Quality of life in a population of Polish patients with prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in treatment have led to the prolongation of life among patients with prostate cancer (PCa), which implies greater interest in the issue of the quality of life (QoL) in patients who undergo treatment. The quality of life of patients with cancer questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the quality of life questionnaire specific to PCa (QLQ-PR25) are tools used worldwide to conduct research on this subject. In our study we assessed the quality of life in a population of Polish patients suffering from prostate cancer. Differences in the quality of life depending on the stage of the disease were highlighted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study using the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PR25 questionnaires in a group of 1047 patients. RESULTS: The highest QoL scores (according to the QLQ-C30 questionnaire) were observed in patients with localized prostate cancer, while the lowest were recorded in the metastatic group. Sexual activity and sexual functioning assessed on the basis of QLQ-PR25 was best in the group of patients suffering from localized prostate cancer, and the worst in patients with locally advanced PCa. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of QoL showed a significant correlation with the stage of the disease. Sexual activity and sexual functioning were the best in patients with localized cancer; worst among patients with locally advanced tumor.

Significance of atypical small acinar proliferation and extensive high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm in clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms in elderly men. The precancerous lesion of PCa is considered a high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasm (HG-PIN), while atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) is commonly considered as an under-diagnosed cancer. The aim of the study was to establish the impact of ASAP and extensive HG-PIN on pre-biopsy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and the risk of cancer development in subsequent biopseis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 1,010 men suspected for PCa were included in the study based on elevated PSA, and/or positive rectal examination. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided 10 core biopsy was performed. In those with extensive HG-PIN or ASAP on the first biopsy, and/or elevated PSA value, a second biopsy was performed. RESULTS: In the second biopsy, PCa was diagnosed in 6 of 19 patients (31.57%) with extensive HG-PIN, in four of 40 (10%) with BPH, and in 4 of 18 (22.22%) with ASAP. There was a statistically significant difference between the values of PSA in the group of patients with ASAP in comparison to those with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) (p = 0.005) as well as in patients with HG-PIN in comparison to BPH (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A precancerous lesion diagnosed upon biopsy causes a statistically significant increase in the values of PSA in relation to BPH, as well as in the case of ASAP and extensive HG-PIN. The estimate of risk of PCa diagnosis in patients with ASAP and those with extensive HG-PIN in the first biopsy is comparable, which is why there are no reasons for different treatment of patients with the above-mentioned diagnoses. Both should be subjected to urgent second biopsy in around the 4-6 weeks following the initial biopsy.

Inflammatory changes in biopsy specimens from patients with suspected prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in elderly men, and accounts for 30% of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer. The development of the 'clinically insignificant' prostate cancer into its invasive form is still unclear, and it is believed that chronic inflammation may play its role, as proposed by De Marzo in 1999. However, there is no clear opinion on the subject of existence of dependencies between changes of the inflammatory type and PCa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 1,010 men, suspected of prostate cancer development by positive digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or elevated PSA value. The 10 cores, TRUS guided biopsy was performed. In those with ASAP, HG-PIN or inflammation the second biopsy was proposed. RESULTS: In the first biopsy PCa was diagnosed in 336 patients (33.27%). ASAP was found in 58 (5.74%), HG-PIN in 82 (8.11%), and the coexistence of both was found in 19 (1.88%). Chronic prostatitis was diagnosed in 101 (10%) men. Of those who underwent second biopsy, PCa was diagnosed in six of 19 patients (31.57%) who were diagnosed with HG-PIN in the first biopsy, in four of 40 (10%) with BPH in the first biopsy, in four of 18 (22.22%) with ASAP or LG-PIN together with ASAP, and in two out of five (40%) with the coexistence of ASAP and HG-PIN. Malignancy was not confirmed in any of the patients in whom the diagnosis of BPH, HG-PIN, or ASAP was accompanied by chronic prostatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic prostatitis does not significantly increase the value of PSA in patients with benign changes (BPH). The presence of prostatitis in the first biopsy did not predict cancer in subsequent biopsy, because the second biopsy did not reveal prostate cancer in any of the patients in whom prostatitis was diagnosed in the first biopsy.

The relationship of cancer stem cells in urological cancers.

