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Urologic malignancies, characterized by their high aggressiveness and metastatic potential, pose a significant public health challenge globally. Ferroptosis, a novel mode of cell death, typically arises from intracellular iron ion overload and the accumulation of lipid peroxides. This process has been shown to play a crucial regulatory role in various pathological conditions, particularly in cancer, including urologic cancers. However, the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms underlying ferroptosis remain poorly understood, which somewhat limits its broader application in cancer therapy. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which encompass microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are non-coding transcripts that play pivotal roles in various physiological processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation, by modulating the expression of target genes. The biological functions and potential regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in the context of cancer-related ferroptosis have been partially elucidated. Research indicates that ncRNAs can influence the progression of urologic cancers by affecting cell proliferation, migration, and drug resistance through the regulation of ferroptosis. Consequently, this review aims to clarify the functions and mechanisms of the ncRNA-ferroptosis axis in urologic cancers and to evaluate the clinical significance of ferroptosis-related ncRNAs, thereby providing new insights into cancer biology and therapeutic strategies that may ultimately benefit a diverse range of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-/nanomechanical resonators are often used in material science to measure the elastic properties of ultrathin films or mass spectrometry to estimate the mass of various chemical and biological molecules. Measurements with these sensors utilize changes in the resonant frequency of the resonator exposed to an investigated quantity. Their sensitivities are, therefore, determined by the resonant frequency. The higher resonant frequency and, correspondingly, higher quality factor (Q-factor) yield higher sensitivity. In solution, the resonant frequency (Q-factor) decreases causing a significant lowering of the achievable sensitivity. Hence, the nanomechanical resonator-based sensors mainly operate in a vacuum. Identification by nanomechanical resonator also requires an additional reference measurement on the identical unloaded resonator making experiments, due to limiting achievable accuracies in current nanofabrication processes, yet challenging. In addition, the mass spectrometry by nanomechanical resonator can be routinely performed for light analytes (i.e., analyte is modelled as a point particle). For heavy analytes such as bacteria clumps neglecting their stiffness result in a significant underestimation of determined mass values. In this work, we demonstrate the extraordinary capability of hybrid shape memory alloy (SMA)-based nanomechanical resonators to i) notably tune the resonant frequencies and improve Q-factor of the resonator immersed in fluid, ii) determine the Young's (shear) modulus of prepared ultrathin film only from frequency response of the resonator with sputtered film, and iii) perform heavy analyte mass spectrometry by monitoring shift in frequency of just a single vibrational mode. The procedures required to estimate the Young's (shear) modulus of ultrathin film and the heavy analyte mass from observed changes in the resonant frequency caused by a phase transformation in SMA are developed and, afterward, validated using numerical simulations. The present results demonstrate the outstanding potential and capability of high frequency operating hybrid SMA-based nanomechanical resonators in sensing applications that can be rarely achieved by current nanomechanical resonator-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three most common kinds of urologic malignancies are prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, which typically cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Early detection and effective treatment are essential due to their high fatality rates. As a result, there is an urgent need for innovative research to improve the clinical management of patients with urologic cancers. A type of small noncoding RNAs of 22 nucleotides, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known for their important roles in a variety of developmental processes. Among these, microRNA-21 (miR-21) stands out as a commonly studied miRNA with implications in tumorigenesis and cancer development, particularly in urological tumors. Recent research has shed light on the dysregulation of miR-21 in urological tumors, offering insights into its potential as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic tool. This review delves into the pathogenesis of miR-21 in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, its utility as a cancer biomarker, and the therapeutic possibilities of targeting miR-21., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gan, Zheng, Zou, Luo, Chen, Zou, Li, Chen, Cheng, Zhang and Qian.)

Urologic oncology is a significant public health concern on a global scale. Recent research indicates that long chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and autophagy play crucial roles in various cancers, including urologic malignancies. This article provides a summary of the latest research findings, suggesting that lncRNA-mediated autophagy could either suppress or promote tumors in prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. The intricate network involving different lncRNAs, target genes, and mediated signaling pathways plays a crucial role in urological malignancies by modulating the autophagic process. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs can disrupt autophagy, leading to tumorigenesis, progression, and enhanced resistance to therapy. Consequently, targeting particular lncRNAs that control autophagy could serve as a dependable diagnostic tool and a promising prognostic biomarker in urologic oncology, while also holding potential as an effective therapeutic approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gan, Zheng, Zou, Luo, Chen, Zou, Li, Chen, Cheng, Zhang and Qian.)