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The metabolism of aspirin in man: a population study.

The metabolism of a 900 mg oral dose of aspirin has been investigated in 129 healthy volunteers. For this purpose, the 0-12 h urine was collected and analysed for the following excretion products: salicylic acid, its acyl and phenolic glucuronides, salicyluric acid, its phenolic glucuronide and gentisic acid. The total excretion of salicylate and metabolites was normally distributed within the population group studied, showing a 2.5-fold variation: a mean of 68.1% of the dose was recovered in 12 h. The excretion of salicylic acid was found to be highly variable within the study panel (1.3-31% of dose in 12 h), and was related to both urine volume and pH. Salicyluric acid was the major metabolite in the majority of the volunteers and its excretion was normally distributed amongst the study panel. The elimination of this metabolite ranged from 19.8 to 65% of the dose and was related to the total recovery of salicylate. The excretion of the two salicyl glucuronides was highly variable, ranging from 0.8 to 42% of the dose. The elimination of the glucuronides was inversely related to that of salicyluric acid. Gentisic acid and salicyluric acid phenolic glucuronide were minor metabolites of salicylate, accounting for 1 and 3% of the dose, respectively. The recovery of gentisic acid was statistically significantly greater in female subjects than in males, whilst the opposite was found for salicyluric acid and total salicylate. However, these differences were small in magnitude.

Adult↗

The profile and distribution of myosin heavy chain isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons.

AIM: Human lifestyle has drastically changed during the past century as the share of physical work in daily life has decreased. The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons, to compare the proportion of MHC isoforms of middle-aged and young sedentary persons and to demonstrate the effect of physical activity of MHC isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons. METHODS: Eighty-nine middle-aged sedentary and 13 young sedentary persons volunteered for the study. Thirty middle-aged sedentary subjects participated in strength-conditional exercise program during 9 months. Vertical jumping height and maximal anaerobic work capacity were measured. Muscle samples were taken from vastus lateralis muscle. MHC isoform composition was determined by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: Variation of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in middle-age sedentary persons demonstrated normal distribution. Significant differences of MHC isoform proportions between middle-aged and young sedentary participants were not observed. The proportion of MHC IIx decreased significantly after the exercise period that significantly improved the maximal anaerobic power and jumping height of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Normal distribution illustrated the proportion of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in 89 middle-aged sedentary persons while significant differences of MHC isoforms proportion between young and middle-aged sedentary persons were not observed. Even small increase of physical activity improved physical performance and decrease the MHC IIx proportion of middle-aged sedentary persons. Physically active lifestyle in middle age, when age-related changes have not started yet, may delay age-related changes in skeletal muscle.

Adult↗

HLA phenotype and cytokine-induced tumor control in advanced renal cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of malignancies, the response to cytokine-based therapy and survival of patients may be partly determined by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype. Here, we investigated in a retrospective analysis the correlation of the HLA phenotype of 73 prognostic favored patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma to (a) the expected HLA distribution in Caucasians, (b) the susceptibility or resistance to metastatic sites, (c) response to cytokine-based therapy and (d) sustained cytokine-induced effective tumor control. METHODS: We retrospectively determined the MHC class I and II antigens in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma selected by survival. Antigens were serologically typed by standard lymphocytotoxicity techniques. For statistical analysis, we calculated the probability of the presented HLA antigens in correlation to the expected Caucasian HLA phenotypes. An independent confirmation was performed by using the chi-square and two-tailed Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Various HLA antigens deviated significantly from the normal distribution in the Caucasian population. HLA.B44 was the only antigen associated (p < 0.01) with the absence of lung and presence of bone metastases, while it did not impact on overall survival or response to therapy. A1 (p < 0.0001, p < 0.002) and B8 (p < 0.009, p < 0.04) alleles were more frequently expressed in responding patients than expected from the normal distribution in Caucasians and that observed in non-responding patients, respectively. The HLA analysis of patients achieving a durable complete remission showed a significantly higher frequency of expression of the A1 and B8 antigens and furthermore of the B14 antigen (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data underline the pivotal role of the MHC complex in controlling and regulating the cellular immune response in renal cell cancer. We could identify HLA antigens, which correlate with response to cytokine-treatment, with a long-lasting effective tumor control and prolonged overall survival.