Numerous studies are ongoing to identify and isolate cancer stem cells from cancers of genito-urinary tracts. Better understanding of their role in prostate, urothelial and kidney cancer origin, growth and progression opens new pathways in development of more effective treatment methods. However there are still many issues before advances in this field can be introduced for clinical application. This review addresses current achievements in cancer stem cells research in uro-oncology.

The role of postoperative radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients with unfavorable prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the years 2002-2008, 121 consecutive prostate cancer patients underwent radical prostatectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. The median dose was 64 Gy (range: 60-72 Gy). Biochemical and clinical progression-free survival were estimated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze clinicopathological variables associated with treatment failure. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 27 months. Three-year bPFS was 72%. On univariate analysis it was influenced by: extracapsular tumor extension (60% vs. 75%, p = 0.0232), seminal vesicles invasion (52% vs. 85%, p = 0.00041), Gleason score ≥ 7 (65% vs. 86%, p = 0.044) and the use of hormonal therapy (50% vs. 80%, p = 0.0058). On multivariate analysis bPFS was associated with: TNM stage (HR = 3.19), postoperative hormonal therapy (HR = 2.6), total irradiation dose (HR = 0.82) and the maximum pretreatment level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (HR = 0.95). Three-year cPFS was 84%. On univariate analysis it was influenced by: preoperative PSA level > 10 ng/ml (75% vs. 90%, p = 0.04), vascular-nerve bundles involvement (63% vs. 88%, p = 0.0031), adjacent organs infiltration (50% vs. 85%, p = 0.018) and the use of postoperative hormonal therapy (62% vs. 90%, p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis cPFS was associated with: TNM stage (HR = 2.68), postoperative hormonal therapy (HR = 3.61) and total irradiation dose (HR = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative radiotherapy in patients with unfavorable prognostic factors provides good biochemical and local control. Total irradiation dose and postoperative hormonal therapy are important treatment factors influencing prognosis.

Analysis of relative expression level of VEGF ( vascular endothelial growth factor ), HIF-1α ( hypoxia inducible factor 1α ) and CTGF ( connective tissue growth factor ) genes in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Analysis of gene expression in renal tissue is considered to be a diagnostic tool predicting the clinical course of glomerulonephritis. The present study quantified the relative transcript levels of VEGF, CTGF and HIF-1α in renal tissue to establish their relationship with some clinical variables in patients suffering from chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). METHODS: 28 patients (6F and 22M, mean age 51.2±15.0) with CGN were enrolled. Type of CNG recognized by kidney biopsy (histopatological evaluation) was as follows: minimal change disease (MCD)-3pts, IgA nephropathy-5pts, FSGS-3pts, membranous nephropathy-4pts, mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis-3pts; MPGN-1pts, lupus nephritis-6pts, granulomatosis with polyangitis-2 pts; hypertensive nephropathy- 3pts. Renal tissue from 3 individuals with normal eGFR and histology was taken as control. Mean clinical follow-up of patients was 12 months after biopsy eGFR and daily urinary protein excretion (DPE) was assessed at the time of biopsy and then in 6 months intervals. Real-time PCR was used to determine relative gene expression. The housekeeping gene GAPDH was used as normalization control. RESULTS: At the time of the biopsy relative expression of 3 analyzed genes was diminished in comparison to control. There were statistically significant differences in VEGF gene relative expression level in patients which varied according to eGFR and tendency in patients which varied according to DPE. HIF-alfa and CTGF gene showed only a tendency. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of the VEGF gene in subjects with DPE>3,5 g may point to insufficient oxygen supply in renal tissue which may result in tubulointerstitial fibrosis with further functional renal impairment and decline of eGFR.

Psychological aspect of qualification to implant an artificial urethral sphincter AMS 800.

