Abstract: A method to increase the efficiency of transduction of hematopoietic and other cells by retroviruses includes infecting the cells in the presence of fibronectin or fibronectin fragments. The fibronectin and fibronectin fragments significantly enhance retroviral-mediated gene transfer into the cells, particularly hematopoietic cells including committed progenitors and primitive hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides improved methods for somatic gene therapy capitalizing on enhanced gene transfer, hematopoietic cellular populations, and novel constructs for enhancing retroviral-mediated DNA transfer into cells and their use.

Abstract: The human receptor H4-1BB has been isolated, sequenced and disclosed herein. The cDNA of the human receptor H4-1BB is about 65% homologous to the mouse cDNA 4-1BB and was isolated by using probes derived from cDNA 4-1BB. A fusion protein for detecting cell membrane ligands to human receptor protein H4-1BB was developed. It comprises the extracellular portion of the receptor protein H4-1BB and a detection protein (alkaline phosphatase) bound to the portion of the receptor protein H4-1BB. B-cells that have expressed a ligand to receptor protein H4-1BB can be treated with cells that have expressed receptor protein H4-1BB and B-cell proliferation may be induced. The use of H4-1BB to block H4-1BB ligand binding has practical application in the suppression of the immune system during organ transplantation. A monoclonal antibody against H4-1BB can be used to enhance T-cell proliferation by treating T-cells that have expressed receptor protein H4-1BB with the anti H4-1BB monoclonal antibody.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subject having a disorder associated with LHRH activity are disclosed.

Abstract: Described are preferred myocardial grafts of skeletal myoblasts or cardiomyocytes, and cellular compositions and methods useful in obtaining the grafts. The myocardial grafts are stable and can be used, for example, to deliver recombinant proteins directly to the heart.

Abstract: A process for supporting hematopoietic progenitor cells in a culture medium which contains at least one cytokine effective for supporting the cells and preferably, is essentially free of stromal cells.

Abstract: Described are preferred processes and compositions for suppressing myeloid cells in mammals. Preferred processes and compositions involve the use of chemokines in synergistic combinations or while they are substantially completely in monomeric form (i.e. substantially free from their polymerized or aggregated forms).

Abstract: Described are novel uses of GHRH-RP polypeptides for specifically activating Sertoli cell expression of stem cell factor and promoting spermatogenesis and fertility, and for inhibiting GHRH-RP activity to decrease or eliminate spermatogenesis and fertility. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions for such uses, and transgenic animals lacking expression of or expressing introduced DNA encoding GHRH-RP polypeptides.

Abstract: Described are preferred processes for suppressing proliferation of or for myeloprotecting myeloid cells in mammals. The processes involve the use of chemokines of the group Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-2.alpha. (MIP-2.alpha.), Platelet Factor 4 (PF4), Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Macrophage Chemotactic and Activating Factor (MCAF), or involve the use of these chemokines or Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1.alpha. (MIP-1.alpha.) in synergistic combinations or while they are substantially completely in monomeric form (i.e. substantially free from their polymerized or aggregated forms).

Abstract: A neural network characterized by a minimal architecture suitable for implementation in conventional microprocessor battery pack monitoring hardware includes linear and non-linear processing elements and battery parameter measurements representative of real time and temporal quantities whereby state of charge estimations actually converge with 100% and 0% states-of-charge.

Abstract: A method to increase the efficiency of transduction of hematopoietic and other cells by retroviruses includes infecting the cells in the presence of fibronectin or fibronectin fragments. The fibronectin and fibronectin fragments significantly enhance retroviral-mediated gene transfer into the cells, particularly hematopoietic cells including committed progenitors and primitive hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides improved methods for somatic gene therapy capitalizing on enhanced gene transfer, hematopoietic cellular populations, and novel constructs for enhancing retroviral-mediated DNA transfer into cells and their use.

Abstract: Described are preferred myocardial grafts of skeletal myoblasts or cardiomyocytes, and cellular compositions and methods useful in obtaining the grafts. The myocardial grafts are stable and can be used, for example, to deliver recombinant proteins directly to the heart.

Abstract: Described are reversibly N-acylated phosphotidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives which are useful as caged aminophospholipids. Also described are pharmaceutical preparations containing pH-sensitive liposomes formed with the caged aminophospholipids, and related methods.

