Cholinergic agents and the McCollough effect

The strength of the McCollough effect (ME), a pattern-contingent colour aftereffect, has been shown to be inversely related to acetylcholine, being significantly strengthened by (anticholinergic) scopolamine and weakened by (cholinergic) physostigmine delivered before adapting to the ME stimuli. The purpose of the present study was (i) to establish whether the effect of pre-adaptation scopolamine is linearly dose-dependent and (ii) to investigate the effects of scopolamine and physostigmine delivered between adaptation and testing. In experiment 1, ten healthy male volunteers who received placebo, or 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg scopolamine before adapting to ME stimuli showed a significant linear dose-dependence over tests repeated from 10 to 70 min after adaptation. In experiment 2 twelve male volunteers adapted to ME stimuli and then received placebo, 1.2 mg oral scopolamine, or 0.75 mg subcutaneous physostigmine. On subsequent repeated testing, strength of the ME was increased by scopolamine and decreased by physostigmine relative to placebo. Both experiments were double-blind double-dummy repeated measures. These data support the view that the ME is a product of inhibitory mechanisms in the visual system rather than processes involved in associative learning.

Testicular health awareness in pubertal males

PURPOSE

We examined the knowledge and understanding of male teenagers of the necessity for genital examination, and signs and symptoms of serious testicular pathology. Furthermore, current national guidelines for health education were reviewed to understand better the curriculum used by the educational system and to assess its effectiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 1998, a 5-question survey was administered privately and confidentially to male athletes before a sports physical examination. The athletes were 12 to 18 years old, attended middle or high school, and were sampled randomly. The National Health Education Standards benchmark for grades 9 through 11 was examined with specific attention to male self-health education standards.

RESULTS

A total of 318 athletes responded revealing that 54% did not know why the genitals were examined on a sports physical examination, 45% did not use appropriate testicular protection and the majority did not respond appropriately to symptoms of serious testicular pathology. Despite the fact that 46% of respondents answered that checking for a hernia is reason for a genital examination there was no mention of tumor, infection or varicocele. Review of the benchmarks revealed no standards referring to a minimum understanding of anatomy or physiology. Generalized guidelines for high risk behaviors were provided without specific mention of testicular torsion, cancer, varicocele or sexually transmitted diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Young males are at higher risk for testicular torsion, cancer and varicocele than other age groups, and yet our population was universally unaware of these as a reason for genital examination. Furthermore, the majority did not respond appropriately to questions regarding serious testicular pathology. Review of national guidelines reveals poorly defined, nonspecific provisions for male self-health care. Therefore, we have developed a curriculum for male self-health to address this problem.

3-year suppression of HIV viremia with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral regimens containing HIV protease inhibitors suppress viremia in HIV-infected patients, but the durability of this effect is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the 3-year follow-up of patients randomly assigned to receive indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine in an ongoing clinical trial.

DESIGN

Open-label extension of a randomized, double-blind study.

SETTING

Four clinical research units.

PATIENTS

33 HIV-infected, zidovudine-experienced patients with serum HIV RNA levels of at least 20,000 copies/mL and CD4 counts ranging from 50 to 400 cells/mm3.

INTERVENTION

Indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine.

MEASUREMENTS

Safety assessments, HIV RNA levels, CD4 cell counts, and genotypic analyses.

RESULTS

After 3 years of follow-up, 21 of 31 contributing patients (68% [95% CI, 49% to 83%]) had serum viral load levels less than 500 copies/mL. Twenty of 31 (65% [CI, 45% to 80%]) had levels less than 50 copies/mL. The median increase in CD4 count from baseline was 230 cells/mm3 (interquartile range, 150 to 316 cells/mm3). Nephrolithiasis occurred in 12 of 33 patients (36%).

CONCLUSION

A three-drug regimen of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine suppressed viremia in two thirds of patients for at least 3 years.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine among Dominican emergency department patients

This small, pilot study examined presenting complaint, brief health history, use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and sociodemographic characteristics, among patients attending the emergency department (ED) of a large urban hospital. The sample (n = 50) was primarily Dominican and of low socioeconomic status. Almost half had used CAM for their presenting complaint or another health problem during the past year, most commonly in the form of medicinal plants made into herbal teas. CAM users were more likely to be female, longer-term residents of the United States, and to have also used religious practices for health problems. Subjects who had used CAM for any problem other than the presenting complaint during the past year rated its effectiveness higher than subjects who had used CAM for their presenting complaint. In conclusion, it is likely that a significant proportion of Dominican ED patients use CAM, suggesting that they should be asked about their CAM use during triage.

