Group IIA phospholipase A2 as a prognostic marker in prostate cancer: relevance to clinicopathological variables and disease‐specific mortality

Group IIA Phospholipase A₂ (PLA2‐IIA), a key enzyme in arachidonic acid and eicosanoid metabolism, participates in a variety of inflammatory processes but possibly also plays a role in tumor progression in vivo. Our aim was to determine the mRNA and protein expression of PLA2‐IIA during prostate cancer progression in localized and metastatic prostate tumors. We evaluated the prognostic significance of PLA2‐IIA expression in biochemical recurrence, clinical recurrence and disease‐specific survival after surgical treatment. The expression of PLA2‐IIA was examined by immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization in tissue microarrays of radical prostatectomy specimens and advanced/metastatic carcinomas. The expression data were analyzed in conjunction with clinical follow‐up information and clinicopathological variables. The mRNA and protein expression of PLA2‐IIA was significantly increased in Gleason pattern grade 2–4 carcinomas compared with benign prostate (p‐values 0.042–0.001). In metastases, the expression was significantly lower than in local cancers (p=0.001). The PLA2‐IIA expression correlated positively with Ki‐67 and α‐methylacyl CoA racemase (AMACR) expression. The prognostic evaluation revealed decreased PLA2‐IIA protein expression among patients who had died of prostate cancer. In conclusion, PLA2‐IIA expression is increased in carcinoma when compared with benign prostate. However, metastatic carcinoma showed decreased expression of PLA2‐IIA when compared with primary carcinomas. PLA2‐IIA may serve as a marker for highly proliferating, possibly poorly differentiated prostate carcinomas. The protein expression of PLA2‐IIA may be diminished in patients who consequently die of prostate cancer.     

GONADOTROPHIN-RELEASING HORMONE AND HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN TESTS REVEAL THAT BOTH HYPOTHALAMIC AND TESTICULAR ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS ARE SUPPRESSED DURING ACUTE PROLONGED PHYSICAL EXERCISE

The mechanism of suppression of gonadotrophins and testosterone during prolonged exercise was studied. Fourteen healthy males were injected immediately before an exhaustive bicycle run for 4 h, and before a control period without exercise, with one of the following substances: (1) 1 ml of saline, (2) 100 micrograms of a GnRH agonist (buserelin), and (3) 50 IU/kg of hCG. Each test was repeated for each subject 2 weeks apart, in a randomized single-blind fashion. Blood samples were taken before the injections (sample A), 6 h after the injections (sample B), and the following morning (sample C). During placebo treatment testosterone concentration decreased from A samples to B samples more in the exercise trial than in rest trial (31 vs 8%, P = 0.02). This exercise-associated decrease was reversed by both the GnRH agonist and hCG treatments. Serum gonadotrophin concentrations responded identically to GnRH agonist injections during exercise and rest trials. hCG resulted in a greater increase of serum testosterone from A to C samples at rest than during the exercise trial (52 vs 33%, P = 0.04). In conclusion, the exercise-induced suppression of serum testosterone is associated with two effects: suppressed endogenous GnRH stimulation of gonadotrophin release during exercise, and decreased testicular capacity to secrete testosterone during recovery period.     

Localization of lysozyme mRNA in the labial salivary glands by in situ hybridization in Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract – In this study, lysozyme mRNA in labial salivary glands has been localized with in situ hybridization technique using 35S-labeled hen lysozyme cDNA (cDNALZM) as a hybridization probe in normals and in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. 35S-DNALZM:mRNA hybrids were detected only in acinar serous cells, although lysozyme was identified in ductal cells using immunohistochemical techniques. Our results suggest that the serous acinar cells are the only site of lysozyme synthesis in small salivary glands. The presence of lysozyme in ductal cells may be a result of reabsorption from the saliva or concentration from the blood or surrounding tissues.     

Auscultatory and echophonocardiographic characteristics of the normally functioning Medtronic-Hall aortic valve prosthesis

We recorded auscultatory and echophonocardiographic findingsin 30 patients who had a normally functioningMedtronic-Hall(M-H) tilting disc valve prosthesis in the aortic position.The opening and closing sounds were invariably audible. Echophonocardiographyshowed that a typical opening sound consisted of 2 or 3 sharpclicks which were related to the onset and termination of thedisc opening excursion. The closing sound comprised at least2 separate clicks which coincided with the onset and completionof the valve closure. An early systolic ejection type murmurwas heard in 25 patients and a faint early diastolic murmurin 2. The disc motion could be recorded echocardiographicallyin 27 patients. The opening amplitude of the disc varied from3 to 11 mm. The intervals from the Q wave and the first heartsound to the onset of valve opening measured 116±20 ms(mean± standard deviation) and 54 ±14 ms, respectively.The opening and closing velocities of the disc were also easilymeasurable but showed a wide patient-to-patient variation. In5 patients, the examination was repeated after 8 to 12 months.The reproducibility was excellent for the auscultatory findingsand fair for the echophonocardiographic time intervals and discopening amplitude, but poor for the disc velocities. Familiaritywith these normal findings should help clinicians to determinewhether an aortic M-H valve functions normally or not.     

Finnish Healthy Village Study: impact and outcomes of a low-cost local health promotion programme

In the Finnish Healthy Village Study, the basic health profilesof working-aged people (20–64 years) were characterizedin four rural villages in 1986. After that, a 3-year healthpromotion programme (intervention) was carried out in two ofthese villages and in two additional villages, in collaborationwith the local village governing boards, local primary healthcare centres, and adult education institutions. The additionaltwo villages served as controls. Based on the outcome evaluation,the mean value of serum cholesterol decreased in the interventionvillages from 6.89 to 6.23 mmol/l (10%) and in control villagesfrom 6.41 to 6.02 mmol/l (6%). The mean proportion of HDL-cholesterolof the total increased 28% in the intervention villages and21% in the control villages. The biggest improvement took placein mean plasma vitamin C concentrations. In the interventionvillages, the mean value increased 53%, from 42.1 to 64.6 µmol/land in the control villages 29%, from 43.5 to 56.3 µmol/l.A decrease in mean systolic blood pressure from 142 to 137 mmHgtook place in the intervention villages and from 141 to 134mmHg in the control villages. No decrease was achieved in meandiastolic blood pressures and body mass indices. The programmewas cost-effective as far as nutritional risk factors were concerned.Changing physical exercise patterns of people in rural villagesproved to be more difficult than changing dietary habits.     

Suppression by Human Placental Protein 14 of Natural Killer Cell Activity

ABSTRACT: Human decidua of early pregnancy contains considerable numbers of CD3^? CD56⁺ natural killer (NK) cells. In this study, two major protein products of the decidua, placental protein 14 (PP14) and placental protein 12 (PP12), were tested for the ability to regulate human NK cell activity. In vitro overnight exposure to PP14 of blood lymphocytes or purified large granular lymphocytes (LGL) resulted in suppression of cytotoxicity against K562 target cells in a 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assay. The NK inhibition was dependent on concentrations of PP14, being detectable at 5 μg/ml and reaching maximum at 50 μg/ml. Manifestation of PP14-induced NK suppression required 18-h contact with NK cells. The suppression of NK activity by PP14 was not abolished by indomethacin. In a target binding assay the number of PP14-treated LGL binding to K562 was comparable to that of untreated ones. By contrast with PP14, PP12 produced no effects on NK cells. These results indicate that PP14 suppresses the function of NK cells, which might be involved in prevention of maternal immune rejection of fetus at the fetomaternal interface.