Optical design of type-1 x-ray telescopes and their application to STAR-X.

An astronomical x-ray telescope's capability rests on the quality of its optics, which in turn rests on its point spread function (PSF), field of view (FOV), and photon-collecting area. The design and implementation of telescope optics must optimize these three parameters in the context of mathematical prescription, optical fabrication, engineering, and resources such as mass and cost constraints. In this paper, after reviewing important features of grazing incidence optics and the many different mathematical prescriptions in the literature, we quantitatively compare the advantages and disadvantages of these prescriptions, using detailed ray trace, to optimize the PSF and FOV for a given set of requirements.

Chromosomal instability in cell-free DNA is a serum biomarker for prostate cancer.

Background: Genomic instability resulting in copy number variation is a hallmark of malignant transformation and may be identified through massive parallel sequencing. Tumor-specific cell free DNA (cfDNA) present in serum and plasma provides a real-time, easily accessible surrogate.

Methods: DNA was extracted from serum of 204 patients with prostate cancer (Gleason score 2-10), 207 male controls, and patients with benign hyperplasia (n = 10) and prostatitis (n = 10).

Multiple therapeutic and preventive effects of 3,3'-diindolylmethane on cancers including prostate cancer and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Cruciferous vegetables belong to the plant family that has flowers with four equal-sized petals in the pattern of a crucifer cross. These vegetables are an abundant source of dietary phytochemicals, including glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM). By 2013, the total number of natural glucosinolates that have been documented is estimated to be 132.

Utility of incorporating genetic variants for the early detection of prostate cancer.

Purpose: Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been associated with the risk of prostate cancer. The clinical utility of using SNPs in the early detection of prostate cancer has not been evaluated.

Experimental Design: We examined a panel of 25 SNPs from candidate genes and chromosomal regions in 3,004 unselected men who were screened for prostate cancer using serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination.

Mutations of the MYH gene do not substantially contribute to the risk of breast cancer.

Purpose: To explore whether or not there is an association between the presence of either of the germline mutations in the MutY human homologue (MYH) gene (Y165C and G382D) and the risk of breast cancer.

Methods: 691 breast cancer patients and 812 healthy controls were genotyped for the MYH Y165C and G382D mutations. The frequencies of heterozygotes, homozygotes and compound heterozygotes were compared for the two groups.

Polymorphisms in folate metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins and the risk of breast cancer.

Background: An accumulating body of evidence suggests that there is an inverse relationship between the intake of folate (a water-soluble B-vitamin) and the risk of developing breast cancer. Individual variation in the genes involved in the transport of folate, or its metabolism, may affect risk, or may modify the association between folate and breast cancer risk.

Methods: We performed a case-control study to evaluate the association between common polymorphisms in six folate-related genes and the risk of breast cancer in 1,009 breast cancer patients and 907 healthy controls.

Variants of the hK2 protein gene (KLK2) are associated with serum hK2 levels and predict the presence of prostate cancer at biopsy.

Purpose: Increased levels of serum human kallikrein-2 (hK2) and an hK2 gene (KLK2) variant are positively associated for prostate cancer, but the relationships between them remain unclear. We examined five variants of the KLK2 gene to further define its relevance to prostate cancer susceptibility and hK2 levels.

Experimental Design: We genotyped 645 men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer (cases) and 606 males with biopsies negative for prostate cancer (controls) for five additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) across the KLK2 gene and also tested for serum hK2 levels.

The use of genetic markers to determine risk for prostate cancer at prostate biopsy.

Purpose: We examined a panel of 13 polymorphisms in 13 different genes to determine whether specific genotypes can help predict prostate cancer at the time of biopsy among men prescreened with prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal exam.

Experimental Design: We examined 2,088 consecutive men who were referred for prostate biopsy from 1997 to 2003. Thirteen genes were examined, including TNF308, GSTT1, KLK2, endostatin, MCRA, MCRV, tyrosinase, MSR1, CHK2, RNasel, HOGG1-326, HOGG1-11657, and HRAS1.

Comprehensive assessment of candidate genes and serological markers for the detection of prostate cancer.

We examined whether selected polymorphisms in 11 candidate genes and serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) help predict the presence of prostate cancer among patients prescreened with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE). We studied 1031 consecutive men who underwent one or more prostate biopsies because of an elevated PSA level (>4 ng/ml) or an abnormal DRE. Eleven candidate genes were examined, including the androgen receptor, SRD5A2, CYP17, CYP3A4, vitamin D receptor, PSA, GST-T1, GST-M1, GST-P1, IGF-I, and IGF binding protein 3.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of the human kallikrein-2 gene highly correlates with serum human kallikrein-2 levels and in combination enhances prostate cancer detection.

Purpose: We examined the relationship between a mutant (T) for wild-type (C) allele substitution of the human kallikrein-2 gene (KLK2), circulating human kallikrein-2 (hK2) levels and prostate cancer risk.

Patients And Methods: We studied 1,287 consecutive men who underwent prostate biopsies because of an abnormal prostate-specific antigen level. Serum and DNA were obtained before biopsy.