Differences in urinary excretion patterns of the hLH beta core fragment in premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

The heterodimeric luteinizing hormone beta core fragment (hLH beta cf) is a highly stable urinary analyte reflective of circulating hLH. It is measured easily because of its high molar content and has none of the multiple isoforms and subunit dissociation problems of LH urinary measurements. As part of a long-term effort to develop new biochemical assays to stage women during the perimenopausal transition, we have examined the patterns of urinary excretion of this metabolite of hLH in premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women.

DESIGN

We measured the concentration of the hLH beta cf in 10 consecutive first morning void urine specimens from premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women. Day 1 of collection was the first day of menses in the cycling women.

RESULTS

Postmenopausal women exhibited a widely fluctuating pattern of LH beta core fragment excretion, which is not correlated with hLH measured by immunofluorometric assay or with follicle-stimulating hormone measured by immunofluorometric assay. The postmenopausal group was easily distinguished from premenopausal women on the basis of an area-under-the-curve concentration function. Perimenopausal women displayed intermediate hLH beta cf concentrations; some clearly were in postmenopausal ranges, and others were in the premenopausal ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of excretion and concentrations of the hLH beta cf is significantly different between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Perimenopausal women exhibited intermediate changes. The capability to measure this type of stable urinary metabolite as a reflection of changes in dynamics of its parent circulating hormone offers new possibilities in the development and application of large-scale testing that does not require blood sampling.

Ritonavir and saquinavir combination therapy for the treatment of HIV infection

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and antiretroviral activity of ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Invirase) combination therapy in patients with HIV infection.

DESIGN

A multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial.

SETTING

Seven HIV research units in the USA and Canada.

PATIENTS

A group of 141 adults with HIV infection, CD4 T lymphocyte counts of 100-500 x 10(6) cells/l, whether treated previously or not with reverse transcriptase inhibitor therapy, but without previous HIV protease inhibitor drug therapy.

INTERVENTIONS

After discontinuation of prior therapy for 2 weeks, group I patients were randomized to receive either combination (A) ritonavir 400 mg and saquinavir 400 mg twice daily or (B) ritonavir 600 mg and saquinavir 400 mg twice daily. After an initial safety assessment of group I patients, group II patients were randomized to receive either (C) ritonavir 400 mg and saquinavir 400 mg three times daily or (D) ritonavir 600 mg and saquinavir 600 mg twice daily. Investigators were allowed to add up to two reverse transcriptase inhibitors (including at least one with which the patient had not been previously treated) to a patient's regimen after week 12 for failure to achieve or maintain an HIV RNA level < or = 200 copies/ml documented on two consecutive occasions.

MEASUREMENTS

Plasma HIV RNA levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were measured at baseline, every 2 weeks for 2 months, and monthly thereafter. Safety was assessed through the reporting of adverse events, physical examinations, and the monitoring of routine laboratory tests.

RESULTS

The 48 weeks of study treatment was completed by 75% (106/141) of the patients. Over 80% of the patients on treatment at week 48 had an HIV RNA level < or = 200 copies/ml. In addition, intent-to-treat and on-treatment analyses revealed comparable results. Suppression of plasma HIV RNA levels was similar for all treatment arms (mean areas under the curve minus baseline through 48 weeks were-1.9, -2.0, -1.6, -1.8 log10 copies/ml in ritonavir-saquinavir 400-400 mg twice daily, 600-400 mg twice daily, 400-400 mg three times daily, and 600-600 mg twice daily, respectively). Median CD4 T-lymphocyte count rose by 128 x 10(6) cells/l from baseline, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 82-221 x 10(6) cells/l. The most common adverse events were diarrhea, circumoral paresthesia, asthenia, and nausea. Reversible elevation of serum transaminases (> 5 x upper limit of normal) occurred in 10% (14/141) of the patients enrolled in this study and was associated with baseline abnormalities in liver function tests, baseline hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, or hepatitis C antibody positivity (relative risk, 5.0; 95% confidence interval 1.5-16.9). Most moderate or severe elevations in liver function tests occurred in patients treated with ritonavir-saquinavir 600-600 mg twice daily.

