In-situ investigations on small-scale local and short-term changes of sublittoral macrobenthos in Lübeck Bay (western Baltic Sea)

In-situ studies on sublittoral soft bottom macrofauna (depth: 14–16 m) employing the underwater laboratory (UWL) “Helgoland” were carried out. Sets of samples were compared for small-scale local and short-term changes in species richness, faunal abundance, numerical dominance, diversity, evenness, homogeneity, and similarity. It could be shown that minor differences in sediment quality can cause conspicuous heterogeneity within a small sampling area (diameter: ca. 100 m). Both spatfall and mortality of benthic invertebrates can change the faunal structure within a short period (two months). The degree of change varies between species and thus at stations harbouring different faunal assemblages as well.     

A phase I/II study of recombinant interferon alpha 2a and hydroxyurea for chronic myelocytic leukemia

Nine previously untreated patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) were treated with recombinant interferon alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) and hydroxyurea. Patients received 6 X 10(6) U rIFN-alpha 2a daily for the first week and 3 X 10(6) U rIFN-alpha 2a daily for the second week. As maintenance treatment starting on day 15, patients received 3 X 10(6) U rIFN-alpha 2a 3 times a week. Simultaneously, hydroxyurea was given, starting at a dose of 40 mg/kg on day one. The maintenance dosage was adjusted to the white blood cell count. Two patients responded with complete hematological remissions but without cytogenetic and molecular-genetic improvements. Seven patients responded with partial hematological remissions. Response to therapy was rapid; normal white blood cell counts were reached after a median of 12 days. The doses of rIFN-alpha 2a and hydroxyurea needed to keep the leucocyte count in the normal range were low (3 X 10(6) U rIFN-alpha 2a 3 times per week, 0.5-1.5 g hydroxyurea/day). Acute toxicity of the combination therapy consisted of fever (9 of 9 patients), flulike symptoms (7 of 9 patients), pruritus and/or rash (3 of 9 patients) and evidence of a tumor cell lysis syndrome (1 of 9 patients). The side effects were not dose-limiting. Combination therapy with rIFN-alpha 2a and hydroxyurea for CML is well tolerated and allows quick and effective hematological control of the disease.     

Low-dose Ara-C in the treatment of acute leukemia. Cytotoxicity or differentiation induction?

The differentiation inducing effect of low-dose Ara-C on human myeloid leukemic cells was studied in two patients with subacute myelocytic and subacute myelomonocytic leukemia in vivo and in vitro. By continuous i.v. administration of 10 mg Ara-C/m2 over 12 h daily for 12 or 20 days complete remissions were obtained in both patients with normalization of the incidence of the committed progenitor cells BFU-E and CFU-C in the marrow while the incidence of pluripotent CFU-GEMM remained subnormal. Parallel cultures of the patients' bone marrow cells in diffusion chambers (DC) implanted in mice demonstrated a clear cytotoxic effect of low-dose Ara-C. The greater increase of granulopoietic cells within DC in the Ara-C exposed group than in control mice after the end of drug administration is, in addition, an indication for differentiation induction by this kind of Ara-C therapy.     

Moult cycle and morphogenesis inHyas araneus larvae (decapoda,majidae), reared in the laboratory

Moult cycle and morphogenesis in larval instars (zoea I, zoea II, megalopa) of the spider crabHyas araneus (L.) were studied in the laboratory. Changes in the epidermis and cuticle were documented photographically at daily intervals to characterize the stages of the moult cycle. Stage A (early postmoult) is a very short period during which the larva takes up water. During late postmoult (B) and intermoult (C) the endocuticle is secreted, and there is conspicuous epidermal tissue condensation and growth. The onset of early premoult (D₀) is characterized by epidermal apolysis, occurring first at the bases of the setae in the telson of zoeal instars or in the rostrum of the megalopa, respectively. Intermediate premoult (D₁) is the main period of morphogenesis, in particular of setogenesis: in the setae of the zoeal telson and carapace there is invagination or (in the zoea II) degeneration of epidermal tissues. Formation of new setae in the interior of epidermal tubules was observed in zoeal maxillipeds and in the antennae of the zoea II and megalopa instars. During late premoult (Stages D_2–4) part of the new cuticle is secreted, and the results of morphogenesis become clearly visible. For technical reasons (rigid exoskeleton) only a preliminary account of the moult cycle in the megalopa can be given. A time schedule is suggested for the stages of the moult cycle. It is estimated that postmoult (A–B) takes ca 9 to 15 % of total instar duration, intermoult (C) ca 22 to 37 %, and premoult (D) ca 48 to 69 %. There is an increasing trend of relative portions of time (% of total instar duration) from instar to instar in Stages A–C (mainly in the latter) and a decreasing trend in Stage D (mainly in D₀ and D_2–4).     

The iron electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) of 4-Fe clusters in iron-sulfur proteins from Chromatium and Clostridium pasteurianum.

Iron electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) measurements were made of the 4-Fe clusters in oxidized Chromatium high-potential iron-sulfur protein, dithionite-reduced high-potential iron-sulfur protein in 80% dimethylsulphoxide, fully reduced Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin in aqueous solution and in 80% dimethylsulfoxide. The hyperfine couplings determined show that: i) the electron distribution in each case is nearly symmetric; ii) there are two types of iron in oxidized high potential iron-sulfur protein; iii) only one type of iron is observed in each fully reduced 4-Fe cluster; iv) the data also suggest a greater electron delocalization onto the ligands as compared to the 2-Fe ferredoxins.     

Long-term platinum retention after treatment with cisplatin and oxaliplatin

Background  

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term platinum retention in patients treated with cisplatin and oxaliplatin.     

Structural study of the solutions of acidic polysaccharides. II. Study of some thermodynamic properties of the dilute pectin solutions with different degrees of esterification

Light-scattering and surface tension measurements have been used to study the structure and thermodynamic properties of aqueous-salt solutions of pectins, with the degree of esterification (DE) varying from 5 to 100%. Pectin macromolecules were found in the form of aggregates with $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{w}}\text{= 5 × 10}{}^5\text{to}\text{1·1 × 10}{}^6\text{D}$. The second virial coefficient of pectin was negative in these poor solvents and independent of the DE. Pectins exhibited surface activity at the air-water interface, the magnitude of this activity also being independent of the DE.