Distinct altered patterns of p27KIP1 gene expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The p27KIP1 gene, whose protein product is a negative regulator of the cell cycle, is a potential tumor suppressor gene; however, no tumor-specific mutations of this gene have been found in humans. This study was undertaken to identify and to assess potential alterations of p27KIP1 gene expression in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We analyzed 130 prostate carcinomas from primary and metastatic sites, as well as prostate samples from normal subjects and from patients with BPH. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to determine the levels of expression and the microanatomical localization of p27 protein and messenger RNA (mRNA), respectively. Immunoblotting and immunodepletion assays were performed on a subset of the prostate tumors. Associations between alterations in p27KIP1 expression and clinicopathologic variables were evaluated with a nonparametric test. The Kaplan-Meier method and the logrank test were used to compare disease-relapse-free survival. Prostate tissues of p27Kip1 null (i.e., knock-out) and wild-type mice were also evaluated. RESULTS: Normal human prostate tissue exhibited abundant amounts of p27 protein and high levels of p27KIP1 mRNA in both epithelial cells and stromal cells. However, p27 protein and p27KIP1 mRNA were almost undetectable in epithelial cells and stromal cells of BPH lesions. Furthermore, p27Kip1 null mice developed enlarged (hyperplastic) prostate glands. In contrast to BPH, prostate carcinomas were found to contain abundant p27KIP1 mRNA but either high or low to undetectable levels of p27 protein. Primary prostate carcinomas expressing lower levels of p27 protein appeared to be biologically more aggressive (two-sided P = .019 [Cox regression analysis]). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: On the basis of these results, we infer that loss of p27Kip1 expression in the human prostate may be causally linked to BPH and that BPH is not a precursor to prostate cancer.     

Hyperthermia and AIDS: a critical review

Torsade de pointes in the congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is often pause dependent. Thus, the main goal of pacemaker treatment in the LQTS may be the prevention of pauses that facilitate the onset of torsade de pointes. A pause prevention pacing algorithm (rate smoothing) was used for arrhythmia prevention in a 14 year old girl with congenital LQTS. By temporarily increasing the pacing rate after spontaneous premature beats, rate smoothing down of 18% prevented postextrasystolic pauses, pause related T-U changes, and recurrence of pause induced torsade de pointes. Rate smoothing is a potentially useful tool that ought to be evaluated for the prevention of torsade de pointes in the LQTS.     

Intrinsic versus extrinsic cues as determinants of perceived product quality.

Tested a portion of J. C. Olson's cue model which hypothesizes that, other things equal, intrinsic cues (e.g., physical product differences) will be stronger determinants of perceived-quality judgments than will extrinsic cues (e.g., price or store image). 90 female undergraduates were randomly assigned to the conditions of a 2 * 3 * 3 (Price * Store Image * Hosiery Product Samples) analysis of variance with repeated measures on the intrinsic factor. Results support the hypothesis; omega-square values revealed that 73% of the total variance was due to intrinsic product sample differences. Additionally, the hypothesis that perceived worth would be more strongly related to stated purchase intentions than would perceived quality was supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Radiographic evaluation of pancreatico-jejunal shunts

This paper describes opacification and identification of two surgically constructed pancreatico-jujunal shunts. A fibreoptic panendoscope was used with retrograde injection via the ampulla of Vater (ERCP). This procedure makes possible more accurate anatomical evaluation and so more precise clinical appraisal of both pre- and post-surgical states.     

Allergic contact dermatitis and stomatitis caused by a cinnamic aldehyde-flavored toothpaste

A patient had acute stomatitis and dermatitis due to a popular toothpaste containing cinnamon oil flavor. Cinnamon cassia oil is known as a topical sensitizer and was demonstrated to be the offending allergen. Cinnamic aldehyde and related chemicals are used widely, so that patients having cinnamon allergy may be exposed to many sources. There is difficulty in diagnosing allergic contact stomatitis.     

Effects of different levels of integration on advertising preference and intention to purchase.

90 black and 90 white male undergraduates evaluated 6 proposed advertisements in terms of attractiveness and likelihood of purchase of the product advertised. The advertisements differed in the degree of racial integration depicted, which was operationally defined by a 5-point continuum ranging from 0 whites and 4 blacks (0W-4B) to 4 whites and 0 blacks (4W-0B). The hypothesis that young blacks react negatively to integrated ads depicting tokenism (e.g., 3 whites to 1 black) and positively to ads depicting equality (e.g., 2 whites to 2 blacks) was supported with each of the dependent measures. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)