Abstract: The invention provides a composition for stimulating an immune response in a patient having an adenocarcinoma, including a patient having colorectal cancer, containing allogeneic tumor cells and a physiologically acceptable carrier. The allogeneic tumor cells can be SW620, COLO 205, or SW403 cells. The invention composition can also contain an allogeneic cell expressing a cytokine. An allogeneic tumor cell can additionally express CD80. The invention additionally provides a method of stimulating an immune response in a patient having an adenocarcinoma, including a patient having colorectal cancer, by administering to the patient one or more allogeneic tumor cells, wherein the allogeneic cell stimulates an immune response to autologous tumor cells in the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of a cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer. The invention provides, for example, a method of stimulating an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to reduce or inhibit the expression of one or more immunosuppressive agents. The invention also provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to prevent the expression of an immunosuppressive agents and, in combination with the genetically modified tumor cells, an immunostimulatory agent. The invention further provides compositions useful for practicing the claimed methods.

Abstract: A method for transforming grayscale image data in accordance with preselected transformation factors may be accomplished by first reducing the number of gray image pixels by "punching to black" gray image pixels having intensity values less than a black punch value and by "punching to white" gray image pixels having intensity values greater than a white punch value. The resulting "punched" image data are then transformed in accordance with preselected transformation factors to create transformed image data. The transformed image data are then converted to binary image data, which may be reproduced in a conventional manner.

Abstract: An automatic level-sensitive Laplacian filter for image processing. Laplacian filter coefficients and normalization divisors are made a function of intensity on a pixel by pixel basis. Pixels indicating a high intensity may be greatly changed by neighboring pixels. Pixels indicating a low intensity receive relatively little or no filtering. In a specific example embodiment, the intensity range is divided into bands, with a different filter for each band. The resulting images are visually sharpened (edge enhanced) with very little impact in darker areas of the image.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of a cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer. The invention provides, for example, a method of stimulating an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to reduce or inhibit the expression of one or more immunosuppressive agents. The invention also provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to prevent the expression of an immunosuppressive agents and, in combination with the genetically modified tumor cells, an immunostimulatory agent. The invention further provides compositions useful for practicing the claimed methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting carcinoma metastases in selected body tissues and fluids. These methods offer greater than 1,000-fold enhanced sensitivity compared to prior standard diagnostic methods. In one embodiment of the invention, target carcinoma associated nucleic acid sequences are identified for detecting minimal residual disease in lung carcinomas. The methods utilize nucleic acid amplification techniques, preferably, the polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: The tonal resolution of an image scanner is improved by adjusting the dynamic range of an analog-to-digital converter of the scanner. A preview scan of the image is made. The image data from the preview scan is then analyzed to determine a maximum intensity and a minimum intensity. The value of the maximum intensity is used to set a white intercept of the image scanner such that a maximum digital value of the analog-to-digital converter corresponds to the maximum intensity present in the image data from the preview scan. The minimum intensity is used to set a black intercept of the image scanner such that the minimum intensity in the image data from the preview scan corresponds to the minimum digital number output by the analog-to-digital converter. Tonal resolution of the image scanner is optimized then by performing a final scan of the image with the analog-to-digital converter programmed to reflect the new white intercept and black intercept values.

Abstract: A novel method of tumor immunotherapy is described comprising the genetic modification of cells resulting in the secretion of cytokine gene products to stimulate a patient's immune response to tumor antigens. In one embodiment, autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized to immunize the patient in a formulation with tumor antigens at a site other than an active tumor site. In another embodiment, cells genetically modified to express at least one tumor antigen gene product and to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized in a formulation to immunize the patient at a site other than an active tumor site.

Abstract: A novel method of tumor immunotherapy is described comprising the genetic modification of cells resulting in the secretion of cytokine gene products to stimulate a patient's immune response to tumor antigens. In one embodiment, autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized to immunize the patient in a formulation with tumor antigens at a site other than an active tumor site. In another embodiment, cells genetically modified to express at least one tumor antigen gene product and to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized in a formulation to immunize the patient at a site other than an active tumor site.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting image color in a document processing system are discussed. The system operates by generating a digital representation of a printed document. The digital representation includes a plurality of pixels. A brightness value is calculated for each of the pixels, and a "brightest" list is generated comprising a plurality of the pixels having the largest brightness values. Also, a "darkest" list comprising a plurality of the pixels having the smallest brightness values is generated. An average bright color of pixels in the "brightest" list is generated, and an average dark color of pixels in the "darkest" list is generated. Red, green, and blue scaling functions each having a white point set equal to the average bright color and a black point set equal to the average dark color are generated. The digital representation is scaled in accordance with the red, green, and blue scaling functions to produce a modified image.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting carcinoma metastases in selected body tissues and fluids. These methods offer greater than 1,000-fold enhanced sensitivity compared to prior standard diagnostic methods. In one embodiment of the invention, target carcinoma associated nucleic acid sequences are identified for detecting minimal residual disease in lung carcinomas. The methods utilize nucleic acid amplification techniques, preferably, the polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: A completely passive adapter for scanning transparent images in a reflective scanner. Mirrors are used to capture light from a lamp that is internal to the scanner and to reflect that light thought a transparent image along the light path required by internal scanner optics. For larger images, a lens is added to capture additional light. Different embodiments of the adapter accommodate variation in angles of optical paths and offset between the light source path and the light detection path. Embodiments are provided having two tilted mirrors, two mirrors plus an optical wedge, four mirrors, and seven mirrors. An optional graduated density optical filter may be added to compensate for nonuniform illumination.

Abstract: A document processing system (DPS) having a closed feedback loop for improving the quality of the printed form of images that have been scanned into the DPS by scanners. The DPS includes a print path. The closed feedback loop automatically calibrates the print path such that printed documents have a true representation of the scanned image. The closed feedback loop operates as follows. First, a calibration image for the print path is created. Then, the calibration image is processed in the DPS. Then, distortions in the calibration image, caused by the processing, are measured. Then, calibration coefficients for offsetting the distortions are calculated. Finally, the image of the original document is precompensated by modifying the image according to the calibration coefficients.