Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a human subject as having an increased likelihood of regulating blood pressure with dietary sodium intake, comprising determining the presence in the subject of a tissue kallikrein promoter allele genotype correlated with an increased likelihood of regulating blood pressure with dietary sodium intake, whereby the presence of the genotype identifies the subject as having an increased likelihood of regulating blood pressure by dietary sodium intake.

Abstract: This invention relates to positively charged non-natural amino acids, methods of making thereof, and utilization thereof in peptides. In one embodiment, the invention relates to non-natural amino acids that closely replicate the natural amino acids lysine and arginine.

Abstract: A gelling cell culture medium useful for forming a three dimensional matrix for cell culture in vitro is prepared by copolymerizing an acrylamide derivative with a hydrophilic comonomer to form a reversible (preferably thermally reversible) gelling linear random copolymer in the form of a plurality of linear chains having a plurality of molecular weights greater than or equal to a minimum gelling molecular weight cutoff, mixing the copolymer with an aqueous solvent to form a reversible gelling solution and adding a cell culture medium to the gelling solution to form the gelling cell culture medium. Cells such as chondrocytes or hepatocytes are added to the culture medium to form a seeded culture medium, and temperature of the medium is raised to gel the seeded culture medium and form a three dimensional matrix containing the cells. After propagating the cells in the matrix, the cells may be recovered by lowering the temperature to dissolve the matrix and centrifuging.

Abstract: An isolated cell having the characteristics of the cell line designated FO-1 #12 is provided. The cell FO-1 #12 is characterized as being .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin-deficient, neomycin-resistant and HAT-sensitive. A cell hybrid formed by the fusion of an FO-1 #12 cell or other cell described herein and a mammalian cell is provided. The patient-derived cell can be a tumor cell or other cell, such as a white blood cell. The patient-derived tumor cell can be a melanoma cell, a prostatic carcinoma cell, a colon carcinoma cell, a lung carcinoma cell, a breast carcinoma cell, a pancreatic carcinoma cell, or others. A method of treating AIDS in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a cell hybrid provided herein, wherein the patient-derived white blood cell is derived from the patient being treated, is provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of screening for inhibitors of HIV Rev function, comprising introducing into a cell a nucleic acid construct comprising a reporter gene positioned in the construct such that expression of the reporter gene increases when Rev function decreases and wherein the cell contains Rev, administering to the cell a potential inhibitor of Rev function, monitoring the expression of the reporter gene, and correlating the expression of the reporter gene to an inhibition of Rev function.

Abstract: This invention relates to positively charged non-natural amino acids, methods of making thereof, and utilization thereof in peptides. In one embodiment, the invention relates to non-natural amino acids that closely replicate the natural amino acids lysine and arginine.

Abstract: A method of detecting the metastasis of primary breast cancer to a lymph node is provided, comprising detecting, in lymph node tissue, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc, PIP or keratin-19. The presence of any one of these nucleic acids in lymph node tissue is associated with metastatic breast cancer. The presence of one or more of these markers in lymph node tissue or other tissue indicates that cells from the primary tumor have migrated from the breast tissue to the lymph node or other tissue. Also provided is a method of predicting the histopathologic stage of a cancer in a patient without having to perform a histopathologic analysis, comprising detecting, in lymph node tissue from the patient, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc being correlated with stage I cancer as determined by histopathology.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a stereotactic radiosurgery dose applied to an object being treated by a linear accelerator mounted on a gantry. The linear accelerator is capable of generating a beam having a path and a beam centerline, directed toward the object, and the beam is capable of having a plurality of angular positions relative to the object. The apparatus includes a turntable that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and defines a plurality of openings passing therethrough. Each opening has a center and receives therein a beam collimator of a preselected size. The turntable is disposed so that each of the plurality of openings may be rotated to where the center of the opening is coincident with the beam centerline, thereby allowing the beam to pass therethrough. A drive rotates the turntable about the axis of rotation and a sensor determines the angular position of the beam relative to the object.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for administering Peptide YY (PYY) receptor agonists to birds in ovo to promote altricial development of the intestinal tract of neonatal birds. Enhanced altricial development of the small intestine in hatchling birds results in an increased absorption of nutrients from the small intestine without a concomitant increase in energy expenditure, thereby resulting in an improved efficiency of nutrient utilization, enhanced rate of post-hatch growth, and reduced post-hatch mortality rate in PYY-treated birds.

