Abstract: A method is presented for evaluating data to predict the future occurrence of a medical condition that is presently clinically occult or which has not yet occurred. Specifically, the method uses a neural network to analyze and interpret DNA flow cytometric histograms. A first set of DNA histograms taken from tumors from patients having known relapse rates are used to train the neural network, an then the trained network is applied to predict the relapse rates of patients using DNA histograms of tumors from those patients. Prognosis according to this method can be performed using only diploid histograms, using only aneuploid histograms, or using a combination of diploid and aneuploid histograms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of predicting disease-free survival in cancer patients by relating the number and amount of stress response proteins in cancer tissue to the probability of tumor recurrence. Particular heat shock/stress response proteins useful in the determination of tumor recurrence are the stress response proteins, hsp70, hsp90, hsp27, and glucose regulated protein grp94. Specific levels of the stress response proteins relative to an internal standard are identified, above which the probability of tumor recurrence is highly significant. Kit methods are disclosed which could enable determination of the stress proteins by an antibody assay.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of predicting disease-free survival in cancer patients by relating the number and amount of stress response proteins in the cancer tissue to the probability of tumor recurrence. Particular heat shock/stress response proteins useful in the determination of tumor recurrence are the stress response proteins, hsp70, hsp90, hsp27, and glucose regulated protein grp94. Specific levels of the stress response proteins are identified, above which the probability of tumor recurrence is highly signficant. Kit methods are disclosed which could enable determination of the stress proteins by an antibody assay.

Abstract: Amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene is related to the status of neoplastic diseases, particularly breast and ovarian adenocarcinomas. The presence of multiple gene copies in tumor cells indicates that the disease is more likely to spread beyond the primary tumor site, and that the disease therefore may require more aggressive treatment than might otherwise be indicated by other diagnostic factors. In particular, the degree of gene amplification appears to provide greater prognostic utility than either the estrogen receptor or the progesterone receptor, and provides utility equal to that of the determination of lymph node status. The information provided by the gene amplification test, however, is not duplicative with the determination of lymph node status and the two tests together provide greatly improved prognostic utility.

Abstract: A multi-purpose welding power supply to provide different modes of welding from a single unit. Two positive output terminals are provided, one for low amperage welding up to about 300 amp which includes an inductor and slope resistor and one for high amperage output up to about 600 amp which bypasses the inductor and slope resistor in the low amperage circuit. A pulsing circuit is provided to impose on the 300 amp output either 60 pps or 120 pps pulses on a standard direct current background. A variable pulse width control circuit is integrated with the pulsing circuit to vary the pulse width. A "hot start" feature is included with the 60 pps welding mode to provide 120 pps pulses for an initial pre-selected time period.