Vinclozolin (VCZ), an antiandrogenic fungicide, is an endocrine disrupting chemical that is known to possess high affinity for the androgen receptor (AR) and modulate expression of critical androgen-dependant genes in the prostate. In this study, viability and expression of AR, NKX3.1 and CYP3A4 genes were measured in androgen-sensitive prostate cells LNCaP after exposure to VCZ and VCZ treated with S9 microsomes in a time and dose dependent manner. NKX3.1 is an androgen regulated gene that plays a vital role in prostate development. CYP3A4 is involved in xenobiotic metabolism. VCZ decreased the viability at high doses after 48 hours which was slightly mitigated by treatment with S9 metabolites. Expression of NKX3.1 and CYP3A4 was upregulated while an initial downregulation of AR was observed. NKX3.1 upregulation corroborates with possibility of antiandrogens to act as androgens in LNCaP. The results illustrate that VCZ can interfere with the expression of critical prostate genes.

This diploma thesis deals with prostate cancer, contains informations about this affection and in the practical part I deal with costs, which are used on treatment for prostate cancer. The theoretical part presents prostate cancer, its symptoms, risky factors and diagnostic. Furthermore introduces treatment methodes of prostate cancer, its classifying and insertion to stages. In the theoretical part are calculated costs on the individual modalities of prostate cancer treatment. These costs are compared with datas received from Hospital in Jihlava during the treatment of this affection. In the end sumarise costs of this treatment and analyse propriety of punctual screening of illness.

Orientadores: Eduardo Tavares Costa, Paulo José Cecílio / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T11:03:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Biazotto_Bruna_M.pdf: 4075478 bytes, checksum: 077630eb4f66ca28ec46de7251c31e3f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A experiência clínica em tratamentos radioterápicos de neoplasia de próstata baseia-se no cálculo de doses em meios homogêneos. Entretanto, o feixe de radiação atravessa tecidos de densidades eletrônicas diferentes como os ossos, que alteram a distribuição de dose. Com o advento da tomografia computadorizada e de algoritmos mais avançados que modelam o feixe de radiação, as heterogeneidades entre os tecidos podem ser incorporadas nos planejamentos de tratamentos radioterápicos. Todavia, não há consenso se as alterações na dose por correções de heterogeneidade são significativas. Por tais razões, pretendeu-se no presente trabalho avaliar a necessidade das correções de heterogeneidade em planejamentos de tratamentos radioterápicos de câncer de próstata. Para isso, analisaram-se as médias das diferenças percentuais nas doses em volume alvo e órgãos de risco obtidas em cálculos com e sem correções de heterogeneidade utilizando imagens tomográficas reais de pacientes que trataram dessa neoplasia. Essa avaliação foi realizada para dois métodos de tratamentos diferentes. O primeiro é o conformacional tridimensional (25 casos), algoritmos de cálculo Convolution, Superposition e Fast Superposition do sistema de planejamento XiO/Elekta, feixes de 6 e 10 MV e 4 campos em box. O segundo por intensidade modulada (14 casos), algoritmo de cálculo Pencil Beam Convolution do sistema de planejamento Eclipse/Varian com dois métodos de correção Batho Modificado e Razão Tecido-Ar Equivalente, feixe de 6 MV e geometria de 5 campos oblíquos. As diferenças percentuais médias resultantes nos volumes estudados foram menores que a incerteza aceita atualmente no cálculo de dose de 3% para as duas modalidades de tratamento. Apesar disso, a variabilidade na anatomia dos pacientes, geometria de campos e energia dos feixes apontam para a necessidade de tais correções e a utilização de métodos ainda mais exatos para a diminuição dessa incerteza no futuro / Abstract: Clinical experience in radiotherapy treatments for prostate cancer is based on the calculation of doses in homogeneous media. However, the radiation beam traverses different electron densities in tissues such as bone, altering the dose distribution. With the advent of computed tomography and more advanced algorithms that model the radiation beam, the heterogeneity between tissues can be incorporated in the planning of radiotherapy treatments. However, there is no consensus whether changes in dose for inhomogeneity corrections are significant. For these reasons, this study intended