Abstract: The method of detecting lower urinary tract disease is disclosed through the comparison of the concentration of a neurotrophic factor present in a urine specimen in comparison with a predetermined normal concentration. Nerve growth factor, having a concentration of approximately less than 8 picograms per milliliter is the preferred factor. The concentration of nerve growth factor in the urine rises at the onset of the lower urinary tract disease and decreases as said disease progresses. Nerve growth factor production and nerve growth is inhibited by administering the Ca.sup.++ channel blockers, verapamil or diltiazem.

Abstract: The present application discloses a novel method for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Further disclosed is an approximately 230 kDa protein and the use of such protein in detection assays for Staphylococcus aureus and in other diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Competitive and sandwich-type immunodiagnostic assays can be configured by use of liposomes carrying detectible markers (e.g., fluorophores) or catalysts thereof (e.g., enzymes) on the outer liposome surface. The liposome also contains at least one antigen or antibody allowing it to bind to a complementary, immobilized antibody or antigen on a support.

Abstract: An antibody specifically immunoreactive with glycated LDL and methods for using the antibody are provided. The antibody can be used for quantitating amounts of glycated LDL in a sample, for monitoring glycemic control in diabetic patients, for diagnosing disease, for monitoring and diagnosing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and for inhibiting accumulation of LDL cholesterol by cells in tissues subject to atherosclerotic disease.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence and quantity of an analyte of interest in a particulate-containing sample is disclosed, as is a construct for use in the method. The method is particularly useful for determining an analyte in whole blood and in fermentation suspensions. The construct is comprised of a first moiety, which is a particulate-binding moiety and a second moiety, which binds the analyte of interest.

Abstract: A system and method of determining absence or presence of an illicit substance in a flowing mixture of requisite reagents by agglutination or lack thereof. A plurality of photodetectors are positioned over an illuminated read area oblique to a path of the flowing mixture. Signal samples of each of the detectors are processed individually. Successive samples are processed over a period time to detect differences or edges between relatively clear liquid and relatively opaque clusters in the flowing mixture. The illicit substance is determined in accordance with the number of variations in signal samples for a predetermined number of detectors.

Abstract: An assay method is provided to easily and quickly detect the presence of organisms capable of being cultured, such as bacteria, characterized by antibody capture of the organism of interest by use of specialized magnetic beads, incubation of the captured cells to form colonies; removal of material from the colonies with a colony lift membrane; and detection of the colony material on the membrane sheet by use of labeled antibodies, PCR or nucleic acid probes.

Abstract: The invention is a non-invasive diagnostic test which is performed on the surface of the skin. This test indicates skin cholesterol levels which can provide information about the extent of aortic atherosclerosis. The invention also relates to reagents in the form of affino-enzymatic test compounds for use in the diagnostic test.

Abstract: Methods of screening for endometriosis comprise obtaining a sample of endometrium selected from menstrual cycle day 20 to 24, identifying the endometrial sample as nulliparous, contacting the endometrium with a monoclonal antibody for .beta..sub.3 integrin, assaying for .beta..sub.3 integrin and correlating the absence of .beta..sub.3 integrin with endometriosis, wherein the endometrium is identified as mild/minimum endometriosis. A method of using monoclonal antibodies to screen for endometriosis is also within the scope of the invention. Methods for detecting receptivity of mammalian endometrium to embryo implantation comprising obtaining a sample of the endometrium, contacting the endometrium with a monoclonal antibody for .beta..sub.3 and detecting .beta..sub.3 in the endometrium. The invention also provides for methods of diagnosing infertility in a mammal and methods of detecting the window of embryo implantation in endometrium.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of modified C-reactive protein ("mCRP"). The invention also provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal mCRP in combination with another agent such as a chemotherapeutic compound, immunoadjuvant, or cytokine. The mCRP may be administered to the mammal in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or in liposomes. The invention further provides a method of identifying cancer cells in a mammal using mCRP as an imaging agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of newly discovered hemin/hemoglobin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae with approximate molecular weights of 18, 43, 55, 66 and 76 kDa, respectively, thereby providing bacterial-derived antigens and active derivatives and parts thereof, useful in the diagnostic assays, vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions relative to these bacteria. In addition, the present invention is directed to polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed to the hemin/hemoglobin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The present invention further relates to methods of diagnosing and treating human pneumococcal infections including kits therefor.

