Abstract: A system for determining the ratio of mass to charge of an ion including a pulsed ionizer, a high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator, and a mass analyzer. The pulsed ionizer generates intact analyte ions from a sample of matter to be analyzed. The high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator is interfaced with the ion source for receipt of the intact ions of the sample. The ion guide/accelerator simultaneously dampens and linearly accelerates the intact ions in the substantial absence of fragmentation of the ions to provide a substantially continuous beam of the intact ions for mass analysis. The mass analyzer is connected to the ion guide/accelerator for receipt of the beam of ions and determines the mass to charge ratio of the intact ions.

Abstract: A composition for protecting human skin from harmful effects of the sun, the composition comprising a topically effective amount of: (a) a first chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light sufficiently to reduce significantly the damage to human skin from harmful effects of ultraviolet light; and (b) a second chemical compound having the formula: (Q-L-Q)w+2Xy−z wherein: Q represents 4-E-2-R3-1-quinolinium; E represents NR1R2, COO R1, OR1, I, Br, Cl, F, or NO3 N represents a nitrogen atom; R1 and R2 independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl; R3 represents E, hydrogen or lower alkyl; L represents a chain comprising n atoms, the atoms in the chain being t carbon atoms and 0 to approximately 0.5t heteroatoms; the minimum value of n is 12; the maximum value of n is 22; X represents an anion; and w represents 1 or 3, y represents 1 or 2 and z represent 1, 2 or 3, with the proviso that 2w=yz.

Abstract: A three dimensional mask of the lungs can be automatically created by thresholding, labeling connected components, selecting the dominant object, and alternately employing dilation and erosion operations. With this mask the lungs can be separated from the other anatomic structures on volumetric CT images. Local density maxima in the lungs are then determined by sequentially decreasing thresholds. As the threshold declines, more and more objects (a 3D object is a group of connected voxels with density values larger than the threshold) become apparent. Geometrically overlapped objects at the subsequent threshold levels are either merged into one object or identified as local density maximum (maxima) and plateau. This process terminates if the threshold reaches a predefined density value. Other information about small lung nodules such as compact shape and size are combined into the algorithm to further remove those detected local density maxima that are not likely to be nodules.

Abstract: A purified thermostable DNA polymerase of archaeobacteria of the genus Pyrococcus sp. having a molecular weight of around 89,000-90,000 daltons is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for accurately comparing the levels of cellular components, such as proteins, present in samples which differ in some respect from each other using mass spectroscopy and isotopic labeling. A first sample of biological matter, such as cells, is cultured in a first medium and a second sample of the same biological matter is cultured in a second medium, wherein at least one isotope in the second medium has a different abundance than the abundance of the same isotope in the first medium. One of the samples is modulated, such as by treatment with a bacteria, a virus, a drug, hormone, a chemical or an environmental stimulus. The samples are combined and at least one protein is removed. The removed protein is subjected to mass spectroscopy to develop a mass spectrum. A ratio is computed between the peak intensities of at least one closely spaced pair of peaks to determine the relative abundance of the protein in each sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing formation or progression of neoplasms associated with immunosuppressive therapy in a mammal, the method comprising treating the mammal with an effective amount of an angiotensin II inhibitor. In addition the invention provides a method of preventing or treating a neoplasm in a mammal, the method includes treating the mammal with an effective amount of an angiotensin II inhibitor where the treatment is not associated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Also provided are compositions comprising an angiotensin II inhibitor and an immunosuppressive agent such as cyclosporin or FK506. The angiotensin II inhibitor of the invention includes proteins and polypeptides that bind angiotensin II receptors, anti-angiotensin II antibodies, angiotensin II receptors and fragments thereof. In another aspect the invention provides methods for identifying compounds capable of inhibiting the formation or proliferation of tumors in a mammal undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a recombinant nucleotide sequence containing a cDNA coding for one or several mammalian collagen chains or derived proteins and elements enabling a plant cell to produce the collagen chains(s) or derived proteins, coded by said cDNA, particularly a transcription promoter and terminator identified by the transcription machinery of the plant cells, for transforming the plant cells so as to obtain from these cells, or plants obtained from them, the collagen chain(s) or derived proteins. The invention also concerns the resulting proteins and transformed plant material as well as their uses.

Abstract: A system for determining the ratio of mass to charge of an ion including a pulsed ionizer, a high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator, and a mass analyzer. The pulsed ionizer generates intact analyte ions from a sample of matter to be analyzed. The high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator is interfaced with the ion source for receipt of the intact ions of the sample. The ion guide/accelerator simultaneously dampens and linearly accelerates the intact ions in the substantial absence of fragmentation of the ions to provide a substantially continuous beam of the intact ions for mass analysis. The mass analyzer is connected to the ion guide/accelerator for receipt of the beam of ions and determines the mass to charge ratio of the intact ions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in a range of mass-to-charge ratios of a mass spectrum. Initially ions of interest and background ions having mass-to-charge ratios within the range of mass-to-charge ratios are generated. The ions of interest and the background ions are then subjected to an activation energy sufficient to cause dissociation of background ions to an extent greater than the dissociation of the ions of interest. The dissociation of the background ions causes the background ions to have mass-to-charge ratios that fall outside of the range of mass-to-charge ratios. The mass-to-charge ratios of the ions of interest are then detected.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a recombinant nucleotide sequence containing a cDNA coding for a lactoferrin, in particular human lactoferrin, or the derived proteins, and elements enabling a plant cell to produce lactoferrin or the derived proteins, coded by the cDNA, in particular a transcription promoter and terminator identified by the plant cell transcription machinery, to transform plant cells in order to obtain, from these cells, or plants obtained therefrom, lactoferrin or derived proteins.