Adult↗

Direct determination of platinum group elements and their distributions in geological and environmental samples at the ng g(-1) level using LA-ICP-IDMS.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-IDMS) was applied to the direct and simultaneous determination of the platinum group elements (PGEs) Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir in geological and environmental samples. A special laser ablation system with high ablation rates was used, along with sector field ICP-MS. Special attention was paid to deriving the distributions of PGEs in the pulverized samples. IDMS could not be applied to the (mono-isotopic) Rh, but the similar ablation behavior of Ru and Rh allowed Rh to be simultaneously determined via relative sensitivity coefficients. The laser ablation process produces hardly any oxide ions (which usually cause interference in PGE analysis with liquid sample injection), so the ICP-MS can be run in its low mass resolution but high-sensitivity mode. The detection limits obtained for the geological samples were 0.16 ng g(-1), 0.14 ng g(-1), 0.08 ng g(-1), 0.01 ng g(-1) and 0.06 ng g(-1) for Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt, respectively. LA-ICP-IDMS was applied to different geological reference materials (TDB-1, WGB-1, UMT-1, WMG-1, SARM-7) and the road dust reference material BCR-723, which are only certified for some of the PGEs. Comparisons with certified values as well as with indicative values from the literature demonstrated the validity of the LA-ICP-IDMS method. The PGE concentrations in subsamples of the road dust reference material correspond to a normal distribution, whereas the distributions in the geological reference materials TDB-1, WGB-1, UMT-1, WMG-1, and SARM-7 are more complex. For example, in the case of Ru, a logarithmic normal distribution best fits the analyzed concentrations in TDB-1 subsamples, whereas a pronounced nugget effect was found for Pt in most geological samples.

Journal Article↗

Neuroanatomical mapping of DNA repair and antioxidative responses in mouse brain: Effects of a single dose of MPTP.

The primary objective of this study was to map the normal distribution of the base excision enzyme oxyguanosine glycosylase (OGG1) across mouse-brain regions as a prelude to assessing the effects of various neurotoxicants, ranging from highly selective molecules like MPTP to more global toxic agents. This research is based on the hypothesis that regional brain vulnerability to a toxicant is determined, in part, by variation in the intrinsic capacity of cellular populations to successfully repair oxidative DNA damage. After mapping the normal distributions of OGG1 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) across 44 loci dissected from mouse brain, MPTP, a mitochondrial toxicant with selective dopamine (DA) neuron cytotoxicity was used to elicit focal oxidative stress and DNA repair responses. A single dose of MPTP (20mg/kg, i.p.) elicited time- and region-dependent changes in both SOD and OGG1, with early increases in DNA repair and anti-oxidant activities throughout all regions of brain. In some sampled loci, notably the substantia nigra (SN) and hippocampus, the heightened DNA repair and antioxidant responses were not maintained beyond 48h. Other loci from cerebellum, cerebral cortex and pons maintained high levels of activity up to 72h. Levels of dopamine (DA) were decreased significantly at all time points and remained below control levels in nigro-striatal and mesolimbic systems (ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens). Assessment of apoptosis by TUNEL staining revealed a significant increase in number of apoptotic nuclei in the substantia nigra at 72h and not in other loci. The marked degree of apoptosis that became evident in SN at 72h was associated with large decreases in SOD and DNA repair activity at that locus. In conclusion, MPTP elicited global effects on DNA repair and antioxidant activity in all regions of brain, but the most vulnerable loci were unable to maintain elevated DNA repair and antioxidant responses.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Acidic fibroblast growth factor distribution in normal human eye and possible implications in ocular pathogenesis.

Using a rabbit anti-acidic fibroblast growth factor (anti-aFGF) antiserum, we tried to establish a precise mapping of aFGF localization in normal human ocular structures, from samples obtained by autopsies. Cell cultures of retinal pigment epithelium and ciliary pigment epithelium were also established and immunofluorescence studies were performed after 1 month. Corneal and conjunctival epithelia were strongly positive for anti-aFGF antibodies as well as the subcapsular epithelium of the lens. The cortical fibers were weakly reactive and the lens nucleus negative. A strong intracytoplasmic reactivity was observed in the pigmented and nonpigmented epithelial cells of ciliary processes and pars plana, both ex vivo and in vitro. Retina was brightly positive, mostly in the photoreceptor and plexiform layers. The possible involvement of aFGF in normal eye growth and in various ocular diseases was then discussed.

Adult↗

Flexibility involving the intermolecular dityrosyl cross-links of enzymatically polymerized calmodulin.

