Publications

The partial area method has been suggested for the assessment of the absorption rate in bioequivalence studies. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the estimation of the optimal cutoff time point of the partial areas for drugs with one compartment model disposition. The analysis is performed by using the appropriate equations which relate the normalized (in terms of the extent of absorption) partial areas with time expressed in terms of multiples of half-life. Provided that the quality of experimental data ensures precise estimation of the parameters, the t(max) of the formulation with the faster absorption characteristics is generally the most practical cutoff time point for calculation of the normalized partial areas, when a drug follows one compartment model disposition with linear absorption.

The value of early myeloablative therapy supported by autologous bone marrow or blood progenitor cells was assessed in 72 patients with multiple myeloma who were treated within 1 year of initial therapy. Forty-five patients were consolidated during remission, and 27 patients were treated for primary refractory disease. Outcomes were compared with those of similar patients who did not receive intensive treatment primarily for socioeconomic reasons. Among patients who had responded previously, myeloablative therapy increased the rate of complete remission from 5% to 45% (P < .01) but did not prolong progression-free intervals or survival times. The same treatment controlled the myeloma in 70% of patients with primary resistant disease and prolonged the median survival from 37 to 83 months (P = .03). Intensive treatment for primary resistant myeloma administered later in the disease course resulted in significantly lower response rates and shorter progression-free intervals. Current myeloablative regimens supported by autologous stem cells appeared useful primarily in patients with primary resistant disease during the first year of therapy.

The binding of diflunisal to hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD), bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), normal human plasma, and mixed solutions of HPbetaCD/protein was studied at 25-degrees-C, pH 7.4, by potentiometry using an electrode selective to diflunisal. The experimental data for diflunisal/HPbetaCD fit well to the 1:1 binding model. The binding of diflunisal with each of the studied proteins was compatible with a model having two independent classes of binding sites. The binding of diflunisal in mixed solutions HPbetaCD/BSA, HPbetaCD/HSA, and HPbetaCD/plasma increased considerably when the HPbetaCD concentration was increased. The binding behavior of the two biomolecules in the mixed solutions of HPbetaCD/BSA or HPbetaCD/HSA was described with an `'additive'' model formulated on the basis of the estimates of the binding parameters of diflunisal derived from the separate experiments with each one of the binders tested. The lower than theoretical binding observed in HPbetaCD/plasma solutions was ascribed to the competitive displacement of diflunisal from the HPbetaCD cavity by plasma cholesterol.

The role of the surface in the optical properties of porous silicon remains a key issue. Although the burden of evidence points toward some intrinsic radiative mechanism in small silicon particles, the influence of the surface and ways of controlling surface interactions will always be important. We present here the results of surface modification of porous silicon using annealing and rapid oxidation steps. By comparing new results with existing published data we conclude that hydrogen passivation of the surface is not unique in its ability to saturate dangling bonds and hence promote strong luminescence; oxidation, especially at high temperatures, can play a similar role. Oxidation also produces an additional, low energy band which is linked to residual dangling bond related defects at the Si-SiO2 interface. Furthermore, this band suffers a blue shift with increasing porosity in similar fashion to that observed for the visible emission.

We calculate the spectrum of photons resulting from electromagnetic cascades through thermal radiation, and examine the consequences of including triplet production in these cascades. We assume that the cascade is one-dimensional, and we find that this approximation is justified in the present work for thermal radiation with temperature less than 10-3 mc2. Results are obtained for both monoenergetic and power-law primary spectra, and for a variety of path lengths. We find that triplet production is particularly important in electron-photon cascades through thermal radiation when the primary energy exceeds 105m2c4/kT for propagation over small path lengths. The importance of triplet production decreases as the path length increases, and it has no effect on saturated cascades.

This study examined the effects of elevating blood lactate concentration by arm exercise on subsequent performance during repeated 30 s sprints with the legs. Eight male students performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 6 min of recovery, on two occasions. On one occasion the subjects performed only the two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints (‘legs’), while on the other occasion 5 min of heavy arm cranking preceded the two sprints (‘arms and legs’). Blood lactate concentration was determined from capillary samples at rest, after a standardized warm-up and 3 and 5 min following each exercise bout. In the ‘legs’ condition, the peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) in the second sprint were 92% (P< 0.05) and 85% (P<0.01) of the values attained during the first sprint, respectively. Prior arm exercise, which increased blood lactate to 11.0 ± 0.6 mM, had no effect on PPO and MPO during the first cycle ergometer sprint (a4% drop, n.s.). However, in the second sprint after prior arm exercise, PPO was 10% lower than the PPO attained during the corresponding sprint in the ‘legs’ condition (sprint 2 ‘arms and legs’ 963+42 W, sprint 2 ‘legs’ 1074 + 60 W, P<0.05), while MPO was better maintained (sprint 2 ‘arms and legs’ 517 + 17 W, sprint 2 ‘legs’ 549 + 24 W, N.s.). The rate of blood lactate accumulation after both cycle ergometer sprints was considerably decreased (by a 50%) when blood lactate levels were pre-elevated by arm crank exercise. It is suggested that the elevation of blood lactate levels by prior arm exercise can cause a significant drop in PPO of the second sprint by decreasing muscle buffering capacity and lactate/H+ efflux from the muscle. The less pronounced drop in MPO during the second sprint in the ‘arms and legs’ condition was assumed to be due to an increased aerobic contribution to energy supply. © 1994 E. & F.N. Spon.

This study examined the effects of elevating blood lactate concentration by arm exercise on subsequent performance during repeated 30 s sprints with the legs. Eight male students performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 6 min of recovery, on two occasions. On one occasion the subjects performed only the two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints ('legs'), while on the other occasion 5 min of heavy arm cranking preceded the two sprints ('arms and legs'). Blood lactate concentration was determined from capillary samples at rest, after a standardized warm-up and 3 and 5 min following each exercise bout. In the 'legs' condition, the peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) in the second sprint were 92% (P < 0.05) and 85% (P < 0.01) of the values attained during the first sprint, respectively. Prior arm exercise, which increased blood lactate to 11.0 ± 0.6 mM, had no effect on PPO and MPO during the first cycle ergometer sprint (≃ 4% drop, N.S.). However, in the second sprint after prior arm exercise, PPO was 10% lower than the PPO attained during the corresponding sprint in the 'legs' condition (sprint 2 'arms and legs' 963 ± 42 W, sprint 2 'legs' 1074 ± 60 W, P < 0.05), while MPO was better maintained (sprint 2 'arms and legs' 517 ± 17 W, sprint 2 'legs' 549 ± 24 W, N.S.). The rate of blood lactate accumulation after both cycle ergometer sprints was considerably decreased (by ≃ 50%) when blood lactate levels were pre-elevated by arm crank exercise. It is suggested that the elevation of blood lactate levels by prior arm exercise can cause a significant drop in PPO of the second sprint by decreasing muscle buffering capacity and lactate/H+ efflux from the muscle. The less pronounced drop in MPO during the second sprint in the 'arms and legs' condition was assumed to be due to an increased aerobic contribution to energy supply.

This study examined the effects of elevating blood lactate concentration by arm exercise on subsequent performance during repeated 30 s sprints with the legs. Eight male students performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 6 min of recovery, on two occasions. On one occasion the subjects performed only the two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints (‘legs’), while on the other occasion 5 min of heavy arm cranking preceded the two sprints (‘arms and legs’). Blood lactate concentration was determined from capillary samples at rest, after a standardized warm-up and 3 and 5 min following each exercise bout. In the ‘legs’ condition, the peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) in the second sprint were 92% (P< 0.05) and 85% (P<0.01) of the values attained during the first sprint, respectively. Prior arm exercise, which increased blood lactate to 11.0 ± 0.6 mM, had no effect on PPO and MPO during the first cycle ergometer sprint (a4% drop, n.s.). However, in the second sprint after prior arm exercise, PPO was 10% lower than the PPO attained during the corresponding sprint in the ‘legs’ condition (sprint 2 ‘arms and legs’ 963+42 W, sprint 2 ‘legs’ 1074 + 60 W, P<0.05), while MPO was better maintained (sprint 2 ‘arms and legs’ 517 + 17 W, sprint 2 ‘legs’ 549 + 24 W, N.s.). The rate of blood lactate accumulation after both cycle ergometer sprints was considerably decreased (by a 50%) when blood lactate levels were pre-elevated by arm crank exercise. It is suggested that the elevation of blood lactate levels by prior arm exercise can cause a significant drop in PPO of the second sprint by decreasing muscle buffering capacity and lactate/H+ efflux from the muscle. The less pronounced drop in MPO during the second sprint in the ‘arms and legs’ condition was assumed to be due to an increased aerobic contribution to energy supply. © 1994 E. & F.N. Spon.

The electronic structure of the 4d substitutional impurities in Rb is studied by means of self-consistent density functional calculations. Exchange and correlation corrections for localized orbitals, as included in the mean-field solution of Anderson's model, are superimposed on the spin-dependent potential of the traditional local-spin-density approximation. We find ionic-like dn configurations and a quite important spin polarization of the extended sp states. For Nb and Ru impurities we obtain two stable configurations in each case and their energetic stability is studied by means of constrained density-functional calculations. Our results are compared with the results of other calculations and with the available experimental data.

The aqueous solubility of cyclosporin A (CyA) in the presence of various concentrations of TPGS ranging from 0.01 to 0.50 mM was studied at three temperatures (5, 20, and 37-degrees-C). Compared to previously reported solubility data in triple distilled water, solubility in the presence of TPGS was significantly increased at all temperatures. Surface tension and light scattering measurements showed that solubilization in TPGS multimers is the main mechanism responsible for the increased CyA solubility at 20-degrees-C and 37-degrees-C. In contrast, the increased CyA solubility at 5-degrees-C appears to be mediated by other mechanism(s), such as association of TPGS with CyA. These data substantiate the view that the enhanced bioavailability of CyA, when coadministered with TPGS in patients suffering from cholestasis, is due to the increased solubility of CyA in the presence of TPGS.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) as the conditioning regimen for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in patients with hematologic malignancies. Patients and Methods: Seventy-nine patients underwent BMT from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling using cyclosporine/methotrexate for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Thirty-four patients had early leukemia (acute leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma in first remission, chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML], or refractory anemia [RA]), and 45 patients had more advanced disease. Patients received etoposide 1,500 mg/m2 on day -8, followed by cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/d on days -7 and -6, and 10.2 Gy of TBI administered in six fractions of 1.7 Gy given twice daily for 3 days from day -3 to -1. Donor bone marrow was harvested and infused on day 0. Results: Patients with early leukemia had a disease-free survival rate of 53% ± 9% and an overall survival rate of 57% ± 10% at 3 years. Patients with advanced disease had a disease-free survival rate of 15% ± 5% and overall survival rate of 17% ± 5%. The actuarial relapse rate for the early-leukemia group is 33% ± 9% versus 69% ± 9% for patients with more advanced disease. Severe toxicity was most frequently manifested as pulmonary hemorrhage followed by multiorgan failure and death. The 100-day mortality rate for the early- leukemia group was 10% versus 50% for patients with more advanced disease. Conclusion: The combination of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and TBI is a relatively safe and effective preparative regimen for patients with early hematologic malignancies. Controlled trials are needed to evaluate critically this combination versus other standard preparative regimens. Greater toxicity was observed in patients with advanced disease, and this program does not appear to offer any advantage over other regimens.

The major clinical experience with fludarabine has been obtained in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In the initial studies in previously treated patients with CLL, the complete and partial response rate (CR + PR) was over 50% and in previously untreated patients with CLL, a CR + PR rate of 75-80% was noted with or without the addition of prednisone. Subsequent clinical trials have also demonstrated major activity with fludarabine in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Fludarabine was noted to be an active agent in indolent lymphoma in phase I/II studies. Approximately 60% of patients with follicular lymphoma respond to fludarabine when it is administered as a single agent. Many of these remissions are complete remissions despite patients having received extensive prior therapy. Combination programs are being developed for application in CLL and indolent lymphoma. Because of the activity of fludarabine in inhibiting DNA repair, it has been combined with cisplatinum and cytosine arabinoside and plans are in place to explore the radiation sensitizing effect of fludarabine in clinical trials. A combination of fludarabine plus ara-C is now being used in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and a combination of fludarabine, ara-C, and G-CSF (FLAG) has been combined with idarubicin for the management of these conditions. Many of these activities of fludarabine are associated with its interaction with many enzymes which are important in DNA and RNA metabolism and in DNA repair. It is anticipated that these actions will be explored in a wider range of studies subsequently. © 1994 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Fludarabine is the most active single agent that has been studied in CLL. The response rate for both previously untreated and previously treated patients is higher than combinations that have been studied. Myelosuppression is dose-limiting with substantial evidence of suppression of normal T- lymphocytes, both in patients receiving fludarabine as a single agent and in patients being treated with fludarabine plus prednisone. Along with the myelosuppression noted in advanced stage disease, infections are the most common complication with many of the infections being associated with T-cell immunodeficiency rather than the more traditional characteristics of neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. Comparative clinical trials are being conducted in Europe with a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone regimen in previously untreated and previously treated patients. In the United States, previously untreated patients are being entered in a trial comparing fludarabine with chlorambucil alone or the combination of fludarabine and chlorambucil. The eventual contribution of fludarabine to the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia awaits the conclusion of these clinical trials.

The binding of naproxen, ketoprofen, phenylbutazone, salicyclic acid, azapropazone, and indobufen to bovine serum albumin was studied by applying the potentiometric ion probe technique. An ion-selective electrode for the ion probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate was utilized for the purposes of this study. A modified site-oriented competitive binding model was used for the estimation of the drugs' binding parameters, considering different number of binding sites on the competing binding class(es) for the probe and the drug. Calculations v,ere based exclusively on the concentration data of the free probe. The model's ability for accurate estimations of binding parameters was evaluated by simulation studies. The following values of binding parameters were found at 25 degrees C for the drugs under study; naproxen, n(1) = 9.1, k(1) = 9.4 X 10(5) M(-1); ketoprofen, n(1) = 8.8, k(1) = 10.8 X 10(5) M(-1); phenylbutazone, n(1) = 3.2, k(1) = 1.4 X 10(5) M(-1); salicylic acid, n(1) = 2.6, k(1) = 1.8 X 10(5) M(-1), n(2) = 21.5, k(2) = 1.0 X 10(4) M(-1); azapropazone, n(1) = 0.5, k(1) = 7.8 X 10(5) M(-1), n(2) = 26.3, k(2) = 1.9 X 10(4) M(-1); indobufen, n(1) = 5.8, k(1) = 5.8 X 10(5) M(-1), n(2) = 19.9, k(2) = 3.8 X 10(5) M(-1), where n(i) the number of binding sites of the i class and k(i) the corresponding association constant.

We present a model for explaining the recent combined X-ray and low- energy gamma-ray observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151. According to this model, soft photons become Comptonized in a hot spot producing simultaneously the low-energy power law as observed by Ginga and the high-energy cutoff observed by OSSE. Implementing recently developed theoretical calculations toward a generalized theory of Comptonization, we were able to find fits to the observations using only two parameters which characterize the physical quantities of the emission region: the plasma cloud optical depth and its temperature. We find that there is no need for additional nonthermal, reflection, or higher temperature thermal components to fit the aforementioned OSSE and Ginga observations. We derive in addition the size of the photon region and the temperature of the upscattered soft photons. We should emphasize, also, that any attempt at fitting only the high-energy parts of the spectrum (photon energies > 60 keV) by the Sunyaev & Titarchuk (1980) nonrelativistic Comptonization model leads to an underestimate of the Comptonization parameter γ (or, equivalently, to an overestimation of the X-ray power-law spectral slope) and leads, as a result, to incorrect proportions between the low-energy and high-energy parts of the spectrum.

The use of the chromium-release assay to determine cytotoxicity of effector against target cells has various limitations mostly due to the inherent properties of the radioactive substance. We have developed an improved flow cytometric method that is able to measure cytotoxicity, based on two fluorescent dyes. Calcein-AM, a non-fluorescent substance which is intracellularly converted to the green fluorescent calcein by esterase activity in viable cells, is initially used to stain target cells. After incubating targets with effectors for 2 h, ethidium homodimer-1, a red DNA stain non-permeable to viable cells, is added. Dead target cells are distinguished by their double (green-red) staining. Data analysis is performed by gating the regions of living target, dead target and living effector cells, based on appropriate controls. Non-specific events are subtracted from the dead target region and the ratio of specific dead target events to total target events is expressed as percent cytotoxicity. The method is used to quantify natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activities against the human K562 and Daudi cell lines and the murine YAC-1 and L1210 cell lines respectively, as well as cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) exerted by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) against autologous and allogeneic human breast cancer tumor cells. The method is fast, reliable and correlates well with the standard 51Cr-release assay.

