Abstract: This invention provides folic acid-containing pharmaceutical compositions comprising either an oral contraceptive or a hormone replacement composition. This invention also provides methods of administering folic acid to a subject using the instant pharmaceutical compositions. Finally, this invention provides a drug delivery system useful for administering the instant pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having the structure shown below, as well as related pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment and synthesis.

Abstract: This application provides methods of detecting and quantitatively determining a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, which comprise contacting the sample with a primer and a zymogene which encodes, but which itself is the anti-sense sequence of, a catalytic nucleic acid sequence, so that when the target is present, a single amplified nucleic acid molecule is produced which comprises the sequences of both the target and catalytic molecules. This invention further provides a method of simultaneously detecting the presence of a plurality of target nucleic acid sequences in a sample. Finally, this invention provides molecules and kits for practicing the instant methods.

Abstract: This invention provides proteins which selectively inhibit the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. This invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding the instant proteins, including a nucleic acid molecule suitable for use in gene therapy for treating a subject afflicted with androgen-independent prostate cancer. This invention further provides a composition of matter which selectively kills androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, and comprises the instant proteins and a toxic moiety operably affixed thereto. Finally, the instant invention provides related pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions consisting essentially of a polypeptide and a water-soluble polymer covalently bound thereto at the N-terminal .alpha.-carbon atom via a hydrazone or reduced hydrazone bond, or an oxime or reduced oxime bond. This invention also provides methods of making the instant compositions, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and kits for use in preparing same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in vitro method of determining the in vivo EPO activity of a sample containing EPO. More particularly, the present method comprises treating a sample containing EPO under conditions which remove desialylated EPO, and measuring the in vitro EPO activity of the resulting treated sample. In a preferred embodiment, desialylated EPO is removed from the sample by incubating the sample with cells of the human hepatoma cell line HepG2, and in vitro EPO activity is determined by incubating the treated sample with cells of an EPO-responsive cell line and measuring the proliferation or viability of the EPO-responsive cells. The present invention is useful, for example, in quantitating the biologically active EPO in a variety of sample types.

Abstract: A dry immunoassay analytical element, for assaying a ligand is disclosed. The element comprises, in the following order, (a) a layer containing a labeled ligand, (b) a bead spreading layer, c) a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer layer and d) a support; wherein(i) a fixed concentration of an immobilized receptor for the labeled ligand is located in a zone at the interface of layers (b) and (c); and(ii) the receptors are immobilized by being covalently bonded to polymeric beads that are smaller than the beads in layer (c).

Abstract: A simplified composition for generating a chemiluminescent signal in the presence of a peroxidase includes a substituted acetanilide as the sole light-producing substrate for the peroxidase. Assays for various analytes can be carried out with this composition at near neutral pH, exhibit low background and are highly sensitive.