The role of dityrosine as a fluorescent crossbridge between adjacent calmodulin molecules within the high molecular mass polymers that are generated by Arthromyces peroxidase-catalyzed cross-linking [Malencik, D. A., and Anderson, S. R. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 4375] has been examined in frequency domain fluorescence anisotropy studies. Measurements on a polymer fraction possessing a range of molecular masses > 96 000 in NaDodSO4 polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrate predominating fast local rotations involving the dityrosyl moieties. Normal distribution analyses of the results show peak rotational correlation times of 0.6 ns (zero Ca2+) and 1.2 ns (+Ca2+), values that are smaller than the principal correlation times determined for the global rotation of the free calmodulin monomer in either the presence or absence of Ca2+. The intermolecularly cross-linked segments of the polymers retain a degree of the mobility that is characteristic of the tyrosine-containing sequences of native calmodulin. The half-widths of the normal distribution curves range from 13 ns (zero Ca2+) to approximately 90 ns (5 mM Ca2+), thus encompassing varying rates of segmental motion within the polymers. When Ca2+ is present, possible contributions from the global rotations of polymer molecules are detected near the operating limits of the method. Experiments with the intramolecularly cross-linked calmodulin monomer give global rotational correlation times of 7.9 ns (zero Ca2+) and 11.4 ns (+Ca2+), which compare to values of 7.2 ns and 9.9 ns found previously in time domain measurements [Small, E. W., and Anderson, S. R. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 419]. Rotations of apparent phi2 = 0.2 to 0.3 ns also are detected, accounting for 31% (-Ca2+) to 23% (+Ca2+) of the anisotropy.

Animals↗

Evaluating surrogate measures of renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery.

UNLABELLED: Renal insufficiency after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and length of intensive care unit stay. A convenient surrogate measure would facilitate the evaluation of renal-protective therapies. We evaluated two measures: the 72-h change in serum creatinine (Cr) (DeltaCr(72h)) and the percentage 72-h change in calculated (Cockcroft-Gault equation) Cr clearance (%DeltaCrCl(72h)). We randomly selected 2000 individuals who underwent aortocoronary bypass, valve surgery, or both at the Toronto General Hospital between May 1999 and August 2000. The variables were analyzed with frequency histograms and normal probability plots. Their association with dialysis, mortality, and prolonged intensive care unit stay was determined by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. DeltaCr(72h) was skewed to the right, whereas %DeltaCrCl(72h) was normally distributed. ROC curve areas showed DeltaCr(72h) to be a good predictor of dialysis (0.98), death (0.83), and prolonged hospitalization (0.74). %DeltaCrCl(72h) had similar ROC curve areas for predicting dialysis (0.97), death (0.82), and prolonged hospitalization (0.74). ROC curve areas did not differ significantly with respect to mortality (P = 0.89), dialysis (P = 0.49), or prolonged hospitalization (P = 0.85). Both variables were correlated with patient-relevant outcomes. Mathematical transformation of DeltaCr(72h) to %DeltaCrCl(72h) results in a normal distribution that is amenable to parametric statistical tests. DeltaCr(72h) and %DeltaCrCl(72h) may be used as surrogate outcomes in future trials. IMPLICATIONS: A convenient surrogate measure of renal function is needed for evaluating renal-protective therapies in cardiac surgery. We evaluated the performance of serum creatinine concentration and calculated creatinine clearance for predicting dialysis, mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. Both measures were correlated with clinical outcomes. Creatinine clearance had the advantage of a distribution suitable for parametric statistical tests.

Age Factors↗

Distribution of normal and abnormal fluid collections in the glenohumeral joint: implications for MR arthrography.

Although magnetic resonance (MR) images of the glenohumeral joint frequently demonstrate intraarticular fluid, no specific criteria have, to the authors' knowledge, been published that allow accurate assessment of the amount of fluid present. Also, despite the increasing use of MR arthrography of the shoulder, the optimal amount of intraarticular fluid that should be used with this technique has not been determined. The authors progressively distended the glenohumeral joint in six cadaveric shoulder specimens with a dilute gadopentetate dimeglumine solution and obtained MR images after injection of 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL of the solution. The pattern of fluid distribution was evaluated, and these results were then used to estimate the amount of fluid that was present in the glenohumeral joint on MR images of 20 shoulders obtained in 12 asymptomatic volunteers. In 14 of these shoulders, intraarticular fluid was present; however, in none was more than 2 mL evident. Results of the cadaveric study also indicated that 15 mL of intraarticular fluid appears to be the optimal amount for MR arthrography.

