Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) is a relatively new treatment modality for obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The technique utilizes a high-power 80W potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser to ablate prostatic adenoma. PVP can be offered as an outpatient modality with minimal morbidity and clinical efficacy similar to TURP. It is the objective of this study to retrospectively evaluate the direct cost ramifications of an outpatient laser PVP versus traditional monopolar TURP.

SETTINGIn vitro model of murine macrophage M. tuberculosis infection.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association and cytokine control of host cell apoptosis and bacillary killing in M. tuberculosis -infected murine peritoneal macrophage (PM).DESIGNMurine PM from different strains of mice were infected with H37Ra. Bacillary growth and macrophage apoptosis were evaluated under different cytokine conditions.RESULTSLike human alveolar macrophages, PM from BALB/c mice were found to undergo apoptosis after infection with M. tuberculosis in a TNF-dependent manner. Neutralizing TNF with anti-TNF antibody inhibited PM apoptosis following infection, and resulted in increased bacillary growth. Pre-treatment of PM with interferon (IFN-gamma) resulted in significant killing of the infecting bacilli, which was not dependent on TNF or apoptosis of the cells. In contrast to BALB/c mice, PM from C3H/HeJ mice did not undergo apoptosis following infection and did not undergo TNF- and apoptosis-dependent inhibition of bacillary growth.CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that TNF contributes to macrophage inhibition of M. tuberculosis growth by a mechanism that is dependent on apoptosis and independent of IFN-gamma activity. This protective phenotype was not seen in all strains of mice and merits investigation as a marker of mycobacterial host susceptibility.

Laboratory and field tests have shown that, unlike bacteria, poplar trees are able to carry out complete degradation of fully chlorinated hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and chloride. CO2 was produced from the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE), carbon tetrachloride (CT), and perchloroethylene (PCE) by axenic tissue cultures of poplar cells. Chloride ion accumulated in the media when poplar plants growing hydroponically were exposed to TCE or 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA). Pilot scale experiments in the field with TCE-exposed poplar demonstrated mass removal of TCE and CT from an artificial groundwater exceeding 95 %. There was no enhancement of TCE and CT degradation in the rhizosphere soils and air emissions from leaves were less than 5 % of the total removal. Chloride ion accumulated in the soils, suggesting that significant dechlorination occurred. Poplars have the potential for destructive removal of TCE and CT without harmful air emissions or accumulation of a hazardous solid waste.

Poplars are deep rooted, fast growing trees with high transpiration rates and are well suited for removal of pollutants from shallow and moderately deep aquifers. Laboratory experiments have shown that poplars can remove trichloroethylene (TCE) from soil and oxidize it to carbon dioxide. Seedlings were placed in bioreactors with the root zone separated from the shoot zone (headspace). {sup 14}C-labeled carbon dioxide was recovered from the headspace after the soil zone was dosed with radiolabeled TCE. Additional products of TCE oxidation were found in plant tissue and in axenic plant tissue cultures: trichloroethanol and di- and trichloroacetic acid. A model is presented showing how a poplar plantation planted down-gradient of a contaminated site could intercept a TCE plume from a dense nonaqueous phase liquid source. Costs for plant bioremediation are estimated to be about 20% of that for a conventional pump and treat system. Planned field experiments with poplars for TCE removal and degradation are described.