Source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on species ratios: a multimedia approach

Often, the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental media can be identified by comparing the ratios of concentrations of selected pairs of PAH congeners in the source emissions to the ratios in the contaminated environmental media. However, these ratios can be altered significantly due to differences in the transport of the PAH compounds in a multimedia environment. To examine such changes, a fugacity model was applied to PAH ratios in a model environment. A linear relationship between the rate of emission and the bulk media concentration was identified for each PAH compound in an environmental medium at steady state and was quantified by a receptor-to-source ratio (RRS). It was demonstrated that the RRS values of the two congeners usually differ significantly. Consequentially, PAH ratios changed remarkably from the source emissions to various environmental media. A site-specific rectification factor (RF) was defined as the ratio of the two RRS values of the paired congeners for a specific PAH ratio in a given medium, which can be applied to account for the ratio changes in a multimedia environment. The PAH ratio changes were further verified with the surface soil data collected from Tianjin, China, and the observed changes of PAH ratios were compared favorably with the model predictions. The sensitivity analysis revealed that PAH ratios of the low molecular weight compounds were less stable. The most influential parameters controlling PAH ratios were those pertaining to dry precipitation, surface-to-air diffusion, degradation in air and water, and exchange between water and sediment.

Contamination of rivers in Tianjin, China by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Tianjin urban/industrial complex is highly polluted by some persistent organic pollutants. In this study, the levels of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were tested in sediment, water, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples in 10 rivers in Tianjin. The total concentration of 16 PAHs varied from 0.787 to 1943 microg/g dry weight in sediment, from 45.81 to 1272 ng/L in water, and from 0.938 to 64.2 microg/g dry weight in SPM. The levels of PAHs in these media are high in comparison with values reported from other river and marine systems. Variability of total concentrations of PAHs in sediment, water, and SPM from nine different rivers is consistent with each other. No obvious trends of total PAHs concentration variations were found between upstream and downstream sediment, water, and SPM samples for most rivers, which indicate local inputs and disturbances along these rivers. The spatial distributions of three-phase PAHs are very similar to each other, and they are also similar to those found in topsoil. However, their chemical profiles are significantly different from that of topsoil. The change of profiles is consistent with the different aqueous transport capability of 16 PAHs. Low molecular weight PAHs predomination suggests a relatively recent local source and coal combustion source of PAHs in the study area.

Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soil in Tianjin, China

Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression were applied to apportion sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface soils of Tianjin, China based on the measured PAH concentrations of 188 surface soil samples. Four principal components were identified representing coal combustion, petroleum, coke oven plus biomass burning, and chemical industry discharge, respectively. The contributions of major sources were quantified as 41% from coal, 20% from petroleum, and 39% from coking and biomass, which are compatible with PAH emissions estimated based on fuel consumption and emission factors. When the study area was divided into three zones with distinctive differences in soil PAH concentration and profile, different source features were unveiled. For the industrialized Tanggu-Hangu zone, the major contributors were cooking (43%), coal (37%) and vehicle exhaust (20%). In rural area, however, in addition to the three main sources, biomass burning was also important (13%). In urban-suburban zone, incineration accounted for one fourth of the total.

Uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by maize plants

Roots and above-ground parts (tops) of maize plants, comprising cuticles, leaves and stems, have been exposed separately to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by means of air-tight bicameral exposure devices. Maize roots and tops of plants directly accumulate PAHs from aqueous solutions and from air in proportion to exposure levels. Root and leaf concentration factors (log RCF and log LCF) are log-linear functions of log-based octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) and log-based octanol-air partition coefficient (log Koa). The PAHs' concentrations among cuticles, leaves and stems display good correlations with each other. PAH concentrations in each part of the plant tested correlated positively with atmospheric PAHs' concentrations. Comparisons between PAHs' concentrations of root epidermis and root tissue showed similar correlations. Bulk concentrations of contaminants in various plant tissues differed greatly, but these differences disappeared after normalization to lipid contents suggesting lipid-based partitioning of PAHs among maize tissues.

