Evidence of chromosomal instability in prostate cancer determined by spectral karyotyping (SKY) and interphase fish analysis.

The way in which cytogenetic aberrations develop in prostate cancer (CaP) is poorly understood. Spectral karyotype (SKY) analysis of CaP cell lines has shown that they have unstable karyotypes and also have features associated with chromosomal instability (CIN). To accurately determine the incidence of de novo structural and numerical aberrations in vitro in CaP, we performed SKY analysis of three independent clones derived from one representative cell line, DU145. The frequent generation of new chromosomal rearrangements and a wide variation in the number of structural aberrations within two to five passages suggested that this cell line exhibited some of the features associated with a CIN phenotype. To study numerical cell-to-cell variation, chromosome 8 aneusomy was assessed in the LNCaP, DU145, and PC-3 cell lines and a patient cohort of 15 CaP primary tumors by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This analysis showed that a high frequency of numerical alteration affecting chromosome 8 was present in both in vitro and in CaP tissues. In comparison to normal controls, the patient cohort had a statistically significant (P<.05), greater frequency of cells with one and three centromere 8 copies. These data suggest that a CIN-like process may be contributing towards the generation of de novo numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities in CaP.

Value of random US-guided transrectal prostate biopsy.

One hundred sixty-four men underwent ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsy of a hypoechoic prostatic nodule suspicious for malignancy, and random biopsy of normal-appearing areas of the gland. The contribution of random biopsy to diagnosis, staging, and management of prostatic carcinoma was evaluated. A diagnosis of carcinoma was made in 71 patients (43.3%). Carcinoma was diagnosed at biopsy of only the nodule in 56 of these patients (79%), at both the nodule and random biopsy site in 10 (14%), and only at the random biopsy site in five (7%). Random biopsy did not result in significant alteration of clinical staging. However, management was altered in five patients with positive results at random biopsy only, four of whom underwent surgery. The additional yield from random prostatic biopsy was small but distinct and had clinical relevance. The authors conclude that random biopsy is a useful procedure in the evaluation of patients with prostatic nodules.

Long-term effects of aspirin desensitization--treatment for aspirin-sensitive rhinosinusitis-asthma.

One hundred seven known aspirin (ASA)-sensitive patients with rhinosinusitis-asthma were studied from 1975 to 1988. Forty-two of the patients avoided ASA and served as the control group. Thirty-five patients were desensitized to ASA and treated with daily ASA treatment (Rx) for as long as 8 years (mean, 3.75 years) to May 1988 and were designated the continuous group. Thirty patients, initially desensitized to ASA and treated with daily ASA, who stopped Rx permanently after a mean duration of 2 years, were designated the discontinued group. Retrospective analyses of baselines revealed that both continuous and discontinued groups during ASA Rx demonstrated statistically significant reduction in number of hospitalizations per year, emergency room visits per year, outpatient visits per year, upper respiratory infections-sinusitis-antibiotics per year, need for nasal polypectomies and additional sinus operations, and improvement in sense of smell compared to the control group. Simultaneously, the ASA-Rx groups were able to significantly reduce systemic corticosteroid dosage, corticosteroid bursts per year, and, in the continuous group only, significantly reduce inhaled corticosteroids. All three groups maintained control of respiratory symptoms. ASA desensitization followed by long-term daily ASA Rx appears to improve ASA-sensitive rhinosinusitis-asthma and concomitantly allows reduction of systemic corticosteroids.

Feasibility of pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation via the percutaneous route: pathological studies on the heart and lungs.

