Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for monitoring the efficiency of an endonuclease digestion using a plasmid specifically designed for that purpose. The plasmid of the present invention comprises at least two polylinker regions containing a plurality of unique restriction sites distributed so that digestion of the plasmid with any two restriction endonucleases whose sites are represented on the plasmid results in two fragments that are sufficiently different in size from the intact plasmid so as to be readily distinguishable therefrom. To ensure this size differential, the polylinker regions of the plasmid are separated by a spacer segment comprising a restriction site-free nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 15% of the length of the intact plasmid.

Abstract: A method for treating an addiction disorder (such as an addiction to or dependency on stimulants, nicotine, morphine, heroin, other opiates, amphetamines, cocaine, and/or alcohol) in a patient is disclosed. The method includes administering to the patient a first &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist and administering to the patient a second &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist. The second &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist is different than the first &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist, and the first &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist and the second &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist are administered simultaneously or non-simultaneously. Compositions which include a first &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist and a second &agr;3&bgr;4 nicotinic receptor antagonist are also described.

Abstract: A chemo-physiological structure and method for forming the chemo-physiological structure. In a first embodiment, a cell of an animal is provided. The cell has a membrane surface and a viral receptor coupled to the membrane surface. A linker molecule having a covalently attached polymer is covalently bonded to the membrane surface, the viral receptor, or both. The polymer prevents an extracellular virus from bonding to the viral receptor. In a second embodiment, a linker molecule having a covalently attached polymer is covalently bonded to a capsid of a virus, which prevents the virus from bonding to a viral receptor of an adjacent or nearby animal cell.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter assembly and method for use with a needle in one embodiment includes a catheter hub and a needle cover attachable to and releasably lockable with the catheter hub when the needle extends through the needle cover. A stop assembly is attached to the needle and to the needle cover for maintaining a tip of the needle within the needle cover. The stop assembly includes a first irrereversible locking position whereby the catheter hub cannot disengage from the needle cover, and a second locking position whereby the catheter hub can disengage from the needle cover.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter assembly includes a catheter hub, a needle cover attachable to and releasably lockable with the catheter hub, and a needle which extends through and is withdrawn into the needle cover. In one embodiment, the safety intravenous catheter assembly is configured so that the fixedly connected catheter hub and needle cover may rotate around the needle. A stop assembly is attached to the needle and to the needle cover for maintaining a tip of the needle within the needle cover after catheter insertion. The stop assembly may include a first locking position whereby the catheter hub cannot disengage from the needle cover, and a second locking position whereby the catheter hub can disengage from the needle cover. The needle cover includes a notch clip which may be integrally formed as one-piece.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for monitoring the efficiency of an endonuclease digestion using a plasmid specifically designed for that purpose. The plasmid of the present invention comprises at least two polylinker regions containing a plurality of unique restriction sites distributed so that digestion of the plasmid with any two restriction endonucleases whose sites are represented on the plasmid results in two fragments that are sufficiently different in size from the intact plasmid so as to be readily distinguishable therefrom. To ensure this size differential, the polylinker regions of the plasmid are separated by a spacer segment comprising a restriction site-free nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 15% of the length of the intact plasmid.

Abstract: A prion-physiological structure and associated method of formation. A provided abnormal prion has a transforming power over a normal prion to convert the abnornal prion into defective prion that mimics the abnormal prion. A linker molecule is then bonded to the abnormal prion, wherein a polymer that is covalently attached to the linker molecule facilitates formation of a polymerized abnormal prion that does not have the transforming power over the normal prion.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a viral-physiological structure. A naked virus having a capsid is provided. A linker molecule having a covalently attached polymer is covalently bonded to the capsid to form a polymer-protected virus. An immunogenicity of the polymer-protected virus with respect to an animal exceeds an immunogenicity of the naked virus with respect to the animal.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter assembly includes a catheter hub, a needle cover attachable to and releasably lockable with the catheter hub, and a needle which extends through and is withdrawn into the needle cover. In one embodiment, the safety intravenous catheter assembly is configured so that the fixedly connected catheter hub and needle cover may rotate around the needle. A stop assembly is attached to the needle and to the needle cover for maintaining a tip of the needle within the needle cover after catheter insertion. The stop assembly may include a first locking position whereby the catheter hub cannot disengage from the needle cover, and a second locking position whereby the catheter hub can disengage from the needle cover. The needle cover includes a notch clip which may be integrally formed as one-piece.

Abstract: A method predicting the outcome, and prognosis and indicating treatment for patients afflicted with colorectal cancer by determining whether the number of copies of HER-2/neu gene in cancer cells from the patient exceeds four by in-situ hybridization. Patients having cells with five or more copies of the HER-2/neu gene are to be treated more aggressively or in combination with an anti-HER-2/neu antibody.

