Abstract:
The present invention is related to a method for preventing or reducing the effects of ischemia. The ischemia may be associated with injury or reperfusion injury, such as occurs as a result of infarctions, thermal injury (burns), surgical trauma, accidental trauma, hemorrhagic shock and the like. The invention is also related to methods for preventing or reducing bacterial translocation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, adherence of blood cells and platelets to endothelial cells and pulmonary hypertension. In accordance with the present ivnention, these conditions are prevented or reduced by administering dehydroepiandrosterone-3-sulfate (DHEAS) or a DHEA congener.
Abstract:
A step-gradient composite waveguide (100) for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer (102) having one or more thin film waveguide channels (104) deposited thereon.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to the field of human genetics. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and materials used to isolate and detect a human breast and ovarian cancer predisposing gene (BRCA1), some mutant alleles of which cause susceptibility to cancer, in particular breast and ovarian cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. The present invention further relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in human breast and ovarian cancer and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, the invention relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in other human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancers. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics. The invention further relates to the screening of drugs for cancer therapy. Finally, the invention relates to the screening of the BRCA1 gene for mutations, which are useful for diagnosing the predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.
Abstract:
Disclosed are compounds having antigenic binding affinity with antibodies directed against human chorionic gonadotropin. The compounds typically include or consist of an oligopeptide with the sequence: AA1' AA2' AA3' AA4' AA5' AA6', wherein AA1' is Gly, Asn, Ser, Phe, Arg, Leu, or Lys; AA2' is Pro, Trp, Ala, Val, or Glu; AA3' is Arg, Gln, Ile, Met, Val, Thr, Ser, Gly, or Phe; AA4' is Tyr, Glu, Leu, Phe, Pro, or Thr; AA5' is Asp, Asn, Leu, Met, Val, Tyr, Ser, Ile, Ala, Gly, or Phe; and AA6' is Phe, Trp, Ala, Thr, Arg, Asp, or Val.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method for preventing or reducing ischemia following injury, such as reperfusion injury following ischemia, cellular damage associated with ischemic episodes, such as infarctions or traumatic injuries, and thus to prevent or reduce the consequent progressive necrosis of tissue associated with such ischemia. This effect is achieved by administering DHEA or DHEA derivatives to a patient as soon as possible after the injury. The present invention is further directed to methods for preventing or reducing bacterial translocation of adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient. Similarly, bacterial translocation and adult respiratory distress syndrome are prevented or reduced by administering DHEA or DHEA derivatives to a patient. Suitable derivatives of DHEA include, among others, 16 alpha -bromo-DHEA, androstenediol and derivatives which have side chains at the 4' and/or 7' positions, which do not destroy the native activity of DHEA but which are capable of inhibiting sulfotransferase to prevent the conversion of DHEA to DHEA-S.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a vaccine which comprises an antigen and a lymphoid organ modifying agent. Suitable lymphoid organ modifying agents include, but are not limited to, 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3, and Vitamin D3 derivatives which are capable of activating the intracellular Vitamin D3 receptor, all trans-retinoic acid, retinoic acid derivatives, retinol, retinol derivatives and glucocorticoid. The vaccine composition may further comprise an immune response augmenting agent. The immune response augmenting agent enhances T cell lymphokine production. Suitable immune response augmenting agents include, but are not limited to, DHEA and DHEA-derivatives. Examples of DHEA derivatives include DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S), 16- alpha -bromo-DHEA, 7-oxo-DHEA, 16- alpha -bromo-DHEA-S, and 7-oxo-DHEA-S.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods of manufacture for producing a medicament composition capable of absorption through the mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. The present invention relates to such compositions and methods which are useful in administering lipophilic and nonlipophilic drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that sufficient drug is administered to produce precisely a desired effect. The invention also relates to manufacturing techniques that enable therapeutic agents (30) to be incorporated into nondissolvable drug containment matrixes (34) which are capable of releasing the drug within a patient's mouth. An appliance or holder (36) is preferably attached to the drug containment matrix (34). Employing the present invention the drug (30) may be introduced into the patient's bloodstream almost as fast as through injection, and much faster than using the oral administration route, while avoiding the negative aspects of both of these methods. The nondissolvable drug containment matrix (34) may include permeation enhancers to increase the drug absorption by the mucosal tissues of the mouth. The matrix composition (34) may also include pH buffering agents to modify the salival pH thereby increasing the absorption of the drug (30) through the mucosal tissues.
Abstract:
The results of experiments aimed at detecting polymorphisms and mutations in the BRCA1 promoter region as well as comparisons of two published DNA sequences indicated that two similar but distinct copies of this region exist in the human genome. PCR primers specific for amplification of each of the two promoter regions were isolated from rearrangement-resistant libraries. Sequence analysis of the clones and specific PCR products reveals two similar genomic rearrangements of head-to-head genes. The BRCA1 gene is closely apposed to a gene structure that is similar but not identical to 1A1.3B and the 1A1.3B gene is apposed to a gene structure that has strong similarity to BRCA1 but also has significant differences. The features of the BRCA1 and 1A1.3B promoter region are shown in the Figure. STS analysis of YAC and P1 clones located in the vicinity of BRCA1 indicates that these similar promoter regions are elements of a direct duplication. New hypotheses for genetic mechanisms that may be involved in breast and ovarian cancer etiology are raised by the identification of this duplicated genetic structure on chromosome 17q. Also presented are polymorphisms in the duplicated genes which polymorphisms are useful in tracking chromosomal rearrangement of these genes.
Abstract:
Williams syndrome (WS) is a developmental disorder that includes poor visuospatial constructive cognition. This syndrome has been studied to identify genes important for human cognitive development. Two families are described which have a partial WS phenotype; affected members have the specific WS cognitive profile and vascular disease, but lack other WS features. Submicroscopic chromosome 7q11.23 deletions cosegregate with this phenotype in both families. DNA sequence analyses of the region affected by the smallest (63.6 kb) deletion revealed two genes, elastin (ELN) and LIM-kinase 1 (LIMK1). The latter encodes a novel protein kinase with LIM domains and is strongly expressed in the brain. Because ELN mutations cause vascular disease but not cognitive abnormalities, these data implicate LIMK1 hemizygosity in impaired visuospatial constructive cognition.
Abstract:
A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such as the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass micro capillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Monitoring of the DNA amplification is monitored by fluorescence once per cycle or many times per cycle. The present invention provides that fluorescence monitoring of PCR is a powerful tool for DNA quantification.