Review: Modes and Processes of Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD).

In this review, severe plastic deformation (SPD) is considered as a materials processing technology. The deformation mode is the principal characteristic differentiating SPD techniques from common forming operations. For large plastic strains, deformation mode depends on the distribution of strain rates between continuum slip lines and can be varied from pure shear to simple shear.

Oxaliplatin added to 5-fluorouracil-based therapy (5-FU +/- FA) in the treatment of 5-FU-pretreated patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (ACRC): results from the European compassionate-use program.

Purpose: To provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) when given as a 2-6-hour i.v. infusion, alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU +/- FA) in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (ACRC) who have failed 5-FU-based therapy.

Dual enzyme multi-layer bioreactors: analytical modeling and experimental studies.

Enzymic reactors are developed for a variety of biomedical-biotechnological applications, including blood detoxification. For the latter, an appropriate approach is to use enzymes of the Mercapturic Acid Pathway. The first two enzymes of this pathway are Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (gamma GT).

Nedocromil sodium ameliorates skin manifestations in a murine model of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Dermal fibrosis, loss of cutaneous appendages, and loss of subcutaneous fat are the main manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in mice. Mast cells (MC) may have a role in cGVHD. To investigate this point we have evaluated the effect of a MC stabilizer (nedocromil sodium) and a MC activator (compound 48/80) on skin manifestations in a murine model of cGVHD (B10.

Regulation of the functional activity of mast cells and fibroblasts by mononuclear cells in murine and human chronic graft-vs.-host disease.

Mast cell (MC)-fibroblast-immunocompetent cell interactions may play a role in the inflammatory and fibrotic processes present in chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGVHD). Interactions between these cell types were examined in both murine and human cGVHD models.

Prostaglandin E2 production by chronic graft-versus-host disease dermal fibroblasts.

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) across minor histocompatibility barriers is associated with the development of cutaneous fibrosis, disappearance of mast cells and immunosuppression. The idea, which has been the basis of our previous and present studies, is that fibroblasts are not only a target for modulation in cGVHD, but also have effector roles in this condition. In the present study we investigated the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and of collagen by cultured dermal fibroblasts obtained from cGVHD and control mice.

Ketotifen therapy in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD): effect on mast cells and fibroblasts.

Current treatment options for cGVHD are limited. Mast cells (MC) and fibroblasts have been shown to play a role in the murine model of cGVHD. Ketotifen is an anti-H-1 antihistamine with MC-stabilizing properties.

[Liver transplantation, vascular complications, role of imaging, percutaneous therapeutic possibilities].

Duplex Doppler ultrasound should be the first investigation when a vascular complication is suspected. Serial examinations may increase sensitivity. Color imaging enhances identification of small vessels and increases specificity.

Effect of coculture of rodent mast cells with murine chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)-derived fibroblasts.

We investigated whether murine chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)-derived skin fibroblasts maintain the viability and functional activity of rat peritoneal connective tissue-mast cells (CTMCs) and whether they affect the change in phenotype of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Skin fibroblasts were isolated before the development of fibrosis (day 5), during overt fibrosis (day 28), and after recovery from fibrosis (day 120). cGVHD fibroblasts of days 5 and 28 exhibited enhanced proliferation, a property that was maintained through several subcultures.

Mast Cell and Fibroblast Functional Activity Are Affected by Immunocompetent Cells in Chronic Grafts-vs.-Host Disease.

Mast cells (MC)-fibroblast interactions may have a role in chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes. Chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGVHD) is an autoimmune-like process mediated by immunocompetent T cells resulting in sclerodermoid, fibrotic skin lesions.

Effects of interleukins on connective tissue type mast cells co-cultured with fibroblasts.

We investigated the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on mouse and rat peritoneal mast cells (MC) co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts (MC/3T3). The continuous presence of these cytokines for 7-9 days in the culture media was neither toxic nor caused proliferation of MC, as determined by the stability of MC numbers in culture. Long-term incubation of mouse MC/3T3 with IL-2 (100 U/ml), IL-3 (50 U/ml), IL-4 (50 U/ml) or a mixture of IL-3 and IL-4 (25 U/ml) induced an increase in basal histamine release of 79.

Morphological evidence for chronic mast cell activation after prolonged exposure with supernatants from chronic graft-versus-host splenocytes.

Chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGVHD) includes a syndrome of inflammatory and fibrotic changes in some respects resembling scleroderma. In the present study we have quantitated the number of peritoneal mast cells (MC) in mice with cGVHD induced across minor histocompatibility barriers.

[Directed cloning of the HLA-B27 gene isolated from a patient with ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew's disease)].

The authors have used the modified method of the direct gene cloning suggested by Nichols et al to isolate HLA-B27 gene from a patient suffering from ankylosing spondylitis. Five restriction enzymes (ClaI, HindIII, SnaBI, PvuI, SalGI) which had no recognition sites within the 6.0 kb EcoRI-BamHI-DNA fragment supposedly containing the HLA-B27 gene have been chosen by blotting-hybridization of the restriction fragments of the patients DNA with HLA-B27-specific probe.

Histamine release from mouse and rat mast cells cultured with supernatants from chronic murine graft-vs-host splenocytes.

There is growing interest in studying pathways of mast cell activation. In a mouse model of chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) extensive mast cell activation and degranulation occurs in vivo coincident with the development of dermal fibrosis. An interesting feature of this model is that the mast cell reaction is slow to develop, occurring over a period of weeks and waning by 300 days.

[HLA class I antigens: from molecular-genetic analysis to their role in the etiopathogenesis of various rheumatic diseases].

The published data on the structure and chromosomal localization of HLA-system, structure of HLA-genes of the I class are presented. The possible mechanisms are discussed for formation of allelic polymorphism of transplantation antigens. Some approaches to study the relation of their structure and function are also discussed.