Clinical efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for castration-resistant prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical effects of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).@*METHODS@#A total of 54 CRPC patients were randomly divided into a control and a trial group, all treated by endocrine therapy (oral Bicalutamide at 50 mg per d plus subcutaneous injection of Goserelin at 3.6 mg once every 4 wk) and chemotherapy (intravenous injection of Docetaxel at 75 mg/m2 once every 3 wk plus oral Prednisone at 5 mg bid), while the latter group by Fuyang Huayu Prescription (a Traditional Chinese Medicine ［TCM］ prescription for tonifying yang and dispersing blood stasis) in addition, for a course of 24 weeks. Comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in the level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Karnofsky physical condition scores, function assessment of cancer therapy-prostate (FACT-P) scores, and TCM symptoms scores before and after 12 or 24 weeks of treatment.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the baseline, the serum PSA level was significantly decreased after 12 weeks of treatment both in the control (［25.9 ± 39.3］ vs ［20.0 ± 21.1］ μg/L, P 0.05). At 24 weeks, however, the PSA levels in the control and trial groups were slightly increased to (23.1 ± 28.4) and (19.6 ± 23.5) μg/L, respectively, with no statistically significant differences in between (P >0.05). Karnofsky, FACT-P and TCM symptoms scores were all markedly improved in the trial group after 12 weeks of treatment (P 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TCM Fuyang Huayu Prescription combined with endocrine therapy and chemotherapy is effective for CRPC.

Neumonía intersticial inducida por bloqueo androgénico máximo como tratamiento de cáncer de próstata avanzado: Report of one case / Fatal interstitial lung disease associated with maximum androgen blockade

Maximum androgen blockade is the standard endocrine treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Interstitial lung disease in different degrees of severity, with low mortality and excellent response to treatment may appear with its use. We report a 77 years old patient with advanced prostate cancer who developed severe and progressive respiratory failure associated to bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, attributed to the direct effect of maximum androgen blockade. Despite the therapeutic efforts, the patient died. Lung pathology revealed Usual Interstitial Pneumonia.

Antiseptics and microcosm biofilm formation on titanium surfaces

Abstract Oral rehabilitation with osseointegrated implants is a way to restore esthetics and masticatory function in edentulous patients, but bacterial colonization around the implants may lead to mucositis or peri-implantitis and consequent implant loss. Peri-implantitis is the main complication of oral rehabilitation with dental implants and, therefore, it is necessary to take into account the potential effects of antiseptics such as chlorhexidine (CHX), chloramine T (CHT), triclosan (TRI), and essential oils (EO) on bacterial adhesion and on biofilm formation. To assess the action of these substances, we used the microcosm technique, in which the oral environment and periodontal conditions are simulated in vitro on titanium discs with different surface treatments (smooth surface - SS, acid-etched smooth surface - AESS, sand-blasted surface - SBS, and sand-blasted and acid-etched surface - SBAES). Roughness measurements yielded the following results: SS: 0.47 µm, AESS: 0.43 µm, SB: 0.79 µm, and SBAES: 0.72 µm. There was statistical difference only between SBS and AESS. There was no statistical difference among antiseptic treatments. However, EO and CHT showed lower bacterial counts compared with the saline solution treatment (control group). Thus, the current gold standard (CHX) did not outperform CHT and EO, which were efficient in reducing the biofilm biomass compared with saline solution.

Factors associated with reporting of abuse against children and adolescents by nurses within Primary Health Care / Fatores associados à notificação de maus-tratos em crianças e adolescentes realizada por enfermeiros na Atenção Primária à Saúde / Factores asociados a la notificación del maltrato en niños y adolescentes realizada por enfermeros en la Atención Primaria a la Salud

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the factors associated with the underreporting on the part of nurses within Primary Health Care of abuse against children and adolescents. METHOD: cross-sectional study with 616 nurses. A questionnaire addressed socio-demographic data, profession, instrumentation and knowledge on the topic, identification and reporting of abuse cases. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used. RESULTS: female nurses, aged between 21 and 32 years old, not married, with five or more years since graduation, with graduate studies, and working for five or more years in PHC predominated. The final regression model showed that factors such as working for five or more years, having a reporting form within the PHC unit, and believing that reporting within Primary Health Care is an advantage, facilitate reporting. CONCLUSION: the study's results may, in addition to sensitizing nurses, support management professionals in establishing strategies intended to produce compliance with reporting as a legal device that ensures the rights of children and adolescents. .