We have recently demonstrated that prothymosin alpha (ProT alpha) when administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) protects DBA/2 mice against the growth of syngeneic leukemic L1210 cells through the induction of tumoricidal peritoneal cells producing high levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) [Papanastasiou et al. (1992) Cancer Immunol Immunother 35: 145]. In this report we tested further immunological alterations that may be caused by the administration of ProT alpha in vivo. We demonstrate that i.p. injections of ProT alpha enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity and induce lymphokine-activated (LAK) activity in vivo. Thus, splenocytes from ProT alpha-treated DBA/2 animals exhibited significantly higher cytotoxic activity (up to threefold) against the NK-sensitive YAC cell line and the NK-resistant P815 and L1210 syngeneic tumor cells, as compared to splenocytes from syngeneic control mice. The enhancement of the cytotoxic profile of DBA/2 splenocytes was associated with increased percentages of CD8+ cells, NK cells and activated CD3+ cells. The ProT alpha-induced effect persisted for 30 days after the end of the ProT alpha treatment period and returned to normal levels 20 days later. Splenocytes from non-treated DBA/2 animals generated high NK and LAK activities in response to ProT alpha in vitro. The ProT alpha-induced NK and LAK activities reached 84% and 75% respectively of what was obtained with interleukin-2 (IL-2). High concentrations of TNF alpha and IL-2 were generated in response to ProT alpha in LAK cultures. These findings suggest that ProT alpha may provide an overall protective effect against tumor growth in vivo through induction of NK and LAK activities possibly indirectly via the production of IL-2 and TNF alpha in the spleen, peritoneal cavity and probably other lymphoid organs.

This study assessed the feasibility and effect of blood progenitors as the only source of haemopoietic support for myeloablative therapy for patients with primary resistant multiple myeloma and markedly infiltrated bone marrow. 17 patients with advanced, primary resistant myeloma received a priming regimen of cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) and etoposide (900 mg/m2) with GM-CSF. During haematological recovery, at least 2 x 106 CD34+ mononuclear cells/ kg were collected from each patient with 4-12 leukaphereses. High-dose chemotherapy was then given which consisted of thiotepa (750 mg/m2), busulfan (10 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) followed by reinfusion of the blood progenitors. Haemopoietic reconstitution was rapid with recovery of granulocytes to >1.0 x 109/l after a median of 10 d and of platelets to 50 x 109/l after a median of 29 d. The myeloma responded in 10/17 patients for a projected median duration of at least 12 months. Survival was prolonged significantly in comparison with the outcome of control patients who did not receive intensive treatment. Blood progenitors, assessed from the number of CD34+ cells, produced early haemopoietic recovery after myeloablative therapy that induced sustained control of advanced and resistant multiple myeloma.

Few effective regimens are available for patients with advanced multiple myeloma resistant to alkylating agents and VAD. We treated 65 patients with advanced and refractory multiple myeloma with the combination of cyclophosphamide (3.0 gm/m2) and etoposide (900 mg/m2) followed by GM-CSF at a daily dose of 0.125 mg/m. Thirty-five percent of patients responded with a 6% mortality rate. After a median of 2 months, 16 patients received myeloablative treatment supported by autologous bone marrow or blood stem cells. Four of ten previously resistant patients responded so that the overall response rate was 42% The median survival for all patients was 10 months and the median remission was 8 months. The median survival for patients with both low serum lactate dehydrogenase and B2 microglobulin, or for those who received myeloablative treatment, was projected at 18 months. Our combination of cyclophosphamide and etoposide provided an effective rescue treatment for many patients with advanced multiple myeloma resistant to conventional therapies. This program allowed early blood stem cell collection in support of subsequent myeloablative therapy for selected patients. © 1994 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

The utility of myeloablative therapy supported by autologous bone marrow (BM) or blood progenitor cells was assessed in 49 patients with multiple myeloma who had received at least 1 year of prior chemotherapy. Outcomes were compared with those of similar patients who did not receive intensive treatment primarily for socioeconomic reasons. Among patients with disease in resistant relapse despite treatment with vincristine-doxorobucin by continuous infusion with pulse dexamethasone (VAD), a 61% response rate was associated with a median remission time of 5 months. After primary resistance for more than 1 year, 6 of 15 patients responded and the overall survival was similar to that of control patients. For patients with melphalan-resistant disease that responded to VAD, the remission time was similar to that of control patients. Current myeloablative treatments supported by autologous BM or blood stem cells were useful to very few patients with multiple myeloma after the first year of chemotherapy.

Injuries to the Lisfranc joint in the athlete comprise a very small proportion of tarsometatarsal injuries and are unique in several different ways. The energy involved appears to be on a much smaller order of magnitude than more commonly encountered injuries leading to obvious fracture and dislocation. Second metatarsal subluxation with diastasis between the first and second metatarsal tends to be the most commonly encountered injury; however, the true extent of injury cannot be based solely on the amount of diastasis present. Lateral weight-bearing radiographs facilitate evaluation of the normal medial cuneiform-fifth metatarsal relationship, which when disrupted indicates an injury more significant than a simple sprain and the possible need for open reduction and internal fixation. Finally, the restoration of this normal radiographic relationship between the medial cuneiform and fifth metatarsal on lateral weight-bearing views correlates well with the prognosis for achieving an asymptomatic, well-functioning foot, allowing a return to a competitive level of athletic participation.

The EPR spectra of the members of the series Pr0.5RE0.5Ba2Cu3O6+x (RE = Pr, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in the orthorhombic phase are investigated at low temperature. The EPR spectra arise from two different paramagnetic centers, one from divalent copper ions in orthorhombic local crystal field symmetry and another from exchange coupled pairs of copper ions whose origin is discussed. The EPR spectra essentially depend on the time exposition. The EPR spectra of some divalent and trivalent rare earth ions are recorded. The crystal field analysis is done for the trivalent ytterbium ions. The semiconducting behaviour of the dc conductivity can be attributed to thermally activated small polaron hopping motion. Copyright © 1994 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

The local magnetic behaviour of impurities in simple monovalent metal hosts is studied systematically by means of ab-initio, local-spin-density-functional electronic structure calculations. Our results predict that besides the 3d and 4d impurities also the 5d and some sp impurities are magnetic in the late alkali metals and that local magnetism can exist for impurities not only on substitutional but also on interstitial sites.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of the spine in patients with multiple myeloma who responded to chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with multiple myeloma underwent MR imaging of the spine before and after chemotherapy. Sagittal T1-weighted images were obtained before and after administration of contrast material. MR patterns of marrow involvement before treatment were classified as focal, diffuse, or variegated. The changes seen on MR images after treatment were analyzed and correlated with the clinical response as defined with standard criteria. RESULTS: Patterns of complete response included resolution of marrow abnormality or persistent abnormality without enhancement or with peripheral rim enhancement. Conversion of a diffuse to a variegated or focal pattern and a decrease in the amount of marrow abnormality with persistent enhancement were observed in patients who showed a partial response. Ten patients sustained new or progressive compression fractures after successful therapy. CONCLUSION: Recognition of spinal MR patterns of response to treatment supported the occurrence of remission in patients with multiple myeloma. MR findings may help clarify response to therapy in patients with equivocal clinical changes or nonsecretory myeloma.

We investigated the antitumor activity and toxicity of cisplatin and interferon-α2B as the primary treatment of penile carcinoma. A total of 13 consecutive patients with nonmetastatic, histologically confirmed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis underwent treatment consisting of 20 mg./m.2 cisplatin intravenously and 5 x 106 μ./m.2 interferon-α2B subcutaneously daily for 5 consecutive days. An equivalent dose of interferon was then administered subcutaneously every 2 days for 3 weeks and the regimen was repeated at 28-day intervals. Of 12 evaluable patients 9 responded: 4 achieved a pathologically confirmed complete remission of 38+, 21+, 10 and 7 months in duration (2 with relapse were treated with local therapy and remain with no evidence of disease), and 5 achieved a partial response, underwent surgical removal of residual disease and remained disease-free for 14+ to 24+ months. The most significant toxicities were anemia in 5 patients and reversible renal impairment in 3 but no patient had neutropenic fever or required platelet transfusion. We conclude that primary treatment with cisplatin and interferon-α2B induced responses in 75% of 12 patients with penile carcinoma and allowed for a less radical operation than originally scheduled. A larger number of patients and longer followup will be required to confirm these encouraging preliminary results.

Seismic and bathymetric profiles within the Argolic Gulf permitted the study of its neotectonic structure. The morphological data were analysed in the form of a morphological mean slope map on which the morphological discontinuities and the planar surfaces were distinguished. The neotectonic structure of the gulf is mainly created by the following fault sets grouped:(i) in two NW-SE zones of major border normal faults, separating the alpine basement from the sedimentary fill of the basin,(ii) in several E-W transcurrent faults which create horizontally escaping neotectonic blocks and,(iii) normal faults, some of which probably with oblique-slip motion, forming minor neotectonic blocks especially within the continental platform.The overall geomorphological and neotectonic structure and other characteristics of the post-alpine sedimentation show an asymmetry with more intence phenomena along the western margin of the gulf. The continental platform is highly fractured and Holocene vertical block movements of the order of 20 - 30 m are detected.

The purpose of the present study was to quantify factors which contribute to the absenteeism of nursing personnel and affect staffing patterns. Absenteeism in a general hospital was studied for the period 1975-1990 in relation to the number and level of nursing personnel, the number of discharged patients in the same period, and the existing relevant policy. The variables were analyzed by the multiple regression method having an initial estimator the existing situation in 1990 and what is expected for the year 2000. The results showed that the mean value days of absenteeism for each registered and assistant nurse in 1975 was 22.4 days and in 1990, 51.9 days, sickness raised from 12.6 days in 1975 to 16.6 in 1990, maternity from 9.1 in 1975 to 25.3 in 1990, educational leave for registered nurses was 0.02 in 1975 and 3.8 in 1990 and for assistants 2.1 in 1985 and 17.3 in 1990 due to the new policy, and social fringe benefits raised from 0.71 days in 1975 to 3.65 in 1990. The expected rate of absenteeism by the year 2000 will be 67 to 83 days per person, an increase by 56% in relation to 1990 data.

Ελληνική μετάφραση διάλεξης του A. Ducelier

Cis-platinum-based chemotherapy combinations have improved the outcome of patients with metastatic urothelial tumors, since two-thirds of these patients respond to treatment. Nevertheless, the majority of such patients have relapse within a median of 12 months. To define the pattern of failure and subsequent outcome, we retrospectively assessed 58 consecutive patients with relapse after prior response to cis-platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Of the patients who presented initially with local-regional metastases, 74% had relapse with involvement of a similar site, while only 26% of these patients had visceral metastases at relapse. The median survival after relapse was 9 months, and parameters associated with longer survival were local-regional relapse (10.7 months) and response to salvage chemotherapy (12.6 months). These data suggest that select patients with urothelial tumors and local-regional metastases may benefit from consolidation therapy with surgery or radiotherapy after maximum response to chemotherapy.

We establish the existence of an absolute frequency gap of the electromagnetic field in photonic crystals with tetragonal symmetry, and examine the dependence of the gap on the geometry of the structure. We calculate the transmittance through a slab of finite thickness of the material, and show that planar defects in the slab produce interface states of the electromagnetic field, at frequencies within the photonic gap, manifested by sharp resonances in the transmittance of these systems.

Among 750 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, 27 (4%) presented with plasma cell leukaemia. All but one patient had high tumour mass and, when compared with comparable patients without leukaemia, more frequent extraosseous involvement, thrombocytopenia, high serum lactate dehydrogenase and hypodiploid plasma cells. Most patients also had complex cytogenetic abnormalities. Treatment with standard melphalan-prednisone was ineffective, with a median survival of 2 months, but more intensive chemotherapy induced responses in approxirnately one-half of the patients, with a median survival of 20 months. Primary plasma cell leukaemia usually results from the proliferation and extramedullary expansion of immature plasma cells and requires prompt and intensive chemotherapy.

Background: The treatment of multiple myeloma remains unsatisfactory and new active agents are needed. Paclitaxel is effective against a variety of solid tumors and we assessed the utility against multiple myeloma. Patients and methods: From March 1993 to May 1994, we treated 33 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma with paclitaxel given intravenously at a dose of 125 mg/m2 over 24 hours (13 patients) or at a dose of 135 mg/m2 over 3 hours (20 patients). Results: Five of 33 patients responded (15%; 95% CI: 5 to 32%) with an unmaintained remission of 3-11+ months. Severe but reversible neutropenia was the major dose limiting toxicity, but myalgias and alopecia were also common. Conclusions: Paclitaxel was slightly active against multiple myeloma. Whether higher doses or new analogues of this agent can produce superior results requires further study. © 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Purpose: To assess the activity of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA) as primary therapy for patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Patients and Methods: 2CdA was given to 26 consecutive, previously untreated and symptomatic patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Two courses were administered to outpatients at a dose of 0.1 mg/ kg body weight per day for a 7-day continuous infusion using a portable pump through a central venous catheter. Responding patients were followed up without further therapy and were scheduled to receive two additional treatments with 2CdA on disease relapse. Results: Twenty-two of 26 patients responded to the 2CdA therapy (85%; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 65% to 96%), including three patients who achieved a complete response and 19 patients who had a partial response. Treatment was well tolerated, with no acute hematologic toxicity. A marked and sustained reduction of CD4+ lymphocytes occurred in all patients and may have contributed to a fatal infection with disseminated herpes simplex in one patient. With a median follow-up of 13 months, five patients have relapsed and all re-treated patients have responded again to 2CdA. Conclusion: 2CdA is highly active in previously untreated patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. A limited program of treatment induced responses of good quality and long duration in more than 80% of patients. © 1994 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

AIDS patients with newly diagnosed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis who had just completed a 14-day course of ganciclovir induction therapy were randomly assigned to an alternating or concurrent combination regimen of chronic ganciclovir-foscarnet therapy for CMV retinitis. Each regimen used lower weekly cumulative doses of each drug than standard monotherapy maintenance treatment regimens. Dose-limiting toxicity attributable to foscarnet occurred in only 2 (7%) of29 evaluatable patients, and no patients experienced dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. Although absolute neutrophil counts <500 cells/µL occurred in 11 (38%) of 29 patients, all who subsequently used adjunctive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor had severe neutropenia prevented. Severe toxicity of any type and neutropenia, in particular, occurred significantly more frequently in patients assigned to the concurrent treatment regimen. CMV was isolated from none of 21 patients who had urine cultured and from only 1 of 24 who had blood cultured while being treated during the study (median evaluation, 12 weeks). This suggests that combination therapy provides better in vivo antiviral activity in suppressing CMV replication than previously reported with monotherapy regimens.

Regression of low-grade B cell gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue after eradication of Helicobacter pylori with antibiotic therapy was recently shown in a small number of patients with low-volume tumors. A patient with a > 10 cm nodular gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma that caused hematemesis and weight loss is described. Antibiotic therapy of H. pylori resulted in full clinical recovery and resolution of the mass lesion and morphological features of lymphoma on routine histological examination. However, monotypic immunostaining of plasma cells persisted in a separate and grossly normal-appearing region of the stomach. Antibiotic therapy may be of benefit in patients with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with mass lesions and significant signs and symptoms, but periodic search for residual lymphoma is needed. © 1994.

Circulating T lymphocytes from 20 patients with an immediate patch test reaction were tested for proliferative responses in vitro to contact allergens during both immediate and delayed skin reactions. T lymphocytes collected during the immediate patch test reaction responded specifically in the challenge allergens in the presence of autologous monocytes. Subset analysis revealed that the proliferation pattern was dominated by the CD4+ CD29+ T-cell subpopulation, whereas CD8+ or CD4+ CD45R+ cells did not respond. A similar pattern in T-cell subset proliferation was observed when cells were collected during a positive delayed skin reaction. In contrast, in the case of a negative delayed skin reaction, proliferative responses of lymphocytes to the specific allergens were dominated by CD45+ cells. The latter T-lymphocyte subset could greatly suppress in an allergen-specific manner the proliferation of CD29+ autologous cells. The in vitro allergen-specific proliferation of CD29+ or CD45R+ cells was restricted by the major histocompatibility complex class II (HLA-DR) gene products. It is suggested that allergen-specific immune responses take place in the induction and evolution of an immediate patch test reaction into a delayed one.

