Plasma sarcosine does not distinguish early and advanced stages of prostate cancer

Introduction. Diagnosis of prostate cancer by prostate specific antigen (PSA) is error-prone and cannot distinguish benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from malignant disease, nor identify aggressive and indolent types. Methods. We determined serum sarcosine (N-methylglycine) in 328 cancer patients by gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectroscopy (MS) and searched for correlations with early (stage T1/T2) and advanced (stage T3/T4) disease. Results. Serum sarcosine of male control patients ranged from 1.7 µmol/l to 4.8 µmol/l. In prostate cancer patients, sarcosine ranged from 2.8 µmol/l to 20.1 µmol/l. Expressed as the sarcosine/alanine ratio, serum control values were 9.4±5.5x10-3 (mean±SD) compared with 21.6±9.0; 28.5±16.6; 22.7±7.7 and 22.2±11.0 for patients diagnosed with T1, T2, T3 and T4 prostate tumours, respectively. The small differences between T1, T2, T3 and T4 patients were not statistically significant (p=0.51). However, the conventional PSA marker significantly correlated with T stage in these patients (r=0.63;

HPLC-MS identification and expression of Candida drug-resistance proteins from African HIV-infected patients

The objective of this study was to elucidate the proteomic mechanisms of drug resistance in HIV-infected African patients. Cell membrane fractions from forty oral Candida isolates isolated from African HIV-positive patients were analysed using HPLC-MS with the aim of identifying proteins associated with their pathogenicity and drug resistance. Heat shock proteins that mediate the fungicidal activity of salivary peptides were found in all tested Candida fractions, with pH-responsive proteins associated with increased pathogenicity only being present in the three most commonly isolated species. ABC multidrug transporter efflux pumps and estrogen binding proteins were only found in C. albicans fractions, while ergosterol biosynthesis proteins were identified in four species. The combination of various adherence, invasion, upregulation and efflux pump mechanisms appear to be instrumental for the Candida host colonization and drug resistance emergence in HIV-infected individuals.This material is based upon work partially supported financially by the National Research Foundation of South Africa [Grant number TTK2008052700013]

African herbal medicines in the treatment of HIV: Hypoxis and Sutherlandia. An overview of evidence and pharmacology

In Africa, herbal medicines are often used as primary treatment for HIV/AIDS and for HIV-related problems. In general, traditional medicines are not well researched, and are poorly regulated. We review the evidence and safety concerns related to the use of two specific African herbals, which are currently recommended by the Ministry of Health in South Africa and member states for use in HIV: African Potato and Sutherlandia. We review the pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these herbal medicines. Despite the popularity of their use and the support of Ministries of Health and NGOs in some African countries, no clinical trials of efficacy exist, and low-level evidence of harm identifies the potential for drug interactions with antiretroviral drugs. Efforts should be made by mainstream health professionals to provide validated information to traditional healers and patients on the judicious use of herbal remedies. This may reduce harm through failed expectations, pharmacologic adverse events including possible drug/herb interactions and unnecessary added therapeutic costs. Efforts should also be directed at evaluating the possible benefits of natural products in HIV/AIDS treatment

Aberrant in vitro HLA-DR expression in patients with chronic fatigue

LetterThe original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaTo the Editor: The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a clinical entity characterised by chronic fluctuating fatigue associated-with a multitude of related symptoms, which may vary between patients. It is of unknown causation, but usually follows a presumed acute viral infection.Publishers' Versio

Plant sterol/sterolin supplement use in a cohort of South African HIV-infected patients : effects on immunological and virological surrogate markers

CITATION: Bouic, P. J. D. et al. 2001. Plant sterol/sterolin supplement use in a cohort of South African HIV-infected patients : effects on immunological and virological surrogate markers. South African Medical Journal, 91(10):848-850.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaIt has been demonstrated that micronutrient supplementation may be an important prophylactic and therapeutic measure for HIV-1-infected patients, and is possibly one of the few potential interventions for low-income countries.' In sub-Saharan countries facing the bulk of new infections worldwide, the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is out of reach of most patients because of the cost in the private sector and the lack of provision of any therapies by the health departments of these countries. In recent years many groups have investigated the outcomes of this infection in patients supplemented with vitamin B2 or multivitamin supplementation including/excluding vitamin A during pregnancy.' Some studies have shown that high doses of vitamin B6 supplements were associated with improved survival of patients, while zinc supplementation was associated with poorer survival.'Publisher’s versio

Plasma sarcosine does not distinguish early and advanced stages of prostate cancer

