Fiber bundle models for stress release and energy bursts during granular shearing.

Fiber bundle models (FBMs) offer a versatile framework for representing transitions from progressive to abrupt failure in disordered material. We report a FBM-based description of mechanical interactions and associated energy bursts during shear deformation of granular materials. For strain-controlled shearing, where elements fail in a sequential order, we present analytical expressions for strain energy release and failure statistics.

Dose-dense therapy improves survival in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

This study aimed to determine whether dose-dense therapy improves 3-year survival over the standard therapy for untreated aggressive lymphoma. One hundred and fifteen patients with untreated aggressive lymphoma were stratified by center, age, and international prognostic index and randomized to one of two treatment arms. One hundred and three were eligible.

[Patient autonomy: from the clinical routine of an oncologic department].

Advance directives are an important help for physicians, patients and relatives when it comes to evaluating the patients wishes and preferences in the terminal phase of life. They also help to safeguard the patients right of self-determination. When the directives are clearly expressed and of recent date, they should be accepted without question.

A randomized study comparing interferon (IFN alpha) plus low-dose cytarabine and interferon plus hydroxyurea (HU) in early chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

This multicenter randomized phase III study was designed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of IFN alpha-2c (3.5 MU/d) in combination with either araC (10 mg/m(2) d1-10) or hydroxyurea (HU: 25 mg/kg per day) in newly diagnosed CML patients. A total of 114 patients were randomized.

Interferon-alpha for the treatment of elderly patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

The present retrospective analysis is based on data of 213 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). They were treated with interferon (IFN)alpha-2C (Berofor) at daily doses of 3.5 MU subcutaneously (s.

Early detection of minimal residual disease by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction predicts relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The PML/RAR alpha fusion RNA can be detected in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), cytogenetically characterized by the translocation t(15;17). Our study included ten newly diagnosed patients with APL who were investigated during the course of their diseases using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At diagnosis, aberrant fragments with a size heterogeneity due to alternative spliced products were detected in all patients, we observed breakpoints within bcr3 (short type) in two patients and bcr1 and 2 breakpoints (long type) in eight patients.

[Preoperative autologous blood collection under erythropoietin stimulation. Preliminary results in patient selection, erythropoietin dosage and administration].

In a randomised study we have evaluated the influence of erythropoietin (EPO) on the yield of autologous blood in elective surgery (total hip replacement). The study was performed placebo controlled in 82 patients: 25 patients received 200 IE EPO/kg 2 x/week i.v.

Toxicity and preliminary results with a new eight-drug regimen (CEOP-IMVP-DEXA) in the treatment of aggressive lymphomas.

A combination of two non-cross-resistant regimens, CEOP and IMVP-Dexa given every 4 weeks, three to six times according to response was tested in patients with untreated histological proven high and intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To date eight Austrian centres entered 37 patients in this multicentre trial. Data are available from 33 patients, three were excluded, two because of pretreatment, one because of wrong histology.

Vindesine-epirubicin versus vindesine-mitoxantrone in metastatic breast cancer.

Unlabelled: The present study was designed to assess the toxicity and efficacy of two chemotherapy protocols in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Starting in December 1985, 230 patients were randomized to receive vindesine (V) (3 mg/m2 i.v.

Amsacrine, cytarabine and thioguanine (AAT) versus daunorubicin, cytarabine, thioguanine (DAT) in adults with untreated acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). Austrian-German results.

69 patients (median age 53 years, 19-79 years old) with untreated acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were randomized to receive either a regimen of amsacrine, cytarabine, thioguanine (AAT) or daunorubicin, cytarabine, thioguanine (DAT). AAT consisted of amsacrine 200 mg/m2/day x 5, thioguanine 100 mg/m2/12 h p.o.

[Blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia. Results with vindesine and prednisolone].

