Publications

Spectral formation in steady state, spherical accretion onto neutron stars and black holes is examined by solving numerically and analytically the equation of radiative transfer. The photons escape diffusively and their energy gains come from their scattering off thermal electrons in the converging flow of the accreting gas. We show that the bulk motion of the flow is more efficient in upscattering photons than thermal Comptonization in the range of non-relativistic electron temperatures. The spectrum observed at infinity is a power law with an exponential turnover at energies of order of the electron rest mass. Especially in the case of accretion into a black hole, the spectral energy power-law index is distributed around 1.5. Because bulk motion near the horizon (1-5 Schwarzschild radii) is most likely a necessary characteristic of accretion into a black hole, we claim that observations of an extended power law up to about m_e_c^2^, formed as a result of bulk motion Comptonization, is a real observational evidence for the existence of an underlying black hole.

The stomach contents of 108 specimens of Podarcis peloponnesiaca (BlBRON & BORY, 1833) were examined and the results of the analysis are discussed together with prey availability data. The animals were sampled during the spring months March to May when the activity of the lizards and their prey is at its peak. According to the results of the present study, P. peloponnesiaca feeds mainly on arthropods. Imaginai Coleoptera, Diptera, insect larvae, and spiders were the most frequently encountered prey in the lizard's environment. The same taxa were found to be numerically predominant in the stomachs of P. peloponnesiaca.

Supernova 1006 is the first shell type supernova remnant to show evidence of particle acceleration to TeV energies. In the present paper we examine this possibility by modeling the observed X-ray non-thermal emission in terms of synchrotron radiation from Fermi accelerated electrons. The predicted synchrotron spectrum fits the radio and non-thermal component of the observed soft X-ray to hard X-ray emission quite well. These particles can produce TeV gamma rays by inverse Compton scattering on the microwave radiation and other ambient fields, and the derived electron distribution is also used to calculate the expected inverse Compton flux. We find that if the remnant is characterised by a magnetic field strength lower than ~7yG, then the TeV flux can be higher than that of the Crab Nebula. About 75% of the TeV emission from SN 1006 is expected to be concentrated in the synchrotron bright NE and SW rims (the "hard aegis") of the remnant, which would allow a sensitive search if the Atmospheric Imaging Cherenkov Technique is used.

A survey of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud has been completed; the candidate objects were identified by inspecting UK Schmidt Telescope objective-prism plates which cover a total area of ~220 sq deg on the sky, including the inter-Cloud region. Co-ordinates are given for 1185 newly identified carbon stars. (1 data file).

We present a radial velocity survey of a sample of the field population of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). This first set of results includes radial velocities for 71 carbon stars, with an individual precision of +/-2-5km/s. The mean heliocentric velocity of the stars (excluding one very high velocity star) is 149.3+/-3.0km/s with a velocity dispersion of 25.2+/-2.1km/s. These values drop to 145.5+/-2.7km/s and 20.6+/-1.9km/s respectively, if we exclude the stars belonging to the Outer Wing. The velocity distribution does not show the multiple peaks seen in some samples of Population I objects. The mass of the SMC as inferred from the above velocity dispersion (without the outer Wing stars) is =~1.2x109M☉. (2 data files).

The present study was part of a broader research prograrn of the first author concerning loneliness and coping behaviour in childhood. We attempted to explore children's definitions of loneliness as well as the kind and frequency of coping strategies children employ in order to deal with loneliness. 238 4th- and 6th-grade pupils answered the questions: 'What is loneliness?' and 'When you feel lonely, what do you do in order to stop feeling that way?'. Children defined loneliness as the sad feeling caused by the absence of friends and by peer rejection. Children used various coping strategies, including seeking the companionship of important others (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents, peers, pets); solitary play; indoor and outdoor activities (e.g., television, video games, sports); cognitive strategies (e.g., attempt to forget this feeling, attempt to improve oneself in order to find friends and not being rejected by peers); and passive ways of coping (e.g., doing nothing, crying, going to sleep). The two most frequent strategies were seeking companionship in peers and watching television. Results are discussed in terms of age and gender differences and of their relevance to coping taxonomies known from relevant literature.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). 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.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η "Λύρα" του Αιγαίου. Η λυρική ποίηση 'γεννήθηκε' στο Αιγαίο. Οι πρώτοι μεγάλοι Έλληνες λυρικοί ποιητές. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt., ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗ, τεύχος 38, 15 Αυγ.-15 Σεπτ. 1996: 75-76.  

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η Ναυπηγική του Αιγαίου, Έλληνες, οι μεγαλοφυέστεροι κατασκευαστές πλοίων: «ο άνθρωπος του Αιγαίου» και οι  πρώτες θαλασσοκρατορίες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 40, 15 Οκτ-15 Νοεμ. 1996, σελ. 66-68.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). «Ομολογώ», Καταστροφή Ελληνικών Αρχαιοτήτων (Hughes 1820): Η Συλλεκτική Μανία των Ευρωπαίων. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA,  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΕΣ, τεύχος 35, 15 Μαίου-15Ιουνίου 1996, σελ. 72-75.

Το άρθρο σχολιάζει τη δυνατότητα λήψης σπέρματος από σπερματίδες, δηλαδή πρώιμου και μη δημιουργημένου σπέρματος για χρήση στην εξωσωματική γονιμοποίηση. Το γεγονός αυτό στάθηκε η αφορμή για τη συγγραφή της σύντομης αυτής αναφοράς, στην οποία περιγράφεται η δυνατότητα να μεταβιβάζονται διηνεκώς τα γονίδια των στείρων ανδρών,  επιβαρύνοντας έτσι το γενετικό φορτίο των επόμενων γενεών.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Τα υποδήματα των Αρχαίων Ελλήνων. Υποδηματοποιεία τόποι συνάντησης. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τέυχος 32, 15 Ιαν.-15 Φεβρ. 1996, σελ. 68-71.

Πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου που διοργανώθηκε στα πλαίσια του Προγράμματος «Οι δρόμοι του ορθόδοξου μοναχισμού: Πορευθέντες μάθετε». Θεσσαλονίκη, 28 Σεπτεμβρίου - 2 Οκτωβρίου 1994.Proceedings of the International Symposium Organised within the Programme «The Routes of Orthodox Monasticism: Go ye and learn

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Το Ελληνικό Κόσμημα. Έργο Τέχνης με Ιστορία και Παράδοση. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 33, 15 Φεβρ.-15 Μαρτίου 1996., σελ. 70-75.

Στο σύντομο αυτό άρθρο σχολιάζεται το θέμα των δανεικών μητέρων, πριν από την τελική διαμόρφωση άποψης για το πρόβλημα στη διδακτορική διατριβή, με αφορμή την προβολή σχετικής ταινίας στην τηλεόραση. Συγκεκριμένα, εκφέρουμε θετική γνώμη για την περίπτωση εγκυμοσύνης εμβρύου από συγγενικό ή φιλικό πρόσωπο, δίχως συναλλαγές και ανταλλάγματα, όταν η μητέρα-σύζυγο δεν δύναται να κυοφορήσει. Ωστόσο, στη συνέχεια η θέση μας για το θέμα αυτό είναι περισσότερο κριτική και διατηρούμε επιφυλάξεις, οι οποίες αναπτύσσονται στη διδακτορική διατριβή.

The aim of the present study was to assess the two main forms of adolescent egocentrism, the imaginary audience and the personal fable phenomenon, in Greek adolescents. Piaget defined adolescent egocentrism as a differentiation failure, a negative by-product of the newly acquired formal operational abilities. Elkind stated that adolescents often believe that they are the focus of attention and act as if they are performing in front of an audience (imaginary audience). They also feel special/unique, omnipotent and invulnerable (personal fable). The Greek adaptations of Lapsley's New Imaginary Audience Scale and New Personal Fable Scale were administered to 783 14-18-year-old adolescents from Athens and semi-rural areas of Greece. The New Imaginary Audience Scale was a highly reliable measure, whereas the New Personal Fable Scale had a lower, though adequate, reliability. Factor analyses showed that the imaginary audience consisted of several factors, the most important of which were, among the 14-16-year-old adolescents, leadership abilities, physical strength, material possessions and, among the 16-18 year-old adolescents, physical appearance, relationships with the opposite sex, and leadership abilities. The distinction among the three dimensions of the personal fable was confirmed in general. Both the imaginary audience and the personal fable decreased significantly with age. Boys had significantly higher personal fable scores than girls. Adolescents from semi-rural areas had significantly higher imaginary audience and personal fable scores than those living in Athens. The necessity to assess adolescent egocentrism, a developmental phenomenon that explains various adolescent behaviours, within a multidimensional framework is discussed.

The deoxygenation of secondary alcohols via thionoesters with the use of 5,10-dihydrosilanthrene as the radical reducing agent has been studied in detail. The ability of hydrogen donation of this silane has been measured using the one-carbon ring expansion of 1-(2-oxocyclopentyl)ethyl radical as a timing device.

The clinical spectrum of MM is variable. Infiltration of bone and bone marrow by malignant plasma cells results in severe osteopenia, lytic lesions, pathological fractures and anaemia. Occasionally, significant numbers of plasma cells circulate in the bloodstream. Hypercalcaemia and Bence Jones proteinuria are the main reasons for renal impairment, but amyloidosis and monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition should also be considered. Neurological impairment is most often due to spinal cord pressure by an extradural plasma cell tumour. In some patients, symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy may be present. Amyloidosis complicates the course of a minority of patients with MM and further impairs the performance of affected patients. Circulating monoclonal protein may increase serum viscosity, impair the function of platelets and coagulation factors, and behave as a cryoglobulin. The levels of uninvolved immunoglobulins are usually decreased, rendering patients susceptible to various bacterial infections. One or more of these complications provides a clue for the diagnosis, forms the basis for defining prognosis and must be managed expeditiously and concurrently, with the institution of specific treatment for the myeloma. © 1995 Baillière Tindall. All rights reserved.

Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the bovine cardiac Na/Ca exchanger were treated with ouabain to increase [Na+]i and stimulate Ca2+ influx by Na/Ca exchange. Depletion of cellular ATP inhibited 45Ca uptake by 40% or more and reduced the half-maximal Na+ concentration for inhibition of 45Ca uptake from 90 to 55 mM. ATP depletion also reduced the rate of rise in [Ca2+]i when [Na+]o was reduced and inhibited the decline in [Ca2+]i when high [Na+]o was restored. The effects of ATP depletion were either absent or reduced in cells expressing a mutant exchanger missing most of the cytosolic hydrophilic domain. We were unable to detect a phosphorylated form of the exchanger in immunoprecipitates from 32P-labeled cells. ATP depletion caused a breakdown in the actin cytoskeleton of the cells. Treatment of the cells with cytochalasin D mimicked the effects of ATP depletion on the [Na+] inhibition profile for 45Ca uptake. Thus, ATP depletion inhibits both the Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ efflux modes of Na/Ca exchange, and may alter the competitive interactions of extracellular Na+ and Ca2+ with the transporter. The latter effect appears to be related to changes in the actin cytoskeleton

As several possible prognostic and therapeutic applications of interleukin-6 are currently under trial, the available methods for its quantification in biological fluids should be evaluated. In this report, the 7TD1 hybridoma bioassay is compared to an enzyme immunoassay for the determination of interleukin-6 in serum and plasma of normal subjects and patients with cancer, sepsis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as in malignant pleural effusions and culture supernatants. The results show a good correlation between the two methods in all cases. Mean values of the examined groups were statistically different between the assays only in the case of septic patients. This may be attributed either to the influence of other molecules on the assays or to the nonlinearity of the dose-response curves. Since immunoassays are easier to perform, it seems that they are more suitable for routine use, the bioassay being preferable in cases where increased sensitivity is required.

A model based on the fractal methodology is proposed for the kinetic study of carrier-mediated transport under heterogeneous conditions, i.e., when the drug-carrier interaction occurs at an interface with an effective dimensionality smaller than the embedding dimension of d = 2. A model equation is derived for the flux, based on a similar approach for an analogous equation for enzyme kinetics. It is shown that the total flux-solute concentration plots are curvilinear when the fractal dimension is smaller than unity while they become biexponential, with ascending and descending limbs, when the fractal dimension D is in the range 1 < D < 2. Nonlinear Lineweaver-Burk plots are obtained when this fractal kinetics approach is used. Good fittings are obtained when the fractal model is applied to literature data previously analysed with a combined transport mechanism, revealing experimental systems that display a D value in the range 1 < D < 2. It is suggested that transport studies should be carried out at a wider working solute concentration range and various agitation and incubation conditions in order to derive definite conclusions for the transport pathways.

A simulation method is developed for computing average reward optimal policies, for a finite state and action Markovian decision process. It is shown that the method is consistent; i.e., it produces solutions arbitrarily close to the optimal. Various types of estimation errors and confidence bounds are examined. Finally, it is shown that the probability distribution of the number of simulation cycles required to compute an é-optimal policy satisfies a large deviations property. © 1995, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.

A diflunisal ion selective electrode of the PVC membrane type with an ion-exchanger consisting of the tetraheptylammonium-diflunisal ion pair is described. The sensor exhibits a rapid, near-Nernstian, selective response to diflunisal anion in the pH range 7-10, with a (batch) detection limit of 1 x 10(-5) M. The ion sensor was used as a flow detector in an automated flow-injection analyzer to develop routine methods for assays (concentration range 1-50 x 10(-4) M, (flow) detection limit 2.6 x 10(-5) M), content uniformity, and dissolution studies of diflunisal formulations. No serious interference from common ions and tablet excipients was found, and the drug can be directly determined in colored samples without separation steps. Fourty measurements can be performed automatically per hour with a precision of 0.5-1.8% relative standard deviation. The automated method for the dissolution test provides a complete dissolution profile by the end of the experiment. Using the constructed ion sensor, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the diflunisal anion was studied, thereby revealing a new application of ion sensor potentiometry.

The aim of this study was to classify the degree of 21αhydroxylase deficiency in patients suspected for non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In 66 selected subjects (45 young women with polycystic ovary (PCO)-like symptoms and members of their families, of whom 12 were men), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and cortisol were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. The markers [(17-OHP at 30 min - 17-OHP at 0 min) + (progesterone at 30 min - progesterone at 0 min)]/30 proposed by Gutai and the ratio of cortisol to 17-OHP at 30 min (cortisol30/17-OHP30) were calculated and cluster analysis was performed using the above two markers and 17-OHP at 60 min (17-OHP60). Our patients were grouped by cluster analysis into four Groups: I, II, III and IV (n = 3, 11, 35 and 16, respectively) with (1) Gutai (x±SE) 107.0±21.7, 29.9±4.4, 10.5±0.54 and 4.0±0.37 ng/dl per min, respectively, (2) 17-OHP60 169.7±28.3, 10.8±1.3, 4.6±0.2 and 3.7±0.4 ng/ml, respectively, and (3) cortisol/17-OHP30 0.97±0.28, 38.5±6.9, 82.3±5.5 and 112.0±8.9, respectively. All three markers showed highly significant differences between the four groups (p < 0.0001). The patterns of 17-OHP, cortisol and cortisol/17-OHP ratio following ACTH testing revealed the degree of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in every group. HLA typing effected in 20 studied individuals confirmed the classification derived from cluster analysis. Thus, it seems that Groups I, II and III include, respectively, patients with severe, mild and minimal forms of non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH, while in patients of Group IV the hyperandrogenemic symptoms are of different etiology. In conclusion, the concurrent evaluation of the three markers together with the variations of 17-OHP, cortisol and the cortisol/17-OHP ratio after ACTH testing enhance the accurate identification of a patient suspected for non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH in relation to the severity of the enzymatic defect. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and synchrotron X‐ray excitation of luminescence (XEOL) is used to probe the chemical nature of the luminescence mechanisms of porous and rapidly oxidised porous silicon. It is concluded that for fresh porous silicon, Si‐Si bonded material is involved in the luminescence. For oxidised material this is probably not the case, the chemical environment being SiO2. Copyright © 1995 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

The structural and optical properties of low and high porosity luminescent porous silicon layers have been studied. It has been shown that the luminescence intensity is strongly dependent on the porosity and not on the surface area. Double-crystal X-ray and electron diffraction patterns indicate that freshly anodized luminescent porous silicon is crystalline. Both techniques show an increasing distortion of the lattice planes with increasing porosity, implying that the distortion is strongly linked to the smallness of the crystallites constituting the layers. © 1995.

The paper presents a method for the calculation of fractal reaction dimension, D-R, in dissolution studies of powdered substances with a given particle size distribution. An estimate for D-R can be directly obtained from dissolution experiments using the well known Hixson-Crowell equations in a modified form. The estimation is accomplished with a special computer program in BASIC which was developed and applied to simulated errorless and contaminated data with very good results. A practical demonstration of the method's usefulness was shown on experimental data taken from the literature.

High-dose thioTEPA is used frequently in myeloablative regimens for marrow transplantation, but the need for dose adjustments in obese patients has not been explored. We determined the pharmacokinetics of thioTEPA and its metabolite TEPA during first-dose infusion of thioTEPA 150-250 mg/m2 given daily for 3 days in combination with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, and evaluated the results for correlations with toxicity and dosing strategies. The study included 15 adults undergoing marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Plasma samples were obtained at various times over a 24-h period, and concentrations of thio TEPA and TEPA were measured by gas chromatography. At 22-24 h after initiation of a 4-h infusion, the mean ±SE plasma concentration of thioTEPA was 124±63 ng/ml, while that of TEPA was 235±69 ng/ml. For CFU-GM and BFU-E growth in vitro, the IC50s of thioTEPA were 83 ng/ml and 16 ng/ml, respectively, and the IC50s of TEPA were 141 ng/ml and 47 ng/ml, respectively. Using a twocompartment model, the mean thioTEPA Vc was 47.4±4.7 l/m2, t1/2α 19±5 min, t1/2β 3.7±0.5 h, and plasma clearance 302±21 ml/min per m2. The mean AUCs were 6.9-16.2 mg h/l for thioTEPA and 8.9-21.2 mg h/l for TEPA, while the mean peak concentrations were 0.95-2.08 μg/ml for thioTEPA and 0.88-1.90 μg/ml for TEPA. There was a significant association of grades 2-4 maximum regimen-related toxicity (RRT) with TEPA peak >1.75 μg/ml and with combined thioTEPA and TEPA AUC >30 mgh/l (5/6 vs 0/9, P=0.01 for both comparisons), suggesting that drug exposure was an important determinant of toxicity and, potentially, efficacy. ThioTEPA Vc correlated best with adjusted body weight (r=0.74, P=0.0015). In an evaluation of 74 adults receiving thioTEPA 750 mg/m2 in combination with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, the maximum RRT for patients at ideal weight was significantly greater than that for obese patients dosed on ideal weight (mean RRT grade 1.7 vs 1.0, P=0.004) but did not differ from the maximum RRT for obese adults dosed on actual or adjusted weights. We recommend that for obese patients thioTEPA be dosed on adjusted body weight. Measurements at time-points after 24 h are needed to determine when thioTEPA and TEPA concentrations are below myelosuppressive levels and safe for marrow infusion. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.

