The technique for radical retropubic prostatectomy has been modified to avoid injury to the branches of the pelvic plexus that innervate the corpora cavernosa. The surgical procedure is based on an understanding of the anatomical relationships between the branches of the pelvic plexus that innervate the corpora cavernosa, the capsular branches of the prostatic vessels that provide the scaffolding for these nerves, and the lateral pelvic fascia. The modifications involve two steps in the procedure: 1) the incision in the lateral pelvic fascia is placed anterior to the neurovascular bundle, which is located dorsolateral to the prostate along the pelvic sidewall; 2) the lateral pedicle is divided close to the prostate to avoid injury to the branches of the pelvic plexus that accompany the capsular vessels of the prostate. Pathologic evaluation of 16 prostatic specimens removed by this modified procedure demonstrated no compromise in the adequacy of the surgical margins. Postoperative sexual function was evaluated in 12 men who underwent the procedure 2-10 months previously. All have experienced erections and six have achieved successful vaginal penetration and orgasm. Of the six patients with sexual partners who have been followed 6 months or longer, five (83%) are fully potent. These data indicate that it is possible to cure localized prostatic cancer with surgery and maintain postoperative sexual function.

The major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon inducible-cytochrome P4501A1 gene (CYP1A1) is presumed to be important in pulmonary carcinogenesis and toxicology because its product, the cytochrome P4501A1-dependent (CYP1A1-dependent) monooxygenase, transforms selected xenobiotics (including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon procarcinogens in cigarette smoke) to potent carcinogenic metabolites. CYP1A1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression has not, however, been previously demonstrated in human pulmonary tissue. This report defines CYP1A1 gene expression in normal lung tissue and primary pulmonary carcinoma tissue obtained at thoracotomy from 56 patients with lung cancer. When Northern blot hybridization analyses were performed, 17 of 19 (89%) and zero of five (0%) samples of normal lung tissue from active cigarette smokers and nonsmokers, respectively, expressed the normal 2.8-kilobase CYP1A1 mRNA. In addition, a time-dependent decrease in expression of the CYP1A1 gene was noted in normal lung tissue from individuals who were former smokers, with a decrease in expression occurring as early as 2 weeks following cessation of cigarette smoking. Expression became undetectable in all patients who had stopped smoking more than 6 weeks prior to study. When CYP1A1 gene expression was evaluated in lung cancers, mRNA levels were detectable in one of four (25%) tumors from nonsmokers; two of 24 (8%) tumors from former smokers; and seven of 15 (47%) tumors from cigarette smokers. In addition, an approximately 10-kilobase CYP1A1 RNA species, which was not detectable in normal lung tissue, was observed in five of ten (50%) of the lung cancers that expressed the CYP1A1 gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abstract-Slab geometry solid-state lasersoffer significant performance improvements over conventional rod geometry lasers. We present a detailed theoretical description of the thermal, stress, and beam propagation characteristics of a slab laser. Our analysis includes consideration of the effects of the zig-zag optical path which eliminates thermal and stress focusing and reduces residual birefringence. S