54, p = 0.042).

Conclusions: Absent CD44v6 expression is an independent adverse predictor of urothelial bladder cancer recurrence and overall survival. Routine evaluation of CD44v6 expression may allow the identification of high risk patients who require more intensive surveillance or aggressive therapy. Targeting of CD44v6 with monoclonal antibodies may provide new avenues for urothelial bladder cancer imaging and treatment.”
“Following unilateral chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, histochemical

and gene expression changes were examined in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a region critical to affective-motivational regulation. Rats were categorised as having Pain alone (45%) or Pain and Disability (30%), on the basis learn more of either unaltered or decreased dominance behaviour in the resident-intruder paradigm, respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression was significantly

increased bilaterally, throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the NAcc in Pain alone animals. Increased TH likely reflects MDV3100 datasheet increased dopamine levels in the Pain alone group, which may modulate dopamine receptor subtype 2 (D2) receptor expression. Stereo logical analyses of D2 receptor immunoreactive (D2-IR) cells revealed lateralised changes which correlated significantly with dominance behaviour. In the contralateral NAcc, D2-IR negatively correlated with post-CCI dominance behaviour (i.e. Pain alone animals have decreased D2-IR), whereas ipsilaterally there was a positive correlation between D2-IR and post-CCI dominance behaviour (i.e. Pain and Disability animals have decreased D2-IR). Western blots for D2 protein

expression confirmed these correlations. Additionally, D2 mRNA expression within the NAcc SB431542 showed lateralised and group specific changes. In the ipsilateral NAcc D2 mRNA was increased in Pain alone animals. It is hypothesised that increased D2 mRNA in the ipsilateral NAcc of Pain alone animals may be a protective mechanism, maintaining D2-IR despite increased dopamine, which may otherwise induce receptor desensitisation. D2 mRNA is not altered in the ipsilateral NAcc of Pain and Disability animals, therefore loss of D2-IR is likely, albeit by an alternate mechanism. In summary, unilateral CCI in rats induces specific and lateralised adaptations in the dopaminergic circuitry of the NAcc. These distinct neural adaptations correlate with changes in social behaviour, and likely underlie some of the affective-motivational state changes associated with neuropathic pain in a subset of rats (i.e. Pain and Disability group). (C) 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Androgen refractory prostate cancer is a major clinical challenge. Treatment approaches to prostate cancer are based on various mechanisms that cause malignant cell apoptosis.