Abstract: A rod, screw, and staple assembly for use in conjunction with anterior or lateral spinal rod implant apparatus includes a screw having a vertebral body screw which has a shaft which is insertable into a vertebral bone and a head portion which includes a rod receiving channel and a radially extending flange. The vertebral body staple includes a flat portion which has a hole through it. The hole has a rim which is upwardly extending and a concave recess formed in the underside of the flat portion around the hole. The staple also includes several barbs which independently hold the staple to the bone surface to which it is to be affixed. The screw is first inserted into the vertebral bone, and then the staple is mounted over the head portion of the screw, such that the head extends above the annular rim. The rod is then inserted into the rod receiving channel and seats against the uppermost surface of the annular rim.

Abstract: A pine root (Deutero mycetes) fungal metabolite and analogs thereof having antifungal activity.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention automatically converts field lengths of data fields in a data file that are accessed by a computer program and correspond to date-related data. Either the computer program or the data file may be non-compliant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drug screening assays, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods for the treatment of body weight disorders, such as obesity, anorexia and cachexia, utilizing the melanocortin 4-receptor (MC4-R) as the target for intervention. The invention also relates to compounds that modulate the activity or expression of the MC4-R, and the use of such compounds in the treatment of body weight disorders.

Abstract: A process for assaying for cancer of the prostate, comprising assaying a sample derived from a human for prostate specific antigen having a linked oligosaccharide which is at least triantennary. The assay may employ a binding molecule which binds to oligosaccharides that are at least triantennary, but does not bind to oligosaccharides that are monoantennary or diantennary. Such binding molecule may be a lectin such as PHA-L or an antibody to an oligosaccharide that is at least triantennary.

Abstract: A rod, screw, rod receiving member, and staple assembly for use in conjunction with anterior or lateral spinal rod implant apparatus includes a vertebral body screw, staple, and rod receiving member which are initially loosely coupled together such that they may each rotate about a common axis. They are held together by virtue of the head of the screw being held within a tapered axial bore of the rod receiving member and the staple being loosely mounted around the rod receiving member. The lower portion of the rod coupling member is expandable by virtue of a series of slots formed in its lower portion. The screw seats within the axial bore of the rod receiving member such that a rod inserted in the channel of the member seats on the head of the screw. With the rod coupling element and staple combination mounted to the screw, it is driven into the vertebral bone. The member is then rotated into position to receive the rod, which seats on the head of the screw.

Abstract: Spherical agglomerates of finely divided material such as inorganic oxides are prepared by admixing a slurry of finely divided material with a solution of a partially neutralised carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery, identification and characterization of nucleic acids that encode a novel G protein coupled receptor (I5E) protein. The invention encompasses I5E nucleotides, host cell expression systems, I5E proteins, fusion proteins, polypeptides and peptides, antibodies to the receptor, transgenic animals that express an I5E transgene, or recombinant knock-out animals that do not express the I5E, antagonists and agonists of the receptor, and other compounds that modulate I5E gene expression or I5E activity that can be used for diagnosis, drug screening, clinical trial monitoring, and/or used to treat disorders such as inflammatory, central nervous system or gastrointestinal disorders.

Abstract: The invention features two novel antibiotics, termed 15352A and 15352B, having the structures shown in the figures.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods that can be used to (1) measure the level of polysaccharide in a sample; (2) measure the ability of a compound to degrade a polysaccharide; (3) measure the ability of a compound to modulate polysaccharide synthesis; and (4) identify or distinguish a polysaccharide, and hence organism, for diagnostic purposes in clinical medicine or research. The invention stems from Applicant's discovery that polysaccharides have multiple binding sites for polysaccharide binding moieties (PBM, e.g., wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)). In each method, one PBM links the polysaccharide to a substrate, and a tagged PBM is used to detect the polysaccharide. All of these methods can be carried out rapidly and quickly in the wells of a microtiter plate, thus permitting high through-put screening of samples or test compounds.

Abstract: A compression locking variable length cross-link device having a pair of rod hooking elements, each having coupling ends which are attachable to a rod. The opposing ends of the first of these elements includes a pair of extending members each having a hole; the holes being mutually co-linear. The opposing element of the second element includes a single extending member which has an elongated hole, such that when it is disposed between the pair of extending members of the first element, a linear passage is defined through the three holes. A hinge post is disposed in the co-linear passage; the post having a threaded top portion. The elongated hole permits the first and second elements to be translated relative to one another with the hinge post in place. A nut is engageable with the threaded top of the post, such that if tightened, the pair of extending members deflect inwardly into contact with the single extending member of the second element to crush lock the elements together.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device and methods for immobilizing a localized region of a compliant body. A device of the invention includes at least two arms, an elbow region between the arms, and a suction arrangement. During use the region of the compliant material to be immobilized is flanked by the arms and a negative pressure is applied through the suction arrangement to immobilize the flanked region. The device of the invention is suited for use in medical applications, for example, coronary bypass graft surgery.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 6 ("mACHR-6") nucleic acid molecules, which encode polypeptides involved in the modulation of acetylcholine responses in acetylcholine responsive cells. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing mACHR-6 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which an mACHR-6 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated mACHR-6 polypeptides, fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides, and anti-mACHR-6 antibodies. Diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, including, but not limited to, atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion, hypertension, restenosis, and arterial inflammation. Specifically, the present invention identifies and describes genes which are differentially expressed in cardiovascular disease states, relative to their expression in normal, or non-cardiovascular disease states, and/or in response to manipulations relevant to cardiovascular disease. Further, the present invention identifies and describes genes via the ability of their gene products to interact with gene products involved in cardiovascular disease. Still further, the present invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds as treatments of cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the mammalian fsh15w6 gene, a novel gene associated with bipolar affective disorder (BAD) in humans. The invention encompasses fsh15w6 nucleic acids, recombinant DNA molecules, cloned genes or degenerate variants thereof, fsh15w6 gene products and antibodies directed against such gene products, cloning vectors containing mammalian fsh15w6 gene molecules, and hosts that have been genetically engineered to express such molecules. The invention further relates to methods for the identification of compounds that modulate the expression of fsh15w6 and to using such compounds as therapeutic agents in the treatment of fsh15w6 disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the gene corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight. The present invention also relates to methods for identifying compounds that modulate tub protein activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of body weight disorders, including, but not limited to, obesity. Specifically, the present invention identifies and describes genes which are differentially expressed in body weight disorder states, relative to their expression in normal, or non-body weight disorder states, and/or in response to manipulations relevant to appetite and/or weight regulation. Further, the present invention identifies and describes genes via the ability of their gene products to interact with gene products involved in body weight disorders and/or appetite and/or body weight regulation. Still further, the present invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds as treatments of body weight disorders. Additionally, the present invention describes methods for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of various body weight disorders, and for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of body weight disorders, including, but not limited to, obesity. Specifically, the present invention identifies and describes genes which are differentially expressed in body weight disorder states, relative to their expression in normal, or non-body weight disorder states, and/or in response to manipulations relevant to appetite and/or weight regulation. Further, the present invention identifies and describes genes via the ability of their gene products to interact with gene products involved in body weight disorders and/or appetite and/or body weight regulation. Still further, the present invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds as treatments of body weight disorders. Additionally, the present invention describes methods for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of various body weight disorders, and for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions.