Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for treating the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and related conditions by administering flupirtine.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for enhancing the differential diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) versus anxiety disorder in a human patient undergoing testing for ADHD.

Abstract: The invention involves enhancing brain function by stimulating the brain using magnetic fields. Applications of the new methods include improving the condition of individuals with cognitive disorders, such as depression, and studying the effects of neural stimulation using induced electric fields. These techniques can avoid deleterious effects of psychotropic pharmaceutical treatments, and provide a relatively safe, comfortable, inexpensive means of direct cranial stimulation.

Abstract: The invention features the treatment of depression using kappa opioid receptor antagonists.

Abstract: The invention features an enhancer cassette having the formula [X-Y]n, wherein each X is independently a noradrenergic cell-specific enhancer derived from a DBH gene; Y is absent or is a mono or polynucleotide that has between one and thirty nucleotides; and n is an integer between three and twenty, inclusive.

Abstract: Provided are methods for diagnosing the presence, type, or severity of a dementia in a human subject. The methods involve using a computer-based system to assess impairment of certain cognitive and motor functions that are indicative of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Abstract: A technique for computing a T2 relaxation time (RT) and for using the so computed T2 RT to provide an output which can aid in the detection of brain dysfunction including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The technique includes the step of obtaining T*1 matched axial images through a predetermined number of axial planes in a subject and obtaining one or more spin echo, echoplanar image sets, with TE incremented by a predetermined value in each consecutive image set through the same axial planes. The images are used to generate a map of T2 for each of the T*1 matched axial images and regions of interest (ROI) are identified in the matched axial images. Median pixel intensity values in the ROI are then used to compute a T2 relaxation time.

Abstract: Porcine neural cells and methods for using the cells to treat neurological deficits due to neurodegeneration are described. The porcine neural cells are preferably embryonic mesencephalic, embryonic striatal cells, or embryonic cortical cells. The porcine neural cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine neural cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine neural cells are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of treating a patient suffering from depression by increasing circulating adenosine levels in the patient. The invention also features diagnostic methods for depression which involve measuring purine or NTP resonance intensity.

Abstract: The invention features a method for determining a set of post-registration correction terms that correct for artifacts introduced by an algorithm used to register images represented by values at an array of points, the method including: providing a series of images of a reference object; registering the images with each other using the algorithm to produce a series of registered images; and determining the set of post-registration correction terms based on variations among the registered values of the registered images at selected points.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for imaging the distribution of n-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) in mammalian neuronal tissue, by a) exciting the neuronal tissue to generate magnetic resonance signals, including signals corresponding to NAA; b) suppressing non-NAA magnetic resonance signals by a combination of band selective inversion with gradient dephasing, and chemical shift selective pre-excitation; c) encoding a first spatial dimension of the NAA signal with readout encoding and a second spatial dimension of the NAA signal with gradient phase encoding, and d) using the encoded first and second spatial dimensions to image, by reconstrucion, the distribution of NAA in the tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating a correction angle that rotationally aligns a first polar centered image with a second polar centered image, wherein the first and second polar centered images includes values on a polar grid having evenly spaced polar angle coordinates for each of at least one radial distance coordinate, include the following steps: calculating a polar cross-power spectrum for the first and second polar centered images, the polar cross-power spectrum comprising a phase profile having at least polar angular frequency coordinates; and fitting a linear function of the angular frequency coordinate to the phase profile of the polar cross-power spectrum to determine the correction angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in a patient by measuring the level of a lysosomal hydrolase or lysosomal protease inhibitor in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. The invention also features methods of measuring the progression of the disease and screening therapeutic compositions for treating Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The design and construction of a novel phased array echoplanar receiver system for magnetic resonance imaging for use with a standard clinical EPI system is described, and in vivo results showing increased SNR are presented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for reducing stimulant dependencies in mammals that involves administration of a therapeutically-effective amount of a cytosine-containing or cytidine-containing compound, such as CDP-choline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cloning of .beta.APP-C100 receptor (C100-R), and genetically engineered host cells which express the C100-R. Such engineered cells may be used to evaluate and screen drugs and analogs of .beta.-APP involved in Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The method utilizes presenilin-1, whose level is found to be substantially decreased in Alzheimer's patients. Included in the invention are diagnostic kits for Alzheimer's disease and methods of screening for effective therapeutics for the disease. The invention also provides a method of studying the function and regulation of presenilin-1 in brain by the use of primate retinoblastoma cells.

Abstract: Methods for screening individuals for Alzheimer's disease are disclosed. Also disclosed are antibodies that immunochemically react with the isoforms of calcium-activated neutral proteinases which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Also disclosed are methods for screening drugs which are useful in treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: In the method of the invention, in vitro proton MRS is employed to determine the measurable ethanol concentrations in ethanol-treated erythrocyte samples of occasional and heavy drinkers. An erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratio is determined based upon the MRS measured erythrocyte concentration. Erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratios are significantly greater for heavy drinkers (a subset of alcohol tolerant individuals) as compared to the ratios calculated for occasional drinkers (non-tolerant individuals) when erythrocyte ethanol concentration is determined by MRS. Thus, the method of the present invention discriminates between alcohol tolerant individuals and alcohol non-tolerant individuals based upon the magnitude of the erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratio obtained according to the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cloning of .beta.APP-C100 receptor (C100-R), and genetically engineered host cells which express the C100-R. Such engineered cells may be used to evaluate and screen drugs and analogs of .beta.-APP involved in Alzheimer's Disease.