Abstract: This invention relates to a prosthetic replacement for the cornea and particularly to a transparent collagen material useful for making such a prosthesis and to methods for making such transparent collagen material. The prosthesis is preferably composed of a native, non-fibrilized, transparent collagen material formed from a soluble collagen solution by ultracentrifuging to form a pellet and fixing the same pellet, whereby the collagen material has less than 5% absorbance of light at 900 nm for a 5 mm thick sample and comprises polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate or vitrosin, in a range of from 0.01 to 50.0 percent by weight, based on the collagen protein.

Abstract: A system designed to enable persons incapable of manipulating a writing implement to sign papers and/or documents comprising a holder for the document to be signed, a holder for a transfer sheet for holding the transfer sheet adjacent that portion of the document to be signed and an implement defining the signature to be applied to the document for pressing the transfer sheet into transferring engagement with the document.

Abstract: A positron source, position sensing device, particularly with medical applications, in which positron induced gamma radiation is detected using a ring of stacked, individual scintillation crystals, a plurality of photodetectors, separated from the scintillation crystals by a light guide, and high resolution position interpolation electronics. Preferably the scintillation crystals are several times more numerous than the photodetectors with each crystal being responsible for a single scintillation event from a received gamma ray. The light guide will disperse the light emitted from gamma ray absorption over several photodetectors. Processing electronics for the output of the photodetectors resolves the location of the scintillation event to a fraction of the dimension of each photodetector. Because each positron absorption results in two 180.degree. oppositely traveling gamma rays, the detection of scintillation in pairs permits location of the positron source in a manner useful for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The composition and methodology associated with the formulation of a halogenated phosphonic acid labeled in the ring moiety are disclosed having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is aryl and is labeled with a halogen and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, amino, benzyl, hydroxyl--CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and is labeled with halogen. The compositions are especially useful for scanning investigations of in vivo deposits of calcium.

Abstract: A transparent native, non-fibrilized collagen material is described having an absorbence at a wavelength of 900 nm of less than 5% in a sample 5 mm thick. This collagen material is useful for a prosthetic replacement of the cornea because of the high transparency and because it is a native material, and thus less susceptible to immunogenic responses. A method for forming the native, non-fibrilized, highly transparent collagen material comprises ultracentrifuging a purified solution of native collagen to form a pellet of transparent collagen material, and fixing the pellet of collagen material to form a rigid, leather-like material. The collagen material can also be used for prosthetic replacement of other bodily tissues, such as nucleus pulposus, cartilage, and vitreous body.

Abstract: Cell lines for producing monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis virus are established by immunizing animal lymphocytes with hepatitis antigen to form antibody producing cells which then are fused with myeloma cells. The resultant somatic cell hybrids can be cloned. These clones produce monoclonal antibodies to individual antigenic determinates unique to hepatitis virus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a fringe pattern corresponding to height and depth gradients of an illuminated object with the fringe pattern lines used to define edges of stacked sheets provided as a filter for X-ray dosage tailoring. A camera is provided to produce the fringe pattern on a photographic film using a compact arrangement of light sources, lenses and gratings all within a convenient housing facilitating use yet at the same time providing sufficient resolution through separation of projection and imaging optics. A laser range finder is additionally provided to insure placement of the object to be X-rayed, typically a portion of the human torso, at a standard distance so that the ultimately produced X-ray filter will be properly sized. The filter is produced by cutting a set of lead sheets with edges corresponding to each of the separate contour lines in the exposed and developed film receiving the fringe pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radiolabeling red blood cells is provided which includes a syringe holder, a vial containing heparin, a vial containing technetium-99m and a catheter. The vials and catheter are connected to channels within the syringe holder and a valve positioned at the intersection of the channels is capable of effecting selective communication between the catheter and either vial or none of the vials. The catheter is filled with heparin and a blood sample is drawn from the patient through the catheter and into the vial containing the technetium-99m. The catheter then is filled with heparin and the blood sample is incubated. The labeled red blood cells then are injected into the patient through the catheter.

Abstract: A method of decreasing the intraocular pressure in the eye of an animal which comprises administering to the animal an intraocular pressure decreasing amount of a beta.sub.2 adrenergic receptor antagonist having a .beta..sub.2 /.beta..sub.1 potency ratio of at least 25. The method is particularly useful for the treatment of glaucoma in humans.

