Condom use behaviours among 18-24 year-old urban African American males: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this pilot project was to develop, administer and assess a brief male-focused and behavioural-driven condom promotion programme for young adult African American males in an urban setting. To achieve the aims of this study, linkages with local community centres were initially fostered and both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed. Based on relevant tenets of the social cognitive theory and the stages of change model, a series of focus groups were conducted among the target population, recruited from non-traditional urban settings, to identify and further explore their perceived condom use barriers and facilitators in order to support programme development. Specifically, the topical items addressed those young men's perceptions of sexuality and condom use within three broad contexts: general sexual behaviours, condom use behaviours, and the relationship between condoms and substance use. The focus group discussions were audiotaped and the transcribed data summarized and analysed based on those thematic topics. The findings revealed that significant myths, misconceptions and knowledge gaps exist regarding HIV/STD-related prevention, condom promotion and substance use. The findings imply that there is a critical need to develop target group suitable condom promotion programmes in order to successfully promote, foster and sustain condom use among high-risk populations.

Transrectal ultrasound and biopsy in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Historically, the prostate was evaluated for cancer by simple digital rectal examination, and biopsy to obtain a tissue diagnosis of cancer was performed blindly. The advent of ultrasound technology offered a new way to evaluate the prostate, and biopsy techniques were soon developed to incorporate ultrasound guidance. METHODS: The authors review the role of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of the prostate and ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. These techniques are traced from their origins to the current standards of care, with attention paid to developments and controversies in recent literature. RESULTS: Early experience with TRUS led to the description of "classic" sonographic findings of prostate cancer. To obtain a tissue diagnosis of cancer, these regions were initially targeted in ultrasound-guided biopsies. Concomitant with the development of TRUS, though, was the development of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay. Over the past decade, there has been a profound stage migration due to earlier detection of prostate cancer. Most patients now diagnosed with prostate cancer have no palpable abnormality or specific sonographic findings. In response, ultrasound-guided biopsies have become more systematic, rather than lesion-specific, in nature. CONCLUSIONS: TRUS continues to play an important role in the evaluation of the prostate when malignancy is suspected. Although the optimal method of prostate biopsy is controversial, ultrasound is critical in ensuring accurate sampling of the gland.

Glycolate metabolism by Hep G2 cells.

The pathways of oxalate synthesis in humans are not well defined despite their clinical significance in primary hyperoxaluria and idiopathic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Furthermore, the functional roles, if any, of this synthesis have not been elucidated. This study examines pathways of oxalate synthesis from glycolate in Hep G2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line. Incubation of these cells with glycolate has revealed that a pathway may function to synthesize oxalate from glycolate that does not depend on the oxidation of glycolate to glyoxylate by glycolate oxidase. Labeling cells with 14C-glycolate and chromatographic analyses indicated that detectable amounts of 14C-glyoxylate were not formed. A radioactive peak that coeluted with oxalate on ion exclusion chromatography was the only peak yet identified. A detailed examination of glycolate metabolism in these cells should help clarify the terminal steps associated with oxalate synthesis and aid in our understanding of two-carbon metabolism.

Recurrent suture urolithiasis 29 years after open pyelolithotomy.

A case of a foreign body-induced renal stone in which the patient was treated successfully with a ureterorenoscopic approach is presented.

Extraction of omega- and omega-1-hydroxylauric acids with ethyl acetate results in formation of acetoxy products.

In studies of the regiospecific metabolism of lauric acid by monooxygenase enzymes, incubation medium from the reaction of [14C] lauric acid and microsomes is routinely acidified and extracted with ethyl ether. Separation of products by HPLC shows the formation of omega(12)- and omega-1(11)-hydroxylauric acids by rat liver microsomes. In a comparison of several extraction solvents, we observed that the extraction of incubation media with ethyl acetate alone was associated with the appearance of a major new metabolite peak concomitant with loss of the 12- and 11-hydroxylaurate peaks by 62 and 23%, respectively. No difference was observed between extraction procedures in the per cent recovery of radiolabel. Similar results were observed with extraction of lauric acid metabolites formed by fish liver microsomes. Acidification of the incubation media prior to ethyl acetate extraction prevented formation of the new metabolite peak. In experiments to identify the new metabolite(s), 11- and 12-hydroxylaurate products formed by rat liver microsomes were acetylated and found to show an HPLC retention time similar to that of the unknown metabolite peak formed with ethyl acetate extraction. Mass spectrometric analysis further showed that the methyl esters of 11- and 12-acetoxylauric acids were very similar to that of the methyl ester derivative of the unknown metabolite fraction. Thus, data indicate that the acetoxy derivatives of 11- and 12-hydroxylauric acids were formed by direct reaction of ethyl acetate with the laurate products formed by microsomal monooxygenase enzymes. This extraction procedure can produce a major shift in the amount and ratio of omega- and omega-1-hydroxylaurates measured in the incubation media.