Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential of becoming the gold standard marker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring. However, current methods for its isolation and characterization ...suffer from equipment variability and human operator error that hinder its widespread use. Here we report the design and construction of a fully automated high-throughput fluorescence microscope that enables the imaging and classification of cancer cells that were labeled by immunostaining procedures. An excellent agreement between our machine vision-based approach and a state-of-the-art microscopy equipment was achieved. Our integral approach provides a path for operator-free and robust analysis of cancer cells as a standard clinical practice.
The detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may enable a broad range of cancer-related applications, including the identification of acquired drug resistance during treatments. ...However, the non-scalable fabrication, prolonged sample processing times, and the lack of automation, associated with most of the technologies developed to isolate these rare cells, have impeded their transition into the clinical practice. This work describes a novel membrane-based microfiltration device comprised of a fully automated sample processing unit and a machine-vision-enabled imaging system that allows the efficient isolation and rapid analysis of CTCs from blood. The device performance was characterized using four prostate cancer cell lines, including PC-3, VCaP, DU-145, and LNCaP, obtaining high assay reproducibility and capture efficiencies greater than 93% after processing 7.5 mL blood samples spiked with 100 cancer cells. Cancer cells remained viable after filtration due to the minimal shear stress exerted over cells during the procedure, while the identification of cancer cells by immunostaining was not affected by the number of non-specific events captured on the membrane. We were also able to identify the androgen receptor (AR) point mutation T878A from 7.5 mL blood samples spiked with 50 LNCaP cells using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Finally, CTCs were detected in 8 out of 8 samples from patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (mean ± SEM = 21 ± 2.957 CTCs/mL, median = 21 CTCs/mL), demonstrating the potential clinical utility of this device.
Several viruses with known oncogenic potential infect prostate tissue, among these are the polyomaviruses BKV, JCV, and SV40; human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) ...infections. Recently, the Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related gammaretrovirus (XMRV) was identified in prostate tissue with a high prevalence observed in prostate cancer (PC) patients homozygous for the glutamine variant of the RNASEL protein (462Q/Q). Association studies with the R462Q allele and non-XMRV viruses have not been reported. We assessed associations between prostate cancer, prostate viral infections, and the RNASEL 462Q allele in Mexican cancer patients and controls.
130 subjects (55 prostate cancer cases and 75 controls) were enrolled in the study. DNA and RNA isolated from prostate tissues were screened for the presence of viral genomes. Genotyping of the RNASEL R462Q variant was performed by Taqman method.
R/R, R/Q, and Q/Q frequencies for R462Q were 0.62, 0.38, and 0.0 for PC cases and 0.69, 0.24, and 0.07 for controls, respectively. HPV sequences were detected in 11 (20.0%) cases and 4 (5.3%) controls. XMRV and HCMV infections were detected in one and six control samples, respectively. The risk of PC was significantly increased (Odds Ratio = 3.98; 95% CI: 1.17-13.56, p = 0.027) by infection of the prostatic tissue with HPV. BKV, JCV, and SV40 sequences were not detected in any of the tissue samples examined.
We report a positive association between PC and HPV infection. The 462Q/Q RNASEL genotype was not represented in our PC cases; thus, its interaction with prostate viral infections and cancer could not be evaluated.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Study Type – Therapy (case control) Level of Evidence 3b
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of an extract of Butea superba (Roxb.) (BS) compared to sildenafil for treating erectile dysfunction (ED).
...PATIENTS AND METHODS
An open label study was carried out among 32 men with organic ED to evaluate the response on the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF‐5) to BS, a ‘natural health’ product (100 mg), compared to 50 mg of sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor). After a 1‐week wash‐out, responders to BS received either 100 mg starch or 100 mg of another batch of BS (double‐blind).
RESULTS
Of the patients in the BS group, 27 (84%) responded positively, compared with 26 (81%) in the sildenafil group. When assessing the score alone, 12 (38%) had a better score after taking BS, compared to seven (22%) after sildenafil, and eight (25%) had the same score. The results were surprising and could not be repeated in the double‐blind part of the study, where no effect of BS was recorded.
CONCLUSIONS
A ‘natural’ health product containing BS was more effective than sildenafil in the first part of the study, but in the second, using another batch of BS, the positive result could not be repeated and no effect was recorded. The conclusion is that the first preparation of BS was most likely blended with a phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor, later confirmed by the supplier of BS (a natural health products company) after their own analysis.
Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent neoplasia in men worldwide. Previous reports suggest that the prevalence of PCa in Hispanic males is lower than in Africans (including communities ...with African ancestry) and Caucasians, but higher than in Asians. Despite these antecedents, there are few reports of open population screenings for PCa in Latin American communities. This article describes the results of three consecutive screenings in the urban population of Monterrey, Mexico.
