Longitudinal follow-up and performance validation of an mRNA-based urine test (Xpert Bladder Cancer Monitor ) for surveillance in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Xpert Bladder Cancer Monitor (Xpert; Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) test as a predictor of tumour recurrence in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Patients And Methods: Patients (n = 429) undergoing surveillance for NMIBC underwent Xpert, cytology, and UroVysion testing. Patients with a positive Xpert and a negative cystoscopy result (positive-negative [PN] group, n = 66) and a control group of double negative patients (negative Xpert and cystoscopy results [NN] group) were followed for 12 months (±90 days).

Clinical outcomes of androgen deprivation as the sole therapy for localized and locally advanced prostate cancer.

Objective: To characterize the clinical outcomes of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as the sole therapy for localized prostate cancer, and to determine independent predictors of disease progression, as recent studies indicate an increasing use of ADT.

Patients And Methods: The records of all patients with cT1-4NXM0 adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with ADT as the primary initial therapy at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 1993 and 2000 were reviewed. Age, race, Charlson Health Index, family history, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA density, digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, Gleason score, and percentage of positive biopsy cores at diagnosis were recorded for 81 patients.

Pneumocystis: not just pneumonia.

Once known exclusively as the agents of severe pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals, Pneumocystis spp. are now being associated with asymptomatic carriage in hosts that do not have profound immune debilitation. In the absence of a cultivation system, polymerase chain reaction and histological studies have identified Pneumocystis in neonatal populations, in pregnant women and in other patients that have chronic underlying disease processes.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in subtypes of major depression and normal volunteers.

We have shown a reduction in beta adrenoceptor-linked, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase [protein kinase A (PKA)] activity in fibroblasts of patients with major depression with melancholic features relative to normal volunteers. We evaluated a group of 35 patients with major depression subtyped by DSM-IV criteria as melancholic, atypical, and those not meeting either subtype designation ('non-subtyped') and 21 normal volunteers to ascertain whether or not the PKA activity abnormality was specific to melancholia. The melancholics showed marked reduction in cyclic AMP-stimulated PKA activity relative to normal volunteers.

Macrocyclic Cyclopropenes by Highly Enantioselective Intramolecular Addition of Metal Carbenes to Alkynes.

The intramolecular addition of a diazo ester group to a triple bond in the presence of chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidate catalysts gives macrocyclic lactones with a fused cycloproprene ring [Eq. (a)]. This efficient reaction is characterized by high enantiocontrol (up to 98% ee) and chemoselectivity.