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Biomedical subjects

E Seaman

Publications and source records attributed to E Seaman.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Association of radionuclide bone scan and serum alkaline phosphatase in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the frequency of bone metastases, their association with serum alkaline phosphatase (AP), and prognostic capabilities of AP in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), using bone scan as the reference standard for diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with metastatic RCC treated with either autologous ex vivo activated T-lymphocytes and cimetidine (ALT) or cimetidine alone. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 90 patients (31%) had evidence of bone metastases by bone scan. With 100 mg/ dL as the upper limit of normal, 11 of 28 (39%) patients with bone metastases had normal AP levels. Of these 11 patients, 8 had bone pain. Of the 3 asymptomatic patients with bone metastasis and normal AP levels, only 1 had bone as the only site of metastasis and would have been incorrectly staged without the scan. Patients with bone metastases had a significantly shorter median survival than those without bone metastases (13.8 versus 25.3 months; P < 0.05). Among patients without bone metastases who had elevated AP levels, those treated with ALT had significantly longer median survivals than those treated with cimetidine alone (27.6 versus 14.5 months; P < 0.05). Overall, patients treated with ALT had a significantly longer median survival than the ones treated only with cimetidine (21 versus 8.5 months; P < 0.05). Overall, the median survival for patients with elevated AP levels (10 months) was not significantly different from that of those with normal AP levels (13 months). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk group of patients with metastatic RCC, 31% had bone metastases. Elevated AP levels, the presence of bone pain, or the presence of other metastases correctly predicted bone metastasis in all but 1 patient. A bone scan may safely be omitted in patients with RCC, normal AP levels, and no bone pain. However, AP elevation itself had little prognostic capability in these patients.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Molecular staging of prostate cancer with the use of an enhanced reverse transcriptase-PCR assay.

OBJECTIVE: Because up to 40 percent of surgically treated patients with prostate cancer are subsequently found to be clinically understaged, a more sensitive staging modality to identify extraprostatic disease prior to surgery is required. METHODS: We describe an enhanced reverse transcriptase [RT] polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay utilizing oligonucleotide primers specific for the human prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This assay identifies PSA-synthesizing cells from reverse transcribed mRNA. This assay was applied to RNAs extracted from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 65 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. In addition, blood from 20 women, 20 young men, 25 age-matched control men under treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 18 men with established, untreated metastatic prostate cancer was tested. RESULTS: An RT-PCR assay for PSA can recognize one PSA-expressing cell diluted into one hundred thousand lymphocytes. The sensitivity of this assay can be enhanced by the addition of digoxigenin-modified nucleotides to the PCR reaction and this assay was applied to RNAs extracted from the peripheral lymphocyte fraction of 148 prostate cancer patients and controls at this institution. Although no specimen from women or men without cancer was positive in this assay, 14 of 18 metastatic prostate cancer patients were positive (77.8%). Additionally, 25 of 65 (38.5%) patients with clinically localized disease (T1-2b) were positive from blood specimens obtained prior to surgery. Final pathologic results from this group of patients identified a correlation between positivity on this assay and the presence of capsular tumor penetration (sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 84%) as well as strong correlation with the finding of carcinoma at the surgical margin (sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 76%). Logarithmic regression analysis of the results of the RT-PCR assay indicates its remarkable superiority to digital rectal examination, computed tomography scan, endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging, PSA, prostate-specific antigen density, or Gleason score for predicting the true pathologic stage of prostate cancer in these surgically treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: An RT-PCR assay using PSA primers to detect prostate cells in the peripheral circulation of surgical-candidate patients is significantly correlated with capsular penetration and tumor-positive surgical margins. This molecular assay provides a sensitive and specific means to stage correctly apparent localized prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy.

Adult↗

1.5-cm renal mass followed for 2 years without radiographic change.

