Abstract: Catheter devices and methods are provided for enhancing fluid flow through a vascular site occupied by a calcified lesion. The catheter devices of the subject invention at least include, at their distal end, a proton generating means, and in many embodiments also include a flushing means. In using the subject devices, the distal end of the catheter is placed proximal to the vascular occlusion and protons are generated, e.g., via proton generation from water, in a manner sufficient to reduce the pH of the vascular site in the region proximal to the occlusion. The subphysiologic pH is maintained for a period of time sufficient for fluid flow through the vascular site to be enhanced. Also provided are kits comprising the subject catheter devices for use in the subject methods.

Abstract: Methods and devices for preventing a change in the core body temperature of a mammal under cold conditions are provided. In the subject methods, a requirement for thermal energy input in said mammal is first detected. In response to the detection of this requirement for thermal energy input, a surface of a portion of the mammal is contacted with a warm temperature medium under negative pressure conditions for a period of time sufficient to introduce thermal energy into the core body of the mammal. The subject devices include at least a means for detecting a requirement for thermal energy input and a means for contacting a surface of the mammal with a warm temperature medium under negative pressure conditions. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, and are particularly suited for use in maintaining the core body temperature of a mammal substantially constant under cold conditions for an extended period of time.

Abstract: Methods and devices for extracting thermal energy from the core body of a mammal are provided. In practicing the subject methods, a portion of the mammal, e.g. a limb or portion thereof, is placed in a sealed enclosure to produce an enclosed portion of the mammal. A surface of the enclosed portion of the mammal is then contacted with a low temperature medium under negative pressure conditions for a period of time sufficient to provide for the desired core body thermal energy extraction. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. providing relief from temperature sensitive disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, and the treatment of hyperthermia, among other treatments. The subject methods and devices are particularly suited for use in enhancing the physical ability of a mammal.

Abstract: Arrays of a plurality of different heterogeneous polymeric target compositions immobilized on the surface of a solid support are provided. In the subject arrays, the constituent polymeric targets of the heterogeneous target compositions are generally biopolymeric compounds, e.g., nucleic acids and proteins, where ribonucleic acids and proteins are the preferred polymeric targets in many embodiments. The subject arrays find use in a variety of different applications, including high throughput gene expression analysis applications.

Abstract: Podocalyxin like proteins (e.g. PCLP and PCLP-2) having selectin ligand activity are provided. Also provided are nucleic acid compositions encoding novel PCLP-2 proteins. The subject polypeptide and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including research, diagnostic, and therapeutic agent screening applications, as well as in treatment therapies for disease conditions associated with podocalyxin like protein activity. In particular, methods of treating diseases associated with podocalyxin like protein selectin binding activity and/or chemokine presenting activity are provided, where such diseases include inflammation and the like.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions encoding novel endoglycan proteins, as well as the novel endoglycan proteins, are provided. Also provided are methods of producing the subject nucleic acid and protein compositions. The subject polypeptide and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic agent screening applications, as well as in treatment therapies for disease conditions associated with endoglycan activity. In particular, methods of treating diseases associated with endoglycan selectin binding activity and/or chemokine presenting activity are provided, where such diseases include inflammation and the like.

Abstract: Bifunctional molecules and methods for their use in the production of binary complexes in a host are provided. The bifunctional molecule is a conjugate of a drug moiety and a presenter protein ligand. The molecular weight of the bifunctional molecule is preferably less than about 5000 daltons, and the drug moiety may have a molecular weight of from about 50 to 2000 daltons. The drug moiety and presenter protein ligand may be covalently linked directly or through a linking group. The drug moiety binds to a drug target such as a protein and the presenter protein ligand binds to a presenter protein that is not the drug target such as extracellular or intracellular protein. Presenter proteins include peptidyl prolyl isomerase (FKBP), Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90), steroid hormone receptors, cytoskeletal proteins, albumin and vitamin receptors.

Abstract: Methods for modulating the endocrine system of a mammal are provided. In the subject methods, a positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors of the hypothalamus are administered to the host. The subject methods find use in applications where it is desired to increase the circulatory level of a hormone in a mammalian host, such as diseased states characterized by abnormally depressed circulatory levels of the hormone.

Abstract: A brake pressure control device is provided in which the external wiring can be eliminated to enable a more compact design, and simultaneously, the power supply to the motor is more reliably waterproof. The wiring for the power supply conductors 51, 60 of the motor is passed internally through the valve block 30 of the brake pressure unit 10, and the electrical terminals of said power supply conductors 51, 60 are connected electrically to the control substrate 23 of the electronic control unit 20.

Abstract: Peptoids are provided which are polymers comprised of monomer units wherein the monomer units include at least some substitute amino acids and may include conventional amino acids. The peptoids can be synthesized in large numbers so as to provide libraries of peptoids which can be screened in order to isolate peptoids of desired biological activity. Although the peptoids may include amino acids, they preferably include only substituted amino acids and are designed in a manner so as to have a particular biological activity. Certain peptoids are designed to mimic as closely as possible the activity of known proteins. Other peptoids are designed so as to have greater or lesser activity than known proteins and may be designed so as to block known receptor sites and/or elicit a desired immunogenic response and thereby act as vaccines. In that the peptoids are comprised of substitute amino acids they can be designed to have structures which natural proteins cannot conform to.

