Co-expression and impact of prostate specific membrane antigen and prostate specific antigen in prostatic pathologies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study was undertaken to relate the co-expression of prostate-associated antigens, PSMA and PSA, with the degree of vascularization in normal and pathologic (hyperplasia and cancer) prostate tissues to elucidate their possible role in tumor progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was carried out in 6 normal, 44 benign prostatic hyperplastic and 39 cancerous human prostates. Immunohistochemical analysis were performed using the monoclonal antibody CD34 to determine the angiogenic activity, and the monoclonal antibodies 3E6 and ER-PR8 to assess PSMA and PSA expression, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In our study we found that in normal prostate tissue, PSMA and PSA were equally expressed (3.7 ± 0.18 and 3.07 ± 0.11). A significant difference in their expression was see in hyperplastic and neoplastic prostates tissues (16.14 ± 0.17 and 30.72 ± 0.85, respectively) for PSMA and (34.39 ± 0.53 and 17.85 ± 1.21, respectively) for PSA. Study of prostate tumor profiles showed that the profile (PSA+, PSMA-) expression levels decreased between normal prostate, benign prostatic tissue and primary prostate cancer. In the other hand, the profile (PSA-, PSMA+) expression levels increased from normal to prostate tumor tissues. PSMA overexpression was associated with high intratumoral angiogenesis activity. By contrast, high PSA expression was associated with low angiogenesis activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that these markers are regulated differentially and the difference in their expression showed a correlation with malignant transformation. With regard to the duality PSMA-PSA, this implies the significance of their investigation together in normal and pathologic prostate tissues.</p

EFFECT OF SIMULATED TOOTH BRUSHING AND ARABIC COFFEE THERMOCYCLING ON THE COLOUR OF LITHIUM DISILICATE AND TRANSLUCENT ZIRCONIA CERAMICS

This study evaluated and compared the effects of simulated tooth brushing and Arabic coffee thermocycling on the colour stability of lithium disilicate and translucent zirconia dental restorative materials. Sixty disc-shaped specimens (10×1.2 mm²) were fabricated from zirconia and lithium disilicate (N=30). The specimens from each material were allocated to three groups (n=10) based on the surface interventions - simulated tooth brushing (TB), Arabic coffee thermocycling (TC), and TC followed by TB (TC+TB) - to be received. The colour of the specimens was recorded at baseline and after the interventions using a spectrophotometer in 3D CIEL*a*b* colour space. The colour difference (ΔE) between the groups was statistically analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the least significant difference post-hoc test (p˂0.05). The mean ΔE for both lithium disilicate and translucent zirconia was high after all the interventions (p˂0.05). The mean ΔE was high after TC+TB, followed by TB, and TC for both the tested materials. The overall mean ΔE was highest (1.98±0.92) in lithium disilicate after TC+TB and the least in translucent zirconia after TC (0.96±0.87). In comparison with translucent zirconia, the ΔE was highest in lithium disilicate after TC+TB followed by TB and the least in TC. For the lithium disilicate group, the mean ΔE was highest after TC+TB and the least after TC (p˂0.05). Similarly, the mean ΔE for the zirconia group was highest after TC+TB and the least after TC (p˃0.05). In comparison with the translucent zirconia, the ΔE was higher in lithium disilicate demonstrating lower colour stability. In conclusion, the combined effect of simulated tooth brushing and Arabic coffee thermocycling demonstrated the highest ΔE among the interventions, irrespective of the materials tested. Although the colour differences presented in the study were clinically perceptible following the interventions, the overall differences were clinically insignificant

Psychostimulants

A current survey and synthesis of the most important findings in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction are detailed in our Neurobiology of Addiction series, each volume addressing a specific area of addiction. Psychostimulants, Volume 2 in the series, explores the molecular and cellular systems in the brain responsible for psychostimulant addiction, including both direct/indirect sympathomimetics and nonsympathomimetics. This volume introduces the readers to the history of psychostimulant use. The authors clearly differentiate the neurobiological effects into three distinct stages of the addiction cycle: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved