Importance of prostate volume in the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculators: results from the prostate biopsy collaborative group

OBJECTIVES: To compare the predictive performance and potential clinical usefulness of risk calculators of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC RC) with and without information on prostate volume. METHODS: We studied 6 cohorts (5 European and 1 US) with a total of 15,300 men, all biopsied and with pre-biopsy TRUS measurements of prostate volume. Volume was categorized into 3 categories (25, 40, and 60 cc), to reflect use of digital rectal examination (DRE) for volume assessment. Risks of prostate cancer were calculated according to a ERSPC DRE-based RC (including PSA, DRE, prior biopsy, and prostate volume) and a PSA + DRE model (including PSA, DRE, and prior biopsy). Missing data on prostate volume were completed by single imputation. Risk predictions were evaluated with respect to calibration (graphically), discrimination (AUC curve), and clinical usefulness (net benefit, graphically assessed in decision curves). RESULTS: The AUCs of the ERSPC DRE-based RC ranged from 0.61 to 0.77 and were substantially larger than the AUCs of a model based on only PSA + DRE (ranging from 0.56 to 0.72) in each of the 6 cohorts. The ERSPC DRE-based RC provided net benefit over performing a prostate biopsy on the basis of PSA and DRE outcome in five of the six cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying men at increased risk for having a biopsy detectable prostate cancer should consider multiple factors, including an estimate of prostate volume

Essential oil analysis of the aerial parts of Sideritis incana and Calamintha hispidula

The aerial parts of Sideritis incana and Calamintha hispidula at the flowering stage were submitted to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger–type apparatus for 3 hours and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by GC coupled to GC-MS. The essential oil contained a total of 99 constituents for S. incana and 31 for C. hispidula representing 95.7% and 99.6 of the total oils, rerspectively. The mains components of S. incana oil were linalool (25.2), cedrol (13.7%), geraniol (7%) and α-terpineol (5.4%). The chemical constituents of the oil from C. hispidula were predominated by pulegone (43.2%), isomenthone (36%), piperitone (3.2%), limonene (2.6%) and 4-terpineol (2.5%). The results revealed that the oil of the plants is characterized by the presence of many important components which could be applied in food, pharmaceutical and perfume industr

Chemical composition of essential oil from Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula multifida growing wild in Algeria

The essential oils of the aerial parts of Lavandula multifida and L. stoechas were extracted at the full bloom stage by hydrodistillation and theirs chemical compositions were estimated by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 46 and 67 constituents were identified representing 95.5% and 98.2% of the total oils, respectively. The main components of L. multifida oil were carvacrol (63.8%), beta-bisabolene (8.7%), spathulenol (6.2%), caryophyllene oxide (3.6%) and linalool (2.9%). The oil of L. stoechas was dominated by fenchone (63.9%), camphor (7.8%), 1,8-cineole (5.3%) and myrtenyl acetate (4.2%

Antimotility and andidiarrhoel activity of Myrtus communis L. Leaves essential oil in mice

Objective: To analyze the myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) leaves essential oil (MEO) and to investigate its antimotility and antidiahhroeal effects in mice. Methods: The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of myrtle was studied using GC-MS analysis. The antimotility activity was evaluated using normal gastric emptying and intestinal transit. The antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory activities of the essential oil were tested using castor oil methods in mice. Results: The results revealed that MEO characterized by its richness of α-pinene (54.1%) and 1.8-cineole (26.5%). MEO significantly decreased gastric emptying at the highest dose (500 mg/kg) and the intestinal transit at the three used doses (50, 250 and 500 mg/kg). The essential oil demonstrated also dose dependent antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory activities. Conclusion: MEO has antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory activity in mice, which may justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine for treatment of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal motility disorders

Mediterranean essential oils as effective weapons against the West Nile vector Culex pipiens and the Echisnostoma intermediate host Physella acuta: what happens around? An acute toxicity survey on non-target mayflies

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) represent a threat for millions of people worldwide, since they act as vectors for important pathogens, including malaria, yellow fever, dengue and West Nile. Second to malaria as the world’s most widespread parasitic disease, infection by trematodes is a devastating public health problem. In this study, we proposed two essential oils from plants cultivated in Mediterranean regions as effective chemicals against mosquitoes and freshwater snails vectors of Echinostoma trematodes. Chemical composition of essential oils from Achillea millefolium (Asteraceae) and Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Rutaceae) was investigated. Acute toxicity was evaluated against larvae of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) and the invasive freshwater snail Physella acuta (Mollusca: Physidae), an important intermediate host of many parasites, including Echinostoma revolutum (Echinostomidae). Acute toxicity of essential oils was assessed also on a non-target aquatic organism, the mayfly Cloeon dipterum (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Achillea millefolium and H. tuberculatum essentials oils were mainly composed by oxygenated monoterpenes (59.3 and 71.0 % of the whole oil, respectively). Chrysanthenone and borneol were the two major constituents of Achillea millefolium essential oil (24.1 and 14.2 %, respectively). Major compounds of H. tuberculatum essential oil were cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol and trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (22.9 and 16.1 %, respectively). In acute toxicity assays, C. pipiens LC50 was 154.190 and 175.268 ppm for Achillea millefolium and H. tuberculatum, respectively. P. acuta LC50 was 112.911 and 73.695 ppm for Achillea millefolium and H. tuberculatum, respectively, while the same values were 198.116 and 280.265 ppm for C. dipterum. Relative median potency analysis showed that both tested essential oils were more toxic to P. acuta over C. dipterum. This research adds knowledge on plant-borne chemicals toxic against invertebrates of medical importance, allowing us to propose the tested oils as effective candidates to develop newer and safer vector control tools

Nanocomposite tantalum–carbon-based films deposited by femtosecond pulsed laser ablation

International audienceNanostructured coatings of metal (tantalum) containing diamond-like carbon (a-C:Ta) have been prepared by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The films, containing 15 at.% tantalum, have been deposited by ablating sequentially graphite and metallic tantalum in vacuum conditions with an amplified Ti:sapphire laser. The coatings have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing angle X-ray diffraction, energy filtered transmission electron microscopy, scanning and high resolution transmission electron microscopies. Evidence of metallic α-Ta and β-Ta particles (diameter in the 100 nm range) and smaller quasi-amorphous tantalum clusters embedded in the carbonaceous matrix have been shown. A thin tantalum carbide interface between the carbon matrix and the top surface of the tantalum nodules has also been identified. The ability of femtosecond pulsed laser deposition to synthetize nanocomposite carbon-based films and to control their nanostructure is discussed

Optical, electrical and structural investigations of nanostructured coatings of metal-incorporated amorphous carbon

The structure and physical properties of nano-structured metal (nickel and tantalum) incorporated amorphous carbon (a-C:Ni and a-C:Ta) thin films deposited by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition (PLD) have been investigated. Various complementary film characterizations, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been used to determine the nanostructure of the a-C :Ni and a-C :Ta films, with a metal concentration range within 1% and 15 at.%. The electronic and optical properties have been also investigated in order to evaluate the potentialities of the coatings consisting in metallic nodules embedded in an amorphous carbonaceous matrix. The influence of the metal nature and concentration on the structure and properties of the films has been highlighted. The ability of femtosecond pulsed laser deposition to synthesize nanocomposite carbon-based films with tailored structures and properties is discussed