Abstract: An antibody fragment and methods of utilizing same are provided. The antibody fragment includes an antigen binding region capable of binding an extracellular portion of a P-glycoprotein thereby at least partially inhibiting drug efflux activity in multidrug resistant cells.

Abstract: A complementary logic circuit contains a first logic input, a second logic input, a first dedicated logic terminal, a second dedicated logic terminal, a first logic block, and a second logic block. The first logic block consists of a network of p-type transistors for implementing a predetermined logic function. The p-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection. The outer diffusion connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first dedicated logic terminal, and the first network gate connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first logic input. The second logic block consists of a network of n-type transistors which implements a logic function complementary to the logic function implemented by the first logic block. The n-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection.

Abstract: A cell culture comprising human foreskin cells, the human foreskin cells being capable of maintaining stem cells in an undifferentiated state when co-cultured therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting growth of lung metastases in an individual comprising the steps of administering a dose of a lipid-drug enhancer liposomal complex and, in sequence, administering a dose of a lipid-anticancer drug liposomal complex. Furthermore, the lipid-drug enhancer liposomal complex may be administered in a continuing dose with the lipid-anticancer drug liposomal complex whereby both liposomal complexes are mixed in the nebulizer. Methods of inhibiting growth of lung metastases in an individual by the sequential administration via aerosolization of a dilauroylphosphatidylcholine-cyclosporin A liposomal complex and a dilauroylphosphatidylcholine-paclitaxel liposomal complex are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods of reducing the antigenicity of a proteinaceous compound while maintaining the compounds biological activity, as well as proteinaceous compositions with biological activity but reduced antigenicity. These methods and compositions have significant benefits to a subject in need of such compounds and compositions. Also included are modified toxin compounds that are truncated and/or possess reduce antigenicity. Such designer toxins have therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventative benefits, particularly as immunotoxins. Methods of treating cancer using these immunotoxins are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining an antioxidant deficiency in a lymphocyte by determining the level of intracellular cysteine in the lymphocyte by measuring lymphocyte growth in a serum-free cell culture medium comprising cumene hydroperoxide and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), whereby any antioxidant deficiency correlates with lymphocyte growth in such a cell culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating polyamine pathway activity as a means for ameliorating neurodegenarative disorders. In particular, for ameliorating the symptoms or onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by modulating the gene and protein products involved the polyamine pathway, such as by inhibiting the enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), involved in the synthesis of the polyamine, putrescine. Compositions and methods are disclosed for inhibiting the polyamine pathway producing lower polyamine levels resulting in a beneficial effect on ALS. This can be accomplished by using modulating agents such as analogs, or polyamine analogs, and antiproliferative drugs. In particular, the ODC inhibitor difuoromethylornithine (DFMO) is disclosed as a useful pharmacological agent in the modulation and treatment of ALS. Screening assays for pharmacological agents that are capable of decreasing polyamine levels and/or reducing cell proliferation are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that mitochondrial DNA damage occurs prior to, or simultaneous with, atherosclerotic lesion development, that aortic mitochondrial DNA damage increases with age, and that genotype and diet both influence the level of mitochondrial DNA damage. Hence, the present invention demonstrates that mitochondrial DNA damage occurs early in atherosclerosis, and may be an initiating event in atherogenesis, and provides methods to predict coronary atherosclerotic heart disease based upon the amount of mitochondrial DNA damage.

Abstract: A cell culture comprising human foreskin cells, the human foreskin cells being capable of maintaining stem cells in an undifferentiated state when co-cultured therewith.

Abstract: A human urocortin-related peptide with significant sequence homology to the CRF neuropeptide family was identified. A mouse CDNA was isolated from whole brain poly (A+) RNA that encodes a predicted 38 amino acid peptide protein designated herein as urocortin II. Both human URP and mouse Ucn II are structurally related to the other known mammalian family members, CRF and urocortin (Ucn). These peptides are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis under basal and stress conditions, suggesting a similar role for URP and Ucn IL Synthesized Ucn-II and URP peptide binds with higher affinity to CRF-R2 than to CRF-R1 Ucn II and human URP appear to be involved in the regulation of body temperature and appetite and may play a role in other stress related phenomenon. These findings identify Ucn II and human URP as a new members of the CRF family of neuropeptides, which are expressed centrally and bind to CRF-R2.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus and other autoimmune diseases by administering a soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) peptide or a variant thereof to an individual having such disease. The SIRS peptide or variant reduces the severity of or frequency of relapse of multiple sclerosis and reduces the inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: There is provided a simplified and inexpensive method for the in-vitro identification, isolation and culture of human vasculogenic progenitor cells. The method and the progenitor cells isolated thereby can be used for in-vitro vascular engineering, treatment of congenital and acquired vascular and hematological abnormalities, for evaluation and development of drugs affecting vasculo- and angiogenic processes, and for further investigation into tissue differentiation and development.

