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OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of a well-controlled programme of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer in the population of Tyrol, Austria, where such a programme of early detection and treatment was initiated in 1988 and where prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing was offered for free to all men aged 45–75 years from 1993. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Comparison of prostate cancer mortality rates in Tyrol and the rest of Austria was accomplished through a generalized additive model. A piecewise linear change-point Poisson regression model was used to compare mortality rates in Tyrol and the rest of Austria. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated with reference to the mortality rates in 1986–1990. RESULTS In all, 86.6% of eligible men have been tested at least once since 1993. Cancer deaths in Tyrol in 2005 were 54% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34–69%) lower than expected compared with 29% (95% CI 22–35%) in the rest of Austria. The decreasing trend in prostate cancer mortality was significantly greater in Tyrol compared with the rest of Austria ( P = 0.001). A significant migration to lower stage disease occurred and radical prostatectomy was associated with low morbidity. CONCLUSIONS In the Tyrol region where treatment is freely available to all patients, where widespread PSA testing and treatment with curative intent occurs, there was a reduction in prostate cancer mortality rates which was significantly greater than the reduction in the rest of Austria. This reduction in prostate cancer mortality is most probably due to early detection, consequent down-staging and effective treatment of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To separate smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from fibroblasts in cultured human prostatic stromal cells (PrSCs) by characterizing the SM22 promoter as a prostatic SMC-specific gene promoter, and to investigate its use for a promoter-based cell-sorting method, as SMCs are critical for stromal function and the pathological changes in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human PrSCs were cultured in SMC-selective medium or standard medium, respectively, to obtain typical cultures of SMCs and fibroblasts. SM22 promoter activity and specificity were analysed by luciferase reporter-gene assay. A dual-colour vector was constructed with the expression of the red fluorescent protein (RFP) under the control of the 1.4 kb SMC-specific SM22 promoter, and the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) under cytomegalovirus promoter. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to isolate and enrich GFP+/RFP+ and GFP+/RFP– cells. Cell phenotype was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The 1.4 kb SM22 promoter activity was much higher in PrSCs cultured in SMC-selective medium. Immunofluorescence staining and merged fluorescence microscopy ensured that SM22 promoter-driven GFP positive cells were SMCs. After transfection of the dual-colour vector into PrSCs, GFP+/RFP+ cells (SMCs) and GFP+/RFP– cells (fibroblasts) were isolated by FACS. The phenotype of FACS-enriched SMCs and fibroblasts was confirmed. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the 1.4 kb SM22 promoter is specific for prostatic SMCs. This dual-colour vector could be a useful tool for separating living SMCs from fibroblasts using FACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the establishment of an additional section in the "BJU International" journal for investigative urology. Aim of the section; Organizers of the section; Impetus to the rapid evolvement of investigative urology.