After receiving approval from our University Hospital's Internal Review Board (IRB), the screening was announced by radio, television, and press, and it was addressed to male subjects over 40 years old in general. Subjects who consented to participate were evaluated at the primary care clinics of the University Health Program at UANL, in the Metropolitan area of Monterrey. Blood samples were taken from each subject for prostate specific antigen (PSA) determination; they underwent a digital rectal examination (DRE), and were subsequently interviewed to obtain demographic and urologic data. Based on the PSA (>4.0 ng/ml) and DRE results, subjects were appointed for transrectal biopsy (TRB).
A total of 973 subjects were screened. Prostate biopsy was recommended to 125 men based on PSA values and DRE results, but it was performed in only 55 of them. 15 of these biopsied men were diagnosed with PCa, mostly with Gleason scores > or = 7.
Our results reflect a low prevalence of PCa in general, but a high occurrence of high grade lesions (Gleason > or = 7) among patients that resulted positive for PCa. This observation remarks the importance of the PCa screening programs in our Mexican community and the need for strict follow-up campaigns.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To evaluate sexual satisfaction on women who have experienced sexual intercourse with the same partner on non-circumcised and circumcised states.
A total of 19 women between 19 and 53 y/o, median age ...30, in which their sexual partner was programmed for circumcision were included in this study. The survey was a validated version on the Changes on Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ). General sexual satisfaction, pain during vaginal penetration, desire, vaginal orgasm, vaginal lubrication, sexual frequency changes in oral and/or anal sexual activities and esthetical perception on circumcised penis were surveyed before the procedure and 2 months after.
Changes on Vaginal lubrication during intercourse were significant (p = 0.004), it diminished from 78% to 63%. There were no statistically significant differences on general sexual satisfaction, pain during vaginal penetration, desire, vaginal orgasm.
Circumcision has either negative or positive effect on female's partner perception of sexual satisfaction.
Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la percepción de la satisfacción sexual en hombres, con parejas sexuales estables, posterior a la circuncisión. Métodos: Veintidós hombres heterosexuales, adultos, ...sexualmente activos con pareja sexual estable que fueron programados para circuncisión en nuestro servicio entre Junio del 2005 y Junio del 2006 por razones medicas o estéticas fueron incluidos en este estudio. Hombres con disfunción eréctil severa fueron excluidos. Los pacientes fueron encuestados para evaluar la función eréctil, la sensibilidad del pene, la apariencia estética, etc. Esta encuesta fue realizada antes del procedimiento y 12 semanas después. Los resultados en cada rubro fueron evaluados con Chi cuadrada. Resultados: Las indicaciones quirúrgicas fueron: Fimosis 50%, Balanitis 18.2%, Condiloma 13.6 % estética 13.6%. Posterior al procedimiento el 82% de los pacientes refirió aumento en la calidad de sus encuentros sexuales, 4.5% refirió que disminuyó y 13.5% que no se modificó. Noventa y cinco por ciento refirió sentirse mejor con la apariencia de su pene. Casi todas los rubros de la satisfacción sexual evaluados en las encuestas no presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas a excepción de la mejora en la función sexual (p=0.0007) y la percepción de eventos sexuales (p=0.04). Esta mejora en la función eréctil fue considerada como un cambio en categoría en la clasificación del índice internacional de la función eréctil 5. En 31.8%(7) de los pacientes reporto eyaculación prematura la cual disminuyo a 13.6% (3). Conclusiones: Debido a nuestras limitaciones estadísticas y las indicaciones quirúrgicas heterogéneas para la realización del procedimiento en este estudio, no podemos concluir que la circuncisión traiga consigo un beneficio en la satisfacción sexual por el simple hecho de retirar el prepucio pero definitivamente no provoca efectos deletéreos y cuando la insatisfacción está asociada a problemas locales, puede esperarse algún beneficio.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of continuous intravesical irrigation with saline plus amikacin as adjuvant therapy and to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) scan in supine and prone ...positions (CystoCT scan) as an alternative diagnostic and evaluation method of intramural gas in emphysematous cystitis (EC) before and after treatment. Methods: Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of EC who were hospitalized between March 2006 and January 2011 were investigated. The diagnosis was made by CystoCT scan. Treatment consisted of intravenous antibiotics, control of concomitant diseases, and placement of a 3-way urinary catheter for continuous irrigation of 500 mg of amikacin diluted in 1 l of saline given on days 0, 3, and 7. Treatment was considered successful when there was an absence of gas in the bladder wall, the urine culture was negative, there was clinical improvement, and there was an absence of toxicity. Results: Eleven patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of EC during the study period. Four were excluded from the study, 2 due to the lack of confirmation of the diagnosis with the CystoCT scan. Treatment was successful in all patients; for 6 (86%) this was achieved in 3 days and for 1 (14%) in 7 days. No toxicity was reported. Conclusions: Continuous intravesical irrigation with saline plus amikacin as adjuvant treatment of EC is an inexpensive, effective, and safe tool that might help conventional treatment and provide a rapid recovery. The CystoCT scan is an alternative method to diagnose and evaluate intramural gas in EC patients. These findings should be challenged in a randomized, multi-centre, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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