Adenoviral B7-H3 therapy induces tumor specific immune responses and reduces secondary metastasis in a murine model of colon cancer.

Current cancer gene therapies aim at the induction of systemic antitumor immune responses. Tumors may deliver antigens to T-cells, but may lack the costimulatory signals necessary for mounting an effective response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an adenoviral delivery of the B7-H3 costimulatory molecule in mice to induce antitumor immune responses.

The effect of the plasma needle on tumoral cell lines apoptosis.

In this paper, we present the effect of the plasma needle on tumor cell surface. The plasma is generated at the tip of a metal needle by using a radio-frequency generator of 13.56 MHz, 100's V amplitude.

Ecological-genetic feedback in DNA repair in wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum.

Regulation of genetic variation in natural populations is a problem of primary importance to evolutionary biology. In the reported study, the repair efficiency of double strand DNA breaks was compared in six wild barley accessions from Israeli natural populations of H. spontaneum: three from mesic populations (one from Maalot and two from Mount Meron, Upper Galilee) and three from xeric populations (one from Wadi Quilt in the Judean Desert and two from Sede Boqer, in the northern Negev Desert).

An orthotopic colon cancer model for studying the B7-H3 antitumor effect in vivo.

We established an orthotopic animal model of colon cancer in mice and applied this model to study the antitumor effects of B7-H3, the newest member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules. Colon-26 murine colon adenocarcinoma cells were inoculated into the cecal subserosum of mice to induce colon tumor growth. The tumor growth rate and the survival time of the mice were observed.

Identification of a new HLA-A2-restricted T-cell epitope within HM1.24 as immunotherapy target for multiple myeloma.

Objective: The aim of this study was identification of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted T-cell epitopes within the HM1.24 antigen as target for multiple myeloma (MM)-directed specific peptide-based immunotherapy.

Methods: The HM1.

Adaptive differentiation of thermotolerance in Drosophila along a microclimatic gradient.

We examined whether a remarkable occurrence - the physiological evolution of two Drosophila melanogaster populations, despite a spatial separation of only 100-400 m, was idiosyncratic and temporary, or persisted over multiple years. We ascertained the high-temperature tolerance of Drosophila descended from populations on the north-facing slope (NFS) and south-facing slope (SFS) of 'Evolution Canyon' (Lower Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel, Israel), which were collected in 1997, 1999, and 2000. Results for these Drosophila uniformly resembled other studies in many respects: an inverse relationship between survival and heat-shock temperature, male-female differences in thermotolerance, and inducible thermotolerance.

Discontinuous wavelength super-refraction in photonic crystal superprism.

Experimental results on wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in InGaAsP triangular lattice planar photonic crystals are presented. An abrupt variation of the angular dispersion is observed for TM-polarized waves whose frequencies are comprised between those of the fourth and sixth allowed bands. According to the crystal period, the measured angle of refraction is found to either decrease or increase by 30 degrees within a wavelength range smaller than 30 nm.

Experimental evidence for superprism phenomena in SOI photonic crystals.

A first experimental demonstration of a planar superprism in silicon microphotonics technology using silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates is presented. Experimental results for anomalous wavelengthdependent angular dispersion in SOI triangular lattice planar photonic crystals are reported. An angular swing of 14 degrees is measured for light propagating near the Gamma-K direction as the input wavelength is changed from 1295 nm to 1330 nm, which corresponds to an angular dispersion of 0.

DNA repair efficiency and thermotolerance in Drosophila melanogaster from "Evolution Canyon".

The repair efficiency of four thermotolerant and four thermosensitive isofemale lines of Drosophila melanogaster originating from "Evolution Canyon" (Mt Carmel, Israel) was tested using 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) as mutagen. First, males of the standard laboratory line Canton S were treated with either 2-AAF solution or control solution. Then, females of the "Evolution Canyon" lines were crossed with treated (2-AAF or control solution) males and maintained at either 24 or 29 degrees C.

[Osteo-articular manifestations after suppurative pancreatitis].

Osseous and joint manifestations (decalcification, osteolysis, osteonecrosis; poliarthrytis; periarticular fat necrosis) are sometimes encountered in chronic pancreatitis or carcinoma, but exceptional after severe acute pancreatitis, especially infected pancreatic necrosis. Pathogenesis of calcium deficiency in acute pancreatitis is multifactorial, including extensive lipolysis and metabolic disturbances. We report on a healthy, young male, that developed decalcification and polyarthritis consecutive to a long-outcome, severe acute pancreatitis.

Statistical characteristics of radionuclide concentration field around a nuclear power plant.

A Markov chain model with two states is used for investigating the space and time structure of the concentration field around an elevated continuous source. The concentration field is computed with a time-dependent Gaussian puff dispersion model run with observed meteorological data as input. Spatial distributions of transition probability, Besson persistence coefficient and order of Markov chain are presented for tritium routinely released from a nuclear power plant located about 100 miles east of Bucharest, Romania.

