Abstract: Novel angiogenesis/anti-angiogenesis secreted proteins and the nucleic acid sequences which encode them are disclosed by the present invention.

Abstract: Treatment of warm-blooded animals having a tumor or non-malignant hypervascularation, by administering a sufficient amount of a cytotoxic agent formulated into a phosphate prodrug form having substrate specificity for microvessel phosphatases, so that microvessels are destroyed preferentially over other normal tissues, because the less cytotoxic prodrug form is converted to the highly cytotoxic dephosphorylated form.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding the human IL-11 receptor and fragments thereof are disclosed. IL-11 receptor proteins, methods for their production, inhibitors of binding of human IL-11 and its receptor and methods for their identification are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complexes of the CDK2 protein with proteins identified as interacting with CDK2 by a modified yeast two hybrid assay system. The proteins identified to interact with CDK2 are cyclin H, cyclin I, ERH, and two gene products, hsReq*-1 and hsReq*-2, which are splice variants of the gene hsReq. Thus, the invention provides complexes of CDK2 and cyclin H, cyclin I, ERH, hsReq*-1, and hsReq*-2, and derivatives, fragments and analogs thereof. The invention also provides nucleic acids encoding the hsReq*-1 and hsReq*-2, and proteins and derivatives, fragments and analogs thereof. Methods of screening the complexes for efficacy in treating and/or preventing certain diseases and disorders, particularly cancer, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disease are also provided.

Abstract: A gas laser discharge unit is provided. The discharge unit includes an elongated electrode plate having a plurality of spaced-apart holes therein and a plurality of coaxial high voltage ducts. Each duct extends through one of the holes in the electrode plate and includes a central conductive core and an insulator element arranged around the core to electrically insulate said core from the electrode plate. An elongated high voltage electrode is electrically connected to the cores of the ducts. In addition, an elongated ground electrode is positioned to oppose the high voltage electrode and form a gas discharge gap therebetween. The ground electrode is electrically connected to the electrode plate. The gas laser discharge unit may be removably mounted as a module into a gas laser tube, such as an excimer laser tube.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon the observation that a mutant atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene increases stroke latency in spontaneously hypertensive rats-stroke prone (SHRSP). Accordingly, the present invention provides methods using mutant ANF proteins, fragments, analogs, derivatives and homologs of mutant ANF proteins, the nucleic acids encoding these mutant ANF proteins, as well as modulators of ANF for treating or preventing ischemic diseases, in particular ischemic stroke. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosis, prognosis and screening for a disposition for diseases and disorders associated with increased levels of ANF. Pharmaceutical compositions, methods of screening for ANF mutants and ANF modulators with utility for treatment and prevention of ischemic stroke are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides cells containing recombinant polynucleotides coding for cell surface molecules that, when expressed in the cell, result in rejection of the cell by the host immune system. The invention also provides methods of using such cells, and capsules for delivery of biologically active molecules to a patient.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting, preventing, and/or treating conjunctival filtering bleb leaks that may occur following glaucoma filtering surgery by administering Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to glaucoma patients who have undergone such surgery. The invention additionally includes a method of using Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to inhibit, prevent, and/or treat ischemic damage to the retina and optic nerve in patients in need of such treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the effect of a biological agent comprising contacting a cell culture with a biological agent. The cell culture of the invention contains a culture medium containing one or more preselected growth factors effective for inducing multipotent central nervous system (CNS) neural stem cell proliferation. The cell culture also contains, suspended in the culture medium, human multipotent CNS neural stem cells that are derived from primary CNS neural tissue that have a doubling rate faster than 30 days.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of transplanting multipotent neural stem cell progeny to a host by obtaining a population of cells derived from mammalian neural tissue containing at least one multipotent CNS multipotent neural stem cell; culturing the neural stem cell in a culture medium containing one or more growth factors which induce multipotent neural stem cell proliferation; inducing proliferation of the multipotent neural stem cell to produce neural stem cell progeny which includes multipotent neural stem cell progeny cells; and transplanting the multipotent neural stem cell progeny to the host.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions of controlling cell distribution within a bioartificial organ by exposing the cells to a treatment that inhibits cell proliferation, promotes cell differentiation, or affects cell attachment to a growth surface within the bioartificial organ. Such treatments include (1) genetically manipulating cells, (2) exposing the cells to a proliferation-inhibiting compound or a differentiation-inducing compound or removing the cells from exposure to a proliferation-stimulating compound or a differentiation-inhibiting compound; exposing the cells to irradiation, and (3) modifying a growth surface of the BAO with ECM molecules, molecules affecting cell proliferation or adhesion, or an inert scaffold, or a combination thereof. These treatments may be used in combination.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting unit for an optical element of a gas laser is provided. The typical gas laser for which the mounting unit will be used comprises a tube having a first end wall at one end and a second end wall at the other end, an optical axis extending longitudinally through the tube, and a port in the first end wall through which the optical axis passes. The mounting unit includes a rigid support structure having an aperture therein and an optical element mounted within the aperture. In addition, at least three adjustable mounting devices are used to attach the support structure to the laser tube. The mounting points are preferably selected so that they are displaced in an axial direction by substantially the same amount due to dimensional changes in the laser occurring during operation of the laser. When attached to the laser, the rigid support is spaced apart from the laser tube to allow for the adjustment of the angular positioning of the optical element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for mapping expressed nucleic acid sequences to their chromosomal location. The invention also related to methods for mapping gene response patterns in hybrid cells containing expressed genes located on exogenous chromosomal segments.

