Model following control for nonlinear systems

Projet META

Expression and biological-clinical significance of hTR, hTERT and CKS2 in washing fluids of patients with bladder cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>at present, pathogenesis of bladder cancer (BC) has not been fully elucidated. Aim of this study is to investigate the role of human telomerase RNA (<it>hTR</it>), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (<it>hTERT</it>) and CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 (<it>CKS2</it>) in bladder carcinogenesis and their possible clinical significance;</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>the transcript levels of <it>hTR</it>, <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>were quantified by Real time reverse transcriptase chain reaction in exfoliated cells from bladder washings of 36 patients with BC and 58 controls. The statistical significance of differences between BC bearing patients and control groups, in the general as well as in the stratified analysis (superficial or invasive BC), was assessed by Student's t test. Non parametric Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis (ROC) was performed to ascertain the accuracy of study variables to discriminate between BC and controls. The clinical value of concomitant examination of <it>hTR</it>, <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>was evaluated by logistic regression analysis;</p> <p>Results</p> <p>a significant decrease in <it>hTR </it>and a significant increase in <it>hTERT </it>or <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression were found between BC bearing patients and controls, as well as in the subgroups analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) indicated an average discrimination power for the three genes, both in the general and subgroups analysis, when singularly considered. The ability to significantly discriminate between superficial and invasive BC was observed only for <it>hTR </it>transcript levels. A combined model including <it>hTR </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>was the best one in BC diagnosis;</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>our results, obtained from a sample set particularly rich of exfoliated cells, provide further molecular evidence on the involvement of <it>hTR, hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression in BC carcinogenesis. In particular, while <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression seems to have a major involvement in the early stages of the disease, <it>hTR </it>gene expression, seems to be more involved in progression. In addition, our findings suggest that the studied genes have a clinical role in discriminating between BC and controls in the general as well as in the stratified analysis, when singularly considered. A combined model improved over the single marker BC diagnosis.</p

Coping and Health-Related Quality of Life in Men With Prostate Cancer Randomly Assigned to Hormonal Medication or Close Monitoring

Prostatic carcinoma and its treatment have been associated with adverse effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Individual differences in appraisal and coping have been suggested to mediate these HRQoL outcomes. A randomized trial of 65 men with non-localized prostate cancer compared several treatments and tested associations between appraisal, coping, and HRQoL. These patients, and 16 community volunteers matched for age and general health, undertook psychosocial assessments before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. Compared with baseline assessments, men on hormonal treatments reported impaired sexual function. Groups did not differ on emotional distress, existential satisfaction, subjective cognitive function, physical symptoms, or social and role functioning. For individuals, hormonal treatments were more frequently associated with decreased sexual, social and role functioning, but were also associated with improved physical symptoms. In hierarchical regression analysis, HRQoL was lower for men who had more comorbid illnesses, a history of neurological dysfunction, higher threat appraisals, or higher use of coping strategies at baseline. These results showed that pharmacological hormonal ablation for prostate cancer can improve or decrease HRQoL in different domains. HRQoL in men with prostate cancer was associated more strongly with appraisal and coping than with medical variables

Research Methodology: Endocrinologic Measurements in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine

To provide background information on methodologic factors that influence and add variance to endocrine outcome measurements. Our intent is to aid and improve the quality of exercise science and sports medicine research endeavors of investigators inexperienced in endocrinology