Relationship between chromosomal changes complexity and disease aggressiveness in myeloid and lymphoid disorders.

In this paper are presented four cases, with unusual chromosomal abnormalities, identified at the first presentation, among over 100 patients with myeloid and lymphoid acute and chronic leukemias cytogenetically investigated. The complexity and nature of cytogenetic abnormalities was in direct relationship with the disease evolution. The first case, a 22 years old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia type L3, exhibited many structural changes in bone marrow cells with diploid number of chromosomes: del(3)(q26); del (5)(p13); t(8;14) (q24;q32); del(9)(p11q11);inv(15)(p12qter).

Lymphoma immunophenotyping: "borderline" lymphomas.

Immunophenotyping of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is indispensable, especially in disorders with CD19(+) CD5(+) B lymphocytes, where we have to make the distinction between low grade neoplasia, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia with CD23(+) malignant lymphocytes, and aggressive neoplasia such as mantle cell lymphoma with CD23(-) malignant lymphocytes. We found some cases of CD19(+) CD5(+) lymphoproliferative disorders that do not meet all criteria for diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or mantle cell lymphoma. For instance, we found cases with a low or no expression of CD23, asociated with absence of expression of FMC7 and surface immunoglobulins.

Abnormalities of platelet aggregation in chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

A large variety of platelet dysfunctions has been described in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. These abnormalities may be due to deficiency of platelet granules, arachidonic acid metabolism defects or platelet membrane glycoproteins abnormalities. In this study we intend to detect the incidence of platelet function defects in 76 patients with various types of chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

[Association of atypical pulmonary TB, polyserositis, severe leukopenia and panniculitis. Case report].

Many reports have associated tuberculosis with haematological abnormalities. These reports suggest that severe pulmonary tuberculosis, if associated with reduced tissue cellular reaction, may cause blood discrasias. Anemia was present in 32 percent of patients.

Laser ablation of renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma in a solitary kidney: a 9-year follow-up.

Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser ablation of upper-tract urothelial tumors has been well documented in the urologic literature. However, the standard treatment of choice remains radical nephroureterectomy with excision of a cuff of the bladder for most patients. We report on a patient with recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis in a solitary kidney treated with Nd:YAG laser with a 9-year follow-up.

Studies regarding a fibrosarcoma induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a murine cytomegalovirus. Note I. Aspects related to the character and reproduction of the tumor.

Through passages on Sprague-Dawley rats (performed during seven years) the serial transmissibility of a fibrosarcoma type tumor, with a tendency to local recurrence and locoregional metastasis formation, is demonstrated. The tumor was initially obtained by in vitro transformation of primary total rat embryonic cultures under the influence of a murine cytomegalovirus (M-CMV). In the course of passages, susceptible (S) and resistant (R) animal lines to the respective tumor could be obtained.

Treatment of ureteral calculi by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. UCLA experience.

One hundred sixteen patients underwent extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for ureteral stones. In 108 patients, the stones were manipulated pre-ESWL whereas 8 patients underwent ESWL without prior stone manipulation. Ureteral lubrication using a 2% Xylocaine jelly solution greatly facilitated the retrograde advancement of the calculus or the passage of ureteral catheters alongside the stone.

The treatment of uric acid calculi with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

A review of the first 1000 patients treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) at UCLA revealed 21 patients with uric acid renal or ureteric calculi. Using the combination of ESWL and oral urinary alkalinisation, 16/21 patients (76%) were stone-free at follow-up 3 months later and 19 patients were stone-free at 5 months. ESWL and urinary alkalinisation are complementary methods for the non-invasive treatment of uric acid renal calculi.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: impact on the radiology department of a stone treatment center.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed on 925 patients (1,222 treatments) for 446 calyceal, 345 pelvic, 172 ureteral, and 108 staghorn calculi. ESWL necessitated 6.3 KUB and 1.

Urethral gap in complete disruption of membranous urethra.

In patients with complete disruption of the membranous urethra treated initially with placement of a suprapubic cystostomy, delayed synchronous retrograde and voiding cystourethrograms failed to demonstrate accurately the distance between the two urethral ends. Radiographic exposure obtained during synchronous instrumentation of the anterior and posterior urethra in the anesthetized patient was the most precise method of defining the extent of the urethral gap. Any surgical decision should be based on this type of investigation.

Spontaneous rupture of ureter.

A patient with spontaneous ureteral rupture in the absence of obstruction or calculus disease is presented. In addition to ureteral rupture this patient also had a penile squamous cell carcinoma and infected inguinal lymph nodes. A review of the literature discloses that all reported cases with spontaneous rupture of the ureter had an underlying process leading to that rupture.