Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the parenteral delivery of a medication, such as a drug. The device includes upper and lower housings in which the upper housing is configured to move relative to the lower housing as a result of application of an external force to permit the user of the device to control the rate at which the drug is administered.

Abstract: A one vial method for labeling a protein, such as an antibody or antibody fragment, with a radiometal such as Tc-99m or a rhenium isotope, is disclosed. The method comprises contacting in a single vial a mixture comprised of a reducing agent and a protein molecule covalently bound to a sulfhydryl containing bifunctional coupling agent with Tc or Re in an oxidized state. A one vial kit for labeling a protein with Tc or Re is also disclosed.

Abstract: Protein conjugates comprising a protein covalently linked to at least one positively charged agent, so that the protein conjugate has an overall net positive charge in aqueous conditions at physiological pH are disclosed. The positively charged agents comprise polymers of three or more subunits selected from the group consisting of amino acids containing positively charged side chains and alkylamines. These protein conjugates have decreased blood clearance rates compared to conjugates which do not have the positively charged agents. The protein conjugates may further comprise diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides bound to the protein or the positively charged agent through bifunctional coupling agents.

Abstract: A bifunctional coupling agent for joining a sulfhydryl containing protein or peptide and a metallic radionuclide comprising a sulfhydryl selective electrophile, a chelator containing at least one protected thiol and a organic linking radical containing at least one cleavable site which serves to join said electrophile and said chelator is disclosed. A radiodiagnostic or radiotherapeutic precursor comprising an antibody or antibody fragment and the specified bifunctional coupling agent bound to a sulfhydryl group on the antibody or antibody fragment and a radiodiagnostic or radiotherapeutic agent comprising such precursor having a metallic radionuclide bound thereto are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bifunctional chelating agent for joining an antibody or antibody fragment and a metallic radionuclide is disclosed. The agent consists of a derivative of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid or a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid, an organic linking radical which optionally contains a cleavable group, and a function capable of reacting with a site on a protein. Radiodiagnostic or radiotherapeutic precursors comprising an antibody or antibody fragment and the above-described bifunctional chelating agent and radiodiagnostic or radiotherapeutic agent comprising a metallic radionuclide and the above mentioned precursor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A virus-free assay to identify agents that interfere with the life cycle of HIV which comprises: (1) expressing in mammalian cells in the presence or absence of one or more of said agents, HIV gp120, the gene product of HIV tat, the gene product of HIV art/trs, all under the control of an HIV LTR promoter, and a control protein, not under the control of the HIV LTR promoter, such that infectious HIV particles are not produced; (2) quantitating the amount of the gp120 produced relative to the amount of control protein produced; and (3) comparing the relative amount of the gp120 produced in the presence of said one or more agents to the relative amount of the gp120 produced in the absence of said one or more agents.