Male Urogenital Diseases Commons^™

The Effect Of Mtor Inhibitor Rapamycin On A Dietary Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis, Michael T. Pignanelli

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Impaired cellular tolerance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested as a common mechanistic link associated with aging in both metabolic syndrome and nephrolithiasis. The mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity is characteristic of metabolic syndrome. When nutrients are abundant, mTOR is active. Conversely, fasting inhibits mTOR. Metabolic syndrome is correlated with an increased risk of self-reported or imaging findings of nephrolithiasis. At the individual level, patients with a higher BMI have an increased prevalence of recurrent symptomatic nephrolithiasis, 24-hour urinary excretion of oxalate, sodium, uric acid, calcium, and phosphorous as well as lower pH. Calcium oxalate crystals …

The Impact Of Ethnicity And Immigration On Prostate Cancer Mortality In Canada, Noah Stern

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Despite the prevalence of prostate cancer its pathogenesis remains unclear. Marked differences in mortality rates have been observed between countries, however, it is unclear whether the source of the observed differences is driven by underlying genetics, geographic, or social factors. This thesis investigated the impact of ethnicity and immigration on prostate cancer mortality in Canada using the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort. South Asian and East Asian men were seen to be at decreased risk of prostate cancer mortality, while no increased risk was observed in black men. These results affirm studies showing lower risks in Asian men; however, …

Characterization Of Human Prostate Cancer Using Sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nolan Christopher Broeke

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Overtreatment of prostate cancer is a significant problem in the health care of men. Development of non-invasive imaging tools for improved characterization of prostate lesions has the potential to reduce overtreatment. In this thesis work, we will evaluate the ability of tissue sodium concentration obtained from sodium magnetic resonance imaging (sodium-MRI) to characterize in vivo prostate lesions. Imaging data, including multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and sodium-MRI, were obtained from a cohort of men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer and compared to digitized whole-mount histopathology after prostatectomy. Histopathology was independently graded for Gleason score to be used as the ground truth …

Prostate Cancer Microparticles In Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy, Malcolm James Dewar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: To determine changes in prostate microparticle (PMP) concentrations in men with prostate cancer (PCa) after digital rectal examination (DRE), after radical prostatectomy (RP), and at follow-up.

Materials and Methods: 22 men were recruited before RP. Four blood specimens were collected – baseline (specimen 1), post-DRE (specimen 2), immediately post-RP (specimen 3), and follow-up (specimen 4). Pre- and post-DRE urine was collected (Specimen A and B respectively). Flow cytometric analysis of biofluids was performed with fluorescent-labeled antibodies against prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and polysialic acid. Total MP (TMP) and dual positive (PMP) events per µl of plasma or urine were …

The Effect Of Ast-120 On Hepatic Metabolism And Transport In Chronic Kidney Disease, Andrew S. Kucey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in renal function. Patients are at high risk for adverse drug events since they are typically administered multiple medications concurrently and pharmacokinetic changes in the diseased state are relatively unexplored. Recent studies point towards molecules known as uremic toxins for playing a mechanistic role in altering the expression and function of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporter proteins. To further investigate this hypothesis an adenine-induced model of CKD was used in male wistar rats. AST-120 was administered to remove uremic toxins in an attempt to recover metabolic enzyme …

Prostate Cancer Microparticles As A Next Generation Screening Tool For Prostate Cancer, Khurram M. Siddiqui

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Currently available screening tests for prostate cancer (PCa) are neither very sensitive nor specific. Microparticles (MP) are submicron tumor cell fragments released by PCa cells into the circulation and offer a possible means of sampling the tumor. We evaluated the utility of a MP blood test using nanoscale flow cytometry to distinguish patients with PCa from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We used monoclonal antibodies against prostate specific membrane antigen, gastrin releasing peptide receptor and ghrelin peptide ligand.

We found higher but statistically insignificant, PSMA and Ghrelin dual +ve MP counts in the BPH group. Our results show that …