Abstract: The invention relates to the observed tight linkage between DNA polymorphisms in the glucokinase gene (GCK) on the short arm of chromosome 7, and NIDDM in a cohort of sixteen French families having MODY. It further relates to identification of mutations in GCK and their linkage with diabetes in particular families are disclosed. This invention provides the first evidence implicating specific mutations in a gene involved in glucose metabolism in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. The invention further discloses the isolation and characterization of human pancreatic .beta.-cell GCK and a method for searching for mutations that cause early-onset NIDDM. To assess the effect of these mutations on glucokinase activity, a method is disclosed for generating an .alpha.-carbon backbone model for human glucokinase based on the crystal structure of the structurally-related yeast hexokinase B.

Abstract: An ion exchange resin for extracting metal ions from a liquid waste stream. An ion exchange resin is prepared by copolymerizing a vinylidene diphosphonic acid with styrene, acrylonitrile and divinylbenzene.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode plant and cyanobacterial polypeptides that participate in the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. Isolated cyanobacterial and plant polypeptides that catalyze acetyl-CoA carboxylation are also provided. Processes for altering acetyl-CoA carboxylation, increasing herbicide resistance of plants and identifying herbicide resistant variants of acetyl-CoA carboxylase are also provided.

Abstract: A method of computerized detection of clustered microcalcifications in digital mammograms, including obtaining a digitized mammogram, deriving a difference image signal from the digitized mammogram, performing global grey-level thresholding, area filtering, and local grey-level thresholding on the difference image, in that order, performing a texture discrimination of the signal extracted from the previous step, performing a cluster filtering technique on the texture discriminated signals to identify locations in the digitized mammogram corresponding to candidate clustered microcalcifications, performing a feature extraction step in which the area, contrast and background pixel values of signals corresponding to the candidate clustered microcalcifications in the original image are extracted, performing thresholding tests based on the extracted features to eliminate from the candidate clustered microcalcifications particular candidate clustered microcalcification identified as corresponding to false-positive i

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid segment having a nucleotide sequence coding for oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) which belongs to the CR-LR family of proteins. These molecular weight of the protein is about 120-kd as determined by gel electrophoresis. The protein is capable of being linked to biological membranes through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol lipid intermediate anchor. OMgp is expressed in the central nervous system and is correlated with myelination. This invention also relates to the purified OMgp, which bands at q11.2 of chromosome 17. OMgp maps in the chromosome within 6-kd of a translocation breakpoint t (1;17), which cosegregates with neurofibromatosis in some families. A recombinant vector incorporating the coding sequence for OMgp and a host cell for the vector are disclosed. Other aspects of the invention include disclosed methods for preparing the OMgp protein; the detection of the glycoprotein; as well as nucleic acid segments.

Abstract: The present invention provides 8-substituted O.sup.6 -benzylguanines of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are as defined in the specification, and 4(6)-substituted 2-amino-5-nitro-6(4)-benzyloxypyrimidine, and 4(6)-substituted 2-amino-5-nitroso-6(4)-benzyloxypyrimidine derivatives which have been found to be effective AGT inactivators, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides a method of enhancing the chemotherapeutic treatment of tumor cells in a mammal with an antineoplastic alkylating agent which causes cytotoxic lesions at the O.sup.6 -position of guanine, by administering to a mammal an effective amount of one of the aforesaid derivatives, 2,4-diamino-6-benzyloxy-s-triazine, 5-substituted 2,4-diamino-6-benzyloxypyrimidines, or 8-aza-O.sup.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of producing an immortalized hybrid neuronal cell comprising the steps of transducing a primary embryonic brain cell from a specific brain region with a temperature-sensitive oncogene to produce a transductant cell, and fusing the transductant cell with a mature primary neuron from the same brain region to produce the hybrid cell. Hybrid cells produced by such a process are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for the detection of microcalcifications in digital mammograms. Digital mammograms are obtained and regions-of-interest (ROIs) are selected therefrom which contain suspected microcalcifications, either individual or clustered microcalcifications. The suspect ROIs are background-trend corrected, followed by Fourier transformation and power spectrum calculation to perform detection in the frequency domain. Detection can also be carried out in the spatial domain by omitting the Fourier transformation and power spectrum calculation. The ROI is then scaled for input into a neural network trained to detect microcalcifications. The neural network outputs ROIs with detected microcalcifications. The method and system can also include normalizing the background-trend corrected ROIs and imputing the normalized ROI to a shift-invariant neural network trained to detect microcalcifications.

