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. Screening assays for pharmacological agents that are capable of decreasing polyamine levels and/or reducing cell proliferation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Propargylamine, propargylamine derivatives including N-propargyl-1-aminoindan and analogs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for prevention or treatment of renal failure.

Abstract: All multiple myeloma cell lines examined showed constitutively active I?B kinase (IKK), I?B? phosphorylation and constitutively active NF-?B. Curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, suppressed constitutive I?B? phosphorylation through inhibition of IKK activity and downregulated NF-?B. Curcumin also downregulated expression of NF-?B-regulated gene products such as I?B?, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, cyclin D1 and interleukin-6. Consequently, curcumin suppressed multiple myeloma cell proliferation and arrested cells at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Curcumin also induced apoptosis and chemosensitivity to vincristine. Overall, results presented herein provide a molecular basis for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients with this pharmacologically safe agent.

Abstract: A thermoelastically actuated microresonator device comprising: a main body (14) having a cantilevered beam (12); a heating element (20) located adjacent a surface of the cantilevered beam and adjacent the main body, that may be periodically actuated to generate a periodic heat gradient across a height of the beam, thereby facilitating periodic deflection of the beam.

Abstract: An optical device includes a planar subwavelength grating (10) formed in a dielectric material and having a laterally varying, continuous grating vector. When used to modulate a beam of laterally uniform polarized electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, the device passes the incident beam with a predetermined, laterally varying transmissivity and/or retardation. When used to effect polarization state transformation, the device transforms a beam of electromagnetic radiation incident thereon into a transmitted beam having a predetermined, laterally varying polarization state. The device (214) can be used to provide radially polarized electromagnetic radiation for accelerating subatomic particles or for cutting a workpiece. The device (108) also can be used, in conjuction with a mechanism for measuring the lateral variation of the intensity of the transmitted beam, for measuring all four Stokes parameters that define the polarization state of the incident beam.

Abstract: The present invention discloses development of a model live vaccine for HIV, using an attenuated strain of Salmonella engineered to surface express specific HIV proteins and testing of this vaccine in mice. There are provided two recombinant plasmids, containing the Lpp-OmpA genes required for surface exposure, followed by the genes for the HIV-1 proteins, Reverse Transcriptase or Transactivating protein (Tat). These plasmids are electroporated into an attenuated strain of Salmonella, and antigen expression is verified. These live vaccines are then used to orally inoculate mice and the vaccinated mice are tested for fecal IgA response and helper T cell response specific for the HIV antigens.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the topography of a thin film having a front surface and a back surface. The method comprises: irradiating the film with an incident coherent or partially coherent light beam so as to get two reflected beams, the first reflected beam being reflected from the front surface of the film, and the second beam being reflected from the back surface of the film; creating an interferometric image from a united beam comprising the two reflected beams and a reference beam, the reference beam originating from the incident beam, and made to be substantially parallel to the two reflected beams. The reference beam acquires a phase shift. The interferometric image is created the interference between a combined beam comprising the reference beam and the second reflected beam, and the first reflected beam, thus acquiring information on the topography of the film, that cannot be acquired using the two reflected beams alone.

