Abstract: An apparatus for performing a assays includes an axially rotatable substrate including a plurality of layers of a semiconductor material and numerous radially-arrayed reaction sites. The apparatus further includes a rotary stepper motor which rotates the substrate at an adjustable and substantially continuous speed and controls the rotation of the substrate by adjusting the speed and a direction of rotation. In addition, the apparatus includes a dual function head which has a fluid dispenser that has a fluid dispenser outlet and delivers a fluid to a reaction site and also has a readout device that has a sensor which receives an identifying signal from the reaction site on the substrate or scans the substrate to read identifying marks at the reaction site. Moreover, the apparatus may be aligned by a computer having a memory for storing a start location for the dispenser outlet on the substrate and additional electronics.

Abstract: A method for determining the viral retentivity of an external jacket of an implantable permselective macrocapsule. Viral retentivity describes the ability of an external jacket to retard the transport of virus particles across the jacket.

Abstract: An immunoisolatory vehicle for the implantation into an individual of cells which produce a needed product or provide a needed metabolic function. The vehicle is comprised of a core region containing isolated cells and materials sufficient to maintain the cells, and a permselective, biocompatible, peripheral region free of the isolated cells, which immunoisolates the core yet provides for the delivery of the secreted product or metabolic function to the individual.

Abstract: A device is prepared having cells or tissue attached to a non-degradable filamentous matrix surrounded by a semi-permeable membrane. The matrix is preferably formed of a plurality of monofilaments twisted into a yarn or woven into a mesh, and can be in the form of a cylinder. When implanting the device, the semi-permeable membrane is preferably immunolsolatory, and the cells or tissue may produce a biologically active molecule to provide therapy. To enhance cell or tissue adhesion, the matrix is coated with extracellular matrix molecules or treated to provide a surface charge. The device can be made by inserting the matrix into a capsule formed of the semi-permeable membrane, distributing the cells or tissue on the matrix through an opening of the capsule, and sealing the opening of the capsule.

Abstract: A method and device for delivering a biologically active molecule to the eye, either intraocularly or periocularly, and method and device for treating ophthalmic disorders in a patient suffering therefrom.

