Abstract: Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms and operating rooms, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof. The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information.

Abstract: N-(5-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamides and N-(3-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, N-(5-isoxazolyl)biphenylsulfonamides and N-(3-isoxazolyl)biphenylsulfonamides and methods for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor or increasing the activity of endothelin peptides by contacting the receptor with a sulfonamide are provided. N-isoxzolyl-4-biphenylsulfonamides are particularly preferred. These compounds exhibit activity as endothelin receptor B antagonists. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders, particularly inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, 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: Thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides 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 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: N-alkyl, N-alkenyl, N-alkynyl, N-aryl and N-fused bicyclo or tricyclo thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, (phenyl) and (phenoxy)thienylsulfonamides, (phenyl) and (phenoxy)furylsulfonamides, and (phenyl) and (phenoxy)pyrrolylsulfonamides and methods of 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: 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 pyrimidinyl 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 process for determining the identity of a target polypeptide using mass spectroscopy is provided. Depending on the target polypeptide to be identified, a process as disclosed can be used, for example, to diagnose a genetic disease or chromosomal abnormality, a predisposition to a disease or condition, or infection by a pathogenic organism; or for determining identity or heredity. Kits for performing the disclosed processes also are provided.

Abstract: A method for dissociating a complex of a biotin compound and a biotin-binding compound, by contacting the complex with an amine, is disclosed.

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.

Abstract: Methods for measuring in vivo activation of the lectin pathway by measuring mannan-binding serine protease activity (MASP) are provided. The methods are accomplished by C3a and C4a levels in in vitro activated EDTA plasma. In particular, the increase in C3a and/or C4a as a function of time is an indicator of the amount of activated MASP in EDTA plasma. Methods are also provided for measuring the alternate and classical pathways of complement activation, exclusive of the lectin pathway, and thereby disorders associated therewith. To perform such measurements, Futhan or other serine protease inhibitor is added to blood or plasma, containing a divalent metal ion chelator, and C3a and C4a are measured.

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.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms and operating rooms, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof. The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information.

Abstract: A mass spectrometric method for sequencing nucleic acids using RNA polymerases, including DNA-dependent and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, is provided. The methods use a modified Sanger sequencing strategy in which RNA polymerase is used to generate a set of nested RNA transcripts obtained by base-specific chain termination. These are analyzed by mass spectrometry. A method of identifying transcriptional terminator sequences or attenuator sequences is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and compounds for modulating the activity of an endothelin peptide are provided. The methods use compositions that contain compounds of formula (1): where X and Y are selected from groups that include O, S, and NH; and Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted groups that include 5 to 6 membered aryl groups and heteroaryl groups that contain one or two heteroatom(s). 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: 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.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for generating bioluminescence, and combinations of these systems and apparatus with inanimate articles of manufacture to produce novelty items are provided. These novelty items, which are articles of manufacture, are designed for entertainment, recreation and amusement, include, toys, paints, slimy play material, textiles, particularly clothing, bubbles in bubble making toys and other toys that produce bubbles, balloons, personal items, such as bath powders, body lotions, gels, powders and creams, toothpastes and other dentifrices, soaps, body paints, and bubble bath, foods, such as gelatins, icings and frostings, beverages such as beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, and ice cubes, fountains, including liquid “fireworks” and other such jets or sprays or aerosols of compositions that are solutions, mixtures, suspensions, powders, pastes, particles or other suitable formulation.

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

Abstract: The invention describes a new method to sequence DNA. The improvements over the existing DNA sequencing technologies are high speed, high throughput, no electrophoresis and gel reading artifacts due to the complete absence of an electrophoretic step, and no costly reagents involving various substitutions with stable isotopes. The invention utilizes the Sanger sequencing strategy and assembles the sequence information by analysis of the nested fragments obtained by base-specific chain termination via their different molecular masses using mass spectrometry, as for example, MALDI or ES mass spectrometry. A further increase in throughput can be obtained by introducing mass-modifications in the oligonucleotide primer, chain-terminating nucleoside triphosphates and/or in the chain-elongating nucleoside triphosphates, as well as using integrated tag sequences which allow multiplexing by hybridization of tag specific probes with mass differentiated molecular weights.

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.

Abstract: The invention describes a new method to sequence DNA. The improvements over the existing DNA sequencing technologies are high speed, high throughput, no electrophoresis and gel reading artifacts due to the complete absence of an electrophoretic step, and no costly reagents involving various substitutions with stable isotopes. The invention utilizes the Sanger sequencing strategy and assembles the sequence information by analysis of the nested fragments obtained by base-specific chain termination via their different molecular masses using mass spectrometry, as for example, MALDI or ES mass spectrometry. A flirter increase in throughput can be obtained by introducing mass-modifications in the oligonucleotide primer, chain-terminating nucleoside triphosphates and/or in the chain-elongating nucleoside triphosphates, as well as using integrated tag sequences which allow multiplexing by hybridization tag specific probes with mass differentiated molecular weights.