Abstract: ?1.beta.-.sup.3 H! 1.alpha.,25 dihydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 of high specific activity as well as a method for its preparation, which comprises reducing 1-keto 25(OH) previtamin D.sub.3 with .sup.3 H-NaBH.sub.4, separating the ?1.beta.-.sup.3 H! 1.alpha.,25 dihydroxyprevitamin D.sub.3 obtained therefrom from ?1.alpha.-.sup.3 H! 1.beta.,25 25 dihydroxyprevitamin D.sub.3 also present in the reaction mixture, and thermally equilibrating the separated ?1.beta.-.sup.3 H! 1.alpha.,25 dihydroxyprevitamin D.sub.3 with its ?1.beta.-.sup.3 H! 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 isomer.The tritiated vitamin D.sub.3 derivative is useful for metabolic, tracer and radioimmunoassay studies.

Abstract: Protein molecules are covalently bonded to a chelating agent which in turn binds a radioactive molecule. Prior to binding, the radioactive molecule is reduced with dithionite ion and then mixed with protein at a pH of 7.0 to about 8.0.

Abstract: A variable angle radiation collimator particularly for use in gamma-photon medical diagnostic systems in a gamma-photon camera system for radiological examination of human subjects. The collimator provides collimation of gamma-photon radiation along a single beam direction which may be varied along two axes to adjust exposure angle or to provide a scanning capability. The collimator is a stack of substantially identical radiation-opaque plates, each of which are apertured with a similar array of openings. The combined effect of the stacked aperture plates is to transmit radiation in a predetermined orientation. The collimated angle of the radiation thus generated is controlled by the coincidence of the array of openings. The stack is retained by a mechanism which permits adjustment of the collimation angle, and the plates are fabricated to provide ease of shear motion during such adjustment.

Abstract: A synthetic compound which is biologically active in maintaining calcium and phosphorous metabolism in animals, of the formula I ##STR1## wherein the double bond between positions C-22 and C-23 is single or double; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and --OR.sup.1, where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a straight or branched chain glycosidic residue containing 1-20 glycosidic units per residue; with the proviso that at least one of the R.sup.1 is a glycosidic residue.

Abstract: A process for purifying Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) from testicular tissue which comprises incubating testicular tissue in a culture media in the presence of a protease inhibitor in order to extract MIS from the tissue, chromatographing the extract on an anionic exchange resin followed by chromatographing the biologically active product obtained therefrom on a cationic exchange resin; the biologically active material from the cationic exchange resin is chromatographed by lectin affinity chromatography on wheat germ lectin and then either chromatographed by lectin affinity chromatography on concanavalin A or by triazinyl dye affinity chromatography on an appropriate triazinyl dye; MIS is obtained in 8,000-fold and 15,000-fold purification over original testicular tissue.

Abstract: An improved catheter probe includes a conductivity sensor comprising four electrodes configured and spaced to be electrically coupled together by vascular fluids. A current source is provided for driving current through the vascular fluid between one pair of electrodes, and voltage sensing means is provided for measuring the voltage between the other pair of electrodes. In the preferred embodiment, the electrodes are closely spaced, substantially parallel electrodes oriented along the longitudinal direction of the catheter and transversely spaced apart by a distance which is small compared to the diameter of the catheter. The longitudinal length of the electrodes is chosen to be large as compared to the transverse spacing. The preferred current source is an isolated AC source, and the preferred voltage detection means is a phase sensitive voltage detector selectively responsive to the frequency and phase of the current source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radiolabeling red blood cells is provided which includes a syringe holder, a vial containing heparin, a vial containing technetium-99m and a catheter. The vials and catheter are connected to channels within the syringe holder and a valve positioned at the intersection of the channels is capable of effecting selective communication between the catheter and either vial or none of the vials. The catheter is filled with heparin and a blood sample is drawn from the patient through the catheter and into the vial containing the technetium-99m. The catheter then is filled with heparin and the blood sample is incubated. The labeled red blood cells then are injected into the patient through the catheter.

Abstract: Immunologically active rabbit IgG antibody fragment compositions are produced by isolating the anti-light variable chain of rabbit IgG and/or the anti-heavy variable chain of rabbit IgG and combining them with each other or with the complementary heavy or light chain of rabbit IgG.

Abstract: A sunscreening composition which comprises a sunscreening amount of a .DELTA..sup.5,7 steroidal diene and a topical carrier, with the proviso that the .DELTA..sup.5,7 steroidal diene is not a precursor to a biologically active vitamin D compound.

Abstract: Body fluids are assayed for aryloxypropylamine beta-adrenergic antagonists and/or their active metabolites by agglutination reaction with antibody for the antagonist and/or active metabolite. The antibody is produced from an antigen comprising a conjugate of an immunogenic protein linked by a diazo moiety to an aryloxypropylamine beta-adrenergic antagonist.

Abstract: A sunscreening composition which comprises a sunscreening amount of an opacifying agent and a therapeutic amount of a .DELTA..sup.5,7 steroidal diene which is non-hydroxylated at any of positions 1; 1,25; 1,24,25 or 1,25,26 thereof.