Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields diabetes. More particularly, it concerns the identification of genes responsible for NIDDM for use in diagnostics and therapeutics. The present invention demonstrates that the MODY3 locus is, in fact, the HNF1&agr; gene, MODY4 locus is the HNF1&bgr; and the MODY1 locus is the HNF4&agr; gene. The invention further relates to the discovery that analysis of mutations in the HNF1&agr;, HNF1&bgr; and HNF4&agr; genes can be diagnostic for diabetes. The invention also contemplates methods of treating diabetes in view of the fact that HNF1&agr;, HNF1&bgr; and HNF4&agr; mutations can cause diabetes.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions of and methods for obtaining opioid receptor polypeptides. The invention relates as well to polynucleotides encoding opioid receptor polypeptides, the recombinant vectors carrying those sequences, the recombinant host cells including either the sequences or vectors, and recombinant opioid receptor polypeptides. By way of example, the invention discloses the cloning and functional expression of at least three different opioid receptor polypeptides. The invention includes as well, methods for using the isolated, recombinant receptor polypeptides in assays designed to select and improve substances capable of interacting with opioid receptor polypeptides for use in diagnostic, drug design and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Steroid derivatives of this invention interact with nuclear liver X receptor (LXR) and ubiquitous receptor (UR) and can be used to treat a variety of LXR- or UR-mediated disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating cancer by administering an effective amount of a modified Herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating small dielectric particles. The apparatus and method involves use of a diffractive optical element which receives a laser beam and forms a plurality of light beams. These light beams are operated on by a telescope lens system and then an objective lens element to create an array of optical traps for manipulating small dielectric particles.

Abstract: This invention discloses immunopotentiating agents which stimulate an immune resposne. These agents are categorized into single agents that act directly, adjuvants added concurrently with the agents, or heteroconjugates. Heteroconjugate agents eleicit or enhance a cellular or humoral immune response which may be specific for an epitope contained within an amino acid sequence. Enhanced hematopoieses by bone marrow stem cell recruitment was also a result of administering some of these agents.

Abstract: A process for increasing the circulating levels of gene products in a primate for extended period of time is provided. In accordance with that process, muscle cells of the mammal are transformed with an expression vector that contains a polynucleotide that encodes the gene product and which vector drives expression in the muscle.

Abstract: A method for reducing food intake in a subject and a method for reducing the levels of an endocrine in a subject comprising administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the formula: wherein A is alkenyl, and each of Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd is herein defined.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for detecting the presence of genetic polymorphisms that correlate with altered gene expression. More specifically, the present invention is directed to methods for detecting the genetic polymorphisms located in the UGT1A1 promoter. The invention also provides methods for optimizing drug dosages based upon the presence of the polymorphisms. The invention further provides methods of predicting sensitivity to xenobiotics and diagnostic kits for detecting genetic polymorphisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA molecule comprising a radiation responsive enhancer-promoter operatively linked to an encoding region that encodes at least one polypeptide. An encoding region can comprise a single encoding sequence for a polypeptide or two or more encoding sequences encoding DNA binding, activation or repression domains of a transcription factor. Processes for regulating polypeptide expression and inhibiting tumor growth using such DNA molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium of computerized processing of chest images including obtaining digital first and second images of a chest and detecting rib edges in at least one of the first and second images. The rib edges are detected by correlating points in the at least one of the first and second images to plural rib edge models using a Hough transform to identify approximate rib edges in one of the images, and delineating actual rib edges derived from the identified approximate rib edges using a snake model. The method system and computer readable medium further include deriving the shift values using the actual rib edges and warping one of the first and second images to produce a warped image which is registered to the other of the first and second images based at least in part on the shift values.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for automated measurements of pleural space and/or pleural thickening in thoracic CT images to identify the presence and quantify the extent of pleura-based disease, including obtaining a CT image including the pleural space and/or the pleural thickening, segmenting lungs in the obtained image, constructing a chest wall image from the obtained image using a lung boundary obtained in the segmenting step, identifying ribs in the chest wall image, mapping a location of the identified ribs back into the obtained image, and determining in the obtained image the extent of the pleural space and/or the pleural thickening between the identified ribs mapped back into the obtained CT image and at least one segmented lung. Exemplary embodiments include determining the extent of pleural space and/or pleural thickening based on linear distance, area, and volume of the space between the ribs and the lung boundary.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for direct detection of specific nucleic acid flanking sequences associated with structural chromosomal aberration breakpoints, by forming hybrids between the sequences and genetic probes, and detecting the probes. In particular aspects, the invention concerns detection of nucleic acid sequences in situ in chromosomes, and more specifically in cells, including interphase cells. Compositions of probes useful for detecting chromosomal translocations, in particular those associated with human leukemias, are also disclosed. An aspect of the invention is labelled probes that, when juxtaposed by formation of an aberration, are distinguishable and provide a pattern different from that of normal cells.

