The Role of External Irradiation in the Treatment of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder—A Review of Fifty Cases

Of 100 patients with carcinoma of the bladder seen in the Section of Therapeutic Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, between 1957 and 1962, 59 were accepted for radiation treatment. Fifty had transitional cell carcinoma and were treated with supervolt therapy (1 mev or cobalt-60).Two types of tumors were again found suitable for external irradiation: Papillary carcinomas Grades II and III, as long as they have not, or at least have not massively, invaded muscle; and undifferentiated carcinomas, Grade IV, regardless of degree of extension through the pelvis. The former type, if single, is treated by irradiation for the first recurrence after one attempt with radical transurethral resection. In the presence of multiple lesions at the first examination, radiation therapy is given immediately. The latter type is treated by radiation therapy without any attempt at surgical removal.Of 37 patients, Stages A to C, treated more than three years ago, 14 (38 per cent) lived more than three years and eight (22 per cent) had no cystoscopic or clinical signs of active disease and had normal bladder function. Of 23 patients treated more than five years ago, eight were alive after five years (35 per cent) and four (17 per cent) remained controlled by radiation therapy alone, with normal bladder function.No major complications were observed. In particular, no fibrosis of the bladder occurred. Doses ranged from 5,000 r in five and a half weeks to 6,000 r in seven weeks.A close cooperation between urologic surgeons and radiotherapists during recent years permits long-range treatment planning from the time of diagnosis, which is essential in the effective therapy of carcinoma of the bladder.     

Characteristics of Triose Phosphate／Phosphate Translocator from Wheat and Its Role in the Distribution of Assimilates

In plants, triose phosphate/phosphate translocator (TPT) is the first regulation point forpartitioning of photosynthate between source and sink. Studies on the characteristic of TPT and itsregulation on the distribution of assimilates are critical for improving the utilization rate of photosyntheticassimilates. Chloroplasts with intactness of more than 91% and high purity were isolated from wheat( Triticurn aestivurn L. cv. Jing 411) leaves. Analysis of SDS-PAGE and labeling with an irreversible specificinhibitor, [H3]2^-DIDS (4, 4‘-diisothiocyano-2, 2‘-stilbenedisulfonate, DIDS) demonstrated that wheat TPTwas a chloroplast membrane protein with a 35 kD molecular weight, which comprised about 15% of the totalmembrane proteins of chloroplasts. Western blotting analysis showed that wheat TPT is uniquelydistributed in the envelope membrane of chloroplasts, but not detected in the membranes of vacuoles andmitochondria. The silicone-oil-layer centrifugation system was employed to study the kinetic properties ofTPT. The results showed that the maximal transport activity of TPT was the highest for dihydroxyacetonephosphate (DHAP)/inorganic phosphate (Pi), then for phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)/Pi and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P)/Pi. The Km value of TPT was the lowest for DHAP, followed by Pi, PEP and G6P,therefore the most preferred substrate of TPT is DHAP. The transport of wheat TPT to DHAP was stronglyinhibited by DIDS with a degree of 95%. Inhibition of TPT transport activity led to an obvious accumulationof starch in chloroplasts, therefore the TPT protein of wheat controls the export of TP out of chloroplastsinto cytosol. Except for the need of participating in the Calvin cycle, the ratio of TP exported out ofchloroplast to the one used for synthesizing starch was at least 93.6:6.4. The TPT protein from wheat hasmuch high transport efficiency, which plays an important role in the regulation of the distribution ofassimilates in wheat chloroplasts.     

Does Testosterone Therapy Increase the Risk of Prostate Cancer?

ObjectiveTo review factors affecting use of testosterone therapy for hypogonadism including the persistent controversial link between testosterone therapy and prostate cancer.MethodsWe reviewed studies investigating the relationship between testosterone therapy and prostate cancer progression and summarized strategies for hypogonadism management and prostate monitoring.ResultsTrials of up to 36 months in length and longitudinal studies consistently fail to demonstrate an increased prostate cancer risk associated with increased testosterone levels. No evidence of an associated relationship between exogenous testosterone therapy and prostate cancer has emerged from clinical trials or adverse event reports. It does not appear that exogenous testosterone accumulates in the prostate or provokes major biologic change in the prostate gland. In addition, preliminary evidence indicates that low endogenous testosterone may confer an increased risk of prostate cancer.ConclusionsMounting evidence demonstrates that there is a lack of association between testosterone therapy and prostate cancer progression. Testosterone therapy may be prescribed for men for whom it was once not considered. Careful monitoring of patients with hypogonadism who are receiving testosterone therapy is imperative. Well-designed, large-scale prospective clinical trials are necessary to adequately address prostate safety in hypogonadal men receiving testosterone therapy. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:904-911)