Abstract: A method is described for screening retinoid X receptor agonists or antagonists using a retinoid X receptor expressed by a yeast expression system to screen a compound having a retinoid X receptor agonist or antagonist activity. Another screen is described for detecting a compound having retinoid X receptor agonist or antagonist activity by: (1) providing a yeast strain which expresses the retinoic acid receptor and activates a reporter plasmid containing apolipoprotein AI gene site A or a mutated variant thereof; (2) incubating the compound in suitable media and a colorless chromogenic substrate; and (3) examining the media for development of color. Mutated variants of apolipoprotein AI gene site A which respond selectively to the retinoid X receptor or respond to receptors other than RXR.alpha. are also described.

Abstract: A method is described for screening retinoid X receptor agonists or antagonists using a retinoid X receptor expressed by a yeast expression system to screen a compound having a retinoid X receptor agonist or antagonist activity. Another screen is described for detecting a compound having retinoid X receptor agonist or antagonist activity by: (1) providing a yeast strain which expresses the retinoic acid receptor and activates a reporter plasmid containing apolipoprotein AI gene site A or a mutated variant thereof; (2) incubating the compound in suitable media and a colorless chromogenic substrate; and (3) examining the media for development of color. Mutated variants of apolipoprotein AI gene site A which respond selectively to the retinoid X receptor or respond to receptors other than RXR.alpha. are also described.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of detecting the presence of a polypeptide in a sample wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a fragment of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an amyloid precursor mutein and the fragment comprises a sequence encoding at least one marker and a sequence encoding about 419 amino acid residues of the APP-695 isoform, about 475 amino acid residues of the APP-751 isoform or about 494 amino acid residues of the APP-770 isoform. The method encompasses contacting the sample with an antibody, which specifically binds the marker or the amyloid precursor mutein, under suitable conditions to favor the formation of an antibody-antigen complex and detecting the presence of any complex thus formed. The disclosure also deals with the method employing the above nucleic acid fragment wherein the amino acid residues from position 11 to position 28 are deleted from the portion of the sequence encoding the .beta.

Abstract: A group of growth factors, designated heparin-binding brain mitogens (HBBMs), is disclosed. The HBBMs are isolated from brain tissue by a sequence of purification steps. The growth factors may be useful in the promotion of angiogenesis, such as in the promotion of wound healing, bone healing and in the treatment of burns, as well as in promoting the formation, maintenance and repair of tissue, in particular, neural tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence coding for an amphotropic retrovirus receptor. This receptor is referred to as GLVR2 and has approximately 62% homology with the GLVR1 gene encoding for Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus (GALV). Differences for the type of retroviruses interacting with the receptors exist. The protein encoding by the GLVR2 gene, cells transformed or transfected by the gene and vectors containing the gene are also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure describes disulfide analogs of the family of antibacterial and antitumor agents known collectively as the LL-E33288 complex.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating acute or chronic pain in a mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an analgesic solution comprising at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine, or administering a therapeutically effective amount of an analgesic solution comprising an analgesic agent selected from the group consisting of an opioid, an agonistic-antagonistic agent, and an anti-inflammatory agent, and at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. A method and composition for treating addiction to narcotic drugs comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a solution comprising methadone and at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid sequence is described having at least one siderophore biosynthetic gene from Bacillus subtilis encoding enzymes homologous to enterobactin enzymes EntA, EntB, EntC, EntE, and combinations thereof. Vectors containing the isolated nucleic acid sequence, host cells transformed wth the isolated nucleic acid sequence, and a method for identifying compounds having antibiotic activity against microorganisms with an enterobactin-type siderophore are also described.

Abstract: Methods of embedding and culturing tissue employing a fibrin glue composition of 2 to 100 mg/ml fibrinogen, 1 to 200 U/ml fibrinogen-activating enzyme, and 1 to 30 mM Ca(II) compound, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to additives for lubricating oils and greases which endow said lubricating oils and greases extremely good performance characteristics under boundary lubrication conditions. Such additives are derivatives of monofunctional or difunctional perfluoropolyethers constituted by mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, phosphines, phosphine-oxides and phosphoric acid triesters.

Abstract: A stable and soluble multi-dose ophthalmic solution is disclosed. The solution contains fibronectin, an amino acid, a sugar, and a lower alkyl p-hydroxybenzoate. A method of treatment of ophthalmic wounds employing the ophthalmic solution, a process for preparing fibronectin for ophthalmic use, a method of lyophilizing an aqueous solution of fibronectin free of albumin, a method for inhibiting bacterial growth in an ophthalmic solution while preserving the cellular adhesion and wound healing activities of fibronectin, and a method of treatment of ophthalmic wounds administering a wound-healing accelerator solution are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a process for increasing the bleaching efficiency of an inorganic persalt (peroxide) by adding to said persalt (peroxide) an activating agent comprising acetylated sucrose, the average acetylation degree of said acetylated sucrose being from 4.5 to 7.0.