INTRODUCTION: Implantation of the AMS 800 artificial urethral sphincter is a "gold standard" in the treatment of total urinary incontinence in men. Appropriate qualification of patients to urinary incontinence treatment determines the higher effectiveness of this method. Service of this device requires physical fitness and mental efficiency from a patient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Urological Clinic hospitalized 16 patients, aged from 60 to 80 years, after first qualification for artificial urethral sphincter implantation. Psychological assessment was carried out during anamnesis and medical examination using the MMSE and the GDS. RESULTS: Psychological deviations were found in 7 out of 16 examined patients, but finally 2 patients were disqualified because of their cognitive function disorders with elements of low level depressive syndrome (1) and benign cognitive and member function disorders (1). Among the patients who were examined by a psychologist: four of them showed mild (3) and temperate (1) features of depressive syndrome and one patient showed benign cognitive disorder without dementia. However, none of these findings were contraindications to incontinence treatment with an artificial urethral sphincter. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Mild and temperate features of depression syndrome are not absolute contraindications for a sphincter AMS 800 implantation. These patients need only pharmacological treatment. 2. Cognitive and other memory disorders are contraindications to this method. 3. The qualification to implantation an artificial urethral sphincter should include a psychological assessment, especially in older patients in whom mental disorders are suspected.

Is botulinum toxin type a intraprostatic injections really effective in patients with urinary retention?

Botulinum toxin type A is used in treatment of bladder hyperactivity and sphincter dyssynergia and was reported to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with BPH. Some authors, however, failed to observe in their study apoptosis after BoNTA administration. We conducted an open-label study of BoNTA in men with BPH-related LUTS who were unsuitable for surgery as well as investigation of the effect of the toxin on in vitro growth of fibroblasts. In the clinical part, 5 patients aged from 75 to 88, suffering from BPH and UR were treated. Patients were previously disqualified from surgery and had not passed trials without catheters (TWOC). Prostate volume ranged from 38 to 104 mL. Botulinum toxin injection were performed. Each lobe of adenoma was injected with 100 U Botox under sonographic guidance. Prostate volume and TWOC were performed after 6 months. In the in vitro part, 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and fibroblasts isolated from human prostate were cultured in the presence of Botox (10, 5 and 1 U/mL) for 24 and 72 h. Cells were detached and counted in Neubauer chamber using trypan blue assay. Cells cultured in medium without botulinum toxin were the control group. Results are presented as the means with standard deviations. The means were compared, p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.No early complications were observed. Prostate volume remained unchanged after six months and patients were unable to void. Number of 3T3 cells after 24 h incubation was 7.12 +/- 1.88, 7.12 +/- 0.64, 6.75 +/- 1.28 and 6.88 +/- 0.83 x 10(4), after 24 h, 24.00 +/- 3.46, 22.75 +/- 3.73, 23.12 +/- 3.46 and 23.88 +/- 2.42 x 10(4) after 72 h, for 0, 1, 5 and 10 U/mL botulinum toxin type A concentrations, respectively. Similarly, number of prostate fibroblasts was 7.50 +/- 1.20, 7.12 +/- 1.73, 6.50 +/-1.93, and 6.25 +/- 1.58 x 10(4) after 24 h and 9.62 +/- 2.00, 9.12 +/- 1.55, 9.12 +/- 1.73 and 9.75 +/- 2.82 x 10(4) after 72 h. In conclusion, Botox had no statistically significant, dose-dependent effect on neither 3T3 nor prostate fibroblasts proliferation. It caused no improvement in UR nor prostate volume reduction.

Credibility of a smoking questionnaire based on urine cotinine level for patients with bladder cancer - a preliminary report.

An analysis of the reliability of a questionnaire on smoking in 96 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The credibility of the questionnaire was evaluated based on the detection of cotinine, an objective marker of tobacco smoke exposure, in urine. It was confirmed that approximately 18% of smokers did not admit to smoking, did not comply with recommendations to stop smoking, and about 4% of non-smokers were exposed to tobacco smoke unknowingly.

Prostate epithelial stem cells are resistant to apoptosis after α1-antagonist treatment. The impact for BPH patients.

