Activation and inhibition of the erythropoietin receptor by a membrane-anchored erythropoietin.

Objective: To investigate whether expression of a membrane-anchored form of erythropoietin (MbEpo) results in self-controlled, autocrine proliferation, and differentiation of erythroid cells. This would provide a possible approach to the selective expansion of genetically corrected erythroid cells in gene-therapy protocols.

Materials And Methods: We designed retroviral vectors encoding MbEpo or secreted erythropoietin (Epo) and enhanced green fluorescent protein.

[How is prostate cancer screening perceived by men 50 to 70 years of age? Analysis based on 1,774 screened individuals].

Introduction: The rationale for mass screening for prostate cancer remains controversial. Apart from the scientific debate, we wanted to evaluate the opinion of prostate cancer screening candidates concerning the practical modalities of this screening and assess the impact of various personal, medical or social factors on their replies.

Material And Method: Following a screening campaign in a French district, 1,774 men, 50 to 70 years of age, who completed screening were interviewed by questionnaire concerning the duration, frequency, mode of blood sampling and the cost of screening.

[Impact of obesity on PSA in prostate cancer screening].

Objective: Obesity is associated with changes of serum levels of androgens and oestrogens which could modulate prostate metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible correlation between the PSA level and the degree of obesity in a candidate population for prostate cancer screening in order to determine whether the PSA level needs to be adapted before performing biopsy.

Material: During a screening campaign in a French district, serum PSA results and body mass index (BMI) were available for 541 men.

Relevance of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nanotest compared to the classical PSA test in the organized mass screening of prostate cancer.

Objective: To assess the reliability of a new measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using a blotting-paper assay (nanotest) compared to the standard PSA immunoassay.

Subjects And Methods: The PSA level was measured in 205 men volunteers (median age 70 years, range 41-75) using a nanotest and a standard PSA immunoassay, collected at the same time; 30 microL of capillary blood placed on to a blotting paper were collected for the nanotest and sent by mail to the same laboratory for the two assays. The results were compared statistically using the Spearman test, the intraclass correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman test.

High prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency without gene mutation suggests a novel genetic mechanism predisposing to ketosis-prone diabetes.

Context: Ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) is mostly observed in males of West African descent and is characterized by phasic or permanent insulin dependence without apparent autoimmune process.

Objective: KPD subjects display a propensity to hyperglycemia-induced acute insulin deficiency, suggesting that they exhibit a propensity to oxidative stress in beta-cells. The enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a defense mechanism against oxidative stress, and G6PD deficiency, an X-linked genetic disorder with male predominance, is frequent in West Africans.

Plasma 11beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione: comparison of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay using a biotinylated tracer with a radioimmunoassay using a tritiated tracer.

The plasma concentration of 11beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (11beta) is very high in 21-hydroxylase deficiency, Cushing's syndrome, and hyperandrogenism of adrenal origin, and very low in congenital 11-hydroxylase deficiency and adrenal insufficiency. Thus, when plasma 4-androstenedione is elevated, it is useful to measure the plasma 11beta level in order to determine the adrenal or ovarian origin of the hyperandrogenism. To eliminate disadvantages related to the 11beta radioimmunoassay (RIA), which uses a tritiated tracer, as well as the high cost associated with scintillation proximity assay (SPA), we developed a non-isotopic 11beta assay that utilizes an 11beta-biotin conjugate synthesized in our laboratory to measure time-resolved fluorescence after addition of streptavidin-europium to microtitration wells.

Enhanced expression of vimentin in motile prostate cell lines and in poorly differentiated and metastatic prostate carcinoma.

Background: The metastatic potential of a series of prostate cell lines was analysed by measuring motility and invasiveness, and further correlated to the expression of epithelial differentiation markers.

Methods: Invasion and motility were measured using in vitro assays. Immunohistochemistry of cell lines and tissues was used to identify expression of cytokeratins 8 and 1, 5, 10, 14, vimentin, prostate specific antigen, prostate specific membrane antigen, androgen receptor, desmoglein, E-cadherin, beta1 integrin, CD44, hmet, vinculin and actin.

Specific radioimmunoassay of estrone sulfate. Application to measurement in male plasma.

We described a new, specific and easy to use radioimmunoassay (RIA) of estrone sulfate (E1S) in males. After synthesis of an E1S-6-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime hapten then coupling to BSA, we obtained a specific anti-E1S antiserum. Although the cross-reactivity of DHEAS with our anti-E1S antiserum was low (CR=0.