J. De Leval

Screening of histone deacetylases (HDAC) expression in human prostate cancer reveals distinct class I HDAC profiles between epithelial and stromal cells.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) represent a large family of enzymes identified as key regulators of nucleosomal histone acetylation, a major epigenetic event that controls eukaryotic gene transcription. Inappropriate deacetylation mediated by HDACs has been associated with profound alterations in cellular biology. We have thus hypothesized that an altered HDAC expression may favor cancer development/progression. To test this possibility, we have sought to screen the expression profiles of several class I and class II HDACs (HDAC1-8) in DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP human prostate cancer cell lines as well as in matched malignant and non-malignant prostate tissues by use of real time RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. All HDAC transcripts tested were detected at various levels in all prostate cancer cell lines and tissue samples analyzed. In prostate tissues, the abundance of HDAC1 protein, which was exclusively expressed in the cell nucleus, was similar in normal and malignant epithelial cells, but was usually lower in stromal cells. Unexpectedly, HDAC8, another class I HDAC, was not detected in epithelial cells but was uniquely expressed in the cytoplasm of stromal cells. HDAC5, a class II HDAC involved in myogenesis, was not detected in the tissues. Altogether, our findings indicate that epithelial and stromal cells exhibit distinct class I HDAC expression profiles, and the abundance of HDAC1 is not altered in human prostate cancer. In addition, our observations are the first to demonstrate the prominently cytosolic distribution of a class I HDAC, HDAC8.

Urihesive: a new aid in the management of urinary incontinence in male paraplegic patients.

Our past practice with incontinent paraplegic patients has been to attach to the penis the sheath incorporated in urinary drainage devices by means of Elastoplast tape. Frequent development of skin lesions due to local irritation, and the necessity to wind Elastoplast tightly around the penis, which may produce urethral diverticula, has led us to use Urihesive to attach the sheath to the urinary drainage device.Urihesive has been used continuously for several months in 18 paraplegic patients. It has proved to be highly superior to Elastoplast, for the following reasons:It produces a better seal, resulting in no leakage of urine, and has better elasticity; it prevents the development of skin lesions and aids healing to existing lesions; there is no urethral constriction and the patient is more comfortable.

The estimation of bacterial predation by aquatic microfauna

Abstract The role of the microfauna is estimated, in the Belgian river Sambre, from the point of view of the predation. Two methods are used a batch culture technique and a continuous culture approach. Both methods lead to the same conclusions. The bacterial population is not greatly influenced by predation but should be limited by other environmental factors. The yield of the bulk microfauna is twice the mean bacterial yield.

Original lithotomy positioning for transperineal extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for distal ureteric calculi with Tripter X1.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been initially designed for stones located in the kidney and the upper ureter. Our lithotripter is no exception. Its components (the table and the orientation of the semi-ellipsoid reflector) are adapted for the treatment of kidney or lumbar ureter stones. However, the elements forming the unit of treatment (the table, the C-arm and the Tripter) can be modified in such a way that focalization of stones of the lower ureter becomes possible through a perineal exposure. The aim is to avoid the pelvic bone shield while a good focalization of the stone is realized. From June 1989 to March 1991, 35 patients were treated for distal ureteric stones by ESWL in this original positioning.