Abstract: Peptides are provided having leptin receptor agonist activity. The peptides are useful for treating obesity, insulin resistance, lipodystrophy and hypothalamic amenorrhea, anorexia-related infertility, among other diseases and conditions related to leptin deficiency and/or leptin resistance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-collinear optical parametric ampliffication (NOPA) are provided. Broadband phase matching is achieved with a non-collinear geometry and a divergent signal seed to provide bandwidth gain. A chirp may be introduced into the pump pulse such that the white light seed is amplified in a broad spectral region.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting CD163+/CD16+ cell population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a biological sample from a subject infected with HIV-1 which comprises contacting the biological sample with an anti-CD163 antibody, so that levels of CD163+/CD16+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the biological sample can be quantified.

Abstract: A method of controlling obesity by injecting bio-compatible bulking material into the pyloric sphincter area of the stomach. The injection of this material bulks the pyloric sphincter, retarding stomach emptying and producing a feeling of satiation in the patient. The method may be supplemental and augmented by inducing flacid paralysis of the stomach by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle tissue of the antrum or fundus of the stomach.

Abstract: ??-Unsaturated sulfoxides of Formula I: are useful as antiproliferative agents including, for example, anticancer agents, and as radioprotective and chemoprotective agents.

Abstract: A method of controlling obesity by physically narrowing the lumen of the pylorus One embodiment includes injection of a bio-compatible bulking or stiffening material into the pyloric sphincter area of the stomach. The injection of this material bulks the pyloric sphincter, narrowing the lumen, retarding stomach emptying and producing a feeling of satiation in the patient. The method may be practiced or supplemented by cauterization of the pyloric sphincter or by suturing the sphincter to narrow the same and may be augmented by inducing flacid paralysis of the stomach by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle tissue of the antrum or fundus of the stomach.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel antigen, MPD6, which belongs to the group of cryptic antigens without conventional genomic structure and is encoded by a cryptic open reading frame located in the 3? untranslated region (3?UTR) of myotrophin mRNA. MPD6 elicits IgG antibody responses in a subset of PV patients, as well as patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and prostate cancer. The translation of MPD6 was mediated by a novel internal ribosome entry site (IRES) upstream of the MPD6 reading frame. Furthermore, the MPD6-IRES mediated translation, but not myotrophin-MPD6 transcription, was significantly upregulated in response to IFN-? stimulation. These findings demonstrate that a novel IRES-mediated mechanism is responsible for the translation of unconventional self-antigen MPD6 in responsive to IFN-? stimulation. The eliciting anti-tumor immune response against unconventional antigen MPD6 in patients with myeloproliferative diseases indicates MPD6 as a target of novel immunotherapy.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for reducing the size of fuel particles injected into a combustion chamber is disclosed. The apparatus includes fuel line (110), a first metallic mesh (114) disposed within the fuel line (110), and a second metallic mesh (112) disposed within the fuel line (110), upstream of the first metallic mesh (114). An electrical supply (130) is electrically coupled to the first metallic mesh (114) and the second metallic mesh (112). Operation of the electrical supply (130) generates an electrical field between the first metallic mesh (114) and the second metallic mesh (112). A fuel injector (120) is disposed at an end of the fuel line (110), downstream from the first metallic mesh (114). Methods of reducing the size of fuel particles, improving gas mileage in a vehicle, increasing power output from a combustion engine, and improving emissions for a combustion engine are also provided.

Abstract: The protein pRb2/p130 represses expression of the ER-? gene. Blocking pRb2/p130 expression or altering ER-? gene methylation to alter pRb2/p130 complex binding allows transcriptional activity of the ER-? gene to be restored. Detecting and regulating the methylation state of the ER-? gene, optionally together with detecting and regulating pRb2/p130 multimolecular complexes bound to the ER-? gene promoter, allows estrogen-insensitive breast cancer cells to be identified, so that an accurate prognosis can be obtained and an appropriate course of treatment administered. Also, inhibiting pRb2/p130, or altering the methylation pattern of the ER-? gene by targeting DNMT 1 In the pRb2/p 130-E2F4/5-HDAC 1-DNMT1-SUV39H1 complex, allows estrogen-insensitive breast cancer cells to be converted to estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells. Estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells which are generally more susceptible to current anti-cancer treatments.

