Cover Image,Volume 66, Issue 10

The cover image, by Bruna A. Bregadiolli et al., is based on the Research Article Towards the synthesis of poly(azafulleroid)s: main chain fullerene oligomers for organic photovoltaic devices, DOI: 10.1002/pi.5419 .

     

Development of moderate temperature CVD Al2O3 coatings

Chemically vapor deposited Al₂O₃ coatings, due to their high hardness and chemical inertness, are currently the state of art in the cutting tool industry. The conventional high deposition temperature of about 1050 °C for Al₂O₃ coatings, based on the water–gas shift process, has to a great extend restricted the development of several hybrid coatings, such as TiC/TiN/TiCN/Al₂O₃. To overcome this limitation, alternate systems to deposit Al₂O₃ at moderate temperatures have been investigated. Systems using NO–H₂, H₂O₂, NO₂–H₂ and HCOOH were identified and thermodynamic calculations were performed to evaluate them as potential sources of oxygen donors to form Al₂O₃ in the moderate temperature range of 700–950 °C. Preliminary results have clearly demonstrated that it is possible to grow moderate temperature alumina (using such alternate sources) on the TiC/TiN coated cemented carbide substrates.     

The application of dynamic insulation in buildings

Dynamic insulation, a form of ‘Breathing Wall’ construction which allows the movement of air and moisture through the external walls of a building, was seen as one possible method for reducing building envelope heat losses and achieving high indoor air quality. A research investigation was conducted to provide a firm scientific understanding of dynamic insulation. An important outcome of the work will be the development of building envelope designs which effectively and economically employ dynamic insulation in cold climates. This paper presents some general conclusions, confirming that the energy saving produced by dynamic insulation alone is small relative to that obtained in conjunction with conventional air heat recovery methods.     

Serum and urinary zinc levels in urolithiasis

Zinc has an important place amongst inhibitors of crystallisation and crystal growth. These views are supported by in vivo and in vitro studies which suggest that the urinary zinc level is a significant factor in urolithiasis. Some recent studies have given contradictory results. Blood serum and urinary zinc levels were measured in 30 normal healthy controls and 42 stone forming patients (renal, ureteric and vesical). Statistically significant levels were found in all groups, varying according to the number of calculi. Increased urinary zinc levels and decreased serum zinc levels appear to be secondary to the process of stone formation. The role of zinc as an inhibitor of urolithiasis is questionable.     

Follow-up of asbestosis patients and predictors for radiographic progression

OBJECTIVE: We followed a group of 85 Finnish asbestosis patients radiographically for an average of 6.5 (range 2-10) years to examine the progression of the disease and to assess possible explanations for the progression. METHODS: The examinations included full-size chest radiographs and a blood specimen analysis. The radiographs were classified according to the 1980 International Labor Office (ILO) classification. Progression was accepted if the second or third radiography was estimated (in a side-by-side comparison) to have more profusion of small opacities qualitatively than the first, even if the radiographs were classified into the same profusion category. RESULTS: In all, 38% of the patients showed progression during the follow-up period. The average progression of small opacities ranged from ILO 1/1 to ILO 2/2 (0.4 minor ILO categories/year). The asbestosis was progressive more often among the sprayers than among the insulators and asbestos factory workers [cross-tabulation, odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-20]. In the logistic regression model the ILO classification category at the beginning of the follow-up (OR 1.54; 95% CI 0.96-2.47), the fibronectin (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.01) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.00-1.20) levels, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.00-1.10) were statistically associated with the radiographic progression of small opacities. Abnormalities of the pleura were found to progress more often among the patients with progressive parenchymal opacities. CONCLUSION: For the progression of small-opacity profusion the significant predictors in the logistic regression model were the ILO profusion category at the beginning of the follow-up period, the fibronectin level, the ACE value, and the ESR. The model correctly classified 94% of the patients with progression and 65% of those without progression. The differences in the mean values recorded for the biomarkers between the progressors and nonprogressors, however, were small and may therefore not be of any importance to the clinician.     

Combined costimulation blockade plus rapamycin but not cyclosporine produces permanent engraftment

BACKGROUND: Combined treatment of allograft recipients with anti-CD40 ligand and CTLA-4Ig (costimulation blockade) is a powerful promising albeit not consistently tolerizing therapy. It would be desirable to use an effective conventional immunosuppressive regimen in low doses or for a short course as an adjunct; however, cyclosporine treatment drastically blunts the ability of costimulation blockade to produce long-term engraftment. METHODS: Short courses of cyclosporine or rapamycin were compared as adjuncts to costimulation blockade in the murine BALB/c to C3H/He heterotopic cardiac allograft model. RESULTS: Although cyclosporine therapy blocked the capacity of costimulation blockade to produce permanent engraftment, combined rapamycin and costimulation blockade treatment produced permanent engraftment. CONCLUSION: A theoretical basis for the differing effects of cyclosporine and rapamycin upon the outcome of costimulation blockade is forwarded. Combined use of costimulation blockade and rapamycin may provide a means to bring costimulation blockade into the clinic.     

Rituximab chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy for relapsed indolent lymphoma: half of patients respond to a four-dose treatment program

PURPOSE: The CD20 antigen is expressed on more than 90% of B-cell lymphomas. It is appealing for targeted therapy, because it does not shed or modulate. A chimeric monoclonal antibody more effectively mediates host effector functions and is itself less immunogenic than are murine antibodies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multiinstitutional trial of the chimeric anti-CD20 antibody, IDEC-C2B8. Patients with relapsed low grade or follicular lymphoma received an outpatient treatment course of IDEC-C2B8 375 mg/m2 intravenously weekly for four doses. RESULTS: From 31 centers, 166 patients were entered. Of this intent-to-treat group, 48% responded. With a median follow-up duration of 11.8 months, the projected median time to progression for responders is 13.0 months. Serum antibody levels were sustained longer after the fourth infusion than after the first, and were higher in responders and in patients with lower tumor burden. The majority of adverse events occurred during the first infusion and were grade 1 or 2; fever and chills were the most common events. Only 12% of patients had grade 3 and 3% grade 4 toxicities. A human antichimeric antibody was detected in only one patient. CONCLUSION: The response rate of 48% with IDEC-C2B8 is comparable to results with single-agent cytotoxic chemotherapy. Toxicity was mild. Attention needs to be paid to the rate of antibody infusion, with titration according to toxicity. Further investigation of this agent is warranted, including its use in conjunction with standard chemotherapy.