Clinical progression, acute urinary retention, prostate-related surgeries, and costs in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia taking early versus delayed combination 5α-reductase inhibitor therapy and α-blocker therapy: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Two previous retrospective database analyses compared early combination therapy with an α-blocker (AB) and 5-α reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) to delayed combination therapy and found that patients receiving the delayed combination therapy were more likely to have clinical progression, acute urinary retention (AUR), and surgery. Although these studies indicate the clinical benefits of early treatment, both studies failed to take into account important baseline clinical measures, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values.

Objective: This study was designed to compare clinical and cost differences in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who initiated early versus delayed combination therapy with a 5-ARI + an AB, factoring in baseline PSA values.

Bisphenol A affects androgen receptor function via multiple mechanisms.

Bisphenol A (BPA), is a well-known endocrine disruptor compound (EDC) that affects the normal development and function of the female and male reproductive system, however the mechanisms of action remain unclear. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of how BPA may affect ten different nuclear receptors, stable cell lines containing individual nuclear receptor ligand binding domain (LBD)-linked to the β-Gal reporter were examined by a quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) format in the Tox21 Screening Program of the NIH. The results showed that two receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR), are affected by BPA in opposite direction.

Local cryoanalgesia is effective for tail-tip biopsy in mice.

Tail-tip biopsy for genotyping of genetically modified mice older than 21 d typically is performed by using isoflurane anesthesia. Isoflurane-induced changes in behavior and metabolism can result in unexpected complications and death. We investigated whether cryoanalgesia by using ethylene chloride spray would be an effective local anesthetic for tail-tip biopsies in mice.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans: the utility of the MMPI-2-RF validity scales in detecting overreported symptoms.

The current investigation examined the utility of the overreporting validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) in detecting noncredible reporting of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of disability-seeking veterans. We also examined the effect of mental health knowledge on the utility of these scales by investigating the extent to which these scales differentiate between veterans with PTSD and individuals with mental health training who were asked to feign symptoms of PTSD on the test. Group differences on validity scale scores indicated that these scales were associated with large effect sizes for differentiating veterans who overreported from those with PTSD and for differentiating between mental health professionals and veterans with PTSD.

A prospective study of injury affecting competitive collegiate swimmers.

The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence and distribution of injuries affecting collegiate competitive swimmers and to test possible injury risk factors. A prospective cohort design was used to follow 34 swimmers (16 M, 18 F) from an NCAA Division I Midwest University over one academic year. Exposure-based injury rates were determined for both practice and competition.

Species-specific effects of herbivory on the oviposition behavior of the moth Manduca sexta.

In Southwestern USA, the jimsonweed Datura wrightii and the nocturnal sphinx moth Manduca sexta form a pollinator-plant and herbivore-plant association. While certain plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) attract moths for oviposition, it is likely that other host-derived olfactory cues, such as herbivore-induced VOCs, repel moths for oviposition. Here, we studied the oviposition preference of female M.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 regulates glutathione peroxidase expression and activity in vascular endothelial cells: Implications for atheroprotective actions of insulin-like growth factor-1.

Oxidative stress promotes endothelial cell senescence and endothelial dysfunction, important early steps in atherogenesis. To investigate potential antioxidant effects of IGF-1 we treated human aortic endothelial cells (hAECs) with 0-100ng/mL IGF-1 prior to exposure to native or oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). IGF-1 dose- and time- dependently reduced basal- and oxLDL-induced ROS generation.

Evaluation of recent trends in treatment patterns among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Although there is an abundance of evidence regarding clinical efficacy and safety of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment, real-world evidence is lacking for pharmacotherapy utilization and trends. It is unclear how evidence demonstrating the efficacy of combination 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and alpha blockers for improving symptoms and reducing risk of disease progression translates into real-world practice for the treatment of BPH. A retrospective study of a database was conducted to describe pharmacotherapy utilization/trends in the treatment of BPH among patients in the managed care setting.

Establishing the clinical and economic benefits of adherence to 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in benign prostatic hyperplasia: an assessment of Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the length of 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) therapy on the likelihood of acute urinary retention (AUR) and prostate surgery in patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Additionally, this study attempted to quantify the relationship between length of 5ARI therapy and monthly BPH-related medical costs.

Study Design: This study used MarketScan® claims data from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2008.

A 1536-well quantitative high-throughput screen to identify compounds targeting cancer stem cells.

Tumor cell subpopulations called cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) have self-renewal potential and are thought to drive metastasis and tumor formation. Data suggest that these cells are resistant to current chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments, leading to cancer recurrence. Therefore, finding new drugs and/or drug combinations that cause death of both the differentiated tumor cells as well as CSC populations is a critical unmet medical need.

Patient safety education: an exploration of student-driven contextual learning.

Medical and nursing students organized a contextual interprofessional learning experience involving observation of surgical safety practices according to the parameters of the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist. Students were oriented to patient safety principles, operating room (OR) protocol, and the WHO surgical safety checklist. One hundred thirty students participated in interprofessional OR visitations.

2005 hurricane surveillance: measures to reduce carbon monoxide poisoning in all Floridians.

The 2005 Florida hurricanes caused widespread power outages, increasing generator use that directly resulted in a surge in carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings. Of the 126 CO poisonings documented, 77% were related to generator use and 43% of these generators were placed outside but near a window. African-Americans and Latinos had a higher incidence of CO poisoning.

Evidence for regulated monoacylglycerol acyltransferase expression and activity in human liver.