Abstract: A method to administer a drug locally to a subject in which biodegradable dosage forms that contain the drug are implanted at a localized site beneath the skin of the subject whereupon the dosage forms release the drug over a desired period of time at a substantially continuous rate. Glyceryl monostearate based compositions that accomplish the method are also provided. Compositions are further provided that affect the release profile or release duration of drugs that are released from the compositions, as are methods that employ these varying release profiles to provide implantable dosage forms that release drugs at a prescribed rate over a prescribed period of time. The compositions are particularly well adapted to implantable dosage forms because they biodegrade quickly to an acceptable level after delivering the drug.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of increasing ionizing radiation's cytotoxic effects on a neoplasm in a subject by increasing the neoplasm's sensitivity to ionizing radiation, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of prostaglandin to the subject, and subjecting the neoplasm to a therapeutically effective amount of ionizing radiation, thereby increasing the cytotoxic effects of the ionizing radiation on the neoplasm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating NIDDM in a patient diagnosed with NIDDM by administering to the patient a compound in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier that reduces hepatic glucose production in the patient by inhibiting hepatic expression of the alpha subunit of a G.sub.s protein in a liver cell plasma membrane, thereby inhibiting stimulation of cAMP by glucagon, whereby the reduction in hepatic glucose production treats the NIDDM. Also provided is a method for screening compounds for the ability to treat NIDDM comprising determining if the compound decreases hepatic expression of the alpha subunit of a G.sub.s protein in a liver cell plasma membrane, thereby inhibiting the stimulation of cAMP by glucagon, a compound which decreases the hepatic expression of the alpha subunit of the G.sub.s protein in the liver cell plasma membrane, thereby inhibiting the stimulation of cAMP by glucagon, being a compound with the ability to treat NIDDM.

Abstract: The invention provides tissue-specific and target RNA-specific ribozymes. These ribozymes can be used to destroy target-specific neoplasms and to treat viral infections, among other uses. The ribozymes of the present invention comprise a 5' autocatalytically cleaving ribozyme sequence, a catalytic ribozyme comprising a target RNA-specific binding site and a 3' autocatalytically cleaving ribozyme. The invention also provides nucleic acids which encode the ribozymes of the invention. These nucleic acids can be used to express the ribozymes of the invention at the selected site. Methods of treating disease by administering the ribozymes are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a relaxin analogs and derivatives, and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising a relaxin analogs and derivatives, and relaxin wherein such composition exhibits an additive or synergistic effect.

Abstract: A variable focus contact lens, has a body with a first half and an opposite second half. The body also has a first peripheral surface, an opposite second peripheral surface and an associated focal length. The lens includes a first material having a resilience so that as compressive force is applied to the first surface and the second surface, the focal length of the lens changes in proportion to the compressive force. A force-distributing structure is disposed within the lens for distributing force within the lens so as to inhibit astigmatism in the lens as compressive force is applied to the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: This invention is an occlusive device for inserting into body cavities or vesicles. More particularly, it is a vasoocclusive device which, as used, is in the approximate shape of an anatomical cavity. It may be ultimately deployed as a substantially spherical shape in the operable configuration. The device is a self-forming shape made from a pre-formed occlusive strand of flexible material. The occlusive strand may be helically coiled or braided and may be adapted with various polymeric fibers. The device is typically introduced through a catheter in the substantially linear inoperable configuration. The invention provides a plurality of such substantially spherical strand portions which nest concentrically with each other in the operable configuration. The invention also includes methods of producing and using the substantially spherical vasoocclusive devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating performance anxiety and social phobia comprising a therapeutic amount for the treatment of a patient of a .beta.-adrenergic receptor blocking compound and an anti-diaphoretic compound. The preferred .beta.-adrenergic receptor blocking compound is the lipophilic .beta.-blocker propranolol HCL. The anti-diaphoretic compound of the present invention is preferably glycopyrrolate. The composition for treating performance anxiety and social phobia can further include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of preventing or treating performance anxiety or social phobia in a patient comprising administering the composition of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment is also provided. The composition administered in the present method comprises a therapeutic amount of a .beta.-adrenergic receptor blocking compound and an anti-diaphoretic compound.

Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable ligament anchor for attaching a ligament to a bone. The ligament anchor comprises a housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an intra-articular end and an opposite extra-articular end. The interior surface defines a bore that extends longitudinally through the housing, joining the ends. A member is dimensioned to be received within the bore and having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the ligament is attached to the first end. Adjusting means comprise a longitudinal chamber opening through the second end, and extending into at least a portion of the member. The chamber has threads and is dimensioned to receive a screw having a shaft with threads complimentary to threads in chamber.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight medical radiographic device having an articulated support is described. The device includes a base, an elongated supporting structure having multiple sections interconnected by adjustable joints, a mount for a radiological camera, and a support for a film cartridge. The camera mount includes a concave, motorized track; the film cartridge support is also concave and may also provide motorized film advancement. A selected human body part to be imaged may be placed between the camera mount and the film track. When the camera, motorized track, and film support are energized, coordinated movement of the camera relative to the film results in a panoramic image of the body part on the exposed film.

Abstract: This invention provides novel compounds used in a method of determining platelet deposition. These compounds include .sup.123 I-SAP and analogues. Also provided is a method of determining platelet deposition in a subject comprising binding an effective radiolabeled platelet receptor antagonist with a platelet, allowing sufficient time for the platelet to migrate within the subject, and visualizing the radiolabeled platelet in the subject.