In this study, the structural properties of luminescent porous silicon layers have been investigated. Double x-ray and electron diffraction patterns combined with high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) show a good agreement in that the distortion of the lattice planes in porous silicon is related to the smallness of the crystallites constituting the layers. HREM results indicate that a two-level microstructure is present in porous silicon layers. This structure consists of a crystalline part (nanocrystals) and an amorphous part (a sponge-like structure). The morphology of both parts show differences for samples grown under different conditions. A model based on this two-level microstructure is used to account for these observations. It turns out that this microstructure cannot be characterized, as often attempted, by only the measured values of the porosity and the surface area. Finally, double x-ray diffraction on post-treated porous silicon layers confirms that hydrogen desorption and readsorption or further oxidation and/or reconstruction of the oxide layer in porous silicon induce further distortion of the lattice planes. © 1995, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.

Objective: To study the effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo cleavage, and quality as well as pregnancy outcome on asthenospermic patients participating in an IVF program. Design: Prospective randomized study. Setting: Private IVF unit. Patients: Ninety seven couples, 24 of whom were repeating IVF. Two semen specimens were obtained from each patient and each specimen was divided equally into two parts, nontreated (control semen) and pentoxifylline-treated (treated semen). Main Outcome Measure: Sperm progressive motility, oocyte fertilization. Results: Overall and progressive motility did not differ significantly between the two semen specimens. There was a significant increase in the progressive motility of the pentoxifylline-treated semen compared with control semen. No significant difference was noticed between control and treated semen in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate. The percentage of patients who fertilized only with control semen (9.3%) was not significantly different from that of patients who fertilized only with treated semen (10.3%). Couples who were repeating IVF did not show significant difference in fertilization between the present study and previous attempts. Conclusion: Our results showed that although the sperm progressive motility is improved after pentoxifylline treatment, it is doubtful whether this effect is of any clinical significance.

We consider the problem of sequential control for a finite state and action Markovian Decision Process with incomplete information regarding the transition probabilities P ∈ Papprox. Under suitable irreducibility assumptions for Papprox.. We construct adaptive policies that maximize the rate of convergence of realized rewards to that of the optimal (non adaptive) policy under complete information. These adaptive policies are specified via an easily computable index function, of states, controls and statistics, so that one takes a control with the largest index value in the current state in every period.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell function can be generated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after brief exposure of high dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) over the course of 1 or 2 days' culture in plain culture medium (IL-2-pulsed PBMC). The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to augment LAK induction in low dose IL-2-pulsed PBMC derived from patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy with IL-2.|Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from patients with cancer receiving a 5-day cycle of local (intraperitoneal or intrapleural) infusions with IL-2. The cells were incubated with IL-2 in the presence or absence of GM-CSF for 1 hour and then tested as effectors against allogeneic tumor cells and LAK-sensitive cell lines.|Granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor at doses between 10 and 100 ng/ml was synergized with low dose IL-2 (100 IU/ml) in the generation of LAK activity in PBMC. Lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity derived from PBMC cultures incubated with IL-2 and GM-CSF was significantly higher (up to three-fold) compared with that generated with IL-2 alone. The GM-CSF-induced enhanced LAK activity was maintained when tested at day 5. GM-CSF increased the percentages of IL-2 receptor (R) positive (+) and CD8+ cells in the IL-2-pulsed PBMC. In contrast to CD56+ cells, highly purified CD8+ cells isolated from PBMC pulsed with IL-2 and GM-CSF responded with increased LAK activity, thus representing the cell-type that mediates the augmenting effect of GM-CSF. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules or the CD3 surface antigens were not involved in the GM-CSF-mediated enhancement of LAK induction because anti-MHC class I and class II monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) or MoAb against the CD3 molecules remained without any effect in this system. The GM-CSF-mediated LAK-enhancement was IL-2-dependent because MoAb against IL-2 receptor completely inhibited the generation of LAK activity.|The use of GM-CSF for the enhancement of IL-2-induced LAK activity in 1 hour cultures may improve clinical results in cancer immunotherapy. In addition, implementation of this procedure could eliminate the high cost of cell culture which usually accompanies IL-2/LAK cell therapy as well as eliminate the known toxic side effects associated with this kind of therapy.

Powdered samples of the Pr0.5RE0.5Ba2Cu3O6 + x compounds, where RE Yb, Ho, Tm, Er, and Y, were investigated by the EPR technique at low temperatures in the range 2.8-20 K. In the EPR spectra of these non-superconducting materials in tetragonal phase, resonance lines arising from the exchange interaction of coupled pairs of divalent copper ions and Cu2+ in the tetragonal local crystal field symmetry were recorded. Apart from the usually observed ΔMs = 1 and ΔMs = 2 transitions for the CuCu system, rarely reported singlet-triplet transitions were detected as well. The exchange parameter J has roughly the same value of about 0.12 cm-1 for all investigated samples and the zero-field splitting parameter D is of the order of 0.013 cm-1. It is suggested that formation of Cu(1)OCu(2) copper coupled pairs is responsible for the observed EPR spectrum. © 1995.

Low-temperature EPR measurements are presented for the PrBa2Cu3O6+x and Pr0.5R0.5Ba2Cu3O6+x (R=Y,Er) compounds with oxygen deficiency (tetragonal phase). The nuclear hyperfine interaction of the Cu2+ ions has been observed in both compounds. The origin of the Cu2+ EPR spectra has been associated with localized divalent copper ions in the Cu(1) sites. A time-induced transformation of the Cu2+ local crystal-field symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal, related to the oxygen distribution in the Cu(1) plane, has been detected. The EPR spectra of pairs of weakly exchange-coupled divalent copper ions were also observed. These copper pairs are suggested to occur in the Cu(1) planes and to be magnetically isolated from the antiferromagnetic CuO2 planes. © 1995 The American Physical Society.

Les développements actuels, après la démystification du rêve marxiste qui a eu lieu avec la chute du Mur de Berlin, l’effondrement de l’Empire Soviétique et le réveil des nationalismes régionaux, exigent de la part de la communauté internationale et de ses appareils de décision une analyse précise et attentive du nouveau paysage géopolitique. À mon avis, cette analyse doit se faire selon deux axes: a) Les évènements du XXe siècle qui ont mené à des crises et a des conflits ont souvent abouti à la « création de démons » qui ont été loin de contribuer à l’établissement du progrès et du développement au niveau international. b) D’autre part, ce totémisme politique a conduit les sociétés de la «guerre froide» à l’acceptation de «tabous» politiques qui ont fonctionné comme de facteurs d’équilibre de la terreur et de la suspicion: -équilibre qui a toutefois permis au mécanisme international, économique et politique de tourner dans le cadre d’un économie de plus en plus internationale avec de rythmes connus à l’avance même s’ils n’étaient pas excellents. -équilibre qui a aidé ne serait-ce qu’à l’établissement de conceptions culturelles nationalistes chez des nations comme celles de la mosaïque ethnique de l’URSS, qui, avant l’instauration du système soviétique et de la deconsécration de la métaphysique marxiste, étaient attelées au char de la métaphysique proprement dite. Celle-ci était tout à fait inadéquate comme base culturelle de sociétés qui désirent rattraper les réalisations dues aux progrès technologiques et à l’évolution politique et sociale. Les évaluations et /ou propositions des analystes dans le cas présent sont de trois types: i) Puisqu’ il n’y a pas de démons, il n’y a donc plus de causes des confrontations internationales, de conflits et de crises. Collaborons donc tous pour le bien de tous! ii) Hélas, il n’y plus de démons. Fabrique-on donc de nouveaux pour le bien de tous! iii) L’évolution en spirale d’histoire de la civilisation de l’homme a déjà commencé à parcourir une nouvelle démarche, supérieure, de son hélice: les anciens démons «a la forme bien définie et identifiable» commencent à céder la place à d’autres démons primaires, informes et mêmes non identifiables, qui prendront une forme et un contenu avec la manière dont nous le traiterons. Faisons donc attention à la manière de les traiter. En résume, nous pouvons dire que cela ne vaut pas la peine de partager l’optimisme des analystes du premier groupe ni l’affolement des analystes du deuxième. Il n’est pas possible du point du vue dialectique qu’une phase de l’histoire puisse exister sans les démons. Le problème est d’être en mesure de les évaluer objectivement, de les définir en détail. Alors peut-être découvrirons-nous qu’ils ne sont pas plus méchants envers nous que nous ne le sommes envers eux, et surtout que nous nous sommes mutuellement indispensable. Alors il ne restera plus qu’à collaborer pour affronter les autres démons bien réels qui nous menacent : la famine, la soif, la pollution de l’environnement, le chômage, l’analphabétisme, la drogue, la criminalité.

Bioequivalence assessment of extended release (ER) dosage forms is usually carried out at steady-state, using area under the curve (AUG) to evaluate extent of absorption and maximum concentration (C-max) and % peak trough fluctuation ratio (%PTF) to evaluate rate of absorption. Other metrics such as C-max/AUC and partial AUCs have recently been proposed as alternatives for assessing the absorption rate of drugs from immediate release (IR) dosage forms under single dose conditions. The performances of these metrics were assessed using the results of two sets of simulated experiments of ER dosage forms at steady-state and 2 actual pharmacokinetic studies involving ER dosage forms of a Glaxo drug. In the first set of simulations there was no difference in bioavailability between the two formulations; in the second set of simulations the test formulation had a 50% greater absorption rate-constant (ka) than the reference formulation. The following conclusions were reached: 1. For ER dosage forms at steady-state, all the metrics, with the exception of %PTF, resulted in much smaller increases than the underlying 50% increase in ka. Although, %PTF gave the largest effect it was also the most imprecisely estimated. 2. In our studies, none of the metrics tested provided reliable information about changes in the underlying rate of absorption from ER dosage forms under steady-state conditions. 3. The current practice of comparing rate of absorption from ER dosage forms using steady-state C-max is inappropriate due to lack of sensitivity. The use of %PTF may require a widening in the currently accepted 80-125% permissible range set for C-max and AUC.

