Abstract:
The present invention is directed to the use of ImI and MII conotoxin peptides, and derivatives thereof, as cardiovascular agents including, but not limited to, heart rate regulating agents, blood pressure regulating agents and anti-arrhythmia agents.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative as described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for accelerating re-epithelialization or re-endothelialization of tissue in a subject in need thereof. Examples of re-epithelialization in which the invention is particularly suited include, but are not limited to, re-epithelialization of (a) skin following surgical wounds; (b) skin abrasions caused by mechanical trauma, caustic agents or burns; (c) cornea following cataract surgery or corneal transplants; (d) mucosal epithelium (respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, mammary, oral cavity, ocular tissue, liver and kidney) following infection, nonpathological etiologies or drug therapy; (e) skin following grafting; and (f) renal tubule following acute tubular necrosis. Examples of re-endothelialization in which the invention is particularly suited include, but are not limited to, re-endothelialization (or regrowth of endothelium) in blood vessels following angioplasty, and the lysis of fibrin clots or lysis or mechanical disruption of thrombi in coronary arteries. In accordance with the present invention, the time to complete re-epithelialization or re-endothelialization is enhanced or accelerated by administering a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods for stabilization and oral delivery of human calcitonin are described. An aqueous liquid composition for stable storage of human calcitonin comprises an aqueous mixture of SDS and an organic acid. A nonaqueous liquid composition for stable storage of human calcitonin comprises about 90-100 % by volume of a mixture of C8/C10 mono- and di-glycerides and about 0-10 % by volume of a polar, nonaqueous solvent. Both of these stabilized human calcitonin formulations provide significant intestinal absorption of calcitonin.
Abstract:
A method of using multiple single-color pyrometers to correct for the effects of reflected radiation when optically measuring the temperature of a relatively cool surface in hotter surroundings is disclosed. The method includes obtaining pyrometric readings from the surface at two or more wavelengths and thereafter utilizing the readings together with the emissivity of the surface to calculate the surface temperature. In one version of the method the emissivity of the surface being measured is determined by a method which includes heating the surface in an insulated environment and thereafter obtaining readings pyrometrically from the surface once the insulation of the surface is removed. The readings are then utilized to calculate the emissivity by extrapolating the readings to a time zero. In those versions of the method which utilze pyrometric readings taken over three or more wavelengths, emissivity may be calculated through the use of relevant mathematical expressions.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to conotoxin peptides, specifically delta -conotoxin PVIA and mu -conotoxin PIIIA. delta -conotoxin PVIA is found in the Eastern Pacific fish hunting species of cone snails Conus purpurascens. It consists of 29 amino acid residues of the sequence: Glu-Ala-Cys-Tyr-Ala-Xaa1-Gly-Thr-Phe-Cys-Gly-Ile-Lys-Xaa2-Gly-Leu-Cys- Cys-Ser-Glu-Phe-Cys-Leu-Pro-Gly-Val-Cys-Pro-Gly (SEQ ID NO:1) where Xaa1 or Xaa2 is Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline. The C-terminus may be free or amidated. delta -conotoxin PVIA is vertebrate specific and targets voltage-sensitive Na channels. mu -conotoxin PIIIA is also found in Conus purpurascens. It consists of 22 amino acid residues of the sequence: Xaa1-Arg-Leu-Cys-Cys-Gly-Phe-Xaa2-Lys-Ser-Cys-Arg-Ser-Arg-Gln-Cys-Lys- Xaa2-His-Arg-Cys-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2) where Xaa1 represents pyroglutamate or glutamine and Xaa2 represents 4-trans-hydroxyproline or proline. This latter peptide targets sodium channels.
Abstract:
An improved oligopeptide composition for use in a fluorescent polarization immunoassay for a high molecular weight analyte is disclosed, along with a kit and a method using the composition. The composition comprises an oligopeptide selected by a screening procedure in which a plurality of different oligopeptides having respective amino acid sequences that represent sequential overlapping segments of the analyte amino acid sequence, and a fluorescent label bound thereto. The screening process further includes screening to select a composition which exhibits fluorescence enhancement upon binding the analyte. A preferred embodiment of the oligopeptide is one having an amino acid sequence which does not form internal disulfide bridges. Such a preferred oligopeptide will generally have no more than one cysteine residue. In a further preferred embodiment, the fluorescent label is tetramethylrhodamine or a cyanine dye. The kit may be packaged with instructions directing a user to prepare an assay solution containing the monoclonal antibody and the oligopeptide in certain respective concentrations. The composition, method and kit are constructed to detect nanomolar concentrations of the analyte.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to A-lineage conotoxin peptides, which are conotoxin peptides that have strong homology in the signal sequence and the 3'-untranslated region of the genes coding for these peptides to the sequences in the alpha -conotoxin peptides. The A-lineage conotoxin peptides include the alpha -conotoxin peptides, the alpha -conotoxin-like peptides and the kappa -conotoxin peptides, described further below. The alpha -conotoxinpeptides generally share a "core" sequence motif. This core sequence is termed the alpha 3/5 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:1). The alpha -conotoxin-like peptides generally share a core sequence termed the alpha 4/7 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2). The kappa -conotoxin peptides generally have a core sequence termed the kappa 7/2/1/3 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:3).
Abstract translation:本发明涉及A系血凝素毒素肽,其是在编码这些肽的基因的信号序列和3'非翻译区与α-毒素肽序列中具有强同源性的芋螺毒素肽。 A系血凝素毒素肽包括下文进一步描述的α-毒素肽,α-毒素样肽和κ-毒素肽。 α-核黄素肽通常共有“核心”序列基序。 该核心序列称为α3/ 5核,并表示为Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys(SEQ ID NO:1)。 α-类毒素样肽通常共有称为α4/7核心的核心序列,并表示为Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa -Cys(SEQ ID NO:2)。 κ-毒素肽通常具有称为kappa 7/2/1/3核心的核心序列,并且表示为Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys -Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys(SEQ ID NO:3)。
Abstract:
Substantially pure conotoxins are provided which inhibit synaptic transmissions at the neuromuscular junctions and which are useful both in vivo and in assays because they specifically target particular receptors, such as the acetylcholine receptor, and ion channels. The peptides are of such length that they can be made by chemical synthesis. They also may be made using recombinant DNA techniques, and the DNA encoding such conotoxins having pesticidal properties can be incorporated as plant defense genes into plant species of interest.
Abstract:
The association of molecular variants of the angiotensinogen gene with human hypertension is disclosed. The determination of this association enables the screening of persons to identify those who have a predisposition to hypertension, especially essential hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia).
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for the dose-to-effect transmucosal administration of medicaments are disclosed. The invention relates to a disk-shaped control member (22) defining a plurality of openings (24) on one semicircle of the control member (22), positioned adjacent the medicament chamber base (14). An adhesive material (26) located on the control member (22) rotates relative to housing (12) to increase or decrease the effective area of medicament chamber opening (18).