We examined the role of endogenously produced interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in lectin-induced nonspecific suppressor activity in vitro. The cultures consisted of highly purified T lymphocytes, autologous monocytes and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Kinetic studies revealed peak levels for both TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production 4 hr after initiation of cultures which then declined and reached minimal levels on day 3. At this time point maximal levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) were detected which declined sharply 24 hr later. The decline in cytokine levels in culture supernatants was most probably due to their consumption by the mononuclear cells which were found to express specific receptors for IL-1 beta, (IL-1 beta R), TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha R) and IL-2 (IL-2R) after 3- and 6-days of culture. After their first cycle of production and consumption both monokines were reproduced and the events followed the same patterns as for the first cycle: both monokines were first produced and at the time point of their consumption, IL-2 production reached maximal levels. The requirement for IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in both IL-2 production and generation of suppressor activity was shown by three different approaches which included (a) blocking of HLA-DR molecules on monocytes which prevented monokine consumption during the early stages of culture, (b) blocking of HLA-A,B,C molecules on monocytes which prevented monokine consumption and IL-2 production late in culture, and (c) neutralization of monokine activity late in culture which resulted in highly reduced IL-2 production. T lymphocytes harvested from such cultures exhibited diminished suppressor activity. Our data suggest that the generation of nonspecific suppressor cell activity in vitro represents a complex system that requires cell interactions via self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen recognition and two cycles of cytokine production, where IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha production and consumption is a prerequisite for IL-2 production. Since lectin-induced nonspecific suppressor activity in vitro is deficient in certain autoimmune disorders the data presented herein might help in understanding the cellular basis for this immunodeficiency.

Based on experimental observations we propose the small-polaron hopping model to interpret the behavior of the resistivity of PrBa2Cu3-xGaxO7-y system with x = 0.00-0.60 in a wide temperature range (14-290 K), reported by other workers. percolation arguments we evaluate the maximum hopping distances, at high and low temperatures, together with other relevant parameters, and we give a unified and meaningful explanation of the transport mechanism, for different Ga concentrations and the entire temperature range. © 1994.

One hundred twenty-seven adults with advanced hematologic malignancies received thiotepa 450-750 mg/m2, busulfan 10 or 12 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 120 or 150 mg/kg as a preparative regimen for autologous (86 patients) or allogeneic (41 patients) marrow transplantation. Early regimen-related toxicity (RRT) was scored according to the Seattle toxicity grading system. Grade 1-4 RRT occurred in 94% of the patients. Grade 3-4 RRT was noted in 19 patients (9% of the autologous and 27% of the allogeneic marrow recipients) and included 6% hepatic, 5% pulmonary, 3% renal, 2% mucosal, 2% bladder, 2% cardiac, and 1% CNS toxicity at the grade 3 or 4 level. No patient experienced life-threatening or fatal gastrointestinal or cutaneous toxicity. A stepwise logistic regression analysis suggested that the higher busulfan dose, Zubrod performance status of 2 or 3, and ten or more previous cycles of chemotherapy were factors predictive of grade 3-4 RRT. The regimen-related mortality for all patients was 8% (95% Cl 4-14%). The incidence and spectrum of RRT for this novel drug combination are similar to those reported for the standard preparative regimens. Heavily pretreated patients with poor performance status receiving the higher busulfan dose have a higher incidence of severe or fatal RRT. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.

In vitro studies have demonstrated that exposure of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) to human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) will generate activated T-lymphocytes with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted and non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity toward a panel of tumor target cells. In melanoma and ovarian carcinoma, TIL display MHC-restricted and autologous tumor-specific cytotoxicity. Such tumor-reactive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) represent important material for understanding cellular immunity in cancer and developing specific immunotherapeutic approaches in melanoma and ovarian cancer. In breast cancer, some TIL have been demonstrated to secrete cytokines upon interaction with autologous tumor cells, indicating that autologous tumor-reactive lymphocytes may also exist among TIL in breast cancer. Therefore, the authors conducted a study to investigate the cytotoxic profile of rIL-2-activated lymphocytes in breast cancer.|Lymphocytes were isolated from primary solid tumors (TIL) of breast carcinomas (10 patients) and from peritoneal effusions (effusion-associated mononuclear cells [EAMNC]) from 2 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic breast carcinoma. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes or EAMNC were cultured with rIL-2 in long term cultures whereby their expansion index, phenotype, and cytotoxic potential were studied.|Both TIL and EAMNC proliferated by greater than 300-fold (370-3650; mean, 1656) after 23-82 days in cultures containing mixtures of TIL or EAMNC, autologous tumor cells, and rIL-2. By fluorescence analysis, freshly isolated TIL and EAMNC were found to consist of 77.5 plus or minus 10.7% CD3+ T-cells, 33.2 plus or minus 8.9% CD4+, and 47.2 plus or minus 16.8% CD8+ cells. Their CD4 to CD8 ratio was 0.70. After expansion of lymphocytes with rIL-2 in the majority of patients (9 of 12), CD3+CD8+ T-lymphocytes were present in greater numbers than CD3+CD4+ T-lymphocytes. Recombinant interleukin-2-activated CD3+CD8+ cells exhibited preferential cytolytic activity against autologous tumor cells. The cytolytic activity of CD3+CD8+ cells was inhibited either by anti-T-cell receptor (TCR)-alpha/-beta and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) or after pretreatment of tumor target cells with MoAb against the class I MHC antigens. Recombinant interleukin-2-activated CD3+CD4+ cells demonstrated potent cytolytic activity against both autologous and allogeneic tumor cells. CD3+CD8+ T-cell clones isolated from representative TIL exhibited preferential autologous tumor-specific cytotoxicity whereas the cytolytic activity of CD3+CD4+ T-cell clones was mostly (12 of 14 clones) nonrestricted to the autologous tumor.|To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that TIL from primary tumors of breast carcinomas and EAMNC from metastatic disease can be propagated in large numbers in vitro with rIL-2 while retaining autologous tumor specific and MHC-restricted CTL activity. These findings may be of importance to ongoing clinical trials using TIL or EAMNC in the immunotherapy of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Serum and follicular fluid levels of CEA, CA 125 and SCC of women participating in an IVF program, in 42 cycles stimulated with GnRH-a and gonadotropins and in 26 unstimulated cycles triggered with HCG, were evaluated and compared with (a) steroid and gonadotropin levels, (b) the results of IVF, and (c) serum values in a control group of women with spontaneous normal ovulatory cycles. In the control group, serum antigens did not vary significantly during the 3 phases of the cycle. In stimulated cycles the median values in serum were 0.7 ng/ml (range, 0.0-2.1) for CEA, 14.0 U/ml (3.3-32.4) for CA 125 and 2.05 ng/ml (1.1-17.8) for SCC, whereas the median values in follicular fluid were 0.6 (0.0-27.9), 21.5 (0-670) and 21.4 (1-360), respectively. In unstimulated cycles the median values and ranges in serum were 0.9 (0.4-3.9), 12.1 (4.8-63.4) and 1.85 (0.7-4.4), respectively, whereas in follicular fluid they were 2.9 (0.4-180.7), 32 (1.7-600) and 231 (10.8-904). Different follicles of the same patients in stimulated cycles showed a wide divergence for all three antigens. In unstimulated cycles all three antigens in follicular fluid were strongly correlated and a significant inverse correlation was observed between LH and both CA 125 and SCC in serum. In either group of cycles, no significant relationship was found between any serum or follicular fluid antigen and estradiol or testosterone, pregnancy rate, or oocyte quality and fertilization. Thus, in both stimulated and unstimulated cycles follicular fluid contains CEA, CA 125 and SCC in considerable amounts while in serum only SCC was found elevated. It seems that no correlation exists between any of the three antigens and steroidogenesis or the results of the IVF-ET. © 1994.

A new catalogue of clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud has been constructed from searches of the IIIa-J component of the ESO/SERC Southern Sky Atlas. The catalogue contains coordinate and diameter measurements of 1762 clusters in a 25x25{deg} area of sky centred on the LMC, but excluding the very crowded 3.5 square deg. region around the Bar. The distribution of these clusters appears as two superimposed elliptical systems. The higher density inner system extends over about 8d; the lower density outer system can be represented by 13d X 10d disc inclined at 42d to the line of sight. There are suggestions of two weak "arms" in the latter. (1 data file).

If, as many believe, Sgr A* is a massive black hole at the Galactic center, one should expect it to be a source of X-ray and gamma-ray activity, behaving basically as a scaled-down active galactic nucleus. An unavoidable source of accretion is the wind from IRS 16, a nearby group of hot, massive stars. Since the density and velocity of the accreting matter are known from observations, the accretion rate is basically a function of the putative black hole mass, Mh, only; this value represents a reliable lower limit to a real rate, given the other possible sources of accreting matter. Based on this and on the theories about shock acceleration in active galactic nuclei, we have estimated the expected production of relativistic particles and their hard radiation. These values turn out to be a function of Mh as well. Comparing our results with available X-ray and gamma-ray observations which show Sgr A* to have a relatively low activity level, we conclude tentatively that the putative black hole in the Galactic center cannot have a mass greater than approximately 6 x 103 solar mass. This conclusion is consistent with the upper limits to the black hole mass found by different methods earlier, although much more work is needed to make calculations of shock acceleration around black holes more reliable.

Για χρήση παραπομπής/ when citing:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1994). "Ντύθηκαν το Φως". Η Μόδα στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 17, Αυγ.-Σεπτ. 1994, σελ. 69-71.

Στὴν εἰσήγηση αὐτὴν ἐκτίθενται τρία σημεῖα ποὺ ἀνατρέπουν τὴν μέχρι τοῦδε δυτικὴ ἀντίληψη γιὰ τὴν γεωπολιτικὴ σημασία τῆς Τουρκίας ὡς περιφερειακῆς δυνάμεως στὴ Μ. Ἀνατολή. α) Τὸ γεγονὸς ὅτι ἡ Τουρκία εὑρίσκεται σὲ μιὰ πολιτικῶς ὑποσχιζοειδῆ κατάσταση, μιὰ κρίση ταὐτότητος εἰς ὅ,τι ἀφορᾷ τὸν κοσμικὸ ἢ τὸν ἰσλαμικόν της χαρακτῆρα. Γίνεται ἐπίσης μιὰ περιγραφὴ τῶν σημαντικωτέρων κλάδων τοῦ τουρκικοῦ ἰσλαμικοῦ κινήματος. β) Το ὅτι τὸ μειονοτικὸ μωσαϊκὸ τῶν ἐθνοτήτων ποὺ διαβιοῦν στὸ ἔδαφος τῆς συγχρόνου Τουρκίας ἀποτελεῖ ὄχι μόνον κίνδυνο γιὰ τὴν ὑπόσταση τοῦ τουρκικοῦ κράτους ἀλλὰ καὶ οὐσιαστικὸ σημεῖο ἀσκήσεως ἐλέγχου ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας αὐτῆς ἀπὸ δυνάμεις ποὺ ἐπιδιώκουν τὴν συγκράτησή της στὴν σφαῖρα τῆς γεωπολιτικῆς τους ἐπιρροῆς καὶ τὴν χρησιμοποίησή της ὡς στρατηγικοῦ βραχίονος στὴν περιοχὴ τῆς Μέσης καὶ Ἐγγὺς Ἀνατολῆς. Ἡ ἐμφανὴς ὅμως ἀσυμφωνία χειρισμῶν μεταξὺ τῶν ἀνωτέρω μητροπολιτικῶν δυνάμεων καὶ ὁ μεταξύ των διαγκωνισμὸς στὴν περιοχή, δημιουργεῖ καταστάσεις ποὺ θὰ ταλανίζουν ἐσαεὶ τὸν τουρκικὸ λαὸ ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅλες τὶς ἄλλες ἐθνικὲς ὁμάδες ποὺ διαβιοῦν στὸ τουρκικὸ ἔδαφος. γ) Ἐπίσης, τὸ γεγονὸς ὅτι ὁ συνδυασμὸς τῶν ἀνωτέρω δύο στοιχείων, προκαλεῖ μίαν ἀκόμη ἀποσταθεροποιητικὴ συνιστῶσα γιὰ τὴν γεωστρατηγικὴν ἰσορροπία στὴν περιοχή, στὸν βαθμὸ ποὺ αὐτὴ ἐξαρτᾶται ἀπὸ τὸν παράγοντα Τουρκία.

The historical events that constitute the basis for a geopolitical interpretation of the Armenian question should be placed within their diplomatic framework, so that the right conclusions can be drawn. If these conclusions happen to verge on cynicism, the blame should not be put on the author of this article but on the nature of international relations, which has been proved anything but humane throughout history.

We present a systematic study of local spin moments of impurities in alkali-metal hosts, by means of ab initio, local-spin-density electronic structure calculations. Our results predict for the first time that besides the well-known cases of 3d and 4d impurities also 5d and some sp impurities are magnetic in the alkali metals both on substitutional and interstitial positions.

Summary— Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a recently recognised histological variety of renal carcinoma (RC) considered to arise from the epithelium of the collecting ducts. Diagnosis of this entity depends on well defined gross and microscopic criteria and is supported by a characteristic immunostaining pattern. The clinical features of these patients, the natural course of the disease and its response to treatment have not been clearly established. Between 1980 and 1990 we treated 12 patients (median age 43 years, range 16–62) with collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney. In addition to being relatively young, each patient had a strong family history of associated malignancies. Survival was short (median 22 months) and 11 patients presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease. © 1993 British Journal of Urology

Background. Alpha‐interferon and dexamethasone are each effective in patients with multiple myeloma and have a combined inhibitory effect on the in vitro growth of myeloma colonies. The effect of combined therapy in newly diagnosed patients is unknown. Methods. Fifty‐one consecutive patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma of low tumor mass received primary therapy with 3 million units (mu)/m2/day of interferon administered subcutaneously for 20 days and 20 mg/m2 of dexamethasone given orally each morning for 4 days beginning on days 1, 9, and 17. Courses were repeated after a rest period of 14 days. Results were compared with those of similar patients who received primary treatment with dexamethasone alone in the same dose regimen. Results. The response rate was similar: 57% for patients treated with interferon‐dexamethasone and 48% for those treated with dexamethasone alone. Remission and survival times of both groups were identical. Twenty‐nine percent of patients resistant to interferon‐dexamethasone and 19% of patients resistant to dexamethasone responded subsequently to either standard melphalan‐prednisone or to a cyclophosphamide‐vincristine‐doxorubicin‐dexamethasone combination. These regimens were also effective in one third of patients with disease relapse despite interferon. Conclusion. In this nonrandomized study of previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, the addition of interferon in a dose of 3 mu/m2/day to dexamethasone achieved results similar to those with dexamethasone alone. Copyright © 1993 American Cancer Society

The canine is frequently used as a model for human hip arthroplasty research. In order to better understand the appropriateness of the canine as a model for human total hip replacement studies, the external morphology of canine and human femurs were examined and compared. Several differences were found between canine and human femora, including angular measurements, anterior bow, and femoral head position relative to the femoral diaphysis. In addition, the human femur was noted to undergo age-related changes in several of the measured parameters. The canine femur did not exhibit any age-related changes in the measured parameters. This study suggests that there are limitations to the use of the canine model in human hip arthroplasty research, and that discretion must be exercised when attempting to extrapolate results from a canine study to the human clinical condition.

Few effective regimens are available for patients with advanced multiple myeloma resistant to or relapsing after both alkylating agents and VAD. We treated 52 patients with advanced and refractory multiple myeloma with the combination of cyclophosphamide (3.0 g/m2) and etoposide (900 mg/m2) followed by GM‐CSF at a daily dose of 0.125 mg/m2 until recovery of granulocytes. 42% of patients responded with a median time of 19 d for recovery of granulocytes to 0.5 x 109/1 and a 4% mortality rate. Eight responding patients received a second myeloablative treatment supported by either autologous bone marrow (six patients) or blood stem cells (two patients). The median survival time for all patients was 11 months and the median remission time for responding patients was 8 months. The combination of cyclophosphamide and etoposide provided an effective rescue treatment for many patients with advanced multiple myeloma resistant to conventional therapies. This programme also allowed early marrow or blood stem cell collection in support of subsequent myeloablative therapy for selected patients. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Unboiled Thermomonospora fusca endoglucanase E2 electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels migrated in the range of 80-90 kDa, but when boiled it migrated in the 40-42-kDa range. Sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation as well as chemical cross-linking experiments confirmed that E2 is a dimer. The dimer was reversibly dissociated at low pH. The E2 dimer was stable up to 70 degrees C, but began to dissociate at this temperature after a 30-60-min incubation. A nondimerizing mutant was obtained using region-specific chemical mutagenesis. DNA sequencing of this mutant revealed a single base change that substituted Gly for Glu-263. Chemical modification of carboxylic acid residues in E2 disrupted the dimer interaction

The fundamental mechanisms controlling the light emission from porous Si remain unresolved. In this paper we report attempts to modify the luminescence using a variety of surface processing steps, such as vacuum annealing with subsequent anneals in nitrogen and oxygen, exposure to hydrofluoric acid (HF) and rapid thermal oxidation. Luminescence, infrared absorption, and electron spin resonance (ESR) have all been used to gain more information on the link between the optical emission and the localisation of the electrons in this material system. We present evidence that the silicon dangling bond is the key component in the non-radiative recombination. This is based on measurements shown that hydrogen coverage of the surface is significant because of saturation of the dangling bonds and a subsequent reduction in the competing non-radiative paths rather than as an active component in the radiative transition. Finally, we focus our attention upon the lower energy band which appears in the luminescence spectrum of porous Si (approx.0.9eV) by examining its behavior under the surface treatments mentioned above. We found that this luminescence band originates from the surface of the porous layer and its intensity correlates well with increasing oxidation of the porous layer.

