Abstract: An instrument for continuously monitoring the condition of a patient who has a cardiovascular disease, the instrument including an electrocardiograph; a waveform analyzer which analyzes a current segment of an ECG waveform; a computer receiving output from the waveform analyzer; and a control module. The computer is programmed to complete a monitoring cycle in which the computer uses the output from the waveform analyzer to compute a probability of a life threatening cardiac condition based upon the current segment of the patient's ECG waveform. The control module causes the computer to periodically repeat the monitoring cycle and for each repetition of said monitoring cycle to compute a change-of-condition measure, wherein the change-of-condition measure is calculated by subtracting a computed probability for a previous monitoring cycle from the computed probability for the current monitoring cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules coding for toxins associated with Kawasaki Syndrome. Also described are various applications of the nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to various methodologies for diagnosing Kawasaki syndrome. Various bacteria, including TSST-1 producing Staphylococcus aureus, and SPEB and SPEC producing streptococcus have been found to be indicative of the pathological condition. Also described is a Kawasaki syndrome implicated isolate of S. aureus, and therapeutic methodologies for preventing treating the condition.

Abstract: The invention features an inhibitor of DP-IV, having the structure: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer between 0 and 10, inclusive; A and A' are L-amino acid residues such that the A in each repeating bracketed unit can be a different amino acid residue; the C bonded to B is in the L-configuration; the bonds between A and N, A' and C, and between A' and N are peptide bonds; and each X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is, independently, a hydroxyl group or a group capable of being hydrolyzed to a hydroxyl group at physiological pH.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an electrode portion of a catheter disposed at a distal portion of the catheter includes two or more electrically conductive panels which: are disposed a substantially fixed radial distance from a directly-underlying axis extending lengthwise through the center of the catheter; are longitudinal strips disposed parallel to the axis, substantially equally around the circumference of the distal portion of the catheter, and substantially isodiametric with the remainder of the catheter; are electrically isolated from each other; are selectively energizable by energy transmitted from a source through the channels to the panels; and can transmit received signals through the channels to means for recording the signals. In another aspect of the invention, a catheter includes an electrically conductive electrode portion which is: disposed at a distal portion of the catheter; energizable; capable of receiving signals; and bent or bendable into a substantially coil configuration.

Abstract: A method of reducing the loss of differentiative functions of cells cultured in culture medium containing serum which includes an inhibitor of cellular differentiation. The method includes treating the serum or serum-containing medium to remove or inactivate the inhibitor.

Abstract: A detector assembly for use in obtaining alpha-track autoradiographs, the detector assembly including a substantially boron-free substrate; a detector layer deposited on the substantially boron-free substrate, the detector layer being capable of recording alpha particle tracks and exhibiting evidence of the alpha tracks in response to being exposed to an etchant, the detector layer being less than about 2 microns thick; and a protective layer deposited on the detector layer, the protective layer being resistant to the etchant and having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 microns.

Abstract: A method for developing a treatment plan for neutron capture therapy of a target organ including the steps of using a diagnostic cross-sectional scanner to scan the target organ to generate cross-sectional images of the organ; generating a three-dimensional model of the organ from the cross-sectional images, the model including information about internal features of the organ; and using the three-dimensional model to compute expected radiation doses throughout the organ assuming a given arrangement of one or more neutron beams.

Abstract: Disclosed is recombinant penetrin polypeptide. Also disclosed is nucleic acid encoding penetrin, recombinant cells and plasmids encoding penetrin, antibodies directed against penetrin and various uses for penetrin and antibodies directed against penetrin.

Abstract: A detector assembly for use in obtaining alpha-track autoradiographs, the detector assembly including a substantially boron-free substrate; a detector layer deposited on the substantially boron-free substrate, the detector layer being capable of recording alpha particle tracks and exhibiting evidence of the alpha tracks in response to being exposed to an etchant, the detector layer being less than about 2 microns thick; and a protective layer deposited on the detector layer, the protective layer being resistant to the etchant and having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 microns.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel muteins of IL-1 compounds which can be used to regulate excess IL-1 produced in various diseases in humans and animals. The IL-1 muteins can be prepared by site-directed mutagenesis whereby a positively charged residue is replaced with a negatively charged or neutral residue at a designated position in the molecule. The resulting IL-1 muteins have reduced biological activity but retain receptor binding affinity.

