Flow cytometry in carcinoma of the prostate

Flow cytometry is a quantitative cytologic technique with demonstrated utility in the assessment of prostate cancer as well as other tumors. The authors summarize current data on its use in disease detection and diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and monitoring of response to therapy. They also project future developments.     

Effects of tamoxifen and somatostatin analogue on growth of human medullary, follicular, and papillary thyroid carcinoma cell lines: tissue culture and nude mouse xenograft studies

The knowledge that (1) the normal thyroid contains somatostatin, (2) polypeptide growth factors influence thyroid cell function, and (3) thyroid cells contain steroid hormone receptors prompted us to add somatostatin analogue No. 201-995 (SMS) (5 ng/ml) and/or tamoxifen citrate (TAM) (5 mumol/L) to 7-day monolayer cultures (50,000 cells/well) of three separate human thyroid carcinoma cell lines: DR081 (medullary), WR082 (follicular), and NPA'87 (papillary). Results, tabulated as cell numbers/well (X10(5) on day 7, revealed that TAM inhibited growth of medullary and follicular cells and that TAM plus SMS inhibited growth of papillary cells. In vivo studies of subcutaneous tumor cell xenografts in nude mice have documented that TAM (5 mg subcutaneous pellet) significantly inhibits the growth of medullary implants. Flow cytometric DNA studies of medullary cell cultures demonstrated a reduced G2 + M phase with TAM treatment. For papillary cell implants, TAM plus SMS (5 micrograms subcutaneously, twice daily) did not suppress tumor growth. All three cell lines were negative for estrogen receptor; addition of estradiol (5 ng/ml) to medullary cell cultures neither stimulated replication nor reversed the inhibitory effects of TAM in vitro. We conclude that (1) TAM slowed the growth of a cell line of human medullary carcinoma, both in vitro and in vivo; (2) this effect was not reversed by estradiol; (3) TAM plus SMS inhibited replication of a papillary carcinoma cell line in vitro, but not in vivo; and (4) TAM alone and TAM plus SMS inhibited replication of cultures of a human follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line. TAM and SMS may be useful in treatment of some human thyroid carcinomas.     

Nonprogression of subclinical beta-cell dysfunction among first-degree relatives of IDDM patients. 5-yr follow-up of the Seattle Family Study

It is unknown among first-degree relatives of individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) whether the disease process occurs in relatively few but always progresses to clinical IDDM or whether subclinical disease is more common but remains nonprogressive in many cases. Islet cell antibodies (ICAs) were found in 21 of 724 (2.9%) first-degree relatives during screening in the greater Seattle area between 1983 and 1988. Measures of beta-cell function (glucose disappearance rate [Kg], fasting insulin, acute insulin response to intravenous arginine [AIRarg], acute insulin response to intravenous glucose [AIRgluc], slope of glucose potentiation of AIRarg) and insulin sensitivity were obtained. Twenty individuals, 9 ICA+ relatives and 11 ICA- relatives, were evaluated prospectively. When expressed in relation to the expected AIRgluc based on each subject's sensitivity index, AIRgluc in 18 of 20 relatives fell below 100%, indicating inappropriately low insulin secretion (subclinical beta-cell dysfunction). After a median follow-up of 42 mo, 10 of 11 ICA- relatives remained ICA-. None showed deteriorating beta-cell dysfunction, and none developed diabetes. Five ICA+ relatives showed persistent immunologic positivity. beta-Cell function remained remarkably stable in all except 2 relatives. One was a 15-yr-old boy who developed IDDM shortly after screening and before evaluation of beta-cell function could be carried out. The other was an 18-yr-old monozygotic twin who developed IDDM after 27 mo. Both of these individuals had ICAs of 80 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation U and had been discordant for less than 5 yr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transcanal cochlear implantation under monitored anesthesia care.

OBJECTIVE: Given the associated risk of general anesthesia in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease, the authors set out to determine the feasibility of transcanal cochlear implantation under local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care. METHODS: A 70-year-old man with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, diabetes mellitus, and an American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III cardiac status underwent cochlear implantation under local with monitored anesthesia care. RESULT: With the described technique and regimen of intravenous remifentanil and dexmedetomidine, the patient tolerated the 60-minute procedure without tachycardia, hyper- or hypotension, or cardiac ischemia. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation using the pericanal electrode technique performed under local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care is possible in patients at risk for undergoing general anesthesia for cochlear implantation.     