EPR and magnetic measurements were carried out on specially prepared samples of the EuBa2-xEuxCu3O 7- delta compound in the tetragonal phase, in the temperature range 100-4.2 K. The EPR spectra of Eu2+, Cu2+, coupled pairs of divalent copper ions and the superexchange interaction between Cu ions over oxygen bridges have been observed. The EPR spectrum of europium ions indicates the existence of a crystal-field splitting of the 8S7/2 ground state of Eu2+ ions with a value of the spin-Hamiltonian parameter b20 of about 14*10-2 cm -1. This parameter is analysed within the framework of Newman's superposition model. Anomalies in the temperature variation of the magnetic susceptibility are attributed to the presence of divalent and trivalent europium ions. The susceptibility of Eu3+ ions is non-zero because the excited states are thermally populated and they contribute to the result of the ground state with J=0.

Multiple myeloma is a disseminated malignant neoplasm usually derived from a single clone of plasma cells. Patients with myeloma have diverse signs such as anemia, hypercalcemia, uremia, pathologic fractures, and recurrent infections. Extraosseous manifestations are found in less than 5% of patients with multiple myeloma. They can arise in any tissue, and their presence has been associated with more aggressive disease. The purpose of this assay is to illustrate the imaging findings of extraosseous myeloma and heighten awareness of this unusual manifestation of multiple myeloma.

purpose: To assess the response rate, remission duration, and survival of patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia treated with the adenine nucleoside analogue fludarabine. patients and methods: Twenty-eight patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinernia, of whom only 2 were previously untreated, received fludarabine at a dose of 20 to 30 mg/m2 intravenously daily for 5 days (20 patients) or 30 mg/m2 intravenously daily for 3 days (8 patients). Treatment was continued until maximum response was achieved. Responding patients were followed with no further treatment until relapse. results: Ten patients responded (36%), including the 2 previously untreated patients and 8 of 26 patients (31%) who were resistant to prior therapies. Uninaintained remissions lasted for a median of 38 months. There were no fatalities associated with this treatment. Previously untreated patients and those with a primary resistant disease of relatively short duration were more likely to benefit from this treatment. conclusion: Fludarabine is an effective salvage agent for the treatment of patients with resistant Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Further investigations of fludarabine in untreated patients and in combination with other active agents are warranted. © 1993.

The formation of localized moments of impurities in simple-metal hosts is investigated in the case of an Mn solute atom in jellia with continuously varying density. The mean-field critical behaviour of the transition from a spin-polarized to a non-spin-polarized state of the impurity, which is deduced from self-consistent local-spin-density (LSD) functional calculations, is analysed assuming a Landau-type expansion of the energy. This analysis is illustrated and supported by constrained LSD functional calculations.

We present local density functional calculations for magnetic impurities and magnetic monolayers in non-magnetic metals. The calculations employ a multiple scattering (KKR) Green's function method for impurities in the bulk and for ideal surfaces and interfaces. In particular we discuss the moment formation of 3d and4d impurities in alkali and noble metals. Special emphasis is put on an accurate calculation of the host polarization around 3d impurities in Cu and Pd. While the calculated impurity hyperfine fields in Cu contain rather large errors due to the local density approximation, the induced fields of the Cu atoms agree very well with experiments. We also present similar calculations for magnetic monolayers and the corresponding induced host polarization in Cu and Pd.

A five-step synthesis of 3-methylcholanthrene (1) has been achieved starting from 5-methylhomophthalic anhydride and N,N-diethyl-1-naphthamide in 55{%} over all yield. Treatment of a solution of the preformed lithium enolate of 5-methylhomophthalic anhydride (3) with an equimolar solution of 2-lithio-1-naphthamide (4), followed by acid hydrolysis, provides cleanly the spirobislactone 5 in 80{%} overall yield. In addition, the synthesis features a unique, highly selective double Friedel-Crafts cyclization of the aryl diacid 2 with PPA to give rise, after acetylation, to keto acetate 6.

Extensive studies of red horizontal branch (clump) stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) have suggested the presence of a large line-of-sight depth in the north-eastern region. A sample of red horizontal branch stars in the area of maximum depth was observed in 1989 December and 1990 December with the multi-object spectroscopic facility Autofib at the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope, with the purpose of deriving the velocity distribution for these stars. The data show a well- defined correlation between distance along the line of sight and radial velocity (corresponding to 8 km s^-1^ kpc^-1^), which may be interpreted as the result of the tidal interaction between the SMC and the LMC.

During the last decade several authors have undertaken extensive studies of the kinematics and structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which is generally thought to be affected by the dynamics of the triple interacting system consisting of the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). In this paper we point out the importance of studying the kinematics of old rather than young populations when investigating the purely gravitational effects on the structure of the SMC of the previously mentioned tidal interaction. We also describe briefly the results obtained for such old stars in the NE 'corner'of the SMC.

This work concerns the structural and optical properties of Porous Silicon. Porous silicon was already known from 1956 when Uhlir at Bell Laboratories in USA discovered that for certain substrate type and resistivity, and for certain electrolyte concentration and current density, silicon could be dissolved anodically in hydrofluoric acid based electrolytes. Localized attack of the silicon substrates led to the formation of a porous silicon layer. In 1984 Pickering et al observed luminescence from this material but it was not until Canham observed efficient visible luminescence at DRA in the UK in 1989 that porous silicon received much attention worldwide as a material for potential optoelectronic applications. Various models have been put forward to explain the light emission in porous silicon. From all of these models the quantum confinement model which considers that the luminescence in porous silicon originates from quantum confinement of carriers in the fine structures of the porous silicon skeleton seems to cope well with the experimental data. Chronoamperometry and gravimetric measurements give information about the degree of the porosity in this material whereas TEM and SEM reveal the fine structure of the pores. Double crystal x-ray diffraction patterns obtained from porous silicon imply that the porous silicon layer is tetragonally distorted and lattice matched to the substrate, the strain increasing with increasing porosity. Electron beam diffraction patterns show that an amorphous phase may be present in the material, but the bulk of it remains crystalline. Infra-red absorption measurements indicate that silicon-hydrogen-oxygen complexes are present in the internal surface of porous silicon playing a significant role in light emission. ESR measurements show that hydrogen and oxygen in particular are important in the passivation of the surface dangling bonds. It is shown that increase in the porosity of this material or in other words decrease in the size of the fine structures constituting the porous silicon skeleton shifts the luminescence band to higher energies. This finding agrees well with the quantum confinement model. However post-treatments such as annealing in vacuum or oxidation cause vast changes in the internal surface of the material as well as in its photoluminescence properties. This observation indicates that changes in the chemical composition of the surface are important in the luminescence process. Unusally long luminescence decay times observed in porous silicon imply some similarities with disordered materials such as amorphous silicon. To date no answer on the important issue of the origin of the light emission in porous silicon exists.

Oxygenated and non‐oxygenated LaBaSrCu3O6+x ceramics in the tetragonal phase are studied using X‐ray, EPR, and magnetic measurements. A Meissner signal for the oxygenated sample corresponding to almost perfect diamagnetism is measured below 35 K. However, EPR data indicate that at least some parts of the sample become superconducting already below 62 K. Magnetic susceptibility of the non‐oxygenated sample exhibit a significant paramagnetic contribution attributed to Cu(1) ions ferromagneticall coupled to the Cu(2) planes. Copyright © 1993 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Purpose: To assess prospectively the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the staging of patients with a solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP). Patients and Methods: Twelve consecutive patients with an apparent SBP underwent MR imaging of both the primary tumor and the thoracic and lumbosacral spine to seek additional foci of marrow involvement that might have been undetected by standard skeletal survey. All patients received megavoltage irradiation (total dose, 40 Gy) to the primary lesion. Results: MR imaging of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine showed additional foci of marrow replacement in four of 1 2 patients, with signal characteristics identical to those of the primary tumor. In all four patients, the abnormal protein persisted at greater than 50% of the pretreatment value following radiation treatment. In contrast, the myeloma protein disappeared or was reduced by greater than 50% in five of the six patients with secretory disease and without additional marrow abnormalities. One of four patients progressed to multiple myeloma 10 months after diagnosis with new lesions on conventional radiographs in the same areas as detected previously by MR imaging. Conclusion; Four of 12 patients considered to have a SBP by standard criteria may have been understaged, because MR imaging showed additional marrow abnormalities consistent with myeloma. MR imaging of the spine may contribute to the initial staging of SBP, especially since some patients may be cured with radiotherapy. © 1993 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In the present study, neutrophil functions were examined in vitro in 40 patients suffering from fractures of the upper end of the femur (trochanteric and subcapital). Adherence to nylon, serum chemotaxis, and phagocytosis-bactericidal function were assayed. Three microbial strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were used for the experiments. Adherence of the patients' neutrophils was found normal. On the contrary, the chemotactic ability of the patients' sera was inferior to that of healthy controls; phagocytosis and bactericidal function were also significantly impaired for all three bacterial strains. The results were independent of fracture site (intracapsular or extracapsular), sex, and age. The observed host defense disorders provide additional information that helps to explain the increased susceptibility of these patients to bacterial infections.

Fludarabine monophosphate (fludarabine) was initially discovered to have significant activity in indolent lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The major clinical experience with fludarabine is in previously treated patients with CLL. In such patients the complete and partial response rate (CR + PR) is over 50%. These results were obtained with 5-day schedules of fludarabine 25 to 30 mg/m2/d. Subsequent schedules have explored once-a- week fludarabine and a 3-day schedule every 4 weeks. These strategies, in particular the once-a-week schedule, have obtained inferior results. The addition of prednisone has not been associated with an improvement in response rate or survival. The application of fludarabine to previously untreated patients demonstrated a CR + PR rate of 75% to 80%. The addition of prednisone did not improve the response rate or survival in this group of patients. A significant concern in patients with CLL treated with fludarabine is a decrease in the CD4 and CD8 counts. Despite median posttreatment counts of approximately 200 CD4 lymphocytes/μL, the incidence of infections in patients in remission off therapy is low. Major clinical activity has been demonstrated with fludarabine in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, in which more than one third of refractory patients achieve a CR or PR. Responding patients with anemia or thrombocytopenia have a marked improvement in blood counts. The duration of response has been long (>30 months) in most responders. The early activity of fludarabine as a single agent in phase I/II studies in indolent lymphoma subsequently has been confirmed by a number of investigators. Fifty percent to 60% of patients with follicular lymphomas respond to fludarabine as a single agent. A number of these responses are complete despite the patients having received extensive prior treatment. A number of combination programs are being developed in CLL and indolent lymphoma. The combination of fludarabine with doxorubicin and prednisone has been developed and is being studied in phase I/II clinical trials. In addition, combinations of fludarabine and cytarabine with or without cisplatin based on elegant preclinical pharmacokinetic rationales have been applied to CLL with impressive cytoreductive activity but significant myelosuppression. A new combination of fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone has been developed for use in lymphoma. Phase I studies demonstrated a high response rate, especially in follicular lymphomas, with a number of patients achieving complete remission. Subsequent phase II studies demonstrate a response rate of 89% in patients with indolent lymphoma. The enhancement of the formation of the triphosphate form of cytarabine in acute myelogenous leukemia blast cells has led to the study of fludarabine and cytarabine in previously treated patients with acute leukemia. The promising results in these patients have led to the application of the fludarabine and cytarabine combination in frontline patients with poor-risk disease and, subsequently, in those with better-risk disease. Results equivalent or superior to traditional combinations have been obtained. The same regimen has been applied to myelodysplastic syndrome patients with a response rate of over 50%. The addition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to fludarabine and cytarabine to enhance the cytotoxicity of cytarabine on acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome has further improved the response rate. These drugs have now been combined with Idarubicin (Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH). Fludarabine has been demonstrated to have a marked impact on the inhibition of repair of DNA damage subsequent to radiation and exposure to cytotoxic substances such as cisplatin. These biologic effects have been used to develop clinical protocols exploring the combinations of fludarabine/cisplatin with or without cytarabine and fludarabine/radiation therapy. The expanding use of fludarabine in hematologic malignancies is related to its wide range of biochemical actions. Further use in combinations is anticipated.

The spin-orbit scattering (SOS) cross section σso of the 5(s, p) impurities is investigated in two different metal hosts. In the simple Mg host we observe a maximum at half filled p shell. This is the first experimental observation of an impurity p resonance and confirms theoretical predictions. For the transition metal host Cu the maximum in σso is shifted towards Te, the impurity with four p electrons. This is due to the hybridization of the Cu d states with the Te p level. The comparison between experimental and theoretical SOS cross sections represents a compact test of the quality of modern self-consistent electronic structure calculations.

We have developed a formalism which allows one to calculate the transmission, reflection and ansorbance of electromagnetic waves by structures having two-dimensional periodicity parallel to a given surface. The structures considered are single layers or multilayers of non-overlaping spheres, embedded in a host material of different dielectric function. A special case of multilayer is a stack of identical layers whose properties, when the thickness of the slab exceeds a certain limit, are identical with those of the corresponding infinite crystal. We present numerical results for specific examples of single layers and multilayers, and point out some interesting physics which came out of our calculations.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of serum β2-microglobulin (β2M) in the prognosis of patients with Hodgkin's disease. Patients and Methods: One hundred sixty previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease had serum β2M levels determined before initiation of treatment. Serum β2M was tested for its correlation with known prognostic factors for patients with Hodgkin's disease. These variables, including β2M, were correlated with complete remission (CR) rate and time to treatment failure (TTF). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Serum β2M levels greater than 2.5 mg/L were found in 29% of patients. Such elevation was more common in patients with more advanced-stage disease. Elevated serum β2M was an independent and powerful factor in the prediction of lower response rate and shorter TTF. Its impact appeared to be more significant in patients with advanced disease. Conclusion: Serum β2M appears to correlate with tumor stage in patients with Hodgkin's disease and elevated serum levels of this polypeptide predict a less favorable prognosis.

Purpose: In recent years, increasing numbers of patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma have been diagnosed by chance and followed without any therapy. Those at risk for early or late disease progression should be distinguished in order to prevent complications. This study defined prognostic factors that would predict the need for early treatment. Patients and Methods: We followed 95 patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma without chemotherapy between 1974 and 1991. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine was conducted in 23% of patients with normal radiographs. An increase in serum myeloma protein to more than 50 g/L or new lytic bone lesions justified the institution of chemotherapy. Response to treatment and survival were assessed, and prognostic factors were defined for early or late disease progression by standard techniques. Results: The median time to progression in all patients was 26 months. The 25 patients with either a lytic bone lesion, or both serum peak greater than 30 g/L and Bence Jones proteinuria, had the shortest median time to progression of 10 months; the 27 patients without any harmful factor remained stable for a median of 61 months. MRI confirmed bone or marrow disease in half of the patients with normal radiographs and may assist in the prognostic staging. Despite the markedly different times of disease stability, the response rates and survival after chemotherapy were similar for all groups of patients. Conclusion: Among asymptomatic patients with multiple myeloma, the extent of disease at diagnosis and the subsequent rate of disease evolution were major factors in the total survival time. These patients are a markedly heterogeneous group who may benefit from different approaches to treatment according to defined risk factors. © 1993.

We present a formalism for the calculation of the scattering of electromagnetic waves by a substitutionally disordered two-dimensional array of spherical particles. The formalism, which constitutes an extension of the coherent-potential approximation scheme to electromagnetic waves is valid for any frequency of the incident wave and for any size and/or concentration of the particles. We demonstrate the applicability of our formalism by applying it to the evaluation of the absorbance of disordered arrays of plasma spheres.

