Long-term results of treatment for prostate carcinoma by staging pelvic lymph node dissection and definitive irradiation using low-dose rate temporary iridium-192 interstitial implant and external beam radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term treatment outcome of definitive irradiation by using temporary interstitial implant and limited dose of external beam radiotherapy in treatment of localized prostate carcinoma. METHODS: In total, 536 patients with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate, classification T1-T3, underwent staging pelvic lymph node dissection and brachytherapy delivering an average tumor dose of 30 grays (Gy), supplemented by external beam radiation therapy for an additional dose of 36 Gy delivered over 4 weeks. One hundred of 536 (18%) patients had pathologic D1 disease. A total of 181 patients had undergone transurethral prostatectomy before the treatment. Repeat prostate biopsy was performed on 132 patients 18 or more months after treatment. None of the patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormone therapy. RESULTS: Cumulative disease free survival (DFS) including biochemical DFS at 10 and 15 years for classification T1B,C was 78% and 72%; for T2A, 78% and 78%; for T2B,C, 68% and 66%; and for T3A-C, 45% and 45%, respectively. Cause specific survival for the entire group at 10 and 15 years was 89% and 87%, respectively. Severe complications occurred only in the early developmental phase of the study. CONCLUSIONS: In univariate analysis, the clinical stage, histologic grade, pretreatment PSA level, lymph node status, and results of repeat posttreatment biopsy were all independently significant prognostic factors. However, the authors' study indicates that in multivariate analysis, only two factors emerged with statistical significance-the status of pelvic lymph nodes and the results of posttreatment biopsy. This signifies the importance of local tumor control to achieve ultimate cure and the importance of assessment of pelvic lymph nodes before definitive local therapy other than radical prostatectomy, especially in the high-risk group.

Effects of corn processing and dietary fiber source on feedlot performance, visceral organ weight, diet digestibility, and nitrogen metabolism in lambs.

In Exp. 1, early-weaned Targhee and Polypay crossbred lambs (60 ewes and 66 rams; initial BW 24 +/- 1.0 kg) were used in a 2 x 3 factorial experiment to determine the effects of corn processing (whole shelled corn [WSC] or ground and pelleted corn [GC]) in combination with supplemental fiber (none [control]; soybean hulls, SBH [highly digestible]; or peanut hulls, PH [highly indigestible]) on DMI, ADG, feed efficiency, and visceral organ weight. For the total trial, WSC resulted in a 4% increase (P < .01) in ADG vs GC, and supplemental fiber resulted in increased (P < .01) DMI and ADG vs the control diet. Experiment 2 was conducted using 12 Targhee and Polypay crossbred wether lambs (initial BW 25 +/- 7 kg) to determine the effects of corn processing and fiber source in high-concentrate diets on diet digestibility and N retention using the same diets as in Exp. 1. Lambs fed WSC had greater (P < .001) apparent N digestion, true N digestion, and N retention (P < .01) than those fed GC. The apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, and NDF were greater (P < .001) for WSC than for GC diets. Peanut hulls resulted in decreased (P < .01) DM, OM, and NDF apparent digestibilities compared with the control and SBH diets. Starch digestion was not affected (P > .10) by diet. Whole corn resulted in improved DM, OM, NDF, and N digestibility compared with GC. Overall, both the SBH and PH diets resulted in greater DMI and ADG than the control diet, which lacked supplemental fiber.

Cytoplasmic streaming in the root cortex and its role in the delivery of potassium to the shoot.

The influence of cytochalasin B (CB), a potent inhibitor of cytoplasmic streaming, on (86)Rb-labelled K(+) translocation by detopped Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Cucumis sativus L. and Zea mays L. plants was examined by measuring the radioactivity in xylem exudate before and after the addition of CB to the medium bathing the roots. CB caused complete cessation of cytoplasmic streaming in root segments within 15 min but was without effect on either total (86)Rb uptake or exudation. Thus factors other than cytoplasmic streaming limit the movement of K(+) across the symplast of the root of higher plants.

The Use of an Enzyme Electrode in the Analysis of Indole-3-acetic Acid Oxidase Activity in Avena.

A flexible analytical system which allows for the continuous potentiometric monitoring of the disappearance of an electrochemical species, ferrocyanide, by the peroxidase enzyme is described. The ability of peroxidase to mediate the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid is followed by observing the competition of indole-3-acetic acid with ferrocyanide for the peroxidase enzyme. This is accomplished by examining potentiometrically the decrease in the rate of ferrocyanide oxidation with increasing indole-3-acetic acid concentration. Homogenates of Avena sativa coleoptiles are investigates for both peroxidase and indole-3-acetic acid oxidase activity. Observations are made with respect to H(2)O(2) and ferrocyanide in the presence and absence of indole-3-acetic acid and naphthalene acetic acid and several interpretations of the reaction kinetics are postulated. Solutions previously assayed for indole-3-acetic acid oxidase activity, when dialyzed and reassayed for peroxidase activity, demonstrated an unimpaired ability to oxidize ferrocyanide peroxidatively, suggesting interpretations of the bisubstrate situation which differ slightly from interpretations given in the literature.

Metabolism of tryptophan in petioles of coleus.

Auxin precursors retard abscission when applied to debladed petioles of Coleus blumei Benth. The d and l forms of tryptophan are equally effective in retarding abscission. Tryptamine is more effective than is tryptophan. Both compounds apparently are converted to auxin through an aldehyde intermediate. The evidence presented suggests that a major pathway of tryptophan metabolism proceeds through tryptamine, as can be demonstrated by the use of amine oxidase inhibitors in the petiole tissue. Cell free preparations of the tissues metabolize tryptophan-1-(14)C with the release of carbon dioxide. The rate of tryptophan mtabolism in abscission tissue is 5 times that in distal petiole tissue. Radioactivity is associated with basic indole conversion products as well as with neutral and acidic fractions. The radioactivity is most concentrated in the neutral fraction. The results indicate that the Coleus petiole itself is capable of producing auxin.

The production of tryptamine from tryptophan by Bacillus cereus (KVT).

1. A strain of Bacillus cereus has been isolated that can produce tryptamine when grown in a broth containing tryptophan. 2. The conditions of culture under which this conversion is optimum, as well as the general pathways of tryptophan metabolism by this micro-organism, have been examined, and the information obtained has been used to obtain the first demonstration of cell-free tryptophan-carboxy-lyase activity. 3. The significance of these findings both to the current attempts to elucidate the pathways of metabolism of tryptophan in higher plants and to the published generalizations about the previously studied amino acid carboxy-lyases is discussed.

On the ability of Taphrina deformans to produce indoleacetic acid from tryptophan by way of tryptamine.

The metabolism of tryptophan by Taphrina deformans has been studied to confirm the reported ability of this organism to produce tryptamine. Such amine production was not observed, despite use of amine oxidase inhibitors at levels which should have resulted in the accumulation of tryptamine in the medium. It has been shown that the metabolites of tryptophan include indolepyruvic acid, indolelactic acid, tryptophol, and indoleacetic acid, and that the original report of tryptamine production must be reevaluated in light of the extraction procedures employed.