to evaluate the need for inhomogeneity corrections in treatment planning for radiotherapy of prostate cancer. We have analyzed the average percentage differences in doses in the target volume and organs at risk obtained by calculations with and without heterogeneity corrections using actual CT images of patients treated for this cancer. This evaluation was performed for two different methods of treatments. The first is the three-dimensional conformational (25 cases), calculation algorithms Convolution, Superposition and Fast Superposition from the computerized planning system XiO/Elekta, beams of 6 and 10 MV and 4 fields in box. The second by intensity modulated (14 cases), calculation algorithm Pencil Beam Convolution from the computerized planning system Eclipse/Varian with two correction methods Modified Batho and Equivalent Tissue-Air Ratio, 6 MV beam and geometry of 5 oblique fields. The resulting average percentage differences in volumes studied were smaller than the currently accepted uncertainty in the dose calculation of 3% for both treatment modalities. Nevertheless, variability in anatomy of patients, geometry and field energy beams brings the need for these corrections and the use of more accurate methods to reduce this uncertainty in the future / Mestrado / Engenharia Biomedica / Mestra em Engenharia Elétrica

THE BLIND ARCADE is a collection of poems chronicling several of the pressing conditions of contemporary American life: poverty and class, sex, violence, hunger, longing and mourning, and the inverse of the latter, requited love and emotional ecstasy. The poems are set in crowded markets, on trains and in apartment bedrooms, city squares and campus quads, dentist chairs, bridges, riverbanks, and kitchens. This contemporary and familiar backdrop dictates the form of most of these poems to be free verse, although terza rima, ekphrastic, haiku, and prose forms are also utilized. The book presents its poems in three sections. As if a series of decorative arches in a blind arcade, they are not broken down into themes. Rather, they are each utilized and are ordered around the weight of their individual topics to demonstrate the capriciousness of life.

Orientador: Sebastião Roberto Taboga / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T10:30:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Colleta_SimoneJacovaci_M.pdf: 4304217 bytes, checksum: ec5dd4758c1bcc8948cc085490014e3d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A próstata é uma glândula acessória do sistema reprodutor que apresenta desenvolvimento e manutenção regulados por andrógenos e estrógenos. Interferências na ação desses hormônios podem predispor esta glândula a desenvolver doenças como hiperplasia prostática benigna e câncer. O bisfenol A (BPA) e cádmio (Cd) são poluentes ambientais que possuem atividade estereogênica. O BPA e Cd entram no corpo humano, principalmente através da ingestão oral. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a exposição ao BPA e ao Cd durante a puberdade pode causar alterações na morfologia, proliferação e morte celular na próstata ventral de gerbilos normais e castrados. Para cumprir estes propósitos foram realizadas técnicas morfológicas, serológicas e immunocitoquímicas (PCNA para detecção de células proliferativas e TUNEL/ caspase-3 para a detecção de células apoptóticas). Os resultados demonstraram que 7 dias depois da exposição ao BPA e Cd, individualmente ou em combinação sob condições androgênicos normais, houve um aumento na altura do epitélio e na espessura da camada muscular lisa (SML). O BPA e Cd individualmente induziram o aumento expressão celular de PCNA e caspase-3. Em associação, o BPA e Cd causam aumento das células imunomarcados por TUNEL. Nos animais castrados, o Cd, individualmente ou em associação com o BPA causou aumento na altura do epitélio, na espessura SML, na área e perímetro nuclear, além da redução no numero de células epiteliais imunomarcadas com PCNA. Além disso, o BPA e Cd combinados, causaram redução das células imunomarcadas por caspase-3. Após 75 dias depois da exposição ao BPA e Cd individualmente ou em combinação, nos animais não castrados, foi observado um aumento na altura epitelial e na espessura da SMC. Todos animais com 120 dias de idade apresentaram focos de lesões intraepitelial prostática (PIN). O BPA promoveu redução da expressão de PCNA nas células do estroma. O Cd, individualmente ou associado com o BPA, causou um aumento das células epiteliais imunomarcadas por PCNA. Além disso, Cd