Two very young clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), NGC 2098 ans SL 666, were selected for the search for mass segregation. Here we present te first results for NGC 2098. The analysis is still in progress and details will be published elsewhere. The present data confirm that the brightest main sequence stars of NGC 2098 are concentrated in the central 1.5 arcmin. The question now arises whether the cluster itself is indeed extended beyond 1.5 arcmin. Extensive star counts are now being performed in all directions and at large radii around NGC 2098 to help settle this question.

Two types of tasks are to be scheduled on a single processor under incomplete information about the task lengths. We derive the structure of optimal scheduling rules w.r.t. flowtime, as well as asymptotic approximations for a large number of tasks, when the length distributions belong to a one-parameter exponential family. © 1993, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.

The authors conclude that serum levels of sIL-2R and β2M may play a role in the early diagnosis and identification of patients with chronic rejection.

sIL-2R and NSE were measured in 24 patients with small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, in 25 patients with non small cell carcinoma (NSCC) and in 20 controls matched for age, sex and smoking habits. Significantly elevated values of sIL-2R and NSE were found in the SCC group (mean ± SEM: 2103 ± 314.4 U/ml and 44.5 ± 7.3 ng/ml repsectively), compared to those in the NSCC group (1079 ± 104.5 U/ml and 3.64 ± 0.8 ng/ml, p < 10-7 respectively) and to controls (561 ± 44.6 U/ml and 1.7 ± 0.3 ng/ml p < 10-5). In the SCC group, 83.3% of sIL-2R and 87.5% of NSE values were above cut-off (900 U/ml and 10 ng/ml respectively), while in the NSCC group, 48% of sIL-2R and only 8% of NSE values were above cut-off. In the controls, all values of both parameters were below cut-off. The results suggest that sIL-2R and NSE in concurrent measurements may help in decision making as regards treatment and prognosis.

A line of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells called CK1.4 was produced by transfection with the gene for the bovine cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger. CK1.4 cells stably expressed substantial exchange activity and exchanger protein as shown by immunoprecipitation. Exchange activity was quantified as 45Ca2+ influx that depended on both increasing intracellular Na+ and lowering the concentration of external Na+. Replacing external Na+ with K+ slightly increased 45Ca2+ uptake by CK1.4 cells with basal Na+ and greatly increased 45Ca2+ uptake by Na(+)-loaded cells. Neither exchange activity nor exchanger protein was detected in the nontransfected parental line. By contrast to CK1.4 cells, replacing external Na+ with K+ decreased 45Ca2+ uptake in the nontransfected cells whether or not they were Na+ loaded. Changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ determined with fura-2 were consistent with the 45Ca2+ uptake data. Analysis of poly(A)(+)-RNA by Northern blot confirmed that CK1.4 cells, but not the parental line, expressed the exchanger. Expression of the exchanger was also observed in aortic myocytes and a renal epithelial cell line (LLC-MK2) but not in other lines of renal epithelial cells (MDCK, LLC-PK1) or human dermal fibroblasts. The cardiac exchanger produced substantial 45Ca2+ efflux from CK1.4 cells in response to hormone-evoked release of stored Ca2+. CK1.4 cells are an attractive model for studies of the regulation of the cardiac exchanger because they stably express sufficient exchanger for biochemical and immunological analysis

Subcrustal seismicity recorded in the southern Aegean sea during a 7-week microearthquake study was low compared with shallow seismicity. Most intermediate depth seismicity occurred beneath the western and eastern ends of the Hellenic arc. This distribution confirms that a slab of lithosphere is being subducted at a very shallow (<15°) angle for 200 km beneath the western end (Peloponnese) but more steeply beneath the eastern end (Dodecanese). We could locate only one intermediate depth event beneath the central pan of the arc, where teleseimically located intermediate depth earthquakes also are infrequent. T axes for most of the 22 focal mechanisms of subcrustal earthquakes are roughly parallel to the local dip direction of the seismic zone. Between depths of 40 and 80 km, the mechanisms are more confused than at greater depth, perhaps because some of these earthquakes did not occur within the downgoing slab. Earthquakes deeper than 80 km, and within the subducted slab, have nearly horizontal P axes that trend NNE-SSW in the eastern part and NNW-SSE in the western part of the arc. These deeper mechanisms show horizontal P axes along strike, perhaps in response to the contortion of the slab or to the westward motion of Turkey, as well as lengthening downdip, probably in response to gravity acting on excess mass in the slab. Thus the short slab, both downdip and along strike, subducting beneath the Aegean is subjected to a more complex set of forces than the long slabs of the Pacific.

A five-step synthesis of 3-methylcholanthrene (1) has been achieved starting from 5-methylhomophthalic anhydride and N,N-diethyl-1-naphthamide in 55{%} overall yield. Treatment of a solution of the preformed lithium enolate of 5-methylhomophthalic anhydride (3) with an equimolar solution of 2-lithio-1-naphthamide (4), followed by acid hydrolysis, provides cleanly the spirobislactone 5 in 80{%} overall yield. In addition, the synthesis features a unique, highly selective double Friedel-Crafts cyclization of the aryl diacid 2 with PPA to give rise, after acetylation, to keto acetate 6. © 1993 America Chemical Society.

The electron concentration, the wavefunctions and the energy levels of a n-AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs/n-AlxGa1-xAs double heterojunction are evaluated by solving Schrodinger and Poisson equations self-consistently. The authors investigate, at zero temperature, the dependence of the sheet electron concentration, and the subband populations on the well width, spacer thickness and doping concentrations, for Al mole fraction x=0.3. They give physical interpretations of some interesting characteristics observed. The transition from a 'perfect' square well to a system of 'two separated heterojunctions' is systematically studied. The results are in excellent agreement with previous experiments.

Experiment shows that in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures the sheet electron concentration remains almost constant up to a certain temperature, while it increases at higher temperatures. We attempt an interpretation of this temperature dependence, taking into account the fact that in the bulk, n-AlGaAs deep and shallow donors exist, which independently and by different mechanisms provide electrons to the different conduction band minima of the bulk n-AlGaAs, and contribute to the formation of the Q2DEG. We calculate the electronic states of this structure, the Q2DEG and the bulk concentrations, and the corresponding mobilities as a function of temperature. Our numerical results are in an excellent agreement with experimental data.

Forty patients with multiple myeloma received thiotepa (750 mg/m2), busulfan (10 mg/kg), and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) (TBC) followed by autologous bone marrow or blood stem cell support. Granulocyte-Colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered to accelerate hematopoietic recovery. Sixty-five percent of all patients responded to this treatment. Eighty-eight percent of patients transplanted in partial remission had a further reduction of the myeloma and 53% achieved a complete remission. Forty-eight percent of patients with refractory myeloma responded. All responding patients transplanted during partial remission or with primary refractory myeloma remain free of progression for a period of 4 to 24 months posttransplant, but the remission duration of patients treated in refractory relapse was short (4 months). Five of 24 patients transplanted with marrow and none of 16 receiving blood stem cells died of treatment-related complications. Use of blood stem cells resulted in more rapid granulocyte and platelet recovery. We conclude that TBC is an effective, relatively well tolerated, preparative regimen for patients with multiple myeloma. © 1993 by The American Society of Hematology.

Objective: To evaluate the activity of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA) in the treatment of patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. ■ Design: Uncontrolled phase II trial. ■ Setting: Tertiary, referral cancer center. ■ Patients: Twenty-nine consecutive, symptomatic patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, of whom 9 were previously untreated. ■ Intervention: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day for 7 days. Only two courses of 2CdA were given and responding patients were then followed without further treatment. ■ Measurements and Main Results: A total of 17 (59%) patients responded, including all of those who were newly diagnosed and 40% of those who had failed previous therapies. Treatment was well tolerated except for one death in a patient who had presented with severe pancytopenia. With a median follow-up of 7 months, only one responding patient has relapsed. ■ Conclusion: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine is a nucleoside analog that was effective in most patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and was associated with little toxicity.

Sixty-eight patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia were treated either with fludar-abine (28 patients) or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (40 patients) and responding patients were followed without further treatment. Both programs were well tolerated and myelosuppression was moderate but reversible. Overall, 35 patients responded including 93% of previously untreated patients, 83% of those relapsing off therapy, 48% of patients with primary refractory disease and 15% of those treated during refractory relapse. With a median follow up of 18 months, only two of 15 previously untreated patients have relapsed whereas the median remission duration and survival of previously treated patients were 38 and 43 months respectively. Fludarabine and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine are both highly active agents against Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, especially when administered early in the disease course. © 1993 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

The binding of sulphafurazole, sulphamethizole and sulphamethoxazole to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human plasma has been studied in-vitro by potentiometry using an electrode selective for the ion probe 1-anilino-8-napthalenesulphonate (ANS). The method requires two separate potentiometric titrations of the binder solution with ANS in the absence and in the presence of sulphonamides. ANS displaced sulphonamides from the first-class of binding sites of both binders. The binding constants for sulphonamide-BSA interactions were higher than those for sulphonamide-human plasma. The expansion of the least linear limit of the response curve of the electrode down to 10(-7) M in the presence of BSA was also demonstrated. The reverse reaction, i.e. the displacement of the probe from the binding sites induced by the sulphonamides, was also explored. The proposed method is suitable for studying competitive binding interactions in biological specimens.

Twenty-three consecutive patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the spine and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis. MR imaging studies included sagittal T1-weighted and gradient-recalled-echo sequences performed with and without contrast material enhancement. Marrow involvement was identified with MR imaging in 21 of 23 (91%) patients. Diffuse involvement was noted in 13 patients (56%), and a variegated pattern in eight (35%). CT demonstrated enlarged nodes in 10 of 23 (43%) patients. Correlation of MR imaging patterns and presence of adenopathy at CT with standard laboratory values for Waldenström macroglobulinemia revealed an association of the diffuse MR imaging pattern of marrow involvement and the presence of enlarged nodes at CT with more advanced disease. MR imaging of the spine and CT are reliable means of evaluation of disease status in Waldenström macroglobulinemia. They may be employed as additional means in the staging of Waldenström macroglobulinemia and may be helpful in the follow-up of patients with this rare hematologic malignancy.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Γυναίκες του Αιγαίου. Οι Χιώτισσες την εποχή του Κολόμβου. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΕΛΛΗΝΙΜΟΣ, τεύχος 4, Ιούνιος 1993, σελ. 42-43. (Google scholar)

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). ΕΙΡΗΝΗ: Αρχή και Όραμα του Ανθρώπου. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 8, Οκτ.-Νοεμ. 1993: 90—91.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Ελληνικός Χορός: Όργανο Ενότητας Σώματος και Πνεύματος. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 7, Σεπτ. 1993: 30-31.  

Στο άρθρο αυτό διερευνάται η σημασία της παρουσίας και επίκλησης της Ωραίας Ελένης στον „Faust“ του Goethe. Αφού εξετάζεται η ‘προϊστορία’ του μοτίβου – που συνδέεται εξαρχής με την ιστορία του Φάουστ – αναφέρονται οι συνθήκες υπό τις οποίες συμπεριλαμβάνει ο Goethe την μορφή της Ελένης στον δικό του „Faust“. Γίνεται εκτενής ανάλυση της διαδικασίας προσέγγισής της από τον συγγραφέα και της μεταμόρφωσής της: η Ελένη δεν είναι πια όργανο και επίτευγμα του διαβόλου όπως στο μέχρι τότε πλαίσιο του μύθου του Φάουστ, αλλά σύμβολο της αληθινής ουσίας της τέχνης και της υπέρτατης ομορφιάς, σύμβολο της κλασικής αρχαιότητας, επίτευγμα του Φάουστ ως καλλιτέχνη και πνευματικού δημιουργού. Η Ελένη είναι στον „Faust“ του Goethe ποιητική, πνευματική μορφή. Σύμφωνα με τη θέση του Wolfgang Schadewaldt υποστηρίζεται και στο άρθρο η άποψη πως η Ελένη είναι η απαραίτητη προϋπόθεση για να στραφεί ο Φάουστ στη δραστήρια αντιμετώπιση της ζωής στην τέταρτη και πέμπτη πράξη του „Faust ΙΙ“.

Για βιβλιογραφία και παραπομπή/αναφορά/ when citing:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Η Ελληνοβουδιστική Τέχνη. Έλληνες και Φιλέλληνες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 6, Αυγ. 1993, σελ. 48-50.

ΛΕΞΕΙΣ ΚΛΕΙΔΙΑ: Οι πρώτοι επαγγλεματίες μάγειρες, οι πρώτοι Διαιτολόγοι, Μενού- ελληνική εφεύρεση, Φιλόσοφοι και μάγοι της κουζίνας, Συνδικαλισμός, Αγορονομία, κ.ά.Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing:  Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Η Μαγειρική Τέχνη στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. Ο Πολιτισμός του Φαγητού. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, Τεύχος 1, Μάρτιος 1993: 32-35. Google scholar

YEAR 1993. Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Η Μαγειρική Τέχνη στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. Οι πρώτοι επαγγελματίες μάγειρες, οι πρώτοι διαιτολόγοι, οι φιλόσοφοι και μάγοι της κουζίνας και ο απαραίτητος συνδικαλισμός. O ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΗΣ, Δίμηνη ενημερωτική έκδοση του Καταναλωτικού Πιστωτικού Συνεταιρισμού Αθήνας, Ο Καταναλωτής-COOP αριθμός φύλλου: 2, καλοκαίρι 1993, σελ. 15 (και η συνέχεια στο επόμενο τεύχος). [The art of cooking in ancient Greece and the first professional chefs, dieticians and union activists: philosophers and magicians in the kitchen]

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). «Ο Ελληνικός Πυρετός» της Αμερικής. Η συμμετοχή των φιλελλήνων στο εθνικο-απελευθερωτικό αγώνα του 1821.  Πολιτισμός ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 2, Απρίλιος 1993, σελ. 38-39

 ΛΕΞΕΙΣ ΚΛΕΙΔΙΑ: ψυχαγωγία και απόλαυση, Χορτοφαγία, θεραπευτικό κουλούρι , κ.ά. Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Ο Πολιτισμός του Φαγητού στην Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία: Ψυχαγωγία και Απόλαυση. Εκκλησία και Χορτοφαγία. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 2, Απρίλιος 1993: 28-31. Google scholar and uoa scholar

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1993). Συγκλονιστικές Μαρτυρίες στο Ευρωπαϊκό συνέδριο για τις Μετανάστριες: αναγκαστικοί πορνεία και μαζική βιασμοί στις εμπόλεμες περιοχές. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΜΕΤΑΝΑΣΤΕΥΣΗ, τεύχος 4, Ιούνιος 1993, σελ.  48-50.

Forty‐three patients received etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and fractionated total body irradiation before allogeneic marrow transplantation. Fifteen patients had chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase or acute leukemia in first remission (standard risk) and twenty‐eight patients with more advanced disease (high risk). All patients received etoposide 1,500 mg/m2 intravenously on day –8, cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/day intravenously on days –7 and –6, and total body irradiation at 170 cGy twice a day on days –3, –2, and –1. During the first 100 days 12 high risk patients (43%) died from causes unrelated to relapse while none of the standard risk patients died. Renal and hepatic dysfunction were also significantly increased during the first 14 days in the high risk group. The addition of 1,500 mg/m2 of etoposide to the cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation was well tolerated for patients with standard risk. However, the regimen was poorly tolerated with high mortality in patients with more advanced disease. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Copyright © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Two clones (p17 and p13), each containing the complete coding sequence for the bovine cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, were obtained from a lambda gt10 cDNA library by screening with cDNA probes from the canine exchanger. The coding sequence of clone p17 was 92 and 98% identical to the canine cDNA at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Nine of the 21 amino acid differences between the two exchangers were found within the 32-amino acid signal sequence. The sequenced portions of the 3' untranslated regions of the cow and dog clones were 88% identical. Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with cRNA from clone p17, and in COS cells transfected with expression vectors containing p17. Immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled proteins from transfected cells with an antibody against the N-terminal portion of the bovine exchanger showed the presence of a 120-kDa protein corresponding to the intact cardiac exchanger. The second bovine clone (p13) did not express exchange activity in either of the above expression systems, presumably because it contained a 300-bp insert with multiple stop codons which interrupted the coding sequence. Comparison of the 5' untranslated regions of p13 and p17 revealed a 156-bp segment in p17 that was apparently spliced out of p13. This segment contained a short open reading frame. A chimera encoding the 5' untranslated region of p13 and the coding sequence of p17 exhibited only a modest (74%) increase in expressed exchange activity in transfected cells compared to p17, suggesting that the presence of the upstream open reading frame in p17 did not greatly reduce translation efficiency. The results suggest that alternate splicing mechanisms may be involved in processing mRNA for the bovine cardiac exchanger

The complexation of six tricyclic antidepressant drugs {[}amitriptylin (AMN), nortriptylin (NRN), imipramin (IMN), doxepin (DXN), protriptylin (PTN), and maprotilin (MPN)] with alpha-and-beta-cyclodextrins (CDs) using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) as drug ion sensors is described. Binding parameters were calculated by nonlinear fitting of the model described by the Scatchard equation, to the experimental data of a titration of a CD solution with the ion of interest. One binding site (the CD cavity) was found in all cases with both CDs. The calculated association constants at 25-degrees-C using CD concentrations in the range of 0.0100-0.0010 M, varied from 4.81 x 10(3) M-1 (MPN) to 23.9 x 10(3) M-1 (AMN) in the case of beta-CD and from 50 M-1 (DXN) to 123 M-1 (MPN) in the case of alpha-CD. The precision for the estimation of the binding parameters was 0.1-5.0% (within-run RSD%) and 8-10% (between-run RSD%; n = 3). The complexation of the drugs with beta-CD was also examined as a function of temperature in the range of 5-37-degrees-C; it was found to decrease by increasing temperature. Van't Hoff analysis gave good correlations (r greater-than-or-equal-to 0.989) for all drug ions studied. The estimates of the thermodynamic parameters indicate that the formation of inclusion complexes is enthalpy driven. A compensation plot based on the thermodynamic parameters DELTA-H and DELTA-S resulted in a linear relationship, which is indicative of a common type of force involved in the complexation of drugs to beta-CD.

