Abstract: Thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides, formulations of pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, N-(isoxazolyl)thienylsulfonamides, N-(isoxazolyl)furylsulfonamides and N-(isoxazolyl)pyrrolylsulfonamides, formulations thereof and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: Novel compounds that either preferentially absorb into hyperproliferative tissue and absorb light efficiently at a wavelength of between about 700 and about 850 nm or act as intermediates for such absorbing compounds.

Abstract: Biphenylsulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, bicyclic or tricyclic carbon or heterocyclic ring biphenylsulfonamides and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit or increase the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: Fast and highly accurate mass spectrometry-based processes for detecting particular nucleic acid molecules and sequences in the molecules are provided. Depending upon the sequence to be detected, the processes, for example, can be used to diagnose a genetic disease or a chromosomal abnormality, a predisposition to a disease or condition, or infection by a pathogen, or for determining identity or heredity. One aspect provides a process for determining whether a target nucleotide is present in a nucleic acid molecule including hybridizing a nucleic acid molecule with a primer oligonucleotide; contacting the hybridized primer with deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, chain terminating nucleotides and a DNA polymerase, whereby the hybridized primer is extended until a chain terminating nucleotide is incorporated, producing an extended primer, and determining the molecular mass of the extended primer, thereby determining whether the target nucleotide is present in a nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to methods and compounds for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of a target tissue or compositions in a mammalian subject, using a light source that preferably transmits light to a treatment site transcutaneously. The method provides for administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a targeted substance, which is either a targeted photosensitizing agent, or a photosensitizing agent delivery system, or a targeted prodrug. This targeted substance preferably selectively binds to the target tissue. Light at a wavelength or waveband corresponding to that which is absorbed by the targeted substance is then administered. The light intensity is relatively low, but a high total fluence is employed to ensure the activation of the targeted photosensitizing agent or targeted prodrug product.

Abstract: Methods of treatment of cyanide-containing waste are provided. In particular, methods for treatment of spent potliner prior to landfill disposal are provided. These methods, which involve treatment of the waste with a mixture containing an aqueous oxidizing solution and an agent, such as magnesium chloride, that increases the oxidation potential of the solution, can be performed at ambient temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A method for the quantification of tumor cells in a body fluid is disclosed and entails first carrying out a reaction with the sample to be investigated, in which the RNA component of telomerase is specifically amplified, and then the amount of amplified nucleic acid is determined quantitatively, as are test kits suitable therefor.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions are described that comprise one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and mucolytic agents, and particularly to compositions formulated as a solution in a unit dose for aerosol administration to treat chronic sinusitis.

Abstract: Compositions and methods using the compositions for treatment of peripheral hyperalgesia are provided. The compositions contain an anti-hyperalgesia effective amount of one or more compounds that directly or indirectly interact with peripheral opiate receptors, but that do not, upon topical or local administration, elicit substantial central nervous system effects. The anti-diarrheal compound 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-N-N-dimethyl-&agr;,&agr;-diphenyl-1-piperidinebutyramide hydrochloride is preferred for use in the compositions and methods.

Abstract: Serial and parallel dispensing tools that can deliver defined and controlled volumes of fluid to generate multi-element arrays of sample material on a substrate surface are provided. The substrates surfaces can be flat or geometrically altered to include wells of receiving material. Also provided are tools that allow the parallel development of a sample array. To this end, the tool can be understood as an assembly of vesicle elements, or pins, where each of the pins can include a narrow interior chamber suitable for holding nanoliter volumes of fluid. Each of the pins can fit inside a housing that forms an interior chamber. The interior chamber can be connected to a pressure source that will control the pressure within the interior chamber to regulate the flow of fluid within the interior chamber of the pins. The prepared sample arrays can then be passed to a plate assembly that disposes the sample arrays for analysis by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for screening nucleic acids for polymorphisms by analyzing amplified target nucleic acids using mass spectrometric techniques and to procedures for improving mass resolution and mass accuracy of these methods of detecting polymorphisms.