Effect of calcitonin on calcium transport by the luminal and basolateral membranes of the rabbit nephron

In the rabbit, calcitonin has been shown to enhance calcium (Ca2+) reabsorption in the early distal tubule. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of this action, using isolated luminal and basolateral membranes of distal tubules. The tubule suspensions were preincubated in the presence or absence of 10(-7) M calcitonin. The luminal or basolateral membranes were subsequently purified and 45Ca transport through the vesicles was measured using the rapid filtration technique. Results were compared with those obtained from proximal tubule membranes. In the proximal tubules, calcitonin had no effect on Ca2+ uptake by luminal membranes. In the distal tubules, the presence of Na+ in the incubation medium strongly decreased the uptake of Ca2+ by luminal membranes. Preincubation of distal tubules with calcitonin partially restored this uptake. We previously reported a dual kinetics of Ca2+ uptake by the distal luminal membranes. Calcitonin enhanced Ca2+ transport by the low affinity component, increasing the Vmax and leaving the K(m) unchanged. Renal calcitonin receptors usually couple to both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. To determine through which messenger(s) calcitonin enhances Ca2+ transport by the distal tubules, we first confirmed that the hormone stimulates cAMP and IP3 release. Incubation of the distal tubules with 10(-7) M calcitonin significantly increased both messengers. In contrast, calcitonin did not influence the IP3 nor the cAMP content of proximal tubules. Therefore, we studied the actions of cAMP and phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA) on Ca2+ transport by the distal luminal membranes. Incubation of distal tubule suspensions with dibutyryl cAMP significantly increased Ca2+ uptake by the luminal membranes. However, incubation of these tubules with various concentrations of PMA (10 nM, 100 nM and 1 microM) had no effect on this uptake. Calcitonin also influenced Ca2+ transport by the distal basolateral membrane. Incubation of distal tubule suspensions with 10(-7) M calcitonin activated the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity, almost doubling the Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake. Here again this action was mimicked by cAMP. We conclude that calcitonin increases Ca2+ transport by the distal tubule through two mechanisms: the opening of low affinity Ca2+ channels in the luminal membrane and the stimulation of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the basolateral membrane, both actions depending on the activation of adenylate cyclase.

Increased perihematomal neuron autophagy and plasma thrombin-antithrombin levels in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: An observational study

Animal studies have demonstrated that autophagy was involved in neuronal damage after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Several studies showed thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) plasma levels were elevated in patients with ICH. In this study, we aimed to evaluate if autophagy occurred in patients with ICH; and the relationship between the severity of brain injury and plasma TAT levels.A novel tissue harvesting device was used during hematoma removal surgery to collect loose fragments of tissue surrounding the affected brain area in 27 ICH patients with hematoma volumes of >30 mL in the basal ganglia. Control tissues were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for arteriovenous malformation (n = 25). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry for autophagy-related proteins were used to evaluate the ultrastructural and morphologic cellular characteristics; and the extent of autophagy in the recovered tissue specimens. Stroke severity was assessed by using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure plasma TAT levels.Transmission electron microscopy showed autophagosomes and autolysosomes exist in neurons surrounding the hematoma, but not in the control tissues. The number of cells containing autophagic vacuoles correlated with the severity of brain injury. Immunohistochemistry showed strong LC3, beclin 1, and cathepsin D staining in ICH tissue specimens. Plasma TAT levels correlated positively with autophagic cells and ICH severity (P < .01).Autophagy was induced in perihematomal neurons after ICH. Autophagy and plasma TAT levels correlated positively with severity of brain injury. These results suggest that autophagy and increased plasma TAT levels may contribute to the secondary damage in ICH patients.

Inhibition of myogenesis by depletion of the glycogen-associated regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase-1 in rat skeletal muscle cells

In this study, we examined the role of the glycogen-associated regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1(G)) in L6 rat skeletal muscle cell myogenesis. The level of PP-1(G) was depleted by transfection with an inducible antisense-oriented PP-1(G) gene. Western blot analysis of the PP-1(G)-depleted cell line revealed a >90% depletion of PP-1(G) protein and a 45% reduction in cellular PP-1 activity and abolished the ability of L6 myoblasts to differentiate into multinucleated myotubes. PP-1(G)-depleted cells also exhibited a marked reduction in the expression of the differentiation marker myogenin as well as creatine kinase. After 7 days in culture, PP-1(G)-depleted cells sustained myoblast levels of inhibitor of differentiation-2, whereas control L6 cells had a severely lower inhibitor of differentiation-2 level and progressed into myotubes. Myoblasts were unable to exit the cell cycle, as measured by the impaired induction of p27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, a >2-fold increase in DNA synthesis, and elevated levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Replacement of the PP-1(G) gene restored PP-1(G) protein expression, PP-1 enzymatic activity, and the ability to differentiate into myotubes. We conclude that PP-1(G) plays a definite role in L6 myogenesis via its regulation of PP-1 catalytic activity.

