Abstract: A composition and use thereof for the prophylaxis or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease, Lewy body disease, Pick's disease or progressive supranuclear palsy. The composition includes an agent which modulates or inhibits tau-tau association and which does not inhibit tau-tubulin binding. In the method the agent is administered to an individual in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Preferably the agent which is administered is a phenothiazine compound.

Abstract: Provided are napthoquinone-type compounds which can be used to modulate the aggregation of protein (e.g. tau) associated with neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). Structure-function characteristics for oxidised and reduced napthoquinone-type compounds, such as menadione-related compounds, are disclosed. The invention further provides methods of treatment or prophylaxis of neurodegenerative diseases and/or clinical dementias based on the compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining the stage of neurofibrillary degeneration associated with a tauopathy in a subject believed to suffer from the disease, by (i) introducing into the subject a ligand capable of labeling aggregated paired helical filament (PHF) tau protein, (ii) determining the presence and/or amount of ligand bound to extracellular aggregated PHF tau in the medial temporal lobe of the brain of the subject, (iii) correlating the result of the determination made in (ii) with the extent of neurofibrillary degeneration in the subject. The methods can be used for pre-mortem diagnosis and staging of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's Disease. Preferred ligands include sulphonated-benzothiazole-like compounds and diaminophenothiazines.

Abstract: Fibrin degradation products stimulate cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The present invention provides peptides, analogs, and antibodies which are useful in the modulation of binding fibrin fragment E to cell receptors and the modulation of such activity.

Abstract: The discovery that CYP1B1 protein is detectable in a wide range of human cancers of different histogenetic types, but is not detectable in non-cancerous tissues, gives rise to diagnostic methods for detecting tumors based on this protein as a marker, and to the possibility of tumor therapies involving the protein. A diagnostic method may include the steps of (a) obtaining from a patient a tissue sample to be tested for the presence of cancer cells; (b) producing a prepared sample in a sample preparation process; (c) contacting the prepared sample with an antibody that reacts with human CYP1B1 protein; and (d) detecting binding of the antibody to CYP1B1 protein in the prepared sample.

Abstract: A composition and use thereof for the prophylaxis or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease, Lewy body disease, Pick's disease or progressive supranuclear palsy. The composition includes an agent which modulates or inhibits tau-tau association and which does not inhibit tau-tubulin binding. In the method the agent is administered to an individual in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Preferably the agent which is administered is a phenothiazine compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the detection of substances capable of modulating or inhibiting pathological tau-tau protein association. The methods of the present invention are particularly useful in screening substances for the prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheiemer's disease.

Abstract: The discovery that Cyp1B1 protein is detectable in a wide range of human cancers of different histogenetic types, but is not detectable in non-cancerous tissues, gives rise to diagnostic methods for detecting tumors based on this protein as a marker, and to the possibility of tumor therapies involving the protein. A diagnostic method may include the steps of: (a) obtaining from a patient a tissue sample to be tested for the presence of cancer cells; (b) producing a prepared sample in a sample preparation process; (c) contacting the prepared sample with an antibody that reacts with human Cyp1B1 protein; and (d) detecting binding of the antibody to CYP1B1 protein in the prepared sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for the examination of living tissues, comprises an illuminator (228) for illuminating the tissue with infra-red-containing electromagnetic radiation, a television camera (202) for receiving the radiation which is transmitted through the tissue and image devices (216) for producing an image of the received radiation. In addition a probe (224) is provided for applying ultrasound to a region of the tissue and for receiving the reflected ultrasonic signals from the region. The signals obtained are representative of the velocity of blood flow in the region and a computer (216) is provided for generating from the signal an image which provides an indication of blood flow velocity in the region. The apparatus further comprises an arm rotatably mounted on a support about a pivot, the television camera (202) being mounted on the arm on one side of the pivot. A device for holding the tissue to be imaged by the television camera is mounted on the arm on the other side of the pivot.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing biological material from a body thereof comprising a hollow tubular elongate member, one end of which can engage biological material to be removed, a casing in which a portion of the tubular member is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a motor which is connected to the casting and has a rotatable drive shaft, means for coupling the rotation of the drive shaft to the tubular member so as longitudinally to vibrate the tubular member and means for withdrawing removed biological material up the tubular member from the said end thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasound unit for the clinical application of hyperthermia to tumor cells in soft tissue. The ultrasound hyperthermic unit includes in one aspect an array of sonic transducers (1) radially disposed about an axis and angled to direct sonic energy (12) towards said axis at a point remote from said array, each transducer being adapted for angular movement relative to the other transducers thereby to allow adjustment of the shape of the acoustic focus. The array is computer controlled both with regard to acoustic focus and with regard to the energy imparted by each member of the array, said control being mediated by temperatures sensing means (40) adjacent a tumor. This ultrasound unit may be associated with a heat treatment tank (51, 31) including a flexible membrane (32, 52) which may overlie a tumor, thereby to locally raise the temperature and reduce the amount of ultrasonic power required to achieve a desired temperature.

Abstract: A tele-diaphanography apparatus suitable for transilluminating human or animal tissues, which apparatus comprises a first housing including a source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm; means for directing light from the first light source onto the tissues to be examined by transillumination, and a heat-absorbing filter located in the path of the light from the light source; a second housing including a source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm, and means for directing the light from the second light source onto the tissues to be examined; a light detector for detecting the light transmitted through the transilluminated tissue being examined; a visual display unit for displaying the image detected by the light detector; and recording means for recording the image detected by the light detector.