aumentou o numero de células imunomarcadas por TUNEL e diminuiu as células imunomarcadas por caspase-3. Nos animais castrados, a administração BPA e Cd, individualmente ou em combinação, promoveu aumento das células imunomarcadas por TUNEL. Desta forma, podemos concluir que o BPA e o Cd são importantes desreguladores das atividades normais do tecido prostático, alterando os padrões morfológicos, de proliferação e morte celular / Abstract: The prostate is an accessory reproductive system gland presenting the development and maintenance regulated by androgens and estrogens. Interference in the action of these hormones may predispose this gland to develop diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer. The Bisphenol A (BPA) and cadmium (Cd) are environmental pollutants that have estrogenic activity. The BPA and Cd enter in human body, mainly through oral ingestion. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to BPA and the Cd during puberty can cause alterations in morphology, proliferation and cell death in normal and castrated gerbils¿ ventral prostate. For this, morphological, serological and immunocitochemical (PCNA for proliferating cells detection and TUNEL/ caspase-3 for apoptotic cells detection) methods were used. The results demonstrated that 7 days after the exposure to BPA and Cd, individually or in combination under androgenic normal conditions, there was an increase in epithelium height and in smooth muscle layer (SML) thickness. The BPA and Cd individually induced increased in PCNA and caspase-3 cellular expression. In association, the BPA and Cd cause increase in TUNEL immunostained cells. In castrated animals, the Cd, individually or in association with the BPA caused an increase in epithelium height, in SML thickness, in area and nuclear perimeter, in addition caused reduction in PCNA immunostained epithelial cells number. In addition, BPA and Cd combined, caused reduction in caspase-3 immunostained cells. Seventy-five days after BPA and Cd exposure, individually or in combination, in non-castrated animals, we observed an increase in epithelial height and the SMC thickness. All animals with 120 days of age had occurrences of lesions prostatic intraepithelial (PIN). The BPA caused a reduction in PCNA stromal cells expression. The Cd, individually or associated with BPA, caused an increase in PCNA immunostained epithelial cells. In addition, Cd increased the number of immunostained cells by TUNEL and decreased the immunostained cells by caspase-3. In castrated animals, the administration BPA and Cd, individually or in combination, increased the immunostained cells by TUNEL. We can conclude that the BPA and Cd are are important agents in endocrine activities changing of normal prostatic tissue patterns, altering the morphological, proliferation and cell death patterns / Mestrado / Histologia / Mestra em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientadores: Sebastião Roberto Taboga, Ricardo Alexandre Fochi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T10:21:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antoniassi_JuliaQuilles_M.pdf: 2795390 bytes, checksum: 43457dd2f5a6928d83f9fa9c05fd3820 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A próstata, glândula do sistema reprodutor que tem origem embrionária a partir do seio urogenital, sendo formada por quatro pares de lobos fortemente associado à uretra: lobo anterior ou glândula coaguladora (GC), lobo dorsal (LD), lobo dorsolateral (LDL) e lobo ventral (LV). A fisiologia prostática é regulada por hormônios esteroides, principalmente andrógenos e estrógenos. Enquanto os andrógenos induzem a diferenciação, desenvolvimento, e atividade secretora, os estrógenos parecem modular os efeitos androgênicos, mantendo o crescimento e fisiologia normal da próstata. Embora o cortisol seja um hormônio largamente utilizado em medicamentos por suas ações anti-inflamatórias e imunossupressoras, pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos colaterais desses medicamentos, principalmente na morfofisiologia prostática. Além disso, sabe-se que esse hormônio está altamente relacionado com o estresse e com alguns distúrbios de comportamento. Desta forma, este projeto visou avaliar, por métodos histológicos, histoquímicos, imunocitoquímicos e estruturais com parâmetros qualitativos e quantitativos, diversos aspectos morfofuncionais da glândula prostática ventral de machos de gerbilo (Meriones unguiculatus), após a aplicação por cinco dias de corticosterona em duas doses