Isoprostane levels in the urine of patients with prostate cancer receiving radiotherapy are not elevated

PURPOSE: Previous studies have demonstrated that urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F (PGF)2alpha serves as a powerful biomarker of lipid peroxidation in diseases in which oxidative stress plays an important role in its pathophysiology. The goal of this study was to measure the urinary isoprostane levels in patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT) in an effort to determine whether isoprostane levels are elevated compared with in historical controls, whether the levels increase after RT, and whether such an increase would correlate positively with the degree of GU symptoms during treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Urine samples were obtained before and during RT from patients enrolled on a recently reported Phase III trial examining the therapeutic efficacy of ibuprofen in decreasing the acute urinary symptoms of RT. Radioimmunoassays were performed on urine samples for 8-iso-PGF2alpha or 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha. RESULTS: Fifteen patients provided samples both before and during RT. The levels of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha in the urine samples obtained before prostate RT (0.27 and 0.41 nmol/mmol creatinine) did not differ appreciably from the values observed in a normal cohort (0.27 and 0.46 nmol/mmol creatinine) and did not change after RT (0.23 and 0.37 nmol/mmol creatinine). CONCLUSION: We were unable to detect an increase in either 8-iso-PGF2alpha or 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha in the urine of patients with prostate cancer compared with in historical normal controls. We were also unable to measure an increase in either of the eicosanoids during RT to the prostate gland.     

The effect of DB-67, a lipophilic camptothecin derivative,on topoisomerase I levels in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Purpose To determine the in vitro drug sensitivity of two non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines after treatment with the novel lipophilic camptothecin derivative, 7-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (DB-67), to determine if topoisomerase I protein levels decrease after treatment with DB-67, and to assess the duration and extent of topoisomerase I modulation after DB-67 exposure, in order to provide information about drug resistance that may be useful in determining an appropriate dosing schedule for DB-67.Methods The growth inhibition of the non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines A549 and H460 after exposure to DB-67 was evaluated with the MTS assay. A549 and H460 cells were treated for various times with DB-67 and topoisomerase I levels were determined by western blot analysis. In addition, A549 and H460 cells were treated with DB-67 for 24 h and topoisomerase I levels were determined by western blot analysis daily for 1 week after drug removal.Results DB-67 inhibited the growth of both A549 and H460 cells grown in culture; the A549 cells were more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of DB-67 than H460 cells. Notably, A549 cells had approximately one-half the baseline topoisomerase I than H460 cells. Topoisomerase I protein levels significantly decreased after 8–18 h of exposure to DB-67. Both A549 and H460 cells treated with DB-67 for 24 h had only negligible amounts of topoisomerase I at the end of treatment. However, within 24 h of drug removal topoisomerase I levels returned to near baseline levels in both cell lines.Conclusions The decrease in topoisomerase I levels caused by DB-67 may represent a mechanism of resistance to this novel camptothecin derivative. Dosing DB-67 once every 48–72 h may maximize the interaction of the drug with topoisomerase I and should be considered as a potential dosing schedule in the preclinical and clinical development of this compound.     

5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine upregulates caspase-9 expression cooperating with p53-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells

Treating lung cancer cell lines using low-dose 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) caused an accumulation of procaspase-9 through mRNA upregulation, but the cells did not undergo apoptosis. However, when cells were treated with DAC and infected with a low dose of a recombinant wild-type p53 adenovirus vector (Ad-p53), a synergistic growth inhibitory effect was observed. Combination treatment induced Apaf-1 and procaspase-9 expression in which cytochrome c releases by Ad-p53 triggered the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Selective blockage of caspase-9 activities by Z-LEHD-FMK completely attenuated DAC-induced enhancement of apoptosis mediated by Ad-p53 infection, and ectopic overexpression of procaspase-9 sensitized cells to Ad-p53-induced apoptosis in p53-null cells. In addition, DAC sensitized lung cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel. Induction of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis using a slightly toxic dose of DAC may therefore be a strategy for treating lung cancer, and DAC treatment may have clinical implications when combined with chemotherapy or apoptosis-inducing gene therapy.     

The metabolic syndrome and risk of major coronary events in the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S) and the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS)

The metabolic syndrome, which is a set of lipid and nonlipid risk factors of metabolic origin linked with insulin resistance, is believed to be associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, but few have studied this association in prospective long-term cardiovascular outcomes trials. Placebo data from the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S) and the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS) were used post hoc to estimate the long-term relative risk of major coronary events (MCEs) associated with the metabolic syndrome, after excluding diabetes mellitus. In 4S and AFCAPS/TexCAPS, respectively, placebo-treated patients with the metabolic syndrome were 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 1.8) and 1.4 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.9) times more likely to have MCEs than those without it. Of the components of the metabolic syndrome, low high-density lipoprotein levels were associated with elevated risk of MCEs in both studies, whereas high triglycerides in 4S and elevated blood pressure and obesity in AFCAPS/TexCAPS were associated with significantly increased relative risk. Patients with the metabolic syndrome showed increased risk of MCEs irrespective of their Framingham-calculated 10-year risk score category (>20% vs 相似文献   

Botulinum toxins in neurological disease

Botulinum toxins are among the most potent neurotoxins known to humans. In the past 25 years, botulinum toxin has emerged as both a potential weapon of bioterrorism and as a powerful therapeutic agent, with growing applications in neurological and non-neurological disease. Botulinum toxin is unique in its ability to target peripheral cholinergic neurons, preventing the release of acetylcholine through the enzymatic cleavage of proteins involved in membrane fusion, without prominent central nervous system effects. There are seven serotypes of the toxin, each with a specific activity at the molecular level. Currently, serotypes A (in two preparations) and B are available for clinical use, and have been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of dystonia, spasticity, and other disorders in which muscle overactivity gives rise to symptoms. This review focuses on the pharmacology, electrophysiology, immunology, and application of botulinum toxin in selected neurological disorders.     

Patient predictors of response to treatment of depression in Alzheimer's disease: the DIADS study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient predictors of response to treatment of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Forty-four outpatients with AD and MDE were randomized to receive either sertraline or placebo in a 12-week placebo-controlled, flexible-dose clinical trial after a one week single-blind placebo phase. All participants were evaluated for depression at entry using the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). All subjects completed baseline neuropsychological testing. Caregiver burden and depression were also measured. The forty-two subjects who completed at least one post-enrollment follow-up visit were included in the analysis. RESULTS: No baseline demographic, mood, neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, or caregiver variable was a statistically significant predictor of response to treatment. There were trends for African-American patients (p=0.07) and those with milder baseline agitation/aggression (p=0.08) to respond better. CONCLUSION: No baseline characteristic assessed clearly predicts response to treatment of MDE in AD. A diverse population of depressed AD patients may thus respond similarly to the same treatment.