Ondokuz Mayis University

This study investigates the association between the levels of two tRNA-derived fragments, tRF-17-79MP9PP and tRF-18-79MP9P04, and the pathophysiology of prostate cancer (PCa).

Forty patients were included: 8 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 32 with different PCa grades. Total RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues, and the levels of tRF-17-79MP9PP and tRF-18-79MP9P04 were analyzed.

The abundance of tRF-17-79MP9PP increased progressively with cancer grade (p < 0.001), with the highest levels observed in advanced PCa. Interestingly, BPH also showed higher tRF-17-79MP9PP level than low- and mild-grade PCa. Level of tRF-18-79MP9P04 was comparable between BPH and low-grade PCa, but significantly higher in mild, high, and advanced grades (p < 0.001). Furthermore, PSA levels were significantly correlated with both tRF-17-79MP9PP and tRF-18-79MP9P04 in PCa patients (p < 0.001), but not in the BPH group.

Both tRF-17-79MP9PP and tRF-18-79MP9P04 appear to play important roles in prostate cancer, demonstrating potential oncogenic behavior in advanced stages, which contrasts with previous studies reporting tumor-suppressive effects.

These findings indicate that elevated levels of these tRNA-derived fragments may serve as potential biomarkers for distinguishing between different grades of PCa.

This study aimed (i) to determine the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens (Cytauxzoon felis, Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., and Coxiella burnetii) in domestic cats in Türkiye; (ii) to conduct molecular characterization of identified species; (iii) to assess the genetic diversity among identified species in cats reported worldwide. A total of 311 blood samples were collected from animals visiting Ondokuz Mayıs University Veterinary Faculty Animal Hospital for routine checkups, vaccinations, antiparasitic application, and sterilization. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of targeted pathogens by PCR analysis. Data on domestic cats (age, sex, breed, and living conditions) were recorded, and statistical analyses were performed to identify potential risk factors for infection. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to assess relatedness among detected pathogen isolates worldwide. Out of 311 cats tested, 13.1 % (n = 41) were positive for at least one pathogen, and 0.9 % (n = 3) were found to be co-infected. PCR analyses detected 9.64 % (n = 30) of examined samples infected with Mycoplasma spp., and 3.5 % (n = 11) with C. burnetii. Babesia spp., C. felis, and Rickettsia spp. were not detected. There was no significant statistical difference between the prevalence of any detected pathogen and data of the cats. Sanger sequencing of the 30 positive PCR products identified Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) in 50 % (n = 15), Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) in 36.6 % (n = 11), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) in 13.3 % (n = 4). Phylogenetic analysis of the Mycoplasma spp. 16S rRNA gene showed two distinct groups: one belonging to the haemominutum group, clustering with CMhm isolates, and the other from the haemofelis group, clustered with Mhf and CMt isolates. Coxiella burnetii IS1111 gene sequences shared high identity and similarity and clustered with isolates from different countries. This is the first report of C. burnetii in domestic cats from Türkiye. Our data provide information on the presence, molecular epidemiology, and genetic characterization of vector-borne pathogens in domestic cat populations in Türkiye. This study highlights the importance of the epidemiology of vector-borne pathogens for effective disease management in cat populations.

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the preferred treatment for cT1 and cT2 renal tumors, with the goal of preserving renal function while maintaining oncological outcomes. Achieving negative surgical margins is crucial for minimizing recurrence risk. This prospective study included 113 patients with 117 renal tumors who underwent PN. IC samples were collected by pressing glass slides onto the specimen surface (Sample A) and from Tru-cut biopsies (Sample B). All slides were processed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and evaluated by a senior pathologist. Cytological findings were classified as positive, negative, or indeterminate. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were assessed relative to the final pathological results. Positive surgical margins (PSM) were observed in five patients. In one case, the surgical margin could not be evaluated and was therefore excluded from the IC evaluation. Of the 116 cytology A samples, 101 were negative, 7 were positive and 8 were indeterminate. The sensitivity was 100 %, specificity was 98 %, PPV was 71.4 %, and NPV was 100 %. No recurrence was observed in patients with PSM during a median follow-up of 16.9 months. The present study demonstrated that IC is a simple, rapid, and cost-effective method for predicting surgical margins and can be a useful as a rule-out test during intraoperative decision-making.