Five hundred and fifty-nine human sera were examined using the Rose Bengal test (RBT), the Wright test and the immunofluorescence technique. Analysis of the collected data is indicative of the high sensitivity of the RBT, which is proved to be a very useful screening test. The inadequacy of the Wright test for an accurate diagnosis of chronic brucellosis is obvious and the need to be replaced or supplemented by another technique is suggested and discussed.

The study described here was designed to develop and test a form of nursing assessment of mental patients for use as a basis for individualized holistic nursing care in any setting. Nursing assessment was made of 581 mental patients receiving care in either mental hospitals, psychiatric departments of general hospitals or in mental health centres. Subjects were observed, interviewed and asked to complete a structured assessment form. Major variables studied were physical nursing problems/needs with nine categories, psychosocial nursing problems/needs with nine categories, sex, age, and physical and psychiatric disorders. Data were analysed with frequency distribution and comparative techniques, correlational procedures, and the multiple linear regression statistical procedure. The frequency distribution of psychiatric diagnoses showed that schizophrenic disorders were the most frequent in the total sample. However, there were more depressive patients in the general hospital group. Physical nursing problems/needs were significantly related with psychosocial nursing problems/needs, affective-depressive disorders, sex and age as well as negatively related with psychotic and anxiety disorders. Psychosocial nursing problems/needs were significantly related with schizophrenic and psychotic disorders, physical disorders and with the younger age groups. It was concluded that the psychiatric nursing assessment should encompass the areas of personal characteristics, and physical and psychological problems of the patient, and thus lead to practicing psychiatric nursing, that is, holistic psychosomatic nursing.

Water reserves represent a vital goal of the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations (A/I/N). The multilateral negotiations, that started in Madrid in November 1991 under the tutelage of USA and Russia and continued in Washington after September 1992 together with the bilateral discussions on regional problems (sovereignty issues and administrative status of the Palestinians), have been followed by seven rounds of discussions on the issue of the water, in which participated Israel, on the one side, and a Palestinian-Israeli delegation, on the other. These seven rounds were held in first place, in Moscow in January 1992, then in Vienna (13-14 May 1992), Geneva (May 1993), Peking (26-28 October 1993), Mascat (17-20 April 1994), Athens (7-9 November 1994) and, finally, in Amman (18-22 June 1995).1 None of these meetings had been successful because Syria and Lebanon were absent. The governments of Syria and Lebanon stated that any discussion of the multiple aspects of the conflict, such as the arms control, the refugee problem, the economic development and the protection of the environment, is without significance as long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinian territory. The above governments, since the Madrid meeting, have already made clear that their first concern is the contrivance of an international legal status that will settle the existing bellicose situation, due to the territories that Israel has occupied and principally the Golan Heights, between them and Israel.

Forty-eight adult patients with recurrent or refractory intermediate grade or immunoblastic lymphoma received high-dose carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, Ara C and cyclophosphamide (BEAC), followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Median follow-up is 906 days (range 613-2067 days). The complete remission rate was 42% and 22% had a partial response. Actuarial failure-free survival is 30% ± 6.6%. Twenty one patients relapsed or progressed. Only one relapse occurred > 1 year after autologous BMT. Adverse prognostic factors for failure-free survival include high LDH at the time of autologous BMT, chemotherapy-refractory disease and multiple prior relapses. Patients with chemotherapy responsive first salvage (those achieving first CR only with salvage chemotherapy and those with first relapse, responding to salvage chemotherapy) had a failure-free survival of 52% ± 10% vs 12% ± 6% for those with more advanced disease. Of 13 patients who had no adverse factors, only two relapsed. Treatment-related mortality occurred in 23%, including infection (n = 4), cardiac toxicity (n = 4), pulmonary toxicity (n = 2) and hemorrhage (n = 1). Pulmonary toxicity was more common among patients who had received prior radiation-therapy to the chest. BEAC chemotherapy with autologous BMT is an effective but relatively toxic regimen for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphomas. The combination of chemotherapy-responsive disease after failure of one chemotherapy regimen and normal LDH identifies patients with a favorable prognosis. Alternative cytotoxic regimens require evaluation, with the goal of reducing treatment related mortality. More effective cytoreductive therapy is required for patient with poor prognostic features.

We report systematic calculations of the low-temperature diffusion thermopower of Al-based dilute alloys with 3d and 4sp impurities, by solving self-consistently the linearized Boltzmann equation. The impurity scattering is described by the phase shifts obtained from self-consistent local-density-functional impurity-in-jellium calculations. Moreover, the influence of the full anisotropy of the Al Fermi surface on the scattering process is taken into account within the on-Fermi-sphere approximation. Our results explain successfully the experimentally measured variations in the thermoelectric power, except for Mn impurities. In this case, the presence of a narrow many-body resonance at the Fermi level in the localized spin-fluctuations regime seems to be responsible for the large negative value of thermopower observed.

We report systematic calculations of the low-temperature diffusion thermopower of Al-based dilute alloys with 3d and 4sp impurities, by solving self-consistently the linearized Boltzmann equation. The impurity scattering is described by the phase shifts obtained from self-consistent local-density-functional impurity-in-jellium calculations. Moreover, the influence of the full anisotropy of the Al Fermi surface on the scattering process is taken into account within the on-Fermi-sphere approximation. Our results explain successfully the experimentally measured variations in the thermoelectric power, except for Mn impurities. In this case, the presence of a narrow many-body resonance at the Fermi level in the localized-spin-fluctuations regime seems to be responsible for the large negative value of thermopower observed.

The polymorphic modifications α-, β-, and γ-Fe2WO6 of the iron tungstate system were studied by means of magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements at low temperatures. Both methods revealed a significant paramagnetic contribution, probably resulting from local distortions of the antiferromagnetic bulk structure induced by a disturbed cation ordering or the presence of Fe2+ ions. The magnetic susceptibility revealed a peak at ∼260 K for all samples which can be related with an AF phase transition. The EPR spectra comprised the contribution of various isolated paramagnetic iron centers, one arising from high-spin Fe3+ ions in rhombic crystal field symmetry with E/D ≈ 1/3 and D ≈ 0.22 cm-1, an anisotropic EPR signal consistent with an S = 3/2 ground state with large zero-field splitting, and a dominant component in the g ≈ 2 region presumably arising from an S = 1/2; spin state. The latter spectra were tentatively attributed to the formation of multi-iron clusters, one of them invoking the presence of Fe2+ ions as well. For the βFe2WO6 phase an additional EPR spectrum was observed, which probably results from high-spin Fe3+ ions in a weak crystal field. © 1995 Academic Press. All rights reserved.

We present density-functional calculations within the local-density approximation for all transition-metal impurities in the divalent hosts Ca, Sr, and Ba. Our results predict sizable moments, even for impurities of the 4d and 5d series, being only slightly smaller than the moments obtained in the corresponding alkali metals

After a sequence of standard and intensive therapies, approximately 70% of patients with multiple myeloma achieve a remission of good quality and of many months duration. Yet the disease remains incurable because the high residual burden of approximately 1010 tumor cells cannot be eradicated. Initial disease control, followed by long unmaintained or maintained remissions and by repeated recontrol of relapsing disease, provides the best chance for a long survival time of good quality. Since melphalan-prednisone became available, many other chemotherapy programs have been studied. For selected groups of patients, the most useful regimens are VAD, high-dose dexamethasone, high-dose alkylating agent therapy, and myeloablative therapy plus autologous cell transplantation. Other programs, such as treatments using combinations of alkylating agents in standard doses or interferon alfa, remain unproven despite prolonged study. Until the mortality rate associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can be reduced substantially, the role of intensive treatment supported by this procedure will be limited. Current testing of agents such as paclitaxel, new agents that suppress MDR, topoisomerase I inhibitors, and myeloablative bone-seeking isotopes may lead to future improvements.

During a 7-week microearthquake experiment conducted in Epirus, Akarnania, and the Ionian islands of western Greece, we located approximately 600 earthquakes with magnitudes between 2 and 4.2. No event was deeper than 40 km. The seismicity cannot be clearly associated with any single fault except the Lixourion right-lateral fault located west of the Ionian islands. Focal mechanisms of about 100 earthquakes show, for a narrow band of earthquakes located along the coast, ENE–WSW shortening consistent with the surface tectonics. Farther east, focal mechanisms show NNW–SSE extension beneath the foothills of the Pindus mountains, which is unrelated to surface faulting but is consistent with the presently subsiding basins. This strain pattern is seen far north and south of the Lixourion fault and is similar to the one observed in the Peloponnese. It suggests that a large-scale mechanism is responsible for the recent geodynamics of both the northwestern and southwestern Aegean

Myeloablative therapy supported by autologous bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation was assessed in 41 patients who had multiple myeloma resistant to vincristine‐doxorubicin by continuous infusion with high‐dose dexamethasone (VAD) or other high‐dose dexamethasone regimens. In patients who had high or intermediate tumor mass, the myeloma cell mass was reduced by more than 75% in 56% of patients and the survival time quadrupled in comparison with that of a matched control group. Later treatment resulted in a lower response rate and shorter remission. Current myeloablative regimens supported by autologous stem cells provided a useful treatment for patients who had advanced primary resistant multiple myeloma. Such treatment should be given early in the disease course to provide the best chance for remission, collecting blood stem cells with facility, and preventing complications that would increase the risk of the procedure. Copyright © 1995 AlphaMed Press

Late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21α-hydroxylase deficiency (LO21OH def), as many other diseases, is the cause of hirsutism, menstrual disorders, infertility (PCO-like symptoms). We evaluated the reliability of a new biochemical marker for screening LO-21OH def in 47 women with PCO-like symptoms and 11 men, members of their families, comparing the results of separation using this new marker with those of HLA-haplotyping in 21 members of the patient population. All subjects were stimulated with 0.25 mg synthetic ACTH iv. Serum progesterone (P), 17-hy-droxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and cortisol (F) at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min following ACTH administration were determined and the new marker, namely the difference between 60min and 0min of the ratio F/17-OHP [Δ F/17-OHP (60 min–0 min)] was calculated. According to the established biochemical criteria for the detection of LO-21OH def cases, (Gutai 30 min ≥12 ng/dl/min and 17-OHP 60 min ≥12 ng/ml for severe 21-OH def and Gutai 30 min<6.5 ng/dl/min and 17-OHP 60 min<5 ng/ml for “healthy” individuals regarding 21-OH def) two groups, A and B respectively, were separated from the patient population. In group A (n=8), with LO-21 OH def, the new marker showed negative values in all cases, while in group B (n=9), without LO-21 OH def, this marker was positive. The remaining subjects, depending on the results of the new marker were separated in 2 subgroups, Cneg (n=28), with negative values, composed, consequently, of members with 21-OH def and Cpos (n=13), with positive values, composed, consequently, of subjects with absence of LO-21OH def. HLA-typing was in agreement with the results of screening by the new marker, in 20 out of 21 cases, while there was only one false negative result. In conclusion, the proposed biochemical marker ΔF/17-OHP (60 min–0 min) seems to be a reliable parameter for the LO-21OH def detection among young women with PCO-like symptoms as well as males suspected for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. © 1995, Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE). All rights reserved.