Adult↗

Comparison of four single-point phenytoin dosage prediction techniques using computer-simulated pharmacokinetic values.

The predictive abilities of the following four single-point phenytoin dosage adjustment methods were compared using computer-simulated data: the Bayesian feedback method of Vozeh et al. (B), a linearized version of the Bayesian method (LB), the population-clearance method of Graves et al. (G), and the Rambeck nomogram (R). A series of 512 "subjects" with normally distributed values for volume of distribution, weight, and the Michaelis-Menten variables Vmax and Km were simulated. The steady-state serum concentration (SSSC) resulting from the administration of a standard dose of phenytoin sodium (5 mg/kg/day) was calculated, and "subjects" with SSSCs less than or equal to 12 mg/L or greater than or equal to 17 mg/L were entered in the study. If the concentration was greater than 50 mg/L or the standard dosage exceeded Vmax, the dosage was reduced empirically by 25%. Normally distributed random errors were introduced into the SSSC values to simulate actual patient data. The pharmacokinetic values, dosages, and SSSCs were used for predicting the dosage required to attain an SSSC of 14.9 mg/L. In the unstratified population, the mean error and mean-squared error were lowest for methods G and B, followed by methods LB and R. Methods B and LB gave the highest percentages of satisfactory dosage predictions based on the resultant SSSC value. The performance of all methods was superior at initial SSSCs greater than 8 mg/L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗

Automatic evaluation of the exteroceptive suppression of the temporalis muscle activity.

AIM: To set up a reliable automated method of allowing to identify the ES1 and ES2 periods of exteroceptive suppression of the temporal muscle (EST), thereby reducing their intra- and inter-individual variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analyses were performed in 79 healthy subjects with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each individual underwent two separate examinations 1 week apart. Activity of the left and right temporal muscles was recorded in response to unilateral stimulation of the left and right labial commissures. Wave forms were successively rectified, averaged, and filtered; the intersections of the resulting curve with values corresponding to 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, and 80% of the control period (20 ms preanalysis time) were automatically determined. RESULTS: All subjects reached a 80% level of attenuation for ES2. The values of ES2 durations were normally distributed. The mean ES1 and ES2 durations didn't vary between the two recording session, and there was a good individual reproducibility from one session to the other. Though relatively high, the inter-individual variability was slightly lower in the second than in the first session. CONCLUSIONS: Computed analysis of EST may contribute to decrease inter- and intra-individual test variability. Letting patient habituate through a first recording session could increase test sensitivity, too. The obtained values for ES2 duration are normally distributed and well-reproducible at both the population and individual level. We suggest taking into account both ES2 duration and level of attenuation.

Adult↗

Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship.

To clarify the dose-response and the time-response relationship between liquorice consumption and rise in blood pressure and explore the inter-individual variance this intervention study was designed and executed in research laboratories at University hospitals in Iceland and Sweden. Healthy, Caucasian volunteers who also served as a control for himself/herself consumed liquorice in various doses, 50-200 g/day, for 2-4 weeks, corresponding to a daily intake of 75-540 mg glycyrrhetinic acid, the active substance in liquorice. Blood pressure was measured before, during and after liquorice consumption. Systolic blood pressure increased by 3.1-14.4 mm Hg (P < 0.05 for all), demonstrating a dose-response but not a time-response relationship. The individual response to liquorice followed the normal distribution. Since liquorice raised the blood pressure with a linear dose-response relationship, even doses as low as 50 g of liquorice (75 mg glycyrrhetinic acid) consumed daily for 2 weeks can cause a significant rise in blood pressure. The finding of a maximal effect of liquorice after only 2 weeks has important implications for all doctors dealing with hypertension. There does not seem to be a special group of responders since the degree of individual response to liquorice consumption followed the normal distribution curve.

Adult↗

Analytical methods for fitting integrated rate equations. A discontinuous assay.

