Complexed prostate specific antigen: better test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer for the clinically relevant 2.5-4 ng/ml total PSA range.

Background: Data on utilizing complexed prostate specific antigen (cPSA) offering increased diagnostic performance over other available clinical parameters in diagnosis of prostate cancer is still controversial. Our objective was to determine diagnostic performance of cPSA compared to total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and corresponding ratios for possible routine application.

Methods: In a prospective study including overall 315 consecutive men, 177 patients with suspicious digital rectal examination, and/or tPSA value > 2.

Changes in electrical and physiological properties of human blood during storage.

In this study, the relationship between physiological parameters and electrical impedance changes of human blood and their further clinical implications are investigated. The study is performed on 255 erythrocyte suspension samples derived from 51 male donors. The samples are stored at 4°C and measurements are done on the 0, 10, 21, 35and 42days of storage.

Analytical and clinical evaluation of a new urinary tumor marker: bladder tumor fibronectin in diagnosis and follow-up of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignant neoplasm in men and the tenth most common in women. Cystoscopy presents the gold standard for detection and monitoring of bladder cancer. However, it is an invasive and expensive procedure.

Acute Effects of 17ß-Estradiol and ATP on Endothelial Cells; Effects of Genistein and PMA on Calcium Response.

Various studies have shown that 17ß-estradiol (E2), has acute effects on cardiovascular system in addition to its genomic effect. Acute administration of E2 had been shown to increase intracellular free calcium concentration (Ca+2)i in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The present study investigates the signalling pathway responsible for Ca+2 response to E2.

Effects of aminoguanidine on lipid and protein oxidation in diabetic rat kidneys.

Nonenzymatic glycation of tissue and plasma proteins may stimulate the production of oxidant and carbonyl stress in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) on lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) release in diabetic rat kidneys. After induction of diabetes with streptozotocin, female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups.

Protective effect of defibrotide on perfusion induced endothelial damage.

In the present study, in vitro effects of Defibrotide (D) on perfusion-induced changes in the morphology of endothelium were investigated by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscope. Human umbilical cord veins were incubated or perfused with platelet-rich plasma alone (PRP) or platelet-rich plasma with Defibrotide (PRP+D) at 3ml/min or 14ml/min and the changes observed were compared. SEM examination of luminal surfaces demonstrated that perfusion with high flow rates may damage endothelial cells and lead to morphological changes which may be prevented by the presence of Defibrotide in the perfusate.

Long-term effect of 17beta-estradiol and thrombin on tissue factor pathway inhibitor release from HUVEC.

In spite of the increasing evidence that estrogens have protective effects on the vascular system, the evidence that estrogens may contribute to the risk of thrombosis is still being debated. We investigated the effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) release from of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In this study HUVEC were harvested by collegenase treatment and cultured in multiwelled plates with medium 199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and antibiotics.

Effects of single-shot and twin-shot shockwaves on urinary enzyme concentrations.

Background And Objective: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) remains the first-line treatment of urinary calculi. However, a number of studies have shown that adverse effects on the kidneys and the surrounding tissues may be encountered in short- and long-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of single-shot and twin-shot SWL techniques to identify the safest modality in terms of urinary enzyme excretion.

The effect of losartan and captopril on glomerular basement membrane anionic charge in a diabetic rat model.

Objective: Although angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are known to reduce albuminuria by preserving glomerular basement membrane anionic content, the effects of angiotensin II receptor blockage are currently not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of captopril and losartan on glomerular basement membrane anionic charges in a diabetic rat model.

Design: After diabetes induction with streptozotocin, female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: group A, losartan 10 mg/kg by gavage (n = 8); group B, captopril 50 mg/l in drinking water (n = 6); group C, diabetic control rats (n = 8) given only tap water.

