Abstract: A method of analysing changes in the electrical activity of a patient's heart between a reference state and a test state, the method using a reference data set of electrophysiological data captured from the patient in the reference state and at least one test data set of electrophysiological data captured from the patient in the test state, each data set defining a plurality of electrograms for a respective plurality of spatial locations relative to the heart, the method comprising processing the electrophysiological data by, matching each electrogram in the reference data set to a corresponding electrogram in the at least one test data set to create a pair of electrograms for each of the plurality of spatial locations, and deriving a time delay for each spatial location by calculating the time delay between the electrograms of the pair of matched electrograms for that spatial location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the rate of reaction between a target molecule and a ligand candidate, ligands of interest identified according to this method and drugs developed from such ligands. The present invention also relates to a method of measuring the rate of reaction between a thiol and a molecule capable of reacting with said thiol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel truncated fragments of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and the use of such fragments and nucleic acids encoding such fragments in the treatment of von Willebrand disease (VWD) and haemophilia.

Abstract: A surface or bulk acoustic wave device can be implanted in or worn on a human or animal body to monitor various parameters thereof. The device comprises a pair of interdigitated transducers spaced apart over the surface of a piezo-electric substrate that is exposed to the parameter to be monitored. The device is interrogated by a radio-frequency signal being supplied to one of the transducers and detected after reflection by the other transducer. The parameter is measured by comparison of the supplied and received signals.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay device for quantification or detection of the presence or absence of an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising a molding (1) permanently or removably attached to a substantially planar plate (2) such that a part of said molding forms a capillary chamber (3) between said plate and the said molding, the device further comprising a chamber (5) into which a test sample and/or reagent can be introduced and further comprising a chamber (7) capable of accommodating an absorbent pad, wherein the said chamber into which a test sample and said chamber capable of holding an absorbent pad are in lateral flow contact via the said capillary chamber (3).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring one or more fluid flow rates in a gas and liquid multiphase system, in which the multiphase flow is separated in-line into, gas and liquid flows, measurements on the liquid and/or gas streams are taken in the region immediately following the separation, the flows are recombined to form a substantially homogenous mixture and further measurements on the mixture are taken.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for decreasing calorie intake, food intake, and appetite in a subject. The methods include peripherally administering a therapeutically effective amount of PYY or an agonist thereof to the subject, thereby decreasing the calorie intake of the subject.

Abstract: A pacemaker optimising apparatus comprising: a component (4) which noninvasively or invasively monitors a haemodynamic measurement continuously in an individual and a processor (15) for receiving the haemodynamic measure and generating a pacemaker programming signal in response to this. There is also provided a communication device (17) for sending the pacemaker programming signal to the control system of the pacemaker (2). There is also a method for an efficient process by which this apparatus can automatically use the haemodynamic measurements to determine the ideal settings for a particular pacemaker in a particular individual, and to updates the pacemaker's settings accordingly.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for decreasing calorie intake, food intake, and appetite in a subject. The methods include peripherally administering a therapeutically effective amount of PYY or an agonist thereof to the subject, thereby decreasing the calorie intake of the subject.

Abstract: The voltage produced by an input current (in) is sampled (S1, S2, S3) and stored on the gate (46) of a Fet (T1). The stored gate voltage allows the FET to function as the reference current source of a current mirror (T2, T3) which generates an output current (iout) proportional to the sampled input current. The current mirror uses dual gate floating gate FETS (T2, T3) whose mirroring ratio can be finely adjusted by adjusting the bias voltages (V1, V2) applied to their auxiliary gate electrodes (425,435).

Abstract: In a control system for controlling a plant system or process (22), a model based problem is formulated and an explicit control solution is constructed off-line such that a parametric profile (24) is constructed using parametric optimisation techniques (26). As a result the system can operate in real-time with significantly reduced computational burden.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting T-cell mediated rejection of a xenotransplanted organ by blocking the delivery of co-stimulatory signal 2 (the B7/CD28 interaction) in order to prevent the activation of xenoreactive T-cells in the recipient. In a first aspect, co-stimulation is prevented by administration to the organ recipient of a soluble form of CTLA-4 from the xenogeneic donor organism. This preferentially binds B7 on the xenograft and blocks the interaction between B7 on the xenogeneic donor cells and CD28 on recipient T-cells. In a second aspect, co-stimulation is antagonised by expressing a ligand for CTLA-4 on the xenogeneic donor cells. This ligand binds to CTLA-4 on activated T-cells of the recipient and antagonizes signal 2. In a third aspect, co-stimulation is prevented by expressing recipient organism MHC class II on the surface of the cells of the xenogeneic donor organ.

Abstract: A gas sensor which comprises an An+1BnO(3n+1)±? type material in which A is an alkaline earth metal or lanthanide and B is a transition element or a group 13 element, and O is oxygen, n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and 0???0.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is an in vivo method of incorporating exogenous genetic material into the genome of a vertebrate, which involves administering to a male vertebrate's testis a gene delivery mixture comprising a viral vector, such as a retroviral vector, to deliver a polynucleotide encoding a desired trait or product. Also disclosed is an in vitro method of incorporating exogenous genetic material into the genome of a vertebrate, in which germ cells are obtained from a donor male vertebrate and are genetically modified in vitro, before being transferred to a recipient male vertebrate. After the transfer, the male vertebrate bearing the genetically modified germ cells is bred with a female vertebrate such that a transgenic progeny is produced that carries the polynucleotide in its genome. Also disclosed are non-human transgenic vertebrates produced in accordance with the method, including transgenic progeny.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of microbial infection, and in particular meningococcal disease, comprise a commensal Neisseria or an extract of a commensal Neisseria. Further methods and compositions comprise conimensal Neisseria which express genes from virulent strains of Neisseria and/or heterologous gene products from non-Neisserial sources. Such compositions are used in vaccine preparations for the treatment of microbial infection.

Abstract: A load control device can be attached to bones on either side of an articulated joint in order to control the forces and loads experienced by the joint. The device comprises an apparatus for controlling the load on articular cartilage of a human or animal joint and includes: a first fixation assembly for attachment to a first bone; a second fixation assembly for attachment to a second bone; a link assembly coupled to the first fixation assembly by a first pivot and coupled to the second fixation assembly by a second pivot, the first and second fixation assembly thereby each being angularly displaceable relative to the link assembly. The apparatus enables a clinician to effectively control the environment of cartilage in a joint during a treatment episode.

Abstract: This invention relates to the suppression of graft rejection, particularly to the suppression of xenograft rejection. In particular, the invention relates to biological tissues that contain endothelial cells that may be induced to generate a compound which down-regulates the expression of a cell adhesion molecule in these cells.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus for imaging an object, comprising a probe via which an assay component may be delivered; a sensor to detect ion current; and means for controlling the position of the probe relative to the object in response to the ion current. Such apparatus can be used to image live cells, without affecting them, in solution, e.g., using light, wherein the distance between probe and cell is less than the wavelength of light.

Abstract: Combinations and methods for inducing a semi-synchronous wave of liver cell proliferation in vivo and combinations and methods for inducing a semi-synchronous wave of liver cell proliferation and achieving transduction of proliferating liver cells in vivo are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for generating locallised heating in a selected body tissue is disclosed. The device comprises an applicator including a source of microwave radiation and an array of retractable needles arranged so as to extend from one face of the applicator and, in operation, to confine the irradiated microwave energy field emanating from the applicator. The use of this device in surgical procedures is described.