitis is a highly prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life and fertility of men. Because of its heterogeneous nature, there is no definitive treatment, which requires ongoing research into its etiology. Additionally, the association between prostatitis and an elevated risk of prostate cancer highlights the importance of comprehending androgen involvement in prostatitis. This paper examines the current understanding of androgen signaling in prostatitis and explores contemporary therapeutic approaches. We reviewed Medline articles comprehensively, using keywords such as nonbacterial prostatitis, prostatitis infertility, androgen role in prostatitis, and chronic pelvic pain. Several cellular targets are linked to androgen signaling. Notably, the major tyrosine phosphatase activity (cPAcP) in normal human prostate is influenced by androgen signaling, and its serum levels inversely correlate with prostate cancer progression. Androgens also regulate membrane-associated zinc and pyruvate transporters transduction in prostate cells, suggesting promising avenues for novel drug development aimed at inhibiting these molecules to reduce cancer tumor growth. Various therapies for prostatitis have been evaluated, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications (including bioflavonoids), neuromodulators, alpha-blockers, 5α-reductase inhibitors, and androgen receptor antagonists. These therapies have demonstrated varying degrees of success in ameliorating symptoms. In conclusion, aging decreases circulating T and intraprostatic DHT, altering the proper functioning of the prostate, reducing the ability of androgens to maintain normal Zn2+ levels, and diminishing the secretion of citrate, PAcP, and other proteins into the prostatic fluid. The Zn2+-transporter decreases or is absent in prostate cancer, so the pyruvate transporter activates. Consequently, the cell ATP increases, inducing tumor growth.
PubMed: 38243983
DOI: 10.2174/0109298673279207231228070533 -
Pathogens & Immunity 2023(UP) is a causative agent of non-gonococcal urethritis, involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis and epididymitis, and it could impair human fertility. Although UP...
BACKGROUND
(UP) is a causative agent of non-gonococcal urethritis, involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis and epididymitis, and it could impair human fertility. Although UP infection is a frequent cause of male infertility the study evidence assessing their prevalence and the association in patients with infertility is still scarce. The molecular processes leading to defects in spermatozoa quality are not completely investigated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively reported as gene regulatory molecules on post-transcriptional levels involved in various biological processes such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and the quality of sperm, oocyte, and embryos.
METHODS
Therefore, the study design was to demonstrate that miRNAs in body fluids like sperm could be utilized as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for pathological and physiological conditions such as infertility. A post-hoc bioinformatics analysis was carried out to predict the pathways modulated by the miRNAs dysregulated in the differently motile spermatozoa.
RESULTS
Here it is shown that normospermic patients infected by UP had spermatozoa with increased quantity of superoxide anions, reduced expression of miR-122-5p, miR-34c-5, and increased miR-141-3p compared with non-infected normospermic patients. This corresponded to a reduction of sperm motility in normospermic infected patients compared with normospermic non-infected ones. A target gene prediction presumed that an essential role of these miRNAs resided in the regulation of lipid kinase activity, accounting for the changes in the constitution of spermatozoa membrane lipids caused by UP.
CONCLUSIONS
Altogether, the data underline the influence of UP on epigenetic mechanisms regulating spermatozoa motility.
PubMed: 38223489
DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.603 -
Archivio Italiano Di Urologia,... Nov 2023Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold-standard for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement (BPE) associated with lower urinary tract symptoms...
INTRODUCTION
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold-standard for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement (BPE) associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), after failure of conservative therapy. At present, only resection-rate (grams of prostate resected over time) is regarded as an efficiency parameter to evaluate the skill of the operator and to assess the outcome of the procedure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Five surgeons performed TURP using a Gyrus-type bipolar system in 123 patients with BPE/LUTS who came to our observation from June 2016 to December 2019. The amount of irrigation fluid used during the procedure was registered and correlated to the operating time, resection-rate, prostate adenoma weight, post-operative bladder irrigation time, intraoperative bleeding and days of catheterization.
RESULTS
We found an inverse correlation between the amount of irrigation fluid used during TURP and the resection-rate recorded for all operators, according to Spearman's Correlation (r = -0.78, p = 0.002); a direct correlation was also found between the amount of irrigation fluid and the adenoma weight. Finally, we also found a direct correlation with intraoperative bleeding and the duration and amount of bladder irrigation during and after TURP.
CONCLUSIONS
The amount of irrigation fluid used is proposed as a reliable parameter to estimate the efficiency of the endoscopic procedure as well to assess the skill of the operator and shortterm results. The observed data encourage the possibility of applying this new efficiency indicator to all endoscopic maneuvers.
Topics: Male; Humans; Prostate; Transurethral Resection of Prostate; Urologic Surgical Procedures; Surgeons; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Adenoma
PubMed: 38193228
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2023.11868 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2023Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) exists as two splice variants, secreted PAP and transmembrane PAP, the latter of which is implicated in antinociceptive signaling in... (Review)
Review
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) exists as two splice variants, secreted PAP and transmembrane PAP, the latter of which is implicated in antinociceptive signaling in dorsal root ganglia. However, PAP is predominantly expressed in the prostate gland and the physiological role of seminal PAP, first identified in 1938, is largely unknown. Here, the author proposes that PAP, following ejaculation, functions to hydrolyze phosphocholine (PC) in seminal fluid and generate choline, which is imported by sperm via a choline transporter and converted to acetylcholine (ACh) by choline acetyltransferase. Auto- and paracrine cholinergic signaling, or choline directly, may subsequently stimulate sperm motility via α7 nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) and contractility of the female reproductive tract through muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs). Consistent with a role of PAP in cholinergic signaling, 1) seminal vesicles secrete PC, 2) the prostate gland secretes PAP, 3) PAP specifically catalyzes the hydrolysis of PC into inorganic phosphate and choline, 4) seminal choline levels increase post-ejaculation, 5) pharmacological inhibition of choline acetyltransferase inhibits sperm motility, 6) inhibition or genetic deletion of α7 nAChRs impairs sperm motility, and 7) mAChRs are expressed in the uterus and oviduct (fallopian tube). Notably, PAP does not degrade glycerophosphocholine (GPC), the predominant choline source in the semen of rats and other mammals. Instead, uterine GPC phosphodiesterases may liberate choline from seminal GPC. In summary, the author deduces that PAP in humans, and uterine GPC phosphodiesterases in other mammals, function to generate choline for sperm cholinergic signaling, which promotes sperm motility and possibly contractility of the female reproductive tract.
PubMed: 38187135
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1327769