Abstract: Compounds that inhibit 5-alpha-reductase are provided. The compounds are used to treat prostate cancer, breast cancer, obesity, skin disorders and baldness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transceiving a signal. The method includes the steps of transmitting a superposed frequency component of the signal within each of a plurality of non-adjacent frequency bands, using analogue or digital filters within a receiver to suppress all signals outside the plurality of frequency bands and to pass a filtered signal within the plurality of non-adjacent frequency bands, determining a set of substantially non-uniformly spaced times at which the filtered signal within the plurality of non-adjacent frequency bands should be sampled and sampling the filtered signal at the determined times to provide sampled data. The method further includes the steps of Fourier transforming subsets of the sampled data, linearly combining the Fourier transformed subsets using a reconstruction matrix and extracting the signal from the linear combinations of the Fourier transformed subsets.

Abstract: Particles such as islet cells are encapsulated by a method that forms a coating of uniform thickness that conforms to the size and shape of the particles. Two substantially immiscible liquids of different densities are provided in a container as upper and lower liquids such that an interface exists between the liquids. The upper liquid is less dense and has a greater viscosity than the lower liquid which is a coating liquid containing particles to be encapsulated. A tube is positioned in the upper liquid such that an orifice of the tube is above the interface. A pump connected to the tube sucks liquid through the tube at a rate sufficient to form a spout containing substantially the lower liquid extending between the interface and the tube orifice. The spout has maximum diameter at the interface and decreases in diameter as the spout approaches the tube orifice.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a Sequential Probability Ratio Test methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.

Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.

Abstract: Novel growth peptides derived from protein factors having molecular weights of about 22 and 45 kDa stimulate mitogenic activity of epithelial, but not fibroblastic cells, in particular, kidney epithelial cells. A source of the factors is scrape-wounded kidney epithelial cells in culture. Synthetic peptides having sixteen amino acids or less, in particular a hexapeptide, YPQGNH (SEQ ID NO: 2) maintain the mitogenic activity. The peptide AQPYPQGNHEASYG (14-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 15) is effective in reversing acute renal failure in animals. The growth-promoting characteristics of the 22 and 45 kDa proteins and the peptides are useful in treating and diagnosing patients with kidney disease. Nucleotide sequences that encode the factor are useful to develop probes to locate similar factors, to identify genetic disorders involving the factor, and to produce the factor by genetic recombinant methods. The nucleotide sequences and fragments thereof, are also useful for diagnosis and treatment of kidney disorders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reconstructing images from data obtained from scintillation events occurring within a projection space of a depth-of-interaction positron emission tomography system. The method includes the steps of identifying a segment of each depth-of-interaction detector of respective pairs of depth-of-interaction detectors detecting the scintillation-events of the data obtained within the projection space and estimating a set of sinograms from the data based upon a set of depth-independent point spread functions of the identified segments of the respective pairs of depth-of-interaction detectors.