Abstract: Described is a novel in vitro method for obtaining and identifying proteins which, in their natural in vivo setting, are covalently modified after translation. To identify novel isoprenylated proteins for subsequent biochemical study, colony blots of a Glycine max cDNA expression library were ?.sup.3 H! farnesyl labeled in vitro. Proteins identified by this screen contained several different carboxy-termini that conform to consensus farnesylation motifs. These proteins included known farnesylated proteins (DnaJ homologs) and several novel proteins, two of which contained 6 or more tandem repeats of a hexapeptide having the consensus sequence ?E or G! ?G or P!EK?P or K!K. Expression library screening by direct labeling can thus be adapted to recover and identify isoprenylated proteins as well as proteins with other post-translational modifications.

Abstract: Method for screening for risk of Alzheimer's disease involve assaying for a guanine to thymine substitution at position 1924 of the gene encoding the human amyloid precursor protein. Also described are transgenic mammals harboring an expressable gene sequence encoding human amyloid precursor protein having a phenyanine for valine amino acid substitution in the transmembrane domain of the amyloid precursor protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences of the Delta genes, and amino acid sequence of the encoded protein, fragments and derivatives which retain binding activity are also provided.

Abstract: A system for treating a patient's heart which comprises a means to form channels in the heart wall and a means to deliver a therapeutic or diagnostic agent into the channels. Additionally, the system may comprise a way to retain the agent within the channels for a useful period of time. The system may be configured to be introduced percutaneously or intraoperatively. The system generally comprises an elongated, flexible lasing transmission catheter that emits laser radiation and has delivery lumen opening at the distal end. Practice of the invention comprises forming channels in the heart wall and delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent into the channel. Gene therapy agents of this invention comprise vectors for transferring genetic information to the heart tissue in vivo or harvested cells which have been genetically engineered in vitro. Additionally, the invention may comprise retaining the agent within the channels, for example, by incorporating the agent in a viscous carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a device having two components: a needle advancing apparatus slidable longitudinally along a catheter to advance needles into a tissue membrane, such as a blood vessel wall, around an opening in the membrane; and, a suture retrieval assembly insertable through the catheter beyond a distal side of the tissue membrane. The needle advancing apparatus advances suture through the tissue wall. The suture retrieval assembly grabs the suture on the distal side of the tissue membrane for extraction thereof through the opening in the tissue membrane. A method for suturing a membrane beneath the patient's skin is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient's heart which comprising delivering a gene therapy agent into the pericardial sac around the patient's heart. The agent is introduced surgically or by transvascular means such as a catheter which has been introduced percutaneously or otherwise. Introducing the gene therapy agent into the pericardial sac contains the agent, allowing high concentration of the agent adjacent large regions of the epicardium and pericardium without spillage or systemic distribution to other organs or tissues. The gene therapy agents of this invention comprise vectors for transferring genetic information to the epicardial cells in vivo or harvested cells which have been genetically engineered in vitro. In a preferred embodiment, a catheter is percutaneously introduced, such as through the femoral artery, and guided upstream into the left ventricle. The distal end of the catheter advanced until it penetrates through the epicardium so that agent can be introduced into the pericardial space.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting lead-contaminated soil to commercially-useful ceramic shapes, in which the lead is covalently-bonded and from which it does not leach. The soil is mixed with conventional brick or tile fabricating ingredients to form a premix which is formed into a suitable shape and fired at a temperature in the range of 150.degree. F. to 250.degree. F.

Abstract: A one-diode circuit for negated implication (.about..fwdarw.) is derived from a 12-transistor Lukasiewicz implication circuit (.fwdarw.). The derivation also yields an adjustable three-transistor implication circuit with maximum error less than 1% of full scale. Two Lukasiewicz logic arrays (.English Pound.LAs) are proposed that use area-efficient implementations of the one-diode and three-transistor implication circuits. The very dense diode-tower .English Pound.LA contains 36,000 implications in an area that previously held 92 implications; the three-transistor .English Pound.LA contains 1,990 implications. Both .English Pound.LAs double the number of inputs per pin on the IC package. Very dense .English Pound.LAs make .English Pound.LA-based fuzzy controllers and neural networks practical. As an example, an .English Pound.LA retina that detects edges in 15 nanoseconds is described.