The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaIntroduction. Diagnosis of prostate cancer by prostate specific antigen (PSA) is error-prone and cannot distinguish benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from malignant disease, nor identify aggressive and indolent types. Methods. We determined serum sarcosine (N-methylglycine) in 328 cancer patients by gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectroscopy (MS) and searched for correlations with early (stage T1/T2) and advanced (stage T3/T4) disease. Results. Serum sarcosine of male control patients ranged from 1.7 μmol/l to 4.8 μmol/l. In prostate cancer patients, sarcosine ranged from 2.8 μmol/l to 20.1 μmol/l. Expressed as the sarcosine/alanine ratio, serum control values were 9.4±5.5x10 -3 (mean±SD) compared with 21.6±9.0; 28.5±16.6; 22.7±7.7 and 22.2±11.0 for patients diagnosed with T1, T2, T3 and T4 prostate tumours, respectively. The small differences between T1, T2, T3 and T4 patients were not statistically significant (p=0.51). However, the conventional PSA marker significantly correlated with T stage in these patients (r=0.63; p<0.009). Conclusions. The median sarcosine/alanine ratios among patients with early and advanced prostatic cancer ranged from 21.6±9.0 to 28.5±16.6 and were fairly constant, showing no statistically significant differences between T-stages. The results are consistent with published data in urine and serum which find differences between controls and patients with metastatic prostate cancer to be small and sarcosine to be uninformative regarding prostate cancer progression. By multi-comparison of PSA with T-stages in the same group of patients, we found significant correlations confirming the well-known merits and limitations of this marker

The effect of choral music on emotions, immune parameters and lung function during physiotherapy treatment of pneumonia and bronchitis

Introduction: Music, processed by the brain, has a strong impact on the emotions and health.  The Magnificat in D major of JS Bach communicates not only a positive emotion of happiness but also motivational behaviour. Infectious lung conditions are often associated with negative emotions which develop due to physiological changes. The hormonal action of the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenal axes (HPA) could be negatively affected by emotions of anger and depression.  This will result in a disturbance of the mind-body inter- action.  Music therefore can exert a powerful influence on therapeutic benefits by changing the psychological status and the immune endocrine functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of music, during respiratory physiotherapy treatment on a) the emotional status, b) neuroendocrine responses, c) immune functions and d) lung functions of subjects with infected lung conditions. Method and Materials: Forty subjects attending physiotherapy treatment was selected according to set criteria and randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. The parameters (Profile Of Mood State [POMS]; CD4: CD8 cell ratios; Cortisol; the Cortisol: DHEA ratio; PF; FEV1; FVC and FEV1/FVC %) were measured on day 1 before the treatment and on day 3 after the treatment.  Data were analysed with Statistica (Statsoft) using the Repeated ANOVA tests. Results: Results indicated that the intervention of music had a positive effect on the immunological parameter (CD4+:CD8+ cell ratios) and on the cortisol and cortisol:DHEA ratio levels.  At the same time the psychological  status as measured by Profile of Mood States (POMS scale) improved with a significant improvement in the lung functions. Conclusion: The research provided sufficient scientific evidence that music affects both the biomedical and psycho- somatic aspects of infectious lung conditions

A phase I trial of hypoxoside as an oral prodrug for cancer therapy : absence of toxicity

CITATION: Smit, B. J. 1995. A phase I trial of hypoxoside as an oral prodrug for cancer therapy : absence of toxicity. South African Medical Journal, 85:865-870.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaObjective. To assess the toxicity of hypoxoside taken orally by 24 patients with lung cancer. Design. Open study with patients taking 1 200 - 3 200 mg standardised Hypoxis plant extract (200 mg capsules) per day divided in 3 doses in order to maintain metabolite blood levels near 100 μg/ml. Participants and setting. Patients with histologically proven squamous, large-cell or adenocarcinoma were hospitalised initially at the radiation oncology ward, Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, W. Cape. Thereafter they returned every 2 weeks for full clinical examinations. Methods. Routine biochemical and haematological measurements were done. Patients underwent regular full clinical examinations including radiographs and computed tomography scanning according to the discretion of the principal investigator. Results. Nineteen patients on hypoxoside therapy survived for an average of 4 months with progression of their primary tumours and metastases, while 5 survived for more than a year. One of them survived for 5 years and histological examination of the primary lesion showed absence of cancer. No toxic effects, in clinical examinations or biochemical or haematological measurements, were found that could be ascribed to the ingestion of hypoxoside. Only one occasion of possible drug intolerance, with anxiety, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, was noted. Conclusion. The absence of toxicity warrants further investigation of hypoxoside as an oral prodrug, especially in patients with slow-growing necrotising tumours that are inoperable and have high concentrations of β-glucuronidase and sulphatase as high sensitivity for rooperol.Publisher’s versio

D8/17 in obsessive-compulsive disorder and trichotillomania

CITATION: Niehaus, D. J. H. et al. 1999. D8/17 in obsessive-compulsive disorder and trichotillomania. South African Medical Journal, 89(7):755-756.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaThe finding that patients with Sydenham's chorea often demonstrate obsessive-compulsive disorder (OeD) has fostered increased interest in possible neuroimmunological mechanisms in OCD.' Increased expression of the B-Iymphocyte antigen 08/17, which has been hypothesised to be a genetically inherited trait marker for susceptibility to rheumatic fever, has recently been demonstrated to be higher in OCD patients than in normal controls.2.3 To date, however, 08/17 expression has been studied in few psychiatric control populations.Publisher’s versio