Newer fashions in illegitimacy.

In 1968 Illsley and Gill examined the rise in illegitimacy in the decade 1955-65 and showed that this rise, unlike rises in the first and second world wars, had not been accompanied by a fall in prenuptial conceptions but by a rise. Statistics from 1970 to 1975 have been examined and a third parameter, legal abortion, added. After a period characterised by an apparent rise in the total of extramarital conceptions there has since 1972 been a decline; and in the age group 20-24 this fall dates from 1971. Improved contraceptive practice is probably the reason.     

Newer potential biomarkers in prostate cancer

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to a significant rise in the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and an associated increase in biopsies performed. Despite its limitations, including a positive predictive value of only 25%-40%, PSA remains the only generally accepted biomarker for prostate cancer. There is a need for better tools to not only identify men with prostate cancer, but also to recognize those with potentially lethal disease who will benefit from intervention. A great deal of work has been done worldwide to improve our knowledge of the genetics behind prostate cancer and the specificity of PSA by developing assays for different PSA isoforms. Common genetic alterations in prostate cancer patients have been identified, including CpG hypermethylation of GSPT1 and TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion. Serum and urine detection of RNA biomarkers (eg, PCA3) and prostate cancer tissue protein antibodies (eg, EPCA) are being evaluated for detection and prognostic tools. This article reviews some of the promising developments in biomarkers.