Abstract: The invention is related to the treatment of prion-related diseases such as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in mammals by administering chaotropic agents to or inducing a hyperthermia state in the affected mammals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating ischemia-related conditions by administering to a patient in need of such methods certain thiosemicarbazone compounds. Preferred embodiments of the present invention relates to methods of treating specific ischemia-related conditions, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Coronary artery bypass graft surgery, Global cerebral ischemia due to cardiac arrest, focal cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, hemorrhage infarction, hypertensive hemorrhage. hemorrhage due to rupture of intracranial vascular abnormalities, subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of intracranial arterial aneurysms, hypertensive encephalopathy, carotid stenosis or occlusion leading to cerebral ischemia, cardiogenic thromboembolism, spinal stroke and spinal cord injury, diseases of cerebral blood vessels: e.g., atherosclerosis, vasculitis, Macular degeneration, myocardial infarction, cardiac ischemia and superaventicular tachyarrhytmia.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the micropropagation of reed grasses, particularly Arundo donax. In addition, the present invention provides methods for the macropropagation of bamboo and reed grasses, which utilize a unique float bed system and apparatus. The advantages of the present invention are that desirable plant clones can be obtained for planting in plantations and the methods are much more cost and labor efficient than traditional propagation techniques.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase, such as sampatrilat, and at least one bioavailability enhancer such as an organic acid, e.g., ascorbic acid. Such a composition has improved systemic bioavailability.

Abstract: An osmotic system for delivering a pharmaceutically active agent which comprises a core portion, a layer portion enclosing the core portion, and a semipermeable wall portion enclosing the core portion and the layer portion. The core portion includes the pharmaceutically active agent at a first concentration. The pharmaceutically active agent is present in the layer portion at a second concentration. The second concentration is greater than the first concentration. Such a system provides for the osmotic release of the pharmaceutically active agent in release profile other than a zero order release profile, and wherein the release profile is similar to or approaches or reaches a first order release profile.

Abstract: Disclosed is an osmotic pharmaceutical delivery system comprising (a) a semi-permeable wall that maintains its integrity during pharmaceutical delivery and which has at least one passage therethrough; (b) a single, homogeneous composition within said wall, which composition consists essentially of (i) a pharmaceutically active agent, (ii) at least one non-swelling solubilizing agent which enhances the solubility of the pharmaceutically active agent; (iii) at least one non-swelling osmotic agent and (iv) a non-swelling wicking agent dispersed throughout the composition which enhances the surface area contact of the pharmaceutical agent with the incoming aqueous fluid.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one pharmaceutically active agent that is pH dependent, at least one non-pH dependent sustained release agent, and at least one pH dependent agent that increases the dissolution rate of the at least one pharmaceutically active agent at a pH in excess of 5.5. Such compositions have minimized pH-dependent dissolution profiles or pH-independent dissolution profiles.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising a solid carrier containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of a liquid active agent, a liquid enhancer, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Encapsulated oral dosage pharmaceutical products are produced utilizing a system including a hopper and a dosator, where the hopper receives particles having irregular geometries and sizes greater than about 100 &mgr;m for delivery to the dosator. A gaseous fluid is directed into the hopper to fluidize particles within the hopper so as to minimize or eliminate the formation of voids within the bed of particles disposed within the hopper. The fluidization of the particles within the hopper maintains a substantially continuous and uniform flow of particles from the hopper to the dosator, which results in the formation of encapsulated products with desirable weights and particle size distributions.