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Background: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a bone marrow-derived glycoprotein that can stimulate monocytes and macrophages, resulting in production of factors involved in immune response. In vitro and in vivo preclinical studies in animals have demonstrated that recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuM-CSF) can have antitumor activity. Purpose: A phase I clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and immunologic effects of rHuM-CSF given by continuous intravenous infusion in patients with cancer. Methods: Eighteen patients with metastatic solid tumors refractory to conventional therapy were treated with rHuM-CSF. Twelve patients received two 14-day cycles of rHuM-CSF by continuous infusion, with a 2-week interval. Dose escalation levels were 50, 100, and 150 [mu]g/kg over 24 hours. Consecutive cohorts of three to six patients were planned at each dose level. Six patients received a modified regimen of four 7-day periods of infusion at 100 [mu]g/kg over 24 hours, with 1-week intervals. Results: Dose-limiting toxicity was grade 4 thrombocytopenia at a dose of 150 [mu]g/kg over 24 hours in two patients receiving the 2-week regimen. Platelet count nadirs and concomitant monocytosis were seen on days 7-9, but recovery occurred during the treatment period. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor serum levels were maximal on day I and returned to near baseline on day 7 of infusion. Patients treated with four 7-day infusions had no treatment-limiting thrombocytopenia. There were no cumulative effects on platelet or monocyte counts or significant constitutional symptoms. Subclinical conjunctival injection was noted in rive of 10 patients receiving screening ophthalmologic evaluation. Grade 2 episcleritis was diagnosed in one patient, and asymptomatic perilimbal and retinal hemorrhages were seen in two. Two patients developed sepsis caused by the intravenous line, which required cessation of therapy. No objective responses were documented. Conclusion: The maximum tolerated dose of rHuM-CSF given by continuous intravenous infusion for 14 days was 100 [mu]g/kg over 24 hours, with rapidly reversible, dose-limiting thrombocytopenia at 150 [mu]g/kg over 24 hours. A regimen alternating weekly cycles of infusion avoids dose-limiting toxicity and allows long-term treatment. Implications: The regimen of repeated 7-day infusions may be useful for future studies evaluating rHuM-CSF-activated monocytes in therapy for long-term infectious diseases or in investigation of new modes of cancer therapy using rHuM-CSF in conjunction with a tumor-specific antibody. [J Natl Cancer Inst 86:39-45, 1994]

Abstract

The value range of the cylinder wire front angle of cotton combing frame determines the effect of cylinder combing, with the analysis of the force of fiber in comber cylinder wire, a mechanics model is established. Combining with the test verification, we can get the calculation model of the cylinder wire front angle of cotton combing frame. The model indicated that the value range of the cylinder wire front angle of cotton combing frame is decided by the varieties of cotton fiber and parameters of combing machine process, thus this paper provides reference for the development of the cylinder wire of cotton combing frame.

Once metastatic, prostate cancer (CaP) treatment options are limited to androgen withdrawal. In this environment, the cells often develop an androgen independent state resulting in patient demise. It has been shown that during this transition, CaP cells transdifferentiate to neuroendocrine cells, which produce neuropeptides. These neuropeptides have a mitogenic effect on surrounding CaP cells. Previous observations suggest that endothelial cells may show a similar mitogenic response to neuropeptides, implicating angiogenesis in the progression of CaP. We stimulated human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) with the neuropeptides bombesin and neurotensin and measured proliferation, migration, cell tube formation, and tyrosine kinase activation. In our studies, neurotensin and bombesin did not stimulate HUVEC proliferation, migration, nor tube formation. Although HUVECs express the non-receptor tyrosine kinases Fak, Src, and Etk which mediate neuropeptide signaling in CaP, they are not activated by neuropeptides in HUVECs.

AbstractThe microstructure of the polyvinylimidazole-silica hybrids (PVI-SiO2) containing various proportions of silica was examined by high resolution solid-state 29Si and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The 29Si-1H cross-polarization (CP) process revealed that the Q3and Q4species had different CP efficiency. Moreover, the time constant for the energy exchange between 1H and 29Si spin systems (TSiH) for the siloxane units was less dependent on the silica content, and that was in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 ms. The spin-lattice relaxation time in rotating frame (TH1p) of hybrids suggested that the 1H spin-diffusion between imidazole and siloxane units were on a nanometer scale estimated by spin-diffusion path length.

The stability characteristics of methanol flow boiling over a nonuniformly heated surface has been investigated. An axial heat flux distribution corresponding to a neutral stability condition, at which nucleate and film boiling can coexist steadily, was identified under various system pressures, liquid subcooling and liquid flowrates. An increase (decrease) in the bottom heat flux under nucleate boiling mode would enhance (weaken) the relative stability of the film boiling mode. Furthermore, nucleate boiling would become more stable under increasing liquid subcooling. The dependence on system pressure is relatively weak. The ‘equilibrium heat flux’ is proven for the first time, to exist on an indirectly conductive heating surface, which can serve for direct comparison between stability characteristics among different boiling systems.

