Outcomes of Prostatectomy versus Radiation Therapy in the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Patients Within the PLCO Trial

Background

The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of clinically localized prostate cancer treated with prostatectomy versus radiation therapy within the context of a prospective prostate cancer screening study.

Subchronic vaginal toxicity studies of Alcide Allay gel and liquid in guinea pigs

Alcide Allay, an antimicrobial preparation produced in gel and liquid forms, was evaluated for vaginal toxicity in guinea pigs. 1.0 g/kg Allay gel or placebo was administered intravaginally once per day over a 30 day period while 2.5 g/kg Allay liquid (containing either of two concentrations of sodium chlorite and lactic acid as active ingredients) or placebo was applied vaginally three times per day for 10 days. At the conclusion of the studies, hematology, blood and urine clinical chemistry tests and necropsies were performed. RBC, HGB, HCT, MCHC and direct bilirubin increased while CO2, SGPT and CPK decreased in blood after Allay liquid treatment. Creatinine, urea nitrogen and uric acid in urine were statistically reduced in the liquid groups. Hematology and clinical chemistry parameters were within the normal range of values reported in the literature for guinea pigs, indicating no clinical significance due to drug treatment. Significant differences in organ body/weight ratios were observed between controls and Allay gel and liquid groups. However, only the livers in the gel study and the vaginas in both studies were changed histologically.     

Impairment of central mediation of the arterial baroreflex by acute ethanol administration

We investigated the possibility that the impairment of baroreflex control of heart rate was due to an action of ethanol on the central component of the baroreflex arc. Baroreceptors and baroreceptor afferents were removed from the arc by sino-aortic denervation and the central end of the left aortic depressor nerve was stimulated. Stimulation frequency response curves relating the decreases in blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic efferent nerve discharge to the frequency of stimulation were constructed before and after the administration of 0.33, 0.66 and 1 g/kg of ethanol administered systemically. Except for a small decrease in blood pressure following the 1 g/kg dose, ethanol administration did not produce any change in baseline heart rate or blood pressure but the frequency response curve of heart rate was reset by the two lower doses of ethanol whereas the dose of 1 g/kg produced frank impairment of baroreflex control. Similarly the dose of 1 g/kg also impaired the depressor response to aortic nerve stimulation whereas it did not impair the baroreflex control of sympathetic efferent discharge. These data suggest a differential effect of ethanol on central pathways that control baroreflex responses. To ensure that the effect of ethanol was not due to an action of ethanol on an end organ, the heart, a separate group of rats were prepared with sino-aortic denervation and the peripheral end of the cut right vagus nerve was stimulated with increasing frequency. Ethanol did not affect the response to stimulation of the vagus nerve showing that the impairment of baroreflex control of cardiovascular variables was primarily of central origin.     

The urodynamic characteristics of different ileal reservoirs: an experimental study in dogs.

Using adult mongrel dogs, the urodynamic characteristics of three types of ileal reservoirs were studied and compared. Segments of ileum of the same length were utilized to construct simple loop pouches (five dogs), DeKlerk pouches (five dogs) and Kock pouches (five dogs). Six to eight weeks after surgery, urodynamic evaluation was carried out. This included determination of the volume/pressure relationship and measurement of the contractions of the circular and longitudinal muscle fibers. Results indicate that the Kock pouch offers the best features in terms of the volume capacity, the volume/pressure relationship and contractile activity. Detubularization abrogated the muscle tone but it did not affect the phasic contractile activity of the circular muscle layer.     

The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.