The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to examine how men without partners make decisions about prostate cancer treatment, manage treatment side effects, and obtain information and support.     

Cell Proliferation and regulation of negative growth factors in mouse liver foci

Foci of altered hepatocytes are preneoplastic lesions capableof progressing to hepatocellular carcinomas. To Characterizethe growth of preneoplastic hepatic lesions, size of hepaticfoci was analyzed with regard to growth factor regulation andhepatocyte proliferation in focal and non-focal hepatocytes.Twelve-day-old female B6C3F1 mice were initiated with a singledose of the potent mutagen N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) (5 mg/kgbody weight). Beginning at 6 weeks of age, mice were exposedfor 16 weeks to 2038 p.p.m. unleaded gasoline (UG) vapor or1 p.p.m. ethinyl estradiol (EE) in the diet. Analysis of hepaticfoci demonstrated that UG significantly increased, but EE significantlydecreased the size of DEN-initiated foci. Hepatic labeling index(LI), as measured by the incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine,was similar in non-focal hepatocytes at 16 weeks in all groups(0.4–0.8%) and greatly increased in hepatic foci. HepatocyteLI was significantly increased in DEN/UG foci (29%, n = 41)and significantly decreased in DEN/EE foci (6% n=23) relativeto DEN/control focal hepatocytes(18% n=25). The mean LI of focicorrelated with the focal size differences observed in the treatmentgroups. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies directedto the negative growth regulator transforming growth factorbetal (TGF-ß1) demonstrated a consistent decreaseof TGF-ß1 in DEN/Ct and DEN/UG hepatic foci relativeto non-lesion hepatocytes. Similar results were seen with mannose6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-11 receptor (M6P/IGF-IIR), which facilitates activation of latent TGF-ß1.In contrast, only 50% of DEN/EE foci had decreased levels ofTGF-ß1 and M6P/IGF-II R relative to non-focal hepatocytes.These data suggest that proliferative responses observed inhepatic foci may be correlated with foci size. In contrast,chemically induced proliferative responses in non-focal hepatocytesafter subchronic exposure cannot necessarily be used to predictproliferative effects in preneoplastic cell populations. Furthermore,these studies suggest that hepatic foci may occur by M6P/IGF-IIR enhancing activation of latent TGF-ß1 in non-focalhepatocytes but not in the focal hepatocytes, thereby affordingfocal hepatocytes a selective growth advantage.     

Value of Maternal Anti-D Concentration in Predicting the Outcome of Rh(D) Haemolytic Disease

Summary: The outcomes of 43 pregnancies complicated by the presence of Rhesus antibodies were studied in relation to the peak concentrations of anti-D reached during pregnancy. Antibody concentration was measured by an automated method calibrated against the British Anti-D Working Standard. Where the anti-D concentration remained below 5 IU/ml, the infants at worst suffered only moderate jaundice controllable with phototherapy. Above this level the incidence of requirement for exchange or top-up transfusion was high with concentrations greater than 50 IU/ml being predictive of a very severely affected fetus. It is recommended that amniocentesis in these patients be deferred until maternal anti-D levels exceed 5 IU/ml.     

Study of the novel non-xanthine heterocyclic compound GU285 as a potent non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist in the rat

The novel pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine compound GU285 (4-amino-6-alpha-carbamoylethylthio-1- phenylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, CAS 134896-40-5) was examined for its ability (1) to inhibit binding of adenosine (ADO) receptor ligands in rat brain membranes, (2) to antagonise functional responses to ADO agonists in rat right and left atria and coronary resistance vessels, and (3) to reduce the fall in heart rate and arterial blood pressure produced by the ADO A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) in the intact, anaesthetized rat. GU285 competitively inhibited binding of the ADO A1 agonist [3H]-R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) yielding a Ki value of 11 (7-18) nmol.l-1 (geometric mean +/- 95% Cl). When assayed against the ADO A2A selective agonist [3H]-2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)- phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, (CGS21680), a Ki of 15 (10-24) nmol.l-1 was obtained. In spontaneously beating right atria, GU285 competitively antagonized negative chronotropic effects of R-PIA with a pA2 of 8.7 +/- 0.3 and in electrically paced left atria, GU285 competitively antagonized negative inotropic effects of R-PIA with a pA2 of 9.0 +/- 0.1. In the potassium-arrested, perfused rat heart GU285 (1 mumol.l-1) antagonized only the high sensitivity, ADO A2B mediated component of the biphasic relaxation of the coronary vasculature produced by NECA. The low sensitivity component was unchanged. GU285 (1 mumol.kg-1) antagonized the negative chronotropic and hypotensive effects of the adenosine A1 agonist CPA in anaesthetized rats, producing a 10-fold rightward shift in the dose-response relationship. These data demonstrate that in the rat, GU285 is a potent, non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist that maintains its activity in vivo.