Abstract: Mixtures containing a biological macromolecule, such as a nucleic acid molecule or a polypeptide, and a liquid matrix, which absorbs infrared (IR) radiation, are provided. These mixtures are useful for analysis of the biological macromolecule by IR matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) mass spectrometry. Also provided are processes for analyzing a biological macromolecule using IR-MALDI mass spectrometry. For example, processes for detecting the presence or identity of a biological macromolecule in a sample, or for sequencing a biological macromolecule are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for developing medical diagnostic tests using decision-support systems, such as neural networks. Patient data or information, typically patient history or clinical data, are analyzed by the decision-support systems to identify important or relevant variables and decision-support systems are trained on the patient data. Patient data are augmented by biochemical test data, or results, where available, to refine performance. The resulting decision-support systems are employed to evaluate specific observation values and test results, to guide the development of biochemical or other diagnostic tests, too assess a course of treatment, to identify new diagnostic tests and disease markers, to identify useful therapies, and to provide the decision-support functionality for the test.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and compounds for modulating the activity of an endothelin peptide are provided. The methods use compositions that contain compounds that include those of the formula: where X is selected from groups that include O, S, and NH; Y is selected from O+ and N, and R1 and R2 are each selected independently from among alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower haloalkyl, halide, pseudohalide or H, except that R2 is not halide. R3, R4 and R5 are selected from among groups that include hydrogen, halide, alkoxy, alkyl, haloalkyl; and R7 is selected from groups that include (CH2)rR18, in which r is 0 to 6 and R18 is selected from groups that include aryl, particularly pyrmidinyl and phenyl. The methods are effected by contacting endothelin receptors with one or more of the compounds or with compositions containing one or more of the compounds prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to contacting the receptors with an endothelin peptide.

Abstract: A towel dispensing device provides a device for warming towels prior to the towels being removed from the dispensing device. The dispensing device includes an electrically powered heating member, the degree of heat being controllable by the user, for warming the space of a warming chamber containing the towels to be dispensed. The towels to be dispensed can be pre-moistened by water or other fluids as required by the user. The dispensing device can also be presented as a serialized group of warming chambers; each individual chamber being able to contain towels pre-moistened with different fluids and warmed to different temperatures prior to being dispensed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for detecting and sequencing of target double-stranded nucleic acid sequences, to nucleic acid probes and arrays of probes useful in these methods, and to kits and systems which contain these probes. Useful methods involve hybridizing the nucleic acids or nucleic acids which represent complementary or homologous sequences of the target to an array of nucleic acid probes. These probe comprise a single-stranded portion, an optional double-stranded portion and a variable sequence within the single-stranded portion. The molecular weights of the hybridized nucleic acids of the set can be determined by mass spectroscopy, and the sequence of the target determined from the molecular weights of the fragments. Nucleic acids whose sequences can be determined include nucleic acids in biological samples such as patient biopsies and environmental samples.

Abstract: Thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts of sulfonamides, formulations of salts and the sulfonamides, and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides using the formulations and sulfonamides are provided. In particular, formulations of sodium salts of N-(isoxazolyl)thienylsulfonamides, N-(isoxazolyl)furylsulfonamides and N-(isoxazolyl)pyrrolylsulfonamides are provided. A process of preparing an alkali metal salt of a hydrophobic sulfonamide is provided. The process includes the step of dissolving a free sulfonamide in an organic solvent in the presence of a saturated alkali metal salt solution and recovering the formed sulfonamide salt from the organic phase.

Abstract: The invention provides fast and highly accurate mass spectrometer based processes for detecting a particular nucleic acid sequence in a biological sample. Depending on the sequence to be detected, the processes can be used, for example, to diagnose a genetic disease or chromosomal abnormality; a predisposition to a disease or condition, infection by a pathogenic organism, or for determining identity or heredity.

Abstract: Thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides, formulations of pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, N-(isoxazolyl)thienylsulfonamides, N-(isoxazolyl)furylsulfonamides and N-(isoxazolyl)pyrrolylsulfonamides, formulations thereof and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems that rely on bioluminescence for visualizing tissues in situ are provided. The systems are particularly useful for visualizing and detecting neoplastic tissue and specialty tissue during surgical procedures. Kits that provide the components of the systems and methods using the systems for visualizing the tissue are also provided. The systems include compositions containing conjugates that include a tissue specific, particularly a tumor-specific, targeting agent linked to a targeted agent, a luciferase or luciferin. The systems also include a second composition that contains the remaining components of a bioluminescence generating reaction. Administration of the compositions results production of light by targeted tissues that permits the detection and localization of neoplastic tissue for surgical removal. Therapeutic methods in which photosensitizing compounds are administered are also provided.