Ultrasound-guided seminal vesicle biopsies in prostate cancer.

Invasion of prostatic adenocarcinoma into the seminal vesicles (SV) is generally accepted as an index of poor prognosis. The pre-operative identification of SV invasion is an important element in staging since it may alter subsequent treatment decisions. We studied the possibility of diagnosing SV invasion with two biopsies from the junction between the prostate and seminal vesicles.

Clinical implications of free-to-total immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen ratios.

Objective: A study was performed to evaluate the free-to-total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio for discriminating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer in the intermediate PSA range (2.0-10.0 microg/l) in patients referred for prostate evaluation.

Bioavailability of orally administered zinc, using Taurizine.

Zinc aspartate equivalent to 50 mg of elementary zinc, orally administered to seven normal healthy male volunteers in an enteric-coated tablet (Taurizine), gave no significantly increased plasma zinc levels, neither when this drug was taken in a fasting state nor during a lunch. The formulation of this tablet seems to obstruct the absorption of zinc.

Specific alterations of the EF-Tu polypeptide chain considered in the light of its three-dimensional structure.

Specific alterations of the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) polypeptide chain have been identified in a number of mutant species of this elongation factor. In two species, Ala-375, located on domain II, was found by amino acid analysis to be replaced by Thr and Val, respectively. These replacements substantially lower the affinity of EF-Tu.