Induction of immunity and inflammation by interleukin-12 family members.

The interleukin (IL)-12 family is composed of three heterodimeric cytokines, IL-12 (p40p35), IL-23 (p40p19), and IL-27 (EBI3p28), and of monomeric and homodimeric p40. This review focuses on the three heterodimeric members of the IL-12 family. The p40 and p40-like (EBI3) subunits have homology to the IL-6R, the other subunits (p35, p19, and p28) are homologous to each other and to members of the IL-6 superfamily. On the basis of their structural similarity, it was expected that the members of the IL-12 family have overlapping pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. However, it was surprising that they also show very distinct activities. IL- 12 has a central role as a Th1-inducing and -maintaining cytokine, which is essential in cell-mediated immunity in nonviral infections and in tumor control. IL-23 recently emerged as an end-stage effector cytokine responsible for autoimmune chronic inflammation through induction of IL-17 and direct activation of macrophages. Very recently, IL-27 was found to exert not only a pro-inflammatory Thl-enhancing but also a significant anti-inflammatory function.

[Revision of the radium isodose atlas of Göttingen with a new calculation method]. / Revision des Göttinger Radiumisodosenatlas mit einem neuen Rechenverfahren.

The Radium Isodose Atlas of Göttingen was recalculated after having established a new computer program for the determination of dose distributions around intracavitary radium inserts. The program takes into consideration the complicated structure of the radium applicators type Buchler. The exactness of the program was checked by computing known radium sources and by detailed measures. The calculated dose values were reduced by 30% on an average with respect to the original measurements. This difference is explained mainly by the dependence on energy of the Cds dosimeter used at that time (1959). The clinically evaluated dose has not been changed (identical milligram element hours), however, a comparison of radium doses with other hospitals and with an additional percutaneous irradiation has become possible by the recalculation. Point A has been redefined according to international practice.

A simple function describing the absorption in platinum for dose-rate calculations around radium applicators.

The diminution of exposure rate from radium gamma radiation by filtration through platinum can be described very accurately by gamma 0/(1 + mu0d) for wall thickness d from 0.2 mm to 4.0 mm (gamma 0 = 6.356 x 10(-5) A m2/kg2 or 8.869 R cm2 h-1 mg-1; mu0 = 1.501 cm-1). This function fits generally accepted data to within experimental error, to an accuracy not achieved by any single exponential factor. The expression is derived theoretically from a simple approximation to the spectral distribution of radium gamma radiation. With this type of transmission function, the expression for the exposure rate around linear radium sources in platinum tubes (generalized Sievert integral) is readily integrated in terms of elementary functions. Used in place of the Sievert integral in calculations of dose distributions, this new fomulation makes possible straightforward numerical evaluation and avoids the storage of tabulated values in computer programmes.