Composition of urinary tract stones formed by children in two populations in the Uyghur region of China

BACKGROUND

To retrospectively compare the composition of urinary tract stones formed by Uyghur children from the southern (Kashgar) and northern (Urumchi) parts of the Xinjiang region.

METHODS

The chemical composition of urinary tract calculi formed by 855 Uyghur children from the two regions in Xinjiang (366 Kashgar and 489 Urumchi) was compared retrospectively. Stone composition was determined by infrared spectroscopy. Factors that might have been of relevance for the findings such as age, gender, stone location and geographic region were also considered.

RESULTS

Kashgar children were younger than Urumchi children (2.8 ± 2.7 vs. 4.3 ± 3.7 years, p < 0.001). Although ammonium urate was the dominant stone component in the whole population, calcium oxalate was most common in children from Urumchi. The mean occurrence of ammonium urate, calcium oxalate and uric acid differed significantly between stones formed by Kashgar and Urumchi children (52.5% vs. 29.2%, 18.9% vs. 29.4%, 12.3% vs. 20.9%; respectively, p < 0.001). Renal stones were less frequently recorded in Kashgar children than in Urumchi children (65.8% vs. 91.6%, p < 0.001). Interestingly, bladder stones were more common in children from Kashgar (28.4% vs. 3.7%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Uyghur children from the southern part of Xinjiang apparently had a more serious form of stone disease than children from the northern part and the occurrence of stones dominated by ammonium urate stones was extremely high in children from the southern part of the region.

MiR-200c-3p inhibits cell migration and invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma via regulating SLC6A1

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of miR-200c-3p and SLC6A1 in regulating cell activity of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). The mRNA and miRNA expressions of tissue specimens were analyzed by CapitalBio Corporation (Beijing, China). The expression of SLC6A1 in CCRCC cells was examined through qRT-PCR and western blot. The migration and invasion ability of 786-O cells was testified by transwell assay after transfected. 786-O cell proliferation ability was detected by MTT assay. Dual luciferase reporter assay verified the association between SLC6A1 and miR-200c-3p. SLC6A1 was high expressed and miR-200c-3p was low expressed in CCRCC tissues and cells. Besides, lower SLC6A1 expression indicated longer survival time and higher survival rate. MiR-200c-3p could directly target at SLC6A1 and reduce its expression. MiR-200c-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion in 786-O cells by down-regulating SLC6A1 expression. The results suggested that the miR-200c-3p served as a suppressor for CCRCC via down-regulating SLC6A1.

MicroRNA-145 regulates the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells to smooth muscle cells via targeting Krüppel-like factor 4

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying human adipose-derived stem cell (hASC) differentiation to smooth muscle may contribute to the development of effective therapies for relevant muscle defects, such as bladder wall and urethral defects. A previous study described the differentiation of hASCs to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bone morphogenetic protein‑4 (BMP4) treatment. The present study investigated whether microRNA-145 (miR‑145) may be involved in the process of hASC differentiation. The expression of miR‑145 was significantly increased during differentiation of ASCs to SMCs. SMC‑specific genes and proteins, including a‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA), smooth muscle protein‑22α(SM22α), calponin and myosin heavy chain (SM‑MHC) were upregulated by transfection of a miR‑145 mimic. By contrast, these factors were downregulated following introduction of antisense oligonucleotides. In addition, Krüppel‑like factor 4 (KLF4) levels, which decreased during the differentiation of hASCs, were downregulated when the cells were transfected miR‑145 mimics. Futhermore, inhibition of KLF4 by treatment with short‑interfering‑RNA against KLF4, resulted in increased expression of SMC‑specific genes and proteins. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that by regulating KLF4, miR‑145 may be involved in regulating smooth muscle differentiation of ASCs induced by TGF‑β1 and BMP4.

Functional analysis of serum microRNAs miR-21 and miR-106a in renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in tumor development and progression and act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in the carcinogenesis process. miRNA is stable in serum, and recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using circulating miRNA as biomarkers in cancer patients. However, currently, no serum biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been reported. Therefore, a new molecular marker for early diagnosis and evaluation of recurrence after surgery is required. Our purpose was to identify miRNA signatures that could distinguish the serum of RCC patients from matched healthy controls and validate identified miRNAs as potential biomarkers for RCC.

METHOD

Serum samples from 30 RCC patients were collected before and 1 month after surgery. 30 cancer-free blood donor volunteers with no history of any cancer were recruited from the same institute. miR-21 and miR-106a expression levels were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULT

The serum miR-21 level was significantly higher in RCC patients (median, 8.34) than in healthy control individuals (median, 0.70; p= 0.001). A month after surgery, serum miR-21 levels (median, 0.69) were significantly reduced (p= 0.032). The serum miR-106a level was higher in RCC patients (median, 8.99) compared with controls (median, 0.96; p= 0.000), while miR-106a levels (median, 1.01) were reduced a month after surgery (p= 0.028). The expression level of miR-21 and miR-106 a in RCC patients increased significantly, while miR-21 and miR-106a decreased after surgery. This outcome suggests that serum miR-21 and miR-106a expression level was closely related with kidney cancer tissue.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that serum miR-21 and miR106a are expected to be molecular markers for RCC.

Difference in urinary stone composition between Uyghur and Han children with urolithiasis

The Objective of this study is to analyze the difference in renal stone composition between Uyghur and Han children with urolithiasis in China and possible reasons. From May 2011 to September 2013, we analyzed the stone compositions of 274 Chinese children with urolithiasis, including 151 Uyghur children from Xinjiang Province and 123 Han children from Guangdong Province. All the stone components were determined by Infrared spectroscopy and the main components were recorded. We also evaluated the data, including age, gender and geographic region of the patients. The mean age of Uyghur children was less than Han children (5.3 ± 4.2 vs 8.6 ± 5.7 years, p < 0.001). Calcium oxalate (CaOx) was the main stone composition in both Uyghur (35.1 %) and Han (64.2 %) children, but was more common in Han children (p < 0.0001). Cystine stone was also more abundant in Han children (8.9 % vs 0.7 %, p = 0.001). While, both uric acid (20.5 % vs 3.3 %, p < 0.0001) and magnesium ammonium phosphate (16.6 % vs 2.5 %, p < 0.0001) stones were more common in Uyghur. Interestingly, the significant differences in stone composition between the two groups were only observed in males. When the pediatric patients were further divided into three age groups which were 0-5, 6-12 and >12, the prevalence of calcium oxalate stones increased with age in both groups and was higher in Han children at each age level. The compositions of urinary stones were significantly different between Uyghur and Han children with urolithiasis, factors such as diet habit, life style, genetic diversity, environmental and medical conditions may all contribute to the variances.