INTRODUCTION: Induction of apoptosis in prostatic epithelial cells by doxazosin, terazosin and prazosin has been well documented. However, the biochemical pathways of doxazosin action is still unclear. Aforementioned drugs should lead to decrease of prostate volume, although this effect was never observed in patients suffering from BPH after treatment with α1-antagonists. Probably, it is connected with cancer stem cells' resistance on chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to compare incidence of apoptosis induced by doxazosin in progenitor and differentiated cells isolated from human prostate epithelium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this purpose tissue specimens were obtained from 10 patients suffering from BPH, the primary cultures of prostate epithelium were established and CD133 MicroBeads sorting was prepared. Both, CD133(+)/CD133(-) co-cultures and CD133(+) cells were incubated with different concentration of doxazosin for 12 h. Cell viability and apoptosis was estimated with Annexin V-FITC. RESULTS: 12 h incubation of CD133(+)/CD133(-) co-cultures with doxazosin resulted in increase of apoptotic cells, while in CD133(+) cultures no changes were observed. Correlation between apoptotic cell number and doxazosin concentration in CD133(+)/ CD133(-) co-cultures group was high (R = 0.99). CONCLUSION: Doxazosin induced apoptosis in co-cultures of progenitor and differentiated epithelial cells. However, progenitor cells were not susceptible to apoptosis, what can be a reason of treatment failure in BPH patients.

Primary cancer of the anterior urethra in a male patient.

We present a 76-year-old male patient, who was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the distal part of the urethra. Transurethral resection of the tumor (TURT) of the urethra was conducted. After establishing local relapse, surgical removal of the distal part of the urethra was proposed to the patient. Due to no consent for an open surgery, another electroresection of the tumor was performed. When the second relapse occurred, the patient provided his consent for surgical removal of the part of the urethra with anastomosis of the remaining part of the urethra with the skin from the abdominal part of the penis. Postsurgical observation did not reveal any local relapse.

Parenteral ambroxol treatment causes xanthine and calcium oxalate stones in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Ambroxol (ABX) is known to promote bronchial secretion and is used as an expectorant. This study was undertaken to document the connection between ambroxol parenteral treatment and bladder stones in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five wild rats (Rattus sp.) were divided into three equal groups. Rats from the first and second groups received ABX s.c. during 2 weeks in total doses of 30 mg/kg per 24 h and 60 mg/kg per 24 h, respectively. Rats from the control group received 1 mL of injection solution s.c. One month after the treatment termination, animals were sacrificed and urinary tracts without urethra were dissected. Stones found in the bladders were measured, weighed and chemically analysed. Voiding cystography was performed to exclude pathology of the lower urinary tract. Photo documentation was produced. RESULTS: From the first and second groups, 33% and 47% of rats, respectively, had solitary stones in the bladder. In one case from the second group, there was a huge stone in the bladder and urethra. There were no stones in rats from the control group. The mean length of stones was 1.38 +/- 0.23 mm and 1.41 +/- 0.60 mm in the first and second groups, respectively. Mean stone weight was 1.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(-3) g and 1.44 +/- 0.54 x 10(-3) g. Stones were composed of 67% of xanthine and 33% of calcium oxalate. CONCLUSIONS: Ambroxol parenteral treatment caused xanthine and oxalate stone formation. Attention should be paid to the possibility of urinary stone formation after long-term ABX treatment.

Palliative percutaneous kidney embolization with enbucrilate in patients with renal cell carcinoma: safety and symptom control.

BACKGROUND: Primarily palliative renal embolization is a relatively rare procedure which is indicated in patients with unresectable kidney malignancies and in patients in poor general condition. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the role of primarily palliative transarterial renal embolization for the treatment of inoperable patients with renal cell carcinoma, assessing the indications, safety, and efficacy of this procedure. MATERIAL/METHODS: Seventy-three patients scheduled for palliative embolization between 1998 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed regarding their medical history, the procedure report, and data from the early postoperative period. RESULTS: Sixty-six of the 73 patients presented with renal cell carcinoma stage IV. The most common indication for embolization was hematuria (34%), followed by flank pain (32%), prophylaxis in stage IV (25%), lack of consent for surgery (7%), and poor general condition (3%). Embolizations were performed under local anesthesia with a mixture of enbucrilate and iodinated oil, with the use of additional embolizing materials in two cases. The procedure eliminated hematuria in 100% of cases and removed the loin pain completely in 72%. Migration of the embolizing material was observed in 10% of cases, and in 4% it resulted in symptomatic occlusion of the lower extremity distal arteries. Postembolic syndrome was noted in 92% of the patients CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous palliative embolization with enbucrilate is a safe and effective method of treating patients with unresectable renal cell carcinoma. The potential effect of the embolization on cancer progression and improvement of survival in these patients still requires prospective investigation.