CONCLUSIONS

Ritonavir 400 mg combined with saquinavir 400 mg twice daily with the selective addition of reverse transcriptase inhibitors was the best-tolerated regimen of four dose-ranging regimens and was equally as active as the higher dose combinations in HIV-positive patients without previous protease inhibitor treatment.

Simultaneous vs sequential initiation of therapy with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine for HIV-1 infection: 100-week follow-up

CONTEXT

Combination antiretroviral therapy can markedly suppress human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication but the duration of HIV suppression varies among patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the antiretroviral effect of a 3-drug regimen started simultaneously or sequentially in patients with HIV infection.

DESIGN

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind study, modified after at least 24 weeks of blinded therapy to provide open-label 3-drug therapy with follow-up through 100 weeks.

SETTING

Four clinical research units

PATIENTS

Ninety-seven patients with HIV infection who had taken zidovudine for at least 6 months with serum HIV RNA level of at least 20000 copies/mL and CD4 cell count of 0.05 to 0.40 x 10(9)/L.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were initially randomized to receive 1 of 3 antiretroviral regimens: indinavir, 800 mg every 8 hours; zidovudine, 200 mg every 8 hours and lamivudine, 150 mg every 12 hours; or all 3 drugs. After at least 24 weeks of blinded therapy, all patients received open-label 3-drug therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Antiretroviral activity was assessed by changes in HIV RNA level and CD4 cell count from baseline. Data through 100 weeks were summarized.

RESULTS

Simultaneous initiation of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine suppressed HIV RNA in 78% (25/32) of contributing patients to less than 500 copies/mL and increased CD4 cell count to a median of 0.209 x 10(9)/L above baseline at 100 weeks. When these 3 drugs were initiated sequentially, only 30% to 45% of contributing patients (10 of 33 in the zidovudine-lamivudine group and 13 of 29 in the indinavir group, respectively) had a sustained reduction in HIV RNA to less than 500 copies/mL, and median CD4 cell count increased to 0.101 to 0.163 x 10(9)/L above baseline at 100 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

A 3-drug combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine started simultaneously has durable antiretroviral activity for at least 2 years. Sequential initiation of the same 3 drugs is much less effective.

Treatment with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine in adults with human immunodeficiency virus infection and prior antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

The new protease inhibitors are potent inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and in combination with other antiretroviral drugs they may be able to cause profound and sustained suppression of HIV replication.

METHODS

In this double-blind study, 97 HIV-infected patients who had received zidovudine treatment for at least 6 months and had 50 to 400 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter and at least 20,000 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter were randomly assigned to one of three treatments for up to 52 weeks: 800 mg of indinavir every eight hours; 200 mg of zidovudine every eight hours combined with 150 mg of lamivudine twice daily; or all three drugs. The patients were followed to monitor the occurrence of adverse events and changes in viral load and CD4 cell counts.

RESULTS

The decrease in HIV RNA over the first 24 weeks was greater in the three-drug group than in the other groups (P<0.001 for each comparison). RNA levels decreased to less than 500 copies per milliliter at week 24 in 28 of 31 patients in the three-drug group (90 percent), 12 of 28 patients in the indinavir group (43 percent), and none of 30 patients in the zidovudine-lamivudine group. The increase in CD4 cell counts over the first 24 weeks was greater in the two groups receiving indinavir than in the zidovudine-lamivudine group (P< or =0.01 for each comparison). The changes in the viral load and the CD4 cell count persisted for up to 52 weeks. All the regimens were generally well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

In most HIV-infected patients with prior antiretroviral therapy, the combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine reduces levels of HIV RNA to less than 500 copies per milliliter for as long as one year.

