High-dose interleukin-2 two days a week for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a FNCLCC multicenter study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a new high-dose interleukin (IL)-2 regimen, given two days a week, for renal cell carcinoma. One hundred and four patients received IL-2 as a continuous i.v.

Pulmonary interstitial pressure in anesthetized paralyzed newborn rabbits.

In anesthetized paralyzed term newborn rabbits at various postgestational ages (from birth up to 16 days), we measured by micropuncture technique the hydraulic pressure of the pulmonary interstitium (Pip), the extrapleural parietal interstitium, and the pleural liquid. Birth data refer to cesarian-delivered nonbreathing rabbits. Pip increased from 0.

Acute antiemetic efficacy and safety of dolasetron mesylate, a 5-HT3 antagonist, in cancer patients treated with cisplatin. European Dolasetron Study Group.

Dolasetron mesylate (MDL 73,147EF), a new serotonin receptor (5-HT3) antagonist was administered to 164 cancer patients naive or non-naive to chemotherapy, in single, rising doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mg i.v. 15 minutes prior to an infusion of cisplatin.

Model of pleural fluid turnover.

A model of pleural fluid turnover, based on mass conservation law, was developed from experimental evidence that 1) pleural fluid filters through the parietal pleura and is drained by parietal lymphatics and 2) lymph flow increases after an increase in pleural liquid volume, attaining a maximum value 10 times greater than control. From the differential equation describing the time evolution of pleural liquid pressure, we obtained the equation for the steady-state condition ("set point") of pleural liquid pressure: Pss = (KfPi*+KlPzf)/Kf+Kl), where Kf is parietal pleura filtration coefficient, Kl is initial lymphatic conductance, Pzf is lymphatic potential absorption pressure, and Pi* is a factor accounting for the protein reflection coefficient of parietal mesothelium and hydraulic and colloid osmotic pressure of parietal interstitium and pleural liquid. Lymphatics act as a passive negative-feedback control tending to offset increases in pleural liquid volume.

Fluid exchanges across the parietal peritoneal and pleural mesothelia.

In 31 anesthetized rabbits, after removal of superficial tissues, glass micropipettes filled with 0.5 M NaCl solution and connected to an electrohydraulic servo-null system were used to measure extraperitoneal interstitial fluid pressure (Pi,per) and peritoneal liquid pressure (Pliq,per) at various heights. Linear regressions relating pressure to recording height (H) were Pi,per = 1.

Pulmonary interstitial pressure in intact in situ lung: transition to interstitial edema.

In anesthetized rabbits (n = 25) subject to slow intravenous saline loading (0.4 ml.min-1.

Distribution of diaphragmatic lymphatic lacunae.

The morphology of the submesothelial lymphatic lacunae on the pleural and peritoneal surface over the tendinous and muscular portion of the diaphragm was studied in 10 anesthetized rabbits. The lymphatic network was evidenced by injecting 1 ml of colloidal carbon solution in the pleural (n = 5) or the peritoneal (n = 5) space. After 1 h of spontaneous breathing, the animal was killed and the diaphragm was fixed in situ by injection of approximately 5 ml of fixative in pleural and peritoneal spaces.

Distribution of diaphragmatic lymphatic stomata.

In seven anesthetized rabbits we measured the size, shape, and density of lymphatic stomata on the peritoneal and pleural sides of the diaphragm. The diaphragm was fixed in situ and processed for scanning electron microscopy. Results are from 2,902 peritoneal and 3,086 pleural fields (each 1,620 microns 2) randomly chosen from the various specimens.

Transperitoneal fluid dynamics in rabbit liver.

The peritoneal cavity of 18 anesthetized spontaneously breathing supine rabbits was opened through a midline section. One or two hollow capsules (surface area 0.8 cm2) were glued to the exposed liver surface, filled with whole or 25% diluted plasma, and connected to a transducer and a graduated pipette.

Liquid drainage through the peritoneal diaphragmatic surface.

In 14 spontaneously breathing anesthetized rabbits, we used cyanoacrylate to glue a hollow capsule, at end expiration or at end inspiration, to the peritoneal surface of the tendinous portion of the diaphragm. The capsule was connected to a pressure transducer and a pipette calibrated in microliters. We filled the system with fluid and measured flow into the diaphragmatic surface facing the capsule (Fcap, microliter/cm2), from liquid displacement in the pipette at different hydraulic pressures in the system (Pcap).

Influence of the motor unit action potential morphology (MUAP) on the EMG signal: theoretical and experimental study.

The aim of this work is the study of the influence of the MUAP morphology on the compound EMG signal by means of a simulation model. The simulated EMG is obtained as the sum of a number of MUS chosen on the basis of considerations concerning the muscle fiber dimension, the concentric needle electrode uptake area and the conduction volume. Myopathic and neurogenic conditions have been simulated together with the normal case, adopting typical MUAPs.

A simulation model for the study of EMG signals in normal and pathological conditions.

The aim of this work is the study of the influence of the MUAP morphology on the compound EMG signal, by means of a simulation model. The simulated EMG is obtained as the sum of the number of MUs chosen on the basis of considerations concerning the muscle fibre dimension, the concentric needle electrode uptake area and the conduction volume. Myopathic, initial neurogenic and chronic neurogenic conditions have been simulated together with the normal case, adopting typical MUAPs.

Formation and utilization of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate in liver mitochondria of starved and streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Kidney and liver mitochondria of rat, rabbit and guinea pig are able to transform 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate into acetoacetate, whereas ox liver mitochondria and rat mitochondria of heart, diaphragm and brain do not exhibit such an activity. Starvation and streptozotocin treatment decreases the formation of acetoacetate from 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate. Addition of acetoacetate and succinate to the incubation media of mitochondria results in a decrease in the transformation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate into acetoacetate.