Abstract: A method of generating a frequency distribution of scores comprising: a) generating mass data for a biological molecule; b) generating mass data for a series of random hypothetical biological molecules; c) calculating a frequency distribution of high similarity scores between mass data of each molecule generated in steps a and b.

Abstract: Protein compositions and methods of use are provided for human Severin. The uses include the preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for diagnosing and staging the progression of metastatic tumors and other disorders of cellular growth regulation. Also provided are methods of screening to identify potential drug candidate molecules which modulate the human Severin activity and methods of use of such compounds to accelerate wound healing, or to treat a metastasis or growth disorder.

Abstract: A method for determining the probability that a biological molecule identification is incorrect for a chosen significance level is provided. The method includes comparing experimental mass data of an unknown biological molecule with theoretical mass data and calculating a score for each comparison; selecting at least two scores from the scores to form a primary data set; generating artificial data sets from the primary data set; calculating a sample mean for each artificial data set; estimating population mean and population standard deviation from the sample means wherein the population is based on the distribution underlying the primary dataset; computing a Z score from the population mean and population standard deviation for each score to standardize the scores; choosing a significance level; and comparing a test Z score to a Z score of the chosen significance level to determine the probability that the biological molecule identification is incorrect.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for accurately comparing the levels of cellular components, such as proteins, present in samples which differ in some respect from each other using mass spectroscopy and isotopic labeling. A first sample of biological matter, such as cells, is cultured in a first medium and a second sample of the same biological matter is cultured in a second medium, wherein at least one isotope in the second medium has a different abundance than the abundance of the same isotope in the first medium. One of the samples is modulated, such as by treatment with a bacteria, a virus, a drug, hormone, a chemical or an environmental stimulus. The samples are combined and at least one protein is removed. The removed protein is subjected to mass spectroscopy to develop a mass spectrum. A ratio is computed between the peak intensities of at least one closely spaced pair of peaks to determine the relative abundance of the protein in each sample.

Abstract: A method for discovering molecules that regulate cell signaling specific to the dual presence of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) and a chemokine receptor selected from the group consisting of a CXC receptor, a CC receptor and a CXXXC receptor, the method comprising providing a cell that co-expresses DARC and the chemokine receptor; incubating the molecules with the cell; measuring the cell signaling in the cell specific to the dual presence of DARC and the chemokine receptor; and determining whether the cell signaling specific to the dual presence of DARC and the chemokine receptor is regulated by the molecules

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the immunogenicity of an antigen, characterized in that the antigen is combined via stable interactions with a particulate vector, said vector containing: a non-liquid hydrophilic core, and, optionally; an outer layer of compounds chosen from the group comprising phospholipids and fatty acids. The present invention also relates to a product thereby obtained and to a pharmaceutical composition containing such product.

Abstract: Peripheral blood leucocytes incubated with a semi-synthetic phage antibody library and fluorochrome-labeled CD3 and CD20 antibodies were used to isolate human single chain Fv antibodies specific for subsets of blood leucocytes by flow cytometry. Isolated phage antibodies showed exclusive binding to the subpopulation used for selection or displayed additional binding to a restricted population of other cells in the mixture. At least two phage antibodies appeared to display hithereto unknown staining patterns of B lineage cells. This approach provides a subtractive procedure to rapidly obtain human antibodies against known and novel surface antigens in their native configuration, expressed on phenotypically defined subpopulations of cells. Importantly, this approach does not depend on immunization procedures or the necessity to repeatedly construct phage antibody libraries.

Abstract: Hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies specific to the human epidermal growth factor receptor are disclosed. The antibodies are capable of inhibiting the growth of human tumor cells expressing human epidermal growth factor receptors. Therapeutic uses of these monoclonal antibodies by themselves and in combination with anti-neoplastic agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ionic conjugate, which is stable in a biological medium, and which is comprised of a particle vector with at least one cationic, nonliquid, hydrophilic nucleus and of polyanionic oligonucleotides. The invention further concerns the pharmaceutical compositions containing these conjugates and the use of a particle vector to carry the oligonucleotides to the cells.

Abstract: Iron-regulated, outer membrane proteins found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis are important in transferrin receptor function. The proteins, which are isolatable by means of a transferrin affinity column, bind specifically to antisera raised against an iron-regulated outer membrane protein having a molecular weight of approximately 100 kD found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.