Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electrochemical sensor having a base bearing a working and counter electrode which provides a flow path for a fluid test sample. The working electrode has a reaction layer on its surface which contains an enzyme capable of reacting with an analyte to produce electrons which are received by the working electrode. The base is mated with a cover to form a capillary space into which the test fluid is drawn. The improvement involves configuring the working and counter electrodes so that a major portion of the counter electrode is located downstream on the flow path from the working electrode with the exception of a small sub-element of the counter electrode which is in electrical communication with the primary portion of the counter electrode and located upstream of the working electrode.

Abstract: A chemiluminescent substrate of hydrolytic enzyme having the following general Formula I, as follows: Lumi-M-P  Formula I where “Lumi” is a chemiluminescent moiety capable of producing light (a) by itself, (b) with MP attached and (c) with M attached. Examples of Lumi include chemiluminescent acridinium compounds, benzacridinium compounds, quinolinium compounds, isoquinolinium compounds, phenanthridinium compounds, and lucigenin compounds, spiroacridan compounds, luminol compounds and isoluminol compounds. M is a multivalent heteroatom having at least one lone pair of electrons selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, directly attached to the light emitting moiety of Lumi at one end and to P at the other end. P it a group that can be readily removed by hydrolytic enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and peptidomimetics corresponding to part or to the entirety of the region encompassed by residues 360-386 of human p53, said peptides and peptidomimetics characterized by the ability to activate DNA binding of wild-type p53 and to select tumor-derived p53 mutants. Pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the invention and methods of using these compositions therapeutically are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of colorectal cancer in an individual, wherein colorectal cancer is detected by detecting the presence of Reg1&agr; or TIMP1 nucleic acid or amino acid molecules in a clinical sample obtained from the patient, wherein Reg1&agr; or TIMP1 expression is indicative of the presence of colorectal cancer. The invention further relates to a method for detecting the presence of colorectal cancer in an individual, wherein colorectal cancer is detected by detecting the presence of Reg1&agr; or TIMP1 nucleic acid or amino acid molecules in a clinical sample, in addition to detecting the presence of one or more additional colorectal cancer associated markers.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I) wherein R1 is a protecting group for N&agr;, R2 is a protecting group for NG, and R3 is aryl, and wherein the compound of formula (I) is a trypsin substrate such that trypsin cleaves the O—C single bond, which liberates R3—OH; a diagnostic device comprising same; a method for preparing the diagnostic device; and a method of using the diagnostic device to detect levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor in a biological sample; and a diagnostic kit for detecting levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor in a biological sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to high performance RIM (reaction injection molded) poly(urethane)urea elastomers, and to a process for their production. These elastomers comprise the reaction product of an allophanate-modified diphenylmethane diisocyanate prepolymer having an NCO group content of about 5 to about 30%, with an isocyanate-reactive component comprising a high molecular weight amine-terminated polyether polyol, an aromatic diamine chain extender, and, optionally, a chain extender or crosslinker selected from the group consisting of aliphatic amine terminated polyether polyols and aliphatic hydroxyl terminated polyether polyols, optionally, in the presence of an internal mold release agent, a surfactant and a filler.

Abstract: It has been found that casein and salts of casein are useful as replacements for, or in addition to, BSA as materials for coating solid phases, particularly magnetic particles, used for immunoassays and other binding assays for separation of the desired analyte. By using casein, immunoassays having improved stability and few discordant samples have been developed. Casein used at a concentration of 0.05-4.0 grams per gram of paramagnetic particle (optimally approximately 0.78-1.2 grams of casein per gram of magnetic particle) has been found to confer this benefit. In addition, a process for coating solid phases has been invented, said process comprising the mixing of casein with magnetic particles at 30-60° C. for 5-180 hours, said process resulting in casein-coated paramagnetic particles which either (1) already have combined therewith active ingredients needed in the binding assay or (2) are capable of reacting with active ingredients needed in the binding assay.

Abstract: A pressure ring for a lancing device for holding open a skin puncture while collecting a blood sample includes a collar that fits onto the end of a lancing device. A skirt is provided on the collar and a flared portion depends from the skirt. At least one axial slit is formed in the skirt. The pressure ring is made of a flexible material such as polypropylene such that when the lancing device with a pressure ring is placed on a person's skin and pressure is applied, the slits spread apart stretching the skin for a puncture by a lance in the lancing device. Once a puncture has been made, the pressure ring holds the puncture wound open to allow bleeding. Removing the lancing device from the puncture site releases the skin allowing the puncture wound to close.