Muscle-invasive urothelial cell carcinoma of the human bladder: multidirectional differentiation and ability to metastasize.

Few published studies have addressed the correlation between multidirectional differentiation in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and its ability to metastasize. We demonstrated that histologic differentiation within a single tumor affects lymph node metastasis. We examined cystectomy specimens from 93 bladder tumors and 1085 lymph nodes. In this study, urothelial cell carcinomas (UCCs) with divergent differentiation, excluding pure divergent patterns such as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma that tend toward a distinct biologic behavior, were subjected to histopathologic estimation. The positive lymph node ratio increased with the nonconventional differentiation number (NDN) within a tumor from 8.7% for an NDN of 0 (pure conventional UCCs) to 35.5% for an NDN of 2 or higher (mixed conventional and nonconventional [NC] UCCs showing >2 NC patterns). The positive lymph node number (PLN) was more than twice as high for an NDN of 3 or higher as compared with cases with an NDN of 0. Lymph node positivity (LP) was associated with the presence of micropapillary, lymphoma-like, plasmacytoid, giant cell, or clear cell-type tumors, and increasing PLN was associated with the presence of glandular, nested, lymphoma-like, plasmacytoid, or undifferentiated types in the primary tumor. By multivariate analysis, NDN status was determined to be an independent predictor of PLN (P = .032). Tumor stage had impact on LP (P = .002); however, in cases with a PLN of 4 or higher, the NDN became the only predictor of further dissemination (P = .016). No significant tumor grade impact on LP or PLN was found. Our results indicate that NC differentiation in the primary tumor is a good predictor of lymph node dissemination.

Uric acid plasma level and urine pH in rats treated with ambroxol.

It was a chance discovery that ambroxol parenteral administration led to urinary bladder stone formation in rats. This study was undertaken to examine the serum uric acid levels and urine pH in rats after ambroxol parenteral treatment. Ambroxol influence on the uric acid level was measured in 5 rats (Rattus sp.) treated with 60 mg/kg (dissolved in injection water, sc, daily) during 2 weeks. Ambroxol influence on urine pH was examined on 45 rats divided into 3 groups. Rats from the 1st and 2nd group received 30 and 60 mg/kg/24h ambroxol, respectively. Urine was collected once daily and measured with strip kit. All values were presented as the means with standard deviations. The Student t test was used to compare the means, p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Dynamics of pH changes was measured in 4 rats treated with 60 mg/kg/24h of ambroxol. Controls received 1 mL of injection water sc. Serum uric acid level increased up to 8.7 +/- 1.0 mg/dL vs. 5.7 +/- 1.0 mg/dL in control (p < 0.002). In the 1st and 2nd group urine pH increased up to 7.5 +/- 0.5 and 7.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.7 +/- 0.4 (p < 0.05). Ambroxol withdrawal resulted in sequential urine pH decrease. 11 days after interruption of ambroxol therapy pH reached the starting value. Urine pH changes and possible disturbances in uric acid metabolic pathway may influence on the stone formation in rats after ambroxol parenteral treatment. The influence of ambroxol on urinary tract GAG layer and the balance between xanthine and CaOx in the urine should be checked.

The FAS-related apoptosis signaling pathway in the prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer lesions.

An aim of the study was to determine the protein expression of the FAS-related apoptosis signaling pathway (FADD-FAS Associating Protein with Death Domain, PRO-CASPASE-8 and CASPASE-8), which are responsible for signal transduction to trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer and Prostatic Intraepitelial Neoplasia (PIN). 20 specimens from prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy were inwestigated. 8 cancers were diagnosed as G-2 and 12 as G-3. 14 samples were described as poorly differentiated, high Gleason score (> or = 7). Control group consisted of prostate specimens from autopsy of 3 young men. Specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and immersed in paraffin. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was done. Monoclonal antibodies to FADD & CASPASE-8 (Novocastra, UK) were used to immunohistochemical study, according to streptavidine-biotin method. Semiquantitive method described protein expression. Expression index (EI) was calculated as a percent of positive FADD or CASPASE-8 cells to total cells in the specimen. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t-test (p < 0.05). Normal prostate tissue was negative in both, FADD and CASPASE-8 immunohistochemistry staining. PIN & prostate cancer lesions were found to strongly express of FADD & CASPASE-8 proteins. Expression of FADD in cancer lesions was 66,5+/-27,8% and 59,8+/-19,0% vs. 56,8114,8% HGPIN and LGPIN, respectively. Expression of CASPASE-8 in cancer lesions was 64,1 + 23,4% and 61,5+/-15,0% vs. 48,0+/-17,6% HGPIN and LGPIN, respectively. PIN & prostate cancer lesions are characterized by similar high expression of proteins responsible for signal transduction to induce apoptosis. The mediators of apoptotic signal can be very important in prostate cancer prophylaxis and management.

