BACKGROUND/AIM:Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cancer worldwide, with a high recurrence rate and a low cure rate. Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), an essential enzyme in the aerobic glycolysis pathway, is a prognostic marker for a variety of cancers. However, it remains unclear whether a PGK1-based immune signature can be used as a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS:We explored the potential oncogenic mechanisms of PGK1 by multiple bioinformatics analyses combined with multiple databases, including the correlation between PGK1 and prognosis, and the infiltration of immune cells in HNSCC. Functional enrichment analyses were further performed to investigate the potential role of PGK1 in HNSCC.RESULTS:The expression of PGK1 was significantly higher in HNSCC tissues compared to normal tissues. High expression of PGK1 was associated with poor prognosis in HNSCC, and multivariate cox regression analysis showed that PGK1 could be an independent prognostic factor in HNSCC. Pathway analysis revealed that PGK1 may regulate the pathogenesis of HNSCC through the immune signaling pathway. Moreover, PGK1 expression significantly correlated with the infiltration level of 16 types of immune cells.CONCLUSION:The current study reports that PGK1 expression was increased in HNSCC and that high PGK1 expression was closely associated with poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration, which could serve as a promising independent prognostic biomarker and potential immunotherapeutic target for HNSCC.

Background Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) has been reported to share an association with mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. However, the molecular mechanism underlying is not well understood, especially in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to research whether SIRT3 can affect the progression of BPH via the regulation of mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. Methods Following the development of a rat model of BPH using testosterone propionate (TP), we extracted prostate tissues from sham-operated and BPH rats. Subsequently, bioinformatics prediction was used to screen the genes differentially expressed in BPH. To verify the role played by SIRT3 in BPH, we injected AAV9-SIRT3 into rats, followed by TP treatment. Prostate epithelial cells (PEC) were treated with TP to assess the mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of enzymes related to the oxidative phosphorylation pathway after SIRT3 expression alteration. Finally, we examined the expression of AMPK-PGC-1 alpha pathway in tissues and cells. Results SIRT3 was reduced in the prostate tissues of BPH rats. After overexpression of SIRT3, mitochondrial morphology was more stable in prostate tissues of BPH rats and in TP-treated PEC, with significant increases in mitochondrial membrane potential and in the expression of oxidative phosphorylation-related enzymes in the cytoplasm. Moreover, SIRT3 significantly activated the AMPK-PGC-1 alpha signaling pathway, which maintained the stability of mitochondrial membrane potential as well as mitochondrial structure, thus alleviating the symptoms of BPH. Conclusion SIRT3 maintained the stability of mitochondrial membrane potential as well as mitochondrial structure by activating the AMPK-PGC-1 alpha pathway, thereby alleviating the symptoms of BPH.

Background: Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma in the urinary bladder is extremely rare in clinical practice. All current research is basically a single center retrospective study or a case report. The prognosis of this kind of disease is really poor and there is still no established diagnosis standard. Case presentation: We report the case of an 88 year-old male patient who had gross hematuria, which had been diagnosed as bladder cancer based on the signs and the history of urothelial carcinoma. Considering the patient's age and quality of life, we made a transurethral resection of the bladder and performed a ureteroscopy, instead of a radical cystectomy. An immunohistochemical analysis indicated it was neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma. Imaging examinations suggested no distant metastasis. After half a month, the patient died from respiratory and circulatory failure. Conclusion: Based on this case, we discuss the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the urinary bladder. It is complex, and the incidence of the disease is very low. As for us, with more clinical research, we believe the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease will gradually develop in the future.

Objective To investigate the curative effect of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) for elderly and high risk BPH patients. Methods Clinical data of 47 BPH patients with medical complications aging from 78～92 years were retrospectively analyzed. They were diagnosed by DRE and B ultrasound. Operations were taken after their complications were controlled. We used American GreenLight PV laser system with output power of 80 watt was used, normal saline was used as rinse solution. Laser optic fibers were lay in through 23Fr cistoscope with continuous rinsing system. Operations were started after positions of seminal colliculus and distances to neck of bladder were confirmed. The depth of prostate vaporization reached circular fibers. Results Operation time varied from 27～65min with a mean time of 37min. Occasional venous hemorrhage occurred during operation but no arterial hemorrhage was observed. No dead was happened. Catheter was removed varied between 13～45h after operation. All the patients could urinate freely.No urinary incontinence was found during follow-up. Postoperative PVR varied from 0～16ml. Conclusion PVP is a safe and effective method with less trauma and fast recovery for treating high risk BPH patients.