The integrated rate equation for reactions with stoichiometry A----P + Q is: e0t = -Cf . ln(1-delta P/A0) + C1 delta P + 1/2C2(delta P)2 where the coefficients C are linear or quadratic functions of the kinetic constants and the initial substrate and product concentrations. I have used the 21 progress curves described in the accompanying paper [Cox & Boeker (1987) Biochem. J. 245, 59-65] to develop computer-based analytical and statistical techniques for extracting kinetic constants by fitting this equation. The coefficients C were calculated by an unweighted non-linear regression: first approximations were obtained from a multiple regression of t on delta P and were refined by the Gauss-Newton method. The procedure converged in six iterations or less. The bias in the coefficients C was estimated by four methods and did not appear to be significant. The residuals in the progress curves appear to be normally distributed and do not correlate with the amount of product produced. Variances for Cf, C1 and C2 were estimated by four resampling procedures, which gave essentially identical results, and by matrix inversion, which came close to the others. The reliability of C2 can also be estimated by using an analysis-of-variance method that does not require resampling. The final kinetic constants were calculated by standard multiple regression, weighting each coefficient according to its variance. The weighted residuals from this procedure were normally distributed.

Analysis of Variance↗

Day-to-day variability of fasting plasma glucose in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the day-to-day intraindividual variability of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in newly diagnosed Caucasian type 2 diabetic subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 193 newly diagnosed, previously untreated, Caucasian type 2 diabetic subjects (135 men, 58 women) had FPG measured on two consecutive days (FPG1, FPG2). Ethical approval and subjects' full informed consent were obtained. Subjects fasted for 12 h before each study day and rested for at least 30 min before blood was taken. Plasma glucose was analyzed by a glucose oxidase method with intra- and interassay coefficients of variation (CVs) < 2%. Variability of FPG was assessed by comparison of percentage differences (PDs): PD = 100 (FPG2 - FPG1)/FPG1, with averaged FPG (FPGaver = [FPG1 + FPG2]/2). Biological and analytical variability were determined by use of SD2total = SD2biological + SD2analytical, where SD2analytical approximately equal to 2 x (CVglucose measurement)2. Given normally distributed data with zero mean, 95% of daily percentage differences will be expected to fall within a range of +/- 2 SDtotal. RESULTS: Subjects were age 54 +/- 10 years (mean +/- SD) and had BMI of 29.3 +/- 5.3 kg/m2. FPG values for both days were 12.2 +/- 3.4 mmol/l (FPG1) and 12.1 +/- 3.3 mmol/l (FPG2), with a mean paired difference (95% CI) of 0.1 (0.0 to 0.3) mmol/l. The variance of these differences increased with increasing FPGaver. The PDs did not exhibit this effect and were normally distributed (mean -0.6% [-1.7 to 0.4]; SD 7.4% [6.8 to 8.3]), giving a 95% variability (2 SD) of 14.8%. Biological variability (2 SDbiological) was 13.7%. No significant difference in PD was found between men and women (mean difference 1.3% [-1.0 to 3.6]; SDmale 7.4%, SDfemale 7.3%; P = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: A total of 95% of the FPG values for this group of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects varied within approximately +/- 15% on a daily basis, with approximately 14% caused by biological variability. As these results are expressed in percentage terms, subjects in the group with higher FPG values are likely to experience larger changes in FPG values measured from day to day. This variability should be considered when using FPG for the diagnosis and/or monitoring of response to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adult↗

The distribution and gender difference of CYP3A activity in Chinese subjects.

AIMS: To investigate the distribution of CYP3A activity in the Chinese population, and to test for gender-related differences in CYP3A activity. METHODS: Using midazolam as a probe drug, CYP3A activity in 202 Chinese healthy subjects (104 men) was measured by plasma 1'-hydroxymidazolam:midazolam (1'-OH-MDZ:MDZ) ratio at 1 h after oral administration of 7.5 mg midazolam. The different phases of the menstrual cycle including preovulatory, ovulatory and luteal phases of 66 women phenotyped with midazolam were recorded. The concentrations of 1'-OH-MDZ and MDZ in plasma were measured by HPLC RESULTS: A 13-fold variation of CYP3A activity (log1'-OH-MDZ:MDZ: range -0.949-0.203) was shown. The CYP3A activity was normally distributed as indicated by the frequency distribution histogram, the probit plot and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (P > 0.05). The CYP3A activity of women was higher than that of men (median: -0.36 vs -0.43, P < 0.05; 95% CI for difference: -0.127, -0.012). There was a significant difference in CYP3A activity between the three phases of the menstrual cycle. The activity was highest in the preovulatory phase and decreased sequentially in the ovulatory and luteal phases (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A normal distribution of CYP3A activity was observed in the Chinese population. The CYP3A activity is higher in female subjects than in males. CYP3A activity differed across the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Administration, Oral↗

Mapping quantitative trait loci for complex binary diseases using line crosses.