Abstract: Mutations have been discovered in mammalian G protein-coupled serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors which render the mutated receptors constitutively active. An alignment methodology based on the highly conserved sixth transmembrane domain has been discovered for the monoamine receptors which accurately predicts the amino acid position in the third intracellular loop which, when mutated, produces constitutive activation of the receptor. Constitutive activation of the G protein-coupled serotonin receptors has been shown by the demonstration of an enhanced affinity and potency for serotonin, by increased basal activity of the second messenger system in the absence of agonist, and by reduction of the basal second messenger activity by inverse agonists.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter assembly and method for use with a needle is comprised of the following. A catheter hub has an axial bore extending through the catheter hub. A needle cover has a first end of the needle cover insertable in the axial bore and a second axial bore extending through the needle cover and co-axial with the axial bore. A continuous circumferential notch extends outwardly in the axial bore of the catheter hub. A notch clip is joined with the needle cover and is positionable to engage the notch of the catheter hub. The notch clip can engage a side of the needle and the notch and locks the catheter hub in engagement with the needle cover when the needle cover is inserted in the axial bore and the needle is inserted in the second axial bore at least adjacent or past a distal portion of the notch clip. Further, the notch clip is maintained adjacent the needle in a range of positions from being in non-forceful contact with the needle to being spaced from the needle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds having formula (1), wherein n is from 0 to 8; R1 is CH2OH, CH(OH)R5, CH2OR5, CO2R5, C(O)NH2, C(I)NHR5, C(O)NR5R6, C(O)NHNH2, C(O)NHNHR5, C(O)NHNR5R6, C(O)NR5NH2, C(O)NR5NHR6, C(O)NR5NR6R7, C(O)NHNH(C(O)R5), C(O)NHNR5(C(O)R6) C(O)NR5NH(C(O)R6), C(O)NR5NR6(C(O)R7), CN, or C(O)R5; R2 is H, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, YH, YR8, YC(O)R8, C(O)YR8, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHR8, C(O)NR8R9, NH2, NHR8, NR8R9, NHC(O)R8, or NR8C(O)R9; R3 and R4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, halogens, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, OH, OR10, NH2, NHR10, NR10R11, NHC(O)R10, or NR10C(O)R11; R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, and R11 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted alkyl and substituted alkyl and substituted alkyl; R12 is selected from the group consisting of J, unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted alkyl; and Y is O or S; provided that when n is O, R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, substituted

Abstract: A protein-lipid vesicle that can be used to make an autogenous vaccine comprises patient-specific antigen, adjuvant or immunomodulator, and lipid carrier. In addition, a negatively charged lipid component is desirably included. The autogenous vaccine is useful to treat individuals with chronic diseases, including chronic infectious diseases and neoplasias. The chronic infectious diseases that can be treated include disease caused by infection with human immunodeficiency viruses.

Abstract: An essentially pure immunogenic composite capable of selectively inducing antibody production in an animal to a peptide that if administered by itself to the animal without being conjugated to or mixed with additional substance does not stimulate production of anti-peptide antibody in the animal. This immunogenic composite comprises: a lipid and an amphipathic peptide. The amphipathic peptide if administered by itself to the animal without being conjugated to or mixed with additional substance does not stimulate production of anti-peptide antibody in the animal. The amphipathic peptide is covalently bound to the lipid in a peptide-lipid complex. The immunogenic composite has a vesicular or an amorphous particulate structure. Another embodiment of this immunogenic composite comprises: a lipid, the amphipathic peptide, and a hydrophilic peptide covalently bound together.

Abstract: A method of determining the severity of prostatic cancer includes measuring the level of amplification of the HER-2/neu gene in a sample of prostate tissue by fluorescence in-situ hybridization and comparing the measured level of amplification of the HER-2/neu gene in the sample with the level of HER-2/neu gene in normal prostate tissue. A method for determining treatment for a patient afflicted with prostate cancer includes determining whether the number of copies of HER-2/neu gene in prostate cells from the patient exceeds four by using fluorescence in-situ hybridization and aggressively treating such patient having prostate cells with five or more copies of the HER-2/neu gene.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to cochleates comprising a) a biologically relevant molecule component b) a negatively charged lipid component, and c) a divalent cation component. The cochleate has an extended shelf life, even in a desiccated state. Advantageously, the cochleate can be ingested. The biologically relevant molecule can be a topical application and an in vitro treatment, a polypeptide a drug, a nutrient, or a flavor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating nicotine addiction. The method involves administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1 to C6 alkyl;R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, and ethyl;R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, C1 to C6 alkanoyl, C3 to C6 cycloalkanoyl, and pyridinecarbonyl;Q is a bivalent alkylene moiety; andY is selected from the group consisting of a halo-(C2 to C6)-alkenyl moiety having 1 or 2 chlorine or bromine atoms attached to the ethylenic carbon, a cycloalkyl moiety, a cyano moiety, and a cyano-(C3 to C6)-alkenyl moietyor a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-immunogenic cellular composition comprising: a cell having a cell surface and antigenic determinants on the cell surface; a linker molecule covalently attached to the cell surface; and a non-immunogenic compound (e.g., polyethylene glycol or derivative thereof) covalently attached to the linker molecule. In one embodiment, the linker molecule is covalently attached directly to the antigenic determinant on the cell surface. In an alternate embodiment, the linker molecule may be covalently attached to a non-antigenic site on the cell surface, but will camouflage the antigenic determinant on the cell surface by virtue of the long chain length of the non-immunogenic compound.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to cochleates comprising a) a biologically relevant molecule component b) a negatively charged lipid component, and c) a divalent cation component. The cochleate has an extended shelf life, even in a desiccated state. Advantageously, the cochleate can be ingested. The biologically relevant molecule can be a polynucleotide.