Publications by Year: 1995

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 12-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 1,2-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 μονόπρακτο του Άρθουρ Σνίτσλερ Ο πράσινος παπαγάλος [Der grüne Kakadu] κυριαρχεί ο προβληματισμός γύρω από την ουσία της πραγματικότητας. Γάλλοι αριστοκράτες επισκέπτονται την παραμονή της Γαλλικής Επανάστασης ένα ιδιόρρυθμο θέατρο-καπηλειό του Παρισιού, όπου οι θαμώνες είναι ηθοποιοί που παριστάνουν κακοποιούς και απατεώνες. Η ευχάριστη διέγερση των νεύρων που προσφέρουν στους αριστοκράτες οι επινοημένες αφηγήσεις των ηθοποιών έρχεται σε αντίθεση με αυτό που πραγματικά συμβαίνει και που οι αριστοκράτες αποφεύγουν να συνειδητοποιήσουν: τη στιγμή που εκείνοι απολαμβάνουν την ψευδαίσθηση της απειλής και του κινδύνου, ξεσπάει έξω, στους δρόμους του Παρισιού, η Επανάσταση. Το βασικό θέμα του έργου είναι αντιπροσωπευτικό της εποχής που γράφτηκε, δηλαδή του Fin-de-siècle, της Βιεννέζικης Νεωτερικότητας αφού ο Σνίτσλερ εστιάζει στα παρακμιακά στοιχεία και στο θέμα της αποσύνθεσης της πραγματικότητας. Ακόμα και ο χαρακτηρισμός «γκροτέσκο» που χρησιμοποιεί ο συγγραφέας για το έργο δεν δικαιολογείται με αυστηρά λογοτεχνικά κριτήρια, αλλά σκοπό έχει να τονίσει την ιδιομορφία των συμβάντων στον Παπαγάλο και να σχολιάσει τη στάση του κοινού που τα υπαγορεύει και τα προκαλεί.

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.