Abstract: The efficiency of a blood plasmapheresis filter is purposefully reduced at low input blood flow rates so as to prevent possibly excessive hematocrit which may make it difficult or impossible to handle the resulting blood cell concentrate (e.g., for infusion purposes) and/or which may cause accompanying red cell damage. Where filter efficiency is a function of rpm of a spinning element, such controlled reduction may be achieved by simply controlling spinner rpm as a function (e.g., linear over at least some range) of the input blood flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for applying a traction force from a traction force system to a limb of a patient comprising:an elongated tubular member having an open first end and an opposing second end, sized and adapted to receive a substantial portion of a limb of a patient through the first open end, and being constructed so as to contract around at least a portion of the received limb upon the application of a traction force on the second end;an elongated hollow element having an open end and a sidewall which is microbially impermeable, sized and adapted to receive the received limb through the open end, at least a portion of the elongated hollow element substantially surrounds or is substantially surrounded by the elongated tubular member; andan attachment assembly secured to the elongated tubular member and acting to connect the elongated tubular member to the traction force system.

Abstract: During an initial priming procedure, the blood draw/return needle(s) fluid flow system is primed with a nonblood fluid (e.g. a saline solution) having known fluid viscosity. The pressure drop occurring across the needle orifice(s) is determined at a knonw flow rate for this predetermined fluid of known viscosity. During subsequent blood constitutent processing operations, the pressure drop across the needle orifice is measured for a second known flow rate of blood constituents. From these measured relative values of pressure and flow rates, the blood viscosity value can be calculated and used to estimate (e.g. via a table look-up or analytical calculation procedure) a hematocrit value of the blood constitutents as a function of the measured blood viscosity value.

Abstract: The system includes a plasmapheresis instrument and a harness set applied to the instrument. The harness set has a single venepuncture needle and is configured, when applied to the instrument, to pump blood from a donor through a separator for collection of its constituent parts in a reservoir and a collection container, respectively. During an infusion cycle, which alternates with the collection cycle, the blood constituent from the reservoir and a replacement fluid are mixed externally of the reservoir and pumped to the donor.

