Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of a novel gene, TMS1, which is transcriptionally silenced as a result of methylation. Nucleic acids and polypeptides are provided as are methods and tools for diagnosing and treating disorders characterized by such methylation, and/or abnormally low levels of TMS1 expression products.

Abstract: This invention related generally to methods of detecting and quantifying biomarkers of oxidative stress in proteins. The biomarker may be any amino acid that has undergone oxidation (or other modification, e.g. chloro-tyrosine, dityrosine). Emphasis is given herein on oxidized sulfur- or selenium-containing amino acids (SSAA). The biomarker of oxidative stress in proteins may be detected with an antibody that binds to oxidized amino acids, specifically oxidized sulfur- or selenium-containing amino acids. The antibody may be monoclonal or polyclonal. The presence of biomarker or amount of biomarker present in a sample may be used to aid in assessing the efficacy of environmental, nutritional and therapeutic interventions, among other uses.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical prodrug compositions are provided comprising azide derivatives of drugs which are capable of being converted to the drug in vivo. Azide derivatives of drugs having amine, ketone and hydroxy substituents are converted in vivo to the corresponding drugs, increasing the half-life of the drugs. In addition azide prodrugs are often better able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier than the corresponding drugs. Especially useful are azide derivatives of cordycepin, 2?-F-ara-ddI, AraA, acyclovir, penciclovir and related drugs. Useful azide prodrugs are azide derivatives of therapeutic alicyclic amines, ketones, and hydroxy-substituted compounds, including aralkyl, heterocyclic aralkyl, and cyclic aliphatic compounds, where the amine or oxygen moiety is on the ring, or where the amine or oxygen moiety is on an aliphatic side chain, as well as therapeutic purines and pyrimidines, nucleoside analogs and phosphorylated nucleoside analogs.

Abstract: The present invention includes compounds and compositions of ?-halonucleosides, as well as methods to treat HIV, HBV or abnormal cellular proliferation comprising administering said compounds or compositions.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of 1,3-oxathiolane nucleosides are provided that include reacting a 5-O-protected-oxymethyl-1,3-oxathiolane with a silylated nucleoside in the presence of (Cl)3Ti(isopropoxide). Using the processes described herein, the compounds can be provided as isolated enantiomers.

Abstract: The present Specification describes materials and methods which provide for improved performance of medical prostheses, including vascular graft material, artificial heart valves, and other implanted materials. The materials comprising bound thrombomodulin or a functionally equivalent derivative protein, provide for fewer undesirable side effects including inflammation, thromboses and neointimal hyperplasia.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for conferring a neuroprotective effect on a population of cells in a subject following a traumatic injury to the central nervous system. Specifically, the methods of the invention provide for the administration of a progestin or progestin metabolite following a traumatic brain injury. The progestin or progestin metabolite is administered at therapeutically effective concentrations that produce a neuroprotective effect (i.e., a decrease in the loss of neuronal activity) and reduces and/or prevents the various physiological events leading to neurodegeneration, such as, cerebral edema and the immune/inflammatory response.

Abstract: mGluR5 antagonists are used for the treatment and prevention of disorders, including Fragile X, autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia and Down's Syndrome. The methods of the invention can be used to treat epilepsy and anxiety in a human having Fragile X syndrome, autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia and Down's Syndrome.

Abstract: mGluR5 antagonists are used for the treatment and prevention of disorders, including Fragile X, autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia and Down's Syndrome. The methods of the invention can be used to treat epilepsy and anxiety in a human having Fragile X syndrome, autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia and Down's Syndrome.

Abstract: A class of 2?-fluoro-nucleoside compounds are disclosed which are useful in the treatment of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C infection, HIV and abnormal cellular proliferation, including tumors and cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of a novel gene, TMS1, which is transcriptionally silenced as a result of methylation. Nucleic acids and polypeptides are provided as are methods and tools for diagnosing and treating disorders characterized by such methylation, and/or abnormally low levels of TMS1 expression products.

