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To explore patients' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward varicocele in China and the relationship between treatment selection and KAP. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled varicocele patients at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (September to October 2023). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the relationship between clinical factors and KAP. A score >mean score for each dimension was defined as adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice. The patients were grouped according to varicocelectomy vs no surgery. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors independently associated with KAP. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was performed to examine how the KAP dimensions influenced each other. Results: Among 502 patients, 44.02%, 35.86%, and 20.12% were ≤ 30, 31– 40, and > 40 years old, respectively. Those who underwent varicocelectomy (n=407) had significantly higher knowledge (20 (15– 22) vs 0 (0– 6), P< 0.001), attitude (26 (24– 26) vs 14 (10– 18), P< 0.001), and practice (20 (17– 24) vs 8 (6– 16), P< 0.001) than those who did not. A higher proportion of patients with varicocelectomy were < 40 years old, more educated, had higher income, and were unmarried compared with those without surgery (all P< 0.001). High school or higher education level and varicocelectomy (irrespective of type) were independently associated with adequate knowledge (all P< 0.001). Knowledge, college/bachelor's degree education, and varicocelectomy type (irrespective of type) were associated with positive attitudes (all P< 0.05). In the SEM, knowledge directly influenced attitude, knowledge directly influenced practice, and attitude directly influenced practice (all P< 0.001). Having knowledge of the subject may direct varicocele patients to varicocelectomy. Conclusion: Chinese patients who underwent varicocelectomy exhibit appropriate KAP regarding varicocele, while non-surgery patients have poorer KAP. These results suggest that patients who did not undergo surgery should nevertheless be properly informed about their disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, inflammation has become widely recognized as a crucial component in tumor development and progression. Neutrophils are one of the most common inflammatory markers during hematological examinations. The prognostic value of neutrophils in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment neutrophil count in patients with mRCC. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched for data on the association between pretreatment neutrophil count and mRCC prognosis up to October 7, 2017. We sorted out relevant studies and extracted the hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 13 studies containing 3,021 patients with mRCC were summarized in the present meta-analysis. An elevated pretreatment neutrophil count yielded a worse OS (HR=2.17, 95% CI=1.68–2.79, P<0.001) and PFS (HR=1.78, 95% CI=0.91–3.49, P<0.001). Furthermore, we performed a subgroup analysis based on cut-off value, ethnicity, treatment method and analysis type. As a result, the association between pretreatment neutrophil count and survival was statistically significant in the subgroups of cut-off value, ethnicity, treatment method and analysis type. Conclusion: Our results show that the pretreatment neutrophil count is associated with mRCC outcomes and can be used as a valuable inflammatory marker for prognosis monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This meta-analysis evaluated the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of RASSF1A promoter methylation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and methods: The ORs or HRs and their 95% CIs were calculated. Trial sequential analysis was conducted. Results: Twenty-two articles that included 1,421 patients with RCC and 724 controls were identified. RASSF1A promoter methylation correlated with RCC in tissue, blood, and urine samples. On multivariate analysis, RASSF1A promoter methylation was associated with tumor grade (grade 3–4 vs 1–2: OR=3.59), clinical stage (stage 3–4 vs 1–2: OR=2.15), T classification (pT2–4 vs pT1: OR=2.66), histologic subtypes (papillary vs clear cell: OR=2.91), and cancer-specific survival (HR=1.78), but it was not linked to age, gender, lymph node status, distant metastasis, or overall survival. The Cancer Genome Atlas data also showed that RASSF1A methylation was significantly more likely to be seen in papillary vs clear-cell RCC (OR=23.19). Conclusion: RASSF1A promoter methylation may be associated with the development and progression of RCC, as well as poor cancer-specific survival. Methylation was more frequent in papillary vs clear-cell RCC. More studies are needed to confirm these findings in blood or urine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), which was defined based on peripheral blood counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, in patients with localized or locally advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Patients and methods: The prognostic value of SIRI was evaluated in a primary cohort consisting of 414 patients with localized or locally advanced CCRCC and then further validated in an independent cohort composed of 168 patients. Results: Kaplan–Meier survival analyses of both cohorts revealed that CCRCC patients with high SIRI levels exhibited poorer overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared with those with low SIRI levels. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analyses identified SIRI as a significant independent predictor for both OS (HR: 4.853; 95% CI: 2.362–9.972; P<0.001) and CSS (HR: 5.913; 95% CI: 2.681–13.040; P<0.001). Following propensity score matching analysis, SIRI remained an excellent predictor for both OS and CSS. The area under the curve for SIRI was larger than that of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prognostic score in both cohorts. Conclusion: SIRI might be a better prognostic predictor than PLR, NLR, MLR, and MSKCC score in patients with localized or locally advanced CCRCC. Institutional review board approval number: (2010) Scientific Research Project No. 39 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing number of findings demonstrate that nuclear receptor suppressor of variegation, enhancer of zeste, and trithorax domain-containing 3 (NSD3) is amplified and overexpressed in multiple cancer types. Nevertheless, the biological roles of NSD3 in carcinogenesis have not been well understood. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying NSD3 regulation in different cancers. In addition, NSD3 may serve as a potential druggable target for selective cancer therapy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]