Human exposure and health risk of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) in Tianjin, China

The dynamic exposures to HCHs of individuals born between the years 1913 and 1993 in Tianjin have been simulated by connecting a fugacity model (IV) with a multimedia exposure model. Ingestion is the most important pathway for human beings to take up HCHs, and concentrations in the human body correlate with body weight changes. Accumulations of HCHs were derived assuming that the degradation in human body behaved linearly. The health risk of exposure to HCHs was measured using cancer risk and loss of life expectancy (LLE), and LLE was modified from its original definition to incorporate a dynamic calculation that takes variances in exposure into account. Monte-Carlo simulations were run to analyze the uncertainties of the model.

A two-compartment exposure device for foliar uptake study

An airtight two-chamber exposure devise was designed for investigating foliar uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by plants. The upper and the bottom chambers of the device were air-tightly separated by an aluminum foil and the plant aerial tissues and roots were exposed in the two chambers, respectively. The device was tested using maize exposed to several PAH species. Positive correlations between air and aerial tissue concentrations of the exposed PAH species were revealed. PAHs spiking in the culture solution had no influence on the leaf concentrations.

The Changes of Muscle FGF-6 Expression at Different Time Points after Exercise-induced Muscle Damage

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-6 expression in the regeneration and repair process after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and the relationship with skeletal muscle regeneration and repair.

METHODS

The expression of FGF-6 at different time points was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry staining after a downhill treadmill exercise. Skeletal muscle injury and regeneration at different times after EIMD was assessed by haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining.

RESULTS

The FGF-6 protein expression was initially elevated and followed by a gradual reduction, while the changes of FGF-6 mRNA were almost all raised after the treadmill exercise.

CONCLUSION

The results point out that FGF-6 is closely related to skeletal muscle regeneration and repair, probably implying a dual function in muscle regeneration.

A nomogram integrating ferroptosis-and immune-related biomarker for prediction of prognosis and diagnosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Approximately 60% of patients with kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) die within the first 2-3 years. The prognosis for patients with KIRC and its metastases is poor. Ferroptosis and providing immunity are novel treatment targets for several cancers, including KIRC. Therefore, it is important to identify suitable ferroptosis- and immune-related signatures to predict the prognosis and diagnosis of patients with KIRC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The corresponding data of patients with KIRC were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to screen candidate biomarkers in patients with KIRC.

RESULTS

We found that four FI-DEGs (BID, MET, LTB4R, and HMOX1) were independently associated with the overall survival of patients with KIRC. The prognosis and diagnosis model constructed using these four biomarkers could predict the outcome of KIRC, as measured by the receiver operating characteristic analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified 4 FI-DEGs that could be used as biomarkers in patients with KIRC. The present study not only contributes to understanding the roles of ferroptosis and immunity in the development of KIRC, but also to the diagnosis and prognosis of KIRC, although it remains to be further studied.

[A case-control study on Guillain-Barre syndrome in children of North China]

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at exploring the risk factors for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

METHODS

A case-control study design was used with 51 cases of GBS, diagnosed based on their symptoms, signs and electrophysiological examinations and exclusion of poliomyelitis and other acute flaccid paralysis, and 51 controls matched on age, sex and resident village. Serum IgG antibodies specific for Campylobacter jejuni were determined for all the subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a preparation of surface antigen of C. jejuni C(1) strain isolated from the patients and prevalent in north China. Each case and control were interviewed with his/her parents or guardians by a trained interviewer using an ad hoc questionnaire, including his/her demographic information, socioeconomic status, onset of the illness, and potential risk factors in their environment and personal hygiene. Data were analyzed with SAS software release 6.04 in a microcomputer.

RESULTS

GBS was associated with a few factors, such as residential areas (45 of the 51 cases living in the rural areas, accounting for 88.2% of the total), polio and hepatitis B vaccine immunization before onset of the illness (with ORs of 7.27 and 3.14, respectively), no hand washing after defecation and before meals (with an OR of 6.15) and getting cold and going to the river or lake site before onset of the illness (with ORs of 13.75 and 12.20, respectively). Infection with Campylobacter jejuni associated strongly with the illness (with an OR of 9.5, P < 0.001). Thirty-five of the 51 cases had precursor symptoms before onset of the illness (68.6%).

CONCLUSION

It suggests that occurrence of GBS may correlate to infection with Campylobacter jejuni and poor personal hygiene in children.

