Abstract: A biologically active oligosaccharide compound comprising at least two L hexose rings connected together by an ether oxygen atom. The ether oxygen atom is connected to a first of the rings at the first carbon atom to the right of the hexose ring oxygen atom. The compound contains at least one sulfate or phosphate group connected to the first ring at the third carbon atom to the right of the ring oxygen or to a methyl group at the fifth carbon atom to the right of the ring oxygen atom.The invention further includes the method for using the above oligosaccharide compound to detect .alpha. 1,3-L-fucosyltransferases or to block the activity of such .alpha. 1,3-L-fucosyltransferases or structures which mimic the structure of such fucosyltransferases to the extent that such structures bind to compounds of the present invention, e.g., as in the case of HIV virus.

Abstract: A novel, efficient glycosylating reagent, R 3,4-O-isopropylidene-2-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-thio-.beta. -L-fucopyranoside wherein R is a lower alkyl or lower alkenyl of 1 to 8 carbons such as methyl or pentenyl, is described. This novel reagent provides for the facile synthesis of linear and other .alpha.-L-fucosyl oligosaccharides. In addition, a method for the preparation of 2'-O-.alpha.-L-fucopyranosyl-lactose, which comprises reacting the abovementioned glycosylating reagent with solvated 4-O-(6-O-acetyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-.beta.-D-galactopyranosyl)-2,3,5,6-di -O-isopropylidene-D-glucose, dimethyl acetal, a tetrabutylammonium halide and a catalyst and then de-O-acetylating the resulting reaction product with sodium methoxide methanol, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for locating a lesion within a tissue mass, includes steps of measuring a selected parameter at two or more points in at least one path through the tissue mass, the measure of the selected parameter in a lesion being different from that in normal tissue. Also, apparatus for measuring a tissue parameter at two or more points in at least one path through the tissue mass includes an insertion needle, distally sharpened and made sufficiently rigid so that it can be inserted distal end foremost into the tissue mass along the path, and, insertible with the needle, a sensor capable of prodding a measure of the tissue parameter at a point in the tissue mass along the path. Where the parameter is selected as one that has a measure different in a lesion type, the apparatus can be used in carrying out the method, whereby a measure at a point in the tissue mass of the selected tissue parameter provided by the sensor indicates that the point is within a lesion.