Abstract: Methods and compositions suitable for modulating angiogenesis in a mammalian tissue are provided. Further provided are methods suitable for inhibiting metastasis and fibrosis in a mammalian tissue.

Abstract: The present invention describes the incorporation of liposomal gene constructs directly into a wound to further improve wound repair, or into wound coverage and/or closure materials to enhance the functionality of the material. The present invention further describes the use of human fetal membranes (e.g., amnion) enhanced with the liposomal gene therapy as a wound coverage material in full-thickness wound repair. The enhanced fetal membranes or enhanced cadaver skin have advantages over currently used materials lacking the liposomal gene construct and are an efficient and safe approach to improve clinical outcome in patients with burn injuries.

Abstract: A method of identifying interactions between polypeptides is provided. The method is effected by: (a) expressing in a cell substantially lacking Ras activity: (i) a first polynucleotide, encoding a first polypeptide being capable of interacting with a plasmalemma of the cell; and (ii) a second polynucleotide encoding a second polypeptide fused to a cytoplasmic Ras mutant, the cytoplasmic Ras mutant being capable of the Ras activity if mobilized to the plasmalemma of the cell; and (b) detecting a presence or absence of the Ras activity in the cell, the Ras activity being indicative of a possible interaction between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.

Abstract: Intravascular apparatus and method for locally treating a patient's blood vessel, are provided. The apparatus includes an implanted carrier (2) for insertion into the vessel; and a biologically active agent (8) immobilized to the carrier (2), said biologically active agent (8) reacting with a first substance to produce a second substance. The second substance is preferably a therapeutic agent, such as nitric oxide, for locally treating the vessel. The biologically active agent (8) is preferably an enzyme such as nitrogen oxide synthase, and the first substance is preferably arginine introduced to the patient's body as part of a diet. According to another embodiment, the biologically active agent (8) is a catalytic antibody and the first substance is a prodrug. Alternatively, the biologically active agent (8) is a ribozyme.

Abstract: The 28-kDa outer membrane proteins (P28) of Ehrlichia chaffeensis are encoded by a multigene family consisting of 21 members located in a 23-kb DNA fragment in the genome of E. chaffeensis. Fifteen of these proteins are claimed herein as novel sequences. The amino acid sequence identity of the various P28 proteins was 20-83%. Six of 10 tested p28 genes were actively transcribed in cell culture grown E. chaffeensis. RT-PCR also indicated that each of the p28 genes was monocistronic. These results suggest that the p28 genes are active genes and encode polymorphic forms of the P28 proteins. The P28s were also divergent among different isolates of E. chaffeensis. The large repertoire of the p28 genes in a single ehrlichial organism and antigenic diversity of the P28 among the isolates of E. chaffeensis suggest that the P28s may be involved in immune avoidance.

Abstract: Ricin A-chain is an N-glycosidase that attacks ribosomal RNA at a highly conserved adenine residue. Crystallographic studies show that not only adenine and formycin, but also pterin-based rings can bind in the ricin active site. For a better understanding of the recognition mode between ricin, and adenine-like rings, the interaction energies and geometries were calculated for a number of complexes. Shiga toxin, a compound essentially identical to the protein originally isolated from Shigella dysenteniae, has an active protein chain that is a homologue of the ricin active chain, and catalyzes the same depurination reaction. The present invention is drawn to identifying inhibitors of ricin and Shiga toxin, using methods molecular mechanics and ab initio methods and using the identified inhibitors as antidotes to ricin or Shiga toxin, or to facilitate immunotoxin treatment by controlling non-specific cytotoxicity.

Abstract: A highly conserved active site helix present within the P-450 superfamily of proteins is found also in monoamine oxidase (MAO) B, a major enzyme that catalyzes deamination of neuro- and vaso-active amines in the nervous system of mammals. Mutation within the conserved region of the MAO B enzyme directly reduces MAO B's activity and alters its pH profile, which allows for indirect regulation of the cellular neurotransmitters and vasoamines.

Abstract: The present invention discloses transgenic mice with inactivating mutations in the endogenous gene for the acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Inactivation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 results in mice exhibiting a phenotype of reduced malonyl-CoA levels in skeletal muscle and heart, unrestricted fat oxidation, and reduced fat accumulation in the liver and fat storage cells. As a result, the mice consume more food but accumulate less fat and remain leaner than wild type mice fed the same diet. These results demonstrate that inhibition of ACC2 acetyl-CoA carboxylase could be used to regulate fat oxidation and accumulation for purposes of weight control. The transgenic mice of the instant invention provide a useful animal model to identify such inhibitors and for studying the mechanisms of fat metabolism and weight control.