diferentes: 0,5mg/kg/dia e 1,5mg/kg/dia, além disso os grupos foram subdivididos em um grupo com um período de 5 dias de descanso após o tratamento e outro grupo que foi morto um dia após o fim do tratamento. Os dados apresentados mostram que a corticosterona possui propriedades antiproliferativas e antiapoptóticas sobre a próstata de gerbilos. Esse hormônio também alterou a frequência dos receptores dos principais hormônios reguladores desse órgão, como andrógenos e estrógenos. Em relação aos receptores de glicocorticóides (GR), foi observada uma redução da sua expressão quando a concentração sérica da corticosterona encontrava-se elevada. As alterações na expressão dos receptores supracitados levaram ao surgimento de displasias prostáticas importantes. Houve uma variação nos efeitos desencadeados por esse hormônio de acordo com a dose aplicada, sendo que uma maior dose apresentou efeitos mais discretos e uma menor dose mostrou ser mais impactante. Os efeitos da corticosterona nos receptores nucleares foram revertidos ou atenuados após o período de descanso, o que não foi observado para os padrões de proliferação e apoptose celular / Abstract: The prostate, gland of reproductive system, has embryonic origin from the urogenital sinus and consists four lobes that are strongly associated with the urethra: anterior lobe or coagulating gland (CG), dorsal lobe (LD), dorsolateral lobe (LDL) and ventral lobe (LV). Steroid hormones, mainly androgens and estrogens, regulate the prostate physiology. While androgens induce differentiation, development and secretory activity, estrogens appear to modulate androgen effects, maintaining normal growth and prostate physiology. Although cortisol is widely used in drugs because their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions, little is known about the side effects of these drugs, especially in the prostate morphophysiology. Furthermore, it is known that this hormone is highly correlated with stress and some behavioral disorders. Thus, this research aimed evaluate, by histological methods, histochemical, immunocytochemical with structural and qualitative and quantitative parameters, various morphological and functional aspects of the ventral prostate gland of male gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) after application of corticosterona. This hormone was applicated for five days with two doses of corticosterone: 0.5mg/kg/day and 1.5mg/kg/day, in addition, the groups were divided into a group with a 5-day period of rest after the treatment and another group was killed one day after the end treatment. The data showed that corticosterone has antiproliferative and anti-apoptotic properties on the prostate gerbils. This hormone also changed the frequency of AR, ER?, ER? e GR. We observed a reduction of glucocorticoids receptors expression when serum concentration of corticosterone was elevated. These changes led to the emergence of important prostatic dysplasia. There was a variation in effects triggered by this hormone in accordance with the applied dose, being that a higher dose reported effects more discrete and a lower dose was shown to be more impactful. The effects of corticosterone on nuclear receptors have been reversed or attenuated after rest period, which was not observed for apoptosis and cell proliferation patterns / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestra em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientadores: Sérgio Luis Felisbino, Francisco Eduardo Martinez / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T11:21:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fontanelli_BeatrizAparecidaFioruci_D.pdf: 2932311 bytes, checksum: fc7d79d2b10d42488acf176230c43c39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Pesquisadores têm mostrado que o consumo crônico de etanol altera a concentração do ácido retinóico, metabólito ativo da vitamina A, em muitos órgãos, incluindo a próstata. O ácido retinóico é essencial para o desenvolvimento normal da próstata e para a manutenção de sua homeostase. Alterações na concentração e no metabolismo do ácido retinóico estão relacionadas com o desenvolvimento de lesão na próstata. Adicionalmente, a atividade de metaloproteinases da matriz extracelular (MMPs), também está relacionada com o desenvolvimento de alterações na próstata. