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Cancer biotherapy focuses on stimulating natural defense mechanisms designed to control or eradicate cancer. Many distinct cancer biotherapy strategies have been formulated over the past two decades; one of the most promising involves the removal of cytotoxic leukocyte subsets from cancer patients, augmenting the cytotoxic function of these cells ex vivo and re-administering these activated cells with additional function-enhancing biologicals. This approach is termed adoptive cellular immunotherapy and is best represented at present by the activated killer monocyte and the lymphokinc activated killer cell therapies. The activation of cytotoxic monocytes with gamma interferon and the activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes with interleukin-2 are prototypic examples of adoptive immunotherapy research activity which is likely to expand in the near future.

We have shown that two human monocyte subsets can be isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors; these subsets possess different morphological, cytochemical, functional, and in vivo trafficking properties [1]. In this report, these two subsets were further characterized. One subset (intermediate monocytes, IM) has been shown to have significantly lower acid phosphatase activity and total cellular protein content as well as lower peroxidase activity when compared with another subset (regular monocytes, RM). The overall activation status of the two subsets (as determined by their alkaline phosphodiesterase activity) was identical. We also examined the capacity of these subsets to release various cytokines with or without polyriboinosinic and poly- ribocytidylic acid (Poly l:C) stimulation. There was no appreciable difference in their ability to release interferon (IFN), interleukin 1 (IL-1), and prostaglandin E (PGE) without stimulation, while IM produced slightly, but significantly, higher amounts of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) than RM. The amount of IFN released by IM in response to poly l:C was approximately three times higher than the amount of IFN released by RM. IL-1 was also released in higher amounts by IM than by RM in response to poly l:C. IM were also found to release more CSF than RM in response to poly l:C. In contrast, it was noted that IM secrete significantly less PGE response to poly l:C than do RM. These findings indicate that two purified human monocyte subsets, distinguishable by maturation markers, differ significantly in their ability to release various cytokines after stimulation; this difference may be relevant to potential in vivo roles of these immunoregulatory cells.

We describe a patient with malignant esophageal obstruction in whom the lumen of the esophagus could not be identified at endoscopy. Contrast fluoroscopy using a steerable catheter allowed safe placement of a nasoduodenal feeding tube.

A case of gastric duplication with dystrophic calcification that was radiographically visible in a 53-year-old female is reported. We could not find any previous similar report in the literature.

Diverse signs may be seen on barium enema in the various forms of colitis. Barium enema is only reasonably specific in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis once the other possible diseases have been excluded from consideration by biopsy, microscopy, culture, or therapeutic trial. In particular, campylobacter colitis has proved to be such a common entity that many patients originally thought to have had one attack of ulcerative colitis, ischemic colitis, or Crohn's colitis may never have had these diseases. Many of the relatively specific signs can be seen in a variety of conditions. For example, aphthae in the colon may be seen in Crohn's disease, yersinia enterocolitis, Behçet's syndrome, amebiasis, ischemia, tuberculosis, and campylobacter colitis. Continuity of disease is characteristic in ulcerative colitis. Nevertheless, patches of healing may occur, so that a rare patient may be seen during a resolving attack of ulcerative colitis in whom only scattered patches of active disease can be seen on barium enema. In general, few radiologic signs on barium enema are truly specific for one disease, with penumatosis cystoides coli being an exception to this rule. However, the sensitivity of barium enema with currently available materials for double-contrast techniques is such that radiology continues to be useful at present in diagnosing the colitides and in managing patients.

A mobile wooden commode was designed and built for use in defecography. The commode is made of 1/2-inch-thick plywood with birch veneer and a solid clear pine seat. Water or copper sheets are recommended for radiation filtration. A radiopaque ruler attached to the commode with a spring enables midline measurements. The modifications suggested by the authors have helped with setup and have improved the images acquired.