Abstract: A medical face mask comprising a central transparent portion, an outer filter portion and, optionally, one or more antimicrobial agents is described.

Abstract: 4-O esters of podophyllotoxin and 4?-demethylepipodophyllotoxin are provided. The compounds are 4-O esters of an alkanoic acid or substituted alkanoic acid and podophyllotoxin and 4?-demethylepipodophyllotoxin. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: Methods of determining the likelihood of the re-occurrence of tumors and of determining the aggressiveness of post-surgical treatment are provided which rely on analysis of a loss of heterogeneity at the particular chromosomal locus 3p24.3. Loss of expression or hypermethylation of the thyroid hormone receptor ?1 gene is also predictive of an increased re-occurrence of tumors.

Abstract: (20) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20) esters of an aminoalkanoic acid or an imidoalkanoic acid and homocamptothecin, which is optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the homocamptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: (20S) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20S) esters of an aminoalkanoic acid or an imidoalkanoic acid and camptothecin, which is optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the camptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: A panel of biomarkers has been identified for analysis of colorectal cancer. The panel, originally identified using a mouse colon cancer model, has been used to assess changes in human tissue from surgical and biopsy samples against a normal human control panel of biomarkers. The panel may be used for providing a cost effective, rapid, noninvasive procedure for risk assessment, early diagnosis, establishing prognosis, monitoring patient treatment, detecting relapse, and for the discovery of therapeutic intervention of colorectal cancer.

Abstract: (20S) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20S) esters of an aminoalkanoic acid or an imidoalkanoic acid and camptothecin, which is optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the camptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: Certain N-deacetylcolchicine and N-deacetylthiocolchine derivatives are described wherein the 7-N position on the B ring is substituted with the group —C(O)—(CHR4)m—AR, wherein m is an integer of 0-10, A is S, O, N or a covalent bond; R1 is substituted phenyl or substituted benzoyl; optionally substituted cycloalkyl of 3-7 carbons; optionally substituted naphtyl; an optionally substituted imide ring; an optionally substituted 5 or 6 member heterocycle with at least one N, S, or O in the ring; or an optionally substituted fused heterocyclic or fused carboxyclic ring system; R2 (at the 2-position of the A ring) is methoxy, hydroxy, or methylenedioxy when taken together with R3; R3 (at the 3-position of the A ring) is methoxy, hydroxy, a monosaccharide radical, or is methylenedioxy when taken together with R2; and R4 is H or is H or methyl when m is 1. Also dimers of such compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods for determining the likelihood that benign hyperplastic breast tissue or normal breast tissue adjacent to carcinoma tissue will become malignant. The methods comprise substantially isolating the tissue; and determining loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 3p24 in the tissue. LOH at chromosome 3p24 is a prognostic indicator that the tissue may become malignant.

Abstract: Novel nitroimidazole compounds are provided that have a substituent linked via an ester linkage. The ester linkage may be obtained by derivation of the hydroxyl group of metronidazole. These nitroimidazole ester analogs have anti-microbial activity, with a number of novel compounds having an anti-microbial activity that is significantly improved with respect to metronidazole.

Abstract: (20S) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20S) esters of an aminoalkanoic acid or an imidoalkanoic acid and camptothecin, which is optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the camptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: (20S) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20S) esters of an oxyalkanoic acid and camptothecin, which is optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the camptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: New methods are disclosed for detecting cancer associated genes, and obtaining corresponding cDNA fragments. The methods involve supplying RNA preparations from control cells, and from a plurality of different cancer cells that share a duplicated or deleted gene in the same region of a chromosome. Amplified cDNA copies are displayed, and then selected based on differences in abundance of RNA between preparations. Optional additional screening steps involve surveying panels of cancer cells using the cDNA for RNA overabundance with or without gene duplication. By applying these methods, cDNA sequences derived from four novel genes associated with breast cancer were obtained and characterized. Each of the genes was duplicated in about 60% of the cancer cell lines tested; while other cells showed RNA overabundance without gene duplication. Genes with these properties are particularly useful in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: cDNA sequences derived from four novel genes associated with breast cancer are provided. In over about 60% of the cancer cell lines tested, RNA hybridizing with the cDNAs were substantially more abundant than in normal cells. Most of the cell lines also showed a duplication of the corresponding gene, which probably contributed to the increased level of RNA in the cell. However, for each of the four genes, there were some cell lines which had RNA overabundance without gene duplication. This suggests that the gene product is sufficiently important to the cancer process that cells will use several alternative mechanisms to achieve increased expression. The polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies provided by this invention are expected to be particularly useful in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Also provided is a general method for obtaining cDNA with similar properties that may be associated with breast cancer and other malignancies.

Abstract: The invention features a purified hyaluronidase BH55 polypeptide isolated from a mammalian species, preferably bovine or human. The invention also features DNA encoding BH55, vectors and transformed host cells containing DNA encoding BH55, the methods of making BH55 hyaluronidase polypeptides, and the antibodies that specifically bind BH55.

Abstract: (20S) esters of camptothecin analogs are provided. The compounds are (20S) esters of an oxyalkanoic acid and camptothecin, which is are optionally substituted at the 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 positions of the camptothecin ring. The compounds are useful for treating cancer.