Effect of Gaseous Atmosphere on the State of Water in Collagen Influencing Microbial Growth

The effects of CO2 and N2 atmospheres on the thermodynamic state of water influencing microbial response in collagen was studied by generating sorption isotherms by inverse gas chromatography and the static method and calculating thermodynamic parameters of sorption. CO2 atmosphere significantly increase; water sorption by collagen at 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C compared to N2 and He. The average binding energies of collagen were significantly increased by CO2 as shown by larger negative Gibb\u27s free energy (δGs), isoteric enthalpy of sorption (δHs) and entropy of sorption (δSs) values. Water clustering in collagen appeared at a higher water activity (aw) in CO2 gas as compared to N2‐ and He‐treated atmospheres at 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with human granulocytic‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) or GM‐CSF combined with low‐dose cytosine arabinoside

Abstract: In a phase II study, 21 patients with MDS (RAEB, RAEBt, CMML and RA and RAS with severe cytopenia) were randomized to be treated with 3 courses of GM‐CSF (3 μg/kg/day s.c.) alone (11 patients) or in combination with AraC (20 mg/m2/d s.c.) (10 patients) for 14‐d periods, interrupted by 14‐d rest periods. Eight patients discontinued the treatment. In the GM‐CSF group a marked increase in WBC and neutrophil counts during each course of treatment administration were seen in most patients. Platelet counts decreased in 14 of 24 courses of treatment in the GM‐CSF plus AraC group but in none of the GM‐CSF group. Although the changes in the circulating blood cells were transient and the counts tended to return to the pretreatment levels during the rest periods, some more durable effects were seen. In 3/6 patients of the GM‐CSF group who completed the designed treatment, both WBC and neutrophils remained elevated above the pretreatment levels throughout the 3‐month period of treatment, while in one of them thrombocytopenia improved considerably. In the GM‐CSF plus AraC group, 4 out of the 7 patients who completed the treatment showed an improvement of neutropenia as well as anaemia. In these 4 patients the BM percentage of blasts was also decreased. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that GM‐CSF given intermittently improves leukopenia in some patients with MDS. In addition, the administration of GM‐CSF seems to prevent granulocytopenia of concurrent AraC treatment and may be of benefit in the treatment of these diseases. © Munksgaard 199