Abstract: A process for making urokinase derivatives having a sulfhydryl group incorporated into a remnant of urinary plasminogen activator. The process comprises reducing disulfide bridges in the presence of arginine and incorporating a desired compound having a sulfhydryl containing group into the structure through the formation of a disulfide bridge.

Abstract: An enzyme conjugate composition comprising an enzyme conjugate, a calcium salt and a polyethylene glycol is disclosed. The enzyme conjugate composition is effectively stabilized by the presence of the calcium salt and the polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample filtration device of the type employing differential pressure. An outer container filled with a sample to be filtered slidably receives a hollow plunger having filter media disposed near one end and sealing means disposed in an annular groove about the periphery of the plunger. The annular groove of the plunger is formed by two components: an annular shoulder on a collector portion and the axial face of an annular ring formed in a retainer portion. The two portions are frictionally engaged to retain the filter in place and form the annular groove for the sealing means. This construction permits straight-pull molding of the component parts which eliminates mold mismatch flaws.

Abstract: A miniaturized reference electrode includes a dielectric thermoplastic cup having a cavity to hold a reference liquid solution and having a sample contacting orifice at one end. A membrane comprising cellulose acetate and a solvent capable of exerting a solvent action on the sidewalls of the cup orifice is drop deposited in the orifice and cured in situ. The resulting membrane extends across the orifice and is interdigitatedly anchored to the orifice sidewalls. The reference electrode further includes an Ag/AgCl screw-in electrode machined from silver rod extending into and hermetically sealing the cup cavity. A reference liquid fill solution having a chloride ion and potassium ion concentration similar to that found in the samples to be tested and the storage soak solution is provided to minimize drift of reference potential.

Abstract: An ion-selective electrode having an electrically insulating substrate with a substantially planar first surface, and having a non-metallic conductor for sensing a potential affixed to the first surface beneath an ion-sensitive membrane. An electrically insulating layer covers at least a portion of the non-metallic conductor and means for making electrical contact with the non-metallic conductor.

Abstract: A reservoir/dispensing container for use at a patient's bedside for administering nutrients, medicaments, etc. through enteral, I.V. or like systems wherein the container, which is semi-rigid and has nestable stacking means provided thereon, has discharge port means at one end thereof and a fill opening located in a beveled corner wall surface adjacent the end opposite from the discharge port means whereby the container can be filled either while supported in an upright use position, as at a patient's bedside, or while supported on its side with the fill opening facing generally upwardly, as for instance, at a nursing station or in a hospital pharmacy. An adaptor having a reduced-thickness intermediate section is provided for connecting a feeding tube or the like to the discharge port means of the container in a manner preventing kinking of the feeding tube or the like.

Abstract: A sample processor card for use with a centrifuge in which the direction of centrifugal force can be altered at will, wherein the card includes a supply of chemical reagent and inlet means for supplying a chemical sample to the card. The sample is advanced under centrifugal force through capillary means to sample measuring means, and the measured sample is then mixed with reagent to permit a chemical test to be carried out on the reagent, all under centrifugal force.

Abstract: The present invention includes compounds represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydroxy, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy, benzoxy, or an alkylcarbonyloxymethoxy group, or R.sub.3 together with R.sub.1 forms a group of the formula --Y--NH-- where Y is oxygen or sulfur; or R.sub.3 is hydrogen; A is nitrogen or CR.sub.2, where R.sub.2 is hydrogen, or halogen, or R.sub.2 together with R forms a group of the formula --X--CH.sub.2 --CH(R.sub.6)-- or --X--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, wherein X is CH.sub.2, O, S, NH, or NCH.sub.3, and R.sub.6 is hydrogen, alkyl, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl; or R is (1) a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, (2) lower cycloalkyl, (3) alkylamino, (4) haloalkyl, (5) an aromatic heterocyclic ring or (6) a substituted phenyl group; and Z is a carbocyclic group;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the present invention are useful as antibacterial agents.

Abstract: An expedited process for the dispersion and neutralization of acid caseins in the manufacture of liquid caseinate that drastically reduces time and cost variables and allows for in-house production of caseinate. The process comprises the initial addition of a solubilizing agent (i.e. citrate) to an aqueous solution with a temperature of about 120.degree. F. to about 165.degree. F. prior to the addition of casein and a neutralizing agent. This process achieves a pH-perfect, soluble caseinate product in the form of a ready-to-use liquid or powdered caseinate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for printing and dispensing chemical reagents in precisely controlled volumes onto a medium at a precisely controlled location. A jetting tube, comprising an orifice at one end and a fluid receiving aperture at the other end, is concentrically mounted within a cylindrical piezo-electric transducer. The fluid receiving aperture is connected to a reservoir containing a selected reagent by means of a filter. The reservoir may be pressurized by a regulated air supply. An electrical signal of short duration is applied to the transducer. The pulse causes the transducer and the volume defined by the jetting tube to expand, thereby drawing in a small quantity of reagent fluid. The cessation of the pulse causes the transducer and the volume of the jetting tube to de-expand, thereby causing at least a substantially uniformly sized droplet of reagent fluid to be propelled through the orifice.

Abstract: A method of preventing the fracture of coated drug granules during the compression of the granules into a commercially acceptable tablet matrix is disclosed. The method involves incorporating into the matrix, along with the granules, from about 10% to about 50% by weight microcrystalline cellulose.

