Intermittent androgen deprivation after PSA-complete response as a strategy to reduce induction of hormone-resistant prostate cancer.

Objectives: The increasing interest in exploring the use of intermittent androgen deprivation in prostate cancer has prompted a retrospective review of patients who elected to stop treatment.

Methods: Case records were reviewed.

Results: Twenty patients after 3 to 48 months (median 12) of endocrine therapy elected to stop therapy.

Ascorbate promotes low density lipoprotein oxidation in the presence of ferritin.

Whilst catalytic iron has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis by initiating low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, the source of such iron remains uncertain. Here, we show that LDL oxidation in the presence of ferritin was stimulated by ascorbate (15-60 microM), whilst this effect was inhibited by the iron chelator desferrioxamine. Ascorbate also showed an antioxidant activity at high concentrations (125-250 microM).

The electrically stimulated gracilis neosphincter incorporated as part of total anorectal reconstruction after abdominoperineal excision of the rectum.

Objective: The authors investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of combining electrically stimulated gracilis neoanal (ESGN) sphincter and a coloperineal anastomosis in selected patients after abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (APER).

Summary Background Data: The ESGN is effective in the treatment of idiopathic fecal incontinence.

Methods: Between March 1989 and September 1993, 12 patients (9 men, 3 women) with a median age of 59.

Oct-1 interacts with conserved motifs in the human thyroid transcription factor 1 gene minimal promoter.

The homeodomain containing thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is a lung- and thyroid-enriched protein implicated in the regulation of a number of pulmonary specific genes. Within the lung TTF-1 is expressed within the epithelial cells. Although the molecular mechanisms that govern this tight cell-type-specific distribution are unclear, transient transfection studies have suggested that tissue specificity is conferred in part by regions of the proximal promoter.

Adriamycin stimulates proliferation of human lymphoblastic leukaemic cells via a mechanism of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production.

It is becoming clear that adriamycin cytotoxicity may be mediated by semiquinone-free radicals derived from the drug itself and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent evidence supports the concept that low concentrations of ROS are able to stimulate cell proliferation, and, based on the observation that subtoxic concentrations of adriamycin can also induce cell proliferation, we hypothesize that low concentrations of adriamycin stimulate cell proliferation by a ROS generation mechanism. We have employed spin-trapping and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to investigate the nature of the adriamycin-generated ROS.

Obesity genes.

This review highlights the considerable advances in the understanding of the inheritance of fatness and the possible genetic mechanisms. The investigation of animal models confirms the fundamental importance of genes in determining fatness and demonstrates a genetic link between adipocyte function, derangements of steroid metabolism, insulin secretion and hypothalamic regulation. The heterogeneous nature of human obesity makes it unwise to extrapolate directly from the findings in animals but these findings do provide important clues to the situation in man.

Validation of a particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay for serum beta 2-microglobulin on the Dade aca.

We describe the development and validation of a fully automated homogeneous immunoassay for serum beta 2-microglobulin on the Dade aca clinical analyzer. The assay employs latex enhanced immunoturbidimetry, with an affinity purified polyclonal antibody covalently coupled to a 40 nm latex particle. The assay working range is < 0.

Effect of different storage temperatures, sample collection procedures and immunoassay methods on osteocalcin measurement.

The apparent instability of measured osteocalcin has been reported as method-dependent and related to preanalytical variables such as storage temperature, and the use of anticoagulants and protease inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine a sample collection procedure which minimised osteocalcin degradation. Blood samples from five normal individuals were collected with or without anticoagulants and protease inhibitors (heparin, EDTA, or heparin and aprotinin) and stored at 4 degrees C, -20 degrees C or -70 degrees C for up to 7 days, 28 days and 90 days respectively.

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: a report of ten cases.

A particularly aggressive form of oral leukoplakia that commences with a hyperkeratosis, spreads to become multifocal and verruciform in appearance, and later becomes malignant has been termed proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Ten patients with persistent multifocal verruciform white patches were investigated. Lesions were often bilateral and affected predominantly mandibular alveolar and buccal mucosa.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor enhances neurite outgrowth and stimulates expression of GAP-43 and T alpha 1 alpha-tubulin in cultured neurones from adult rat dorsal root ganglia.

The affects of acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) on neurite outgrowth were investigated and related to the levels of mRNA encoding the growth associated protein genes GAP-43 and the neuron specific alpha-tubulin, T alpha 1, in primary cultures of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurones from adult rats. In response to FGF-1, sensory neurones produced a high level of neurite outgrowth which was highest (2.70 +/- 0.

Testis conservation studies in germ cell cancer justified by improved primary chemotherapy response and reduced delay, 1978-1994.

Objective: To investigate the need for the continued encouragement of early diagnosis of germ cell cancer of the testis, in view of the prevailing cure rate of 95%.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised a retrospective review of 453 unselected and previously untreated patients referred to one centre between 1978 and 1984, comparing the delay from first symptoms with the histological diagnosis.

Results: With a delay of < 30 days, 20% of patients had overt metastases at presentation and if the delay was > 4 months.