We consider optically active photonic crystals. We propose a model structure and discuss the factors which determine optical activity by reference to this model.

In this Phase I clinical trial, six multiple myeloma patients who had not responded to conventional therapy and were scheduled for bone marrow transplantation received a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical for bone marrow ablation. The pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, and toxicity of this radiopharmaceutical were studied. Methods: Patients received from 519 mCi to 2.1 Ci (19.2 GBq to 77.7 GBq) of holmium-166 (166Ho) complexed with a bone-seeking agent, DOTMP (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10- tetramethylene-phosphonic acid). The reproducibility of pharmacokinetics from multiple injections of 166Ho-DOTMP administered to these myeloma patients was demonstrated from blood (r2 = 0.926) and whole-body retention (r2 = 0.983), which allowed therapeutic parameters to be determined from a diagnostic study. Results: Over 50% of the 166Ho-DOTMP injected dose was excreted within 2-3 hr postinjection, increasing to 75%-85% over a 24-hr period. Rapid blood clearance minimized radiation dose to nontarget tissue: less than 10% of the injected activity was retained in the blood pool at 1 hr postinjection, and less than 2% remained after 5 hr. The total radiation absorbed dose delivered to the bone marrow for the six patients ranged from 7.9 Gy to 41.4 Gy. Conclusion: All patients demonstrated severe bone marrow toxicity with a white blood cell (WBC) count < 1,000 cells/μl, two patients exhibited marrow ablation (WBC count < 100 cells/μl), and no other toxicity ≥grade 2 was observed in any of the patients.

Primary lymphoma of the prostate was diagnosed in 3 patients corresponding to 0.1 percent of those with previously untreated lymphoma and 0.09 percent of those with previously untreated prostatic malignancy presenting to our cancer between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1993. All 3 patients had prostatism at presentation that caused renal failure in 2. After treatment with doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy appropriate for the stage and the specific histological subtype, all 3 patients achieved a complete remission and remained free of disease after a minimum followup of 3 years. Our results suggest that primary prostatic lymphoma is not necessarily associated with a poor outcome. Review of the literature suggests that the poor prognosis reported for prostatic lymphoma might be explained by treatment that was acceptable at the time but would be considered suboptimal by current criteria. We recommend through staging in all patients with prostatic lymphoma and treatment with a doxorubicin-based regimen according to disease stage and histological classification. © 1995 American Urological Association, Inc.

Epirubicin is an anthracyclinic antibiotic that has been increasingly used in the treatment of a variety of malignancies. A hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the drug was obtained by cell fusion. The MAb is of the IgM isotype and has an affinity constant of 1.4 x 10(-7) M. Inhibition analysis showed that the antibody recognizes an epitope related to the C 4'-hydroxyl group in the amino sugar moiety, distinguishing epirubicin from the closely related doxorubicin. Since the precise mechanism of anthracycline action as well as its immunomodulating effects are still under scrutiny, powerful tools for their study are clearly needed. Moreover, this MAb can be useful in monitoring the levels of epirubicin in treated patients, as well as for the construction of bispecific antibodies in tumor-targeting immunotherapy.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic significance of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with newly diagnosed asymptomatic multiple myeloma. Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients with asymptomatic myeloma of low tumor mass and negative skeletal surveys underwent MR imaging of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. The presence and patterns of marrow involvement were correlated with standard laboratory parameters and time to disease progression. Results: Nineteen patients (50%) had evidence of marrow involvement at spinal MR imaging. MR patterns of marrow involvement were classified as diffuse (five patients), variegated (nine), and focal (five). Patients with abnormal MR imaging studies required therapy after a median of 16 months, versus 43 months for those with normal MR studies (P < .01). Conclusion: Abnormal marrow patterns were present in half of patients with asymptomatic myeloma. An abnormal MR study of the spine identified asymptomatic patients who were likely to require treatment earlier than those with a normal MR study. A normal MR pattern provided additional justification to defer institution of chemotherapy. However, MR imaging remains an investigational tool to stage patients with multiple myeloma until more data are accumulated.

A number of nucleoside substrates has been reduced under free radical conditions with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane. In one case a novel type of a $\beta$-(acyloxy)alkyl radical rearrangement has been observed, which leads through the generation of a C-1' radical species to the stereoselective preparation of an $\alpha$-ribonucleoside. The rate of the above 1,2-migration has been estimated, and a comparison with previously reported results has been made.

A number of nucleoside substrates has been reduced under free radical conditions with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane. In one case a novel type of a beta-(acyloxy)alkyl radical rearrangement has been observed, which leads through the generation of a C-1' radical species to the stereoselective preparation of an alpha-ribonucleoside. The rate of the above 12-migration has been estimated, and a comparison with previously reported results has been made.

Ro 24-7429, a Tat antagonist, dosed at 75, 150, or 300 mg/day, was compared with nucleoside analogue (zidovudine or didanosine) for 12 weeks in 96 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients to assess safety and activity. The primary adverse effect of Ro 24-7429 was rash, which necessitated treatment discontinuation in 6 of 71 patients. Nucleoside analogue treatment produced an average increase in CD4 cell count of 28 cells/mm3 at week 8 versus a decrease of 27 cells/mm3 in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P < .001). Serum HIV p24 antigen levels decreased by an average of 111 pg/mL in nucleoside recipients at week 8 compared with an increase of 41 pg/mL in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P = .007). Nucleoside-treated patients had a mean 0.66 log10 reduction in infectious peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while Ro 24-7429 recipients had a mean 0.02 log10 reduction (P = .02). No dose-response relationships were observed in the Ro 24-7429 groups. In this study, Ro 24-7429 treatment showed no evidence of antiviral activity.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

The effect of several antineoplastic agents on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains has been investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum cytotoxic concentration (MCC) and median effective concentration (EC50) were determined to identify strains with inherent sensitivity to the agents tested. Several strains proved to be sensitive to the antimetabolites 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate as well as to doxorubicin and cis-platine. On the contrary m-amsacrine, procarbazine, vinca alcaloids, melphalan and hydroxyurea were inactive at concentrations up to 400 micrograms ml-1. The strain ATCC 2366, the most relatively sensitive to the agents tested, was used for studying the effect of treatment duration and of drug concentration on cell survival. Methotrexate and cis-platine, which according to MIC and MCC tests seemed ineffective for this strain, reduced survival significantly after 6 h of treatment. A correlation of the shape of the survival curves with MIC and MCC values was attempted.

Since rising serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) heralds progression in patients with lymphoma or myeloma we investigated the significance of its elevations during chemotherapy supported by granulocyte (G-) or Granulocyte-Macrophage (GM-) colony stimulating factors (CSF). To exclude effects of resistant disease we analyzed 52 courses of therapy in 36 responding patients. During hematologic recovery LDH increased above normal in 53% and 85% of patients with leukocyte counts of 10,000/mUL and 15,000/kmUL, respectively. After CSF discontinuation LDH fell to or towards normal during 20 courses with adequate follow-up. Therefore rising serum LDH in patients with lymphoma or myeloma may be caused the CSF administration during chemotherapy and not by progressive disease. Proper identification of this effect can prevent unnecessary tests or treatment delays. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Στο άρθρο αυτό εξετάζονται οι προϋποθέσεις πρόσληψης του αστικού δράματος του Σίλλερ Έρως και Ραδιουργία (1784) από τον Αντώνιο Μάτεση για το θεατρικό έργο του Ο Βασιλικός (1829/30). Η θέση περί της συγγένειας των δύο δραμάτων διατυπώθηκε με έμφαση κυρίως από τον θεατρολόγο Γιάννη Σιδέρη σε πολλές δημοσιεύσεις (1951-1964) και η επίδραση που άσκησε ο Σίλλερ στον Μάτεση θεωρείται έκτοτε δεδομένη (βλ. Γ. Βελουδής Germanograecia 1983,  196 κ. ε.). Μετά τη διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων επαφής που είχε ο Μάτεσης με την γερμανική λογοτεχνία και το έργο του Σίλλερ ειδικότερα, διατυπώνεται στο άρθρο η άποψη πως η θέση περί της άμεσης συγγένειας των δύο έργων πρέπει να αναθεωρηθεί στη βάση ενός ευρύτερου πλαισίου επαφής του Μάτεση με την σύγχρονή του ευρωπαϊκή λογοτεχνία (βλ. και Σπάθης 1989).