Abstract: DNA cloning shuttle vectors, including a cosmid shuttle vector, for E. coli and Streptomyces are disclosed. Specifically, disclosed shuttle vectors pAL7002 (NRRL B-18055) and pNJl (NRRL B-18054) contain an E. coli origin of replication, Streptomyces replication functions, and antibiotic resistance markers for both E. coli and Streptomyces. In addition, pNJl contains a cos sequence. Novel 2-norerythromycin antibiotics A, B, C, and D, which were produced in a strain Streptomyces erythreus 12693-240 (NRRL B-18053) transformed by pNJl bearing DNA from Streptomyces antibioticus, are also disclosed. The present invention also provides a method for producing novel antibiotics. This method for antibiotic production is applied to the transformation of a blocked mutant of S. erythreus with genomic DNA from S. antibioticus but may be more broadly applied to genes to antibiotic-producing strains transformed into cells which are blocked in the pathway for production of a different antibiotic.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is (1) hydrogen, (2) C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, (3) C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alkenyl, or (4) NR.sub.2 R.sub.3, wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from (1) hydrogen, (2) C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl and (3) hydroxyl, but R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are not simultaneously hydroxyl;wherein X is oxygen, sulfur, SO.sub.2, or NR.sub.4, wherein R.sub.4 is (1) hydrogen, (2) C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, (3) C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoyl, (4) aroyl, or (5) alkylsulfonyl;A is selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylene and C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenylene;n is 1-5;Y is selected independently at each occurrence from (1) hydrogen, (2) halogen, (3) hydroxy, (4) cyano, (5) halosubstituted alkyl, (6) C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl, (7) C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 alkenyl, (8) C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkoxy, (9) C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, (10) C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 thioalkyl, (11) aryl, (12) aryloxy, (13) aroyl, (14) C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 arylalkyl, (15) C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 arylalkenyl, (16) C.sub.1 to C.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for generating aqueous liquid encapsulating multi-lamellar lipid vesicles (liposomes) wherein one or more lipids, or lipid conjugates, and an aqueous liquid to be encapsulated, are agitated in a vessel in the presence of spherical contact masses having a mean diameter of less than 3,000 microns, the preferred size range being 50-100 microns in diameter, and resulting in a substantially homogeneous population of vesicles having diameters in the range of about 150 to about 3,000 nanometers. The methods allow for the use of small quantities of marker and lipid, leave no residual solvents, allow for contact only with glass surfaces, and involve no transfer of liposome preparations from lipid film drying vessels to sizing apparatus.

Abstract: An aseptically pre-filled, clear plastic pouch for a nurser is insertable into a sleeve-like holder and has upwardly diverging side edges at its upper end for gripping same and to provide sufficient material to be folded downwardly over the upper edge of the holder after opening of the pouch and before assembly of a nursing nipple on the upper end of the holder, one or more V-shaped notches being provided just below a sealed upper edge of the pouch as an aid in opening same. The aseptically pre-filled pouch provides a convenient single serving of a pediatric nutritional which has an excellent shelf-life without refrigeration, the plastic film material being a multi-layer co-extrusion which is not only puncture-resistant but which also has excellent oxygen and water barrier properties.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and reagents for determining amphetamine and methamphetamine in a biological fluid such as urine. In particular, this disclosure relates to a fluorescence polarization immunoassay procedure for determining the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine in a single assay and to a novel class of tracer compounds employed as reagents in such procedures. The procedure described includes pretreatment of the biological sample to eliminate cross-reactants such as .beta.-hydroxyphenethylamine by preincubating the sample solely with an aqueous periodate solution having a pH from about 4.0 to about 7.5 without adjustment to an alkaline pH.

Abstract: The present invention provides a package for and method of packaging a sterilizable calibratable medical device including a hydratable sensor component. The device is maintained in a sterile environment during storage and in a clean environment during the calibration procedure. The package includes a manifold connected to the sensor component by plumbing. The plumbing establishes fluid communication between the manifold and the sensor component and/or between the sensor component and the ambient environment of the plumbing. The manifold, plumbing and medical device are sealed in a wrap including a gas-permeable surface. The wrap and its contents, including the interior surfaces of the components, are sterilizable by exposing the wrap to a gaseous sterilization solution and appropriately adjusting the plumbing. The medical device is hydratable by directing the hydration solution to the sensor component by means of the plumbing.

Abstract: A tablet providing enhanced delivery of an acid-sensitive drug in conjunction with an acid-stable drug is disclosed. The tablet is made up of a matrix containing a major proportion of an acid-stable drug, and a minor proportion of microcrystalline cellulose. Embedded in the matrix are coated granules containing at least about 90% of an acid-sensitive drug by weight, exclusive of the coating, and having a particle size of from about 10 to about 40 mesh. The granules of acid-sensitive drug have an acid resistant and/or enteric coating selected to dissolve in less than sixty minutes at a pH of 5.5 or greater.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of enantiomerically homogeneous aminopyrrolidinyl naphthyridine carboxylic acids and quinolone carboxylic acids, and for the preparation of intermediates that are useful in the production of these carboxylic acids. The compounds are useful as anti-bacterials.