Clonal analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes from three patients with advanced neuroblastoma receiving recombinant interleukin-2 and interferon alpha

Cultures of both isolated and conjugated explants from early gastrulae of Bufo arenarum were prepared for a study of the development of ventral mesoderm. Only combinations including components of the deep ventral marginal zone and the animal pole successfully differentiated into blood cells (erythrocytes). Histological studies indicated that, while prospective mesodermal cells constituted the only source of such cells, prospective ectodermal cells provided the necessary stimulus for this kind of differentiation. Differentiated cultures, in which the tracer of cell-lineage fluorescein dextran amine was used to label these components, confirmed the above conclusions. These findings are discussed in the context of current concepts about the formation of mesoderm.     

Two cases of cancer with bone metastases treated with local therapy

Two cases with osteolytic bone metastases from cervical cancer and esophageal cancer treated by local therapy were reported. The first case is a 53-year-old female with bone metastases of left ischium developed 1 year after hysterectomy. She was treated by intratumor injection of sizofiran (SPG) 20 mg/w and radiation therapy. After 4 weeks, ischias pain decreased and bone lesion showed remarkable calcification (PR) 8th months later. The second case is a 58-year-old male with bone metastases of the left tibia and fibula developed 1 year after surgery. He was treated by intratumor injection of SPG 20 mg/w x 4 and OK-432 1.0 KE/w x 8 after radiation therapy. After 4 weeks, pain and swelling of left leg decreased and bone lesions showed remarkable calcification (PR) three months later. We suggest that intratumor injection of SPG and OK-432 with radiation therapy was effective for osteolytic bone metastases.     

Control-canonical-form method applied to generating systems to improve dynamic stability characteristics

Contents The control-canonical-form (CCF) method is introduced for the purpose of applying it to high-order state-space single-input single or multiple-output (SISO or SIMO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) linear time-invariant system models to determine closed-loop systems (i.e. design robust controllers) from which enchanced dynamic stability characteristics and overall performance of these systems is achieved. The method has been applied successfully to a SISO 6th-order linearized state-space open-loop model (representing a simplified hydro power system), and to a MIMO 8th-order linearized state-space open-loop model (representing an 87.5 kVA synchronous machine with conventional exciter supplying power to an electric utility system through an interconnection network)

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Anwendung der kanonischen Form der Zustandsrückführung auf Erzeugersysteme zur Verbesserung der dynamischen Stabilitätseigenschaften

Übersicht Die Methode der kanonischen Form wird auf lineare zeitinvariante Systeme höherer Ordnung im Zustandsraum angewendet, die eine oder mehrere Eingangsgrößen bei einer oder mehreren Ausgangsgrößen aufweisen. Damit werden robuste Regler entworfen, welche die dynamische Stabilität und das gesamte Betriebsverhalten verbessern. Die Methode wurde erfolgreich auf ein linearisiertes Modell sechster Ordnung mit einem Eingang und einem Ausgang angewendet, das vereinfachend eine Wasserkraftanlage darstellt; außerdem auf ein linearisiertes Zustandsmodell achter Ordnung einer Synchronmaschine 87,5kVA mit konventioneller Erregung, die über ein Verbindungsnetzwerk in das öffentliche Netz einspeist.

     

Topical use of aprotinin in open heart operations

Among various pharmacological agents used to reduce bleeding after open-heart operations, high-dose aprotinin therapy seems most promising. However, its long-term effects are still obscure; there is almost always possibility of bypass graft occlusions produced by the hypercoagulable state induced by aprotinin in coronary bypass operations. Topical application of aprotinin into the pericardial cavity could prevent the adverse effects. Fifty patients were prospectively studied to evaluate the effects of topical aprotinin. One million KIU of aprotinin was poured into the pericardial cavity before closure of the sternotomy in group 1 (n = 25). Patients in group 2 (n = 25) served as controls. Total postoperative bleeding was significantly reduced in group 1 when compared with that of group 2 (722.7 +/- 230.8 versus 1,282.6 +/- 225.7 mL; p < 0.01). The use of banked donor blood products was significantly less in group 1 than in group 2 (0.33 +/- 0.67 versus 1.36 +/- 0.86 units; p < 0.01). These results show that topical use of aprotinin reduces post-operative blood loss and need for transfusion. It seems promising and warrants further studies to be done.     

Improving the emf and dc voltage measuring system (discussion paper)

The concept of a new system of emf and dc voltage measurements is and methods of its implementation capable to satisfy the predicted demands of the Russian economy for 2003–2010 are proposed as a matter of discussion. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 34–37, October, 1998.