Abstract: A method for diagnosing an increased risk for a disease characterized by a dysfunctional melatonin-signaling path-way in an animal comprising detecting the presence or absence of at least one impairment in melatonin-signaling pathway in at least one of the animal's cells, wherein the presence of at least one impairment in melatonin-signaling pathway indicates that the animal possesses an increased risk of developing said disease, and a method of screening for a compound useful in the treatment of a disease characterized by a dysfunctional melatonin-signaling pathway, said method comprising the steps of contacting a candidate compound with at least one cell expressing at least one melatonin-signaling pathway impairment, wherein the candidate compound is selected if said melatoninsignaling pathway impairment is reduced in the presence of the candidate compound as compared to that in the absence thereof.

Abstract: Isolated spastin genes and fragments thereof, as well as Spastin proteins and fragments thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are altered forms of spastin, as well as methods for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of optimizing therapeutic efficacy and reducing toxicity associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. The method of the invention includes the step of determining the level of one or more 6-mercaptopurine metabolites in the patient having an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder.

Abstract: A mobile dynamic implantable spinal apparatus comprising at least one fixed bracket secured on a correcting rod and at least one mobile carrier slidably mounted on the correcting rod. The fixed bracket and the mobile carrier each include a body and a pedicle screw or a transverse process hook articulated to the body. The distribution of the degrees of freedom between the carrier and the rod, and the pedicle screws or hooks and the carrier and the fixed bracket provide a non-rigid assembly which preserves some of the natural mobility of the vertebrae and disk, and the potential growth of the spinal column.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of optimizing therapeutic efficacy and reducing toxicity associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. The method of the invention includes the step of determining the level of one or more 6-mercaptopurine metabolites in the patient having an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of optimizing therapeutic efficacy and reducing toxicity associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. The method of the invention includes the step of determining the level of one or more 6-mercaptopurine metabolites in the patient having an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA sequence for the human cytidine deaminase that has been engineered into an eukaryotic expression vector, thereby permitting cytidine deaminase expression in mammalian cells. Cytidine deaminase expression confers resistance to cytosine nucleoside analogs, such as cytosine arabinoside, and can be used as a positive selectable marker. The expression of cytidine deaminase in cells protects them from the toxic effects of cytosine nucleoside analogs. Such a resistance provides applications for gene therapy of malignant, immune and viral diseases. A bacterial expression vector containing the gene can be used to produce cytidine deaminase in large quantities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of G-protein-coupled receptor antagonists which bind to the intracellular molecular interface between the receptor and the G-protein, thus hampering signal transduction. The present invention describes peptide sequences derived from the prostaglandin receptor F.sub.2.alpha. and the G-protein, G.alpha.q protein, produced by molecular biology techniques or chemical synthesis, as selective inhibitors of signal transduction involved in the stimulation of this receptor. Such peptides or molecules derived from their primary, secondary and tertiary structures may be used as effective tocolytics for the prevention of premature labor or be utilized for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosis or prognosis of tumor cells in a patient displaying a mutator phenotype in the tumor which comprises the steps of: a) obtaining a genomic DNA sample of the tumor; b) obtaining a genomic DNA sample of a tumor-free tissue of the patient; subjecting the DNA samples of steps a) and b) to amplification using primers which are flanking repeat pattern affected by a mutator phenotype or cold inter-Alu PCR followed by hybridization with a probe corresponding to an instability prone locus; d) subjecting the amplified fragments of step c) to electrophoretic fractionation on a polyacrylamide gel to determine the presence of a variation in band profile between tumor and tumor-free DNA indicating a genomic instability associated with a mutator phenotype; and e) employing means for comparing the allelic status of at least one instability prone locus in the DNA samples of step c).