Treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma with 5-FU, leucovorin, interferon-alpha-2b, and cisplatin

Previous laboratory and clinical studies support the ability of interferon (IFN) to enhance the antitumor properties of chemotherapy agents, including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A phase I-II clinical trial was initiated to treat several tumor types with IFN-alpha-2b, cisplatin, 5-FU, and leucovorin (LV), given daily for 5 days of a 28-day cycle. Because of preliminary results, this was continued as a phase II trial in 18 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Each treatment day consisted of IFN 5 million u/m2 s.c. (maximum, 10 million U), CDDP 20 mg/m2 i.v. over 1 h, LV 20 mg/m2 i.v.p., and 5-FU 250-275 mg/m2 i.v.p. All patients had measurable disease with no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease, and all had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1. Six of the 16 patients evaluable for response had partial responses (PRs) (37.5%) with a median response duration of 4 months, and all responding patients survived > or = 8 months. Median survival of all 18 treated patients was 5 months. Severe gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, diarrhea, or requirement for i.v. hydration) was common. Grade 4 hematologic toxicity was seen in six patients. The response rate observed is promising and supports the concept that IFN may potentiate the effects of standard chemotherapy agents. However, the toxicities observed with this dosage schedule were considerable and further studies are needed to develop a less toxic regimen.

Computing illumination-invariant descriptors of spatially filtered color image regions

Spatial filters provide a useful and efficient means of analyzing an input color image into components that capture different spatial properties. Representations based on spatial filtering have restricted usefulness for recognition, however, because the output of a spatial filter across an image depends on the scene illumination conditions. We use a physically accurate linear model for spectral reflectance to derive invariants of distributions in spatially filtered color images that do not depend on the scene illumination. These invariants can be used for the illumination-invariant recognition of regions following an arbitrary linear filtering operation. We describe a method for illumination correction based on color distributions and introduce an illumination change consistency constraint that is useful for verifying matches obtained using the invariants. We show, using a set of classification experiments, that the filtered distribution invariants can significantly improve the capability of a recognition system in environments where illumination cannot be controlled.

Sialylation of intestinal microvillar membranes in newborn, sucking and weaned pigs

Affinity cytochemistry and biochemistry revealed distinctive temporal changes in the expression of sialylated and compositionally related membrane glycoconjugates in the pig small intestine between birth and weaning. The expression of membrane NeuAc alpha 2,6 moieties, recognized by Sambucus nigra agglutinin-1, was high in newborn pigs, declined slightly during sucking and was very low in weaned animals. Conversely, the expression of membrane NeuAc alpha 2.3 moieties, recognized by Maackia amurensis agglutinin-2, was low at birth but higher in sucking and weaned animals. Histoblood group O- and A-antigen expression was first detected in a minority of sucking pigs, but was evident in all weaned pigs examined. Lactase glycoforms were isolated from solubilized microvillar membranes of newborn and weaned pigs. The newborn (predominantly alpha 2,6-sialylated) and weaned (predominantly alpha 1,2-fucosylated) glycoforms exhibited similar specific activity, indicating that postnatal lactase decline in the pig intestine is unrelated to temporal changes in membrane sialylation and fucosylation.

Implication of mRNA binding proteins in the regulation of cyclo-oxygenase in human amnion at term

The onset of labour is associated with an increase in prostaglandin synthesis in amnion which appears to be mediated at least in part by an increase in cyclo-oxygenase (COX) expression. We have tested the hypothesis that COX expression is controlled in amnion by the binding of a protein to the COX mRNA which may inhibits its translation, as has been seen in vascular smooth muscle cells. Using differential RNA extraction protocols which extract either total mRNA or only mRNA which is not protein bound, we have found that, in amnion, the increase in COX-2 expression seen after the onset of labour is entirely in the protein bound fraction. Unlike in vascular smooth muscle, increased expression of COX-2 in amnion cells is therefore associated with increased rather than decreased protein binding to the mRNA. This protein may be involved in translation initiation or elongation or in mRNA stability. There does not appear to be a protein bound COX-1 mRNA fraction.

The expression of phospholipase A2 and lipocortins (annexins) I, II and V in human fetal membranes and placenta in association with labour

We have studied the expression of the cellular, type two phospholipase A2 and lipocortins (annexins) I, II and V in human amnion, chorion-decidua and placenta using northern analysis. We found no difference in the expression of phospholipase A2 or lipocortin V in tissues obtained before or after labour. Lipocortin I expression was found to decrease in amnion and placenta but increase in chorion decidua with the onset of labour, while expression of lipocortin II increased only in amnion. These results support the hypothesis that the increased phospholipase A2 activity in the fetal membranes and placenta which is associated with labour is not due to increased phospholipase A2 gene expression, but that post translational control of phospholipase A2 activity may be mediated through changes in lipocortin I expression.

Multinucleated stromal giant cells in ulcerative colitis

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T cell lymphoid aggregates in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

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The relative abundance of type 1 to type 2 cyclo-oxygenase mRNA in human amnion at term

The onset of labor in humans is associated with an increase in prostaglandin production. One of the key steps is the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2 by cyclo-oxygenase (Cox). Cox has been found to exist as two distinct genes, Cox-1 and Cox-2. We have used RT-PCR to study the relative abundance of mRNA from each Cox gene in amnion at term. Quantitation of PCR efficiency indicated an approximate 100 fold excess of Cox-2 messenger RNA over that for Cox-1. These data point to the importance of Cox-2 in the increased prostaglandin synthesis associated with labor. Further studies should therefore focus on the control mechanisms for Cox-2.