Abstract: The present invention relates to orthopaedic implants having a fenestrated hollow shell and a biologic core. These design features provide an improved interface between the implant and the surrounding tissue, aiding fixation, and provide a vehicle for applying new bone healing and enhancing modalities, such as gene therapy, tissue engineering, and growth factors.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for the therapeutic use of an atonal-associated nucleic acid or amino acid sequence. Also, an animal heterozygous for an atonal-associated gene inactivation is also disclosed having at least one atonal-associated nucleic acid sequence replaced by insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence used to detect expression driven by an atonal-associated promoter sequence, wherein the inactivation of the atonal-associated nucleic acid sequence prevents expression of the atonal-associated gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, including vectors, and methods for the rapid subcloning of nucleic acid sequences in vivo and in vitro. In particular, the invention provides vectors used to contain a gene of interest that comprise a sequence-specific recombinase target site. These vectors are used to rapidly transfer the gene or genes of interest into any vector that contains a sequence-specific recombinase target site located downstream of a regulatory element so that the gene of interest may be regulated.

Abstract: Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) is a neurocutaneous genodermatosis that segregates as an X-linked dominant disorder with a high probability of prenatal male lethality. A locus in Xq28 containing NF-&kgr;B Essential Modulator, a gene product involved in the activation of NF-kB and central to many pro-inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, contains mutations in the majority of cases of IP. Disclosed are methods, compositions and kits directed to a defect in a NF-&kgr;B related disease such as IP.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of an expression vector containing an antigenic genomic sequence, which is bound to an aggregated protein-polycationic polymer conjugate. More particularly it relates to the use of the expression vector as an oral DNA vaccine or to induce immune response. In specific embodiments, the expression vector is bound to a protein-polycationic polymer suspension.

Abstract: A control system for a continuous flow rotary blood pump is provided. A normal operating range of the blood pump is established. The normal operating range may comprise a normal pump flow range and a normal pressure head range. A target rotational speed of the pump is set in accordance with the normal operating range. A current operating condition of the blood pump is determined. The current operating condition may comprise a current pump flow, a current pressure head, and a current rotational speed of the pump. The current operating condition is compared with the normal operating range. An appropriate control algorithm is selected from a plurality of available control algorithms based on the comparison. The target rotational speed of the pump is adjusted using the selected control algorithm to maintain or recover the normal operating range.

Abstract: Porphyromanas gingivalis LPS elicits a Th2 immune response. P. gingivalis LPS, detoxified P. gingivalis LPS, derivatives of P. gingivalis LPS, derivatives of detoxified P. gingivalis LPS, P. gingivalis Lipid A, detoxified P. gingivalis Lipid A, derivatives of P. gingivalis Lipid A, derivatives of detoxified P. gingivalis Lipid A, or mimetics thereof, can be used as adjuvants to elicit a Th2 immune response, increase the efficacy of vaccinations in infectious diseases, decrease the severity of autoimmune responses, boost the Th2 immune response when needed in combination with the Th1 immune response, facilitate the industrial production of antibodies when used in animals, and study the Th2 immune response in laboratory animal research.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detection and interpretation of loss-of-function or gain-of-function mutations for test genes of interest. The genes of interest include those associated with inherited genetic disorders. The present invention involves the process of obtaining a sample of genetic material from an individual in the form of tissue or cells, separation of the genetic material from the cells of the individuals into haploid sets by transferring the individual chromosomal entities into a population of target cells, and monitoring the target cell population for successful transfer and expression of the test genes of interest using various functional, immunological and structural assays.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the cleavage of serum response factor as it relates to cardiac disease. In specific embodiments, failing cardiac tissue is diagnosed in tissues comprising elevated cleavage of serum response factor. In further specific embodiments, heart failure is associated with cardiac myocyte apoptosis as a result of an increase in cleaved serum response factor, particularly by caspases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the method for treatment, diagnosis and prevention of bone disease and comprises methods including inhibiting or increasing leptin synthesis, leptin receptor synthesis, leptin binding to the leptin receptor, and leptin receptor activity. The invention also relates to screening assays to identify compounds that modulate leptin and/or leptin receptor activity. The invention further relates to gene therapy methods utilizing leptin and leptin-related sequences for the treatment and prevention of bone disease.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a double transgenic fly that expresses both human Tau protein and the human A&bgr;42 peptide of human amyloid-&bgr; precursor protein (APP). The double transgenic flies of the present invention display a synergistic altered phenotype as compared to the altered phenotype displayed by transgenic flies expressing either human Tau or human A&bgr;42 alone. Thus, the flies provide for models of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention further discloses methods for identifying therapeutic compounds to treat neurodegenerative disorders using the double transgenic flies.

Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is a composition for a modified growth hormone releasing hormone (“GHRH”) or functional biological equivalent thereof. Another aspect of the current invention includes a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the modified GHRH or functional biological equivalent. The modified GHRH can be defined as a biologically active polypeptide that was engineered to contain a distinct amino acid sequence while simultaneously having similar or improved biologically activity when compared to a wild-type GHRH (“wt-GHRH”) polypeptide. Another aspect of the current invention includes a method for delivering the composition of this invention to a subject, wherein the modified GHRH increases the level of growth hormone (“GH”) secretion in a subject. The preferred subject is a human or domesticated animal. Additionally, the modified GHRH composition is resistant to degradation when compared to the wt-GHRH.

Abstract: Transgenes driven by naturally occurring cardiac promoters have relatively low levels of cardiac transgenic gene expression, and have consequently limited the use of cardiac muscle as a target for plasmid mediated gene supplementation. However, by randomly assembling motifs of E-box, MEF-2, TEF-1 and SRE elements, cardiac-specific synthetic promoter recombinant libraries have been produced. By screening hundreds of resultant clones for transcriptional activity both in vitro and in vivo, a few cardiac-specific synthetic promoters were discovered comprising a transcriptional potency that greatly exceeds the transcriptional levels obtained from natural myogenic and viral gene promoters. These promoters are used to direct the expression of desirable genes in nucleic acid expression constructs specifically to cardiac cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Drosophila models of the neurodegenerative disorder spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA-1). In particular, the invention relates to transgenic Drosophila which express normal human ataxin-1 or mutant human ataxin-1 with expanded polyglutamine repeats for SCA-1 therapeutics. The invention further relates to the diagnosis of predispositions to developing SCA-1. The invention further relates to methods of using the transgenic Drosophila to screen for therapeutics of SCA-1 and other neurodegenerative disorders. The invention further relates to the identification of modifier genes of the SCA-1 phenotypes produced by overexpression of ataxin-1, for therapeutic and diagnostic uses and for screening for therapeutics of SCA-1 and other neurodegenerative disorders. The invention further relates to the diagnosis of a predisposition to SCA-1 comprising detecting the overexpression of normal ataxin-1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved rotavirus vaccine for man and animals and methods of using them. The invention comprises a method of immunizing humans, particularly children, and animals against rotavirus infections by parenteral immunization. The immunization may be carried out in a series of injections using live or inactivated vaccines, alone or in combination with each other or in combination with a rotavirus subunit vaccine or oral vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention is a dispersive, diffraction grating, NIR spectrometer that automatically calibrates the wavelength scale of the instrument without the need for external wavelength calibration materials. The invention results from the novel combination of: 1) a low power He—Ne laser at right angles to the source beam of the spectrometer; 2) a folding mirror to redirect the collimated laser beam so that it is parallel to the source beam; 3) the tendency of diffraction gratings to produce overlapping spectra of higher orders; 4) a “polka dot” beam splitter to redirect the majority of the laser beam toward the reference detector; 5) PbS detectors and 6) a software routine written in Lab VIEW that automatically corrects the wavelength scale of the instrument from the positions of the 632.8 nm laser line in the spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass (“LBM”), increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into the cells of the subject and allowing expression of the encoded gene to occur while the modified cells are within the subject. For instance, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the subject tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved. Furthermore, external regulation of the GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof gene can be accomplished by utilizing inducible promoters that are regulated by molecular switch molecules, which are given to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting an abnormal condition of a blood pump system based on the power consumption of the pump actuator. By plotting differentiated power consumption of the pump actuator over time against the power consumption, a plot pattern is obtained. A change of the plot pattern area and/or a movement of the plot pattern will indicate a change in condition of the pump. A Heart Pump Area (HPA) index may be established which corresponds to the changing area of the plot pattern over time. A Heart Pump Position (HPP) index may be established which corresponds to the changing position of the plot pattern over time (e.g., corresponding to the distance the plot pattern has moved). By plotting the HPA index against the HPP index, changes in the condition of the pump can be monitored and any abnormal condition of the pump can be detected.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions of an islet cell differentiation transcription factor polypeptide, or any of its homologs or orthologs, as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetes, more specifically insulin-dependent diabetes. The methods and compositions of the present invention provide an increase in glucose tolerance, an increase in insulin, and/or an increase in insulin-producing cells in the host.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to compositions and methods of using the same to cardiovascular disease. The compositions of the present invention are cardiac stem cells that are c-kitneg/CD31+/CD38+ and express telomerase reverse transcriptase.