Abstract: Common human diseases like diabetes and hypertension have been demonstrated to possess an associated genetic component composed of numerous underlying genetic defects. Traditional positional cloning of genes which possess the mutations responsible for complex disease has been hindered by both the low statistical power each locus may afford, and by the technically-laborious nature of the positional cloning methodologies. Disclosed herein is a methodology for the rapid identification of the genes responsible for quantitative trait loci (QTL) comprised of comprehensive gene expression analysis in organs relevant to disease in combination with the positional mapping of known QTL, so as to quantitatively identify candidate genes. This aforementioned methodology was applied to a total of five tissues/organs derived from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), the stroke-prone variant of the SHR (SHR-SP) and control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for a gas laser is provided. The electrode arrangement includes an elongated high voltage electrode, an elongated ground electrode disposed adjacent to the high voltage electrode, a discharge gap between the two electrodes an insulator element, a high voltage conductor having a first end connected to the high voltage electrode and extending through the insulator element, and a shadow plate interposed between the discharge gap and the insulator element. The electrode arrangement may be employed in a variety of gas lasers, including excimer lasers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methodologies for the treatment of the surface(s) of DNA processing devices so as to greatly reduce DNA adsorption to the surface(s) exposed to the DNA-containing media. These aforementioned surface treatments include: (i) the deposition of thin-films of silicon-rich, silicon nitride and of hydroxyl-containing,low-temperature silicon oxide and (ii) the washing of surface with a basic, oxidative wash solution. The present invention also discloses the fabrication of DNA processing devices utilizing surface(s) treated by the methods described above. Such DNA processing devices include, for example, miniaturized electrophoresis and other DNA separation devices, miniaturized PCR reactors, and the like. The present invention further discloses methodologies for testing the degree of DNA adherence to a given surface. Additionally, the methodologies and devices of the present invention are also applicable to the processing of nucleic acids, in generally.

Abstract: The present invention discloses complexes of the Nlk1 protein with proteins identified as interacting with the Nlk1 protein (Nlk1 protein-IPs) by a modified, improved yeast two hybrid assay system. The proteins which were identified to interact with the Nlk1 protein, and thus form complexes, included: TrkA, protein phosphatase 1&agr;, 14-3-3&egr;, &agr;-tropomyosin, vimentin, p0071, Ini-1, IP-1, IP-2, IP-3, IP-4 and IP-5, as well as derivatives, fragments analogs and homologs thereof. Methodologies of screening these aforementioned complexes for efficacy in treating and/or preventing various diseases and disorders, particularly, neoplasia, neurodegenerative disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, viral infections and metabolic diseases and disorders are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Enriched neural stem and progenitor cell populations, and methods for identifying, isolating and enriching for neural stem cells using reagent that bind to cell surface markers, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating rhinoviral infections in a subject in need of such treatment, by the administration of 2′-5′ oligoadenylates or the analogs thereof. Pharmaceutical formulations comprising 2′-5′ oligoadenylates and analogs thereof are also provided.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, a process is disclosed for the preparation of radiolabelled haloaromatic compounds. According to a second aspect of the invention, intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds used in the preparation of the radiolabelled haloaromatic are disclosed, as well as processes for the preparation of the intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds.