Multifunctionality of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase in Prostate Cancer Pathogenesis

The role of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP, P15309|PPAP_HUMAN) in prostate cancer was investigated using a new proteomics tool termed signal sequence swapping (replacement of domains from the native cleaved amino terminal signal sequence of secretory/membrane proteins with corresponding regions of functionally distinct signal sequence subtypes). This manipulation preferentially redirects proteins to different pathways of biogenesis at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), magnifying normally difficult to detect subsets of the protein of interest. For PAcP, this technique reveals three forms identical in amino acid sequence but profoundly different in physiological functions, subcellular location, and biochemical properties. These three forms of PAcP can also occur with the wildtype PAcP signal sequence. Clinical specimens from patients with prostate cancer demonstrate that one form, termed PLPAcP, correlates with early prostate cancer. These findings confirm the analytical power of this method, implicate PLPAcP in prostate cancer pathogenesis, and suggest novel anticancer therapeutic strategies

Thrombosis of a spinal arteriovenous malformation after hemorrhage: Case report

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas following hemorrhage rarely have been reported. Rarer still is thrombosis of spinal AVMs following hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-year-old boy presented with sudden low back and sciatic pain, bilateral leg weakness, and an intramedullary spinal cord hematoma. Spinal angiography demonstrated dilated feeding arteries without shunting, and no intervention was performed. Over time, these enlarged arteries reduced in caliber, and the patient recovered fully. CONCLUSIONS: The rarity of spinal AVMs and AVM thrombosis make their coincidence in this case unique. Although surgical intervention would have enabled definitive diagnosis of the spinal AVM, it is not mandatory in the absence of arteriovenous shunting. What is mandatory, however, is continued angiographic surveillance, particularly in pediatric patients. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage due to coagulation disorders

Although intracranial hemorrhage accounts for approximately 10 to 15% of all cases of stroke, it is associated with a high mortality rate. Bleeding disorders account for a small but significant risk factor associated with intracranial hemorrhage. In conditions such as hemophilia and acute leukemia associated with thrombocytopenia, massive intracranial hemorrhage is often the cause of death. The authors present a comprehensive review of both the physiology of hemostasis and the pathophysiology underlying spontaneous ICH due to coagulation disorders. These disorders are divided into acquired conditions, including iatrogenic and neoplastic coagulopathies, and congenital problems, including hemophilia and rarer diseases. The authors also discuss clinical features, diagnosis, and management of intracranial hemorrhage resulting from these bleeding disorders