Ifosfamide, vindesine and recombinant alpha-interferon combination chemotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Among 29 evaluable patients with progressive metastatic renal cell cancer treated by interferon alpha 2b in combination with vindesine and ifosfamide, we have observed an objective (complete and partial) response rate of 24.1% and an overall (complete and partial response and stable disease) response rate of 58.6%. The median duration of remission has not yet been reached, but the survival of responding patients is considerably longer than that of non-responders. Because we could not find any differences (sex, age, WHO performance status, prior therapy, site of metastatic disease) between responding and non-responding patients, we believe that the treatment might modify intrinsic characteristics of the tumour growth and/or host-tumour relationship in the long term. Although the toxicity recorded is high, the results are sufficiently positive to justify further investigation of this approach.

[Follow-up study on antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and cell-mediated cytotoxicity to HBs-antigen conjugated target cells in patients with hepatitis B (author's transl)]. / Antikörperabhängige zellbedingte Zytotoxizität (ADCC) und zellvermittelte Zytotoxizität (CMC) gegenüber HBs-Antigen gekoppelten Targetzellen bei Patienten mit Hepatitis B.

Results of a follow up study on ADCC and CMC to HBs antigen conjugated target cells in patients with hepatitis B are given. The cytotoxic reaction was measured immediately after onset of the disease, three weeks and three months thereafter CMC was increased over the whole observation period. The results in hepatitis B patients were significantly different to those in normal controls. The ADCC in the presence of an antiserum to HBs antigen was in patients with hepatitis B immediately after onset of the disease reduced in comparison to the controls; it increased during the three months to the values of the controls in patients with uncomplicated disease. Experiments with isolated lymphocyte populations showed that the ADCC is mainly dependent on Fc receptor bearing lymphocytes whereas the CMC is mediated by T-cells and Fc-receptor bearing cells.

[Lactoferrin levels in pure pancreatic secretion of chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)]. / Lactoferrinkonzentration im reinen Pankreassekret bei chronischer Pankreatitis.

As compared to 20 controls, 14 patients with chronic pancreatitis showed a significantly higher lactoferrin level in pure pancreatic secretion. The determination of lactoferrin levels in pure pancreatic secretion is an important parameter in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) to HBsAg-coated target cells in patients with hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis (CAH).

A new technique using HBsAg-coated Chang cells as target cells was developed in order to measure cell-mediated immune reactions to HBsAg. The specificity of cytotoxic reactions was tested in experiments using Chang cells conjugated with human serum albumin. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) specific for the HBsAg-coated target cells was demonstrated up to dilutions of anti-HBsAg serum of 10,000 : 1, when lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of normal individuals were added to the target cells. Spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) to HBsAg-coated target cells was demonstrated for lymphocytes from patients with hepatitis B and from patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), but not for lymphocytes from healthy controls. The CMC of hepatitis B lymphocytes to HBsAg-coated target cells was inhibited in the presence of antiserum to HBsAg. In experiments using purified lymphocyte populations evidence is presented that the CMC is T-cell dependent. HLA-restriction of the CMC was not observed. The described cytotoxicity test system has the advantage that target cells conjugated with defined antigens are used and that relevant control target cells are available.

Brachiopods: biomechanical interdependences governing their origin and phylogeny.

The adaptive advantage of epibenthic articulate brachiopods over inarticulate forms resulted from a modification of the mechanics of shell opening from an indirect hydraulic system to a direct muscular one. As a consequence, the articulate brachiopods were able to reduce the complex muscular system of the ancestral inarticulates, freeing two-thirds of the space within the shell for enlargement of the feeding apparatus. The original hydraulic mechanism of the inarticulate brachiopods most likely evolved from the hydrostatic skeleton of metameric lower invertebrates, probably polychaete-like annelids, as shown by a biomechanical analysis. The transitional stages between such annelids and inarticulate brachiopods are presented and explained as adaptive improvements in body construction.

Studies on lymphocytotoxicity in acute and chronic liver disease.

The cytotoxicity of lymphocytes from patients with chronic active hepatitis, chronic persistent hepatitis, acute hepatitis B and rheumatoid arthritis as well as from normal controls was studied in a microcytotoxicity assay according to COHEN et al. using 125I-iododeoxyuridine labeled embryonal liver cells and Chang cells as target cells. Unfractionated lymphocytes of the peripheral blood from patients with chronic active hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis showed a high frequency of cytotoxic activity. The lymphocytotoxicity in chronic active hepatitis was significantly increased in comparison to normal controls at the EC/TC of 10:1 and 100:1. Specificity of the cytotoxic reaction to target cells could not be demonstrated. Addition of autologous serum to the cytotoxic assay blocked the lymphocytotoxicity in patients with chronic active hepatitis. A weak potentiating effect on lymphocytotoxicity was observed in patients with hepatitis B after addition of autologous serum. It is discussed that this reaction is due to the presence of HB-antigen in the serum since addition of HB-antigen from other sources increased also the lymphocytotoxicity in hepatitis B patients. This effect was observed neither in HB-antigen positive nor in HB-antigen negative patients with chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatisis.

[Long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Experiences with D-penicillamine in comparison with gold and immunosuppressive drugs (author's transl)]. / Langzeitbehandlung der primär chronischen Polyarthritis. Erfahrungen mit D-Penicillamin im Vergleich mit Goldpräparaten und Immunsuppressiva

In a controlled trial including 80 patients suffering from different stages of rheumatoid arthritis it was demonstrated that D-penicillamine therapy favourably influences the clinical course of the disease as compared to a control group treated with antirheumatic drugs. Particularly the therapy continued over one year resulted in a significant fall of the joint and activity index as well as of the BSR. Side effects were observed in more than half of the cases. Renal, hematological and severe exanthematic complications forced to discontinue the administration of D-penicillamine in 6 of 41 cases. As compared to other therapeutics our study indicates that D-penicillamine and gold treatment are equivalent drugs in rheumatoid arthritis whereas immunosuppressive drugs are reserved for severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis because of their strong side effects.