The role of free prostate-specific antigen in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Objective: To determine whether the free/total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio can discriminate between patients with prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients And Methods: A prospective study was conducted using free and total PSA assays in patients who underwent transrectal-ultrasound guided biopsies indicated by a total serum PSA level of > 4 ng/mL and/or a positive digital rectal examination. Sixty-nine men (median age 68 years, range 57-86) who presented to our out-patient department with symptoms of prostatism were included in the study.

Defibrotide augments the anticandidial activity of NK cells.

1. The mechanism of action of Defibrotide, a fibrinolytic agent on Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, was investigated through verapamil, TMB-8 cells and pertussis toxin. 2.

17 beta-Estradiol increases intracellular free calcium concentrations of human vascular endothelial cells and modulates its responses to acetylcholine.

In this study, we have investigated the effect of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on intracellular free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using fura-2 fluorescence. E2 at concentrations of 1nM -1 microM was added subsequently to HUVEC cultures which were either deprived of estrogens or preincubated with E2 (100 nM) for 24 hours. In both groups of cultures, E2 stimulated significant increases in [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner.

Involvement of free radicals in the cardioprotective effect of defibrotide.

Ischemia followed by reperfusion has deleterious effects on myocardial tissue and a wide range of drugs have been investigated to modulate these changes. Defibrotide (polydeoxyribonucleotides from bovine lung), a drug with antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activities, has also proven to be cardioprotective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion damage. However, the mechanism of this protective effect has not been clarified yet.

Urinary leucine aminopeptidase is a more sensitive indicator of early renal damage in non-insulin-dependent diabetics than microalbuminuria.

We measured urinary activity of leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.

Apolipoprotein E Genotyping in Turkish Myocardial Infarction Survivors and Healthy Controls.

The apolipoprotein (Apo) E gene is known to be polymorphic. Three common alleles determine six phenotypes which can easily be detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism. We performed apo E genotyping in myocardial infarction survivors and healthy controls for the first time in the Turkish population.

Protective effects of cilazapril against free radical injury in myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion.

Cilazapril is a prodrug which is rapidly hydrolysed to the pharmacologically active cilazaprilat following absorption to the bloodstream. In clinical pharmacological studies, administration of cilazapril resulted in potent, reversible, selective and competitive angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition. In this study, we have examined the protective effect of cilazapril on a myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion model by using different parameters of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation.

Morphological changes in carotid arteries of rabbits induced by defibrotide infusion.

Defibrotide is an antithrombotic and profibrinolytic drug which modulates endothelial function. The drug increases prostacyclin and tissue plasminogen activator while it decreases plasminogen activator inhibitor synthesis by endothelial cells. In this study, in vivo effects of defibrotide on the morphology of endothelial cells and vessel wall of the healthy rabbits were investigated by light and electron microscopy.

Investigation of the fibrinolytic activity of defibrotide fractions.

1. Defibrotide is a drug which is a mixture of DNA fragments of various lengths. To characterize the active component which is responsible for the fibrinolytic effect, we fractionated defibrotide by column chromatography and investigated direct and endothelium dependent fibrinolytic activity of the major fractions by euglobulin lysis time (ELT) measurements.

Short-term bioeffects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

Safety guidelines for shockwave delivery during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) are not yet clear. Renal functions were assessed by using urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; EC.2.

Subcellular localization of radioactively labelled defibrotide in cultured endothelial cells.

Defibrotide is a new antithrombotic and fibrinolytic drug which is obtained by controlled depolymerization of mammalian DNA. In various models of arterial and venous thrombosis, it has been shown that it induces tissue plasminogen activator [tPA] and prostacyclin [PGI2] release from the vessel wall. We have previously shown the presence of specific binding sites with a Kd of 4.

Cumene hydroperoxide-induced chemiluminescence in human erythrocytes: effect of antioxidants and sulfhydryl compounds.

1. The time-course of cumene hydroperoxide-induced changes in lipid peroxidation, protein sulfhydryl groups and chemiluminescence intensity was determined in human erythrocytes. 2.