Adopting the hypothesis that the nonthermal emission of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is primarily due to the acceleration of protons, we construct a simple model in which the interplay of acceleration and losses can be studied together with the formation of the emitted spectrum. The acceleration process is assumed to be of the first order Fermi type, and the proton distribution as well as the injected electrons and photons in the central region of the AGN are described by spatially averaged kinetic equations. The various relevant processes which dominate the three species are incorporated into the equations. The technique used to solve these is presented and several tests of the numerical implementation are presented. We also present results of a sample time-dependent AGN model in which photons appear suddenly as a result of a feedback instability and the system evolves to a steady state, in which the acceleration process is saturated self-consistently by the photons it produces. This example combines an X-ray power law index of about -1.7, together with a break at an energy between 50 and 500keV.

Serum α-immunoreactive inhibin was evaluated in 16 male renal transplant recipients with stabilized renal function of mean age 38.5 ± 10.7 years and was compared to that in sex- and age-matched 17 haemodialyzed patients; 10 patients with chronic renal failure and 26 healthy normal men (controls). Serum LH, FSH, prolactin and testosterone were also measured simultaneously, in the same samples. In renal transplant recipients, inhibin was found significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.001), 25% however of the values were in the normal range. In contrast, all haemodialyzed patients showed highly elevated inhibin values (P<0.0001). In patients with chronic renal failure values of inhibin were also highly elevated compared to those in normals. A negative correlation was noticed between inhibin and FSH only in controls (r(s) = -0.610, P<0.005). In renal transplant recipients, inhibin showed a strong correlation with serum creatinine (sCr) (r(s) = 0.710, P<0.008), while in the case of graft rejection the rise of sCr was immediately followed by a parallel increase of inhibin. In conclusion, the highly elevated inhibin in uraemic men not improved by haemodialysis and persistent after successful renal transplantation, might be implicated in the pronounced hypergonadotropic hypogonadism of haemodialyzed patients and the remaining dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in renal transplant recipients.

Sharp luminescence at 1.54μm from erbium doped porous silicon has been observed. The silicon was made porous after implantation of high doses of erbium and oxygen into p-type Czochralski silicon. The erbium related luminescence from porous silicon is an order of magnitude more intense than that from erbium doped single crystal silicon. © 1995, IEE. All rights reserved.

XRD, magnetic susceptibility, and EPR studies are reported for the BaCuO2+x compound in both the oxygenated and nonoxygenated phases. The XRD analysis has shown essential differences in the disordered part between the oxygenated and the nonoxygenated samples. The magnetic susceptibility measurements have shown strong ferromagnetic intracluster interactions among copper ions in the ordered part of the compound. At low temperature, antiferromagnetic intercluster interactions mediated by the disordered part predominate. EPR measurements in both phases have revealed a spectrum of Cu2+ ions, in orthorhombic local symmetry, which is attributed to copper ions in the disordered part. An intense exchange-narrowed EPR line has also been observed in both phases, which is ascribed to the copper clusters in the ordered part. The temperature dependence of the intensity and linewidth of this line is consistent with the bulk magnetic behaviour. At low temperature, the divergent behaviour of the EPR parameters indicates that antiferromagnetic ordering may occur. Additionally, it was found that the EPR spectra are essentially influenced by thermal treatment and the ordering of the oxygen atoms in the disordered part of the compound. © 1995 Academic Press Limited.

A new determination of the structural parameters of the dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) orbiting our Galaxy is presented. The morphology of the dSphs was determined from star counts made using photographic plates digitized and analysed using the APM facility at Cambridge. Global and central mass-to-light ratios were calculated for these galaxies. They range from ~=10 for Fornax and Sculptor to more than 200 for Draco. It appears plausible that Draco, Ursa Minor, Carina and Sextans contain significant amounts of dark matter, at least under the standard assumptions for the dynamics of these galaxies. However, the errors associated with these estimates remain - often forbiddingly - large, dominated (in most cases) by the errors in the luminosity and velocity dispersion. The possibility of the presence of extra-tidal stars in at least some of the dSphs is also discussed, together with the effect of the Galactic tidal field on the dSphs' morphology. Both Sextans and Sculptor appear to be good candidates for systems in the process of tidal disruption.

We present a quantitative analysis of the temperature dependence of the quasi-two-dimensional electron concentration in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructures taking into account the fact that in the bulk Si-doped AlxGa1-xAs two types of donor coexist, i.e. deep and shallow, which independently, and by different mechanisms, provide electrons to the bulk AlxGa1-xAs different conduction band minima and to the quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (Q2DEG). We calculate the electronic states, the ionized-donor concentrations, the Q2DEG and the bulk-electron concentrations and the corresponding mobilities as a function of temperature. Our numerical results are in very good agreement with the experimental data.

A survey of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud has been completed; the candidate objects were identified by inspecting UK Schmidt Telescope objective-prism plates which cover a total area of ~220sq.deg on the sky, including the inter-Cloud region. Co-ordinates, accurate to =~2arcsec, are given for 1185 newly identified carbon stars. The spatial distribution of the SMC carbon stars appears to be identical to that of red, horizontal-branch/clump stars found by Gardiner & Hatzidimitriou (1992).

Purpose: To determine the significance of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score in adults with testicular lymphoma treated with doxorubicin-based regimens. Patients and Methods: Untreated adults with testicular lymphoma who presented between 1969 and 1993 were studied. Those with Ann Arbor stages III and IV were included if they had a testicular mass at presentation. Results: We identified 22 patients, 21 with intermediate-grade and one with high-grade lymphoma. All 10 patients with an IPI score ≤ 1 had Ann Arbor stage I disease, whereas the 12 with an IPI score more than 1 had Ann Arbor stage II to IV disease. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 73% of patients. At 153 months, 22% of all complete responders and 40% and 0% of those with IPI scores ≤ 1 and more than 1, respectively, remained in CR (P = .01). With a median follow-up time of 113 months for survivors, the failure-free survival (FFS) rate at 153 months was 16% for all patients or 32% and 0% for those with IPI scores ≤ 1 and more than 1, respectively (P = .02). The CNS or contralateral testis were involved in all patients who failed to respond to primary therapy and in 50% of those who relapsed from CR. Conclusion: The prognosis of patients with testicular lymphoma appears poor despite doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. On the basis of failures in the CNS and contralateral testis, we recommend prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy and scrotal radiotherapy for all patients. Those with an IPI score ≤ 1 can be treated with conventional doxorubicin-based regimens, but those with an IPI score more than 1 should be considered for investigational systemic therapy. © 1995 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Background: Few effective treatments are available for patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia that is resistant to standard therapies. We assessed the activity of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA) in patients with resistant macroglobulinemia in order to identify those most likely to benefit. Patients and methods: 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine was given to 46 consecutive patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia resistant to a combination of an alkylating agent and a glucocorticoid. 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 without further therapy. Results: Twenty of 46 patients responded to 2CdA therapy (43%; 95 CI; 29 to 60%) with a significantly higher frequency of benefit among patients with disease relapsing off therapy (78%) or with primary resistant disease within the first year (57%) than in those with later phases of disease (22%). The median survival after treatment was 28 months and the median progression-free survival of responding patients was 12 months. The longest survival was measured in patients with primary refractory disease (projected median 36 months) and the shortest in those with disease in refractory relapse (median 13 months). Conclusion: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine is active against macroglobulinemic lymphoma resistant to standard regimens and most effective in patients with disease relapsing off treatment or during the first year of primary refractory disease. Little benefit was observed among patients with later phases of resistant disease who should receive alternative treatments. © 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Few effective treatments are available for patients with multiple myeloma that is resistant to vincristine-doxorubicin by continuous infusion with high dose dexamethasone (V AD). In order to modulate p-glycoprotein, the multidrug resistance gene product, we administered a VAD-cyclosporine combination to patients with confirmed resistance to VAD. Twenty-five patients with multiple myeloma resistant to VAD received cyclosporine 4 mg/kg infused over 2 hours followed by a continuous infusion of 10 mg/kg/24 hrs for a total of 108 hours. VAD was given concurrently as a continuous infusion of vincristine 0.3 mg and doxorubicin 9 mg/m2 daily for 4 days with oral dexamethasone 20 mg/m2/day for 4 days beginning on days 1,9 and 17. Clinical response and toxicity were correlated with MDR expression in plasma cells and the effects of cyclosporine on liver function. Six of 25 patients responded (24%; 958 CI 9-45% with a median remission time of 7 months. Clinical response did not correlate with either the measured or the calculated MDR expression in plasma cells. Responses occurred more frequently in patients who developed high cyclosprine blood levels and paralytic ileus. The occasional benefit from VAD-cyclosporine for resistant multiple myeloma appeared to be due to a higher bioeffective dose of VAD rather than successful modulation of MDR. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Objective To assess whether it is worthwhile to screen asymptomatic men for prostate Cancer using serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and to determine how many patients could be cured of prostatic carcinoma if detected by screening. Patients and methods Between June 1992 and January 1994 the serum PSA level of 1400 asymptomatic men over 50‐years‐old was assessed. Those men with PSA levels < 4 ng/mL were not evaluated further. Those men with PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL underwent digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonog‐raphy (TRUS) and biopsies were taken when there were significant findings on DRE and/or TRUS. If the PSA levels were > 10 ng/mL patients were submitted for DRE and TRUS and. even if both examinations were negative, random biopsies were taken. Where Cancer was detected the tumour was staged and if it was a clinically confined tumour a radical retropubic prostatectomy was performed. The pathological and clinical stages of the disease were then compared. Results The majority of patients (95%) had PSA levels of < 4 ng/mL. Forty‐nine men had PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL and of these 28 were biopsied, which detected 12 (24.5%) carcinomas. There were 20 men with PSA levels > 10 ng/mL and among them 11 (55%) were found to have carcinomas. Combining these figures, among the 1400 men there were 69 cases with PSA levels >4 ng/mL and, using DRE and TRUS, 23 patients (33%) were diagnosed as having prostatic adenocarcinomas. Among these, one had metastatic disease, three had lymph node micrometast‐ases during surgical exploration and 19 underwent radical prostatectomies. The pathological and clinical stages agreed in only eight patients. Conclusion Only eight patients can be considered as cured because of the screening protocol and even this result is overoptimistic, as the future biological behaviour of these tumours is unknown. Therefore we cannot recommend screening for prostatic carcinoma among asymptomatic men in Greece. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Manifestations of macroglobulinemic lymphoma include lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and bone marrow involvement. Renal presentations are unusual and complications of renal function are even less frequent. A review of all patients diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinemia at our institution from January 1987 to December 1993, revealed 4 cases (6% with renal presentations. We describe these cases with their associated clinical and radiologic features. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

It has been postulated that light emission from porous silicon is caused by quantum confinement of the electron states within silicon wires formed by anodic electroetching of silicon. In order to investigate this hypothesis we have made measurements of the X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and the total electron yield (TEY) as a function of X-ray energy for porous silicon at station 3.4 of the SRS at Daresbury laboratory. Results have shown that the luminescence is associated with elemental silicon, and this is true for as prepared and oxidised material. In the latter case the XEOL spectrum is completely different from the TEY. However, by considering the microscopic origin of the excitation together with time-dependent relaxation data, we conclude that the emission comes from silicon surface states and not quantum effects in the nanoparticles. This is in contrast to other similar studies. © 1995.