Background & Aims: The growth of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma) seems to depend on the stimulation of Helicobacter pylori. We attempted to identify specific antigen(s) from H. pylori strains associated with MALToma. Methods: Membranous and secreted proteins of H. pylori were compared on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by Western blot using sera from patients with MALToma. Results: A 19-kilodalton protein was seen in all strains isolated from patients with MALToma but uncommonly in other strains. The protein was purified and sequenced. Amino acid sequence comparison showed it was an FldA homologue, a putative flavodoxin protein. DNA sequencing in 26 strains revealed that a nucleotide G insertion at position 481 of the fldA gene was more frequently observed in strains associated with MALToma than other strains (9/9 vs. 6/17; P = 0.002). The mutation caused a short truncation. A recombinant protein with this truncation was expressed and tested. Sera of 12 (70.6%) of 17 patients with MALToma were positive for the antibody to the recombinant protein, and 7 (16.7%) of 42 control patients were positive (12/17 vs. 7/42; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Truncated FldA of H. pylori is associated with gastric MALToma. It may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastric MALToma. Antibody to this antigen could be used as a serological marker of the disease. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;117:82-88

In this paper, we discuss the use of binary decision diagrams to represent general matrices. We demonstrate that binary decision diagrams are an efficient representation for every special-case matrix in common use, notably sparse matrices. In particular, we demonstrate that for any matrix, the BDD representation can be no larger than the corresponding sparse-matrix representation. Further, the BDD representation is often smaller than any other conventional special-case representation: for the n×n Walsh matrix, for example, the BDD representation is of size O(log n). No other special-case representation in common use represents this matrix in space less than O(n2). We describe termwise, row, column, block, and diagonal selection over these matrices, standard an Strassen matrix multiplication, and LU factorization. We demonstrate that the complexity of each of these operations over the BDD representation is no greater than that over any standard representation. Further, we demonstrate that complete pivoting is no more difficult over these matrices than partial pivoting. Finally, we consider an example, the Walsh Spectrum of a Boolean function.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was raised against Fibrobacter succinogenes andproduced after fusion as ascites in BALB/c mice. An ELISA was used to test for specificity andsensitivity of the mAb to detect F. succinogenes. The mAb BD1 was tested for sensitivityand cross‐reactivity in detecting F. succinogenes with ELISA. The lower limits for F.succinogenes detection in pure and mixed culture using mAb BD1 with ELISA was 105cells ml−1. Twenty‐six other species of bacteria, including 12 cellulolyticspecies, were tested for cross‐reactivity with the ELISA but none was detected. Electronmicrographs of F. succinogenes cells with immunogold labelling showed that the mAbBD1 reacted exclusively with cell wall epitopes but not intracellular material, as confirmed byELISA.

Low temperature phase transformation of alkoxide-derived titania was studied under an oxygen flow containing water vapor. The addition of hexylene glycol to the titanium alkoxide solution was effective in transforming rutile phase at low temperature (300°C). Hexylene glycol seems to form a bidentate ligand structure with TEOT in solution state. This bidentate structure promoted the rutile phase at low temperature, under O2-steam treatment. This modification of TiO2gel structure could be monitored by FT-IR and XANES.

The synthesis and processing of materials is often highly sensitive to the presence of trace contaminants and a number of technologically important materials demand the clean conditions associated with an ultrahigh vacuum environment. With increasing interest in understanding materials phenomena occurring on smaller and smaller length scales, the transmission electron microscope is finding increasing application in the characterization of new materials and processes. The need for ex situ sample preparation prior to analysis can raise questions regarding the validity of the data, however, due to contamination and the introduction of microstructural artifacts. In this paper we discuss the application of the ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope to in situ studies of materials synthesis. To illustrate the capabilities of the electron microscope in this context, we present two case studies: the synthesis and subsequent sintering of supported copper nanoparticles, and the initial stages of the growth of Cu2O on clean (001) Cu. We describe the novel aspects of the instrumentation used, the methods of sample preparation, and our application of the plan‐view imaging technique to in situ investigations. Microsc. Res. Tech. 42:302–308, 1998.© 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Background: Intrahepatic stones are characterized by high treatment failure and recurrence rates. In the past, surgery played a major role in the management of this disease, but surgical intervention may not be feasible in previously operated patients or those classified as poor surgical risks. The development of percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangioscopy and lithotripsy has played an important role in the treatment of these patients. Methods: We reviewed our results in 165 patients with intrahepatic stones treated by percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangioscopy and lithotripsy in the past 12 years. Results: The rate of complete stone removal was 80% (132 cases) and the rate of recurrent biliary stones after a mean 58 month follow-up interval was 32.6% (43 of 132 cases). There were 2 deaths during the treatment period and 10 deaths during follow-up. Conclusions: Percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangioscopy and lithotripsy are good alternatives in treating primary intrahepatic stones, especially for those patients unsuitable for surgery. (Gastrointest Endosc 1995;42:13-8.)

We discuss various techniques for the characterization of supported nanoparticles by in situ plan-view transmission electron microscopy. In particular, we discuss here mechanisms of image contrast formation by particles undergoing reorientation on the surface of a single crystal substrate. We consider reorientation by a variety of mechanisms including rotation, sintering and grain growth, and surface diffusion. Experimental observations are presented and the data compared with theoretical predictions.