OBJECTIVES: To compare different forms and ratios of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to determine which form or ratio provides optimal diagnostic specificity and sensitivity in distinguishing between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and clinically localized prostate cancer. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 47 patients with BPH and 39 with clinically localized prostate cancer. Pati

BACKGROUND: Halothane and isoflurane have been shown to induce disparate effects on different brain structures in animals. In humans, various methods for measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) have produced results compatible with a redistribution of CBF toward deep brain structures during isoflurane anesthesia in humans. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of halothane and isoflurance o

Objective Cell free foetal DNA (cff DNA) extracted from maternal plasma is now recognized as a potential source for prenatal diagnosis but the methodology is currently not well standardized. To evaluate different manual and automated DNA extraction methods with a view to developing standards, an International Workshop was performed. Methods Three plasma pools from RhD-negative pregnant women, a DN

this study we investigated the effects of gastrectomy (Gx) and of the gastric hormone, ghrelin, on the expression of proteins in brown adipose tissue (BAT) that are thought to be involved in thermogenesis. Heat production in BAT is known to depend upon activation and increased expression of β3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR) and the consequent up-regulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Mice were s

Analysis of PCR/RFLP variation in 57 Nordic populations of the herb Silene dioica, revealed 13 composite chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotypes. The geographic distribution of the haplotypes suggests that the postglacial colonization of Fennoscandia by S. dioica may have involved immigration of populations from two main directions. The commonest cpDNA haplotype dominates in populations throughout most

The two aims of this study were to analyse the impact of methadone on outcome, and to confirm the results from previous meta-analyses by using a different methodology. The literature on randomized controlled trials ( RCT) of methadone as maintenance treatment for opioid dependence was systematically reviewed. Eight studies involving 1511 patients were included. Both dichotomous and continuous vari

Background Several candidate genes have been found to be associated with the inflammatory response of IgE-mediated allergy, so also the immunoglobulin constant heavy G chain (IGHG) genes. The IGHG genes are situated close to the IGHE gene on chromosome 14q32, 5'μ, δ, γ3, γ1, α1, γ2, γ4, e, α2, 3'. They are inherited in a Mendelian fashion and expressed randomly in allelic exclusion. The alternativ

High-resolution (K3p sigma and pi)->sigma absorption spectrum of KF in the photon energy range of 18.2-19.4 eV was measured at the new FINEST beamline branch on the I3 beamline on MAX III. The experimental spectrum is presented and interpreted using nonrelativistic ab initio molecular calculations corrected with perturbation theory treatment to account for spin-orbit interaction. Resonant Auger de

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and inhibitor of carcinogenic N-nitroso compound production in the stomach. Higher dietary vitamin C consumption is associated with decreased risk of gastric cancer (GC) in numerous case-control studies, but data from prospective studies are limited, particularly so for blood measures of vitamin C. The objective of this study was to determine the association of plasma a

The Wollemi pine, Wollemia nobilis, was first discovered 10 years ago in the Wollemi National Park in Australia. This species, from the Cretaceous Period, is now the subject of conservation efforts and if efforts are successful it mayhave a future as an ornamental species.

Procathepsin B and cystatin C are found in human lung secretions. We investigated the capacity of human bronchial epithelial cells to synthesize and secrete these proteins. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled proteins from cultured bronchial epithelial cell lysates, followed by denaturing gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, showed the presence of newly synthesized procathepsin B of

The penetration and leaching of ionic species in concrete are studied by using a model based on the Nernst-Planck equations. A finite element procedure is used to solve the coupled non-linear governing equations. A numerical example is performed in which the results are compared to measured electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) data. A close agreement of the simulated results to measured data is fo

Simple light use efficiency (epsilon) models of net primary production (NPP) have recently been given great attention (NPP = epsilon x absorbed photosynthetically active radiation). The underlying relationships have, however, not been much studied on a time step less than a month. In this study daily NPP was estimated as the sum of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and heterotrophic respiration (R-h) o

PURPOSE: Irradiation inflicts acute injuries to the intestinal mucosa with rapid apoptosis induction and subsequent reduction in epithelial surface area. It may therefore be assumed that the intestinal barrier function is affected. The aim of this study was to compare the mucosal permeability in irradiated rectum and nonirradiated sigmoid colon from patients subjected to radiation therapy before s

A database with more than 14 700 references to articles on ED during 1965-2000 was analysed with the aim of identifying long-term and short-term trends in the literature. The main data of the analysis are the percentages of references per 6-year period or per year for the most recent 6 years, that contain certain words or phrases. The use of words in references should reflect changes in the conten

Hibernomas are benign tumors of brown fat, frequently characterized by aberrations of chromosome band 11q13. In this study, the chromosome 11 changes in five hibernomas were analyzed in detail by metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. In all cases, complex rearrangements leading to loss of chromosome 11 material were found. Deletions were present not only in those chromosomes that were show