Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in medicine, wherein said compound is of formula I wherein R is a pharmaceutically active moiety; Ar is an aromatic moiety; X is a linker group; and Y is a moiety comprising two phosphonate groups. Further aspects of the invention relate to a method for palliative and curative treatment of bone disorders and cancer related disorders, such as breast cancer.

Abstract: Nicotine dependency is treated by administration of an opioid antagonist. In some embodiments, rapid or ultra rapid detoxification techniques include using a combination of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist such as nalmefene, naloxone or naltrexone or a mixture of any one of these, and either clonidine or related compounds either while awake, or while under sedation or anesthesia, followed by continued administration of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist with or without agents that enhance nicotine dependency treatment.

Abstract: Aging and sagging subcutaneous muscles are treated by first applying a composition containing at least one acetylcholine precursor and/or at least one compound exhibiting catecholamine activity to the overlying skin area, and then electronically stimulating the overlying skin area using electrical pulses in amounts sufficient to cause the subcutaneous muscles to contract. Preferred compositions contain from about 1% to about 10%, more narrowly from about 0.25% to about 5% by weight of an alkanolamine such as dimethylaminoethanol, the calcium salt of 2-aminoethanol phosphate or mixtures thereof and about from about 1% to about 10%, more narrowly from about 1% to 5% by weight of a compound exhibiting catecholamine activity such as tyrosine. Preferred electronic muscle stimulating devices deliver electrical pulses via electrodes in the fingertips of a compact device that fits on the hand.

Abstract: A protein with canonical lysyl-tRNA synthetase activity was purified from Methanococcus maripaludis, cloned, and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence of the enzyme indicated a novel class I polypeptide structurally unrelated to class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase reported in eubacteria, eukaryotes, and the Crenarchaeote Sulfobus solfataricus. A similar class I polypeptide was isolated from Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, and an open reading frame encoding a class I-type lysyl-tRNA synthetase was identified in the genome of Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. The B. burdorferi gene encoding tRNALysl was cloned and used to make tRNA in vitro. The fundamental difference between pathogen and host in an essential enzyme suggests that class I-type lysyl-tRNA synthetase provides a target for the development of medical and veterinary therapeutics and diagnostics for Borrelia and other microorganism infections.

Abstract: Free radical-scavenging olive oil polyphenols are topically applied to treat skin damage, such as contact dermatitis (particularly diaper area dermatitis), atopic dermatitis, xerosis, eczema (including severe hand and foot eczema), rosacea, seborrhea, psoriasis, thermal and radiation burns, other types of skin inflammation, and aging. Typical compositions contain from about 0.25% to about 10% of a polyphenol preparation obtained from olive oil.

Abstract: A prenatal screening method for Down's syndrome involves assaying for hyperglycosylated gonadotropin in biological test samples such as urine, plasma or serum obtained from pregnant women. Hyperglycosylated gonadotropin comprises a variant population of chorionic gonadotropin, chorionic gonadotropin-free &bgr;-subunit, &bgr;-core fragment, and/or free &agr;-subunit exhibiting differences in the carbohydrate content from what is observed in samples obtained from pregnant women carrying normal fetuses. Qualitative or quantitative observation of differences in the carbohydrate content of the hyperglycosylated gonadotropin population from corresponding control samples containing a normal gonadotropin population, or direct observation of the variant species seen in Down's syndrome, indicates that the woman's fetus has Down's syndrome. Typical screens involve carbohydrate analyses, immunoassays, or combinations of these methods.

Abstract: Skin whitening compositions contain &agr;-hydroxytetronic acid or a &agr;-hydroxy tetronic derivative, and, in some cases, hydroquinone, an &agr;-hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid, and a fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid such as ascorbyl palmitate.

Abstract: Active acne and acneiform scars are treated by topical application of a composition containing lipoic acid and/or a lipoic acid derivative such as dihydrolipoic acid, a lipoic or dihydrolipoic acid ester, a lipoic or dihydrolipoic acid amide, a lipoic or dihydrolipoic acid salt, and mixtures of any of these to reduce erythema, pore size, and scarring. Topical application of lipoic acid and/or a lipoic acid derivatives are advantageously used with at least one adjunct ingredient such as a retinoid, an antibiotic, or benzoyl peroxide conventionally used for acne, alone or in combination with dimethylaminoalcohol, an &agr;-hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid, a tyrosine, tocotrienol, and/or a fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid. One preferred embodiment contains a combination of lipoic acid, an &agr;-hydroxy acid, and dimethylaminoalcohol.