Religious orientation, aging, and blood pressure reactivity to interpersonal and cognitive stressors

Background: Research on religion and health suggests general health benefits for those who are more religiously involved. Particular aspects of religiosity that may influence this finding, however, have not been sufficiently investigated.Purpose: This study was designed to explore the relationship between religious orientation (intrinsic, extrinsic) and blood pressure reactivity among older (over 60 years) and younger (18–24 years) adults exposed to two qualitatively different laboratory stressors (cognitive, interpersonal).Methods:Participants were categorized as exhibiting either a predominately intrinsic or extrinsic religious orientation based on scores on the Religious Orientation Scale. They were subsequently exposed (in counterbalanced order) to two laboratory stressors that varied in terms of whether an interpersonal confrontation was involved. Measures of blood pressure were obtained at baseline and during stressor presentation.Results: Analyses indicated that older extrinsically religious individuals demonstrated exaggerated reactivity compared to younger participants and older intrinsically religious individuals. Older intrinsically religious participants did not differ from younger persons. Similar results were found for analysis of baseline data. Extrinsic participants had greater reactivity during the interpersonal confrontation condition than did intrinsic individuals.Conclusions: These findings suggest that religious orientation may be an important variable to study regarding cardiovascular reactivity in, particularly, older adults. This research was supported in part by National Institute on Aging Grant 1 R03 AG 18554-01. A previous version of this article was presented in August 2002 as a Citation Paper at the 110th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Chicago. We thank Timothy W. Smith, James A. Blumenthal, Carl E. Thoresen, and Edward M. Heath for their assistance throughout this project. We also thank Llewellyn Jones and Jodi Hildabrandt for their efforts in collecting data.     

Spinal cord toxoplasmosis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Spinal cord toxoplasmosis occurs rarely in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It usually presents as a space occupying lesion which makes differentiation from a neoplasm difficult. As a result, only 2 of the 5 previously reported cases have been diagnosed antemortem. We have incorporated the clinical details from one further case to describe the clinical features of this condition. The clarification of this clinical entity may allow earlier diagnosis of this rare condition in the future.     

Cardiomyopathy: a late complication of hemolytic uremic syndrome

This report describes a child who presented with classic hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and 4 months later developed a life-threatening but reversible cardiomyopathy with global cardiac dysfunction and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 14%. There was no evidence of electrolyte abnormalities, anemia, hypertension, severe fluid overload, or viral infection. Endomyocardial biopsies were consistent with a dilated cardiomyopathy. This paper highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis of associated cardiomyopathy when presenting with late-onset edema following HUS. Received February 12, 1996; received in revised form and accepted August 22, 1996     

The current cavernosometric criteria for corporovenous dysfunction are too strict.

In an attempt to define the hemodynamic and radiographic parameters of normal erectile function 6 patients 20 to 41 years old (mean age 30.3 years) with erectile dysfunction that spontaneously resolved after a comprehensive evaluation were reviewed. The results included normal hormonal assays, normal penile biothesiometry and normal penile brachial index. The sleep tumescence and rigidity tracings were abnormal according to the criteria that sleep erections occur every 90 minutes, are associated with penile rigidity of greater than 550 gm. plus an increase in penile circumference of greater than 1.5 cm. and last longer than 15 minutes. High resolution ultrasonography, pulse wave Doppler ultrasound, dynamic pharmacocavernosometry and dynamic cavernosography were performed. After testing the patients were informed that no organic abnormalities had been detected. No medical or surgical treatment was given. The hemodynamic values are presented as suggested normal parameters: maintenance rate (mean 11 +/- 3 cc per minute), initial decompression rate (mean 59 +/- 17 mm. Hg/30 seconds) and radiographic findings (visualization of the cavernous, external pudendal and deep dorsal veins during pharmacocavernosography, performed at intracorporeal pressures of 100 mm. Hg). All 6 patients had maintenance rates of greater than 5 cc per minute. Of these 6 patients 5 had initial decompression rates of greater than 48 mm. Hg/30 seconds and 4 had 5-minute, post-infusion steady state values of less than 50 mm. Hg, criteria that have been used to define corporovenous dysfunction.