Total and free PSA serum concentrations are not influenced by extensive physical exercise and bicycle riding.

Vigorous and prolonged physical exercise and mechanical involvement of the perineal region might influence prostatic function and measurement of both total (PSA) and free prostate specific antigen (fPSA), decreasing the diagnostic efficiency of the laboratory screening for either benign or neoplastic prostate disorders in athletes. To investigate the effects of regular and strenuous physical exercise with or without bicycle riding on integrity and biochemical function of prostatic tissue, we measured serum PSA and fPSA in 69 elite and professional cyclists, 31 members of the Italian national cross-country ski team, and in 43 sedentary healthy controls. The concentration of both PSA and fPSA did not differ significantly between sedentary individuals and physically active cross-country skiers (PSA 0.

Effect of protein leaking BK-F PMMA-based hemodialysis on plasma pentosidine levels.

Background: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are now considered to contribute to the middle molecule toxicity of uremia and, because they are not cleared by conventional low-flux hemodialysis, alternative strategies are needed to improve their removal.

Methods: In a prospective cross-over trial involving 18 adult chronic hemodialysis subjects, we evaluated the intradialytic removal and the long-term effect on predialysis levels of Protein-bound (PBPe) and Free (FPe) pentosidine by high-pore, protein-leaking BK-F Polymethylmethacrylate-based hemodialysis (BK-F-HD), by comparing it to hemodialysis using low-flux dialyzers (LF-HD).

Results: A single BK-F-HD session removed more PBPe, but not FPe, than LF-HD.

Aldosterone to Renin ratio in a primary care setting: the Bussolengo study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension associated with an elevated aldosterone to renin activity ratio (ARR) in a sample of adults aged 35-74 yr, randomly selected from the population register of the Bussolengo Health District (northern Italy) and representative of the total population of the district. Subjects (n = 1462) were randomly selected from the population register and examined by their general practitioners. Complete data for 1348 individuals were available for final statistical analysis.

Prognostic significance of estrogen receptors in 405 primary breast cancers: a comparison of immunohistochemical and biochemical methods.

Over the last few years, estrogen receptor determination by means of immunohistochemistry has been extensively used. The aim of this study was to compare this technique with estrogen receptor determination by means of dextran-coated charcoal, and to evaluate whether one of the two methods is more predictive of prognosis. Estrogen receptors were determined by means of both the dextran-coated charcoal method and immunohistochemistry in 405 patients with primary breast cancer; age, pathological tumor size, nodal status, and progesteron receptors by dextran-coated charcoal method were also recorded.