Effects of estrogen deprivation on human benign prostatic hyperplasia

Sex steroids are thought to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Since recent studies in animal models and in men have shown that estrogens might be causally linked to the onset and maintenance of BPH, we examined the effect of 1-methyl-androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (Atamestane), a newly developed aromatase inhibitor, in men with BPH. In an open multicenter study 49 men (mean age 70.1 years, range 55 to 84) with obstructive BPH were treated with atamestane (3 × 200 mg/day) for 3 months. Of the 49 patients 44 completed the treatment period; the other patients discontinued the study for reasons unrelated to treatment. With treatment BPH-related symptoms such as daytime voiding frequency, nycturia, peak flow and residual urine improved considerably; however, these parameters did not reach statistical significance. The mean prostatic volume decreased significantly from 74.2 ± 31.7 to 64.0 ± 31 ml (mean ± SD). Serum estrogen levels decreased markedly during treatment. In addition intraprostatic estrogen concentration decreased with treatment as compared to estrogen levels in hyperplastic prostates from untreated patients. The following conclusions can be drawn from this study: first, estrogens appear to have an important supportive role in established BPH, and second, estrogen deprivation improved BPH-related symptoms and reduced significantly prostatic volume.     

Growth and Osmotic Adjustment of Cultured Suspension Cells from Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb After an Abrupt Increase in Salinity

We have developed a cell suspension culture from alligator weed(Alternanthera philoxeroides [Mart.] Griseb), a C₃ member ofthe Amaranthaceae. Intact plants of alligator weed can growat 400 mol m^–3 NaCl. Growth of alligator weed suspensionswas compared to growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv.Wisconsin 38) suspensions after subculture to 200 mol m^–3NaCl. Fresh weight and cell density of salt-treated alligatorweed suspensions more than doubled by 7 d after subculture,but the fresh weight of salt-treated tobacco suspensions didnot double during the 21 d experiment. Correspondingly, cellviability dropped from about 90% to 77% in alligator weed andto 41% in tobacco, at 1 d after subculture to 200 mol m^–3NaCl. The symplastic volume of alligator weed cells declined36% by 2 h after subculture to 200 mol m^–3 NaCl, but cellcontents became iso-osmotic with the media at this point. Between2 h and 6 h there was a further decrease in osmotic potential,an increase in turgor potential and a partial recovery of symplasticvolume. Turgor potential was similar to that in control cellsby 24 h, indicating significant osmotic adjustment. Turgor potentialsremained similar in both treatments from 24 h through 21 d butthe average symplastic volume of salt-treated cells was 11 %less than in control cells. Therefore, alligator weed suspensioncells exhibit a rapid recovery of water balance and cell growthafter an abrupt and substantial increase in salinity. Key words: Cell culture, growth, osmotic adjustment, salinity, turgor potential     

Cloning and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of a cDNA for swine PIT-1, a gene controlling growth hormone expression*

A partial swine cDNA which encodes the functional domain of PIT-1 was isolated by the polymerse chain reaction (PCR). The swine PIT-1 cDNA clone is 95% identical at the protein level to the rat Pit-1 gene. Thus, Pit-l's known function in control of rat growth hormone and prolactin expression is likely to be conserved in swine. This swine cDNA clone was used to investigate genetic variability at PIT-1 in several American and Chinese breeds. Polymorphic BamIII fragments were found in pure-bred Meishan animals (n= 13), but only monomorphic fragments in five American breeds (n= 36).     

Shallow water rissoiform gastropods from Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean, with records of species from Gough Island

Shallow water rissoiform gastropods collected by the Norwegian Scientific Expedition (1937-1938) to Tristan da Cunha are described. The fauna consists of Powellisefia cf. philomelae (Watson) (Rissoidae), three new species of Eatoniella, E. trochiformisa, E. lineuta , and E. tristanensis (Eatoniellidae). two new species of Onoba, O. crassicordara and O. tristanensis (Rissoidae) and Rissoella cf. irma (Bartsch) (Rissoellidae). A small collection from Cough Island is also described, containing three species referred to Onoha , one of which is described as new. O. merelinoides , and a species of Eutoniella. The biogeographie relationships of the fauna are briefly discussed.     

Purification and characterization of recombinant human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Enzymatically active human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with each of three vectors: p omega-ACE contains a full-length testis ACE cDNA under the control of a retroviral promoter; and pLEN-ACEVII and pLEN-ACE6/5, in which full-length and membrane anchor-minus testis ACE cDNAs, respectively, are under the control of the human metallothionein IIA promoter and SV40 enhancer. In every case, active recombinant human testis ACE (hTACE) was secreted in a soluble form into the culture media, up to 2.4 mg/liter in the media of metal-induced, high-producing clones transfected with one of the pLEN vectors. In addition, membrane-bound recombinant enzyme was recovered from detergent extracts of cell pellets of CHO cells transfected with either p omega-ACE or pLEN-ACE-VII. Recombinant converting enzyme was purified to homogeneity by single-step affinity chromatography of conditioned media and detergent-extracted cell pellets in 85 and 70% overall yield, respectively. Purified hTACE from all sources comigrated with the native testis isozyme on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with M(r) approximately 100 kDa. The native and recombinant proteins cross-reacted equally with anti-human kidney ACE antiserum on Western blotting. The catalytic activity of recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme, in terms of angiotensin I and 2-furanacryloyl-Phe-Gly-Gly hydrolysis, chloride activation, and lisinopril inhibition, was essentially identical to that of the native enzyme. The facile recovery in high yield of fully active hTACE from the media of stably transfected CHO cells provides a suitable system for investigating structure-function relationships in this enzyme.     

Seroepidemiological study of human hydatidosis and trichinosis, with the indirect hemagglutination reaction, in San Juan de la Costa County. Osorno, X Region, Chile. 1990-1991]

San Juan de la Costa County (40 degrees 45' South lat., 73 degrees 19' West long.) is located in the Osorno province, South of Chile. Its population is 8,486 inhabitants. The basic economic activities are agriculture, cattle raising, timber production and manufacture of wood and coal. According to official reports, the incidence of human hydatidosis and trichinosis in this locality in 1989 were 24 and 59 per 100,000 respectively. In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the epidemiology of human hydatidosis and trichinosis in San Juan de la Costa County, an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for these parasitoses was performed to 511 randomized people. Nine (1.8%) individuals resulted positive for hydatidosis and twenty four (4.7%) were positive for trichinosis. Some considerations on the corresponding prophylactic measures are proposed.     

Multiple xylanases of Cellulomona fimi are encoded by distinct genes

Cellulomonas fimi genomic DNA encoding xylanase activity has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. As judged by DNA hybridization and restriction analysis, twelve xylanase-positive clones carried a minimum of four different xylanase (xyn) genes. The encoded enzymes were devoid of cellulase activity but three of the four bound to Avicel.