Abstract: An isolated antibody that specifically binds to sFlt-1 or a fragment thereof having (i) a variable heavy domain region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) a variable light domain region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), a pharmaceutical composition and a kit comprising such an antibody, a method of making such an antibody, a method of determining the presence, amount or concentration of sFlt-1 or a fragment thereof in a test sample, a method of treating a patient in therapeutic or prophylactic need of an antagonist of sFlt-1, an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of (i) SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 4, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), optionally as part of a vector, and a host cell comprising and expressing such a nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method of irradiating a target tissue in a patient comprising positioning the patient on a patient support system so that the target tissue in the patient is within irradiating distance of at least one source of a beam of radiation and moving the patient support system relative to the at least one source of a beam of radiation and, coordinately with movement of the patient support system, rotating the at least one source of radiation relative to the target tissue, which comprises and/or is adjacent to a non-target tissue, so that the center of rotation of the beam of radiation is placed at one or more desired locations within the target tissue, while simultaneously and/or sequentially irradiating the target tissue; a collimator; a method of making such a collimator; a system for irradiating a target tissue in a patient; and a method of planning irradiation of a target tissue in a patient.

Abstract: Alkylated interleukin-18 (IL-18), compositions comprising alkylated IL-18, kits comprising such compositions, methods of alkylating IL-18, and methods of using compositions comprising alkylated IL-18.

Abstract: The present invention provides oral pravastatin formulations comprising a physical mixture of pravastatin and at least one pharmaceutically-acceptable excipient, wherein the composition for at least 6 months after its preparation is stable and has a pH of greater than about 7 to less than 9, as well as methods for the preparation and use of these stable formulations.

Abstract: A method of imaging a breast comprising (i) having a patient lie prone on a computer-controlled couch, which comprises a channel or left and right openings, and position the left or right breast of the patient in the channel or the left or right opening, respectively, and (ii) repeatedly imaging the breast using a scanning x-ray source while moving the couch down and up, such that the breast moves down and up in the field between the source of radiation and the detector, which method can further comprise constructing a three-dimensional image of the breast in its natural shape and analyzing the three-dimensional image of the breast; and a system for use in such a method.

Abstract: The present invention relates among other things to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to at least one agent of interest (e.g., an immunosuppressive agent), methods for producing such antibodies, and immunoassays that employ said antibodies. Additionally, the present invention also relates to methods for selecting an antibody for use in a diagnostic immunoassay and methods for selecting an antigen for use in a diagnostic immunoassay. The present invention further relates to the improvement of antibody recognition of an active parent drug in the presence of one or more of its major metabolites.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, diagnostic assays, and diagnostic kits based on said methods, to determine levels of immunosuppressive complexes containing immunosuppressive drugs tacrolimus, sirolimus and cyclosporine A separately and in combination, formed in the blood of a drug-treated patient or in a patient candidate to immunosuppressive drug therapy. These methods, assays and kits are especially useful when using automated systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel monoclonal antibodies which may be used in the detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These antibodies exhibit an unusually high degree of sensitivity, a remarkably broad range of specificity, and bind to novel shared, non-cross-reactive epitopes. In particular, the monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may be utilized to detect HIV-1 antigen and HIV-2 core antigen in a patient sample.

Abstract: A universal and differential assay kit for the detection of antibodies to swine influenza virus (SIV) in a biological sample comprising SIV non-structural 1 (NS1) protein and SIV nucleoprotein (NP); a universal and differential assay method for detecting antibodies to SIV in a biological sample comprising assaying the biological sample for the presence of an antibody to SIV NS1 protein and an antibody to SIV NP; primers; and fusion proteins.

Abstract: A method of assessing whether or not erythrocytes are suitable for transfusion into a recipient comprising (i) assaying a sample of erythrocytes for free choline, and (ii) comparing the level of free choline in the sample with the level of free choline deemed suitable for transfusion therapies; and a kit for use in such a method comprising at least one reagent for assaying the sample, instructions for conducting the assaying of the sample, and guidelines for assessing the suitability of the erythrocytes for transfusion.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of American elm tree, particularly distinguished by substantial tolerance to an epiphytotic and normally deadly vascular wilt disease of the genus Ulmus known as Dutch elm disease.