Abstract: Cutaneous scars are reduced by the topical application of compositions containing an alkanolamine such as ethylaminoethanol, methylaminoethanol, dimethylaminoethanol, isopropanolamine, triethanolamine, isopropanoldimethylamine, ethylethanolamine, 2-butanolamine, choline, serine, and mixtures thereof. Compositions may be applied directly to scar tissue, or embedded in linaments held against the scars. Dimethylaminoethanol in amounts ranging from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the total composition is particularly preferred. Adjunct ingredients such as lipoic acid, tyrosine, ascorbyl palmitate, and glycolic acid may be added to scar-reducing formulations, and are desirable in many embodiments.

Abstract: A synergistic combination of conjugated linoleic acid and fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid is topically applied to treat skin damage, such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, xerosis, eczema, rosacea, seborrhea, psoriasis, thermal and radiation burns, other types of skin inflammation, and aging. Typical compositions contain from about 1% to about 25% by weight of a CLA preparation containing 9,11-octadecadienoic acid and 10,12-octadecadienoic acid, and from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of a saturated fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid such as ascorbyl palmitate.

Abstract: There is disclosed the use, as an agent in the treatment or the prevention of an autoimmune disease, of: (i) an agent having GM-1 binding activity, other than Ctx or Etx, or the B subunits of Ctx and Etx; or (ii) an agent having an effect on GM-1 mediated intracellular signalling events, but no GM-1 binding activity. These agents may also be used in the treatment of human T cell leukaemia, in the prevention of transplant rejection or GVHD or in a vaccination method for vaccinating a mammalian subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of xenon as an NMDA antagonist. In particular, the invention relates to a method of treatment comprising modulating the activity of an NMDA receptor in a mammal, the method comprising modulating the activity of the NMDA receptor by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of xenon. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition suitable for modulating the activity of an NMDA receptor.

Abstract: The gene for occludin, an integral transmembrane protein specifically associated with tight junctions that functions in forming intercellular seal, is cloned, characterized, and sequenced, and the polypeptide sequence determined. Drug delivery is enhanced by administering an effective amount of occludin inhibitors. These include peptides or antibodies that interact with occludin or occludin receptors. Also included are occludin antagonists, occludin receptor components, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, analogues of occludin surface loops that inhibit adhesion and/or barrier properties are employed. Administration can be local or systemic; local administration in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is preferred in some embodiments.

Abstract: An optical scanner gives three dimensional dosimetric data by scanning, with at least one light beam, a translucent medium exhibiting optical properties which change upon receipt of radiant energy representing a dose distribution of the energy. At least one detector is employed to gather data indicative of changes in the optical properties of the medium after scanning from multiple directions to provide a representation of the optical properties in sections through the medium. Typical optical properties measured include optical density, light scattering, emitted light intensities, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Polyenylphosphatidylcholine is topically applied to treat skin damage, such as contact dermatitis (particularly diaper area dermatitis), atopic dermatitis, xerosis, eczema (including severe hand and foot eczema), rosacea, seborrhea, psoriasis, thermal and radiation burns, other types of skin inflammation, and aging. Typical compositions contain from about 0.25% to about 10% of a polyenylphosphatidylcholine preparation obtained from natural sources such as soybean oil which contains at least about 25% by weight, preferably about 40% or more, dilinoeoylphosphatidylcholine.

Abstract: Human monoclonal anti-tumor antibodies are isolated from fusion phage single-chain Fv and V.sub.H antibody libraries constructed from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of immunized cancer patients. Antibodies that bind to tumor cells of the same kind as the patient's are selected, and antibodies that also bind to a human normal cell type are removed. The remaining fusion phage antibodies are cloned and then are tested for binding to at least two normal human cell types. Antibodies that fail to bind to the normal cells are further tested for binding to a panel of tumor cells, typically including the original tumor type and several related and unrelated tumors. Human monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to the original tumor or also to some other tumors, or that bind to the original tumor and cells from the same developmental lineage, are obtained and sequenced. The selected antibodies can be used to design molecules which are potentially useful for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: Tertiary alcohols containing the structural features illustrated in 3 or 4 below (Scheme I) are prepared by reacting at least one diazo carbonyl compound, e.g., 1 in Scheme I) and at least one allylic alcohol (e.g., 2 in Scheme I) in a coupling reaction run under conditions that produce carbene or carbenoid intemediates from the diazo containing substrate such as transition metal catalysis or either thermal or photochemical decomposition. In some preferred embodiments, Rh.sub.2 (OAc).sub.4 is employed to catalyze the coupling reaction. ##STR1## Indolocarbazoles (e.g., 7 below) are prepared by coupling of diazo carbonyl compounds (e.g., 5) and biindoles (e.g., 6). Indolocarbazoles are furanosylated (e.g., 7) with acetals (e.g., 8) or their open chain congeners (e.g., 9) under conditions known to promote acetal exchange or formation, such as protic or Lewis acids. Furanosylated indolocarbazoles (e.g., 10) are also prepared via ring contraction of pyranosylated indolocarbazoles (e.g.