OBJETIVO: analisar os fatores associados à notificação de maus-tratos em crianças e adolescentes, realizada por enfermeiros que atuam na Atenção Primária à Saúde. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, realizado com 616 enfermeiros. Foi utilizado um questionário contendo dados sociodemográficos, formação profissional, instrumentação e conhecimento sobre o tema, identificação e notificação de casos de maus-tratos. Análises bivariada e multivariada por regressão logística foram realizadas. RESULTADOS: predominaram enfermeiros do sexo feminino, na faixa etária entre 21 e 32 anos, não casados, com cinco ou mais anos de formado, com pós-graduação e com cinco ou mais anos de trabalho. O modelo logístico final evidenciou que fatores como tempo de trabalho de cinco ou mais anos, a unidade de saúde possuir a ficha de notificação, saber para onde encaminhar os casos, não ter medo de envolvimento legal e achar vantajosa a notificação na atenção primária facilitam a efetivação do ato notificatório. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados desta pesquisa, além de sensibilizar os enfermeiros para o problema, poderão ser utilizados pelos profissionais da gestão na orientação de estratégias para o cumprimento da notificação como dispositivo legal de garantia dos direitos de crianças e adolescentes. .

OBJETIVO: analizar los factores asociados a la notificación de maltrato en niños y adolescentes realizado por enfermeros que actúan en la Atención Primaria a la Salud. MÉTODO: estudio transversal realizado con 616 enfermeros. Fue utilizado un cuestionario conteniendo datos sociodemográficos, formación profesional, instrumentación y conocimiento sobre el tema, identificación, y notificación de casos de maltrato. Análisis bivariado y multivariado por regresión logística. RESULTADOS: predominaron enfermeros del sexo femenino, en la franja etaria de 21 a 32 años, no casados, con cinco o más años de graduación, con postgraduación y con cinco o más años de trabajo. El modelo logístico final evidenció que factores como tiempo de trabajo de cinco o más años, la unidad de salud poseer ficha de notificación, saber para donde encaminar los casos, no tener miedo de involucramiento legal y encontrar ventaja en la notificación en la atención primaria, son aspectos que facilitan la efectividad del acto de la notificación. CONCLUSIÓN: los resultados de esta investigación, además de sensibilizar a los enfermeros para el problema, podrán ser utilizados por profesionales de la gestión en la orientación de estrategias para el cumplimiento de la notificación como dispositivo legal de garantía de los derechos de niños y adolescentes. .