Abstract: Fluorinated polyurethanes and polyurethane-ureas, of heat-processable, elastomeric type, constituted by rubber-like blocks and hard blocks, comprising segments derived from:(a) a macroglycol or polybutadiene-diol;(b) a perfluoropolyether-diol of formulaHO(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --CH.sub.2 --Q--CH.sub.2 --(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n OHwherein Q is a perfluoropolyether chain and "n" is comprised within the range of from 1 to 5;(c) an aromatic, aliphatic, or cycloaliphatic diisocyanate; and(d) an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic diol or diamine, containing from 2 to 14 carbon atoms.They contain from 4 to 30% by weight of fluorine, from 10 to 60% by weight of hard components, with the molar ratio of rubber-like components (a): (b) comprised within the range of from 2 to 20. At least 80% of rubber-like segments deriving from (b) component are connected, at least at one of their sides, through a segment deriving from (c) component, with a rubber-like segment deriving from (a) component.

Abstract: Formed articles comprising destructurized starch, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and a product of the interaction of starch and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer wherein the starch not bound to the copolymer is in the form of particles having sizes below 1 micron. The water content of such articles is lower than the one usually present in the starch. Said formed articles can also contain urea in an amount no higher than 30% by weight and/or ammonia in an amount not higher than 0.5% by weight. The process for obtaining such articles comprises the steps of extruding starch, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and optionally water, urea and/or ammonia at a temperature ranging from 90.degree. to 150.degree. C., reducing the water content to values lower than 6% by weight and injection molding or extrusion blowing the resulting composition.

Abstract: Polymer compositions useful for the production of articles of biodegradable plastics material with improved biodegradability include destructed starch and a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof wherein at least a portion of the said polymer is modified by the substitution of from 0.1 to 5 molar % of the functional alcohol groups in the polymer chain by X groups in which X is an oxo or an alkyl carbonyl group in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating acute or chronic pain in a mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an analgesic solution comprising at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine, or administering a therapeutically effective amount of an analgesic solution comprising an analgesic agent selected from the group consisting of an opioid, an agonistic-antagonistic agent, and an anti-inflammatory agent, and at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. A method and composition for treating addiction to narcotic drugs comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a solution comprising methadone and at least one branched chain amino acid selected from the group consisting of leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Abstract: A precursor of a C-terminal amidated peptide represented by the general formula P-X-Gly-Y.sub.n, wherein P is a peptide residue. X is an amino acid residue the C terminal of which (on the Gly side) can be converted in vivo to a --CONH.sub.2 group. Gly is a glycine residue, Y is a basic amino acid residue, n is an interger of 2 to 4 and a further amino acid residue other than Y or a peptide residue may be attached to Y.sub.n, is produced by a gene engineering technology. The precursor exhibits in vivo physiological activity like the C-terminal amidated peptide.

Abstract: The surface of lapideous materials, marble, sandstone, tiles, cement conglomerates and articles and structures manufactured therefrom are consolidated and protected against atmospherical and polluting agents by superficially applicating a mix composed of:a) a vinylidene fluoride elastomeric copolymer comprising 55-85% by mols of vinylidene fluoride, 15-45% by mols of hexafluoropropene and 0-30% by mols of tetrafluoroethylene;b) polytetrafluoroethylene or a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene containing up to 12% by mols of other perfluorinated monomers.

Abstract: A process for preparing structural, heat-insulating shaped bodies which does not necessarily require the use of a foamed heat-insulating material obtained by the use of blowing agents belonging to the class of chlorofluorocarbons. The process includes inserting a heat-insulating pre-molded core inside a tubular element made from an extruded thermoplastic polymer; placing the extruded tubular element containing the pre-molded core into a blow-molding mold; and molding the tubular element into a shell by blow-molding. By subsequent mold closure, the shell adheres to the pre-molded core. An alternative process is disclosed for adhering the tubular element and pre-formed core by closing the mold and drawing a vacuum within the tubular element.

Abstract: A catalytic method of hydrogenating glycerol is directed essentially towards the production of oxygenated compounds having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, mainly 1, 2 propandiol and 1, 2 ethandiol. It provides for glycerol to be reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst including copper and zinc at a temperature of at least 220.degree. C.