Abstract: In some illustrative embodiments, an incoming signal from a transducer in an ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus is applied to an in-phase sample-and-hold and a quadrature sample-and-hold. The quadrature sample-and-hold may be clocked a quarter period behind the in-phase sample-and-hold. The output of the sample-and-holds are applied to in-phase and quadrature analog-to-digital converters. A magnitude calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a magnitude. A phase calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a phase. An apodizer applies a difference between an amplitude of the outgoing signal and the magnitude and applies a first illumination to a image point in substantial proportion to the difference, and a phase rotator applies a second illumination to the image point in substantial proportion to the phase.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds having the following general formula (I): wherein X, R1, R2, R7 and Z are as described herein.

Abstract: An improved device and method for collecting data used for ultrasonic imaging. The data is gathered over numerous transmit and echo receive cycles, or iterations and combined into a synthetic acquisition representing a complete echo characteristic acquisition. At each iteration, only a portion, or subset, of the echo characteristic is sampled and stored. During the iterations, the portion of the echo characteristic that is measured and sampled is varied by changing the relative sampling instants. That is, the time offset from the transmission to the respective sampling instant is varied. The sample sets representative of the entire echo characteristic are then compiled from the multiple subsets of the ultrasonic transmissions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment, inhibition and prevention of cancer by the administration of anti-C3b(i) antibodies. The invention also relates to the treatment, inhibition and prevention of cancer by the administration of IgM antibodies and/or complement components prior to the administration of anti-C3b(i) antibodies. The present invention further relates to the detection, imaging, diagnosis and monitoring of cancer utilizing C3b(i) specific antibodies.

Abstract: The instant disclosure identifies and synthesizes peptide residues initially isolated from a melanoma cell line. The peptides are capable of reconstituting an epitope recognized by tumor specific CTL. Some of the sequences are homologous with proteins identified as pMEL17, tyrosinase and cofilin. The present invention provides for the treatment of melanoma patients using synthetic peptides that reconstitute epitopes for melanoma specific CTL. In another embodiment the peptides are used as vaccines for imparting immunity. Alternatively, in one embodiment the peptides may be used to bind to antigen presenting cells in a method for providing specific antigenic stimulation of CTL. The instant invention provides CTL cell lines capable of recognizing reconstituted HLA-A2.1 epitopes and their use in methods of adoptive immunotherapy.

Abstract: Asthma is ameliorated, and mild or moderate asthma is prevented from progressing to more severe asthma by administering agents which prevent and/or accommodate for S-nitrosothiol breakdown.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent based on a recombinant adenovirus which employs an osteocalcin promoter for the expression of thymidine kinase can be administered intravascularly to treat metastatic cancer, including osteosarcoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ocular melanoma or brain cancer. Systemic administration of this agent provides a preferred route over previous disclosure of local direct administration. The same therapeutic agent can be effectively employed in the treatment of benign conditions, including benign prostatic hypertrophy and arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment and prevention of cancer, viral infections and microbial infections by the administration of anti-C3b(i) antibodies. The present invention also relates to methods of treating and preventing cancer, viral infection, or microbial infection in an animal comprising administering to said animal IgG antibodies, IgM antibodies and/or complement components in combination with antibodies specific for C3b(i). The present invention also relates methods of treating and preventing cancer, viral infection or microbial infection in an animal comprising administrating said animal antibodies that immunospecifically bind to one or more cancer cell antigens, viral antigens or microbial antigens, respectively, in combination with antibodies immunospecific for C3b(i). The present invention further relates to the detection, imaging, diagnosis and monitoring of cancer utilizing C3b(i) specific antibodies.