Radiolabelling of a lung cancer-targeting small molecule polypeptide with (131)I and its radioactivity distribution in normal rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a labeling method for a specific lung cancer-targeting small molecule peptide cNGQGEQc with ¹³¹I and observe the radioactivity distribution of the labeled peptide in rabbits using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chloramine-T method was used for ¹³¹I labeling of the tyrosine amino group on cNGQGEQc, and the labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc were determined with paper chromatography. The stability of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc in saline and human serum was assessed after incubation in water bath at 37 degrees celsius; for 24 h. The octanol-water partition coefficient lg P (the radioactivity counting ratio of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc dissolved in 100 µl octanol or in 100 µl saline) was calculated. SPECT was performed in 3 male New Zealand white rabbits after intravenous injection of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc to observe the dynamic distribution of the peptide with the time-radioactivity curve (T-A curve) of the region of interest (ROI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With a labeling efficiency of 90%, ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc showed a radiochemical purity of was 95% after purification with HPLC. The radiochemical purity of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc was (93.12 ± 1.18)% and (88.34 ± 5.43)% after intubation in saline and human serum for 24 h, respectively. The octanol-water partition coefficient lg P of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc was -1.75, suggesting its hydrosolubility. In rabbits with intravenous injection of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc, SPECT visualized the kidneys at 1 min after the injection; the imaging of the heart and liver became attenuated at 5 min when the bladder was visualized with an increasing radioactivity. The radioactivity of the soft tissues began to fade at 30 min. No gallbladder visualization was detected, and the radioactivity of the abdomen remained low. No obvious radioactivity concentration was observed in the thyroid and stomach. The T-A curves of the ROI of all the tissues and organs descended over time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Radiolabeling of cNGQGEQc with ¹³¹I is simple and highly efficient. ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc has good stability in vitro and good distribution characteristics for in vivo imaging, and is cleared mainly by renal excretion due to its hydrosolubility. These results provide experimental basis for further studies of diagnosis and therapy of lung cancer with targeting polypeptide.</p>

Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer: methods and prognosis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective hormonal therapy for delaying the progression of prostate cancer to androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 93 cases of prostate cancer confirmed by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy, 22 treated by bilateral orchiectomy plus bicalutamide as a continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) therapy, and the other 71 by the intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) therapy, the latter divided into a standard IAD group (n = 29) and a modified IAD group (n = 42) to be treated by maximum androgen blockage (MAB) until the serum PSA level decreased to less than 0.2 microg/L and the medication was maintained for 3 months. Entering the intermittent period, the patients of the standard IAD group discontinued medication, while those in the modified IAD group withdrew luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRH-a) but continued the use of bicalutamide. MAB was resumed in these two groups when serum PSA manifested a continuous rise and went up to 4 microg/L until prostate cancer progressed to AIPC. Comparisons were made among the CAD, standard IAD and modified IAD groups in the follow-up time, time of progression to CRPC and treatment cycles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The three groups of patients were well balanced in terms of demographics, baseline characteristics and follow-up time. The median times of progression to AIPC in the CAD, standard IAD and modified IAD groups were (26.50 +/- 4.15), (30.00 +/- 7.83) and (34.93 +/- 5.08) months, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the modified IAD group and the CAD (P = 0.001) and standard IAD (P = 0.032), but not between the latter two groups (P = 0.143). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significantly longer median time of progression to AIPC in the modified than in the standard IAD group (P = 0.01). The mean cycle length was (16.13 +/- 3.33) months for the standard IAD group and (19.58 +/- 4.30) months for the modified IAD group, and the time off treatment of the first cycle was (9.6 +/- 3.2) months in the former and (14.2 +/- 3.7) months in the latter, with significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with CAD and standard IAD, modified IAD therapy can significantly prolong the time of progression to AIPC in patients with prostate cancer.</p>

Effect of zafirlukast on capsular contracture around silicone implants in rats / Efeito do zafirlukast na contratura capsular ao redor de implantes de silicone em ratos

