Radiotherapy is a reliable method to cure cervical cancer patients, but it could cause serious urological complications after the treatment due to the anatomical location of the cervix. The main purpose of this retrospective analysis is to study the incidence, latency, and therapeutic efficacy of urological complications caused by radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone in patients with cervical cancer. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with cervical cancer who received radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone at the First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2010 and May 2016. The urological complications were confirmed by clinical manifestation, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear scintigraphy, and assessment of renal function. All the patients with urological complications received conventional treatment, including conservative, electrosurgery, ureteral stents, nephrectomy, and neoplasty. The onset time of radiation injury symptoms was confirmed according to the medical history and follow-up. The surveillance for the therapeutic effects for these complications was accomplished by cystoscopy, imaging, and laboratory assessment. The overall rate of urological complications after treatment was 3.26%, comprising 2.12% ureteral obstruction, 0.98% radiocystitis, and 0.16% vesicovaginal fistula. The incidence of ureteral obstruction in patients treated with radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy and radiotherapy alone was not statistically significant (2.18% vs 1.59%, P > .05). The median onset time of radiocystitis and ureteral obstruction was 10 months (0–75 months) and 12 months (2–66.3 months), respectively. The onset time of vesicovaginal fistula was 3.5 months. After the appropriate treatment, the majority of the complications were under control. The incidence of urological complications is acceptable. There was no statistical difference in the risk between patients treated with radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy and radiotherapy alone. The latency period between radiotherapy and the manifestation of urological complications may be relatively long. So it is crucial to underline long-term follow-up after radiotherapy. The majority of urological complications were alleviated after symptomatic treatment and the patients with cervical cancer achieved long-term remissions or cures.

Background: Infertility is a complex condition influenced by multiple factors and is associated with significant health and social implications. The aim of this study was to investigate the burden of infertility among reproductive-aged (15–49 years) men and women from 1990 to 2021, along with the associated trends.Methods: Data on the prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to infertility among 15–49 years men and women from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to assess the changes in age-standardized rates of prevalence (ASPR) and DALYs (ASDR). Additionally, the relationship between disease burden and the socio-demographic Index (SDI) was analyzed. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to conduct a thorough examination of the trends for disease burden from 1990 to 2021.Results: In 2021, the global number of cases and DALYs for male infertility among 15–49 years increased by 74.66% and 74.64% since 1990. For females, the global number of cases and DALYs increased by 84.44% and 84.43% respectively. Among the five SDI regions, the middle SDI region recorded the highest number of cases and DALYs in 2021, accounting for approximately one-third of the global total. From an age subgroup perspective, the 35–39 age group reported the highest number of cases in 2021. The infertility disease burden was negatively correlated with SDI in national level. Joinpoint analysis demonstrated a declining trend in the annual percentage change (APC) for male infertility ASPR and ASDR during the periods 1990–2001 and 2005-2010. The ASPR time points of female infertility were slightly different from those for males, but the overall trend remained consistent.Conclusion: Overall, the burden of infertility among 15–49 years men and women has significantly increased globally over the past 32 years, particularly in middle SDI regions and among the 35–39 age group. The findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions aimed at addressing infertility issues in this population, contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals established by the World Health Organization.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common tumor of the urinary tract. Increasing evidence showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a critical regulator in cancer development and progression. However, the functions of lncRNAs in the development of BC remain mostly undefined. In the present study, based on RNA sequence profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we identified 723 lncRNAs, 157 miRNAs, and 1816 mRNAs aberrantly expressed in BC tissues. A competing endogenous RNA network, including 49 lncRNAs, 17 miRNAs, and 36 mRNAs, was then established. The functional enrichment analyses showed that the mRNAs in the ceRNA network mainly participated in ‘regulation of transcription’ and ‘pathways in cancer’. Moreover, the Cox regression analyses demonstrated that three lncRNAs (AC112721.1, TMPRSS11GP, and ADAMTS9-AS1) could serve as independent risk factors. We established a risk prediction model with these lncRNAs. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed that high-risk patients’ prognosis was lower than that of low-risk patients (P=0.001). The present study provides novel insights into the lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network and the potential of lncRNAs to be candidate prognostic biomarkers in BC, which could help better understand the pathological changes and pathogenesis of BC and be useful for clinical studies in the future.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) is a complex disorder characterized by both intrinsic damage to renal tubular epithelial cells and extrinsic inflammation mediated by cytokines and immune cells. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this devastating condition. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized membrane-bound vesicles secreted by various cell types that can transfer bioactive molecules to target cells and modulate their function. EVs have emerged as promising candidates for cell-free therapy of RIRI, owing to their ability to cross biological barriers and deliver protective signals to injured renal cells. In this review, we provide an overview of EVs, focusing on their functional role in RIRI and the signaling messengers responsible for EV-mediated crosstalk between various cell types in renal tissue. We also discuss the renoprotective role of EVs and their use as therapeutic agents for RIRI, highlighting the advantages and challenges encountered in the therapeutic application of EVs in renal disease.

Targeted gene therapy has shown durable efficacy in non-neoplastic and neoplastic patients. Therefore, finding a suitable target has become a key area of research. Mesenchyme homeobox 1 (MEOX1) is a transcriptional factor that plays a significant role in regulation of somite development. Evidence indicates that abnormalities in MEOX1 expression and function are associated with a variety of pathologies, including non-neoplastic and neoplastic diseases. MEOX1 expression is upregulated during progression of most diseases and plays a critical role in maintenance of the cellular phenotypes such as cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest and senescence, migration, and proliferation. Therefore, MEOX1 may become an important molecular target and therapeutic target. This review will discuss the current state of knowledge on the role of MEOX1 in different diseases.