Abstract: The present invention provides reagents and methods for modulating cone photoreceptor activity, and devices for assessment of cone photoreceptor activity.

Abstract: A method of treating visual system disease is disclosed. One embodiment comprises the steps of (a) exposing a component of a patient's visual system to light treatment, wherein the light treatment is characterized by wavelength of between 630-1000 nm and power intensity between 10-90 mW/cm2 for a time of 1-3 minutes, and (b) observing restoration of visual system function.

Abstract: Asthma is ameliorated, and mild or moderate asthma is prevented from progressing to more severe asthma by administering agents which prevent and/or accommodate for S-nitrosothiol breakdown.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoxmines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated. Treatments to increase nitrosative stress defenses include repeated administrations of low doses of manipulators of nitrosative stress so that the subject treated has increased tolerance to nitrosative stress.

Abstract: Selective and irreversible inhibitors of neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase catalyzed production of nitric oxide are L-ornithine or L-lysine derivatives having the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is H or (CH.sub.2).sub.r CH.sub.3 where r ranges from 0 to 15, x is 1 or 2, R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 where y ranges from 0 to 5, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.z CH.sub.3 where z ranges from 0 to 5, R is H or (CH.sub.2).sub.s CH.sub.3 where s ranges from 0 to 5, with none or only one of R, R' and R" providing an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, R.sup.III is OH or is an alkoxy group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is an amino acid or peptide attached in amide linkage through its free .alpha.-amino group, and R.sup.IV is --H or an acyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is an amino acid or peptide attached in amide linkage through its free .alpha.-carboxylate group, and mixtures thereof with corresponding D-isomers. A preferred compound is N.sup.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions of matter are disclosed and claimed relating to cardioprotective effect mediated by delta (.delta.) opioid receptor agonists or more specifically delta-1 (.delta..sub.1)-opioid receptor agonists. Further, methods drawn to reducing ischemic damage to organs and tissues having delta (.delta.) opioid receptor agonists or more specifically delta-1 (.delta..sub.1)-opioid receptors are disclosed and claimed. Specifically, methods and pharmaceutical compositions of matter are taught as a means of providing cardioprotective treatment through the administration of delta (.delta.) opioid receptor agonists or more specifically delta-1 (.delta..sub.1)-opioid receptor agonists, such as TAN67(-). Said methods and pharmaceutical compositions are envisioned as a means of reducing myocardial infarction arising from the onset and sequelae of myocardial ischemia.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example, certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include .alpha.-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the .alpha.-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl-contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is a heme binding moiety and/or a sulfur-containing binding moiety and Q' is --NH.sub.2 when there is a double bond between the omega carbon and Q and Q' is .dbd.

Abstract: Administration of argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents, e.g., argininosuccinate synthetase induction blocking agents (e.g., antibiotics that bind to DNA sequences present in the upstream regulatory region of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene, such as mithramycin) and argininosuccinate synthetase inhibitors (e.g., L-citrulline antagonists such as methyl citrulline and L-aspartate antagonists such as D-aspartate) is useful to prevent or treat sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension, is useful in the treatment of sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension to restore vascular sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 -adrenergic agonists, and is useful to suppress an immune response, e.g., in treating inflammation. In one embodiment, certain argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents are used together with arginine antagonists to treat sepsis or cytokine induced hypotension.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 -adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is a heme binding moiety and/or a sulfur-containing binding moiety and Q' is --NH.sub.2 when there is a double bond between the omega carbon and Q and Q' is .dbd.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is a heme binding moiety and/or a sulfur-containing binding moiety and Q' is --NH.sub.2 when there is a double bond between the omega carbon and Q and Q' is .dbd.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 -adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.

Abstract: Human myeloma fusing lines and human/human hybridomas produced therefrom are disclosed. In one embodiment, the myeloma cell line is HAT sensitive, does not secrete detectable levels of Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-I protein, and does not secrete or elaborate detectable levels of myeloma immunoglobulin. The myeloma cell line and resulting hybridoma are stable over time, and thus permit production of commercial quantities of human monoclonal antibody.

Abstract: An in vivo assay for quantifying the mineral content of bone comprises placing living bone into or adjacent to the coil of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, recording a .sup.31 P NMR spectrum while the bone is stationary, and comparing the spectrum obtained with the NMR spectrum of a reference standard containing a known concentration of a reference compound. The assay can be used to diagnose and determine the efficacy of treatment of osteodystrophy if used in conjunction with radiographic densitometry to estimate the calcium content of the bone.