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of zafirlukast on capsular contracture around silicone implants by measuring the pressure within the implant, using a rat experimental model. METHODS: Forty adult female Wistar rats were used. Each one received two silicone implants, one with smooth-surface and the other with textured-surface. They were randomly divided into four groups (n=10). The rats of control group I were sacrificed after the implants. The remaining animals were subjected to a daily regimen of intra-peritoneal injection for a period of 90 days and they were distributed as follows: control group II received 0.9 percent physiological saline solution; experimental group I received zafirlukast 1.25 mg/kg; and experimental group II received zafirlukast 5 mg/kg. The measurement of intra-implant pressure of control group I was determined on the surgery day and in other groups on the ninetieth day, after being sacrificed. RESULTS: In the evaluation of textured implants there was an increase of internal pressure in the control group II, and there was no increase in the experimental groups. Compared to the controls there were not significant differences in smooth implants. CONCLUSION: Zafirlukast reduced the risk of developing capsular contracture around silicone implants with textured surface.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do zafirlukast na contratura capsular ao redor de implantes de silicone, através da aferição da pressão intra-implante, utilizando-se um modelo experimental de ratos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos fêmeas Wistar foram utilizados. Cada um recebeu dois implantes de silicone, sendo um com superfície lisa e outro texturizada. Foram divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos (n=10). Os ratos do grupo controle I foram sacrificados após o implante. O restante dos animais foi submetido a um regime diário de injeção intraperitoneal por um período de 90 dias e foram distribuídos: grupo controle II recebeu solução salina fisiológica 0,9 por cento, grupo experimental I recebeu zafirlukast 1,25 mg/kg, e grupo experimental II recebeu zafirlukast 5 mg/kg. O grupo controle II recebeu solução salina; grupo experimental I, 1,25 mg/kg/dia de zafirlukast; grupo experimental II, 5mg/kg/dia de zafirlukast. A aferição da pressão intra-implante do grupo controle I foi averiguada no dia do ato operatório, e nos outros grupos no nonagésimo dia, após serem sacrificados. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação dos implantes texturizados houve aumento da pressão interna no grupo controle II e, não se observou aumento nos grupos experimentais. Na comparação com os controles não foram observadas diferenças significativas nos implantes lisos. CONCLUSÃO: O Zafirlukast reduziu o risco de desenvolver contratura capsular em torno de implantes de silicone com superfície texturizada.

The Effects of Anti-histamine and Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of mast cells and their product, histamine and leukotriene in ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. (Group I: Control group without ischemia, Group II: Normal saline with ischemia, Group III: Cimetidine with ischemia, Group IV: Zafirlukast with ischemia) Skin flap was elevated and ischemic insult was given by clamping the artery for 12 hours. Before reperfusion, the rats were treated with saline, cimetidine and zafirlukast. Flap survival was evaluated at 7 days. Neutrophil counts, mast cell counts were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. RESULTS: Flap survival rate in the control group was 92.33%, whereas normal saline group had 37.34% survivals. Cimetidine and zafirlukast treated group showed significantly higher survival rates than normal saline group. The neutrophil and mast cell counts in cimetidine and zafirlukast treated group were significantly decreased than normal saline group. Cimetidine treated group showed higher survival rate and lower cell counts than zafirlukast treated group. CONCLUSION: The administration of cimetidine and zafirlukast can decrease neutrophils and mast cells caused by ischemia-reperfusion and increase flap survivals. It is suggests that antihistamine and leukotriene receptor antagonist have protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury to skin flap in rat.

Improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with prostate cancer treated with maximal androgen blockade / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the timing of reaching maximum improvement of the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with maximal androgen blockade(MAB), and to provide guidelines for the treatment program.@*METHODS@#We collected the data of 45 advanced prostate cancer patients complicated with lower urinary tract symptoms who were treated by MAB. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) were selected as indicators reflecting the degree of lower urinary tract symptoms and were observed before the MAB, 3, 6, and 9 months after the patients received MAB. We also observed the changes of prostate volume and analyzed the role of MAB in improving LUTS in patients with prostate cancer.@*RESULTS@#The IPSS and Qmax had significant difference between the 3rd month after the patients received MAB and before the MAB (P0.05). The prostate volume had significant difference in the 3rd month and the 6th month (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#MAB for patients with advanced prostate cancer can improve their lower urinary tract symptoms, whose main effect is presented in the 3rd months after the androgen deprivation therapy.