Abstract: A new process for the preparation of corroles, having the structure of formula I below relies on a solvent-free condensation of an aldehyde with a pyrrole. Further disclosed are several new corroles, salts, optically active isomers and complexes thereof synthesized using the process.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides novel saponin mixtures and compounds which are isolated from the species Acacia victoriae and methods for their use. These compounds may contain a triterpene moiety, such as acacic or oleanolic acid, to which oligosaccharides and monoterpenoid moieties are attached. The mixtures and compounds have properties related to the regulation of apoptosis and cytotoxicity of cells and exhibit potent anti-tumor effects against a variety of tumor cells.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of 1-aminoindan and their salts are described. Optically active 1-aminoindan derivatives are prepared by reacting a N-benzyl analog of the desired compound with an enantiomer of mandelic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides novel saponin mixtures and compounds which are isolated from the species Acacia victoriae and methods for their use. These compounds may contain a triterpene moiety, such as acacic or oleanolic acid, to which oligosaccharides and monoterpenoid moieties are attached. The mixtures and compounds have properties related to the regulation of apoptosis and cytotoxicity of cells and exhibit potent anti-tumor effects against a variety of tumor cells.

Abstract: There is provided a process for etching a semiconductor material, comprising the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell containing an etching electrolyte, the etching electrolyte being selected from the group of acidic electrolyte solutions, alkaline solutions, neutral solutions, and molten electrolytes; immersing the semiconductor material in the etching electrolyte, whereby at least one surface of the semiconductor material contacts the etching electrolyte; thereafter negatively biasing the semiconductor material; and while continuing to negatively bias the semiconductor material, illuminating at least part of the at least one surface of the semiconductor material which contacts the etching electrolyte with light selected from the group of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. There is also provided an apparatus for effecting the process of the invention, as well as semiconductor materials so etched.

Abstract: The invention provides novel saponin mixtures and compounds which are isolated from the species Acacia victoriae and methods for their use. These compounds may contain a triterpene moiety, such as acacic or oleanolic acid, to which oligosaccharides and monoterpenoid moieties are attached. The mixtures and compounds have properties related to the regulation of apoptosis and cytotoxicity of cells and exhibit potent anti-tumor effects against a variety of tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses transgenic mice with inactivating mutations in the endogenous gene for the acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Inactivation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 results in mice exhibiting a phenotype of reduced malonyl-CoA levels in skeletal muscle and heart, unrestricted fat oxidation, and reduced fat accumulation in the liver and fat storage cells. As a result, the mice consume more food but accumulate less fat and remain leaner than wild type mice fed the same diet. These results demonstrate that inhibition of ACC2 acetyl-CoA carboxylase could be used to regulate fat oxidation and accumulation for purposes of weight control. The transgenic mice of the instant invention provide a useful animal model to identify such inhibitors and for studying the mechanisms of fat metabolism and weight control.

Abstract: A method of efficiently extracting the pull-in parameters of an electrostatically activated actuator. The actuator is modeled as an elastic element. For each of a plurality of deformations of the elastic element, a corresponding voltage is calculated. The highest such voltage is the pull-in voltage of the actuator. The corresponding deformation is the pull-in deformation of the actuator. Each deformation is defined by fixing a displacement of one degree of freedom of the elastic body and calculating corresponding equilibrium displacements of all the other degrees of freedom without the application of any external mechanical forces to ensure equilibrium. The actuator is altered to optimize whichever pull-in parameter is relevant to the desired application of the actuator.

Abstract: An immuno-molecule which comprises a soluble human MHC class I effector domain; and an antibody targeting domain which is linked to the soluble human MHC class I effector domain, methods of making same and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosaftey and promoters such as the EF1&agr; promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs.

Abstract: A recombinant polypeptide and nucleic acid constructs capable of expressing the recombinant polypeptide are provided. The recombinant polypeptide comprises a chimeric polypeptide including an antigenic peptide being capable of binding a human MHC class I, a functional human &bgr;-2 microglobulin and a functional human MHC class I heavy chain.