Insulin-like growth factor-I in men with idiopathic osteoporosis

The etiology of osteoporosis in most men without a history of alcohol abuse, hypogonadism, or glucocorticoid excess is unknown. Several histomorphometric reports have demonstrated a reduction in indices of bone formation. We tested the hypothesis that the putative reduction in bone formation in men with idiopathic osteoporosis may be related to deficiencies in skeletal mechanisms that are mediated by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Twenty-four middle-aged men (50.5 +/- 1.9 yr) with severe idiopathic osteoporosis (mean lumbar spine T-score -3.5 +/- 0.16) were studied. The following biochemical indices were all normal: serum calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, testosterone, osteocalcin, carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, urinary calcium, and collagen crosslinks. Parathyroid hormone level was in the lower range of normal, 25 +/- 2 pg/mL (nl: 10-65). Mean serum IGF-I level was also in the lower range of normal, 157.9 +/- 7.6 ng/mL (normal age-matched range, 140-260 ng/mL). Eight men had IGF-I levels that were below 140 ng/mL. The mean IGF-IZ score was -0.75, significantly different from the expected mean of zero (P = 0.0002). IGF-I was correlated negatively with age (r = -0.49, P < 0.02). With age held constant, serum IGF-I accounted for 15% of the variance in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD; P < 0.001). The osteocalcin concentration correlated well with bone density at the distal 1/3 radius (r = +0.44; P < 0.002). Histomorphometric analysis of bone biopsy specimens showed significant reductions in cancellous bone volume (31%; P < 0.001), cortical width (28%; P < 0.05), osteoid surface (33%; P < 0.01), and bone formation rate (54%; P < 0.01) when results were compared with age-matched control subjects. Percent eroded surface was normal and was correlated inversely with serum IGF-I levels (r = -0.5; P < 0.04). These results suggest that serum IGF-I levels are reduced in men with idiopathic osteoporosis and that IGF-I correlates with and may contribute to the reduction in lumbar spine bone mass density (BMD). The low IGF-I levels may reflect the reduction in bone formation demonstrated by histomorphometry. Insights into the etiology of idiopathic osteoporosis in men may be revealed by further studies of the IGF-I axis.

Effect of dexamethasone on voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and cytosolic Ca2+ in rat chromaffin cells

The present study examined whether the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) can modulate voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) activity, and as a consequence agonist-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+, in cultured rat adrenal medullary chromaffin (RAMC) cells. Exposure to 1 microM DEX for 48 h significantly increased peak VGCC current (delta +140%). DEX treatment also significantly potentiated the increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in response to submaximal stimulatory concentrations of KCl (delta +64%) and nicotine (delta +32%). The Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K-8644 increased both VGCC current (delta +109%) and potentiated the KCl-stimulated increase in cytosolic Ca2+ (delta +35%) to a comparable extent to that seen with DEX. These data suggest that DEX treatment increases VGCC activity, and that this increased Ca2+ influx leads to potentiation of agonist-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in RAMC cells.

Who pays for failed organ procurement and what is the cost of altruism?

Our objective was to define medical complications and financial charges generated during the care of potential solid organ donors who fail to donate after consent has been obtained. A retrospective review of financial and medical records of potential organ donors was done at an urban level 1 trauma center. Total hospital stay (T1+T2) for the group was broken down into the interval between admission and diagnosis of lethality (T1) and between diagnosis of lethality and death (T2). Medical complications occurring during the hospital stay and charges generated during each time interval were abstracted. After consent was obtained, 19 of 53 (36%) potential donors failed to donate: 9 of 19 (47%) expired prior to legal determination of brain death; 10 patients failed to progress to brain death and were made DNR. Of these, 9 died within 24 hr, 1 survived 16 days; 6 of the 10 patients did not meet brain death criteria, and 4 were rejected by the OPO for reasons of infectious risks. There were 3.1+/-1.3 medical complications per patient. T1 was less than 4 hr in 16/19 (84%) potential donors and constituted a small percentage of the mean total hospital stay (37+/-10 hr). Charges generated during T1+T2 (33,997+/-25,843) and specifically during T2 (17,385+/-9453) were considerable. These charges were passed on to patients' families or third party payers though care was directed solely at organ procurement after diagnosis of lethality. We conclude that multiple medical complications are encountered in the care of potential organ donors; total hospital stays are short but expensive; more than 50% of charges generated during the total hospital stay arise from care provided after determination of lethality; and the goodwill of families to consent to organ donations of their loved ones appears to carry potential for significant financial burden.