Histomorphometric study of effects of bicalutamide on spermatogenesis in male rats

To study the effects of Bicalutamide on spermatogenesis in male rats. Laboratory based randomized controlled trial. Anatomy Department, Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute [AFPGMI], Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Veterinary Laboratories [NVL], Islamabad from April 2008 to May 2008. Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200-300 grams were randomly divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, each consisting of 20 animals each. Group A was taken as control group and was administered 5 cc of distilled water orally daily for 24 days while group B [Experimental group] was given 5 cc of distilled water daily containing bicalutamide 10 mg/ kg/ day for 24 days. All the animals were sacrificed on the next day after the last dose. The testes were removed and fixed in 10% formalin and then processed for paraffin embedding. Five micron thick sections were made. Haematoxylin, Eosin and PAS stains were used. Histomorphometric analysis was done and parameters, including the tubular diameter, height of seminiferous epithelium and germ cell count were noted. Statistically significant differences were found in tubular diameter, height of seminiferous epithelium and germ cell count in testes of experimental group when compared with the control group. The results showed that the mean tubular diameter, the height of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules and the number of germ cells were significantly reduced in by the experimental group showing that bicalutamide suppresses spermatogenesis in the Sprague - Dawley rats

Bicalutamide-induced Interstitial Lung Disease / 결핵및호흡기질환

Androgen deprivation therapy, which is the standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, includes nonsteroidal antiandrogenic drugs, such as flutamide, nilutamide and bicalutamide. Of them, bicalutamide rarely induces interstitial pneumonia. We report a case of bicalutamide-induced interstitial pneumonia. A 68-year old male diagnosed with prostate cancer and multiple bone metastases presented with dry cough and low grade fever for 3 days. He had taken bicalutamide (50 mg/day) for 13 months. High resolution computed tomography revealed ground glass opacity in his right upper lung. The laboratory studies showed no eosinophilia in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Despite the use of antimicrobial agents for 2 weeks, the extent of the lung lesions increased to the left upper and right lower lung. He had no environmental exposure, collagen vascular disease and microbiological causes. Under the suspicion of bicalutamide-induced interstitial pneumonia, bicalutamide was stopped and prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) was initiated. The symptoms and radiologic abnormalities were resolved with residual minimal fibrosis.

A case of hyperosmolar nonketotic coma associated with androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer / 대한내과학회지

During advanced prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) using gonadotropin-releasing hormone and antiandrogen is an effective treatment modality. Recently, it has been reported that ADT may result in diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Here, we report the first case in the literature of new-onset DM and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma (HNKC) associated with ADT. A 69-year-old man visited our hospital because of altered mentality. The patient had been taking leuprolide and bicalutamide for metastatic prostate cancer for the past 4 months. In laboratory tests, new-onset DM with HNKC was diagnosed. The patient was immediately treated with intravenous hydration and insulin therapy, and recovered without sequela. Because ADT can cause DM, or rarely HNKC, it is necessary to monitor fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles carefully while ADT is performed.

Changes of Depressive Symptoms and Nutritional Indices after Antidepressant Treatment in the Patients with Chronic Hemodialysis and Depression / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Depression is common in patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis, though success rate of treatment is low. This study aimed to investigate the features and severity of the depressive symptoms and nutritional indices, and significant changes after antidepressant treatment. METHODS: The authors assessed 45 patients. Diagnosis of depression was made using DSM-IV-TR and the depressive symptoms were evaluated using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression via semi- structured interview. Subjective global assessment, anthropometric measurements and nutritional indices such as Kt/V, nPCR were examined. Depressive patients were treated for 8 weeks with SSRI (citalopram), and all the variables were examined again after the treatment. RESULTS: 19 (42.2%) patients were diagnosed as depression. Nutritional status was not different between patients with depression and those without depression. Compared to non-depressed patients, depressed patients showed significantly higher depressed mood, guilty feeling, suicide idea, psychic and somatic anxiety, lower work and activities, psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, general somatic symptoms and hypochondriasis. After antidepressant treatment, depressed mood, guilty feeling, suicide idea, psychic anxiety, initial insomnia, middle insomnia, early awakening, work and activities and general somatic symptoms were improved significantly. TSF (p<0.05), handgrip strength (p<0.01) and hematocrit (p<0.05) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Antidepressant treatment is helpful not only for the improvement of depressive symptoms such as sleep and somatic symptoms but for the improvement of quality of life. Proper treatment should be more actively attempted for the hemodialytic patients with depression.

