Abstract:
Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides have been discovered that are indicative of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), cognitive impairment and brain microhemmorhages. Evaluating patient samples for the presence of such LMW peptides is an effective means of detecting neurological conditions and monitoring the progression of the disease. The LMW peptides are particularly useful in detecting neurological conditions during the early stages without invasive procedures.
Abstract:
A composition for preventing, delaying the onset of or treating one or more than one immune-mediated inflammatory disorder in an organism who is susceptible to developing the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder, who is developing the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder or who has the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder. A method of preventing, delaying the onset of or treating an organism who is susceptible to developing the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder, who is developing the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder or who has the immune-mediated inflammatory disorder.
Abstract:
In a complex, multi-processor software controlled system, such as proton beam therapy system (PBTS), it may be important to provide treatment configurable parameters that are easily modified by an authorized user to prepare the software controlled systems for various modes of operation. This particular invention relates to a configuration management system for the PBTS that utilizes a database to maintain data and configuration parameters and also to generate and distribute system control files that can be used by the PBTS for treatment delivery. The use of system control files reduces the adverse effects of single point failures in the database by allowing the PBTS to function independently from the database. The PBTS accesses the data, parameters, and control settings from the database through the system control files, which insures that the data and configuration parameters are accessible when and if single point failures occur with respect to the database.
Abstract:
It has been surprisingly discovered that administration of nitrite to subjects causes a reduction in blood pressure and an increase in blood flow to tissues. The effect is particularly beneficial, for example, to tissues in regions of low oxygen tension. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate a subject's blood pressure and blood flow, for example, by the administration of nitrite salts. Provided herein are methods of administering a pharmaceutically-acceptable nitrite salt to a subject, for treating, preventing or ameliorating a condition selected from: (a) ischemia-reperfusion injury (e.g., hepatic or cardiac or brain ischemia-reperfusion injury); (b) pulmonary hypertension (e.g., neonatal pulmonary hypertension); or (c) cerebral artery vasospasm.
Abstract:
A proton beam digital imaging system comprising an X-ray source which is movable into the treatment beam line that can produce an X-ray beam through a region of the patient. An X-ray receiver receives the X-ray beam after it has passed through the patient and the X-ray receiver generates photons that correspond to the X-ray image. The photons are directed to a TEC CCD camera to produce a patient orientation image which displays the orientation of the center of the beam relative to selected monuments in the patient's skeletal structure. The system also receives a master prescription image which displays the target isocenter with respect to the same selected monuments of the patient's skeletal structure. By comparison of the relative positions of the center of the beam in the patient orientation image and the isocenter in the master prescription image with respect to the selected monuments, the amount and direction of movement of the patient to make the beam center correspond to the target isocenter is determined.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a wound approximation device for safely applying cyanoacrylate or other adhesives to skin lacerations. The wound approximation device comprises a resilient sheet and an opening, wherein the opening is of a sufficient size such that it surrounds a skin wound and exposes a margin of skin surrounding the wound when the resilient sheet in a stretched form is placed against the skin, and wherein a portion of the resilient sheet adjacent to the opening and opposite to a side of the resilient sheet to be placed against the skin comprises a substance with does not form a strong bond with a wound-sealing adhesive.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising enantiomerically pure R-NSAIDs and the methods of their use for the treatment of inflammation. Preferably, the R-NSAID used is R-flurbiprofen which is administered in a dose of at least 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The anti-inflammatory action of R-NSAIDs is due to their ability to interfere with the biosynthesis of COX-2 by inhibiting COX-2 mRNA synthesis, rather than by just blocking the action of the enzyme itself. In order to effect the inhibition of COX-2 mRNA synthesis, the R-NSAID must be present at relatively high doses. Because the R-NSAID is selective in its action, that is it does not inhibit either COX-1 mRNA synthesis or the COX-1 enzyme itself, it can be administered in the required high doses because the tissue protective effects of prostaglandins made through the COX-1 pathway are not interfered with.
Abstract:
A plant-based edible vaccine against autoimmune disease prepared by expressing a CTB-autoantigen chimeric gene construct in plant cells and transgenic plants is disclosed. DNA constructs, expression vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a CTB-autoantigen chimeric gene, which are optimized for expression in plants, are described.
Abstract:
A substance is disclosed for preventing, delaying the onset of, or treating one or more than one autoimmune disease, the substance comprising a polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding the adenoviral protein E3-GP19k and encoding one or more than one antigen for the autoimmune disease. A use is also disclosed of a polynucleotide construct comprising a combination of a polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding the adenoviral protein E3-GP19k and encoding one or more than one autoantigen for the autoimmune disease for the manufacture of a medicament for preventing, delaying the onset of or treating one or more than one autoimmune disease.