Effects of acarbose on fecal nutrients, colonic pH, and short-chain fatty acids and rectal proliferative indices

Acarbose, an alpha-glycosidase inhibitor, treats diabetes mellitus by delaying the digestion and intestinal absorption of dietary carbohydrates. In effective doses, acarbose induces some passage of carbohydrates into the colon. The effect of such chronic carbohydrate transfer on colonic structure and function is unknown. We studied the effects of 1 year of acarbose administration in diabetes mellitus on fecal energy, protein, and fat, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) output, fecal pH, and several metabolizing bacterial species. Changes in colonic histology and epithelial cell proliferation were investigated in rectal biopsies. Fecal macronutrient output was unaffected by acarbose, but pH decreased and total SCFA, butyrate, and acetate output were markedly greater. Breath hydrogen output increased after acarbose, but digoxin-metabolizing bacteria and diacylglycerol (DAG) production were unaltered. Compared with the control, acarbose did not induce hyperplasia or change rectal proliferation. However, total fecal SCFA and butyrate output correlated inversely with proliferation in the rectal upper crypt-a biomarker of risk for colonic neoplasia. In conclusion, long-term acarbose administration does not adversely affect colonic function or fecal nutrient output. If increased fecal SCFA and butyrate reduces upper-crypt proliferation, then acarbose may reduce the risk of colonic neoplasia.

Antiretroviral monotherapy in early stage human immunodeficiency virus disease has no detectable effect on virus load in peripheral blood and lymph nodes

Initiation of antiretroviral monotherapy early in the course of infection with human immunodeficiency virus may result in a temporary slowing in the rate of disease progression; however, little is known about the virologic effects of early therapy. Virus load was measured in peripheral blood and lymph nodes from 16 antiretroviral-naive patients with a mean CD4 T lymphocyte count of 659 cells/microliter at baseline and after 8 weeks of either no treatment or zidovudine therapy. CD4 T lymphocyte counts and all virologic parameters examined remained unchanged regardless of zidovudine treatment status. Histopathology and virus distribution within lymph nodes remained constant between baseline and week 8 in each patient, indicating that the virologic and histologic parameters examined in a single lymph node are representative of a systemic process. Early antiretroviral monotherapy with zidovudine had no effect on virologic parameters in this group of patients with relatively high CD4 T lymphocyte counts and low measures of virus load at baseline.

Candida prosthetic valve endocarditis: prospective study of six cases and review of the literature

Candida prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare entity; however, its incidence is expected to increase given the recent increase in incidence of nosocomial bloodstream candida infection. This report reviews six cases of candida PVE studied prospectively plus 12 cases previously reported in the literature. Transesophageal echocardiography was more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography in detecting vegetations. Valvular replacement combined with antifungal therapy has been the standard treatment. However, successful therapy with long-term administration of oral fluconazole has been reported for five patients. The mortality due to candida PVE was high, especially when PVE was complicated by congestive heart failure and persistent fungemia. For uncomplicated PVE, the mortality rate for patients receiving antifungal therapy alone (40%) was no worse than for those receiving combined medical and surgical therapy (33%).

Impacted broncholiths removed with the holmium: YAG laser

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although the Nd: YAG laser has been used endoscopically to remove broncholiths, our experience with it for this purpose has been tedious and difficult. The calculus burns and partially vaporizes, but most of the removal has to be done mechanically with crushing from biopsy forceps. Laser lithotripsy for ureteral calculi has been reported using the pulsed Holmium:YAG laser to fragment the calculus, and we evaluated the efficacy of this laser to remove impacted broncholiths.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two patients with impacted broncholiths obstructing segments of the right middle lobe were treated using a pulsed Holmium:YAG laser. General endotracheal anesthesia with an FIO2 of 40% was used, and the laser energy was delivered through a 365-microns bare tip fiber passed through the biopsy channel of a flexible bronchoscope inserted through the endotracheal tube.

RESULTS

The calculi were easily fragmented and removed with suction.