Intrahepatic lipid accumulation is extremely common in obese subjects and is associated with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. Hepatic diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis predominantly occurs through acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate. However, an alternative pathway for synthesizing diacylglycerol from monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGAT) could also contribute to hepatic glyceride pools.

Suprapubic bladder catheterization of male spinal-cord-injured Sprague-Dawley rats.

The rat spinal-cord-injury (SCI) model is widely used to study the pathologic mechanisms that contribute to sensory and motor dysfunction in humans. This model is thought to mimic many of the negative outcomes experienced by humans after spinal contusion injury. We theorized that manual bladder expression contributed to the kidney and bladder lesions reported in previous studies using the rat SCI model.

An Examination of Palliative or End-of-Life Care Education in Introductory Nursing Programs across Canada.

An investigation was done to assess for and describe the end-of-life education provided in Canadian nursing programs to prepare students for practice. All 35 university nursing schools/faculties were surveyed in 2004; 29 (82.9%) responded.

Adolescent and parent experiences with a primary care/Internet-based depression prevention intervention (CATCH-IT).

This article describes a mixed-methods approach to understand the experience of adolescents involved in the Internet-based intervention for depression, Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive Behavioral Humanistic and Interpersonal Training (CATCH-IT), as well as the experiences of their parents while they were involved. Qualitative analysis was done with grounded theory-based categorization of interview comments and typed program responses (adolescents only) into themes. Quantitative analysis was done with self-report surveys.

Two High Throughput Screen Assays for Measurement of TNF-α in THP-1 Cells.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), a secreted cytokine, plays an important role in inflammatory diseases and immune disorders, and is a potential target for drug development. The traditional assays for detecting TNF-α, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay, are not suitable for the large size compound screens. Both assays suffer from a complicated protocol, multiple plate wash steps and/or excessive radioactive waste.

Selective nanoparticle-directed ablation of the canine prostate.

Background And Objectives: Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer type and the second most common cause of cancer death among US men. This study, adapted a previously reported nanoparticle-directed photothermal treatment of brain tumors to the treatment of prostate disease by using normal canine prostate in vivo, directly injected with a suspension of nanoparticles as a proxy for prostate tumor, and by developing laser dosimetry for prostate which is marginally ablative in native tissue, yet producing photothermal coagulation in prostate tissue containing nanoparticles.

Methods: Canine prostates were exposed by surgical laparotomy and directly injected with suspensions of nanoparticles (nanoshells) and irradiated by a NIR laser source delivered percutaneously by an optical fiber catheter and isotropic diffuser.

The life of form: emergent patterns of morphological transformation.

The inherent logical difficulties of understanding biological form in terms of historical narratives and genetic programmes are considered. It is concluded that neither of these approaches can resolve the problems presented by the evidence of parallel and convergent evolution, and for intrinsic constraints on morphogenesis such as the occurrence of phylotypic stages in the developments of members of different phyla. An alternative approach which could resolve the conflicts of historical and structural analysis is described in terms of the complex dynamics of genetic networks acting within the context of morphogenetic fields, from which emergent biological forms arise.

Student-observed surgical safety practices across an urban regional health authority.

Background And Aim: Recognising the global push for patient safety in healthcare, students in medicine and nursing participated in a project to compare surgical safety practices in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) with the WHO surgical safety checklist.

Methodology: Students volunteered to participate and were oriented to operating room (OR) protocol and the WHO surgical safety checklist. Over a 1-month period, 130 students visited 65 ORs across the WRHA in interprofessional pairs, and documented the surgical safety measures employed.

Diabetes area participation analysis: a review of companies and targets described in the 2008 - 2010 patent literature.

Importance Of The Field: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by the development of insulin resistance, impaired pancreatic β-cell function and, ultimately, hyperglycemia. The disease is highly associated with obesity and it is thought that the inappropriate deposition of lipid in tissues such as liver and muscle contributes to a reduction in insulin sensitivity which, in turn, places a burden on the β-cell to secrete more insulin to achieve normoglycemia. Over an extended period of time, this can result in β-cell failure and diminished glycemic control.

Adolescents with depressive symptoms and their challenges with learning in school.

We examine school performance among 83 adolescents at risk for major depression. Negative mood interfered with subjective measures of school performance, including ability to do well in school, homework completion, concentrate in class, interact with peers, and going to class. No significant relationships were found for mood and objective measures of school performance (school attendance, English, and Math grades).

Tropical storm and hurricane recovery and preparedness strategies.

The goal of this article is to present lessons learned from the devastating effects of two specific natural disasters in Texas: Tropical Storm Allison, which flooded Houston in June 2001, and Hurricane Ike, which caused severe damage in Galveston in September 2008. When a disaster is predictable, good predisaster planning can help to save animals lives. However, as disasters are usually not predictable and tend not to follow a script, that plan needs to be easily adaptable and flexible.

SPATIO-TEMPORAL MODELING OF AGRICULTURAL YIELD DATA WITH AN APPLICATION TO PRICING CROP INSURANCE CONTRACTS.

This article presents a statistical model of agricultural yield data based on a set of hierarchical Bayesian models that allows joint modeling of temporal and spatial autocorrelation. This method captures a comprehensive range of the various uncertainties involved in predicting crop insurance premium rates as opposed to the more traditional ad hoc, two-stage methods that are typically based on independent estimation and prediction. A panel data set of county-average yield data was analyzed for 290 counties in the State of Paraná (Brazil) for the period of 1990 through 2002.