Abstract: A culture method for determining the effect of a biological agent on multipotent neural stem cell progeny is provided. In the presence of growth factors, multipotent neural stem cells are induced to proliferate in culture. The multipotent neural stem cells may be obtained from normal neural tissue or from a donor afflicted with a disease such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or Down's Syndrome. At various stages in the differentiation process of the multipotent neural stem cell progeny, the effects of a biological agent, such as a virus, protein, peptide, amino acid, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleic acid or a drug or pro-drug on cell activity are determined. Additionally, a method of screening the effects of biological agents on a clonal population of neural cells is provided. The technology provides an efficient method for the generation of large numbers of pre- and post-natal neural cells under controlled, defined conditions.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides methods for detecting known blocks of functionally aligned protein sequences in a test nucleic acid sequence, e.g., in an uncharacterized EST. The method can include the following steps. A) Reverse translate the set of protein sequences to a set of functionally aligned nucleic acid sequences using codon-usage tables and create a profile from the set of functionally aligned nucleic acid sequences. B) Construct a first indicator function for the profile. The first indicator function corresponds to adenine. The first indicator function allows the value at a given position to be continuous between 0 and 1 as a function of the percentage presence of adenine at a particular position. C) Construct a second indicator function for the test nucleic acid sequence. The second indicator function also corresponds to adenine. D) Compute the Fourier transform of each of the indicator functions. E) Complex conjugate the Fourier transform of the second indicator function.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for alleviating tissue destructive effects associated with the inflammatory response to tissue injury in a mammal. The method is particularly adapted to alleviating the tissue destructive effects associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and hyperoxia injury.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel class of substituted 6(5H)phenanthridinone compounds. Pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of making and using the compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixture thereof are also described.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention are methods of treating a variety of disorders including AIDS, arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthropathies), antibiotic induced diarrheal diseases (Closbidium difficile), multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, gingivitis, peptic ulcer disease, esophagitis, diabetes, retinitis, uveitis, reperfusion injury after myocardial infarction (MI) or cerebral vascular accident (CVA), aphthous ulcers (oral), atherosclerosis (plaque rupture), prevention of tumor metastases, asthma, preeclampsia, acute pancreatitis, psoriasis, infertility and allergic disorders such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and urticaria.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides methods and compositions for the computer-assisted design of morphogen analogs. Practice of the invention is enabled by the use of at least a portion of the atomic co-ordinates defining the three-dimensional structure of human osteogenic protein-1 (hOP-1) as a starting point in the design of the morphogen analogs. In addition, the invention provides methods for producing morphogen analogs of interest, and methods for testing whether the resulting analogs mimic or agonize human OP-1-like biological activity. The invention also provides a family of morphogen analogs produced by such methods.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding the human IL-11 receptor and fragments thereof are disclosed. IL-11 receptor proteins, methods for their production, inhibitors of binding of human IL-11 and its receptor and methods for their identification are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for sequencing a nucleic acid. The method includes annealing a population of circular nucleic acid molecules to a plurality of anchor primers linked to a solid support, and amplifying those members of the population of circular nucleic acid molecules which anneal to the target nucleic acid, and then sequencing the amplified molecules by detecting the presence of a sequence byproduct.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel formulations comprising IL-11 and glycine. Also provided are compositions, both liquid and lyophilized, comprising IL-11 and glycine and optionally, a buffering agent such as histidine and phosphate.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention are methods of treating a variety of disorders including AIDS, arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthropathies), antibiotic induced diarrheal diseases (Clostridium difficile), multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, gingivitis, peptic ulcer disease, esophagitis, diabetes, retinitis, uveitis, reperfusion injury after myocardial infarction (MI) or cerebral vascular accident (CVA), aphthous ulcers (oral), atherosclerosis (plaque rupture), prevention of tumor metastases, asthma, preeclampsia, and allergic disorders such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and urticaria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to neuron-restrictive silencer factor proteins, nucleic acids, and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: This invention provides improved devices and methods for long-term, stable expression of a biologically active molecule using a biocompatible capsule containing genetically engineered cells for the effective delivery of biologically active molecules to effect or enhance a biological function within a mammalian host. The novel capsules of this invention are biocompatible and are easily retrievable. This invention specifically provides improved methods and compositions which utilize cells transfected with recombinant DNA molecules comprising DNA sequences coding for biologically active molecules operatively linked to promoters that are not subject to down regulation in vivo upon implantation into a mammalian host. Furthermore, the methods of this invention allow for the long-term, stable and efficacious delivery of biologically active molecules from living cells to specific sites within a given mammal.

Abstract: A means for obtaining efficient introduction of exogenous genes into a patient, with long term expression of the gene, is disclosed. The gene, under control of an appropriate promoter for expression in a particular cell type, is encapsulated or dispersed with a biocompatible, preferably biodegradable polymeric matrix, where the gene is able to diffuse out of the matrix over an extended period of time, for example, a period of three to twelve months or longer. The matrix is preferably in the form of a microparticle such as a microsphere (where the gene is dispersed throughout a solid polymeric matrix) or microcapsule (gene is stored in the core of a polymeric shell), a film, an implant, or a coating on a device such as a stent. The size and composition of the polymeric device is selected to result in favorable release kinetics in tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated DNA which regulates vascular smooth muscle cell-specific transcription of a polypeptide-encoding sequence to which it is operably linked

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of utilizing a morphogenically active fragment of 60A protein to induce tissue morphogenesis, including methods for increasing a progenitor cell population in a mammal, methods for stimulating progenitor cells to differentiate and maintain their differentiated phenotype in vivo or in vitro, methods for inducing tissue-specific growth in vivo and methods for the replacement of diseased or damaged tissue in vivo.