Usefulness of histologic homogeneity estimation of muscle-invasive urinary bladder cancer in an individual prognosis: a mapping study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the histologic homogeneity of muscle-invasive urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder, with conventional and nonconventional (eg, squamous, glandular, or variants) differentiation, to assess its influence on prognosis. METHODS: With organ mapping, we investigated 38 cystectomy specimens. Each entire bladder was cut into 88 slices according to an identical topographic scheme. From all the bladder slices, 1231 slices that included tumor were chosen for the histologic study. We examined the diagnostic significance, extension, and number of histologic differentiation types. RESULTS: The extension of nonconventional differentiation, with any proportion of histologic type, had an unfavorable impact on survival time. The number of nonconventional differentiation types increases in the presence of a sarcomatoid, an undifferentiated, a nested, or a micropapillary pattern. The increased number of differentiation types had an unfavorable influence on survival time. Patients with a more than 80% classic urothelial cell carcinoma pattern had a favorable prognosis, which increased further with increasing percentages of this differentiation type. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle-invasive urinary bladder cancers are not a homogenous group of tumors. Our results suggest that a precise assessment of the extension and number of histological differentiation types may be an individual prognostic factor. Conventional differentiation with at least 80% extension seems to be prognostically favorable. Nonconventional differentiation, especially with greater extension and a greater number of types, could imply a worse prognosis.

Abdominal wall repair using a biodegradable scaffold seeded with cells.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The repair of large abdominal wall defects is still a challenge for pediatric surgeons. Synthetic materials, however, may lead to high complication rates. This study was aimed at applying tissue-engineering methods to abdominal wall repair. METHODS: 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were expanded in vitro. In the next step, a biodegradable material--polyglycolic acid (PGA)--was actively seeded with 10(7) cells/scm of PGA scaffold. Culture medium (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium with 10% fetal bovine serum) was changed every 6 hours after seeding cells on PGA fibers. Under general anaesthesia, C57BL/6J black mice underwent creation of a 2 x 3-cm abdominal wall defect (60%-70% of abdominal surface). The defect was repaired in the experimental group with the fibroblast-seeded PGA scaffold. In the first control group, the defect was covered with acellular PGA, and in the second control group, by skin closure. Animals were killed after 30 days to assess the histologic and gross findings. RESULTS: No abdominal hernia was found in animals repaired with cell-seeded and acellular scaffolds. All animals with skin closure died within 7 days. In every case, tissue-engineered construct was thicker then in controls. Histologic and gross examination revealed a good neovascularisation in tissue-engineered abdominal walls comparing to the acellular matrix. There was no intensive scar formation between abdominal wall and skin. CONCLUSIONS: Engineered soft tissue constructs can provide structural replacement of severe and large abdominal wall defects. Tissue engineering in the near future will possibly enter clinical practice.

Selenium level in benign and cancerous prostate.

The dietary microelement selenium (Se) has been proposed as a potential chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer. This element is present in various amounts in all tissues. Little information is available on Se level in patients with prostate gland disorders. The levels of Se in prostatic gland of patients with prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia, and healthy controls were examined. The Se level for benign prostate hyperplasia (156 +/- 30.6 ng/g) was the same as in the control group (157 +/- 26.0 ng/g), but in the gland of prostate cancer patients (182 +/- 34.1 ng/g wet weight), the Se level was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in both healthy controls and benign prostate hyperplasia. Thus, the Se level in human healthy controls is lower than in kidney and liver but higher compared with other tissues.