Chloroplast DNA characters, phylogeny, and classification of Lathyrus (Fabaceae)

Mapped cpDNA restriction site characters were analyzed cladistically and the resulting phylogenetic hypotheses were used to test monophyly and relationships of the infrageneric classification of Lathyrus (Fabaceae) proposed by Kupicha (1983, Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 41: 209-244). The validity of previously proposed classification systems and questions presented by these classification schemes were explored. Two cpDNA regions, rpoC (rpoC1, its intron, part of rpoC2, and their intergenic spacer) and IR- (psbA, trnH-GUG, part of ndhF, and their intergenic spacers), were analyzed for 42 Lathyrus and two Vicia species. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplified rpoC and IR- products digested with 31 and 27 restriction endonucleases, respectively, resulted in 109 potentially informative characters. The strict consensus tree suggests that several of Kupicha's sections may be combined in order to constitute clades. The widespread section Orobus and the South American section Notolathyrus should be combined. Section Lathyrus, characterized by a twisted style, should either include sections Orobon and Orobastrum or be redefined as three sections, one of which is characterized by a 100 base pair deletion in the IR- region. Finally, a weighted parsimony analysis positions sections Clymenum (excluding L. gloeospermus) and Nissolia, both with phyllodic leaves, as sister sections. The affiliation of Lathyrus gloeospermus (section Clymenum) remains problematic.

In vitro evaluation of topical fluorides for overdenture abutments

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Topical fluorides are effective, yet none have been developed specifically for root or dentin surfaces.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the ability of several commercial topical fluorides to protect overdenture abutments from in vitro acid demineralization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty extracted teeth from persons aged 50 to 70 years were prepared for overdenture abutments. The teeth were sectioned to provide 40 buccal and lingual halves, covered with nail varnish except for windows on the occlusal and root surfaces, and randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 specimens, which were cycled for 6 hours in acid demineralization, washed, and then held 17 hours in a remineralizing solution for 18 days. Before each cycle, the specimens were treated with either Karigel, Karigel-N, or a NaF solution. The control group was treated with fluoride-free solution.

RESULTS

The depth of the artificial lesions on the root surfaces showed a statistically significant dose response. On the occlusal, there were no differences in lesion depth between the various topical fluorides and the control group. But there was a dose response when the remineralized band was subtracted from the lesion depth. Remineralization bands in the occlusal lesions were not evident in the control group, but were present in the fluoride groups.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that higher concentrations of NaF are more protective for overdenture abutments.

Estramustine phosphate versus placebo as second line treatment after orchiectomy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer: DAPROCA study 9002. Danish Prostatic Cancer Group

PURPOSE

We compared the effect of 560 mg. estramustine phosphate daily to placebo as a supplement to standard palliative therapy in patients with progressive disease after bilateral orchiectomy as first line therapy for metastatic prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a double-blind multicenter study 131 patients with progressing metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer were randomized to receive 280 mg. estramustine phosphate 2 times daily versus placebo. End points were clinical progression and death. Adverse events, decrease in prostate specific antigen (PSA) and subjective response were also assessed.

RESULTS

Adverse events were common in both groups but breast tenderness/gynecomastia and diarrhea were more frequent among patients in the estramustine phosphate group. Subjective responses were few (9 of 50 estramustine phosphate and 4 of 57 placebo cases, p = 0.15). Median observation time for survival was 43 months and 124 patients died. Median time to subjective progression and median overall survival did not differ significantly between the 2 groups at 4.6 and 9.4 months in the estramustine phosphate group versus 5.0 and 6.1 months in the placebo group. Of 61 patients in the estramustine phosphate group 29 achieved a reduction in PSA of more than 25% at 1 month of followup compared to only 3 of 68 receiving placebo. A decrease in PSA after 1 month correlated significantly with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study did not prove estramustine phosphate to be superior to placebo in terms of protocol end points, it generates the hypothesis that prolonged survival may be achieved with estramustine phosphate treatment in a subgroup of patients and that this may be predicted by a decrease in PSA after 1 month of therapy.

Estramustine phosphate versus placebo as second line treatment after orchiectomy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer: DAPROCA study 9002. Danish Prostatic Cancer Group

PURPOSE

We compared the effect of 560 mg. estramustine phosphate daily to placebo as a supplement to standard palliative therapy in patients with progressive disease after bilateral orchiectomy as first line therapy for metastatic prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a double-blind multicenter study 131 patients with progressing metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer were randomized to receive 280 mg. estramustine phosphate 2 times daily versus placebo. End points were clinical progression and death. Adverse events, decrease in prostate specific antigen (PSA) and subjective response were also assessed.

RESULTS

Adverse events were common in both groups but breast tenderness/gynecomastia and diarrhea were more frequent among patients in the estramustine phosphate group. Subjective responses were few (9 of 50 estramustine phosphate and 4 of 57 placebo cases, p = 0.15). Median observation time for survival was 43 months and 124 patients died. Median time to subjective progression and median overall survival did not differ significantly between the 2 groups at 4.6 and 9.4 months in the estramustine phosphate group versus 5.0 and 6.1 months in the placebo group. Of 61 patients in the estramustine phosphate group 29 achieved a reduction in PSA of more than 25% at 1 month of followup compared to only 3 of 68 receiving placebo. A decrease in PSA after 1 month correlated significantly with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study did not prove estramustine phosphate to be superior to placebo in terms of protocol end points, it generates the hypothesis that prolonged survival may be achieved with estramustine phosphate treatment in a subgroup of patients and that this may be predicted by a decrease in PSA after 1 month of therapy.

Long-term results of Marmor arthroplasty in varus osteoarthritic knees

Twenty-one osteoarthritic knees with an average varus angulation of 13 degrees were followed up for 7-10 years after resurfacing with the Marmor compartmental knee arthroplasty. There were 14 unicompartmental and 7 bicompartmental replacements, a total of 28 implants. The knees were assessed clinically according to the Hospital for Special Surgery knee rating scale. At the latest follow-up, 19 of these cases were still excellent or good. None of the knees had been corrected by more than the tightness of the ligaments allowed, and a varus inclination of an average of 2 degrees remained after operation and at the latest follow-up. Radiolucency of more than 2 mm around the tibial component was found in 2 out of 28 of the cases, but this was not associated with pain or disability, nor was wire breakage, found in 6 out of 28, or positional changes of the tibial component, which were seen in five patients. It is concluded that the Marmor compartmental knee arthroplasty is still indicated in osteoarthritic varus knees.