Σκοπός της μελέτης αυτής είναι η διερεύνηση της λειτουργίας του μυθικού υλικού για την Ανατολικογερμανίδα συγγραφέα Christa Wolf, της οποίας το διήγημα Κασσάνδρα δημοσιεύθηκε το 1983 ταυτόχρονα με τον συνοδευτικό τόμο Προϋποθέσεις για μια αφήγηση: Κασσάνδρα. Οι Προϋποθέσεις περιλαμβάνουν τις σχετικές με το θέμα του διηγήματος διαλέξεις της συγγραφέως στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Φραγκφούρτης στο πλαίσιο της σειράς διαλέξεων «Περί Ποιητικής» του Πανεπιστημίου αυτού. Στο πρώτο μέρος της εργασίας ανιχνεύονται και διερευνώνται οι πηγές  της συγγραφέως, που είναι κατά κύριο λόγο η τραγωδία Αγαμέμνων από την τριλογία Ορέστεια του Αισχύλου και η συλλογή μύθων του Robert von Ranke-Graves με τίτλο Ελληνική Μυθολογία. Καθοριστική για την τελική μορφή του διηγήματος είναι η θέαση της προϊστορικής αρχαιότητας εκ μέρους της Wolf, η οποία τροφοδοτείται από τις απόψεις των Bachofen, Thomson και Ranke-Graves για τα μητριαρχικά στάδια των κοινωνιών, όπως και από τον φεμινιστικό λόγο. Στο πλαίσιο του τελευταίου ο μινωϊκός πολιτισμός ισοδυναμεί με επιβεβαίωση των θεωριών του για τον διαφορετικό και θετικό χαρακτήρα των κοινωνιών στις οποίες δεν παρατηρείται παραγκώνιση του γυναικείου στοιχείου. Η εικόνα που έχει σχηματίσει η Christa Wolf για την μινωϊκή Κρήτη θα οδηγήσει στον τρόπο με τον οποίο παρουσιάζεται η Τροία του διηγήματος. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της μελέτης παρατίθεται διεξοδική ανάλυση του διηγήματος Κασσάνδρα, η οποία επικεντρώνεται στους εξής τομείς: Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο αξιολογείται η σημασία που αποκτούν για την Christa Wolf η μαντική και η ιερατική ιδιότητα της Κασσάνδρας. Με αναφορές σε προηγούμενα έργα και δοκίμια της συγγραφέως τεκμηριώνεται η άποψη πως η μορφή της Κασσάνδρας λειτουργεί ως μεταφορά για τον διανοούμενο-καλλιτέχνη, και πως η σύγκρουση της Κασσάνδρας με το περιβάλλον της αποτελεί σχόλιο για την ευθύνη του διανοούμενου σε σχέση με τις κοινωνικές συνθήκες. Ο ρόλος της προφητείας της Κασσάνδρας είναι να διατυπώσει μελλοντικές προοπτικές που να βασίζονται σε ειλικρινή – και όχι ιδεολογική – τοποθέτηση απέναντι στα δεδομένα. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο εξετάζεται η επώδυνη προσπάθεια της Κασσάνδρας να προσεγγίσει ένα δικό της, αυθεντικό λόγο και να αρθρώσει τη δική της ‘φωνή’. Τα στάδια της διαδικασίας αυτής σημαίνουν ταυτόχρονα και τη διαδοχική αναζήτηση, απόρριψη και τελική συγκρότηση της ταυτότητας της Κασσάνδρας πάντα σε αντιδιαστολή με το κοινωνικό της περιβάλλον. Η άποψη πως η Christa Wolf αντιμετωπίζει την Κασσάνδρα ως πρόδρομο ενός διανοούμενου-ποιητή επιβεβαιώνεται μετά την διερεύνηση της βαρύνουσας σημασίας που έχει ο λόγος ως προϋπόθεση συγκρότησης ταυτότητας για την Κασσάνδρα. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο εξετάζονται τα στοιχεία και η λειτουργία της εναλλακτικής κοινωνικής ομάδας, στην οποία θα ενταχθεί η Κασσάνδρα μετά την απόρριψη εκ μέρους της της κοινωνίας της Τροίας. Γίνεται σαφές πως η Wolf συμμετέχει με την αντιδιαστολή αυτή: πόλη – φύση, ολοένα ‘λειτουργικότερη’, αλλά μονόπλευρη, αυτοκαταστροφική και ‘κλειστή’ κοινωνία – ‘ανοικτή’, πολύμορφη και ‘θετική’ κοινωνία, στην συζήτηση για τη Διαλεκτική του Διαφωτισμού (Horkheimer – Adorno) σε συνάρτηση με τον φεμινιστικό λόγο. Αλλά διαπιστώνεται η αδυναμία να διατυπωθεί μια πρόταση που να έχει βιωσιμότητα. Η εναλλακτική κοινωνία είναι στον ορίζοντα του έργου απαραίτητη για την τελική συγκρότηση ταυτότητας της Κασσάνδρας, αλλά τόσο η μάντισσα όσο και η κοινωνία αυτή αφανίζονται τελικά. Το τέταρτο κεφάλαιο τέλος αναφέρεται στην σημασία που αποδίδει η Wolf στις λειτουργίες της ανάμνησης και της αφήγησης για την ανθρώπινη, ποιητική και κοινωνική υπόσταση. Καταρχάς επισημαίνεται το γεγονός ότι στην Κασσάνδρα η συγγραφέας μοιάζει να ξεπερνά την δυσκολία να αρθρώσει ένα «εγώ» στο λογοτεχνικό έργο, κάτι που είναι χαρακτηριστικό για τα προηγούμενα έργα της – με εξαίρεση ίσως τα σύντομα διηγήματα (η Κασσάνδρα χαρακτηρίζεται μεν ‘διήγημα’ αλλά έχει την έκταση ενός μικρού μυθιστορήματος). Στην διαδικασία της ανάμνησης, που δεν ορίζει μόνο την Κασσάνδρα αλλά το σύνολο σχεδόν των έργων της, η Wolf αναγνωρίζει ουσιαστική σημασία για την προσέγγιση της γνώσης γύρω από τον εαυτό και τις συνθήκες. Η μνήμη και η επεξεργασία της αποτελούν για την Wolf εγγυήσεις για το μέλλον. Η δε αφήγηση διαφυλάττει την ανάμνηση και επιτελεί έτσι σημαντικό έργο. Οι προβληματισμοί αυτοί διατρέχουν τον λογοτεχνικό και δοκιμιακό λόγο της Wolf ιδίως από το τέλος της δεκαετίας του ’60 και μετά, όταν η συγγραφέας αρχίζει να διατυπώνει προσωπικές θέσεις σε αντιδιαστολή προς τις επιταγές της επίσημης πολιτείας της Ανατολικής Γερμανίας σχετικά με την λογοτεχνία. Στο τέλος της δεκαετίας του ’70 ο φεμινιστικός λόγος επηρεάζει τις τοποθετήσεις της Christa Wolf. Η αναζήτησή της στρέφεται προς ένα λογοτεχνικό λόγο που η ίδια ονομάζει «γυναικεία γραφή» (weibliches Schreiben).  Το θέμα της ανάμνησης περιλαμβάνει πλέον και την μνήμη της λογοτεχνίας συνολικά, δηλαδή το σύνολο της λογοτεχνικής παράδοσης στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο. Στο σημείο αυτό η Wolf διατυπώνει μομφή εναντίον  αυτής της λογοτεχνίας ως μη δυνάμενης να αποδώσει τις αυθεντικές εμπειρίες του υποκειμένου. Οι προβληματισμοί αυτοί αναπτύσσονται θεωρητικά στις Προϋποθέσεις για μια αφήγηση: Κασσάνδρα. Η μελέτη τελειώνει με την προσπάθεια να απαντηθεί το ερώτημα, κατά πόσον το διήγημα Κασσάνδρα ως αφήγημα αντιστοιχεί τελικά προς τις θεωρητικές απαιτήσεις της συγγραφέως του.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: ** Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Εστία-Εστιάτορ. Μία Οινολογική Συνεστίαση.  (Μέρος Α’). ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΜΕΛΕΤΗ, τεύχος 26, 15 Ιουλ.-15 Αυγ. 1995, σελ.  63-65.