Compton scattering of low-frequency photons in a converging flow of cold plasma is studied. The equation of radiative transfer in the case of spherical near-critical steady state accretion onto a neutron star is solved analytically. The inner boundary condition is that the neutron star surface is completely reflective, or that there is a magnetopause with an empty cavity inside it. The photons escape diffusively and electron scattering is the dominant source of opacity. The energy gain of the photon comes entirely from the bulk motion of the converging flow of the accreting gas. The spectrum observed at infinity is a power law at high frequencies with photon number spectral index essentially -1. This spectrum is significantly flatter than that found for accretion into black holes.

In several studies in humans and animals it has been suggested that high osmolality and ionicity of contrast media are responsible for higher nephrotoxicity. To examine this suggestion, we evaluated the renal effects of three different contrast media-an ionic high osmolar, an ionic low osmolar, and a nonionic-following intravenous and renal arterial administration, in a population of 84 unselected, nondiabetic patients with adequate renal function. The results showed that the nephrotoxicity is minimal and equal for all three contrast media and for both routes of their administration, and it is concluded that in this category of patients the far higher cost of the newer low osmolar ionics and nonionics should be considered seriously in regard to nephrotoxicity. © 1992 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Purpose: The effects of involved-field radiotherapy were assessed in patients with a solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SBP). Patients and Methods: Forty-five consecutive patients with an SBP received megavoltage irradiation of at least 3,000 cGy. The median age was 53 years, 67% of patients showed a myeloma protein, and uninvolved immunoglobulins (Igs) were preserved in 93% of patients. Results: Permanent control of presenting disease was achieved in all but two patients, but 46% of patients developed multiple myeloma. When it occurred, progression of myeloma occurred within 3 years in two thirds of the patients, suggesting that the extent of disease was understaged at diagnosis. Myeloma protein disappeared in nine patients (30%) whose disease has not yet recurred. The median survival for all patients was 13 years and the myeloma- specific survival fraction at 10 years was 53%. Conclusion: In patients with an SBP, the disappearance of myeloma protein with involved-field radiotherapy predicted long-term disease-free survival and possible cure. Nonsecretory disease and persistent myeloma protein after treatment were adverse prognostic factors for which adjuvant therapy with interferon alfa should be considered.

The appropriate Scatchard equation was developed for a system involving the formation of 1:1 and 1:2 substrate:cyclodextrin complexes. Simulation of this system was performed under the most common experimental conditions encountered in this type of study. The use of the equation allows for nonlinear least-squares estimation of the association constants. The interaction of the model compounds 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (1,8-ANS) and 2(p-toluidinyl)-6-naphthalenesulfonate (2,6-TNS) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was used to evaluate the theoretical model. Binding experiments were performed using either potentiometric titration or fluorimetric detection. The experimental data for 1,8-ANS/beta-CD fit well to the 1:1 binding model, with an association constant of 87 +/- 1 M-1. The association constants of the 1:1 and 1:2 2,6-TNS/beta-CD complexes utilizing direct potentiometry were 3737 +/- 6 and 149 +/- 2 M-1. It is shown that fluorimetry can give biased estimates for the association constants of the complexation 2,6-TNS/beta-CD, since the assumption of an equivalent quantum yield of bound species is not valid.

Objective: To study and compare the secretion of pregnancy specific β1- glycoprotein (SP1) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by human pre- embryos, cultured in vitro, with their respective morphological development. Design: Spare human pre-embryos from randomly selected women participating in a program of in vitro fertilization (IVF) were studied prospectively. Setting: Pre-embryos were cultured, and hormone release was determined in academic research laboratories. Patients, Participants: Pre-embryos (n = 108) cultured for 14 days after fertilization in Ham's F-10 medium (GIBCO Ltd., Paisley, Scotland) were observed, and hCG and SP1 were measured in the culture media at regular intervals. Main Outcome Measures: Discordant secretion of SP1 and hCG. Results: Of the 98 bipronucleate pre-embryos, 53.6% formed blastocysts, 17.3% of which hatched. Human chorionic gonadotropin was detected from day 7 after fertilization concomitantly with blastocyst formation, thereafter showing a logarithmic increase (maximum 10,650 mIU) until the first signs of embryonic disintegration. Pregnancy- specific β1-glycoprotein release started 3 to 4 days after fertilization independently of the morphological development and the future production of hCG, thereafter displaying a nonlogarithmic increase (maximum 41 ng). Conclusions: Hormone secretion and morphological development are unique for each pre-embryo. Human chorionic gonadotropin and SP1 seem to have different biochemical and physiological regulation.

In this study we measured eight different tumor markers (PSA, PAP, TPA, CEA, Ca 50, Ca 19-9, Ca 125 and Ca 15-3) in 39 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma and in 90 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. We then calculated the sensitivity and specificity for each tumor marker separately and found that only PSA, when we consider as normal value 10 ng/ml, has a sufficiently high sensitivity and specificity. Our conclusion is that only PSA can be used for diagnostic purposes in conjunction with other diagnostic modalities.

The EPR spectra of polycrystalline oxygenated and non-oxygenated (large oxygen deficiency) LaBa2Cu3O7- delta compounds, obtained at various temperatures, were studied and analysed. The oxygenated samples showed a transition temperature Tc at about 50 K. The EPR spectrum of the Cu2+ ions in the orthorhombic local symmetry was observed. It was found that these spectra are essentially influenced by an oxygen deficiency and thermal treatment. In the non-oxygenated samples, at a certain stage of the annealing process an EPR spectrum was detected at low temperatures. After the final anneal, this EPR spectrum showed significant changes. Changes were also observed in the corresponding XRD spectra indicating reductions in the concentrations of the CuO and BaCuO2 impurity phases. Additionally, the EPR spectrum of divalent copper ions in the axial local symmetry in the dx2-y2 ground state was observed.

EPR measurements at room temperature (RT) on the oxygen deficient (La, Tm)-Ba-Cu-O compound (tetragonal phase) revealed a line centered at g=2.895(5) with linewidth ΔH=0.015(1)T. The line is ascribed to Tm2+ ions (4f13, 2F7/2) assuming that the Γ(7) doublet is the ground state. A characteristic EPR spectrum of divalent copper ions was also observed. © 1992.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen were measured in 56 full-termed pregnancies by enzyme-immunoassays (EIA-MEIA). The measurements were done in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord blood (UCB) and amniotic fluid (AF) samples, during delivery. Very high antigen levels were found in AF samples (median: CEA = 124 ng/ml; CA-125 = 710 U/ml; SCC = 710 ng/ml) compared to UCB and MS. CEA and SCC showed significantly lower value's in MS (0.6 and 1.7 ng/ml, respectively) than in UCB (1.6 ng/ml, P = 7.7 × 10-9; 3.55 ng/ml, P = 6.5 × 10-6, respectively), while CA-125 had significantly higher values in MS (6 U/ml) than in UCB (0.0 U/ml, P = 17 × 10-6; Wilcoxon paired test). All CEA values in MS were below cut-off (≤ 5 ng/ml), while 10% of CA-125 and 30% of SCC values were above cut-off (≤ 35 U /ml and ≤ 2.5 ng/ml, respectively). Amniotic fluid CEA with meconium had higher values (P = 0.0002), while the highest CA-125 values in AF samples were found in primiparae (P = 0.02). Moreover SCC in AF samples from vaginal delivered pregnancies showed significantly higher values, compared to those from cesarean section (P = 4.2 × 10-7; Mann-Whitney U-test). Thus, our findings suggest that pregnancy has an influence on maternal serum SCC and CA-125 values, while CEA is independent of gestation and seems to conserve its diagnostic value during pregnancy as well. © 1992.

Basic characteristics of on-line extractive fermentation of organic acids were examined using a general model for the integrated process in order to illustrate the effects of various process parameters and operational modes on system performance. The strong pH dependence of both the fermentation kinetics and the extraction efficiency has been outlined and taken into account by inclusion of a model equation which predicts the pH profile. Simulation results using data from butyric acid fermentations show that our complete model system is adequate to evaluate different operational modes of the process, including simple batch fermentation, batch or fed-batch fermentation with extractive recycle, and continuous fermentation with extractive recycle. In the case where a second undesired acidic byproduct is also produced, our model predictions suggest that on-line extractive fermentation using a suitable solvent results in an effective gross separation of the two acids.

The spin-orbit scattering of 4sp and 5sp impurities in a Mg host is investigated theoretically by self-consistent local-density-functional theory. The calculated spin-orbit scattering cross sections sigmaSO agree with the available experimental results for low valent impurities. For higher valent impurities we predict a p resonance behavior. For Cu and Ag impurities our results point to errors of density-functional theory in estimating the d contribution to sigmaSO. In total a consistent interpretation of the trends is given.

We propose that the important relationship between 3C 273 and 3C 279, the first two extragalactic sources detected at > 100 MeV energies, is their superluminal nature. In support of this conjecture, we propose a kinematic focusing mechanism, based on Compton scattering of accretion-disk photons by relativistic nonthermal electrons in the jet, that preferentially emits gamma rays in the superluminal direction.

An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prosthesis used to reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament in a 37-year-old Caucasian male was retrieved and histologically examined in this study. Backscattered electron (BSE) microscopy, utilized to observe the mineralized tissue ingrowth into the retrieved specimen, revealed an absence of bony ingrowth within the graft. Light microscopy demonstrated an exuberant foreign body giant cell response surrounding and invading the substance of the graft, and also revealed evidence of graft degradation. These observations indicate that PTFE may not be as favorable a material for reconstruction of ligamentous tissues as previously reported.

The cycles of 11 renal transplant recipients (RTR), at least 24 months after stabilization of graft function and four hemodialyzed (HD) patients, menstruating regularly, were evaluated by concurrent and systematic determinations throughout the cycle of LH, FSH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin and SHBG and in the case of RTR also by ultrasound follow-up. Biphasic estradiol secretion, midcycle LH and FSH surge, duration of luteal phase, midluteal progesterone values and in the case of RTR, ultrasonic parameters were consistent with: (1) normal ovulatory cycles in five RTR; (2) ovulatory cycles with luteal phase deficiency in five RTR and two HD patients; (3) anovulatory cycles in one RTR and two HD patients. Thus, in HD patients only abnormal cycles of central etiology were found, while in RTR, luteal phase deficiency was a very common syndrome, in equal percentage with normal ovulatory cycles. © 1992.

Are follicles where no oocytes are retrieved "empty follicles"? © 1992 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

A careful review of the literature revealed that no data had been reported on the angular difference or similarity between the posterior condylar axis used by many surgeons for primary total knee arthroplasty and the transepicondylar axis, which has been considered a useful anatomical landmark for femoral component placement in revision total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine whether measurable differences exist between the posterior condylar axis and the transepicondylar axis of the human femur. Nineteen pairs of human donor femora were measured. This study demonstrated that when the posterior condylar axis was taken as 0 degrees of rotation, the transepicondylar axis was found to be approximately 5 degrees externally rotated for both right and left femora, a significant difference (P < .05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the angle measured between the posterior condylar axis and the transepicondylar axis when comparisons were made between matched right and left femora (P > .05). It is suggested that this information can be applied to improving the techniques currently used in the placement of both primary and revision femoral knee components.

A point matching method is applied to the problem of light scattering by non-spherical bodies. The electromagnetic field is expanded into a series of spherical waves which include all multipole terms which contribute significantly to the wavefield. We examine, in particular, the absorbance of light by a plasma particle and demonstrate the existence of various peaks associated with dipole and quadrupole resonances of the induced charge distribution.

The local magnetic properties of 3d and 4d substitutional impurities in noble and alkali-metal hosts are investigated by means of self-consistent local-spin-density-functional calculations using the jellium model as well as the first-principles Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker–Green’s-function method. The results for the impurity moment from both calculations are in good agreement and compare well with the available experimental data. Our calculations give a consistent picture for the formation of local impurity spin moments in free-electron-like hosts.

The EPR spectra of perovskite ceramics of Gd0.5RE0.5Ba2Cu3O7−δ type (RE  La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in tetragonal (non‐HTC) phase are investigated as a function of temperature in the range 40 to 3 K. A signal arising from the isotropic exchange interaction of coupled pairs of Cu2+ ions is detected. The intensity of this signal is strongly dependent on the RE ions and its g‐factor varies with temperature. Magnetic measurements show the existence of ferromagnetic anomalies at these low temperature. In the orthorhombic phase, these materials exhibit a superconducting phase transition in the range of 85 to 95 K, apart from the samples with La ions where a TC ≈ 69 K is found and the samples with Prions where a superconducting state can not be observed. Copyright © 1992 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 29 patients with newly diagnosed, untreated multiple myeloma. Nineteen (66%) patients were asymptomatic. Sagittal pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo images and gradient-recalled-echo images of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine were obtained. Marrow involvement was identified in 20 (69%) patients. There were three MR patterns: focal lesions in nine patients (31%), diffuse involvement in seven (24%), and an inhomogeneous pattern of tiny lesions on a background of normal marrow in four (14%). A statistically significant correlation between MR imaging patterns of marrow involvement and serum hemoglobin values (one-way, P = .0899; Kruskal-Wallis, P = .0620) and between MR imaging patterns and percentage of marrow plasmacytosis (Kruskal-Wallis, P = .0314) was noted, with patterns of diffuse and focal marrow involvement associated with more abnormal values. Spinal MR imaging in patients with early myeloma may reveal marrow involvement in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Some correlation was found between MR imaging patterns and laboratory indexes of disease.

We describe a method for the calculation of the optical properties of a two-dimensional array of non-overlapping metallic particles (approximated by spheres) adsorbed on a dielectric slab. The interest in such systems arises to a large degree from their possible use as coatings, e.g. for solar energy absorbers and similar technological purposes. The formalism is an extension of the methods which have been developed in relation to electron scattering by two-dimensional atomic layers and takes fully into account multiple scattering of light between the particles of the overlayer and between the overlayer and the substrate. Scattering of light by multilayers or by an infinite crystal of non-overlapping spheres can be dealt with by a straightforward extension of the theory as in the theory of low-energy electron diffraction. Our calculations show that the usual approximation of replacement of the metallic particles by effective dipoles fails when the size of the particles or the concentration of particles increases beyond a limit and that l-pole contribution in interparticle scattering beyond the dipolar (l=1) one introduces new structure in the absorbance versus frequency curve. The reflection and absorption of light as a function of frequency is obtained numerically for selected examples. We consider in particular the variation of these quantities with concentration coverage. We examine also the effect of disorder.

When energetic electrons Compton scatter soft photons in the Klein-Nishina regime, the produced gamma rays are subject to photon-photon pair attenuation, and a pair-Compton cascade results. We examine the formation of such cascades in the spatially varying photon fields encountered by high-energy electrons and photons emitted from luminous compact objects. Constraints on the geometry of the soft photon source and the location of the gamma-ray production site are deduced from observations of 100 MeV and TeV gamma rays emitted by galactic compact objects and active galactic nuclei.

The potential role of paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome (CS) was assessed on the clinical course of patients with small cell lung cancer. A retrospective comparison was done of complication and survival rates according to the presence or absence of CS in patients with small cell lung cancer who died within 90 days of initial administration of chemotherapy. The setting was a comprehensive cancer center. Eleven patients with clinical and/or biochemical features of CS were identified from among 90 patients who presented between 1979 and 1989 with previously untreated small cell lung cancer. The group with CS and the control patients were compared in terms of clinicopathologic prognostic factors, treatment, and outcome. Patients with CS were comparable to the control patients in all prognostic factors, including tumor stage and cancer treatment. Eight‐two percent of patients with CS (nine of 11) died within 14 days of initiation of chemotherapy compared with 25% of the control patients (19 of 77). The median survival from initiation of chemotherapy was 12 days for the 11 patients with CS and 27 days for the 77 control patients. In 45% of the patients with CS (five of 11), death was attributed to opportunistic fungal or protozoal infection compared with 8% of control patients (six of 77). paraneoplastic CS is a previously unrecognized adverse prognostic factor for patients with small cell lung cancer. Those with both small cell lung cancer and CS have severe opportunistic infections soon after the initiation of chemotherapy, leading to clinical deterioration and death before antineoplastic benefit from chemotherapy can be achieved. Biochemical control of CS for at least 1 to 2 weeks before initiation of chemotherapy may ameliorate the poor prognosis. Copyright © 1992 American Cancer Society

Electron paramagnetic resonance obtained from the tetragonal RBa2Cu3O6+x (R ≡ Nd, Sm, Tm) compounds exhibit a well defined line resulting from coupled divalent Cu ions. Below 20 K the g parameter of this signal is strongly temperature dependent. At about the same temperatures there is a ferromagnetic-like transition in the magnetic susceptibility. © 1992 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Intermittent courses of dexamethasone (DEX) were administered to 112 consecutive, previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Using criteria based on a 75% or greater reduction of calculated tumor mass, the overall response rate was 43%. Among comparable patients, response rates were approximately 15% less than those observed previously with vincristine-doxorubicin by continuous infusion with intermittent DEX (VAD) and similar to those with melphalan-prednisone. The projected survival times with VAD or DEX were similar. Results indicated that DEX accounted for most of the plasma cell reduction achieved with VAD. Serious complications occurred in 27% of patients treated with VAD, but in only 4% of those who received DEX. In view of the similar outcome with fewer serious complications, DEX provided a simple, effective, and safe primary treatment for a large fraction of patients with MM. Patients who appear most likely to benefit include those with hypercalcemia or pancytopenia, or who require simultaneous radiotherapy for a pathologic fracture. © 1992 by The American Society of Hematology.

The study determined intrinsic factors which contributed to the falls of adults hospitalized in a general hospital during 1987-88. Two hundred and fourteen patients were studied in two groups. Group A consisted of 108 patients who fell during their hospitalization and control Group B consisted of 106 patients with the same characteristics also hospitalized during the same period who did not fall. Of the 23 variables which have been analyzed by the multivariate logistic regression method, seven present statistically significant incidence and increased risk of patients' falls: (1) gender: the number of accidents occurring among male patients was higher than that among females (p = 0.0022); (2) age: the majority of accidents occurred in the 65 greater than or equal to years old age group (p = 0.00426); (3) general pathological conditions: mostly patients with cardiac problems (p = 0.0062); (4) neoplasms (p = 0.0334); (5) anaemias (p = 0.0128); (6) post-operative conditions (p = 0.0063); and the taking of hypnotic/tranquilizer drugs (p = 0.0486). Other significant findings were: the highest incidence of falls occurred during the first 4 days of the patients' admission to hospital and most during the early morning hours (5-6 am). Injuries incurred were bruises (32.4%), minor injuries (24%), major injuries (16.7%) and fractures (10.2%). The high correlation between patients' falls and (1) specific diseases, namely neoplasms, anaemias, cardiac and post-operative conditions and (2) the taking of hypnotic/tranquilizer drugs are risk factors in relation to patients' falls in general hospitals.

Existing models for X-ray emission from novae in outburst encounter several difficulties. The X-ray flux that may be expected to result from Compton degradation of gamma rays produced by radioactive decays is calculated. It is demonstrated that radioactive decays of Na-22 may play an interesting role in the production of hard X-rays, particularly in novae enriched in oxygen, neon, and magnesium.

Kamberidou, Irene. (1992). “The role of Women in Building a Europe without Frontiers”, Greek Economy, International Magazine for Trade and Investment, Ekdotiki Economiki, Athens, issue 6: 72-74. --Began contributing in 1990 as a journalist, responsible for EEC Affairs (1990- 1991), progressively becoming Editor in Chief (1991-1992). [Ξεκίνησα τη συνεργασία μου ως δημοσιογράφος το 1990 και υπεύθυνη του τομέα EEC Affairs και στην συνέχεια ως Αρχισυντάκτης (1991-1992).]

The authors consider periodic structures made of spheres embedded in a host material with a different dielectric function. They show how to calculate the reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves by a slab of the material parallel to a given crystallographic plane. The method of calculation is based on a doubling-layer scheme which obtains the reflection and transmission matrix elements for the multilayer from those of a single layer. The reflection and transmission characteristics of the slab are related to the complex band structure of the photon field associated with the given crystallographic plane of the corresponding infinite crystal, which is introduced in the manner of the low-energy electron diffraction theory. They present numerical results which demonstrate the applicability of the method to real systems of current interest and point out some interesting physics which arose from their calculations. They show in particular that the nondegenerate bands of the photon field at the centre of the surface Brillouin zone do not couple to the incident radiation, leading to total reflection at normal incidence.

α-Immunoreactive inhibin was measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit in the culture medium (Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 14% heat-inactivated human serum) from day 3 or 4 to day 14 post-fertilization of 31 surplus pre-embryos from eight women participating in an in-vitro fertilization programme. Inhibin secretion was demonstrated in all of them from the fourth day after fertilization (mean ± SEM: 3.0 ± 0.7U) and was independent of the morphological development of pre-embryos (2-4 cells, n = 4; 6-8 cells, n = 4; 8-10 cells, n = 9; 10-12 cells, n = 4; morulae, n = 5 and blastocysts, n = 4). On days 7,10,13 and 14 post-fertilization, mean inhibin values ± SEM for non-disintegrated pre-embryos were respectively: 6.5 ± 0.9U, 12.3 ± 2.0U, 16.8 ± 3.2U and 20.2 ± 3.7U; however, when disintegration was noted on days 10 and 13 after fertilization, inhibin mean values were 9.0 ± 1.4U and 8.4 ± 1.7U respectively. Inhibin levels were significantly correlated with human chorionic gonadotrophin levels in the same culture media only on day 13, while correlation with pregnancy specific β1-glycoprotein occurred on day 7 post-fertilization. In conclusion, early human pre-embryos secrete α-immunoreactive inhibin before the cytotrophoblast is formed. This secretion increases significantly with time when development is continued, while disintegration is followed by a net decline in the rate of inhibin release.

There is a wide spectrum of disease among patients with plasma cell myeloma. A small fraction have a localized plasmacytoma of bone that requires specialized techniques for accurate staging, followed by local radiotherapy that may be curative in some patients. Other patients with multiple myeloma may be free of symptoms and the disease is recognized by chance laboratory studies. Some have a prolonged, stable course with little change in disease for many months or years and resemble patients with MGUS. These patients have low serum myeloma protein and are free of focal bone lesions even on MR imaging. Complications are more imminent among other patients with higher levels of myeloma protein and/or bone lesions, who usually require treatment within 2 years after diagnosis. Still other patients with more advanced generalized disease (intermediate tumor mass) or with a pathologic fracture that may be relieved with local radiotherapy usually require even earlier chemotherapy to prevent or treat complications.

The fourth in a series of papers on the large-scale structure and stellar content of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), based on photometric analysis of sets of blue and red UK Schmidt photographic plates, is presented here. The previous papers reviewed the data reduction procedures and presented results on the three-dimensional structure of a large sector of the outer regions of the SMC beyond 2^deg^ from the SMC centre. Here, we present a study of the age and spatial distribution of stellar populations in an area covering six UKST survey fields, i.e. virtually the entire outer area of the SMC. The existence of a very old stellar population of age 15-16 Gyr, comprising about 7 per cent of the stellar content of the outer regions by mass, is suggested by the observational results. However, the bulk of the stellar population in the outer regions of the SMC is found to be about 10 Gyr old. The distribution of stellar populations younger than about 2 Gyr is shown to be biased towards the eastern side of the SMC facing the LMC. The star formation history of the outer regions is discussed with particular reference to the role of interactions between the LMC-SMC-Galaxy system.

Four evergreen sclerophyllous species were investigated morphologically and anatomically. Buds, leaves and roots from Ceratonia siliqua, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus coccifera were studied and compared for structural diversity. Analysis of the anatomical data suggested diverging features. The ecological equivalence of these species cannot be attributed to their structure. © 1992.

EPR spectra between 9.7 K and room temperature (RT) were taken for EuBa2Cu3O7-δ in tetragonal and orthorhombic phases. Our results indicate significant differences between the EPR spectra of Cu2+ ions in the tetragonal and orthorhombic phase. It is concluded that in the tetragonal phase, the Cu2+ complex has axial symmetry. Furthermore, at low temperatures the observed EPR signal is associated with superexchange interaction between Eu2+ ions across oxygen bridges. © 1991.

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ACTIVE galactic nuclei (AGNs) exhibit high luminosity with rapid variability, especially in X-ray emission, for which the luminosity can be greater than that of a normal galaxy, and the variability timescale implies an emitting region in some cases smaller than one light hour1. The hard X-ray spectrum of AGNs is nonthermal, probably arising from an electron-positron pair cascade, with some emission reflected off relatively cold matter2,3. Energy can be pumped into a cascade by any process that produces relativistic pairs, but because electrons and positrons are hard to accelerate efficiently, there has been interest in models in which protons are accelerated4,5, and create relativistic electrons on interaction with a local radiation field6-8. Here we show that a sufficient column density of protons can lead to runaway pair production: photons generated by the relativistic pairs are the targets for the protons to produce more pairs. This process can produce X-ray flares with the observed characteristics, and our model predicts the maximum ratio of luminosity to source size ('compactness') as well as their spectrum in the early phases. The same mechanism may also be able to create the knots of synchrotron-radiating pair plasma seen in sources such as 3C273.

EPR, XRD, and magnetic studies are presented for Pr0.5Re0.5Ba2Cu3O7-δ compounds (Re= La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in the orthorhombic and tetragonal (large oxygen deficiency) phase. For the samples with Re=Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu in the orthorhombic phase, the transition to the superconducting state has been observed in the temperatures range Tc between 18 and 40 K. For the samples with Nd and Yb in the tetragonal phase, EPR spectra coming from trivalent rare earth ions have been recorded. In the nonoxygenated sample Pr0.5La0.5Ba2Cu3O7-δ the EPR spectrum arising from the non-Kramers trivalent praseodymium ion has been observed. A broad EPR line appearing in all our samples was attributed to superexchange interaction between copper ions over oxygen (O2-) bridges. Interestingly, for the Pr0.5Re0.5Ba0.5Cu3O7-δ (Re = Er and Lu) compounds in the tetragonal phase at liquid-nitrogen temperature, a nonresonant microwave absorption in low magnetic fields has been detected. © 1992 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

(1992). Γογγάκη Κωνσταντίνα. Δημήτρης Άνθης. Ο ζωγράφος-ποιητής. Πόρφυρας, 60:157-158.                   Ο ζωγράφος Δημήτρης Άνθης (1925-1991) υπήρξε μαθητής του Γάλλου ζωγράφου Tin Florias της σχολής της Μονμάρτης, και προσωπικός φίλος του τεχνοκρίτη, ιστορικού της τέχνης, Τζούλιο Καΐμη. Στην ζωγραφική του εξιδανί­κευσε τη μορφή της Γυναίκας και μορφοποίησε την Αγάπη. Στις "Παναγίες" του, που μαζί με τα τοπία και τις προσωπογραφίες του αποτελούν τα πλέον χαρακτηριστικά έργα του, συνυπάρχουν όλα τα θηλυκά σύμβολα, αλλά περισσότερο η Μάνα, ως σύμβολο του Πόνου και της Εγκαρτέρησης. Στην αγκαλιά της κρατάει τον Γιο της, τα χαρακτηριστικά του προσώπου του οποίου αντικαθιστά ένας σταυρός. Δεν μπορεί, ωστόσο, κανείς να δει το ένα σύμβολο χωρίς το άλλο: τη Μάνα δηλαδή χωρίς τον Γιο - Σταύρωση, ή τον Γιο χωρίς την θεϊκή προστασία της Μάνας, αλλά μόνο ως αδιάσπαστη ενότητα μπορεί να τα εκλάβει. Ο Άνθης δεν σταμάτησε ποτέ το οδοιπορικό του. Ο ίδιος άλλωστε ήταν ένας οδοιπόρος, στη ζωή και στην τέχνη, στη γνώση και στην αναζήτησή της. Αυτή η πορεία του στην ποιότητα εκφράζεται μέσα στο έργο του. Από τα σκοτεινά, ποιητικά και μυστικιστικά έργα του πρώτου καιρού, θα φτάσει στα αρμονικά, εξαϋλωμένα θαρρείς έργα. Τα έργα του Άνθη, κατά τον φιλόσοφο Καΐμη, δεί­χνουν μιαν αγάπη για την αλήθεια στη Τέχνη και μιαν απώτερη καλλιέργεια στη μελέτη του ατόμου και της φύσης, γι' αυτό και αποδίδουν μια πλούσια ποιότητα.  http://www.anthisdimitris.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=196:goggaki-konstantina-gia-anthi&catid=41:news&Itemid=79      

(1992). Γογγάκη Κωνσταντίνα. Νέα μέτρα του Ισραήλ για περαιτέρω επιδείνωση της εκπαίδευσης στην Παλαιστίνη.Ο Ισραηλινός στρατός συνεχίζει την επίθεσή του εις βάρος του παλαιστινιακού λαού και ειδικότερα της εκπαίδευσης της Παλαιστίνης, χρησιμοποιώντας βία κατά των σχολείων και των μαθητών. Μερικά σχολεία υφίστανται επιθέσεις και εκτοξεύονται δακρυγό­να στις αυλές και στις τάξεις, ενώ άλλα κλείνουν για αόριστες χρονικές περιόδους με στρατιωτικές εντο­λές. Επίσης, η απαγόρευση της κυ­κλοφορίας σαν μέτρο συλλογικής τιμωρίας έχει χρη­σιμοποιηθεί ευρύτατα από τις στρατιωτικές αρχές στις κοινότητες της Δυτικής Όχθης και τη Γάζα, εμποδίζοντας χιλιάδες μαθητές και φοιτητές να παρακολουθήσουν τα μαθήματα και να συμπληρώσουν τις σπουδές τους. Υπάρχουν περιπτώσεις που οι φοιτητές αναγκάστηκαν να συνεχίσουν τις εξετάσεις μέσα σ' ένα κλίμα σύγχυσης, συ­χνών πυροβολισμών και στο θόρυβο των μεταφερόμε­νων μεγαφώνων. Ένα άλλο «νέο» μέτρο συλλογικής τιμωρίας, που χαρακτηρίζει τη στάση των Ισραηλινών αρχών απέναντι στην εκπαιδευτική κατάσταση στην Παλαιστίνη, είναι η απόφαση του ισ­ραηλινού υπουργείου Άμυνας για νέα παράταση του κλεισίματος του Πανεπιστημίου Birzeit - του δεύτερου μεγάλου Παν/μίου της Δυτ. Όχθης με­τά το Al-Najah - κατά στη Ramallah, υπονομεύοντας σημαντικά τις όποιες προσπάθειες για το χτίσιμο κάποιας εμπι­στοσύνης ανάμεσα στους Παλαιστίνιους και στους Ισραηλινούς. Οι φοιτητές του παρακολουθούν μαθήματα σε νοικιασμένα κτήρια, έξω από την πανεπιστημιούπολη της Ramallah, στερούμενοι όπως και οι καθηγητές, τα πνευματικά και κοινωνικά πλεονεκτήματα της εξαιρετικής παν/κής βιβλιοθήκης, των εργαστηρίων και άλλων διευκολύνσεων. Εκτός από τα παραπάνω, το Educational Network και άλλοι εκπαιδευτικοί ορ­γανισμοί κλήθηκαν στα στρατιωτικά αρχηγεία στην Δυτική Όχθη για απαγόρευση των συγκεντρώσεων των καθηγητών, των συνεδριάσεων, της λειτουργίας των εργαστηρίων χωρίς την άδεια της Ισραηλινής δημό­σιας διοίκησης. Γίνεται επομένως φανε­ρό ότι αυτό που επιδιώκουν οι Ισραηλινοί είναι να εντείνουν τον έλεγχό τους επάνω στα Παλαιστινιακά εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα και τις δραστηριότητες. Το συναίσθημα που επικρατεί στους Παλαιστίνιους, είναι ότι οι Ισραηλινοί έχουν αυξήσει τις πιέσεις ενα­ντίον τους και είναι εκτός ελέγχου, ενώ ο υπόλοιπος κόσμος τους έχει ξεχάσει.     *Σημείωση των «Αντιτετραδίων της Εκπαίδευσης»: Τα στατιστικά στοιχεία για τα Ιδιωτικά, Κυβερνητικά και UNRWA Σχολεία, Προπαρασκευαστικά, Στοιχειώδους Εκπαίδευσης και Γυμνάσια, που συγκέντρωσε η Κων/να Γογγάκη κατά το ταξίδι της στην Παλαιστίνη, προέρχονται από το EDUCATIONAL NETWORK, και βλέπουν το φως της δημοσιότητας για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. 