Abstract: A graphical data-compressor for compressing received arbitrary graphical data for subsequent transmission; where the graphical data-compressor comprises an input for receiving the received arbitrary graphical data, the input being linked to an analyzer for analysis of the received arbitrary graphical data into constituent geometrical parts, the analyzer being linked to an analytic scene describer, for description of said constituent geometrical parts as an analytic description of the received arbitrary graphical data, the analytic scene describer being linked to a transmitter, the transmitter being for transmission of the analytic description.

Abstract: A 3D scanning device comprises: a digital light encoding unit comprising a digital micromirror device for encoding a rapidly changing shape signal onto a light beam directed to an object, a shape of said signal being selected such that distortions thereof by a contoured object reveal three-dimensional information of said contour; a detector synchronized with said digital light processing unit for detecting reflections of said light beam from said object, and a decoder for determining a 3D shape of said object from distortions of said signal in said detected reflections.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the applications of a novel cytokine, named THANK, for TNF homologue that activates apoptosis, NF-?B and c-jun N-terminal kinase. Such applications include using THANK inhibitors to inhibit the activation of NF-?B and to treat a pathological condition caused by the activation of NF-?B. Also provided is a method of inhibiting growth of a wide variety of tumor cells by administering THANK protein.

Abstract: An apparatus for the generation of anionic and neutral particulate beams is described. The apparatus comprises a duct defined by walls having an inner surface capable of sustaining a temperature above an electron emission temperature of the surface, so as to negatively charge electrically neutral particles being passed through the duct when the surface is heated to the temperature; a heating element for heating the inner surface to the temperature; and an acceleration electrode for ion-optically controlling and manipulating the negatively charged particles into the anion beam. The apparatus may further comprise a protection electrode defining a protected region, which substantially prevent emitted electrons from escaping the protected region. Moreover, a system for analyzing substances ejected from a surface of a sample bombarded with an anion beam generated by the apparatus is described. The system further comprises a detector for detecting the substances once ejected of the surface.

Abstract: Cleavage site for the protease furin is inserted between domains of a membrane glycoprotein. Upon cleavage by furin in the trans-Golgi network, the protein is separated into individual membrane-free domain that retains its native conformation. This protocol can be used to produce virus membrane protein domains for structural analysis and for trials as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of agents that induce high levels of cell surface molecules to provide targets for immunotoxins directed against the same cell surface molecules. A specific example is given in which all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is used to induce high levels of CD38 cell surface antigen expression in several myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cells. CD38 was then used as target for delivering plant toxin (gelonin) to leukemia cells. Treatment of leukemia cells with RA induced high levels of CD38 in those cells that otherwise had low CD38 expression. The RA-induced leukemia cells then became exquisitely sensitive to an immunotoxin constructed from an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the plant toxin gelonin.

Abstract: A human urocortin-related peptide with significant sequence homology to the CRF neuropeptide family was identified. A mouse cDNA was isolated from whole brain poly (A+) RNA that encodes a predicted 38 amino acid peptide protein designated herein as urocortin II. Both human URP and mouse Ucn II are structurally related to the other known mammalian family members, CRF and urocortin (Ucn). These peptides are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis under basal and stress conditions, suggesting a similar role for URP and Ucn II. Synthesized Ucn-II and URP peptide binds with higher affinity to CRF-R2 than to CRF-R1 Ucn II and human URP appear to be involved in the regulation of body temperature and appetite and may play a role in other stress related phenomenon. These findings identify Ucn II and human URP as a new members of the CRF family of neuropeptides, which are expressed centrally and bind to CRF-R2.

Abstract: A method of coloring a plurality of cells using a predetermined fill-color, the cells occupying a region in a grid of cells thereby defining a plurality of region-cells, the method comprising: (a) dividing the grid into a plurality of elementary-regions, each comprising at least one cell; (b) visiting one elementary-region at a time and determining, for each cell of the elementary-region, whether the cell is a region-cell; (c) writing color data in at least one region-cell of each elementary-region using a color selected from a color-space so as to store information in the elementary-region, the information directing a backtracking path in the region, thereby providing a mapped elementary-region; and (d) using the information for visiting all the mapped elementary-regions along the backtracking path and for writing color data using the fill-color in each region-cell of each of the mapped elementary-region along the backtracking path; thereby coloring all the region-cells by the fill-color.