Artificial intelligence technology has a wide range of application prospects in the field of medical education. The aim of the study was to measure the effectiveness of ChatGPT-assisted problem-based learning (PBL) teaching for urology medical interns in comparison with traditional teaching. A cohort of urology interns was randomly assigned to two groups; one underwent ChatGPT-assisted PBL teaching, while the other received traditional teaching over a period of two weeks. Performance was assessed using theoretical knowledge exams and Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises. Students’ acceptance and satisfaction with the AI-assisted method were evaluated through a survey. The scores of the two groups of students who took exams three days after the course ended were significantly higher than their scores before the course. The scores of the PBL-ChatGPT assisted group were significantly higher than those of the traditional teaching group three days after the course ended. The PBL-ChatGPT group showed statistically significant improvements in medical interviewing skills, clinical judgment and overall clinical competence compared to the traditional teaching group. The students gave highly positive feedback on the PBL-ChatGPT teaching method. The study suggests that ChatGPT-assisted PBL teaching method can improve the results of theoretical knowledge assessment, and play an important role in improving clinical skills. However, further research is needed to examine the validity and reliability of the information provided by different chat AI systems, and its impact on a larger sample size.

Maspin, a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily, has been characterized as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancer types. Chemotherapeutic insensitivity is one of major obstacles to effectively treating muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This study was conducted to investigate the role and probable mechanism of Maspin enhancing cisplatin chemosensitivity of bladder cancer in vitro and MIBC patients. Maspin expression was quantified by qRT-PCR in two MIBC cell lines (T24 and 5637). After successful established Maspin overexpression model by lipidosome transfection, MTT and cell apoptosis assay were used to assess the MIBC’s cisplatin sensitivity. Western blot method was used to test PI3K/ AKT/mTOR signal passway and apoptosis related molecules Caspase3 and Bcl-2. Additionally, we evaluated Maspin expression and prognosis in 62 MIBC cases who underwent cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) using immunohistochemistry. Upregulate Maspin expression could enhance the chemosensitivity induced by cisplatin in T24 and 5637 cell lines. The cell viability, cloning ability and IC50 were reduced while apoptosis rate was upregulated when cells were transfected Maspin. Phospho(p)-AKT, PI3K, mTOR, and Bcl-2 expression were significantly decreased, whereas Caspase3 was greatly increased in the Maspin group. In the clinic study, there was significant correlation between Maspin expression and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rate in MIBC patients who received cisplatin based NACT. Maspin could enhance cisplatin chemosensitivity in T24 and 5637 cell lines. Its expression correlated with prognosis of MIBC patients who received cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The current belief is that Randall’s plaques (RP) constitute a nidus for the formation of idiopathic calcium oxalate stones, but the upstream events in RP formation remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether RP formation shares similarities with biomineralization and to illustrate the potential role played by the lncRNA MALAT1 in osteogenic differentiation of human renal interstitial fibroblasts (hRIFs).Materials and Methods: Biomineralization and MALAT1 expression were assessed in RP, and hRIFs were isolated and induced under osteogenic conditions for further experiments. The transcription initiation and termination sites in MALAT1 were identified by 5′ and 3′ RACE. RNA immunoprecipitation assays and luciferase assays were used to validate the interactions among MALAT1, Runx2 and miRNAs.Results: Upregulated expression of osteogenic markers and MALAT1 was observed in RP and hRIFs induced with osteogenic medium. Biomineralization in RP and calcium phosphate (CaP) deposits in induced hRIFs were further verified by electron microscopy. Furthermore, overexpression of MALAT1 promoted the osteogenic phenotype of hRIFs, while treatment with a miR-320a-5p mimic and knockdown of Runx2 significantly suppressed the osteogenic phenotype. Further analysis showed that MALAT1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to sponge miR-320a-5p, leading to upregulation of Runx2 and thus promoting osteogenic differentiation of hRIFs.Conclusion: Ectopic calcification and MALAT1 partially contributed to the formation of RP, in which MALAT1 might promote Runx2 expression to regulate osteogenic differentiation of hRIFs by sponging miRNA-320a-5p. The current study sheds new light on the lncRNA-directed mechanism of RP formation via a process driven by osteogenic-like cells.

Background: The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is a novel obesity indicator that appears to outperform the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in assessing both overweight and obesity. Studies have demonstrated the relationship between obesity and overactive bladder (OAB). The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between WWI and OAB.Methods: This research utilizes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2009 and 2018. Each participant’s WWI was calculated as their WC in centimeters by the square root of weight in kilograms. The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) questionnaire is used to determine whether a participant has OAB. Multivariate logistic regression and generalized additive model analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between WWI and OAB. We used smoothing curve fitting to explore non-linear relationships. Additionally, subgroup analysis and interaction tests are conducted.Results: In this cross-sectional study involving 35,950 subjects, we found that individuals with a higher WWI have a higher risk of OAB (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.02–1.74). Subgroup analysis and interaction testing showed that the relationship between WWI and OAB is consistent across various population characteristics. Smoothing curve fitting reveals a positive non-linear relationship between WWI and OAB. Furthermore, the association between WWI and OAB is stronger than that of other obesity-related indicators.Conclusion: Weight-adjusted waist index may be able to predict the incidence of OAB and that WWI-based obesity management may help to reduce the risk of OAB.