Investigation of antirelaxation coatings for alkali-metal vapor cells using surface science techniques.

Many technologies based on cells containing alkali-metal atomic vapor benefit from the use of antirelaxation surface coatings in order to preserve atomic spin polarization. In particular, paraffin has been used for this purpose for several decades and has been demonstrated to allow an atom to experience up to 10 000 collisions with the walls of its container without depolarizing, but the details of its operation remain poorly understood. We apply modern surface and bulk techniques to the study of paraffin coatings in order to characterize the properties that enable the effective preservation of alkali spin polarization. These methods include Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We also compare the light-induced atomic desorption yields of several different paraffin materials. Experimental results include the determination that crystallinity of the coating material is unnecessary, and the detection of C[Double Bond]C double bonds present within a particular class of effective paraffin coatings. Further study should lead to the development of more robust paraffin antirelaxation coatings, as well as the design and synthesis of new classes of coating materials.

Childhood lymphoblastic cancer: subgroups defined by nonhuman primate antisera to human lymphatic leukemia cell antigens.

Lymphoblasts from 23 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 10 with lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) were studied by complement-dependent microcytoxicity tests with two nonhuman primate antisera defining leukemia-associated and lymphoma-associated antigens. Cells form 15 patients with ALL and 1 with LBL reacted only with antiserum to chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL). These group-I patients were predominantly female. Most were pancytopenic and lacked mediastinal widening and T-cell markers; lymphoblasts from 15 were periodic acid-Schiff-positive. Cells from 8 male patients reacted only with antiserum to converted lymphosarcoma (LS). All these group-II patients expressed T-cell markers; 5 had mediastinal enlargement and 2, an abdominal mass. Six of the 8 were PAS-negative. Cells from 9 patients reacted with both antisera. The group-III patients demonstrated some characteristics of each of the above groups. Patients whose lymphoblasts reacted with CLL antiserum presented with clinical and laboratory features indicative of a good prognosis, i.e., ALL with PAS positivity and no T-cell markers or localized mass. Patients whose cells reacted with LS antiserum often had bad prognostic features: mediastinal or abdominal mass, expression of T-cell markers, and PAS negativity. These antisera appear able to differentiate childhood ALL from LBL. The distinction is important prognostically and perhaps therapeutically.

Inhibition of human granulocyte function by methotrexate.

Patients receiving cytotoxic drugs are at an increased risk of bacterial infection. Drug-induced leukopenia may be responsible for depression of host defenses; however, there is little information concerning the qualitative effects, if any, of cytotoxic agents on granulocyte antibacterial activity. Since methotrexate is now being used in massive doses in vivo, we investigated the effects of this drug on antibacterial and metabolic functions of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro. Phagocytosis, quantitative protein iodination, and staphylococcal killing of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found to decrease with exposure to increasing concentrations of methotrexate. The effects of methotrexate on these cell functions were rapid in onset and readily reversed by washing the cells, suggesting a locus of action on the cell membrane rather than at the level of nucleic acid synthesis. Exposure of cells to similar concentrations of folic acid or folinic acid produced no impairment of bacterial phagocytosis, suggesting that the observed effects are specific for methotrexate. The concentrations of methotrexate that produced these impairments are readily achieved in vivo and may alter antibacterial defenses in patients receiving this therapy.

L-Asparaginase, vincristine, and prednisone for induction of first remission in acute lymphocytic leukemia.

L-Asparaginase was added to vincristine and prednisone for induction of first remission in 815 children with acute lymphocytic or acute undifferentiated leukemia. This combination resulted in an overall remission rate of 93%. The addition of L-asparaginse to the standard induction regimen using prednisone and vincristine did not significantly increase the morbidity or mortality rate during the induction period. The most common side effect was transient L-asparaginase-induced hyperglycemia. The safe administration of L-asparaginase i.m. and the dose efficacy of 6000 I.U./sq m were confirmed. For these reasons, L-asparaginase should be combined with vincristine and prednisone for the initial induction of children with acute lymphocytic or acute undifferentiated leukemia.

Psychosocial care in malignant diseases of childhood: organizational and structural implications.

The desirable level of psychosocial care for the malignant diseases of childhood will not occur spontaneously due to the complexity of the treatment, the numerous skills and specialties involved, and the predictably high level of parental and child needs. A philosophy of total care will require careful and explicit formulation. Once the philosophy is established, the organization and its components must structure the care in such a manner as to assure delivery of total medical-psychosocial management. Specific methods can be incorporated which will support the care deliverers who, in turn, provide the care for the nuclear family unit. Such methods may include parent group meetings, care conference rounds, and emotional-psychologic management conferences as discussed.

Successful treatment of varicella pneumonia with prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a child with leukemia.

A 5-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in complete continuous remission developed life-threatening varicella pneumonia and acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI). The child recovered after 92 hours of partial venoarterial perfusion with a membrane oxygenator. Functional asplenia developed. Serial pulmonary function tests after perfusion indicate moderately severe restrictive lung disease which has slightly improved during an 18 month period.

Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a one-tube, three-color method for obtaining absolute CD4 counts and CD4:CD8 ratios.

An increasing number of assays to determine absolute CD4 counts are being performed as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic continues. Simultaneously, there is increasing pressure to contain costs in the clinical laboratory. A rapid, one-tube, three-color method for obtaining CD4 counts has been evaluated for accuracy, compared with a more traditional two-color panel of markers. The data, compiled on 102 patients, including both pediatric and adult human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, indicate a high degree of correlation between the one-tube method and a traditional panel. This approach should be considered for cost-effective and accurate CD4 determinations.

Trisomy 14 in two cases of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Cytogenetic analysis of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary was performed in two patients. G-banding analysis of cells cultured 3-5 days showed that the karyotype of each tumor contained normal diploid cells as well as cells with identical aberration: trisomy 14. This is the first report of trisomy 14 in two cases of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Flow cytometric DNA content analysis was also performed.

Multiple chromosome aberrations in an infant with acute monoblastic leukemia.

A male infant was diagnosed at age 16 months with acute monoblastic leukemia. At diagnosis, studies of bone marrow revealed multiple chromosome aberrations: 48,XY,+8,+19,t(4;11). Chromosome studies have been repeated at remission and relapse over the course of his disease. To our knowledge, this combination of chromosome abnormalities has not been previously reported.

Cancer clusters: the importance of monitoring multiple geographic scales.

Analysis of cancer incidence data at a variety of geographic scales provides surveillance information that can allay fears of the general public, prevent costly and unwarranted epidemiologic studies driven by political pressures, and target appropriate cases for further investigation. We systematically examined New Jersey Cancer Registry data (1979-1985) for childhood and young adult (0-24 years) cancers at multiple geographic scales--at the state level, then by degree of urbanization, county boundaries, and minor civil divisions. The state had increased rates for some cancers when compared to four other SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) states. No meaningful patterns at either the most urban/suburban/most rural scales or at the county level of analysis were found. At the minor civil division level, the Ederer, Myers and Mantel method found evidence of clustering of pediatric and young adult cases statewide. Stratification of cases by race yielded even stronger findings and indicated that whites had clustering of cases for several cancer types. In-depth analysis of individual cases yielded hypotheses for investigating identified clusters.

Detection and monitoring of a concomitant atypical myeloproliferative disorder and chronic lymphocytic leukemia by flow-cytometric immunophenotyping.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the utility of a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies to detect secondary processes or unexpected characteristics of the primary blood dyscrasia. DESIGN: Case report and discussion. SETTING: Regional academic medical center. PATIENT: A 64-year-old man presenting with an apparent acute myeloid leukemia. INTERVENTIONS: Sequential immunophenotyping with a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies to monitor progression of disease and response to therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Identification and monitoring of the two atypical populations in this patient with correlation to the clinical status of the patient. RESULTS: Identification of an unsuspected mature lymphoid clone and characterization of the evolution of the myelomonocytic clone. CONCLUSION: The evolving mature lymphoid clone may have been overlooked in the context of a predominant atypical myeloproliferative process, particularly if a limited panel of monoclonal antibodies had been used for immunophenotyping. Sequential immunophenotyping was useful in monitoring the progression of each atypical process.

New Jersey pediatric hematology oncology.

Less than three decades ago, adequate facilities and trained medical and support personnel to treat pediatric cancer were not available in New Jersey. Seven hospitals have the expertise and multidisciplinary teams that collaborate through the New Jersey Pediatric Hematology Oncology Network.

Childhood and young adult cancer in New Jersey.

Cancer incidence rates for 0 to 24 years of age were examined for New Jersey for 1979-1985. New Jersey rates generally were higher than the comparison states. They were most like those of Connecticut, the state most similar in demographics, geography, and degree of urbanization.

Quantitative measurements of injections into porous media with contrast based MRI.

Porous flow occurs in a wide range of materials and applies to many commercially relevant applications such as oil recovery, chemical reactors and contaminant transport in soils. Typically, breakthrough and pressure curves of column floods are used in the laboratory characterization of these materials. These characterization methods lack the detail to easily and unambiguously resolve flow mechanisms with similar effects at the core scale that can dominate at the aquifer or oil field scale, as well as the effects of geometry that control the flow at interfaces as in a perforated well or the inlet of an improperly designed column. Non-invasive imaging techniques such as MRI have been shown to provide a far more detailed characterization of the properties of the solid matrix and flow, but usually focus on the intrinsic flow properties of porous media or matching a numerical model to a complex flow system. We show that these MRI techniques, utilizing paramagnetic tagging in combination with a carefully controlled and ideal flow system, can quantitatively characterize the effects of geometry and intrinsic flow properties for a point injection into a core. The use of a carefully controlled and 'idealized' system is essential to be able to isolate and match predicted effects from geometry and extract subtle flow processes omitted in the model that would be hidden in a more heterogeneous system. This approach provides not only a tool to understand the behavior of intentional boundary effects, but also one to diagnose the unintentional ones that often degrade the data from routine column flood measurements.