Abstract: Derivatized cucurbiturils can be efficiently prepared and utilized for forming cucurbituril assemblies. These cucurbituril assemblies, in turn, can form affinity binding pairs with polyamines structures that are designed capable of binding to these assemblies. The resulting affinity pairs are highly advantageous over the presently known affinity pairs and therefore can be efficiently utilized in a myriad of application. Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cucurbituril comprising at least one functional group covalently attached hereto, whereby the at least one functional group being for forming an assembly of at least two cucurbiturils. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the cucurbituril is selected from the group consisting of CB[5], CB[6], CB[7], CB[8] and CB[n], wherein n is an integer that equals to or is lower than 20.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotides encoding Type I ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) and analogs of the RIPs having a cysteine available for disulfide bonding to targeting molecules. Vectors comprising the polynucleotides and host cells transformed with the vectors are also provided. The RIPs and RIP analogs are particularly suited for use as components of cytotoxic therapeutic agents of the invention which include gene fusion products and immunoconjugates. Cytotoxic therapeutic agents or immunotoxins according to the present invention may be used to selectively eliminate any cell type to which the RIP component is targeted by the specific binding capacity of the second component of the agent, and are suited for treatment of diseases where the elimination of a particular cell type is a goal, such as autoimmune disease, cancer and graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract: Propargylamine, propargylamine derivatives including N-propargyl-1-aminoindan, enantiomers and analogs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disorders, diseases and conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treatment of adenoviral mediated disease, improved methods for transducing cells with adenoviral and related vectors, and improved methods of gene therapy utilizing such methods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns chimeric cancer therapeutic molecules comprising a targeting moiety and an anti-cell proliferation moiety. The anti-cell proliferation moiety may comprise a cytotoxic agent or an apoptosis-inducing factor, in specific embodiments. In particular embodiments, the anti-cell proliferation mechanism of the chimeric molecules comprises apoptotic pathways. In additional embodiments, the chimeric molecules of the present invention provide sensitivity to chemotherapy in a cell that is resistant to the chemotherapy.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of cyclobuta aromatic compounds by cyclizing two ortho dibromoalkyl substituents is described. Using a mediator, such as nickel metal, and continuous removal of product from contact with the mediator, high product yields are achieved. A method for bromination of ortho alkyl substituents of aromatic compounds is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining 3-Dimensional data of a geometric body for matching, and particularly for use in facial matching, comprises a three dimensional scanner for obtaining three-dimensional topographical data of the body, a triangulator for receiving or forming said data into a triangulated manifold, a geodesic converter, for converting the triangulated manifold into a series of geodesic distances between pairs of points of the manifold, and a multi-dimensional scaler, for forming a low dimensional Euclidean representation of the series of geodesic distances, to give a bending invariant representation of the geometric body. In one variant, matching is carried out by taking the principle eigenvalues from the representation and plotting as co-ordinates in a feature space. Tilted or different expression versions of the same face tend to form clusters in the feature space allowing for matching. The apparatus preferably uses the fast marching method for the triangulated domain to obtain the geodesic distances.

Abstract: A VEGF145 polypeptide devoid of a VEGFR-1 binding activity and methods of making and using same in preventing and/or treating restenosis are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to genetically engineered, membrane-enveloped viruses with deletion mutations in the protein transmembrane domains. Also provided are viral vaccines based on the engineered viruses, methods of producing and using such vaccines.

Abstract: Novel iron chelators exhibiting neuroprotective and good transport properties are useful in iron chelation therapy for treatment of a disease, disorder or condition associated with iron overload and oxidative stress, eg. a neurodegenerative or cerebrovascular disease or disorder, a neoplastic disease, hemochromatosis, thalassemia, a cardiovascular disease, diabetes, a inflammatory disorder, anthracycline cardiotoxicity, a viral infection, a protozoal infection, a yeast infection, retarding ageing, and prevention and/or treatment of skin ageing and skin protection against sunlight and/or UV light. The iron chelator function is provided by a 8-hydroxyquinoline, a hydroxypyridinone or a hydroxamate moiety, the neuroprotective function is imparted to the compound e.g. by a neuroprotective peptide, and a combined antiapoptotic and neuroprotective function by a propargyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides lentiviral vectors that are useful in human gene therapy for inherited or acquired proliferative ocular disease. It furnishes methods to exploit the ability of lentiviral vectors to transduce both mitotically active and inactive cells so that eye diseases may be treated.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compounds of the following formula: wherein when a is 0, b is 1 or 2; when a is 1, b is 1, m is from 0-3, X is O or S, Y is halogeno, R1 is hydrogen C1-4 alkyl, R2 is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, or optionally substituted propargyl and R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C6-12 aryl, C6-12 aralkyl each optionally substituted. This invention is also directed to the use of these compounds for treating depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette's Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia's such as senile dementia, dementia of the Parkinson's type, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia. This invention is further directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the above-defined compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.