Molecular self-healing mechanisms between C60-fullerene and anthracene unveiled by Raman and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy.

The self-healing polymer P(LMA-co-MeAMMA) crosslinked with C60-fullerene has been studied by FT-Raman spectroscopy in combination with two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis and density functional theory calculations. To unveil the molecular changes during the self-healing process mediated by the Diels-Alder equilibrium between 10-methyl-9-anthracenyl groups and C60-fullerene different anthracene-C60-fullerene adducts have been synthesized and characterized by time-, concentration- and temperature-dependent FT-Raman measurements. The self-healing process could be monitored via the C60-fullerene vibrations at 270, 432 and 1469 cm(-1). Furthermore, the detailed analysis of the concentration-dependent FT-Raman spectra point towards the formation of anthracene-C60-fullerene adducts with an unusual high amount of anthracene bound to C60-fullerene in the polymer film, while the 2D correlation analysis of the temperature-dependent Raman spectra suggests a stepwise dissociation of anthracene-C60-fullerene adducts, which are responsible for the self-healing of the polymer.

Prospective determination of the hormonal response after cessation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist treatment in patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the hormonal (luteinizing hormone [LH] and testosterone) and biochemical (serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) response to withdrawal of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in patients who received more than 2 years of LHRH therapy for advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: Fourteen patients with clinical Stage T3 or higher prostate cancer and no evidence of clinical or biochemical progression, who had received 2 years or more of LHRH therapy, were enrolled at the time of their scheduled 3-month depot injection. Patients underwent history, physical examination, and measurement of serum PSA, LH, and testosterone at baseline, monthly for 3 months, and then every 3 months for 1 year following LHRH withdrawal. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 70.3 years (range 56 to 84). Patients previously received LHRH agonist for a mean of 38.6 months (range 25 to 82). All patients had castrate levels of testosterone (median 10.0 ng/dL) and suppressed LH levels (median 0.1 mIU/mL) at baseline. Median baseline PSA was 0.15 ng/mL. On multiple groupwise comparison, there was no significant change (compared with baseline) in LH or testosterone until 6 months after withdrawal and no change in PSA throughout the duration of the study (median PSA at 1 2 months 0.30 ng/mL). Despite significant increases in LH and testosterone when compared with baseline beginning at 6 months, both LH and testosterone remained markedly suppressed, with median testosterone remaining in the castrate range at both 6 and 9 months and significantly below the lower limit of normal at 12 months (median 111.0 ng/dL). Despite no statistically significant change for the entire cohort in serum PSA, a rising PSA was noted in 4 patients between 3 and 9 months, and LHRH therapy was reinitiated. The remaining patients continued to have suppressed LH and testosterone, with 4 patients remaining in the castrate range at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis after prolonged LHRH administration is variable. Castrate levels of testosterone and suppressed LH may persist even up to 1 year after discontinuing LHRH. These results have significant implications regarding the interpretation of clinical trials incorporating neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormonal therapy. Further studies are needed to expand on these preliminary observations and should also address the feasibility of incorporating LHRH withdrawal into clinical practice.

Microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia with the Dornier Urowave: results of a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, sham-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy and safety of a new transurethral microwave thermotherapy device (the Urowave) in the treatment of men with clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. METHODS: A total of 220 patients (mean age 66.2 years) with clinical BPH, an American Urological Association symptom index (AUA SI) of 13 points or more, and a peak flow rate of 12 mL/s or less were enrolled and randomized 2:1 for active versus sham treatment. All treatments were conducted as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, with oral sedation and analgesia only. Patients were followed up at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: The treatments were well tolerated, and no patient received general or spinal anesthesia. The AUA SI dropped from 23.6 to 12.7 points at 6 months (P < 0.05) in the active group and from 23.9 to 18.0 points in the sham-treated group (P < 0.05, between-group difference). Statistically significant improvements were also noted for peak flow rate (7.7 to 10.7 mL/s at 6 months for active treatment, 8.1 to 9.8 mL/s for sham treatment, P < 0.05, between-group difference) and for average flow rate. A decrease in AUA SI of more than 30% was achieved in 72% versus 38% of patients (active versus sham treatment, respectively) and more than 50% in 50% versus 19% of patients. In general, active Urowave-treated patients perceived "a lot" of improvement, whereas sham-treated patients perceived "a little" to "some" improvement. More of the actively treated patients had dysuria and urgency after treatment, and ejaculatory dysfunction (e.g., hematospermia) was more common in actively treated patients as well. Secondary urinary retention after removal of the catheter occurred in 8 patients (5.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The Dornier Urowave transurethral microwave thermotherapy device for treatment of clinical BPH is effective in decreasing symptoms and bother and improving quality of life and flow rate and is superior to sham treatment. Patients perceive a great deal of improvement, independent of their baseline symptom severity. Adverse events are in general transient and mild in nature. Extended follow-up is necessary to document long-term durability of improvements.