Effects of algerian nettle (Urtica dioica L.) on benign prostatic hyperplasia and their mechanism of action elucidation: in vivo and in silico approaches.

This study investigated the effect of Urtica dioica roots etheric extract (UDEE) on oxidative stress, and urine obstruction with histopathological examinations of prostatic and renal tissues,and suggests computational methods as a complementary method, to make a hypothesis on the overall effect of UDEE in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was utilised to characterise UDEE.BPH was induced in rats through daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate. Rats were also orally administered UDEE or a vehicle. After four weeks, prostate weight, urine output, and biochemical markers were evaluated. UDEE treatment demonstrated significant regression of prostatic enlargement, improved biochemical and histopathological characteristics, and regulation of antioxidant activity levels. Phytosteroids stand out, act by inhibiting 5 alpha-reductase and aromatase. This study provides an insight into treatment of BPH, demonstrating safety of this compound towards the kidney compared to finasteride without severe side effects.{Graphical Abstract

Radiotherapy Target Volume Definition in Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma Using 18F-FET PET Imaging and Multiparametric MRI: An Inter Observer Agreement Study

Background: The aim of this prospective monocentric study was to assess the inter-observer agreement for tumor volume delineations by multiparametric MRI and 18-F-FET-PET/CT in newly diagnosed, untreated high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. Methods: Thirty patients HGG underwent O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine(18F-FET) positron emission tomography (PET), and multiparametric MRI with computation of rCBV map and K2 map. Three nuclear physicians and three radiologists with different levels of experience delineated the 18-F-FET-PET/CT and 6 MRI sequences, respectively. Spatial similarity (Dice and Jaccard: DSC and JSC) and overlap (Overlap: OV) coefficients were calculated between the readers for each sequence. Results: DSC, JSC, and OV were high for 18F-FET PET/CT, T1-GD, and T2-FLAIR (>0.67). The Spearman correlation coefficient between readers was ≥0.6 for these sequences. Cross-comparison of similarity and overlap parameters showed significant differences for DSC and JSC between 18F-FET PET/CT and T2-FLAIR and for JSC between 18F-FET PET/CT and T1-GD with higher values for 18F-FET PET/CT. No significant difference was found between T1-GD and T2-FLAIR. rCBV, K2, b1000, and ADC showed correlation coefficients between readers <0.6. Conclusion: The interobserver agreements for tumor volume delineations were high for 18-F-FET-PET/CT, T1-GD, and T2-FLAIR. The DWI (b1000, ADC), rCBV, and K2-based sequences, as performed, did not seem sufficiently reproducible to be used in daily practice