Fiber Optic Sensor of Ammonia Gas Using Plasmonic Extraordinary Optical Transmission.

While standard surface plasmon resonance (bio) sensing, relaying on propagating surface plasmon polariton sensitivity on homogeneous metal/dielectric boundaries, represents nowadays a routine sensing technique, other alternatives, such as inverse designs with nanostructured plasmonic periodic hole arrays, have been far less studied, especially in the context of gas sensing applications. Here, we present a specific application of such a plasmonic nanostructured array for ammonia gas sensing, based on a combination of fiber optics, extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) effect, and chemo-optical transducer selectively sensitive to ammonia gas. The nanostructured array of holes is drilled in a thin plasmonic gold layer by means of focused ion beam technique.

Use of cryopreserved lymphocytes for assessment of the immunological effects of interferon therapy in renal cell carcinoma patients.

Experiments were designed to assess whether cryopreserved PBL could be used to monitor the immunological effects of IFN-alpha therapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. It was found that programmed freezing and thawing of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal blood donors did not substantially change lymphocyte subset proportions and that cryopreserved PBL were able to proliferate in response to IL-2. It was also possible to activate the cytolytic activity of frozen PBL, and the frozen leukocytes did not lose their ability to secrete IFN-gamma after PHA activation.

IFN-alpha therapy of renal-cell carcinoma - defect of lymphocyte sensitivity to mitogenic and activating cytokine signals in patients not-responding to therapy.

The present prospective study was designed to assess whether the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated with recombinant interferon alpha (IFN alpha), whose tumours respond (responders) and do not respond (non-responders) to IFN alpha therapy, differ with regard to in vitro sensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to interleukin 2 (IL-2), IFN alpha, and IFN gamma signals prior to therapy. Twenty-one patients with advanced RCC after nephrectomy, 15 responders and 6 non-responders, were entered into a protocol. The protocol involved isolation and freezing of PBL samples followed by IFN alpha treatment of patients, assessment of proliferative and activating PBL responses, and evaluation of the therapeutic results.

Subcutaneous interleukin-2 in combination with vinblastine for metastatic renal cancer: cytolytic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Eight patients with progressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma were selected for one course of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus vinblastine (VBL) treatment lasting for seven weeks. Seven of the eight patients were evaluable for response, eight for toxicity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from the evaluable patients were isolated and frozen prior to, during, and after the treatment courses; kinetics of their cytolytic activity was assessed and compared under standard conditions in 51Cr microcytotoxicity assay with natural killer (NK)-sensitive and NK-resistant human tumor targets.

Activity of PDGF (A) gene in the human cell line derived from a renal carcinoma metastasis.

PDGF-like activity was investigated in conditioned media of cell cultures derived from 4 human renal carcinomas. Transient production of PDGF-like factor was found only in the cell line derived from a subcutaneously growing metastasis. Further analysis of this cell line showed an increase of PDGF (A) gene activity in one cellular clone.

[Hydatidiform changes in the chorion].

Revision of 630 cases of mola enabled a description of morphology in complete hydatid mole, partial hydatid mole, hydropic degeneration and their relation to the origin of trophoblastic disease. A survey covers pathogenesis of molar syndrome, cytogenetic findings and genetic methods for discrimination of complete and partial hydatid mole. To express grade of certainty in diagnostic of the lesions is recommended.

[Detection of hCG serum levels in choriocarcinoma using monoclonal antibodies].

hCG values and those of its alpha- and beta-subunits are assessed in the serum of all patients treated in the Centre of trophoblastic disease. Commercial RIA kits with conventional antibodies are used. There was an opportunity to work with kits of Serono Co.

Analysis of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in human renal carcinoma cell cultures.

In cells derived from two human renal carcinomas only the precursor form of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was found. The binding assay revealed a high level of EGF receptor expression in both cell types tested. However, these receptors are not involved in the growth activity of the cells under in vitro conditions used.

The macrophage electrophoretic mobility assay in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

An antigen-induced release of a macrophage slowing factor (MSF) by peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to evaluate lymphocyte sensitization to various antigens in 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and in 14 control subjects. Sixteen of 21 patients with RCC, but no controls, were found to be sensitized to a soluble antigen prepared from an allogeneic kidney tumor by 3 M potassium chloride extraction. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from some patients with RCC displayed sensitization to protein isolates from fetal kidney (4 of 19), control "normal" kidney (4 of 21) and urinary bladder carcinoma (3 of 19) tissues.

Lymphocyte sensitization detected by the macrophage electrophoretic mobility assay in patients with renal cell carcinoma: Theophylline increases the sensitivity of the assay.

An antigen-induced release of a macrophage slowing factor (MSF) by peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to evaluate lymphocyte sensitization to various antigens in 30 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and in 14 normal individuals. Twenty-three of 30 (77%) patients with RCC, but no healthy controls were found to be sensitized to a soluble antigen prepared from an allogeneic kidney tumor by 3 M potassium chloride extraction. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from some patients with RCC displayed sensitization to protein isolated from fetal kidney (6 of 24; 25%), control "normal" kidney (6 of 30; 20%) and urinary bladder carcinoma (3 of 21; 14%) tissues.