Abstract: The method of estimating systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures of a patient, comprising the steps of (a) producing an electric signal xs(t) representative of heart sounds of the patient; (b) extracting second heart sound S2(t) from the signal produced in step (a); (c) extracting pulmonary and aortic components P2(t) and A2(t) from S2(t); (d) extracting a signal representative of mean cardiac interval; (e) correlating the pulmonary and aortic components P2(t) and A2(t) to obtain a cross correlation function; (f) measuring a splitting interval of the cross correlation function obtained in step (e); (g) producing a normalized splitting interval; and (h) estimating the systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures by means of predetermined regressive functions. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for estimating systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures of a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transgenic non-human animal carrying a transgene which expresses non-infectious HIV ribonucleic acid and complementary proteins thereof. Among the expressed proteins, which can be found in the milk, serum and several tissues, are the gag and envelope proteins. The transgenic animal is useful as a source for obtaining the complementary proteins, and as an animal model to study HIV host cell interactions and to evaluate anti-HIV drugs.

Abstract: To compensate for the poor signal-to-noise ratio when transforming a patient tracheal sound signal into a respiration flow signal, the transformed signal is used when the sound signal is above a threshold, and interpolated values are used when the sound signal is below the threshold. A volume of breath signal is reliably obtained. Respiration start/stop is detected either by analyzing the sound signal or by physical measurement of the patient. A wearable device incorporating the sound signal processing method can provide an immediate indication or alarm when the volume of breath signal indicates a condition requiring medical attention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic mouse to serve as a small animal model of AIDS which comprises at least a DNA sequence coding for HIV-1 nef or a HIV-1 DNA genome essentially consisting in entire HIV-1 coding sequences under the control of the human CD4 gene promoter flanked by the enhancer of the mouse CD4 gene for expression in T cells and in cells of monocyte/microphage lineage. There is also provided a method to screen for therapeutic agents for the treatment of AIDS, which comprises the steps of: a) administering the therapeutic agent to the mouse of the present invention; and b) determining the effects of the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel gene regulated by FOS and RAS transforming pathways, which is identified as dft-A, and which comprises the sequence set forth in FIG. 3. There is also disclosed the novel dft-A protein and an antibody recognizing same. The present invention also relates to a diagnostic method of identifying dft-A mutations in cancer or other diseases in a biological sample of a patient, which comprises: a) subjecting DNA present in the patient's sample to gene sequencing; and b) comparing the sequenced DNA with the sequence of dft-A gene to identify dft-A mutations. The present invention also relates to a diagnostic method of identifying change in dft-A protein level in cancer or other diseases in a biological sample of a patient, which comprises: a)subjecting the patient's sample to the anti-dft-A antibody to form an antibody-dft-A protein complex; and b) detecting the antibody-dft-A protein complex to determine the dft-A protein level in the biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pro-hormone convertases and polypeptidic fragments thereof, nucleic acids encoding them, recombinant viruses expressing these convertases, polyclonal antibodies directed against the convertases, diagnostic kits for the detection and measurement of the convertase content in cell or tissue lysates, culture media or biological fluids by RIA. Diagnostic kits were also developped for detection or measurement of nucleic acids, preferably mRNAs, in cell or tissue lysates by hybridization. The invention also concerns oligonucleotides useful as probes or as primers for DNA synthesis. These oligonucleotides were included in the diagnostic kits as well as used for the obtention of specific fragments of the convertases which have served, together with native convertases, as antigens for the obtention of antibodies. The convertases were produced by mammalian cell lines transfected with the recombinant viruses and purified on affinity columns which are also an object of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transgenic mouse carrying a transgene which expresses non-infectious HIV ribonucleic acid, and the complementary proteins thereof. The transgenic mouse is useful as a source for obtaining the complementary proteins, and as an animal model to study HIV host cell interactions and to evaluate anti-HIV drugs.

Abstract: Novel peptides in substantially pure form and selected from the group of peptides having the amino acid sequence:X-Cys-Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ile-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ser-Gly-Leu-Gly-Cys-Y-ZwhereinY is selected from the group consisting of -Asn, -Asn-Ser, -Asn-Ser-Phe, -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg, and -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr;Z is OH or NH.sub.2 ; andX is selected from the group consisting of H, Ser-, Ser-Ser-, Arg-Ser-Ser-, Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-, Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-, Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-, Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-, Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, Ala-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-, Leu-Ala-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, and Glu-Val-Pro-Trp-Thr-Gly-Glu-Val-Asn-Pro-Ser-Gln-Arg-Asp-Gly-Gly-Ala-Leu-Gl y-Arg-Gly-Pro-Trp-Asp-Pro-Ser-Asp-Arg-Ser-Ala-Leu-Lys-Ser-Lys-Leu-Arg-Ala-L eu-Leu-Ala-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-,are disclosed as having diuretic, natriuretic, vasorelaxant, hypotensive or anti-hypertensive properties.