Double-blind randomised placebo-controlled phase III study of an E. coli extract plus 5-fluorouracil versus 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity (mucositis, diarrhea and leucopenia) of a therapy with 5-fluorouracil (CAS 51-21-8; 5-FU) plus an E. coli extract (LC-Extract, Laves coli extract, Colibiogen inject, cell-free soluble fraction from lysed E. coli, Laves strain) in comparison with 5-FU plus placebo. Secondary endpoints included general toxicity, response rate according to WHO, survival time and quality of life. 164 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were enrolled in this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter phase III study. The treatment consisted of 0.167 ml/kg/d LC-Extract or placebo followed by 500-750 mg/m2/d 5-FU on five consecutive days, repeated every three weeks for up to six treatment cycles. 158 (77 verum, 81 placebo) patients were evaluable for toxicity, 144 (72 verum, 72 placebo) evaluable for response. The therapy with LC-Extract was well tolerated. Adverse events that occurred during the study were mainly judged as 5-FU- or tumor-related. Toxicity from treatment with 600 mg/m2/d 5-FU in both treatment groups was very low. After treatment with 750 mg/m2/d 5-FU patients in the placebo-group experienced a higher CTC toxicity than in the LC-Extract groups. Remission rate and survival time showed a slight trend in favour of LC-Extract. These results suggest a positive benefit-risk ratio of the additional application of LC-Extract to 5-FU in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer especially for administration of high doses of 5-FU.

Dynamic Range Enhancement for Pure Rotational Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Thermometry by use of an Optical Arrangement with Two Dye Lasers.

A disadvantage of pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) compared with vibrational CARS is the limited dynamic range for temperature measurements. Here an optical configuration is described that overcomes this limitation by the use of two different center-frequency dye lasers in a dual-broadband CARS approach. Its performance is demonstrated for simultaneous pure rotational CARS temperature and relative N(2)-O(2)concentration measurements up to 1950 K at ambient pressure.

Pure rotational coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering: comparison of evaluation techniques for determining single-shot simultaneous temperature and relative n(2)-o(2) concentration.

The accuracy and precision of time-resolved simultaneous temperature and O(2)-concentration measurements in binary N(2)-O(2) mixtures by single-pulse dual-broadband pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) have been investigated. We present a detailed comparison of the applicability of six evaluation procedures to measurements of air in a temperature range 300-2050 K. Special emphasis is put on the dependence of the results on experimental restrictions and distortions. This comparison includes the least-sum-of-squared-differences fit (LSF) in the frequency space obtained by use of three different kinds of weighting with respect to signal intensity and in Fourier space by use of the complex or the cosine Fourier transformation, both of which permit a great reduction in the number of data points necessary for multidimensional evaluation. Additionally, a cross-correlation technique is tested that, to the best of our knowledge, was not previously applied to pure rotational CARS. We also present the results of measurements directed to the determination of low O(2)-concentration levels that were performed for various binary mixtures (1.0-15.6% O(2)) and for natural air within a temperature range of 300-773 K. A comparison is given for the three evaluation techniques that have proved most promising for the high-temperature investigations, i.e., the constant and the inverse weighted LSF in frequency space and the Fourier analysis technique.

Accuracy and precision of single-pulse one-dimensional vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering temperature measurements.

The accuracy and precision of time-resolved one-dimensional temperature measurements using single-pulse one-dimensional N(2) vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering along a line have been investigated in air in the temperature range from 300 to 1500 K. For this, the experimental spectra were taken in a high-temperature oven at atmospheric pressure. A planar BOXCARS phase-matching geometry was employed to generate the signal along a 6.16-mm line directed perpendicular to the beam propagation. With the used imaging optics, in this direction a spatial resolution of 86 mum was achieved. Depending on the set temperature, the agreement between the thermocouple readings and the mean values of the evalutated coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering temperatures is better than 40 K. The applicability of this new technique for the time-resolved measurement of temperature gradients is demonstrated along a line that crosses the flame front in a premixed laminar CH(4)-air flame.

Simultaneous temperature and relative nitrogen-oxygen concentration measurements in air with pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering for temperatures to as high as 2050 K.

The accuracy of temperature and simultaneous relative N(2) -O(2) concentration measurements of accumulated as well as of single-pulse rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectra has been investigated in air in the temperature range from 300 to 2050 K. The experimental spectra were taken in a high-temperature oven at atmospheric pressure for a constant oxygen concentration of 20.9% (air). The evaluation procedure is based on the energy-corrected sudden-power scaling law. The agreement of the thermocouple readings with the mean values of the evaluated coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy temperatures is higher than 50 K and independent of the temperature. The evaluated oxygen concentration is found to be in the range from 20.0 to 21.7% and is also independent of the temperature.

One-dimensional vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering thermometry.

Quantitative one-dimensional single-pulse temperature measurements by broadband N(2) vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) are presented. A planar BOXCARS phase-matching geometry was used to generate the CARS signal along a 6.16-mm path positioned perpendicularly to the beam propagation. Depending on the imaging optics used, a spatial resolution of 86 mm was achieved. The applicability of this technique for measuring temperature gradients is demonstrated in a premixed laminar CH(4) -air f lame.

Evaluation of two different gas temperatures and their volumetric fraction from broadband N(2) coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy spectra.

Technical flames often contain regions of high temperature gradients at a length scale that is smaller than or comparable with the size of the probe volume used. In these situations the coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) signal is composed of contributions of gases of different temperatures. Here a fitting routine is presented that allows the evaluation of the different temperatures that occur in the CARS spectra by splitting the temperature mixed spectra into contributions of two main temperatures. Additionally, the volumetric fraction of both gas components with those two different temperatures can be determined. The evaluation procedure has been tested by the use of measured temperature mixed CARS spectra that have been taken in two gas samples with different gas temperatures.

Sperm immobilization by dental focus microorganisms.

Focal infections and their ability to produce alterations in different tissues have been in dispute for long time. The purpose of this work was to observe "in vitro" the effect of an Escherichia coli filtrate obtained from open pulpar necrosis on human sperm motility. It was observed that the E. coli filtrate produced a loss in sperm motility. The immobilizating factor was studied and characterized as a heat-stable, resistant to lyophilization and non-dializable substance, which could via blood stream reach the male reproductive system and affect sperm motility.

"In vitro" assay of rat spermatogonial chalone in prepuberal seminiferous tubules.

The spermatogonial chalone activity is analyzed in correlation to the germinal cell population present in the seminiferous tubules of prepuberal rats. The assay is done in an "in vitro" system and aims at identifying the cell type that produces the chalone. It was found that the spermatogonial chalone is produced by the germinal cells, its production increases with the age of the animals and attains its maximum in 40 days old rats. There is a direct relationship between the amount of chalone produced and the number of spermatocytes present in the seminiferous tubules of prepuberal rats. The response of the germ cells to the chalone is maximal by 25 days of age. The apparent decrease of response in 40 days old rats may be related to the establishment of a complete germ cell line.

An "in vitro" system for the study of rat spermatogonial proliferative control.

The effect of a "testicular extract" on spermatogonial proliferation in adult rats is comparatively studied both "in vivo" and "in vitro". Both in irradiated rats injected with "testicular extract" as in testicular fragments from irradiated rats incubated in culture medium, addition of "testicular extract" elicits an inhibition in thymidine-H3 uptake by type A spermatogonia. This is not the case for non irradiated rats or incubation of testicular samples from non irradiated animals after addition of "testicular extract". The "in vitro" system for assay of the spermatogonial chalone is used to analyze the general characteristics of this mitotic inhibitor.