Mifepristone-induced secretion of transforming growth factor beta1-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.

Successful therapy should induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells irrespective of their androgen response. We have investigated the possibility of utilizing Mifepristone and Tamoxifen as treatment options for prostate cancer cells. Because preliminary results demonstrated induction of apoptosis by these drugs, the mechanism of induction of apoptosis was investigated.

Voltammetric determination of nitrosocimetidine in simulated gastric juice.

Objective: To develop a voltammetric method for the determination of nitrosocimetidine in simulated gastric juice (SGJ).

Method: Measurement of the polarographic wave of the nitroso derivative at the dropping mercury electrode in 0.1 m HCl.

Reduced response of prostate cancer cells to TRAIL is modulated by NFkappaB-mediated inhibition of caspases and Bid activation.

We describe the effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) on the induction of apoptosis in two related prostate cancer cell lines, PC3AR and PC3Neo. TRAIL is a potent drug, which induces apoptosis preferentially in cancer cells. Treatment of prostate cancer cells, reduced survival by approximately 41% in PC3AR, but only approximately 18% PC3Neo were killed.

The structure of emotional expressivity: each emotion counts.

Several models of the dimensionality of emotional expressivity were examined in a multitrait-multimethod study. Targets and peer raters completed measures of the target's emotional expressivity (Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. BEQ; J.

Determination of REEs distribution in monazite and xenotime minerals by ion chromatography and ICP-AES.

Ion chromatographic techniques were investigated for the separation and the quantitative determination of some rare earth elements (REEs) in monazite and xenotime minerals. The influences of selected eluents containing complexing acids including oxalic and alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid (alpha-HIBA) on the retention and hence the separation efficiency of REEs was studied. Different variables affecting the separation of different REEs such as pH, type, and concentration of the mobile phase were investigated.

Norms for experiencing emotions in different cultures: inter- and intranational differences.

Within- and between-nations differences in norms for experiencing emotions were analyzed in a cross-cultural study with 1,846 respondents from 2 individualistic (United States, Australia) and 2 collectivistic (China, Taiwan) countries. A multigroup latent class analysis revealed that there were both universal and culture-specific types of norms for experiencing emotions. Moreover, strong intranational variability in norms for affect could be detected, particularly for collectivistic nations.

LC determination of dinitrosopiperazine in simulated gastric juice.

A simple and specific reversed phase HPLC method for the determination of dinitrosopiperazine in simulated gastric juice using UV detection was reported. The chromatographic resolution of the analyte and the internal standard isosorbide dinitrate was performed without extraction from the gastric juice on a reversed phase ODS column. Isocratic elution was carried out with methanol-0.

[Contribution of 3D CISS MRI for pre- and post-therapeutic monitoring of obstructive hydrocephalus].

This report describes the use of the recent three-dimensional Fourier transform constructing imaging in the steady state (CISS) MR sequence in the management of obstructive hydrocephalus. It is a gradient-echo imaging technique with high resolution which remains sensitive to flow. It enables locating the obstruction and determining the upstream impact.

Voltammetric determination of N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine in simulated gastric juice.

A voltammetric method has been developed for the determination of N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine (DNPZ) in simulated gastric juice. The method is based on measuring the differential pulse polarographic peak produced in pH 3 Britton Robinson buffer. A well defined, diffusion-controlled cathodic wave was obtained at -0.

MRI in multiple sclerosis of the spinal cord: evaluation of fast short-tan inversion-recovery and spin-echo sequences.

We compared the sensitivity of T2-weighted spin-echo (FSE) and fast short-tau inversion-recovery (fSTIR) sequences in detection of multiple sclerosis of the spinal cord in 100 consecutive patients with clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis (MS); 86 patients underwent also brain MRI. In all, 310 focal lesions were detected on fSTIR and 212 on T2-weighted FSE, spinal cord lesions were seen better on fSTIR images, with a higher contrast between the lesion and the normal spinal cord. In 24 patients in whom cord plaques were shown with both sequences, the cranial study was normal or inconclusive.

[Aspects of FLAIR sequences, 3D-CISS and diffusion-weight MR imaging of intracranial epidermoid cysts].

We propose to assess the usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR Imaging (DWI), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and constructive interference in steady state (CISS) sequences in depicting epidermoid cysts (EC). FLAIR, CISS and DWI were obtained in 7 patients among 22. All patients were studied with T1 and T2 sequences.

Polarographic determination of some penicillins through nitrosation.

Direct current and differential pulse polarography DPP were used for the determination of three penicillins, namely, ampicillin, benzylpenicillin and carbenicillin, in pure form and in their dosage forms. The method is based upon treatment of penicillins with nitrous acid followed by polarographic measurement of the produced derivatives polarographically. The nitroso derivatives formed exhibited reduction waves over the whole pH range in Britton-Robinson buffers.

Expression of early growth response genes in human prostate cancer.

Early growth-response (EGR) genes are nuclear transcription factors that are implicated in regulating cell proliferation. Because these genes show divergent expression in various human tumors, we sought to determine their expression in nonmalignant and malignant prostate tissues. Total RNA extracted from prostate tissues was probed with EGR-1, EGR-2, and EGR-alpha cDNA for Northern blots and digoxigenin-labeled cRNA for in situ hybridization.

