Experimental study on the dynamic mechanical response of a blue light-stimulated acrylate side chain liquid crystal elastomer.

This study demonstrates a breakdown analysis of the dynamics of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) including quality check, geometric measurement, thermal characterization, and comparison of heat- and light-induced contractions. A blue light-responsive acrylate side chain LCE with 1% azobenzene dye was characterized. From a classical viewpoint, photo-thermal contraction is considered a dominating effect, while direct photo-mechanical deformation can be neglected due to a low dye percentage.

Manipulation, Sampling and Inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Using Nonuniform Electric Fields on Micro-Fabricated Platforms: A Review.

Micro-devices that use electric fields to trap, analyze and inactivate micro-organisms vary in concept, design and application. The application of electric fields to manipulate and inactivate bacteria and single-celled organisms has been described extensively in the literature. By contrast, the effect of such fields on viruses is not well understood.

Reduce bladder cancer recurrence in patients treated for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: The REBACARE-trial.

Background: Following radical nephro-ureterectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UUT), the reported bladder recurrence rate of urothelial carcinoma is 22-47%. A single intravesical instillation of chemotherapy within 10 days following nephro-ureterectomy has the potential to decrease the risk of a bladder recurrence significantly. Despite recommendation by the European Association of Urology guideline to administer a single instillation postoperatively, the compliance rate is low because the risk of extravasation of chemotherapy.

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.

Multicenter evaluation of an artificial neural network to increase the prostate cancer detection rate and reduce unnecessary biopsies.

Background: The percentage of free prostate-specific antigen (%fPSA) has been shown to improve specificity for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) over total PSA (tPSA). A multicenter study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of a %fPSA-based artificial neural network (ANN) in men with tPSA concentrations between 2 and 20 microg/L for detecting patients with increased risk of a positive prostate biopsy for cancer.

Methods: We enrolled 1188 men from six different hospitals with PCa or benign prostates between 1996 and 2001.

Pretreatment levels of urinary deoxypyridinoline as a potential marker in patients with prostate cancer with or without bone metastasis.

Objective: To assess the predictive role of the bone markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), as indicators of bone turnover, at baseline in patients with prostate cancer.

Patients, Subjects And Methods: Urinary DPD, serum ALP and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were evaluated in 23 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 115 with prostatic carcinoma, of whom 21 had bone metastasis, and in 16 age-matched control subjects.

Results: Patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and bone metastasis had a higher urinary excretion of DPD, and a higher serum PSA and ALP than had patients with BPH and those with prostate cancer but no metastasis.

Routine bone scans in patients with prostate cancer related to serum prostate-specific antigen and alkaline phosphatase.

Objective: To evaluate the need for a bone scan as a routine staging procedure in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer in relation to serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and thus determine whether a reduction of the use of this staging method is possible in patients with a low probability of osseous metastasis.

Patients And Methods: The results of bone scans were related retrospectively to levels of serum PSA and ALP in 363 patients with prostate cancer newly diagnosed between 1989 and 1997.

Results: Of 363 consecutive patients, 111 had a positive bone scan.

[Adenocarcinoma of prostate in men younger than 50--rectal palpation mandatory with micturition problems].

In three men, aged 44, 47, and 48 years, prostatic carcinoma was diagnosed after a long delay, more than eight months after the onset of symptoms (obstructive and irritative micturition problems, erectile dysfunction, and haemospermia). The cancer was suspected on eventually performed rectal palpation and confirmed in biopsies. The serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were moderately increased.

Reliability analysis of first and second generation PSA assays.

Purpose: To assess the reliability of first and second generation PSA assays.

Materials And Methods: In the present investigation we sought to compare pretreatment serum PSA levels determined by a first (IMx) and a second (IMMULITE) generation PSA assays to determine whether there were differences. Sera from 545 men were investigated in the range > 0 - 5330 microg/L, and prostatic histology was known, based on either transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), guided systematic needle biopsies, or transurethral resection or prostatectomy.

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.

Telomerase activity in needle biopsies from prostate cancer and benign prostates.

Background: Telomerase activation is thought to be essential for the immortality of cancer cells. It may be a prognostic factor in small volume well differentiated prostate cancers and hence a guide for the aggressiveness of the approach. The length of the chromosome tips (telomeres) are maintained by a specific enzyme (telomerase) independently of the normal cell division cycle.

[Uncommon initial symptoms of metastasized carcinoma of the prostate].

Four patients, men aged 81, 65, 69 and 52 years, presented with painless lymphomas, pain in the lower back and legs, venous thrombosis in an arm, and headache, vomiting and other neurological complaints, respectively. They were found to have carcinoma of the prostate with metastases. After antiandrogen therapy the symptoms resolved; 2 men died after 2 years and 2 are still alive, 2 and 5 years later.

[Prostate-specific antigen as a tumor marker of prostate carcinoma].

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is currently the tumour marker of choice for prostatic carcinoma. Various indices of PSA have been developed in an attempt to refine its sensitivity and improve its clinical value. These include the ratio of serum PSA level and prostate volume, the rate of change of the PSA level with time, age-referenced PSA, and the proportion of free PSA in serum relative to total PSA (free to total PSA ratio).

Obstruction of the renal pelvis due to an insoluble blood clot after epsilon-aminocaproic acid therapy: resolution with intraureteral streptokinase instillations.

Purpose: We demonstrate the effectiveness of intraureteral streptokinase instillations for the resolution of an insoluble blood clot in the renal pelvis.

Materials And Methods: A patient with renal adenocarcinoma had prolonged hematuria related to involvement of the "pyelum" by the tumor. An insoluble blood clot obstruction of the left renal collecting system developed as a consequence of epsilon aminocaproic acid therapy, which was treated with low dose streptokinase through a ureteral catheter.

Horseshoe kidney and aortic surgery.

A case of a 50-year-old woman with aortoiliac arteriosclerosis and an associated horseshoe kidney is presented. The diagnosis of this unusual combination was made prior to surgery; reconstruction was done by a Dacron bifurcation prosthesis. Ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography and aortography is important for "surgical planning".