Abstract: Effective urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor antagonists have sequences selected from the group LNFGQYLWYT, LCFGCYLWYT, LNFGCYLWCT, LNFGQYLnAYT, LNFdSQYLWYT, LCFGCYLWY, LNFdSQYLnAYT, LNFGdCYLWCT, LCFdSCYLWYT, LCFdSCYLnAYT, LNFdSCYLWCT, or active analogs or active portions thereof.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for the synthesis of N-substituted oligomers, such as poly (N-substituted glycines) (referred to herein as poly NSGs) is used to obtain oligomers, such as poly NSGs of potential therapeutic interest which poly NSGs can have a wide variety of side-chain substituents. Each N-substituted glycine monomer is assembled from two "sub-monomers" directly on the solid support. Each cycle of monomer addition consists of two steps: (1) acylation of a secondary amine bound to the support with an acylating agent comprising a leaving group capable of nucleophilic displacement by --NH.sub.2, such as a haloacetic acid, and (2) introduction of the side-chain by nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group, such as halogen (as a resin-bound .alpha.-haloacetamide) with a sufficient amount of a second sub-monomer comprising an --NH.sub.2 group, such as a primary amine, alkoxyamine, semicarbazide, acyl hydrazide, carbazate or the like.

Abstract: Peptoids are provided which are polymers comprised of monomer units wherein the monomer units include least some substitute amino acids and may include conventional amino acids. The peptoids can be synthesized in large numbers so as to provide libraries of peptoids which can be screened in order to isolate peptoids of desired biological activity. Although the peptoids may include amino acids, they preferably include only substituted amino acids and are designed in a manner so as to have a particular biological activity. Certain peptoids are designed to mimic as closely as possible the activity of known proteins. Other peptoids are designed so as to have greater or lesser activity than known proteins and may be designed so as to block known receptor sites and/or elicit a desired immunogenic response and thereby act as vaccines. In that the peptoids are comprised of substitute amino acids they can be designed to have structures which natural proteins cannot conform to.

Abstract: A chamber suitable for placing a subject under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure with means for perfusing, cooling and respiring the subject. The chamber can be used in conjuction with low temperature surgical procedures.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for the synthesis of N-substituted oligomers, such as poly (N-substituted glycines) (referred to herein as poly NSGs) is used to obtain oligomers, such as poly NSGs of potential therapeutic interest which poly NSGs can have a wide variety of side-chain substituents. Each N-substituted glycine monomer is assembled from two "sub-monomers" directly on the solid support. Each cycle of monomer addition consists of two steps: (1) acylation of a secondary amine bound to the support with an acylating agent comprising a leaving group capable of nucleophilic displacement by --NH.sub.2, such as a haloacetic acid, and (2) introduction of the side-chain by nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group, such as halogen (as a solid support-bound .alpha.-haloacetamide) with a sufficient amount of a second sub-monomer comprising an --NH.sub.2 group, such as a primary amine, alkoxyamine, semicarbazide, acyl hydrazide, carbazate or the like.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for the synthesis of N-substituted oligomers, such as poly (N-substituted glycines) (referred to herein as poly NSGs) is used to obtain oligomers, such as poly NSGs of potential therapeutic interest which poly NSGs can have a wide variety of side-chain substituents. Each N-substituted glycine monomer is assembled from two "sub-monomers" directly on the solid support. Each cycle of monomer addition consists of two steps: (1) acylation of a secondary amine bound to the support with an acylating agent comprising a leaving group capable of nucleophilic is displacement by --NH.sub.2, such as a haloacetic acid, and (2) introduction of the side-chain by nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group, such as halogen (as a resin-bound .alpha.-haloacetamide) with a sufficient amount of a second sub-monomer comprising an --NH.sub.2 group, such as a primary amine, alkoxyamine, semicarbazide, acyl hydrazide, carbazate or the like.

Abstract: Mixtures of peptoids are provided. The subject peptoid mixtures comprise at least five non-homopolymeric polymers of differing sequences having a selected number of monomer units. The polymers of the subject mixtures are preferably selected from the group of compounds of the general formula: X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 --CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(O--CHR--CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NH--CHR--CS).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NOH--CHR--CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(O--CHR--CH.sub.2 --CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NH--CHR--CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.2).sub.n --Xb, Xa--(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.2).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --NHCO).sub.n --X.sub.b and X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --OCO).sub.n X.sub.b, where each R is independently a side chain capable of interaction with a protein, carbohydrate, lipid or nucleic acid; n is an integer from 2 to 50, inclusive; and X.sub.a and X.sub.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual polynucleotides or mixtures thereof each of which encodes a peptide and at least one polynucleotide of the mixture encodes a peptide having a target property. The polynucleotides of the invention present in the mixture in detectable, retrievable, and clonable amounts are expressed in a host organism for screening for the target activity. The invention features the ability to synthesize controlled random polynucleotides to produce a predetermined mixture of polynucleotides and to avoid synthesis of a stop codon by adjusting the proportions into which the synthesis pool is subdivided and by adjusting the proportions of activated nucleotides added at each coupling step. A polynucleotide encoding a peptide having a target property can be selected and sequenced to deduce the amino acid sequence of the peptide.

Abstract: Novel fluorescent dyes are provided, characterized by having a fluorophore joined to a cationic chain. The dyes are found to provide for high enhancement upon binding to nucleic acid and have strong binding affinities to the nucleic acid, as compared to the fluorophore without the polycationic chain. The dyes find use in detection of dsDNA in gel electrophoresis and solution at substantially higher sensitivities using substantially less dye.

Abstract: Heteromultimeric fluorophores are provided for binding to DNA, which allow for the detection of DNA in electrical separations and preparation of probes having high-fluorescent efficiencies and large Stokes shifts. In addition, by appropriate choice of fluorescent molecules, one can use a single narrow wavelength band excitation light source, while obtaining fluorescent emissions having sufficient separation to be readily discriminated.