Abstract: Assays which aid in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed. One assay tests urine samples for the presence or absence of an RNA polymerase I antibody which specifically binds with RNA polymerase I antigen and another assay tests for the presence or absence of an RNA polymerase I antigen that specifically binds with an antibody to RNA polymerase I.

Abstract: The present invention provides bifunctional chelating agents comprising a unique substrate reactive moiety incorporated into a carboxymethyl arm of a polyaminopolycarboxylate chelating framework capable of forming stable complexes with metal ions.

Abstract: Succinylacetone derived or related medicaments and methods of synthesis of the same are shown wherein the medicaments consists of succinylacetonyl-proline-PEG, succinylacetonyl-NH-PEG, or compounds that have the formula: ##STR1## and that have immunosuppressive activity both in vivo and in vitro based on their activities in cellular immunologic assays and adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, respectively.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed to methods using Procion dyes to perform separations of interest in manipulating the NAD.sup.+ -independent ribotoxins. The methods are useful for preparing therapeutic agents containing these ribotoxins or their A polypeptide components. This separation method has been applied in particular to preparing hybrid toxins containing ricin toxins, both for purifying the resulting products and also for separating the components intended to be used in the preparation of these end products. In addition, a novel ricin isotoxin prepared using the method of the invention is disclosed.