Abstract: A closure which permits the opening of a membrane seal of an enteral nutritional product container in a single-action motion while maintaining product sterility. This closure includes a general cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof, a planar top surface having first and second upwardly extending projections. The first projection is associated with a filter means for allowing air to enter the container, while the second projection has a base which is a spikable membrane. A bottom surface having an annular raised portion is provided. The bottom surface has a downwardly projecting plow member as well abutting against gasket means positioned between the annular raised portion and the inner surface of the side wall.

Abstract: A unitary container for packaging multiple product samples has a front panel and two rear panels which are hingedly attached to the front panel. The two panels may be mechanically retained in a preferred relationship with respect to the front panel and one another by protrusions in one panel that extend through apertures in another panel. The panels are configured such that the container has several compartments for holding product samples.

Abstract: Improved medical devices for use between a feeding tube set and a catheter include a universal adaptor having a configuration permitting use of same with Y-connectors of various sizes, a Y-connector interlockable with the aforesaid adaptor, and an adaptor hood usable with the adaptor either as a protective shroud therefor or as a supplemental adaptor therewith.

Abstract: There is disclosed a closure which permits the opening of a membrane sealed nutritional or pharmaceutical product container in a single action motion which also maintains a hermetic seal under retort conditions. This closure includes a generally cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof and retaining means for cooperative engagement with the lip of a plastic container, and a top having an annular rim portion and a center portion, with the top having a lower surface attached to a heat-sealable barrier able to be secured to the plastic container, with the top also having a center portion removal means. A method is also disclosed for providing a hermetic seal on plastic containers using the closure and plastic container of this invention.

Abstract: A novel liquid nutritional for use as an infant formula for use in the treatment of infantile colic is disclosed. The formula comprises protein, fat, carbohydrates and dietary fiber of a concentration of between 3.1 and 14.1 grams of fiber per liter of formula. Specific preferred protein, fat, carbohydrate and fiber sources are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of treating infants with colic by feeding an infant the formula made in accordance with the invention. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the infant formula of the invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a closure which permits the opening of a membrane sealed nutritional or pharmaceutical product container in a single action motion which also maintains a hermetic seal under retort conditions. This closure includes a generally cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof and retaining means for cooperative engagement with the lip of a plastic container, and a top having an annular rim portion and a center portion, with the top having a lower surface attached to a heat-sealable barrier able to be secured to the plastic container, with the top also having a center portion removal means. A method is also disclosed for providing a hermetic seal on plastic containers using the closure and plastic container of this invention.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a closure which permits the sterile opening of a membrane sealed container in a single-action motion which also maintains a hermetic seal under retort conditions. This closure includes a generally cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof, a top with an upper surface having a protective rim extending upwardly therefrom, with the top also having a dome assembly with the protective rim extending above such dome assembly. The dome has a top and bottom surface, with at least one plow member projecting downwardly from the bottom surface of the dome.

Abstract: This invention relates to a closure which permits the opening of a hermetically sealed plastic container in a single action motion, which also maintains the hermetic seal under retort conditions. This closure includes a generally cylindrical side wall having threads along the inner surface thereof and a top portion having a metallic disk with its lower surface coated with a fusible coating, such as polypropylene. An annular flange is provided along the inner surface of the side wall to retain the metallic disk between the annular flange and an inwardly inclined inner surface portion of the side wall. A method is also disclosed for providing a hermetic seal on plastic containers using the closure of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for generating aqueous liquid encapsulating multi-lamellar lipid vesicles (liposomes) wherein one or more lipids, or lipid conjugates, and an aqueous liquid to be encapsulated, are agitated in a vessel in the presence of spherical contact masses having a mean diameter of less than 3,000 microns, the preferred size range being 50-100 microns in diameter, and resulting in a substantially homogeneous population of vesicles having diameters in the range of about 150 to about 3,000 nanometers. The methods allow for the use of small quantities of marker and lipid, leave no residual solvents, allow for contact only with glass surfaces, and involve no transfer of liposome preparations from lipid film drying vessels to sizing apparatus.

Abstract: In the immunoassay of antigens in liquids, a reaction mixture is formed containing the liquid under assay, labelled antigen, and a mixed binding reagent which contains an antigen-binding site and a label-binding site, the two sites being spaced apart in the reagent so that a single molecule of labelled antigen cannot bind to both sites. The label is one whose activity is changed upon binding to a label-binding site, and the amount of antigen in the original liquid sample is determined by measuring the activity of the label in the reaction mixture. A preferred label is a fluorophore. The mixed binding reagent preferably consists of two antibodies linked together.

Abstract: New phthalocyanin derivatives which can be used to differentiate basophils from other blood cells are disclosed. The compounds to which the present invention are quaternary salts of a substituted phthalocyanin structure wherein the substitutions are each independently hydrogen, sulfonate, or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 hydrocarbon, optionally containing at least one heteroatom, with the proviso that at least one of them is ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 -R.sub.3 are each independently lower alkyls, cycloalkyls or olefins of which at least one is C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 and two may join to form a ring; R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; n is an integer from 1 to 6; M is a polyvalent metal ion. It is preferred that at least two and especially at least three substitutions have the structure so set forth.

Abstract: In a particle agglutination assay for an antigen (Ag), there is included in the mixture a limited amount of a substance which binds univalently with a proportion of the Ag present, that Ag which is so bound being unable then to cause agglutination of the particles. In this way, unusually large concentrations of Ag can be assayed in that a proportion of the Ag is bound to the univalent substance and the particle agglutination assay is in effect conducted on the smaller amount of Ag still remaining free in solution.

Abstract: A test device for determining the presence of a constituent in a sample, and a method for making it are disclosed. The test device comprises reactants (e.g. reagents, enzymes, etc.) incorporated with a carrier matrix such that when the device is wetted with a test sample, the reactants and the constituent react to produce a detectable response. The reactants are positioned separately from each other on the matrix in substantially, discrete, non-contacting areas. Hence, reactants are maintained substantially separate from each other until the test device is wetted with the sample.

Abstract: A test device and method for determining the presence of a component in a sample are disclosed, as well as a method for making the device. The device utilizes a reactant system which produces a detectable response upon contact with the sample component, the reactant system being incorporated with a carrier matrix. The carrier matrix comprises separate filaments formed into a cloth. At least one ingredient of the reactant system is incorporated with some of the filaments prior to their being formed into the cloth. The method for making the device comprises interweaving the filaments bearing at least one reactant ingredient into a warp of other filaments, knitting the filaments into a cloth, forming a mat cloth of randomly oriented filaments or affixing the filaments to a matrix support member in a substantially parallel orientation.

Abstract: In processes for measuring glycerides in a fluid, which processes require initial conversion thereof to glycerol, this conversion is achieved according to an improved and simplified saponifying reaction in which a reaction temperature between 35.degree. and 40.degree. C. is used.