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo descrever os efeitos dos consumos, baixo e alto, de etanol sobre as proteínas envolvidas na síntese e no catabolismo do ácido retinóico (artigo I), bem como, sobre a atividade enzimática das MMPs (artigo II) nos lobos dorsais e laterais da próstata.Vinte ratos adultos (~ 90 dias de idade) de cada variedade, UChA e UChB, foram divididos nos grupos (n=10/grupo): UChA (consumo baixo de etanol, 0,2-2 g/kg/dia), UChAC (ratos que não consumiram etanol); UChB (consumo alto de etanol, > 2g/kg/dia), UChBC (ratos que não consumiram etanol).Após o período experimental (~ 150 dias de idade), os ratos foram eutanasiados por decapitação e os lobos dorsais e laterais das próstatas foram coletados e dissecados: (1) para avaliar os níveis e a localização das proteínas ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1, através de western blot e imuno-histoquímica, bem como, a atividade catabólica das CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1 por ensaio bioquímico e quantificação por HPLC-MS/MS; (2) e para avaliar a atividade da MMP-2 e da MMP-9, e os níveis dos inibidores teciduais de metaloproteinases (TIMP-1/ TIMP-2), através de zimografia e Elisa, respectivamente. No grupo UChA, a ALDH1A3 aumentou na próstata dorsal, enquanto as proteínas ALDH1A1 e ALDH1A2 diminuíram na próstata lateral. No grupo UChB, as proteínas ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, e ALDH1A3 aumentaram na próstata dorsal, enquanto a ALDH1A3 diminuiu no lobo lateral. A concentração do ácido retinóico aumentou, indicando diminuição da atividade da CYP2E1, e diminuiu quando se avaliou a CYP26, indicando aumento de sua atividade na próstata dorsal do UChB. Além disso, o ácido retinóico diminuiu quando se avaliou a atividade de CYP total nos grupos experimentais, sendo somente aumentado na próstata lateral do UChA. O consumo baixo de etanol (grupo UChA) diminuiu a atividade das MMP-2 e MMP-9 e o nível das TIMP-2 e TIMP-1 na próstata lateral, enquanto que na próstata dorsal o etanol diminuiu a atividade de MMP-2 e o nível de TIMP-1. Por outro lado, no grupo UChB, o etanol diminuiu somente a atividade da MMP-9 na próstata lateral e não alterou os níveis de TIMP-1 e TIMP-2.Nossos resultados indicam que o etanol modula a síntese e o catabolismo do ácido retinóico na próstata do rato de modo dependente de sua concentração. Além disso, o consumo crônico e baixo de etanol diminui a atividade das metaloproteinases -2 e -9, sendo a próstata lateral o lobo afetado e, portanto, mais susceptível a estas alterações, do que o lobo prostático dorsal. / Abstract: Researchers have shown that chronic ethanol consumption alters the retinoic acid concentration, an active metabolite of vitamin A, in many organs including the prostate. The retinoic acid is essential for the normal development of prostate and for maintaining its glandular homeostasis. Changes in concentration and metabolism of retinoic acid are related to lesion development in the prostate. Additionally, the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also relates to development of alterations in prostate. Thus, this study aimed to describe the effects of low and high doses of ethanol consumption, on the proteins involved in the synthesis and catabolism of retinoic acid (Article I), as well as on the enzymatic activity of MMPs (Article II) the dorsal and lateral lobes of the prostate. Twenty adult rats (~ 90 days old) of each variety, UChA and UChB, were divided into groups (n = 10 / group): UChA (low ethanol consumption, 0.2-2 g /kg / day), UChAC (rats not consumed ethanol); UChB (high ethanol consumption, > 2 g/ kg/ day), UChBC (rats not consumed ethanol). After the experimental period (~ 150 days old), the rats were euthanized by decapitation and dorsal and lateral lobes of the prostates were collected and dissected: (1) for evaluate the levels and location of the proteins ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1, by western blot and immunohistochemistry, as well as, catabolic activity of CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1 by biochemical assay and quantification by HPLC¿MS/MS; (2) and to evaluate the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and the levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 / TIMP-2) using zymography and ELISA, respectively. In the UChA group, ALDH1A3 increased in dorsal prostate, while the proteins ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A1 decreased in the lateral prostate. In the UChB group, the proteins ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A3 increased in the dorsal prostate, while ALDH1A3 decreased in the lateral lobe. The concentration of retinoic acid