Abstract: This invention provides human mtDNA polymorphisms that are diagnostic of all the major human haplogroups and methods of diagnosing those haplogroups and selected subhaplogroups. This invention also provides methods for identifying evolutionarily significant mitochondrial DNA genes, nucleotide alleles, and amino acid alleles. Evolutionarily significant genes and alleles are identified using one or two populations of a single species. The process of identifying evolutionarily significant nucleotide alleles involves identifying evolutionarily significant genes and then evolutionarily significant nucleotide alleles in those genes, and identifying evolutionarily significant amino acid alleles involves identifying amino acids encoded by all nonsynonymous alleles. Synonymous codings of the nucleotide alleles encoding evolutionarily significant amino acid alleles of this invention are equivalent to the evolutionarily significant amino acid alleles disclosed herein and are included within the scope of this invention.

Abstract: Methods for minimizing spasticity in blood vessels during transplantation, in both ex-vivo and in-vivo procedures are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided that allow for high-level expression of a factor VIII polypeptide. More specifically, methods and compositions are provided comprising nucleic acid and amino acid sequences comprising a modified factor VIII that result in high-level expression of the polypeptide. The methods and compositions of the invention find use in the treatment of factor VIII deficiency including, for example, hemophilia A.

Abstract: The present application describes methods for the testing of compounds of potential usefulness as therapeutic antioxidants and/or as therapeutic free radical scavengers. The animal model for testing such compounds is the Sod2CJE homozygous Manganese Superoxide Dismutase-deficient mouse. When pups of these mice are treated with certain antioxidants, they survive past about 7 days of age, and later develop characteristic histological changes and characteristic neurobehavioral disorders. Those treated mice can be further treated with test compounds which may or may not cross the blood brain barrier, and the life span and physical and neurobehavioral characteristics of those mice provide information about the potential utility of the test compound as a therapeutic antioxidant. Phenotypes of the treated mice allow conclusions regarding targeted areas of the brain and thus, applications to particular disorders such as Parkinsonism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to me methods for minimizing spasticity in blood vessels during transplantation and more particularly for minimizing spasticity in arterial transplants, for both ex-vivo and in-vivo procedures. The invention also relates to formulations, which can be used in these methods.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and computer program products for scan plane geometry definition in tomographic data acquisition via an interactive three-dimensional (3-D) graphical operator interface. The apparatuses, methods and computer program products are initially proposed for use in cardiac MRI, but have a much broader area of application. The apparatuses and methods utilize 3-D computer graphics aspect views of slice planes to show a new scan, represented as semi-transparent uniformly-colored planes. Intersections of these planes with opaque texture-mapped gray-level views of previously acquired images enable the orientation of a new scan to be viewed in a much more intuitive fashion. Advantageously, the apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide for more efficient elimination of positional ambiguity that is often associated with conventional 2-D intersection line views.

Abstract: Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions active against HIV are provided, as is a method for the treatment of HIV infection in humans and other host animals is provided comprising administering an effective amount of a ?-L-(2? or 3?-azido)-2?,3?-dideoxy-5-fluorocytosine of the formula wherein R is H, acyl, monophosphate, diphosphate, or triphosphate, or a stabilized phosphate derivative (to form a stabilized nucleotide prodrug), and R? is H, acyl, or alkyl.

Abstract: Compositions and uses of mGluR5 antagonists for the treatment and prevention of neurological disorders, such as Fragile X, autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia and Down's Syndrome, are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for treating an individual with a psychiatric order with a pharmacologic agent that enhances learning or conditioning in combination with a session of psychotherapy are provided. These methods of the invention encompass a variety of methods of psychotherapy, including exposure-based psychotherapy, cognitive psychotherapy, and psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy, and psychiatric orders including fear and anxiety disorders, addictive disorders including substance-abuse disorders, and mood disorders. The pharmacologic agents used for the methods of the present invention are ones that generally enhance learning or conditioning, including those that increase the level of norepinephrine in the brain, those that increase the level of acetylcholine in the brain, and those that enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor transmission in the brain.