Changing Pattern and Comparison of Nutritional States before and after Nasogastric Tube Feeding for the Severe Brain Injury Patients in Critical Period / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study were to examine the nutritional status of severe brain injury adult patients in critical period, and to compare the nutritional states before and after tube feeding. METHODS: Data from 19 patients admitted to the SICU in a university hospital due to severe brain injury were analyzed. Nutritional states were measured by anthropometric and blood biochemical indicators. RESULTS: MAC and MAMC were significantly decreased only at 7 days after admission compared with those on the day of admission. TSF was significantly decreased from 7 days to 14 days after admission. Fat rate was significantly decreased from 3 days to 14 days after admission. Hb was significantly decreased only at 3 days after admission. Albumin was significantly decreased from 3 days to 14 days after admission. However, lymphocyte was significantly increased at 14 days after admission. TSF and Albumin became significantly worse even after initiating tube feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional status of severe brain injury patients in SICU became worse after admission whichever indicators were adopted to evaluate nutritional status, anthropometric or blood biochemical indicators, and became worse even after initiating tube feeding.

Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor blocker, zafirlukast attenuates lipopolysaccharide -induced oxidative injury and multiple organ dysfunction in rats

Lipopolysaccharide [LPS] is a key mediator of multiple organ injury observed in septic shock. Leukotrienes have been shown to be involved in many inflammatory conditions. However, their role in septic shock has not been fully investigated. The major focus of the present study is to determine the effect of cysteinyl leukotriene blocker, zafirlukast on LPS-induced multiple organ dysfunction in experimental rats. Induction of endotoxemia for 6 h with a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS [6 mg/kg] resulted in 30% mortality rate. Animals challenged with LPS also revealed increases in serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], a marker of systemic tissue injury, bilirubin, and serum aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] as measures of hepatic damage, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels [renal dysfunction indicators], creatine kinase-MB activity [heart injury indicator] and amylase [pancreatic injury measure]. Furthermore, LPS administration produced significant increases in serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF- alpha], interleukin- 1 p [IL-lp], nitric oxide [NO] and intercellular adhesion molecules- 1 [ICAM-1] suggesting activation of the proinflammatory response. Oxidative stress was evident by significant increments in lipid peroxides concentrations measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] and decrements in reduced glutathione [GSH] concentrations in liver, kidney, pancreas and heart of LPS-treated animals. Myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity, a neutrophil infiltration marker, was also elevated in the same tissues. Administration of zafirlukast in two different doses [40 and 80 mg/kg/day, orally via gavage] for three consecutive days prior to LPS injection decreased LPS-induced lethality, attenuated multiple organ injury and dysfunction and reduced the increases in serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, total nitrite/nitrate and ICAM-1. Also, MPO activities and TBARS concentrations were suppressed while GSH contents were increased in tissues. These results indicate that zafirlukast protects against LPS-induced multiple organ damage by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration, counteracting oxidative stress and suppression of inflammatory mediators. Zafirlukast may serve as a potentially effective prophylactic pharmacological agent in alleviating LPS-induced multiple organ dysfunction