Abstract: Cysteine-depleted CTL epitopes can elicit a stronger or more specific CTL response than the native, cysteine-containing CTL epitope of a disease associated antigen.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening for voltage gated (VG)-selective inhibitors, novel VG-selective inhibitors, compositions containing the same, methods for inhibiting calcium entry into electrically non-excitable cells with said VG-selective inhibitors, methods for preventing proliferation of electrically non-excitable cells with said VG-selective inhibitors as well as methods of treating autoimmune diseases, preventing graft rejections, preventing apoptosis and treating cancer with the same.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for early detection of subacute, potentially catastrophic infectious illness in a premature newborn infant. The method comprises: (a) continuously monitoring heart rate variability in the premature newborn infant; and (b) identifying at least one characteristic abnormality in the heart rate variability that is associated with the illness. This method can be use to diagnose illnesses such as, but not limited to, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia and meningitis. In another aspect, there is provided a method and apparatus for early detection of subacute, potentially catastrophic infectious illness in a patient.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method and apparatus for early detection of subacute, potentially catastrophic infectious illness in a premature newborn infant. The method comprises: (a) continuously monitoring heart rate variability in the premature newborn infant; and (b) identifying at least one characteristic abnormality in the heart rate variability that is associated with the illness. This method can be use to diagnose illnesses such as, but not limited to, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia and meningitis. In another aspect, there is provided a method and apparatus for early detection of subacute, potentially catastrophic infectious illness in a patient.

Abstract: An interactive multi-station medical specimen analysis system for simultaneously analyzing a medical specimen at remote locations and accessing, for evaluation, the results of each of the analyses at a central laboratory is disclosed. A central laboratory, interacts with remote computers, through a server to review, evaluate and accept or reject specimen analyses. The server communicates with the plurality of remote computers, laboratory computer and a centralized computer via a network. Analytical instruments which are not equipped to communicate with a computer are connected through computer interface software which interprets the instrument language into the computer program language and the computer program language into the instrument language. The interactive system requests analytical tests, transmits the test results to the server databases and receives and displays data from the server databases.

Abstract: Protein targets for disease intervention through inhibition of nucleic acid metabolism are disclosed. Novel polypeptides for one such target, DNA-dependent ATPase A, and novel polynucleotides encoding DNA-dependent ATPase A are disclosed. Phosphoaminoglycoside compounds which act on such protein targets to inhibit nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, screening assays for identifying compounds that inhibit nucleic acid-dependent ATPase activity, including, but not limited to, DNA-dependent ATPase A, are disclosed. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases, including but not limited to cancer and infectious disease, through disruption of nucleic acid metabolism and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, methods for prevention and treatment of diseases including, but not limited to cancer and infectious disease are disclosed.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent based on a recombinant adenovirus which employs an osteocalcin promoter for the expression of thymidine kinase can be administered intravascularly to treat metastatic cancer, including osteosarcoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ocular melanoma or brain cancer. Systemic administration of this agent provides a preferred route over previous disclosure of local direct administration. The same therapeutic agent can be effectively employed in the treatment of benign conditions, including benign prostatic hypertrophy and arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: A method for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is provided which allows for isovolumetric, isobaric delivery of occluding agents to aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels, wherein the aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels are isolated from the general circulation until the occluding agent has stabilized or until occlusion is effected. In particular, a double balloon method for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is disclosed wherein a first balloon is inserted into the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel to deliver an occluding agent, and a second balloon is placed such that it substantially covers the neck of the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel to substantially seal the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel from the general circulation. Additionally, an aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel comprising a double balloon configuration useful for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed which have the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: (a) a hydrogen atom; and (b) a lower alkyl group, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; or R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 and the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded may together form a heterocyclic group; R.sub.3 -R.sub.

Abstract: Optically pure enantiomers of avarol are obtained. The enantiomers of avarol are demonstrated to be highly effective inhibitors of .alpha.-glucosidase and .alpha.-mannosidase. Other enzymes assayed were not inhibited by these optically pure compounds. Inhibition of these two enzymes is useful for a variety of assays and probes, and offers particular utility in the treatment of retroviral infection-associated syndromes, such as AIDS.

Abstract: Frequent application of a virucidal hand lotion containing malic acid, citric acid, and a C.sub.1-6 alcohol will prevent the hand-to-hand transmission of rhinoviruses and reduce the incidence of the "common cold" caused by rhinoviruses.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for treating cerebral vasospasm induced by hemorrhage or cerebral ischemia, by treating patients with a therapeutically effective amount of a lipophilic iron chelator.