Nine patients with blast crises of chronic myeloid leukaemia were treated with a combination of vindesine and prednisolone. Vindesine, 2 mg/m2, was administered intravenously on two successive days each week and prednisolone, 60 mg/m2, orally once daily. Blast crises were divided into myeloblastic and lymphoblastic ones using cytochemical parameters as well as detection of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.

Surface glycoproteins (S-GP) on normal and malignant human leukocytes.

This study aimed to investigate high molecular weight surface glycoprotein (S-GP) patterns on various types of human leukocytes. S-GP were externally labelled by the Galactose-oxidase-NaB3H4 technique. Results based on the analysis of 120 samples derived from different types of normal and malignant leukocytes indicate that the relative expression of high molecular weight S-GPs changes during haemopoietic cell differentiation and to some extent these changes enable the classification of human leukocytes.

[Non-secreting myeloma. Case report with immunohistologic and electron microscopic studies].

Immunological, immunofluorescence and electromicroscopic studies were performed in a case of atypical myeloma. The 77-year-old patient presented with skeletal pain, multiple osteolytic lesions and bone marrow infiltration by atypical plasma cells. Monoclonal light chains kappa were confined to the plasma cells, as shown by immunofluorescence.

[Results of cytostatic polychemotherapy in non-Hodgkin lymphomas].

109 patients with advanced stage non-Hodgkin lymphomas were treated with cytostatic chemotherapy. 91 of these patients were classified according to the Kiel classification as having lymphomas of low-grade malignancy, whilst the remaining 18 had lymphomas of high-grade malignancy. The primary treatment in low-grade malignant lymphomas was a combination of chlorambucil and prednisone: in case of progression or therapeutic failure more aggressive schedules (COP, C-MOPP, HOP, CHOP, BACOP) were used.

[Surface glycoproteins of normal and malignant leukocytes].

This study aimed to evaluate the molecular weight distribution patterns and the quantitative expression of surface glycoproteins (S-GP) of various differentiation stages of human leucocytes. S-GP were first exposed by treatment with neuraminidase; subsequently they were labelled by galactose-oxidase treatment followed by reduction with 3H-sodium borohydride. Labelled S-GP were separated on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of SDS and were visualized by means of fluorography.

Normal suppressor-cell activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. A study on 26 cases.

Suppressor-cell activity of 26 SLE patients suffering from active disease was compared to that of 15 healthy controls. ConA-induced and spontaneous suppression was evaluated. The mitogen-driven proliferation of normal allogeneic cells was significantly impaired by ConA-induced as well as spontaneous suppressor cells.

[Wegener's granulomatosis causing diabetes insipidus].

Very few cases of Wegener's granulomatosis which were associated with diabetes insipidus have hitherto been described. Our patient was a young man with severe (also histological) changes in the nose and paranasal sinuses. Typical pulmonal involvement developed.

[Combined chemo- and radiotherapy in small cell bronchogenic carcinoma].

During a period of 3 years 25 patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma were treated with combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The regimen was composed of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (ACO). After the first three cycles of combination chemotherapy-radiotherapy treatment was given to the primary tumor, the regional lymph nodes, the mediastinum and clinically involved cervical nodes.

[Encouraging results with cytostatic therapy in metastasizing breast cancer (author's transl)].

58 women with metastatic breast cancer, non-responsive to hormone therapy, were treated with a modified CMF regimen. After progression the combination of adriamycin and vincristine was used. With CMF the response rate was 41% (10% complete remissions, 31% partial remissions), 38% showed no change, whilst progression of the disease was observed in only 21% of patients.

Spontaneous and conA-induced suppressor lymphocytes: a comparative study.

Suppressor monocytes, Concanavalin A(ConA)-induced suppressor T cells, and short-lived suppressor lymphocytes have been describe in humans. The present study was performed to evaluate spontaneous suppression in a test system similar to that employed for the demonstration of ConA-induced suppressor cells: Lymphocytes were either stimulated by ConA (= induced suppressor cells) or immediately mitomycin-treated (= spontaneous suppressor cells). Both preparations were tested for their capacity to suppress mitogen-induced proliferation of autologous cells.