Abstract: A method and pharmaceutical for protecting against genotoxic damage in irradiated cells. Reduction of mutations at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus is accomplished by administering an effective dose of a compound having protected sulfhydryl groups which metabolize in vivo to produce both free sulfhydryl groups and disulfides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a series of nucleic acid probes for use in diagnosing and monitoring certain types of leukemia using, e.g., Southern and Northern blot analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These probes detect rearrangements, such as translocations involving chromosome band 11q23 with other chromosomes bands, including 4q21, 6q27, 9p22, 19p13.3, in both dividing leukemic cells and interphase nuclei. The breakpoints in all such translocations are clustered within an 8.3 kb BamHI genomic region of the MLL gene. A novel 0.7 kb BamHI cDNA fragment derived from this gene detects rearrangements on Southern blot analysis with a single BamHI restriction digest in all patients with the common 11q23 translocations and in patients with other 11q23 anomalies. Northern blot analyses are presented demonstrating that the MLL gene has multiple transcripts and that transcript size differentiates leukemic cells from normal cells. Also disclosed are MLL fusion proteins, MLL protein domains and anti-MLL antibodies.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel classes of anti-androgens including dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, their method of synthesis and their use in treating disorders associated with excessive androgenic activities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and purification of a herpes protease and a nucleic acid segment coding for two proteins. The first protein is the herpes protease which is able to cleave itself and also cleave the second protein. This protease is required for the assembly of the herpes virus capsid, therefore is essential for replication. The second protein has previously been designated as the family of proteins in viral infected cells, ICP35. The protease and its substrates are encoded by overlapping nucleic acid segments. This invention also relates to a promoter sequence for the second protein. Methods are presented of producing a viral protease, screening a protease inhibitor which may be used in a drug designed for the treatment of herpes disease, methods for treating herpes and other viral infections wherein the virus employs a protease substantially similar to the herpes protease, for capsid production.

Abstract: Autocrine growth factors and isoforms of those factors have been identified, isolated, purified and manipulated. Nucleic acid segments coding for the factors, and antibodies directed to the factors are also aspects of the present invention. The effect of these growth factors on cells is to enhance their growth by increasing mitogenesis. In particular, the growth factors stimulate kidney epithelial cell growth. The growth factors differ from others previously reported in their molecular weights and other properties, for example, resistance to denaturation by dithiothreitol. Methods of preparation and use of the factors are also described. The growth factors are released from kidney epithelial cells by short exposures to a low-sodium environment. The factors have potential for treatment of kidney disease.

Abstract: A degradable high molecular weight poly(lactic acid). A poly(lactic acid) has a terminal end group of one of carboxyl or hydroxyl groups with low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) units coupled with linking agents of di-isocyanates, bis-epoxides, bis-oxazolines and bis-ortho esters. The resulting high molecular weight poly(lactic acid) can be used for applications taking advantage of the improved physical properties.

Abstract: Novel methods for prophylaxis and treatment of tissue damage resulting from cell membrane permeabilization are disclosed. Compositions comprising a surface active copolymer are employed to prevent permeabilization or to promote membrane repair. Methods for enhancement of cell survival following membrane permeabilization in vitro are also disclosed, along with methods for increasing the efficacy of transfection of cells with foreign exogenous macromolecules, in particular DNA, also involving treatment of permeabilized cells with a surface active copolymer. Also disclosed are novel methods for prophylaxis and treatment of tissue damage, and for enhancement of cell survival and transfection efficacy, using a surface active copolymer in combination with high energy phosphate compounds which are capable of recharging cellular energy stores and thereby potentiating cell repair and survival.

Abstract: A method and system for computer-aided differential diagnosis of diseases, and in particular, computer-aided differential diagnosis using neural networks. A first embodiment of the neural network distinguishes between a plurality of interstitial lung diseases on the basis of inputted clinical parameters and radiographic information. A second embodiment distinguishes between malignant and benign mammographic cases based upon similar inputted clinical and radiographic information. The neural networks were first trained using a hypothetical data base made up of hypothetical cases for each of the interstitial lung diseases and for malignant and benign cases. The performance of the neural network was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. The decision performance of the neural network was compared to experienced radiologists and achieved a high performance comparable to that of the experienced radiologists.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an industrial process and a sensor. The method and system include generating a first and second signal characteristic of an industrial process variable. One of the signals can be an artificial signal generated by an auto regressive moving average technique. After obtaining two signals associated with one physical variable, a difference function is obtained by determining the arithmetic difference between the two pairs of signals over time. A frequency domain transformation is made of the difference function to obtain Fourier modes describing a composite function. A residual function is obtained by subtracting the composite function from the difference function and the residual function (free of nonwhite noise) is analyzed by a statistical probability ratio test.

Abstract: A method for the automated segmentation of medical images, including generating image data from radiographic images of the breast. The method is applicable to breast mammograms including the extraction of the skinline as well as correction for non-uniform exposure conditions, hand radiographs, and chest radiographs. Techniques for the segmentation include noise filtering, local gray value range determination, modified global histogram analysis, region growing and determination of object contour. The method also is applicable to skin detection and analysis of skin thickening in medical images, where image segmentation, local optimization of external skinline, creation of a gradient image, identification of the internal skinline and then skin thickness determination are carried out.

Abstract: An ion exchange resin for extracting metal ions from a liquid waste stream. An ion exchange resin is prepared by copolymerizing a vinylidene diphosphonic acid with styrene, acrylonitrile and divinylbenzene.

Abstract: The DNA encoding human thyroid hormone receptor protein alpha-1 (hTR -1). This polynucleotide can be used as a probe to detect the presence of a third form of human thyroid hormone receptor protein.