Abstract: A method for measuring glycated hemoglobin is disclosed, which comprises contacting a sample with an anti-hemoglobin antibody being bound to a solid phase, adding thereto an anti-glycated hemoglobin antibody, and then measuring the anti-glycated hemoglobin antibody bound to the solid phase via glycated hemoglobin and the anti-hemoglobin antibody. A method for measuring glycated hemoglobin is further disclosed, which comprises mixing a sample with particles on which an anti-glycated hemoglobin antibody is bound to cause immunoagglutination reaction. A method for measuring glycated hemoglobin is furthermore disclosed, which comprises mixing a sample with a solution containing a monoclonal antibody specific for glycated hemoglobin, and then measuring the change in the turbidity of the resulting mixture. A method is disclosed for measuring glycated hemoglobin which comprises mixing a sample with unsensitized latex particles and an anti-glycated hemoglobin antibody, to cause immunoagglutination reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high affinity monoclonal antibody and to an enzyme immunoassay of human G-CSF using the antibody.The trace amount of human G-CSF in samples such as body fluids from patients with hematological disorders can be measured without interference in the body fluids. For example, the measurable human G-CSF concentration in plasma is 0.5 pg/ml in minimum.

Abstract: A histamine diagnostic assay device is provided in which glass microfibers treated with a polar organic polymer are deposited onto a carrier and used to selectively bind histamine in a sample. The polar organic polymer reduces the affinity of the glass microfibers for interfering components of the sample while substantially retaining the histamine-binding capacity. Preferably, the glass microfibers are provided as a conglomerate with the polar organic polymer. An agent which induces the release of histamine from cells in the sample may be included in the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determination of thrombocytopenia induced by an inductor drug such as heparin. According to the invention, a sample is mixed with a complex of an antigenic substance such as platelet factor 4 (pF4) and heparin to determine if the sample contains antibodies which react with the complex. The presence of these antibodies is indicative of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for purifying or manipulating bone marrow and blood cells based upon P-glycoprotein expression. The methods rely upon immunopurification procedures or upon differential accumulation of materials subject to P-glycoprotein mediated efflux.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing malignant hyperthermia susceptibility by detecting abnormal ryanodine receptor fragments following proteolytic enzyme digestion of ryanodine receptors isolated from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of mammalian skeletal muscle. The detection of abnormal ryanodine receptor fragments is indicative of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel assays employing a capture reagent, involving a first specific binding member conjugated to a polymeric anion such as carboxymethylamylose, and a solid phase material containing a reaction site comprising a polymeric cation substance. A test sample suspected of containing the analyte of interest may be contacted with the capture reagent to form a charged capture reagent/analyte complex. The complex is then contacted to/ the oppositely charged solid phase to attract, attach, and immobilize the capture reagent/analyte complex. The use of carboxymethylamylose to prepare a suitably charged capture reagent provides a superior capture reagent that is capable of binding and retaining the analyte on the solid phase even in the presence of polyanionic non-specific binding blockers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for early detection of lung cancer. The method comprises obtaining samples from the body, especially respiratory tract material including sputum or bronchial fluid or any other pulmonary tissue or thoracic cells or regional lymph nodes, and assaying the samples with monoclonal antibodies for the presence of antigens whose enhanced presence correlates with the development of lung cancer. The method of the present invention permits identification of lung cancer up to two years prior to the development of clinical lung cancer, and thus enables early treatment of the lung cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the family of the protein (PAP) associated with acute pancreatitis in man and in the rat. It also relates to the nucleotide fragments coding for the above proteins.Also included in the framework of the invention are antibodies which recognize the PAP and which are capable of being used for the purpose of diagnosing pancreatitis.The invention also relates to the production of the PAP, in particular by genetic engineering.