Για βιβλιογραφία ή παραπομπές/ When citing:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (1995). Εστία-Εστιάτορ. Μία Οινολογική Συνεστίαση. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΜΕΛΕΤΗ, τεύχος 26, σελ. 63-65., (τεύχος 26), και τεύχος 27, σελ. 71-76.  [Estia-Estiator: Hospitality and Dining: Oenological (wine) Symposiums/Gatherings in Antiquity ( in two issues, 26 and 27]Αναλυτικότερα, βλέπε επίσης, Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Εστία-Εστιάτορ. Μία Οινολογική Συνεστίαση.  (Μέρος Α’). ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΜΕΛΕΤΗ, τεύχος 26, 15 Ιουλ.-15 Αυγ. 1995, σελ.  63-65. (Google scholar) Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Εστία-Εστιάτορ. Μία Οινολογική Συνεστίαση.  (Μέρος Β’).  ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΜΕΛΕΤΗ,  τεύχος 27, 15 Αυγ.-15 Σεπτ. 1995: 71-76. (Google scholar)    

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Εστία-Εστιάτορ. Μία Οινολογική Συνεστίαση.  (Μέρος Β’).  ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, ΜΕΛΕΤΗ,  τεύχος 27, 15 Αυγ.-15 Σεπτ. 1995: 71-76.

Λέξεις Κλειδιά: Καλλωπισμός, κοσμητικά, φυσικά καλλυντικά, βαφές μαλλιών, αποσμητικό σώματος, manicure, pedicure, κ.ά.[WHEN CITING/ ΓΙΑ ΧΡΗΣΗ ΠΑΡΑΠΟΜΠΗΣ]:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Η Κόμμωση και ο Καλλωπισμός στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 29, 15 Οκτ.-15 Νοεμ. 1995, σελ.  72-76.

ΛΕΞΕΙΣ ΚΛΕΙΔΙΑ: το γυμνό,  η αποθέωση του γυναικείου σώματος, "εγκώμιο της Ελένης"Για χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). «Η Παθιασμένη Λαχτάρα για την Ομορφιά» (Ισοκράτης, 40ος αι. π.Χ.). ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 31, 15 Δεκ.-15 Ιαν. 1995, σελ. 59-62.

Οἱ σχέσεις μεταξὺ τῶν δύο χωρῶν εἶναι ἱστορικῶς, θὰ ἐλέγαμε, τεταμένες. Ἡ Τουρκία, ἔχουσα πλήρη συνείδηση τῆς χρησιμότητος τοῦ ὕδατος ὡς ρητορικοῦ ὅπλου ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰσχυροῦ διαπραγματευτικοῦ μέσου ἔχει διατυπώσει urbi et orbi τὰς ἀντιρρήσεις της πρὸς πάσης φύσεως παραχωρήσεις στὸ θέμα αὐτό. Το παρόν άρθρο αναφέρεται στις σχέσεις Τουρκίας-Συρίας-Ἰράκ και στο ὑδρογεωπολιτικὸν παίγνιον.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Τα Ελληνικά Λουτρά. Ποιος είπε ότι το ‘χαμάμ’ το ανακάλυψαν οι Τούρκοι; Αρχαία Ελληνική Εφεύρεση η Περιποίηση του Σώματος. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 28, 15 Σεπτ.-15 Οκτ. 1995, σελ.  72-76. Google scholar

Χρήση παραπομπής/ when citing:   Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1995). Το Άρωμα στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt,  τεύχος 30, 15 Νοεμ.-15 Δεκ. 1995: 75-76.

Background: Fludarabine monophosphate and 2Chlorodeoxyadenosine are nucleoside analogues with activity against Waldenström macroglobulinemia. However, it is not clear whether prior exposure to one analogue precludes response to the other compound. Patients and methods: Fourteen patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and prior exposure to fludarabine were treated with two courses of 2chlorodeoxyadenosine. Results: Three out of four patients that had previously responded to fludarabine and were relapsing from unmaintained remission, achieved a partial response with 2chlorodeoxyadenosine therapy. However, only one out of 10 patients with disease resistant to fludarabine responded to 2chlorodeoxyadenosine. Conclusions: 2chlorodeoxyadenosine may be effective in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia sensitive to fludarabine. However, this compound has limited activity for patients with disease resistant to fludarabine. © 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Between 1980 and 1988, 126 patients with leukemia were treated with piperazinedione and fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA matched siblings. Sixty‐one patients had acute myelogenous leukemia, 46 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 19 chronic myelogenous leukemia. Patients with acute leukemia in first complete remission were transplanted only if perceived to have a low probability of remaining in remission with conventional therapy. The toxicity from the preparative regimen was similar to that of cyclophosphamide and TBI except that none of the patients in the study had hemorrhagic cystitis or veno‐occlusive disease. After a median follow up of 114 months, 29 patients (23%) are still alive without relapse. The survival of patients with acute myelogenous or lymphoblastic leukemia transplanted in their first remission were 35% and 43%, respectively. The survival of patients transplanted in their first chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia was 60%. The results of this preparative regimen are comparable to those of cyclophosphamide and TBI. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Copyright © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

A flow-injection dynamic dialysis technique is presented for the determination of binding parameters of drugs to cyclodextrins (CDs). The automated system consists of a flow-injection unit, the sample loop of which is the receiving compartment of a dialyser unit, and a home made timing module for operation control through two flow switching solenoid valves. The procedure of binding studies is rapid and yields reproducible results. Binding parameters of CD-micromolecule complexes was calculated using the Scatchard model. Typical examples of the binding of p-nitrophenol with alpha-CD(K-as=1.56x10(3) M(-1) at pH 7.4 and 2.06x10(3) M(-1) at pH 9.0), salicylic acid with beta-CD (K-as=3.8 x 10(2) M(-1) at pH 1.5 and 51 M(-1) at pH 7.4) and ibuprofen with beta-CD (K-as=2.2x10(2) M(-1) at pH 2.5) are presented and the binding constants obtained are compared to literature values. 1:1 stoichiometry was found in all cases and within run precision ranged from 2 to 14% R.S.D. The between run precision for the binding of p-nitrophenol to alpha-CD was 2% (n=3).

The application of flow-injection analysis (FIA) to automated dissolution studies of sustained-release formulations is described. The long-term stability of the dissolution-FIA analyser was checked during unattended operation for 42 h. The construction of multiple calibration curves with the so-called electronic dilution FIA procedure was used to extend the linear range of the determination. The computer-controlled FIA system and the principles of associated software are described and applied to dissolution studies of sustained-release formulations of iron(II) using its sensitive reaction with the colour reagent, ferrozine. The extended linear range of the determination is 1-130 ppm iron(II) and the precision (RSD) better than 3% (n = 3).

Objective: To determine the following: a reference range for serum calcitriol during hypercalcemia in a control group of patients with myeloma in whom calcitriol production is known to be appropriately suppressed; the incidence of elevated serum calcitriol levels in hypercalcemic patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to this derived reference range; and the incidence of abnormal calcium metabolism in normocalcemia patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Design: Prospective clinical study. Setting: Referral cancer center. Patients: 2 groups of hypercalcemic patients: 16 control patients with myeloma and 22 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma divided into those with elevated or normal serum calcitriol levels; 1 group of 22 normocalcemia patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Measurements: Serum chemistries and intact parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, parathyroid hormone-related protein, and urinary electrolyte levels. Results: On the basis of the mean serum calcitriol level of the control group plus 3 standard deviations, the reference range for serum calcitriol during hypercalcemia was defined as less than 42 pg/mL. Although serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels in the study patients were similar to those in controls, 12 of the 22 hypercalcemic patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (55%) had serum calcitriol levels greater than 42 pg/mL (range, 51 to 170 pg/mL). No features distinguished the patients with elevated serum calcitriol levels from those with normal levels. Seventy-one percent of normocalcemia patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma were hypercalciuric, and 18% had serum calcitriol levels greater than the normocalcemic reference range (20 to 76 pg/mL). Conclusions: Serum calcitriol levels are elevated in most hypercalcemic patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the absence of elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone, which implicates extrarenal calcitriol production in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Abnormal calcium metabolism, hypercalciuria, and dysregulated calcitriol production are also common in normocalcemic patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

We report systematic calculations of the residual resistivity and the low-field Hall coefficient of Al-based dilute alloys with 3d and 4sp impurities, by self-consistently solving the linearized Boltzmann equation. We employ the on-Fermi-sphere approximation, which allows us to combine the full anisotropy of the aluminum Fermi surface, obtained by the four-orthogonal-plane-wave method, with the phase shifts associated with isotropic impurity scattering, evaluated by self-consistent local-density-functional impurity-in-jellium calculations. Our results show that the anisotropic scattering increases the residual resistivity, thus obtaining better agreement with the experiment. Moreover, a consistent interpretation of the observed trends of the low-field Hall coefficient is presented.

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on the pressures exerted by the cheeks on the maxillary arch. The sample consisted of 15 patients (five males, ten females) who received either a Hyrax or Haas type expansion appliance for treatment of a bilateral maxillary constriction of more than 5 mm. The median age of the sample was 12 years. Buccal pressures were measured at the upper first molar on the left and right side, before and after active expansion, and also after an average of 3-4 months of retention with the appliance in place. Buccal pressures on the maxillary first molar averaged approximately 3 g/cm2 before expansion and increased significantly to a value of approximately 9 g/cm2 after expansion. Pressure change was approximately 0.6 g/cm2 for each millimetre of expansion. During the 3-4-month period of stabilization of the appliance, the pressures remained at the post-expansion levels and no adaptation of the soft tissues was observed. These results lead to the conclusion that cheek pressures on the maxillary arch may be implicated in the relapse occurring after rapid expansion, even after the usual 3-month period of stabilization.

[No abstract available]

We consider the emission of high energy to very high energy $\gamma$-rays in radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN) or the central regions of radio-loud AGN. We use our results to estimate the $\gamma$-ray flux from the central regions of nearby AGN, and then to calculate the contribution to the diffuse $\gamma$-ray flux from unresolved AGN.

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 (≃ 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.

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.