Abstract: A clinical information reporting system for use with an electronic database for a health care facility, the electronic database containing records for a group of patients and operational information which is accessed and used during the course of operation of the facility, the records containing clinical information for said group of patients, the reporting system including an electrocardiograph which generates ECG-related data for the group of patients; database application logic for incorporating the ECG-related data for the group of patients into the database; and report generating logic for generating a process of care report from the information stored in the database, the process of care report presenting selected process of care information derived from the database as a function of a clinically meaningful class of the group of patients, wherein the clinically meaningful class is defined at least in part in terms of the ECG-related data supplied by the electrocardiograph and stored within the database.

Abstract: A risk management system for use in a health care facility which receives patients who may be experiencing cardiac problems, the system including a first input port for receiving inputs derived from electrocardiograph measurements of a patient; a predictive instrument for using the inputs to compute a probability of the patient having a particular heart condition; a printer for generating a risk management form reporting the computed probability for the patient as well as other clinical and ECG-related observations for the patient, the form also containing categories requiring a person who is evaluating the patient to enter additional information relating to the evaluation of the patient, the computed probability triggering the printer to generate the form only when the computed probability falls within a preselected range which is less than the total range of possible values for the computed probability.

Abstract: A method for treating an infection caused by an intracellular parasite in a patient. The method includes administering to the patient liposomes coated with C-reactive protein, wherein the liposomes include phosphatidylcholine or phosphorylcholine.

Abstract: Antibodies which form immune complexes with human native prothrombin only, in the presence of mixtures of human native prothrombin and human abnormal prothrombin as well as antibodies which form antibody antigen complexes with human abnormal prothrombin in the presence of such mixtures have been obtained. Immunoassay techniques are used for qualitative and quantitative determinations of these antigens in human plasma or serum. Unique methods of obtaining the antibodies are described including obtaining antibodies to native prothrombin by dissociation of antigen antibody complexes formed in the presence of calcium ions with a material having a greater affinity constant for binding with calcium ions than does prothrombin. Dissociation of the complex in this manner yields human native prothrombin antibodies which are specific and non-reactive with human abnormal prothrombin.

Abstract: A fragment capable of binding to an anti-CD43 autoantibody made by a human infected with HIV-1. The fragment, which includes a part or the entirety of an amino acid sequence corresponding to positions 20-254 of CD43, can be used in treatment or diagnosis of HIV-1 infections.

Abstract: Disclosed is recombinant penetrin polypeptide. Also disclosed is nucleic acid encoding penetrin, recombinant cells and plasmids encoding penetrin, antibodies directed against penetrin and various uses for penetrin and antibodies directed against penetrin.

Abstract: This invention relates to E2 trans-activation repressors which interfere with normal functioning of the native full-length E2 transcriptional activation protein of the papillomavirus. Native full-length E2 trans-activation protein activates transcription of papillomavirus only through binding to DNA, and it binds to DNA only in the form of a pre-formed homodimer--a pair of identical polypeptide subunits held together by non-covalent interactions. The E2 trans-activation repressors of this invention are proteins, polypeptides or other molecules that dimerize with full-length native E2 polypeptides to form inactive heterodimers, thus interfering with the formation of active homodimers comprising full-length native E2 polypeptides, thereby repressing papillomavirus transcription and replication. The E2 trans-activation repressors of this invention are advantageously used in the treatment of papillomavirus infections and their associated diseases.

Abstract: A method for treating glaucoma consisting of exposing the eye to a corticosteroid and an alpha or a beta adrenergic agent to the eye which acts to decrease ocular pressure. Useful adrenergic agents include beta agonist antagonists, including, for example, epinephrine, dipivalyl epinephrine, betaxolol, levobunolol, timolol, and an alpha adrenergic agonist, including apraclonidine hydrochloride. Useful steroids, which are preferably applied topically, include dexamethasone, prednisolone, cortisone, and triamcinolone. The beta adrenergic agent is administered at a concentration between 10% and 20% of the concentration that the agent is administered in its normal use. The corticosteroid is administered at a concentration between 5% and 10% of the concentration that the corticosteroid is administration in its normal use.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns truncated human Il-1 cDNA sequences which encode biologically-active novel human IL-1 proteins. These truncated human IL-1 cDNA sequences can be obtained by genetic engineering procedures using a clone of human IL-1 cDNA, having the accession number NRRL B-15770, as a starting material. The truncated human IL-1 cDNA sequences of the subject invention are contained in specified plasmids whose constructions are described in detail. Biologically-active human IL-1 proteins are useful to induce the production of IL-2 by activated T-cells. They also act on B-cells and NK-cells.