[Clinicopathologic analysis of extranodal non-hodgkin lymphoma of the sinonasal cavities: a 15-case report]

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestation, imaging and histological features of different histological subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.Method:Fifteen NHL patients of the sinonasal region were collected from the Department of Otolaryngology of Peking University Third Hospital from 2010 to 2016. HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed. The clinical characteristics and imaging features of different subtypes were described and analyzed.Result::We analyzed a total of 6 patients with localized sinonasal diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 9 patients with localized sinonasal extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. The age distribution for these two subtypes is very distinct. The median age of the patients with localized sinonasal extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma was 39 years. There were 5 males and 4 females. Nine sinonasal NHLs were NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, all of which were infected with EBV. The median age of the patients with localized sinonasal diffuse large B cell lymphoma was 64 years. There were 3males and 3 females. Symptoms for patients with SN-DLBCL and SN-ENKTL were significantly different in epiphora, proptosis, diplopia and nasal congestion (P=0.18, 0.004, 0.18, 0.18). Imaging features for patients with SN-DLBCL and SN-ENKTL were significantly different in tumor extended to orbit and inferior turbinate (P>0.05). Positive staining for CD 56 was detected in 9 patients, for CD 3 in 9 patients, for EBER in 9 patients. The Hans algorithm identified 1 patient with the germinal center B-cell (GCB) subtype and 5 with the non-GCB subtype.Compared with the control group, the observation group was significantly better than the control group (P < 0.01).Conclusion:Early symptoms of epiphora, proptosis, diplopia, and images finding with orbital invasion should be highly suspected of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Positive staining for CD 56 and EBER were detected in all patients with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, and positive staining for CD20 was detected in all patients with SN-DLBCL.

[Clinically predictive factors of Gleason score upgrading in patients after radical prostatectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the discrepancy between preoperative needle biopsy (NB) Gleason score and pathological specimen Gleason score (GS) after radical prostatectomy, and to explore the risk factors of postoperative upgrading of GS.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 160 patients who suffered from biopsy proved prostatic carcinoma and performed radical prostatectomy. Age of the patients was 57-82 years, with the average age of 71.6; prebiopsy prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 0.31-40.32 μg/L,with the average PSA of 11.29 μg/L; body mass index (BMI) was 16.41-32.04 kg/m(2), with the average BMI of 23.63 kg/m(2); prostate volume (PV) was 9.52-148.46 mL, with the average PV of 40.19 mL. All the patients included in the study had complete information for clinical variables, including age, BMI, prebiopsy PSA level, PV, number of biopsy cores obtained, percentage, clinical stage, and biopsy GS. Grading of NB Gleason score was compared with their corresponding radical prostatectomy specimens, and the discrepancy between the NB and prostatectomy specimens GS assessed. Upgrading was defined as any increase in the pathological GS over that of the biopsy GS as a total sum of primary and secondary grades or a change in the order of primary and secondary grades towards higher ones. Univariable and multivariable Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of pathological grading changes.

RESULTS

Of the 160 patients, the specimen GS was upgraded in 49 (30.6%) patients and remained with no change in 82 (51.3%) patients. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis showed that prostate volume and biopsy GS were independent predictors with postoperative upgrading of GS. Age, BMI, PSA before needle biopsy, clinical stage and needle number showed no statistical significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Lower biopsy GS and smaller prostate volume are increased risks for clinically upgrading of GS after radical prostatectomy. This fact should be kept in mind when deciding on therapy decisions for patients with prostate cancer.

[Endoscopic endonasal surgery for ORBIT stage Ⅲ orbital cavernous hemangioma: a preliminary experience of 20 cases]

Objective: To evaluate the early efficacy and safety of transnasal endoscopic surgical resection of orbital cavernous hemangioma (OCH) at orbital resection by intranasal technique (ORBIT) stage Ⅲ. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 20 patients (20 eyes) who underwent nasal endoscopic surgery to remove ORBIT stage Ⅲ OCH at the Third Hospital of Peking University from July 2021 to July 2024. The cohort were included 10 males and 10 females, aged from 25 to 59 years, with a mean follow-up time of (5.10±4.51) months. Preoperative symptoms included visual field defects in 19 patients (95%), decreased visual acuity in 18 patients (90%), exophthalmos in 2 patients (10%), diplopia in 2 patients (10%), headache in 2 patients (10%), ocular pain in 2 patients (10%), and color vision abnormalities in 1 patient (5%). Data on patient demographics, medical history, imaging data, surgical approach, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Pre-and post-surgical outcomes including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field, proptosis, and intraocular pressure were compared. Surgical approaches included transnasal endoscopic OCH resection (12 cases, 60%) and transnasal endoscopic combined conjunctival approach OCH resection (8 cases, 40%). The results of the postoperative 2-week review were used as the postoperative short-term efficacy data, and those at 3 months were used for postoperative therapeutic efficacy analysis. SPSS 26.0 statistical software was applied for statistical analysis. Results: In 20 patients, all OCH were completely resected, and the BCVA, visual field, and exophthalmos were significantly improved post-operatively. The differences were statistically significant before and after surgery (t values were 3.169, 5.127, and 3.350, respectively, all P<0.05). There were no serious complications in the short term after surgery. The short-term complications after endoscopic surgery alone were mainly new-onset diplopia in 1 case (1/12), and the short-term complications after combined approach were new-onset diplopia in 5 cases (5/8) and pupil dilation in 2 cases (2/8). All short-term complications recovered within 3 months, and no serious or permanent complications occurred in the long-term follow. Conclusion: The endoscopic transnasal surgery is a safe and effective approach for complete resection of ORBIT stage Ⅲ OCH, with promising early results.