Properties of the coat protein of a new tobacco mosaic virus coat protein ts-mutant.

Amino acid substitutions in a majority of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) ts-mutants have previously been mapped to the same region of the CP molecule tertiary structure, located at a distance of about 70 A from TMV virion axis. In the present work some properties of a new TMV CP ts-mutant ts21-66 (two substitutions I21=>T and D66=>G, both in the 70-A region) were studied. Thermal inactivation characteristics, sedimentation properties, circular dichroism spectra, and modification by a lysine-specific reagent, trinitrobenzensulfonic acid, of ts21-66 CP were compared with those of wild-type (U1) TMV CP.

Using MR imaging to differentiate peroneal splits from other peroneal disorders.

Objective: Peroneal splits syndrome is the result of repetitive subluxations that lead to longitudinal tears of the peroneus brevis tendon. The purpose of this study was to use MR imaging to differentiate the characteristics of peroneal splits syndrome from other peroneal disorders.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two ankles in 39 patients (age range, 10-70 years old) clinically diagnosed with peroneal tendon disorders were studied with 1.

Assessment of sperm motion characteristics in infertile renal transplant recipients using computerized analysis.

A total of 34 kidney transplant recipients (18 infertile and 16 fertile) and 31 nontransplant persons (15 infertile and 16 fertile) were included in this study. All subjects were assessed clinically and by measurement of basal concentrations of total testosterone, FSH, cyclosporine whole blood trough levels, serum creatinine, haemoglobin and semen analysis using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) as well as scrotal ultrasonography to evaluate testicular dimensions. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease (p < 0.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis fingerprinting for identification of Azospirillum species.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to obtain macrorestriction fingerprints of restriction enzyme-cut DNA of natural isolates of Azospirillum spp. Metabolic profiles, along with other phenotypic characteristics, were compared with these fingerprints to differentiate among the azospirilla isolates. A wide diversity of phenotypes (e.

[Study of the process of thermal aggregation of several representative tobamovirus coat proteins].

The role of the specific region of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) molecule (called "70A degree-region") in the regulation of ordered and unordered CP aggregation was investigated. CPs of the wild type TMV (strain U1), of temperature sensitive mutant with two amino acid substitutions in the "70A degree-region", and of cucumber virus 3 which is related to TMV but has a completely different structure in the "70A degree-region" were used. With the help of two different tests the processes of temperature-induced unordered aggregation of these three CPs were compared in solutions of different ionic strength and pH.

A retrospective study on the relationship between miswak chewing stick and periodontal health.

Chewing sticks have been used for centuries as a tooth cleaning device. One of the most commonly used types is known as the miswak. Despite its wide use, few studies have examined its effects on the gingival health.

Conductometric determination of some pharmaceutically important thiol compounds in dosage forms.

A direct semimicro conductometric method is described for the determination of five pharmaceutically-important thiol compounds, namely: N-acetylcysteine, captopril, D-penicillamine, 6-mercaptopurine and thioguanine, in bulk and in dosage forms. The method involves the use of lead nitrate as a titrant in aqueous medium with conductometric detection of the end point. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the studied compounds and the results obtained were found to agree with those given using the official methods.

A histopathological study of different clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Biopsy specimens for histopathological study were taken from 15 parasitologically proven cases with different clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) including two patients with disseminated CL in the form of subcutaneous nodules and satellite papules. The clinical picture of these patients was also reported. The study revealed that the histopathological manifestations were variable, ranging from a diffuse infiltrate in the acute stage to a tuberculoid architecture in the chronic stage.

2-Iodoxybenzoate as a titrant for the determination of some pharmaceutically-important thiol compounds.

A simple and reliable method was developed for the determination of five pharmaceutical compounds containing thiol group; namely: N-acetylcysteine, D-penicillamine, 6-mercaptopurine, captopril and thioguanine. The method is based on the use of 2-iodoxybenzoate as a titrant in acid medium. The detection of the end point is accomplished potentiometrically, using platinum/calomel electrode combination.

High-performance liquid chromatographic and derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of amoxycillin and dicloxacillin mixtures in capsules.

Two rapid assay procedures based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and derivative ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry have been developed for the simultaneous determination of amoxycillin and dicloxacillin in two-component capsule formulations. The HPLC determination was carried out on a reversed-phase C8 column with use of a mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.02 mol dm-3 ammonium acetate (pH 5) (50 + 50) at a flow rate of 1.

Plasma beta-endorphin level in cases of luteal phase defect.

Objective: To evaluate beta-endorphin secretion in euprolactinemic cases of luteal phase defect (LPD).

Design: Serial blood samples from the 18th to the 26th day of the menstrual cycle were assayed for beta-endorphin, progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL) in cases of LPD and controls. Diagnosis of LPD was based on determinations of serum P and premenstrual endometrial biopsy.

A clinical trial on the effectiveness of professional toothbrushing using dentifrice and water.

The purpose of this trial was to compare the plaque removal effectiveness of professional toothbrushing with dentifrice and with only water. Fifty three subjects were divided into a dentifrice and a water group. Both groups had their teeth professionally brushed for one minute using either dentifrice or water.