Abstract: Methods of treating cancer using compounds according to Formula (I) are disclosed herein, wherein X, X1, X2, Ra, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, g, M, y, a, b, d, e, V, W, Z and Q are as defined herein.

Abstract: The growth of normal and abnormally proliferating cells can be inhibited by the introduction of agnoprotein, or biologically active fragments or derivatives of agnoprotein, into the cell in the absence of any other polyoma virus protein or viral replication.

Abstract: A method of controlling obesity by injecting bio-compatible bulking material into the pyloric sphincter area of the stomach. The injection of this material bulks the pyloric sphincter, retarding stomach emptying and producing a feeling of satiation in the patient. The method may be supplemental and augmented by inducing flaccid paralysis of the stomach by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle tissue of the antrum or fundus of the stomach.

Abstract: Compounds useful as antiproliferative agents, including, for example, anticancer agents, are provided according to formula (I); wherein: X, X1, X2, Ra, R1, R2,R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, g, M, y, a, b, d, e, V, W, Z and Q are as defined herein.

Abstract: Pre-treatment with ?,? unsaturated aryl sulfones protects normal cells from the cytotoxic side effects of two classes of anticancer chemotherapeutics. Administration of a cytoprotective sulfone compound to a patient prior to anticancer chemotherapy with a mitotic phase cell cycle inhibitor or topoisomerase inhibitor reduces or eliminates the cytotoxic side effects of the anticancer agent on normal cells. The cytoprotective effect of the ?,? unsaturated aryl sulfone allows the clinician to safely increasing the dosage of the anticancer chemotherapeutic.

Abstract: A method of visualizing proteins bound to a protein-binding membrane is provided herein, comprising reacting proteins bound to protein-binding membranes with a compound of formula (I) wherein Ra, R1, R2, R3, R4, M, n, and m are as defined herein.

Abstract: The observed over-expression of Sp1 target genes has inspired inventors to formulate a specific strategy for correcting many gene expression defects, and thus improve clone development. The invention is based on the belief that manipulating Sp1 activity can improve cloning. Inventors believe that cloning is inefficient in large part because of the continued expression of Sp1 target genes in the early cloned embryos, which causes clones to be very unlike normal embryos, and so makes them very unhealthy. Inventors propose that if over-expression of Sp1 target genes is prevented in early stage clones, this would greatly improve cloning efficiency by making the cloned embryos healthy again.

Abstract: Compounds useful as antiproliferative agents, radioprotective agents and cytoprotective agents, including, for example, anticancer agents, are provided according to formula I: wherein ring A, ring B,,X, R1, R2, R3, a, and b are as defined herein.

Abstract: Antibodies directed against an antigenic determinant of high molecular weight kininogen domain 5, particularly a determinant located in the region formed by light chain amino acids Gly(440) to Lys(502), inhibit angiogenesis.

Abstract: The functional characteristics of heme proteins can be modified to produce hemoglobins that can be used as blood substitutes in different therapeutic applications. Stable polymers of tetrameric hemoglobin, and of myoglobin molecules, are provided for use in the blood substitutes.

Abstract: Proteins can be rapidly separated to a high degree of resolution by electrophoresis on polymeric membranes that have high protein binding capacity. The electrophoretic separation is carried out in a low conductivity, water-miscible organic solvent buffer. The low conductivity of the organic solvent buffer minimizes heat generation, and the water-miscible nature of the organic solvent buffer permits the analysis of hydrophobic and low molecular weight proteins as well as hydrophilic proteins. When electrophoresis is conducted under non-denaturing conditions, it allows the detection of enzymatic activities, protein-protein interactions and protein-ligand interactions.