The efficacy of pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation (PABC) has been previously demonstrated. Clinically this is usually achieved by suturing a Dacron graft to the side of the pulmonary artery with an intra-aortic balloon pulsating inside the graft. PABC via the percutaneous route has not been previously reported, although it has been demonstrated experimentally that an intrapulmonary artery balloon inserted via the outflow of the right ventricle provides effective counterpulsation. The morphologic effects of PABC on the heart and lungs have not been previously demonstrated. This study evaluates the feasibility of PABC via the percutaneous route and assesses the morphologic changes of PABC on the heart and lungs of pigs. Results indicate that PABC via the percutaneous route is technically feasible. However, after 24 h of PABC morphologic changes occurred in the heart and lungs, consisting of valvular and mural thrombi and hemorrhage. Histopathologic evaluation of the lungs revealed interstitial and intra-alveolar hemorrhage and pulmonary emboli. The etiology of these pathologic changes are likely multifactorial. Further studies are necessary to fully delineate the short and long term effects of PABC prior to initiation of clinical trials with this new percutaneous assist device.

The ultrastructural localization of von Willebrand factor in endothelial cells.

Factor VIII-related antigen was localized ultrastructurally in a variety of human tissues (smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, breast, capillary hemangioma) with the use of a low-temperature embedding protein A-gold technique with both polyclonal and monoclonal antisera directed against von Willebrand factor. All endothelial cells examined localized the anti-von Willebrand factor to Weibel-Palade bodies. Cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoplasmic vacuoles were also labeled. These results establish the distribution of factor VIII-related antigen at the subcellular level. The observed distribution suggests that the endothelial cells synthesize von Willebrand factor, store it in Weibel-Palade bodies, and release it by exocytosis. These observations provide in vivo confirmation for previous biochemical and immunocytochemical data obtained from studies on cultured endothelial cells.

Stimulation of histamine release from human basophils by human platelet factor 4.

Human basophils were stimulated to release histamine noncytotoxically by purified human platelet factor 4 (PF4) and the synthetic substituent peptide PF4(59-70). Histamine release was augmented significantly by 10(-7) M PF4 and 10(-5) M PF4(59-70), increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and attained a maximum at 3 X 10(-5) M PF4 and 3 X 10(-4) M PF4(59-70) similar to that achieved by goat anti-human myeloma IgE. PF4 (1-60) failed to initiate the release of histamine, which confirmed that the critical determinant of activity is in the carboxy-terminal sequence. Histamine release from basophils by optimally effective concentrations of PF4 and PF4(59-70) reached a plateau by 1-3 min, as contrasted with 10 min or longer for anti-IgE. The elimination of calcium and magnesium from the buffer suppressed the release of histamine by anti-IgE by 79-83%, but had no effect on that elicited by PF4(59-70). The rate of uptake of [125I]PF4 by purified basophils was similar on a molar basis to the rate of release of histamine by the same concentrations of PF4. The noncytotoxic release of histamine from human basophils by PF4 thus is temporally and biochemically distinct from that mediated by IgE and may be similar to that evoked by other polycationic stimuli.

Repair of 3-methyladenine and 7-methylguanine in nuclear DNA of Chlamydomonas: requirement for protein synthesis.

The removal of 3-methyladenine and 7-methylguanine from nuclear DNA was determined following exposure of Chlamydomonas reinhardi to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The amount of 3-methyladenine in DNA was determined using an extract from Micrococcus luteus that has a 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase. The amount of 7-methylguanine was estimated by heating the DNA for 30 min at 70 degrees followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the resulting apurinic sites. The molecular weight of the DNA was determined using alkaline sucrose gradients. The 3-methyladenine is removed with a half-life of 2--3 h whereas the 7-methylguanine is removed with a half-life of 10--12 h. The rate of removal of the 7-methylguanine is more than an order of magnitude faster than the estimated non-enzymatic hydrolysis rate indicating the probability of enzymatic repair. Addition of cycloheximide immediately after MMS treatment inhibits the removal of 3-methyladenine and 7-methylguanine from DNA. If cycloheximide is added 1.5 h after treatment with MMS, there is much less inhibition of the removal of 3-methyladenine. These results are interpreted to mean that MMS induces the synthesis of 1 or more proteins that are required for the repair of 3-methyladenine from Chlamydomonas DNA.