Black men have the highest burden of prostate cancer (PCa) compared to all other races. Early detection of PCa is controversial, thus preference based PCa testing is recommended. PCa testing intention can be used as a proxy for testing preferences. Intention is known to predict behavior; however there is a gap between testing intention and testing behavior. The aims of this study were to examine the PCa testing intention-prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing gap and identify social cognitive variables that moderate the gap. Two hundred and sixteen black men participated in this longitudinal study. Results indicated PCa testing intention was a positive but moderate predictor of three PSA testing outcomes, p<.05. Men who tested in accordance with their PCa testing intention (positive or negative) ranged from 52% to 58%. Men who intended to test but did not, were the group most responsible for the PCa intention-PSA testing gap. History of PCa testing had an independent main effect on medical claim of a PSA test between time one interview and one year after time one interview, p<.05. A significant knowledge of PCa testing controversy by PCa testing intention interaction effect on medical claim of a PSA test between time one and time two interview was found, p<.05. Men who do not know about the testing controversy are more likely to have a positive intention and fulfill their testing intention. Conversely, men who are aware and appreciate the controversy surrounding testing are more ambivalent about testing. Social cognitive variables were associated with PCa testing intention-PSA testing outcomes. These variables should be considered when designing interventions to help black men to manage their risk for PCa in a manner that is consistent with their testing preferences. / Public Health

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how men experience living with localized prostate cancer. It includes four substudies carried out between 1997 and 2005. To gather data, the men were interviewed at home and the interviews were recorded. The men (n=27; ages 60-70) who participated in the substudies had a PSA ≤10 ng/ml at the time of diagnosis, and had what is known as low-risk prostate cancer. Seven of the men chose to “wait and see” how the disease would progress after receiving the diagnosis. Twenty men chose curative treatment (10 men external radiation therapy, 10 men radical surgery). The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur, and qualitative content analysis. Men who live with localized prostate cancer perceive the disease as life-threatening, unpredictable, and without early symptoms, which creates a sense of uncertainty, worry, anxiety, despair, and fear of death. Men primarily share perceptions of the disease and treatment with their wives and relatives, as well as with other men in the same situation. They avoid talking about their illness, and keep their innermost thoughts about their disease, prognosis, and the future to themselves. The choice to share their thoughts and feelings only sparingly with others is related in part to the perceived stigmatization of the diagnosis, as well as to consideration for friends and family. The men report that external radiation therapy and radical surgery have negative side effects such as erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and intestinal leakage. They describe the side effects as socially isolating; for example, urinary leakage can require a change of incontinence pads and clothing, and they feel that they smell bad. Men with erectile dysfunction describe themselves as maimed, and their sex lives have changed or disappeared. They report a change in their self-esteem and identity as men and they long for life as it was before the diagnosis, when they felt they had control over their bodily functions. A few men describe a sense of being literally and figuratively “exposed” when they are undressed for examinations or participate in discussions with female doctors and nurses about their erectile dysfunction. They do not describe this perception in the same way with respect to contact with male personnel. In the new situation after treatment, men try to regain a perceived sense of control in their daily lives, over the disease and the effects of treatment. They experience a sense of control over the disease through regular PSA tests; the implications of regular PSA tests can be interpreted as a life preserver in an uncertain world, considering that at the time they were diagnosed they had no symptoms and only had a PSA elevation. The PSA is important for this sense of control, and each PSA test is preceded by tense expectation. The PSA level is described as a reliable expression of the medical condition. The men cannot trust that their own perception of feeling healthy means that the disease is under control. Low and stable PSA levels over a long period of time give a sense of safety, security, and control over the situation. If the PSA climbs, the men feel that despite everything, they have caught it in time for further treatment. Discussions with other men with prostate cancer are also described as a way of having control over the situation. The men's endeavor to reconcile themselves to the new situation can be understood as a process, where they describe various strategies which can be used to forget the “cancer perspective” and achieve a perception of safety and security. Reconciliation with a new situation can be interpreted as a reorientation after the trauma of the cancer diagnosis. The study results show that the men are restrained in communicating their needs to others, which can be interpreted as their having a greater need for support and information than indicated by their signals. Having an internal image of what a man should be like can be an obstacle to showing these needs.