increased, indicating a decrease in the CYP2E1 activity, and decreased when evaluated CYP26, indicating increased of CYP26 activity in the UChB dorsal prostate. Furthermore, the retinoic acid decreased when assessing the CYP total activity in the experimental groups, but only increased in the lateral prostate of UChA. The low ethanol consumption (UChA group) reduced the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the levels of TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 in the lateral prostate, while dorsal prostate the ethanol decreased the MMP-2 activity and the level of TIMP-1. On the other hand, in the UChB group, ethanol only decreased the activity of MMP-9 in the lateral prostate and did not alter the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Our results indicate that ethanol modulates the synthesis and catabolism of retinoic acid in the rat prostate in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the chronic and low consumption of ethanol decreases the activity of metalloproteinases -2 and -9 in the lateral lobe prostate, showing that this organ is more susceptible to these changes than dorsal lobe prostate / Doutorado / Anatomia / Doutora em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / Prostate cancer is one of the heterogeneous groups of neoplastic diseases originating from the reproductive system of the male naming, the prostate gland. In the west, prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting African men in older age (over the age of 55) and usually with a family history of the disease. The initiation and progression of this disease is thought to result from the genetic alterations of gene expression in the prostate epithelial cells. Prostate cancer has a very slow progression. This observation provides the advantage of early detection and the notion for using diet to prevent the cellular and molecular processes of carcinogenesis. Epidemiological research has documented a positive health role for red palm oil on atherosclerosis, arterial thrombosis and several types of cancers. This thesis focuses on investigating the effect of different concentrations of the red palm oil (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 500, 1 000 μg/ml) on malignant (LNCaP) prostate cells and benign (PWR-1E) prostate cells over 24 and 72- hours. The following parameters were investigated: cell morphology and viability (using MTT assay), the expression of androgen receptors and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) via RT-PCR and/or PSA ELISA kit. The results of this study demonstrate that red palm oil has significant cytotoxic effects on malignant (LNCaP) prostate cells but caused only a slight decrease in cell viability of benign (PWR- 1E) prostate cells. Morphologically, we noted a clear increase in detachment and cell death in malignant (LNCaP) cells as the concentrations of red palm oil increased. Moreover, the viability decreased significantly in both 24 and 72-hour treatment of red palm oil. Further to this, red palm oil significantly promoted the reduction of total PSA concentration in malignant (LNCaP) prostate cells whereas in benign (PWR-1E) prostate cells the Red Palm Oil maintained the total serum PSA at its basal physiological level. In conclusion, red palm oil is significantly cytotoxic to malignant (LNCaP) prostate cells whereas weakly cytotoxic effect toward benign (PWR-1E) prostate cells. The potent inhibition to mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity is responsible for the aforementioned effects respectively. The decrease in total serum PSA demonstrate the strong therapeutic effects that red palm oil has on malignant (LNCaP) prostate cells

MPH / Department of Public Health / Prostate cancer (PC) screening is a strategy to identify cancer before it causes symptoms. However, men’s participation in prostate cancer screening seems inadequate and remains a public health concern worldwide. This leads most men to be diagnosed with an advanced prostate cancer where cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of males towards prostate cancer screening at a selected village in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo province. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 245 men who are 40 years and above. The sample was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to analyse the collected data; and the results were presented in percentages, frequencies and tables. Cross tabulation, Chi square and Phi and Cramer’s V test were also utilised to test for association and effects size respectively at .05 level of significance. Respondent’s knowledge as an explanatory variable, screening practices as response variable was assessed. The findings of this study showed that 64.1% of respondents had inadequate knowledge about prostate cancer. About 62.4% respondents had no prior knowledge regarding prostate cancer and 69% of respondents didn’t know the age at risk for the development of PC, while 81.9% of respondents had never heard about PC, and 35.9% didn’t know that PC can be treated. 84.9% of respondents had positive attitudes towards PC screening, however, 96.7% had never undergone screening for prostate cancer and 46.9% indicated that they will never undergo PSA test. Furthermore, the study found a significant association between men’s knowledge of PC and their willingness to undergo PC screening, X2 (3, N=245) = 48.44, p = .001; men’s knowledge of PC was significantly related to their attitudes towards PC, X2 (1, N = 245) = 17.63, p = .001. The effect size was moderate, ɸ = .27. Knowledge was significantly associated with all the demographic variables. Therefore, this study recommends widespread public health campaigns focusing on educating men about prostate cancer risk factors, symptoms, treatment and ways to prevent and manage it through healthy lifestyles. / NRF

Background and Aim: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading cancer diagnosis amongst South African men. The incidence of PCa is 68.0 per 100 000 Age Standardized Rate (ASR) and the mortality rates are 27.9 per 100 000 ASR; Globocan 2018. Diagnosis of PCa is based on a combination of digital rectal examination, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and histology. Several biomarkers have been used to increase the sensitivity and specificity of PSA in distinguishing patients with PCa from those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These include fractionated PSA, free/total PSA ratio, −2proPSA, prostate cancer antigen 3 and prostate health index amongst others. Biomarkers are needed to differentiate BPH from PCa due to a lack of specificity of these markers with PSA levels above 4.0 ng/ml. The aim of this study is to investigate gene expression patterns of South African men in 9 PCa and 10 BPH patients in order to distinguish between the two groups. Methods: Ethical approval was obtained (HREC 454/2012). Patients scheduled for transurethral resection of the prostate were recruited from the Western Cape. RNA was extracted from prostate tissue using the AllPrep DNA/RNA/miRNA Universal Kit (Qiagen). Complementary DNA was synthesized from RNA using the SuperScript IV VILO Master Mix (Thermo Fischer Scientific). Gene expression was analyzed with the Human Prostate Cancer RT2 Profiler PCR Array and SYBR Green Master Mix. Data were analyzed with the GeneGlobe RT2 and miScript PCR Array Data Analysis Centre from Qiagen. Results: The cohort included patients from different ethnic groups namely, Caucasians, Mixedand African ancestry. The PCa group has an age range from 56 to 75 years (mean 65) while the BPH group was slight older ranging from 60 to 76 years (mean 68). PSA levels range from 24 to 5000 ng/ml (mean 1252 ng/ml, median 185) for the PCa group and 11 to 58 ng/mL (mean 25 ng/ml, median 22) for the BPH group. The following genes were downregulated 2-fold in the PCa group with p values s <0.05; IGF1, PTEN, GSTP1, SOCS3, EGR3, GPX3, TIMP3, ZNF185, DKK3, PTGS2, FOXO1, ARNTL, TNFRSF10D, CCND1, and DLC1, upregulated genes included; CDH1, MKI67, TMPRSS2, ERG, CDKN2A, FASN, and AR but were not statistically significant. At a fold change threshold of 1.5, the following additional genes were downregulated in the PCa group with p values <0.05; DAXX, EGFR, RASSF1, SOX4, and TIMP2, upregulated genes were ACACA, AR, CDKN2A, ERG and FASN but were also not statistically significant. The study shows similarly differentially expressed genes as seen in international studies. Of note PTEN, MKI67 and FASN which are associated with poor prognosis. EGR3 was downregulated in our study and this has been associated aggressive disease and predict relapse after PCa treatment. This could explain the high mortality demonstrated in South African epidemiological studies. Conclusion: We identified a group of differentially expressed genes that have potential in distinguishing PCa and BPH patients with PSA values above 10 ng/ml. A larger population study is needed to further evaluate the clinical significance of our findings.