Baicalin Ameliorates Cartilage Injury in Rats With Osteoarthritis via Modulating miR-766-3p/AIFM1 Axis

The study aims to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of Baicalin (BAI) in alleviating cartilage injury in osteoarthritic (OA) rat models, concentrating on its regulation of the miR-766-3p/AIFM1 axis. An OA rat model was developed with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Interventions comprised of BAI treatment and intra-articular administration of miR-766-3p inhibitor. For evaluation, histopathological staining was conducted to investigate the pathological severity of knee cartilage injury. The levels of oxidative stress (OS) indicators including MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px, were quantified using colorimetric assays. Inflammatory factors (IFs; TNF-?, IL-1?, and IL-6) in knee joint lavage fluids were assessed using ELISA, while RT-PCR was employed to quantify miR-766-3p expression. TUNEL apoptosis staining was utilized to detect chondrocyte apoptosis, and western blotting examined autophagy-related markers (LC3, Beclin, p62), extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis-associated indices (COL2A, ACAN, MMP13), and apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrion-associated 1 (AIFM1). Histological examination revealed a marked amelioration of cartilage injury in the BAI-treated OA rat models compared to controls. BAI treatment significantly reduced inflammation and OS of knee joint fluid, activated autophagy, and decreased chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation. Interestingly, the inhibitory effects of BAI on these pathological markers were significantly decreased by the miR-766-3p inhibitor. Further assessment revealed that BAI efficiently promoted miR-766-3p expression while inhibiting AIFM1 protein expression. BAI potentially mitigates articular cartilage injury in OA rats, likely through modulation of miR-766-3p/AIFM1 axis. Keywords: Baicalin, microRNA, AIFM1, Osteoarthritisv, Rat.

[Chemical constituents of seeds of Camellia sinensis var. assamica]

Five compounds were isolated from the acid-hydrolytic products of n-butanol extract and ethanol extract of the seeds of Camellia sinensis var. assamica. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analyses as octacosane, three new acyl-sapogenins: 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol B, 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol E and 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol A, and naringenin respectively.

[Clinically predictive factors of Gleason score upgrading in patients after radical prostatectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the discrepancy between preoperative needle biopsy (NB) Gleason score and pathological specimen Gleason score (GS) after radical prostatectomy, and to explore the risk factors of postoperative upgrading of GS.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 160 patients who suffered from biopsy proved prostatic carcinoma and performed radical prostatectomy. Age of the patients was 57-82 years, with the average age of 71.6; prebiopsy prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 0.31-40.32 μg/L,with the average PSA of 11.29 μg/L; body mass index (BMI) was 16.41-32.04 kg/m², with the average BMI of 23.63 kg/m²; prostate volume (PV) was 9.52-148.46 mL, with the average PV of 40.19 mL. All the patients included in the study had complete information for clinical variables, including age, BMI, prebiopsy PSA level, PV, number of biopsy cores obtained, percentage, clinical stage, and biopsy GS. Grading of NB Gleason score was compared with their corresponding radical prostatectomy specimens, and the discrepancy between the NB and prostatectomy specimens GS assessed. Upgrading was defined as any increase in the pathological GS over that of the biopsy GS as a total sum of primary and secondary grades or a change in the order of primary and secondary grades towards higher ones. Univariable and multivariable Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of pathological grading changes.

RESULTS

Of the 160 patients, the specimen GS was upgraded in 49 (30.6%) patients and remained with no change in 82 (51.3%) patients. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis showed that prostate volume and biopsy GS were independent predictors with postoperative upgrading of GS. Age, BMI, PSA before needle biopsy, clinical stage and needle number showed no statistical significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Lower biopsy GS and smaller prostate volume are increased risks for clinically upgrading of GS after radical prostatectomy. This fact should be kept in mind when deciding on therapy decisions for patients with prostate cancer.