Objective responses after fractionated infusional brachytherapy of unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma is poor. Therefore, the treatment potential of an intratumoral infusional brachytherapy using macroaggregated human albumin in combination with radioactive chromic phosphate [32P] was investigated in this group of patients. METHODS: Seventeen patients with unresectable tumors received intratumoral infusional brachytherapy. Treatment and assessment of response was performed with the aid of ultrasonography. RESULTS: Four patients had complete response with a duration ranging from 2-57 weeks and 5 patients had partial response with a duration ranging from 4-21 weeks, corresponding to an objective response of 53% (9 of 17 patients). Six of these patients were alive 33-57 weeks after treatment. Radiation necrosis was observed in 1 patient after a 19,000-gray cumulative radiation dose and a slight decrease in blood counts was observed in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoral infusional brachytherapy using radioactive colloidal chromic phosphate has the potential to reduce inoperable pancreatic tumors with few side effects.

The ultrastructure of specialized contacts between small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the guinea pig.

The plasma membranes of small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of guinea pig have been investigated with thin section electron microscopy and freeze-fracture technique. Gap junctional elements and tight junctional strands were found between adjacent cells in the freeze-fractured material.

Fracture-flip: new high-resolution images of cell surfaces after carbon stabilization of freeze-fractured membranes.

We introduce fracture-flip, a method of obtaining high-resolution views of membrane surfaces. The method, a corollary of label-fracture, is based on the stabilization of the exoplasmic halves of membranes by carbon evaporation. Inversion of these casts followed by Pt/C imaging leads to new views of the cell surface at macromolecular resolution.

Cytochemical localization of Ca2+-ATPase activity in the guinea pig sympathetic ganglia.

Cytochemical techniques were used to study the localization of a calcium-dependent ATPase in sympathetic ganglia of the guinea pig. Enzymatic activity was revealed on the external surface of the plasma membranes of both neurons and satellite cells. The neurons displayed enzymatic activity in the membranes of non-specialized neuronal boundaries as well as at synaptic specializations. In some terminals the synaptic vesicles contained enzymatic reaction products. The findings are interpreted to indicate that these sites are involved in the regulation of calcium ion concentration and in cellular processes in which calcium ions are key messengers.

Cytochemical localization of ouabain-sensitive, K+-dependent para-nitrophenylphosphatase (transport ATPase) in the guinea pig sympathetic ganglia.

The cytochemical techniques, developed by Ernst in 1972 and Mayahara et al. in 1980 were used to study the localization of K+-pNPPase related Na+/K+-ATPase in the guinea pig sympathetic ganglia. Enzymatic activity was revealed at the cytoplasmic aspect of the plasma membranes. Both the neuronal and satellite cell membranes contained the enzyme. Most of the activity was seen in the membrane of the satellite cells, which was interpreted to indicate a membrane well equipped for conducting active transport of cations. The neuronal membrane also displayed enzymatic activity particularly at specialized areas such as synapses.

Cytochemical localization of 5'-nucleotidase in the enteric ganglia and in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig.

Cytochemical techniques were used to study the localization of 5'-nucleotidase in the enteric ganglia and in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig ileum, iris and vas deferens. Enzymatic activity was revealed in plasma membranes and caveolae of smooth muscle cells and in neurons and neuroglia of the enteric ganglia. The strongest activity was seen in the membrane of the smooth muscle cells, especially the caveolae intracellulares, and this was interpreted to indicate a high level of purine utilization and involvement in calcium translocation by these cells. The ganglia displayed enzymatic activity in the membranes of non-specialized neuron-to-glia boundaries as well as at some synaptic specializations. This finding is consistent with a possible release of adenine nucleotides within the ganglia.