<p>&nbsp;У оквиру ове докторске дисертације испитан је хемијски састав и биолошке активности ЕtOH, H₂Oи CHCl_3&nbsp; екстраката четири врсте гљива рода<em> Ganoderma</em>&nbsp; (Basidiomycota):&nbsp;<em> G. applanatum,&nbsp; G. lucidum,G. pfeifferi,&nbsp; G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; са територије Војводине.Хемијски састав анализираних врста је одређен<br />применом: ААЅ методе (састав макро-&nbsp; имикроелемената у сувим остацима гљива) и LC-MS/MS технике (квантитативни састав фенолних једињења и флавоноида) при чему је детектовано 12 једињења. Спектрофотометријским методама је одређен садржај протеина, шећера, укупних фенола и флавоноида, код којих је највећи садржај протеина утврђен за ЕtOH екстракте&nbsp;<em> G. applanatum&nbsp; </em>и&nbsp; <em>G. pfeifferi</em>. Испитивања биолошких активности екстраката обухватила су: одређивање<span id="cke_bm_779S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><em>&nbsp; in vitro</em><span id="cke_bm_779E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp; и&nbsp;<em> in vivo</em> антиоксидантне, антимикробне, антиинфламаторне, антипролиферативне и антијабето<span id="cke_bm_780E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>гене&nbsp;&nbsp; aктивности.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Антиоксидантна активност (способност неутрализације слободних радикала и редукциони потенцијал) је одређена спектрофотометријским методама, при којој су најбољу активност остварили Н₂О екстракти&nbsp;<em> G</em>. <em>applanatum.</em> Антимикробнa активност&nbsp; анализираних екстраката одређена је испитивањем антибактеријског, антифунгалног и антивиралног потенцијала где се издвојила<em> G. pfeifferi</em> врста. Антиинфламаторни потенцијал EtOH и&nbsp; CHCl₃екстраката одређен је<em>&nbsp; ex vivo&nbsp;</em> методом мерењем способности инхибиције продукције медијатора инфламације&nbsp; (продукти&nbsp; метаболизма арахидонске киселине) при којој су бољу активност испољили CHCl₃ екстракти.</p><p>Ефекат EtOH и H₂O екстраката врста рода Ganoderma&nbsp;&nbsp; на раст MCF ћелијске линије испитан је MTT тестом, а посебно су се издвојили&nbsp; EtOH&nbsp; екстракти врста после 72h.</p><p>Остварена антидијабетогена активност EtOH и Н₂О екстраката врста&nbsp; <span id="cke_bm_795S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><em>G. pfeifferi&nbsp; </em><span id="cke_bm_795E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>и&nbsp;<em> G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; код алоксан-индукованог&nbsp;<em> D. mell<span id="cke_bm_796E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>itus-a&nbsp;</em> на&nbsp; експерименталним&nbsp; животињама&nbsp; праћена je регенерацијом&nbsp; &szlig;- ћелија&nbsp; Лангерхансових острваца панкреаса. Као потенцијални нефро-&nbsp; и&nbsp; хепатопротективни агенси се издвајају екстракти<em>&nbsp; G. resinaceum.</em></p><p>Сумарно, укупни биопотенцијал анализираних врста рода&nbsp; Ganoderma&nbsp; на основу спроведених анализа хемијске&nbsp;&nbsp; kарактеризације и биолошке активности упућује&nbsp; на&nbsp; могућност њихове потенцијалне примене као нутрацеутика и додатака исхрани, у будућности уз неопходност додатних микохемијских истраживања ових врста, посебно терпеноида и полисахарида, као и других биолошких активности као што је неуропротективна.</p> / <p>&nbsp;U okviru ove doktorske disertacije ispitan je hemijski sastav i biološke aktivnosti EtOH, H₂Oi CHCl_3&nbsp; ekstrakata četiri vrste gljiva roda<em> Ganoderma</em>&nbsp; (Basidiomycota):&nbsp;<em> G. applanatum,&nbsp; G. lucidum,G. pfeifferi,&nbsp; G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; sa teritorije Vojvodine.Hemijski sastav analiziranih vrsta je određen<br />primenom: AAЅ metode (sastav makro-&nbsp; imikroelemenata u suvim ostacima gljiva) i LC-MS/MS tehnike (kvantitativni sastav fenolnih jedinjenja i flavonoida) pri čemu je detektovano 12 jedinjenja. Spektrofotometrijskim metodama je određen sadržaj proteina, šećera, ukupnih fenola i flavonoida, kod kojih je najveći sadržaj proteina utvrđen za EtOH ekstrakte&nbsp;<em> G. applanatum&nbsp; </em>i&nbsp; <em>G. pfeifferi</em>. Ispitivanja bioloških aktivnosti ekstrakata obuhvatila su: određivanje<span id="cke_bm_779S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><em>&nbsp; in vitro</em><span id="cke_bm_779E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp; i&nbsp;<em> in vivo</em> antioksidantne, antimikrobne, antiinflamatorne, antiproliferativne i antijabeto<span id="cke_bm_780E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>gene&nbsp;&nbsp; aktivnosti.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Antioksidantna aktivnost (sposobnost neutralizacije slobodnih radikala i redukcioni potencijal) je određena spektrofotometrijskim metodama, pri kojoj su najbolju aktivnost ostvarili N₂O ekstrakti&nbsp;<em> G</em>. <em>applanatum.</em> Antimikrobna aktivnost&nbsp; analiziranih ekstrakata određena je ispitivanjem antibakterijskog, antifungalnog i antiviralnog potencijala gde se izdvojila<em> G. pfeifferi</em> vrsta. Antiinflamatorni potencijal EtOH i&nbsp; CHCl₃ekstrakata određen je<em>&nbsp; ex vivo&nbsp;</em> metodom merenjem sposobnosti inhibicije produkcije medijatora inflamacije&nbsp; (produkti&nbsp; metabolizma arahidonske kiseline) pri kojoj su bolju aktivnost ispoljili CHCl₃ ekstrakti.