Abstract: An ammonium selective ionophore for use in ion selective electrodes.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a group of aryl ureas in treating cytokine mediated diseases and proteolytic enzyme mediated diseases, and pharmaceutical compositions for use in such therapy.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors and to perform a test using one of the sensors. The sensor dispensing instrument includes an outer housing and a disk drive mechanism contained therein for rotating the sensor pack and ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor pack and through a sensor opening on the housing. The disk drive mechanism of the sensor dispensing instrument is operated by pressing a button which activates a motor. The motor moves a disk drive pusher in a first direction to rotate the sensor pack, and then moves the disk drive pusher in a second direction to eject a sensor from the sensor cavity and through the sensor opening.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly having a constrained-diffusion liquid junction between a liquid junction solution and a sample solution having separate flow paths, said assembly comprising a flow cell having attached thereto a constraint comprising a region of porous material permeable to water and salts; a remote reservoir for holding said liquid junction solution; a means for moving said liquid junction solution from said reservoir to said constraint; and a reference contact region is provided. This unique configuration provides a reference electrode device of the constrained-diffusion liquid junction type useful in pH and/or ion-selective electrode (ISE) potentiometric sensors and is particularly suitable for use in a mini-integrated electrochemical analyzer.

Abstract: High boiling contaminants such as chloro-aromatic compounds are removed from a gas by compressing the gas containing the contaminant, cooling the compressed gas to reduce the temperature of the gas to at least 20° C. above the outlet temperature of a second cooling stage but above the freezing point of the highest melting compound in the first cooling stage, further cooling the gas in a second cooling stage to at least −20° C., returning cooled gas from the second cooling stage to the first cooling stage, and recovering condensate streams which contain the contaminant compound from the first and second cooling stages. An apparatus suitable for carrying out this process is also disclosed. The process of the present invention is particularly useful for removing chloro-aromatic compounds from anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas.

Abstract: Chemiluminescent acridinium compounds are used in homogeneous assays to determine the concentration of an analyte in a sample without strong acid or strong base treatment. The chemiluminescent acridinium compounds include acridinium esters with electron donating functional groups at the C2 and/or C7 position on the acridinium nucleus to inhibit pseudo-base formation, or acridinium sulfonamides with or without electron donating functional groups at the C2 and/or C7 position on the acridinium nucleus.

Abstract: This invention relates to syntactic foams comprising the reaction product of a liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanate component, with an isocyanate-reactive component, a filler having a density of less than 1 g/cm 3, and at least one organo-metallic catalyst. This invention also relates to the use of these syntactic foams for insulating pipes.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors and to perform a test using one of the sensors. The sensor dispensing instrument includes an outer housing and display disposed on the outer housing for showing items. The sensor dispensing instrument further comprises a power button for turning the sensor dispensing instrument on and off, a scroll button for scroll through the items, and a select button for selecting an item.

Abstract: A device that is intended for the sampling of fluids, comprises a base and a lid. Between the base and the lid there is provided an opening and a first open-sided channel extending from the opening to a second open-sided channel for the collection of fluid therein. The depth of the second channel is smaller than that of the first channel.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of using aryl ureas to treat diseases mediated by raf kinase and diseases mediated by the VEGF induced signal transduction pathway characterized by abnormal angiogenesis or hyperpermeability processes.

Abstract: A process for preparing 3,3-dimethylbutyric acid includes the steps of reacting trimethylpyruvic acid with a first portion of hydrazine to obtain a ketazine, and treating the ketazine with base and a second portion of hydrazine.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention improves the visual use of urine test strips and reagent pads by providing a single color from a reference color spectrum directly on the colorimetric strip and adjacent to the reagent area to allow easy comparison. After application of a fluid to be tested to a reagent area on the colorimetric strip, a technician is able to easily compare the color in the reagent area to the reference color area(s) to determine the presence or absence of, for example, glucose, in the fluid. Placing at least one reference color immediately next to the reagent area markedly improves technician's accuracy in comparing and analyzing the reagent area against the reference color(s). The present invention allows a technician to easily and quickly compare a reagent area color to more than one reference area to determine the actual numerical value of, for example, the pH in the tested fluid.