Abstract: Abnormalitites in the distribution of a dopamine D.sub.2 receptors in humans and other mammals are detected by(1) administering to a human or other mammal an amount of a .sup.18 F-radiolabelled compound sufficient to be detected by a positron emission sensitive means for imaging, said compound having affinity for said receptors selected from the group consisting of optically active or racemic compounds represented by the general formula: ##STR1## (2) forming at least one image showing the distribution of the radiolabelled compound within the human or other mammal using a positron emission-sensitive means for imaging; and(3) determining normality of the concentrations or distribution by comparing the image with an image showing the normal concentrations and distribution of the receptors in humans or mammals of the same species wherein R1-R4, n and m- are as set forth in the specification.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning contaminants from shed blood to enable reinfusion of a cell concentrate in the patient employs successive rotary membrane filtering stages in which Taylor vortices are generated. Shed blood led into the first rotary membrane stage is filtered to a hematocrit in the range of 50-60 with some of the waste matter being removed. The intermediate cell concentrate is passed to the second filter stage where further waste matter is initially extracted. At any intermediate region, however, a major amount of wash solution is fed into the concentrate and effectively mixed by the Taylor vortices. In the remaining length of the second filter stage waste matter is entrained in wash solution and both waste and wash solution are filtered out to provide a cell concentrate from which the great majority of contaminants have been removed.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising a physiologically-active agent and a compound represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein X may represent sulfur, oxygen or 2 hydrogen radicals; Y may represent --CH.sub.2 --, --NH-- or oxygen; n and m are integers of from 1 to 3; p is an integer of from 3 to 17; q is 2, 4, 6 or 8; wherein p.gtoreq.9; and R' is selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted phenyl, acetamido, halogen, piperidinyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted piperidinyl, carbalkoxy, carboxamide, and alkanoyl. These compositions are useful in topical or transdermal applications of the physiologically-active agent.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising a physiologically-active agent and a compound represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided, however, that the total number of carbon atoms in said compound is 15 or more and the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 5 or more.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for administering systemically active agents including therapeutic agents through the skin or mucosal membranes of humans and animals in a transdermal device or formulation comprising topically administering with said systemic agent an effective amount of a membrane penetration enhancer having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein each X, Y and Z may represent oxygen, sulfur or two hydrogen atoms, provided however that, when Z represents two hydrogen atoms, both X and Y represent oxygen or sulfur and when Z represents oxygen or sulfur at least one of X and Y must represent oxygen or sulfur; m is 2-6; R' is H or a lower alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms; n is 0-16 and R is --CH.sub.3, ##STR2## wherein R" is H or halogen.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating the symptoms of parkinsonism which comprises administering to a human or other mammal suffering from the symptoms of parkinsonism an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of optically-active or racemic compounds represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic radicals methyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyls, pyridyl, hydroxyphenyl, ##STR2## X is oxygen or sulfur, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, nitro, cyano, azido, amino, acylamino, carboxyamido, trifluoromethyl, sulfate, sulfonamido, halogen, hydrocarbyl and hetero atom-substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, wherein said heteroatoms are selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus and said hydrocarbyl radicals comprise from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. and a is an integer of from zero to 3,R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating the symptoms of schizophrenia which comprises administering to a schizophrenic an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of optically-active or racemic compounds represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic radicals having fused rings, phenyl, pyridyl ##STR2## X is oxygen or sulfur, Y, if present, is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, nitro, cyano, azido, amino, acylamino, carboxyamido, trifluoromethyl, sulfate, sulfonamido halogen, hydrocarbyl and hetero atom-substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, wherein said heteroatoms are selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus and said hydrocarbyl radicals comprise from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and a is an integer between zero and 3. R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a selective process for preparing bicyclic lactam-lactone compounds wherein the rings are fused, i.e. the rings share at least two carbon atoms, or are isolated. In particular, the present invention provides a process for selectively reacting novel 1-hydrocarbylamino (or heteroatom-substituted hydrocarbylamino); 1,1-dicarboxylic acid, alkylesters; 1-alkanolactonyl or hydrocarbyl (or heteroatom-substituted hydrocarbyl) alkanonylactonyl methane, as the salt of an acid having a pKa of 0 or more, to provide bicyclic lactam-lactone compounds. The selectively of the reaction to either fused or isolated bicyclic compounds is controlled by cyclizing the novel salts, in the absence of a base, a cyclizing said novel salts, in the presence of an amount of base substantially equivalent to said acid, respectively.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for administering systemically active agents including therapeutic agents through the skin or mucosal membranes of humans and animals in a transdermal device or formulation comnprising topically administering with said systemic agent an effective amount of a membrane penetration enhancer having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein X represents sulfur, oxygen or 2 hydrogen radicals; Y represents --CH.sub.2 --, --NH-- or oxygen; n and m are integers of from 1 to 3; p is an integer of from 3 to 17; wherein p.gtoreq.9; q is 2, 4, 6 or 8; and R' is selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted phenyl, acetamido, halogen, piperidinyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted piperidinyl, carbalkoxy, carboxamide, and alkanoyl.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing lactams, by selectively reacting a novel 1-hydrocarbyl-amino (or heteroatom-substituted hydrocarbylamino); 1,1-dicarboxylic acid, alkylesters; 1-hydrocarbyl (or heteroatom-substituted hydrocarbyl) carboxylic acid, alkyl ester methane, as the salt of an acid having a pKa of 0 or more, in the absence or presence of a base, whereby novel lactams wherein one or both hydrocarbyl moieties are incorporated into the lactam ring are obtained. That is, the acid moiety of said novel salt promotes the reaction whereby both hydrocarbyl moieties are incorporated into the ring, while the presence of a base, in an amount substantially equivalent to said acid promotes the reaction whereby only one hydrocarbyl is incorporated into the ring.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds useful for treating coronary insufficiency, hypertension, angina pectoris, cardiac arrythmia, heart attack or coronary vasospasm and represented by the general formula: ##STR1## R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, N-alkylphthalimido and derivatives of N-alkylphthalimido, wherein said N-alkyl group comprises at least 2 carbon atoms;A is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon moiety containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 2 double bonds;R.sub.3 is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen, --NH.sub.2 and --NCS;R.sub.4 is an aryl or heteroaryl radical; andR.sub.5 is a lower alkyl radical or A--R.sub.3 ; provided that when R.sub.3 is a hydrogen radical at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is not lower alkyl, including both pure enantiomers as well as mixtures thereof; andpharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A petroleum sulfonate is prepared by (a) separately sulfonating each of two or more different petroleum fractions boiling substantially above 700.degree. F. by contact with sulfur trioxide under reaction conditions wherein the ratio of milliliters of sulfur trioxide to grams of aromatic components is adjusted so as to produce from each separate fraction a reaction product capable of producing upon neutralization a sulfonate having a sulfonate requirement in microemulsion below about 20 grams per 100 milliliters of microemulsion; (b) separately neutralizing the sulfonated fractions; and (c) blending the hydrocarbon sulfonates produced from two or more of the fractions in proportions sufficient to yield a product petroleum sulfonate blend useful for enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: Compounds having calcium channel antagonist activity of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently amino, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, alkoxy, lower alkenyl, or lower alkynyl or branched or unbranched lower alkyl, which is unsubstituted or is substituted with cyano, hydroxy, acyloxy, hydrazino, lower alkyl amino, or di(lower alkyl)-amino or 5 or 6 membered saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-yl, which is unsubstituted or is substituted with oxo, hydroxy, alkyl, and hydroxy (lower alkyl) R.sub.3 is straight- or branched-chain C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or cycloalkyl, and is either unsubstituted or substituted with hydroxy, acyloxy, cyano, di(lower alkyl) amino 5- or 6-membered saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic -1-yl or R.sub.3 is --A--R.sub.4, A is a straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon moiety containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 2 double bonds, R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR2## R.sub.

Abstract: The deposition of metal-containing scale, such as iron silicate scale, from a hot aqueous geothermal brine, or the like, is controlled by blending into the brine sufficient reducing agent effective for reducing trivalent iron and manganese cations in a high temperature brine solution to divalent ions to cause an overall decrease in scale deposition, especially of iron silicate scale. Preferably, from 2 to 7 times the stoichiometric amount of reducing agent is used to effect a 70 to 90 percent reduction in the formation of iron silicate scale.

Abstract: A fluidtight housing such as a banjo box receives and redirects the debris-laden upward flow of fluids from a reservoir. The housing connecting the wellhead of the reservoir with a flowline positioned at an angle other than the vertical receives fluid and debris from the wellhead and redirects them into the flowline. A replaceable and repositionable insert having at least one high wear zone is mounted within the housing so that the flow of fluid and debris impinges against a wear zone on the interior of the insert. Fresh wear zones can be exposed at the point of impact of the fluid stream without the need to remove the housing or insert from its position between the wellhead and the flowline, preferably by rotating the insert within the housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for administering systemically active agents including therapeutic agents through the skin or mucosal membranes of humans and animals in a transdermal device or formulation comprising topically administering with said systemic agent an effective amount of a membrane penetration enhancer having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and cycloalkyl radicals comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided, however, that the total number of carbon atoms in said compound is 15 or more and the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 5 or more.