CONCLUSION

The pulsed Holmium:YAG laser was an effective tool to fragment and remove impacted broncholiths with minimal side effects using 2 J and 5 Hertz. The calculi exploded into tiny fragments.

Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as myositis and fasciitis in a patient with dermatomyositis

A 54-year-old man with dermatomyositis initially responsive to corticosteroids and methotrexate developed severe myalgias, increasing weakness, and fevers. Laboratory studies were suggestive of disseminated histoplasmosis, and muscle biopsy revealed myositis, fasciitis, and yeast in the perimysial connective tissue. Histoplasma capsulatum was cultured from skeletal muscle. Despite antifungal therapy, necrotizing fasciitis progressed to gluteal abscess formation. Disseminated histoplasmosis may present atypically in immunocompromised hosts as fasciitis and myositis. Patients with dermatomyositis could be particularly vulnerable to soft tissue invasion by fungi due to their underlying microangiopathy.

Molecular staging of prostate cancer. II. A comparison of the application of an enhanced reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay for prostate specific antigen versus prostate specific membrane antigen

Current imaging modalities used to stage prostate cancer clinically fail to detect extracapsular disease in a significant subset of patients. A molecular based peripheral blood assay using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction has recently been shown to be a highly sensitive staging modality for detecting extraprostatic disease preoperatively. The assay uses primers that are specific for prostate specific antigen (PSA). We compare the application of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay using primers specific for the human prostate specific membrane antigen with results obtained from the same specimens by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for PSA. Prostate specific membrane antigen, a recently cloned prostatic antigen, is a transmembrane glycoprotein that has been described as prostate specific. These assays were applied to ribonucleic acids extracted from the peripheral blood lymphocyte fraction of 80 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. In addition, blood specimens from 20 female patients, 20 young male patients, 25 age-matched control men under treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy and 20 men with established, untreated metastatic prostate cancer were tested. All 3 groups of noncancer patients had negative polymerase chain reactions for PSA as well as prostate specific membrane antigen. Of 20 metastatic prostate cancer patients 16 (80%) had positive polymerase chain reactions for PSA, while only 10 (50%) had positive results for prostate specific membrane antigen. Among the 80 patients with clinically localized disease (stages T1 to T2cN0M0), 27 and 19 had positive polymerase chain reaction for PSA and prostate specific membrane antigen, respectively, from blood specimens obtained preoperatively. Analyzing the final pathology in each patient with the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay identified a significantly stronger correlation with tumor invasion using the results of the PSA test rather than the results of the prostate specific membrane antigen reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test (67% versus 34% sensitivity for detecting capsular penetration, 87% versus 46% sensitivity for detecting disease to the surgical margin and 83% versus 16% sensitivity for detecting seminal vesicle invasion). In contrast to the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay for PSA, a similar assay done for prostate specific membrane antigen did not correlate with pathological stage of prostate cancer.

The diagnosis of dementia associated with alcoholism: a preliminary report of a new approach

The historical, clinical, neurological and neuropsychological features of 13 subjects with independently diagnosed dementia associated with alcoholism (AlcD) were compared to 13 subjects with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), matched for age and severity of dementia. Neurological abnormalities were present in all the subjects with AlcD even though the diagnosis of Wernicke-Korsakoff was recorded in only one of these subjects. Only one subject with probable AD demonstrated any neurological abnormality. There was no difference between the AD and AlcD subjects in either the total scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or in any of the subscores. The presence of neurological signs does appear to be a useful method to assist in the diagnosis of AlcD.

Molecular staging of prostate cancer with the use of an enhanced reverse transcriptase-PCR assay

OBJECTIVE

Because up to 40 percent of surgically treated patients with prostate cancer are subsequently found to be clinically understaged, a more sensitive staging modality to identify extraprostatic disease prior to surgery is required.

METHODS

We describe an enhanced reverse transcriptase [RT] polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay utilizing oligonucleotide primers specific for the human prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This assay identifies PSA-synthesizing cells from reverse transcribed mRNA. This assay was applied to RNAs extracted from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 65 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. In addition, blood from 20 women, 20 young men, 25 age-matched control men under treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 18 men with established, untreated metastatic prostate cancer was tested.

