Comparison of scanning Kelvin probe with SEM/EPMA techniques for fingermark recovery from metallic surfaces.

Most traditional techniques to recover latent fingermarks from metallic surfaces do not consider the metal surface properties and instead focus on the fingermark chemistry. The scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) technique is a non-contact, non-destructive method, used under ambient conditions, which can be utilised to recover latent prints from metallic surfaces and does not require any enhancement techniques or prevent subsequent forensic analysis. Where a fingermark ridge contacted the metal, the contact potential difference (CPD) contrast between the background surface and the fingermark contact area was 10-50mV.

Long term follow up of men with Alfuzosin who voided successfully following acute urinary retention*.

Introduction: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is one of the commonest causes of admission in urology ward and successful voiding with alpha-blockers has been reported. However, long-term efficacy of Alfuzosin, following an episode of AUR is lacking. This is a continuation of our earlier reported study.

NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase-1 C609T polymorphism analysis in human superficial bladder cancers: relationship of genotype status to NQO1 phenotype and clinical response to Mitomycin C.

NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) has been implicated in the bioreductive activation of the clinically active anticancer drug Mitomycin C (MMC) and a polymorphic variant of NQO1 which lacks functional enzyme activity (NQO1*2) has been linked with poor survival in patients treated with MMC. The relationship between NQO1 activity and cellular response to MMC is however controversial and the aim of this study was to determine whether the response of bladder cancer patients to MMC can be forecast on the basis of NQO1*2 genotype status. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 148 patients with low to intermediate grade (G1/G2) superficial (Ta/T1) bladder cancers and NQO1*2 genotype status determined by PCR-RFLP.

Detection of (NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase-1, EC 1.6.99.2) 609C-->T and 465C-->T polymorphisms in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tumour tissue using PCR-RFLP.

NQO1 is a cytosolic flavoprotein that plays a dual role in the detoxification of potentially carcinogenic compounds and the bioreductive activation of quinone based anticancer drugs. Two polymorphic variants of NQO1 exist (NQO1*2 and NQO1*3) which cause significant phenotypic reductions in NQO1 protein content and activity. Current methods for detecting NQO1 polymorphisms commonly use PCR-RFLP techniques and have exclusively used DNA isolated from fresh tissues.

Immunohistochemical analysis of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase in human superficial bladder tumours: relationship between tumour enzymology and clinical outcome following intravesical mitomycin C therapy.

A central theme within the concept of enzyme-directed bioreductive drug development is the potential to predict tumour response based on the profiling of enzymes involved in the bioreductive activation process. Mitomycin C (MMC) is the prototypical bioreductive drug that is reduced to active intermediates by several reductases including NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (P450R). The purpose of our study was to determine whether NQO1 and P450R protein expression in a panel of low-grade, human superficial bladder tumours correlates with clinical response to MMC.

Randomised, placebo controlled, double blind study of alfuzosin SR in patients undergoing trial without catheter following acute urinary retention.

Introduction: Acute urinary retention caused by bladder outlet obstruction resulting from prostatic enlargement is one of the commonest causes for acute admission to urology wards. More recently, there has been a trend to commence treatment with alpha-blockers after catheterisation followed by a trial without catheter (TWOC), in the hope that surgery may be avoided in a significant proportion of patients. There is no conclusive evidence of the efficacy of this treatment.

A novel strategy for NQO1 (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2) mediated therapy of bladder cancer based on the pharmacological properties of EO9.

The indolequinone EO9 demonstrated good preclinical activity but failed to show clinical efficacy against a range of tumours following intravenous drug administration. A significant factor in EO9's failure in the clinic has been attributed to its rapid pharmacokinetic elimination resulting in poor drug delivery to tumours. Intravesical administration of EO9 would circumvent the problem of drug delivery to tumours and the principal objective of this study is to determine whether or not bladder tumours have elevated levels of the enzyme NQO1 (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase) which plays a key role in activating EO9 under aerobic conditions.

Risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxiety in dogs.

Objectives: To determine potential risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxiety and develop a practical index to help in the diagnosis of separation anxiety in dogs.

Design: Case-control study.

Animals: 200 dogs with separation anxiety and 200 control dogs with other behavior problems.

Telomerase activity in malignant and benign bladder conditions.

This study investigated whether the enzyme telomerase is active in bladder tumours, whether there is any correlation between activity and grade, and whether the enzyme is expressed in non-malignant conditions. Fifty-two patients undergoing cystoscopy or TURBT at a district general hospital were included, 25 with current bladder tumours, 13 with previous but no current tumours, and 14 with non-malignant pathology. Specimens were analysed by the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP assay), a highly-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay, and a commercially-available ELISA kit.

Role of P-glycoprotein in chemoresistant superficial bladder tumours.

Objective: The drug resistance at cellular level is mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-G), which is variably expressed in bladder tumours. The effect of intravesical chemotherapy on P-G status was studied in chemoresistant and recurrent superficial tumours which progressed to metastasis or needed further treatment.

Methods: Archival histological materials of 14 patients who received intravesical epirubicin for recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were studied for the presence of P-G using monoclonal antibody JSB-1.

Ultrasound in urological emergency: results of self audit and implications for training.

The efficacy of ultrasound examination by the trainee urologists in the management of urological emergencies admitted in a district general hospital was studied. Fifty patients (100 kidney units) had renal ultrasound performed by urological trainees on acute admission. The results were compared with subsequent definitive radiological investigations.

Radiographer-performed abdominal and pelvic ultrasound: its value in a urology out-patient clinic.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of radiographer-performed ultrasound examination as a routine investigative procedure in a urological out-patient clinic.

Patients And Methods: A total of 151 patients attending a District General Hospital Urological Out-patient Department underwent an ultrasound examination in the clinic.

Results: Diagnosis by ultrasound was achieved in 93% of patients.

Echocardiographic evidence for myocardial failure induced by taurine deficiency in domestic cats.

Dietary taurine-deficiency is a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in cats. While the incidence of clinical cases of feline DCM has markedly decreased since the association between DCM and taurine-deficiency was first recognized, not all cats maintained on taurine-deficient diets develop DCM. The objective was to temporally evaluate left ventricular (LV) function using M-mode echocardiography in 23 cats maintained on a taurine-deficient diet; 20 time-matched, taurine-supplemented cats served as controls.

Growth characteristics of early passage cell lines compared with established TCC bladder lines.

The growth patterns of established cell lines from bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) were compared with early passage cell lines. The growth of established cell line 5637 was uninhibited in both serum free (basal) and serum containing media. The early passage line (DR) grew only in serum containing medium.

Rigid versus flexible cystoscopy. A controlled trial of patient tolerance.

The cost-efficiency and time-saving associated with out-patient flexible cystoscopy have propagated its use nationwide. However, only minimal attention has been paid to the feelings of patients exposed to this physically and emotionally invasive technique. We studied 53 consecutive patients attending for check cystoscopy at the time of their first flexible cystoscopy.

The effect of lindane formulations on tissue residues in barrows and on stillbirths in sows.

The potential effect of lindane and its formulations on stillbirths and abortion in pregnant sows was investigated. One of four formulations of lindane were applied at five times the registered dosage to each of ten sows within two weeks of farrowing. Each animal received 5 g of lindane.

Appendicitis presenting with painless hematuria.

Microscopic hematuria is a well recognized, incidental finding in many patients presenting with acute appendicitis. We report a case of gross, painless hematuria as the late and only presenting feature of appendicitis.