Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for the selective ablation of pain-sensing neurons. The methods comprise administration of a vanilloid receptor agonist to a ganglion in an amount that causes death of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of controlling pain and inflammatory disorders that involve activation of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons.

Abstract: The invention stems from the discovery that sFRP and fragments thereof can bind to members of the Wnt family of proteins and cause an increase in Wnt biological activity. Furthermore, fragments of sFRP that do not contain the CRD domain are shown to bind to Wnt proteins and modulate Wnt biological activity. Accordingly, the invention provides these sFRP fragments and variants of these fragments, as well as vectors and host cells containing nucleic acid sequences encoding the sFRP fragments and variants.

Abstract: Mesothelin is a differentiation antigen present on the surface of ovarian cancers, mesotheliomas and several other types of human cancers. Because among normal tissues, mesothelin is only present on mesothelial cells, it represents a good target for antibody mediated delivery of cytotoxic agents. The present invention is directed to anti-mesothelin antibodies, including Fv molecules with particularly high affinity for mesothelin, and immunoconjugates employing them. Also described are diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the antibodies. The anti-mesothelin antibodies are well-suited for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the ovary, stomach, squamous cells, mesotheliomas and other malignant cells expressing mesothelin.

Abstract: An O-GlcNAcase-specific inhibitor and substrate are engineered by the extension of the N-Acetyl Moiety of O-(2-acet-amido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc). The reagent substrate includes a fluorophor and the inhibitor. This reagent substrate is for high-throughput analysis of O-GlcNAcase within cellular assays and imaging agent for the in vivo analysis of O-GlcNAcase.

Abstract: Methods for identifying modulators of a male germ cell-specific glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDHS) are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for screening potential modulators for an ability to modulate biological functions of a GAPDHS polypeptide.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for occluding the lumen of a hollow organ by delivering radiofrequency energy to the inner wall of a hollow organ. The disclosure includes radiofrequency electrodes that expand, in a deployed condition, to contact the walls of the organ. In some embodiments, the electrodes substantially conform to the inner wall to enhance therapeutic contact. Methods are also disclosed for using these electrodes to totally or partially occlude a lumen, or remove or reduce a total or partial occlusion of a lumen.

Abstract: Structure-activity methods based on molecular descriptors that are a combination of structural information about the through-space and through-bond relationships between components of a molecule's structure and spectral data attributable to those components are disclosed. In some embodiments, a molecule is described by multiple sets of such descriptors to account for flexibility in the structure of the molecule. In a particularly disclosed embodiment, predicted 13C—13C COSY data and 13C—13C distance data are used as descriptors. Models of molecular properties may be established using the disclosed spectral data-activity methods and used to predict the properties of molecules.