</p><p>Efekat EtOH i H₂O ekstrakata vrsta roda Ganoderma&nbsp;&nbsp; na rast MCF ćelijske linije ispitan je MTT testom, a posebno su se izdvojili&nbsp; EtOH&nbsp; ekstrakti vrsta posle 72h.</p><p>Ostvarena antidijabetogena aktivnost EtOH i N₂O ekstrakata vrsta&nbsp; <span id="cke_bm_795S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><em>G. pfeifferi&nbsp; </em><span id="cke_bm_795E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>i&nbsp;<em> G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; kod aloksan-indukovanog&nbsp;<em> D. mell<span id="cke_bm_796E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>itus-a&nbsp;</em> na&nbsp; eksperimentalnim&nbsp; životinjama&nbsp; praćena je regeneracijom&nbsp; &szlig;- ćelija&nbsp; Langerhansovih ostrvaca pankreasa. Kao potencijalni nefro-&nbsp; i&nbsp; hepatoprotektivni agensi se izdvajaju ekstrakti<em>&nbsp; G. resinaceum.</em></p><p>Sumarno, ukupni biopotencijal analiziranih vrsta roda&nbsp; Ganoderma&nbsp; na osnovu sprovedenih analiza hemijske&nbsp;&nbsp; karakterizacije i biološke aktivnosti upućuje&nbsp; na&nbsp; mogućnost njihove potencijalne primene kao nutraceutika i dodataka ishrani, u budućnosti uz neophodnost dodatnih mikohemijskih istraživanja ovih vrsta, posebno terpenoida i polisaharida, kao i drugih bioloških aktivnosti kao što je neuroprotektivna.</p> / <p>Whitin this doctoral thesis the chemical composition and biological activity of EtOH, H<span id="cke_bm_699S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>₂<span id="cke_bm_699E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>O and CHCl₃extracts of four fungal species which belong to genus<em> Ganoderma&nbsp;</em> (phylum Basidiomycota)<span id="cke_bm_700E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>:&nbsp;<em> G. applanatum,&nbsp; G. lucidum,&nbsp; G. pfeifferi,&nbsp; G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; were determinated. The samples were collected from different localities in Vojvodina. Chemical characterization included: AAS methods (compositon of macro- and&nbsp; microelements in d.w. of fungi) and LC-MS/MS technique (quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids) wherein the 12 selected phenolic compounds were detected. The total proteins, sugars, phenolics and flavonoids content were&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; determined using spectrophotometric methods. The highest protein content was determined in EtOH extracts of<span id="cke_bm_707S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><em> G. applanatum&nbsp; </em><span id="cke_bm_707E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>and <em>G. pfeifferi</em>&nbsp; species. In order to assess the biological potential, the in vitro&nbsp; and in vivo antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antidiabetic activities of the extracts were investigated.<span id="cke_bm_708E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; The antioxidant activity (the ability of neutralizing free radicals and reduction potential) estimated byspectrophotometric methods. The highest&nbsp;&nbsp; antioxidant potential was noticed in H₂O extracts of&nbsp; <em>G. applanatum.</em> Evaluation of antimicrobial activity included the estimation of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity, whereby the&nbsp; species&nbsp;<em> G. pfeifferi&nbsp;</em> showed the highest potential The anti-inflammatory activity of EtOH and&nbsp; CHCl₃&nbsp; extracts was determined by&nbsp; ex vivo&nbsp; method measuring the ability of production inhibition of inflammation mediators&nbsp; (products of arachidonic acid metabolism), where the CHCl₃&nbsp; extracts were exhibited better activity.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; The effect of EtOH and H₂O extracts of<em>&nbsp; Ganoderma</em> species on the growth of the cell line MCF-7, has been examined using MTT assay (stand out ethanolic extracts of analyzed species after 72h incubation period).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; Achieved antidiabetic activity of EtOH and H₂O extracts o<em>f<span id="cke_bm_725S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span> G. pfeifferi<span id="cke_bm_725E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp; </em>an<em>d G. resinaceum</em>&nbsp; at alloxan-i<span id="cke_bm_726E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>nduced D. mellitus in experimental animals was followed by regeneration of&nbsp; cells of Langerhans pancreatic islets. Extracts of&nbsp;<em> G.&nbsp;&nbsp; resinaceum&nbsp;</em> were allocated as a potential nephro- and&nbsp; hepatoprotective agents.<br />In summary, the overall biological potential of the analyzed species of the genus&nbsp; <em>Ganoderma</em>&nbsp; based on results for chemical and biological characterization indicate that they could be used&nbsp; as a nutraceuticals and food supplements in the future, with further the necessity of additional mycochemical investigation (especially terpenoids and polysaccharides) and other biological activity such as neuroprotective.</p>