Long-term effectiveness of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist or antiandrogen monotherapy in elderly men with localized prostate cancer (T1-2): a retrospective study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the long-term effectiveness, side effects and compliance rates of two types of drugs (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone [LHRH] agonist and antiandrogen) that were used individually to treat patients with localized prostate cancer (T1-2) at our institution.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-seven patients who were diagnosed in the period from April 1997 to January 2000 as having clinically localized prostate cancer (T1-2) received either LHRH agonist (leuprolide acetate 7.5 mg/month) monotherapy (group 1, n = 62) or antiandrogen monotherapy (group 2, n = 35; 18 received bicalutamide 50 mg q.d., 13 received nilutamide 150 mg t.i.d. and 4 received flutamide 250 mg t.i.d.). The mean age in both groups was 76 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean follow-up time was (50.8 +/- 8.5) months in group 1 and (43.1 +/- 2.2) months in group 2. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels rose in only 1 of the 62 patients (1.6%) in group 1, and in 20 of the 35 patients (57.1%) in group 2. In group 2, 10 of the 20 patients (50%) with increasing PSA levels were treated with LHRH salvage therapy, and eight (80%) responded. Hot flashes (54.8%) and lethargy (41.9%) were the most common side effects in group 1. In contrast, nipple-tenderness (40%) and light-dark adaptation (17.1%) were more often seen in group 2. Only 1 of the 62 patients (1.6%) in group 1 switched to another medication because of adverse side effects; whereas 8 of the 35 patients (22.9%) in group 2 did so.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unlike antiandrogen monotherapy, LHRH agonist monotherapy provided long-term durable control of localized prostate cancer (T1-2). It can also be an effective treatment option for patients whose disease failed to respond to antiandrogen monotherapy. The limitations of our study are the lack of health outcomes analysis and a small sample size.</p>

Comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of four endodontic irrigants using an in vitro model infected by Enterococcus faecalis / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of four endodontic irrigants using an in vitro model infected by Enterococcus faecalis (Ef).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The root canals of fifty extracted teeth were infected by Ef in vitro. The test groups were irrigated with 3% H(2)O(2), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (SH), 2% chloramine-T (CR), and 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), respectively, and the control group was irrigated with 0.9% NaCl. The concentration of Ef in canals of each group was calculated before and after irrigation. The residual bacteria within the dentinal tubules and vitalities of the residual bacteria were also examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All chemical irrigants were significantly more effective than 0.9% NaCl (P < 0.05); 2.5% SH and 2% CHX were statistically more effective than 3% H(2)O(2) (P < 0.05). Residual bacteria could be found in the dentinal tubules and propagated 72 h after.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>2% CR and 2% CHX had almost the equivalent antimicrobial effect as 2.5% SH, but 3% H(2)O(2) was less effective.</p>

Production of fungal cell wall degrading enzymes by a biocontrol strain of Bacillus subtilis AF 1.

Fungal cell wall degrading chitinases and glucanases attained significance in agriculture, medicine, and environment management. The present study was conducted to describe the optimum conditions required for the production of beta-1,4-N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAGase) and beta-1,3-glucanase by a biocontrol strain of Bacillus subtilis AF 1. B. subtilis AF 1 was grown in minimal medium with colloidal chitin (3.0%) and yeast extract (0.3% YE ) and incubated at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C on constant shaker at 180 rpm for 6 days produced highest amounts of NAGase. Presence of 0.5 mM of phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and 0.04% of Tween 20 further improved the enzyme production. B. subtilis AF 1 grown in minimal medium with laminarin (1%) and yeast extract (0.3%) for 3 days produced maximum amount of beta-1,3-glucanase. These conditions can be further scaled-up for large-scale production of NAGase and beta-1,3-glucanase by B. subtilis AF 1.

Which patients with prostate cancer are actually candidates for hormone therapy?

In this article, we will try to address the following aspects: which factors are responsible of the introduction of new candidates for hormone therapy in prostate cancer, who are actually candidates for hormone therapy, classifying them on the basis of the stage of the disease, and which treatment modalities can be proposed for each candidate. Since the introduction of hormone therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, there has been a debate about the optimal timing of hormone therapy. A modification in the timing of hormone therapy produced new candidates for hormone manipulation. In particular, the use of hormone treatment for younger patients, longer periods and early prostate cancer, absolutely requires a whole re-evaluation of which therapy is indicated and it may produce new problems such as higher risk of over-treatment, need of a better evaluation of quality of life in younger patients and the research for better tolerated therapies. Therapies that resist for longer periods without the production of a hormone-refractory disease are also required.