Μεταξύ 1180 και 1190 το Graal εμφανίστηκε στην ευρωπαϊκή Λογοτεχνία χάρις στον εκ Καμπανίας διηγηματογράφο, τον Chretien de Troyes. Ήταν για ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα ο πιστός συγγραφέας της Μαρίας της Καμπανίας, κόρης της Ελεονώρας της Ακουϊτανίας και απ' ό,τι γνωρίζουμε είχε επαφές με την βασίλισσα - δούκισσα όταν αυτή είχε την αυλής στο Πουατιέ, μία αυλή η οποία δεχόταν πλήθος ποιητών, μουσικών και καλλιτεχνών κελτικής, οξιτανικής, αγγλο-νορμανδικής και βρετονικής καταγωγής, αποτελώντας έτσι ένα εξαιρετικό κρατήρα ανάμιξης όλων των υπαρχόντων ευρωπαϊκών πολιτισμών και ευρωπαϊκών προφορικών παραδόσεων.

(1992). Γογγάκη Κωνσταντίνα. Το εκπαιδευτικό πρόβλημα στις κατεχόμενες περιοχές της Παλαιστίνης. Αντιτετράδια της Εκπαίδευσης, 17-18: 59-63. Στην εργασία διερευνώνται οι πολιτικές, κοινωνικές και εκπαιδευτικές συνθήκες μέσα στις οποίες γίνεται προσπάθεια για τη λειτουργία ενός, έστω, υποτυπώδους εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος, στη Δυτική Όχθη και τη Λωρίδα της Γάζας. Οι Ισραηλινές στρατιωτικές αρχές έχουν επιβάλλει μεγάλο αριθμό στρατιωτικών διαταγών, που εφαρμόζονται ακατάπαυστα, προκειμένου να ασκούν τον έλεγχο στην καθημερινή ζωή και την εκπαίδευση των «κατεχόμενων» Παλαιστινίων. Τα προβλήματα στις κατεχόμενες περιοχές της Παλαιστίνης είναι δριμύτατα, ενώ στην περιοχή της Λωρίδας της Γάζας είναι ακόμη εντονότερα, καθώς εκεί υπάρχει μεγάλος αριθμός προσφυγικών καταυλισμών. Οι συνθήκες επιβίωσης είναι δραματικές, ενώ η ανυπαρξία κρατικής δομής, οι καθημερινοί εποικισμοί σε περιοχές των Παλαιστινίων, η απαγόρευση κυκλοφορίας και οι επιθέσεις, καθιστούν τις συνθήκες ζωής εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνες και την ίδια την επιβίωσή τους. Είναι φυσικό, υπό της συνθήκες του ελέγχου αυτού και την οικονομική εξάρτηση της Παλαιστίνης από το κραταιό οικονομικά Ισραήλ, τα ζητήματα της εκπαίδευσης να υπονομεύονται, αφού η σύγχυση που δημιουργείται ως προς την άμεση χρησιμότητα της εκπαίδευσης καθιστά στη συνείδηση των κατοίκων την παιδεία ως όχι πολύ σπουδαίο προσόν. Η ανασφάλεια της ζωής, η ανυπαρξία υποδομών στους καταυλισμούς, ο ελάχιστος αριθμός ωρών κατά τις οποίες μπορούν να διατηρηθούν τα σχολεία ανοιχτά -λόγω της απαγόρευσης της κυκλοφορίας- και οι φυλακίσεις των μαρτύρων, αποτελούν εν τέλει, μία δραματική σύνθεση, η οποία αποδυναμώνει και περιθωριοποιεί το ανθρώπινο δυναμικό που ζει στις ταραγμένες αυτές περιοχές της μεσογείου. Παρά τα προβλήματα, ωστόσο, οι μικροί Παλαιστίνιοι μαθητές και οι μαθήτριες επιχειρούν να κατακτήσουν την γνώση που θα τους οδηγήσει προς το μέλλον. Στην εργασία παρέχονται στατιστικά στοιχεία για την προβληματική εκπαιδευτική κατάσταση τόσο για τις περιοχές της Δυτικής Όχθης, όσο και για τη Γάζα. Η εργασία αποτελεί καταγραφή της προσωπικής εμπειρίας της Κων/νας Γογγάκη από τις παραπάνω κατεχόμενες περιοχές της Παλαιστίνης κατά την επίσκεψή της εκεί το καλοκαίρι 1991 στη διάρκεια της Intifada (نتفاضة), και τα (απαγορευμένα έως τότε) στατιστικά στοιχεία δημοσιεύονται για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα.    

The binding of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) to bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), and human plasma has been studied by potentiometric titration utilizing a laboratory constructed ion selective electrode (ISE) of ANS. Three classes of ANS binding sites were found on BSA, HSA, and plasma at 25 and 37-degrees-C. Computer analysis of the data resulted in estimates for the association constants, number of binding sites (HSA, BSA), and binding capacity of each class. The association constants for the first class of binding sites at 25-degrees-C were found to be 7.53 (+/- 0.59) x 10(5), 2.70 (+/- 0.20) x 10(5), and 2.64 (+/- 0.26) x 10(5) M-1 for BSA, HSA, and plasma, respectively. Lower values for the association constants of all binding classes were estimated at the higher temperature (37-degrees-C). The binding capacity for ANS decreased in the order BSA, plasma, HSA.

We report six female patients with breast cancer who developed dermatomyositis and compare our data with those from other reports. The development of dermatomyositis in two patients led to the discovery of a second primary ovarian carcinoma, whereas the development of dermatomyositis in another two patients led to the discovery of recurrent breast cancer. In three patients the diagnosis of dermatomyositis preceded the diagnosis of breast cancer, while the rest developed dermatomyositis after the diagnosis of breast cancer. A parallel clinical course of dermatomyositis and breast cancer was seen in only one patient. Coexisting dermatomyositis and breast cancer is a rare phenomenon, and dermatomyositis that develops during the course of breast cancer may indicate the occurrence of a second primary malignancy or recurrent breast cancer. The onset of dermatomyositis may precede, coincide with, or follow the diagnosis of breast cancer. The clinical course of dermatomyositis sometimes, but not always, parallels the course of breast cancer. There are no specific clinical or laboratory markers to distinguish patients with dermatomyositis who have malignancy from those without cancer. © 1991.

The authors develop a new efficient method for calculating the shape-truncation functions of arbitrary Voronoi polyhedra by combining analytical and numerical techniques. Applications are presented for cells of cubic symmetry as well as for hexagonal close-packed (HCP) atomic polyhedra with different values of the c/a ratio. They also discuss an efficient way for performing three-dimensional integrations in electronic-structure calculations (e.g. solve Poisson's equation) using shape functions.

A photographic atlas of close pairs of star clusters in the Large Magellanie Cloud is presented here. The criterion for inclusion of cluster pairs in the atlas was an upper limit of 18.7 pc for the projected separation between the centres of the clusters in each pair. Accurate coordinates for the clusters, the projected separations and estimates of the diameters and positional angles are given and some of the global properties of the cluster-pair population of the LMC are discussed. It is found that the individual clusters in pairs preferentially have nearly equal sizes.

The production of cosmic ray positrons by photon-photon pair production of high-energy gamma-rays on starlight photons is examined. Calculating the production rate as a function of positron energy and distance from the sun resulting from interactions with sunlight is the first step. The results are generalized to production on other types of star. The average production rate per unit volume averaged over the local region of the galaxy is calculated, and the contribution to the observed intensity from this process is estimated.

The mixing and transport of cosmic rays accelerated by a pulsar inside an expanding supernova remnant are examined, and the resulting high-energy gamma-ray emission from nuclear interactions of these accelerated particles in the shell is investigated. Rayleigh-Taylor instability at the interface between a pulsar wind cavity and the inner supernova envelope is assumed to be the mixing mechanism. The analysis is applied to the model of Gaisser, Harding, and Stanev (1987), where protons are accelerated at the reverse shock in the pulsar wind. The instability time-scale is estimated from the dynamics of the pulsar wind cavity, and model the injection, diffusion, and interaction of protons in the shell. The resulting gamma-ray flux is lower than previous estimates due to proton adiabatic losses in the expanding pulsar wind. The protons mix and diffuse only into the innermost regions of the envelope before interacting. Energy-dependent diffusion causes the higher energy gamma-ray light curves to decay faster than those at lower energy.

Cyclosporine and methotrexate at standard doses (15 mg/m2 on day 1 and 10 mg/m2 on days 3, 6, and 11, total 45 mg/m2) are effective in the prophylaxis of actue graft‐vs.‐host disease. However, the combination has significant early toxicities with delayed engraftment, increased mucositis, and hepatotoxicity. We modified the combination by adding single‐dose methylprednisolone and lowered the total dose of methotrexate to 35 mg/m2 (5 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, and 6, and then 10 mg/m2 on days 11 and 18) and then to 20 mg/m2 (5 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, 6, and 11) in an attempt to decrease these side effects in two sequential consecutive groups of patients. We demonstrated that the modified regimens maintained the efficacy with reduced toxicities. The rate of engraftment was comparable to cyclosporine alone and the hepatotoxicity was reduced with reduced doses of methotrexate. Factors such as early immunosuppression of the host, intravenous immunoglobulin, the timing of steroid administration, nucleotide free diet and germ free environment may contribute to the effectiveness of the combination and permit reduction of methotrexate dose. Copyright © 1991 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

A compartmental approach for estimating the duration of the zero-order absorption was developed. For drugs obeying one-compartment model disposition, the estimation is based on an explicit relationship while an iterative process is required for drugs represented by two-compartment kinetics. A method based on a double graphical plot for ascertaining absorption kinetics for drugs exhibiting one-compartment model disposition was also developed.

We have used anodization techniques to process porous surface regions in p-type Czochralski Si and in p-type Si0.85Ge0.15 epitaxial layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The SiGe layers were unrelaxed before processing. We have observed strong near-infrared and visible light emission from both systems. Analysis of the radiative and nonradiative recombination processes indicate that the emission is consistent with the decay of excitons localized in structures of one or zero dimensions.

The authors investigate the formation of local spin moments of transition metal impurities diluted in free-electron-like monovalent hosts by performing self-consistent, local spin density functional calculations for all the 3d elements embedded in jellium. The magnetic behaviour of the impurity is studied systematically by varying continuously the jellium density from zero up to a critical value, at which the magnetic moment disappears. The results are in good agreement with the results of other calculations and the available experimental data.

A generalized Hodges-Lehmann type estimator for the treatment effect in the two-sample problem with right censoring, is proposed based on an inverse-quantile-type idea using truncated versions of the Kaplan-Meier estimators over the subspace where they are consistent. Its strong consistency and asymptotic normality can be obtained, under no conditions on the uninformative censorings, and the resulting variance is easily estimable from the data. In simulation studies the proposed estimator is superior to existing procedures in the presence of heavy unequal censoring.

A study is undertaken of the 3D spatial distribution of the older stellar population lying beyond about 2 kpc in projected radial distance from the center of the SMC. The study is intended to cover 120 square degrees including six overlapping Schmidt fields. The results from an area of 80 square degrees are presented including the western, northern and northeastern outer parts of the SMC.

Objective: To evaluate serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a prognostic factor in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma. Design: Study of 391 consecutive patients with uniformly treated multiple myeloma, followed until death in 63% of patients. Setting: Tertiary, referral cancer center. Patients: A total of 391 consecutive, previously untreated, symptomatic patients with various stages of multiple myeloma. Intervention: Various chemotherapy regimens that included doxorubicin or glucocorticoids, or both, with a consistent response rate (53%). Measurements: Outcomes included clinical response based on a 75% reduction of calculated tumor load and survival time from treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used. Main Results: Eleven percent of patients showed a high serum LDH level of more than 5.0 μkat/L (300 U/L). An elevated LDH level was seen more frequently with a rise in the tumor load; an increased level was present in 26% of patients with high tumor mass. A high LDH level was associated with plasma cell leukemia or lymphoma-like clinical features (43%) and with plasma cell hypodiploidy (17%). Only 20% of patients with elevated LDH levels responded to chemotherapy compared with a response rate of 57% for patients with low levels of LDH. Using multivariate analysis, LDH was a significant independent predictor of response (P = 0.001), with an odds ratio of 0.25 (95% Cl, 0.11 to 0.57). A high LDH level was associated with a short median survival (9 months) and showed the highest relative risk (2.63; Cl, 1.75 to 3.95; P= 0.001). Conclusions: Elevation of the LDH level suggests the presence of occult extraosseous disease and high tumor mass. The LDH level is a predictor of a poor prognosis in selected patients who should be considered for early intensive treatment.

A successful pregnancy of a young woman with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LOCAH) is reported. Exogenous glucocorticoids are the most commonly used regimen in such cases both for suppression of adrenal overstimulation and avoiding masculinization of a female fetus. In our LOCAH patient methylprednisolone has been used for treatment. We present the management and the outcome of this pregnancy, as well as the hormonal follow-up. © 1991.

The estimation of the treatment effect in the two-sample problem with right censoring is of interest in survival analysis. In this article we consider both the location shift model and the scale change model. We establish the large-sample properties of a generalized Hodges-Lehmann type estimator. The strong consistency is established under the minimal possible conditions. The asymptotic normality is also obtained without imposing any conditions on the censoring mechanisms. As a by-product, we also establish a result for the oscillation behavior of the Kaplan-Meier process, which extends the Bahadur result for the empirical process to the censored case.

A new age indicator for star clusters and other stellar populations, with red horizontal branches or clumps, is introduced. This indicator is defined as the colour difference between the median colour of the red horizontal branch or clump and the red giant branch at the level of the horizontal branch. This difference is clearly independent of the values adopted for the reddening and distance modulus of the population as well as of systematic errors in the photometry and it is shown to be insensitive to metal abundance for a wide range of metallicities from solar values down to [Fe/H]~ - 1.7 dex. The theoretical predictions of stellar evolution models for this indicator are also examined. Finally, the new indicator is applied to colour-magnitude diagrams of star clusters with poorly known ages in our Galaxy, as well as to field populations in the Magellanic Clouds and the Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxy. At least one of the galactic disc globular clusters examined is found to have an age less than ~8 Gyr.

The authors present numerical calculations of the absorbance of light by a plane of metallic spheres. The absorbance is calculated as a function of frequency for s- and p-polarized light, for different angles of incidence and for different coverages. They demonstrate the importance of l-pole terms beyond the dipole (l=1) term in interparticle scattering. They examine the effect of disorder and consider the influence of a dielectric substrate on the absorbance of the system consisting of a substrate plus adsorbed spheres.

Pleural fluid and serum soluble Interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were measured by an enzyme-immunoassay in 13 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, in 28 patients with carcinomatous pleurisy and in 17 transudates from patients with congestive heart failure. Significantly higher values of sIL-2R were observed in exudative than in transudative (x̄ ± SLM = 713 ± 111 U/ml) pleural fluid samples, the highest being found in tuberculous (3777 ± 501 U/ml) and the intermediate in carcinomatous exudates (1981 ± 160 U/ml) (p < 0.0001, one way ANOVA). Serum sIL-2R were significantly higher in cacrinomatous and transudative groups than in age- and sex-matched controls (p < 0.002; one way ANOVA), while there was no significant difference between the tuberculous group and controls. The pleura/serum sIL-2R ratio was significantly higher in tuberculous (5.32 ± 0.60), than in carcinomatous pleurisy (2.67 ± 6.20) and higher still than in transudates (0.76 ± 0.10) (p < 0.001; one way ANOVA). In conclusion, the pleura/serum sIL-2R ratio may be a helpful parameter in differentiating tuberculous from carcinomatous pleurisy and an additional confirmatory one for distinguishing transudates from exudates.