RESULTS

An RT-PCR assay for PSA can recognize one PSA-expressing cell diluted into one hundred thousand lymphocytes. The sensitivity of this assay can be enhanced by the addition of digoxigenin-modified nucleotides to the PCR reaction and this assay was applied to RNAs extracted from the peripheral lymphocyte fraction of 148 prostate cancer patients and controls at this institution. Although no specimen from women or men without cancer was positive in this assay, 14 of 18 metastatic prostate cancer patients were positive (77.8%). Additionally, 25 of 65 (38.5%) patients with clinically localized disease (T1-2b) were positive from blood specimens obtained prior to surgery. Final pathologic results from this group of patients identified a correlation between positivity on this assay and the presence of capsular tumor penetration (sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 84%) as well as strong correlation with the finding of carcinoma at the surgical margin (sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 76%). Logarithmic regression analysis of the results of the RT-PCR assay indicates its remarkable superiority to digital rectal examination, computed tomography scan, endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging, PSA, prostate-specific antigen density, or Gleason score for predicting the true pathologic stage of prostate cancer in these surgically treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

An RT-PCR assay using PSA primers to detect prostate cells in the peripheral circulation of surgical-candidate patients is significantly correlated with capsular penetration and tumor-positive surgical margins. This molecular assay provides a sensitive and specific means to stage correctly apparent localized prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy.

Effects of adoptive immunotherapy with autologous CD8+ T lymphocytes on immunologic parameters: lymphocyte subsets and cytotoxic activity

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be an important parameter of host resistance to HIV infection. The present study determined whether CD8+ cells could be purified and propagated in vitro to enhance anti-HIV CTL activity, and the immunologic effects of infusion of these cells into autologous, HIV-infected patients as a potential immunotherapy for AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC). CD8+ lymphocytes from five AIDS and ARC patients were purified from leukapheresis preparations in cell culture flasks coated with CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies and propagated in vitro for 3 weeks. The ex vivo propagated cells were 98% (+/- 1%) CD8+ and 43% (+/- 6%) HLA-DR+. The majority of the CD8+ cell preparations had increased lytic activity against autologous B lymphoblastoid cells infected with vaccinia virus vectors expressing HIV-IIIb structural proteins gag, pol, or env, relative to that of fresh blood mononuclear cells tested prior to purification and culture. The results also show for the first time that CD8+ CTL from HIV-infected patients can lyse cells expressing the HIV regulatory protein, tat. Enhanced expression of CD56 (natural killer cell marker) and lytic activity against vaccinia virus control vector-infected, autologous targets were also noted in the CD8+ cell preparations. Infusion of the CD8+ CTL into autologous patients was well-tolerated and resulted in low but discernible, temporal increases in circulating cytotoxic activity against the HIV gene-expressing targets.

Generation and characterization of ex vivo propagated autologous CD8+ cells used for adoptive immunotherapy of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Cytolytic T lymphocytes play an important role in host defense against viral infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In a phase I clinical trial (protocol 080 of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group), generation of CD8+ effector cells from peripheral blood of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex (ARC) or AIDS and safety of autologous adoptive transfer of these cells were evaluated. For therapeutic infusions, CD8+ T cells were purified by positive selection on anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody-coated flasks from leukapheresed peripheral blood of seven patients. These CD8+ T cells were cultured in the presence of interleukin-2 and phytohemagglutinin for up to 3 weeks to obtain cells sufficient for therapeutic infusions (10(8) to 10(10)). All 31 cell cultures established from the seven patients and used for therapy were highly enriched in CD8+ (mean, 97%), CD8+HLA-DR+ (50%), cytotoxic CD8+CD11b- (82%), and memory CD29+ (78%) T lymphocytes. In vitro expanded CD8+ cells had excellent cytotoxic function at the time they were used for therapy, including HIV-specific activity against autologous targets infected with vaccinia vectors expressing HIV-IIIb antigens, gag, pol, and env. Anti-HIV activity of cultured CD8+ cells was significantly higher than that of autologous fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes. Our results show that CD8+ T lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood of symptomatic HIV-infected patients can be purified, cultured to obtain large numbers of cells with enhanced anti-HIV activity, and safely infused into patients with AIDS as a form of immunotherapy.