An incidentally discovered 1.5 cm renal mass was followed by serial CT scans for a period of 2 years. The mass showed no signs of growth or change during this period. The patient underwent radical nephrectomy with pathology positive for renal cell carcinoma. The evaluation of small renal masses is reviewed.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

PSA density (PSAD). Role in patient evaluation and management.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the most accurate serum marker for cancer of the prostate. However, sensitivity and specificity are suboptimal, especially at the intermediate levels between 4.1 and 10.0 ng/ml (monoclonal). For intermediate PSA levels, prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) provides unique information regarding the need for biopsy and the likelihood of prostate cancer. This article summarizes the utility of PSAD in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.

Aged↗

SP3: a flagellotropic bacteriophage of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP3 was shown to be flagellotropic. Mechanical deflagellation of host strain 168wt prevented phage adsorption but adsorption was normal when deflagellated 186wt was allowed sufficient time to regenerate flagella. Two host strains lacking flagella (130 fla- and 19 fla-) did not adsorb SP3. Two host strains with paralysed flagella (38mot- and 13mot-) adsorbed SP3 inefficiently. Revertants of fla- and mot- strains to the motile phenotype adsorbed SP3 normally. A temperature-sensitive host mutant, ts46, with reduced numbers of flagella at 46 degrees C was incapable of efficient SP3 adsorption at this temperature. However, transfection of ts46 by SP3 DNA occurred with virtually identical efficiency at either temperature. Adsorption of a non-flagellotropic phage, SP82, to all bacterial strains used was unaffected by absence of flagella. Isolated flagella adsorbed SP3 inefficiently. Spontaneously non-motile strains of 168wt had lost the ability to support growth of SP3 but SP82 grew normally. Revertants of these strains to the motile phenotype regained the ability to support SP3 growth. Strains derived from surviving bacteria in SP3 lysates of 168wt were non-motile.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Electron microscopy of the morphogenesis of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP3.

The capsid of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP3 is assembled via a prohead intermediate which subsequently encapsulates DNA and attaches a tail. The prohead contains a ring-like core structure. The spokes which extend from the core to the inner prohead surface are thought to form a scaffold for the polymerization of the prohead. Ninety percent of the proheads are assembled prior to the onset of DNA encapsulation. The first mature phage particles are observed at 45 min after infection; titres of intracellular phage demonstrate their infectivity. The core is visible in phage ghosts.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Antibodies to photoproducts of deoxyribonucleic acids irradiated with ultraviolet light.

A rabbit immunized with complexes of methylated bovine serum albumin and ultraviolet-irradiated DNA from calf thymus produced antibodies directed toward the photoproducts in the DNA. Serologic activity appeared after irradiation of DNA at 270 mmicro and decreased upon irradiation at 235 mmicro. The antigenic determinants of the ultraviolet-treated DNA appear to be photoproducts associated primarily with thymine, as measured by direct dependence of serologic activity on the adenine-thymine content of the DNA, and by inhibition of the Serlolgic reaction by the irradiated di-,tri-,and tetra-(thymidine-5'-phosphate nucleotides.

Animals↗

INTERSPECIFIC TRANSFORMATION IN BACILLUS.

Marmur, J. (Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.), E. Seaman, and J. Levine. Interspecific transformation in Bacillus. J. Bacteriol. 85:461-467. 1963.-Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) from various species of the taxonomic group Bacillaceae were examined for base composition, ability to carry out interspecific transformation, and formation of molecular hybrids in vitro. The minimal requirement for genetic compatibility among different species and for DNA interaction (both reflecting base sequence homologies) is the similarity of the guanine plus cytosine contents of the DNA. The close correlation between the ability of DNA to be competent in interspecific transformation and to form hybrid molecules on denaturation and annealing provided a rational approach to the study of genetic relationship among organisms for which no genetic exchange has yet been demonstrated. Any or all of the criteria (base composition of DNA, transformation, molecular hybrid formation) can be used as tools in the taxonomic assessment of closely related microorganisms.

Journal Article↗