A composite interval gene mapping procedure for complex binary disease traits is proposed in this paper. The binary trait of interest is assumed to be controlled by an underlying liability that is normally distributed. The liability is treated as a typical quantitative character and thus described by the usual quantitative genetics model. Translation from the liability into a binary (disease) phenotype is through the physiological threshold model. Logistic regression analysis is employed to estimate the effects and locations of putative quantitative trait loci (our terminology for a single quantitative trait locus is QTL while multiple loci are referred to as QTLs). Simulation studies show that properties of this mapping procedure mimic those of the composite interval mapping for normally distributed data. Potential utilization of the QTL mapping procedure for resolving alternative genetic models (e.g., single- or two-trait-locus model) is discussed.

Chromosome Mapping↗

[Validation of ESCAP-CD as an instrument of measure for the evaluation of the quality of life in prostatic cancer. Part 2a].

UNLABELLED: In order to make a measure of quality of life related to health (QLRH) useful in the investigation, it must fulfill the psychometric properties (validity, reliability and sensibility). The selection of an instrument is a job for the clinic that must choose the most effective for each proposed objective. We set out the objectives to validate the ESCAP-CDV in a multicentric study in Andalusia. We studied 88 patients who were submitted to the instrument presented to validation and two more tests recognized already: the QLQ-C30 from EORTC gold standard in Europe in the valuation of the neoplastic patients' quality of life and the KARNOFSKY the most clinic utility index in neoplastic patients, used to correlate the items. RESULTS: Questionnaire acceptance analysis: The difficulty of understanding was greater for QLQ C30 items (6.81%) than ESCAP items (1.98%). The lapse of time needed to carry out the test was shorter in the ESCAP test (9.84 min) than in the QLQ C30 (13.13), test. Structural analysis or internal validity analysis: The homogeneity index of the items is high (alfa of Cronbach = 0.93). The dimensionality proposed is not accepted, due to the existence of some modifications pund in the factorial analysis. Finally, the established dimensions: Physical and Emotional Capacity (PEC), 5 items; General Symptoms (GS), 4 items; Pain (P), 3 items; Ligh Functional Capcity (LFC), 4 items; Serious Functional Capacity (SFC), 2 items; Economic State (ES), 3 items; Social and Family State (SFE), 5 items; Capacity Sexual (CSX), 2 items; Isolated Variables (IV), 2 items; and Specific Questionnaire (P), 6 items. The ESCAP is a scale with a normal distribution. Approach or external validity analysis: The ESCAP test is well correlated with the other two scales. Reliability test retest: The interclass correlation coefficient is 0.94 in the ESCAP, not so in the KARNOFSKY that is 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: The ESCAP-CDV is a new instrument of valuation of the QLRH composed of a general questionnaire and other specific test of prostate cancer. It has turned out to be a very homogeneous scale due to its internal consistence (alfa of Cronbach of 0.93), showing that it has a normal distribution, that correlates correctly with the scales compared and it is a valid scale to measure the prostate cancer patients' quality of life. The ESCAP-CDV has shown to be a scale with a high reliability (0.94), setting up as an instrument not only useful for investigation, but to clinical use, as well.

Humans↗

Glycoconjugate distribution in normal human endometrium. A lectin histochemical study.

A battery of nine lectins was applied to routinely processed endometrial biopsies to evaluate changes in glycoconjugate expression during the menstrual cycle and early gestation. Specific staining patterns emerged for glands, surface epithelium, predecidual and decidual cells, stromal granulocytes, and endothelium. Three lectins--wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ricinus communis-I (RCA-I), and Concanavalin ensiformis (Con-A)--showed consistent binding to epithelial and stromal cells in the menstrual cycle. WGA and RCA were bound to gland secretions whereas Con-A labeled epithelial cytoplasm. These three lectins stained occasional stromal cells early in the cycle, but WGA and RCA marked granulocytes whereas Con-A labeled predecidua in the late secretory phase. Succinylated WGA had a distribution similar to WGA but lacked its consistency and intensity. In the menstrual cycle peanut agglutinin reacted with ciliated cells. In addition, this lectin along with soybean agglutinin and Dolichos biflorus labeled gland secretions in pregnancy. The remaining lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutin and Ulex europaeus, marked some components, especially endothelium, but generally had less reactivity than the other lectins did. The results indicate that glycoconjugate production is correlated with the functional status of the endometrium. Presumably these glycoconjugates play a role in endometrial development necessary for nidation, and alterations in lectin distribution may reflect functional abnormalities not apparent by light microscopic study.

Adult↗