Abstract: The present invention provides fluorogenic substrates and methods of use in detecting and analyzing phospholipase C isozyme (PLC) activity.

Abstract: A method and device for accurately determining oxygen saturation of hemoglobin by the measurement of the optical density of a sample, such as a blood vessel, in response to illumination by light having at least three wavelengths (?1, ?2, ?3, . . . ) within a range of about 460 nm to about 523 nm. The hematocrit of a sample may be determined from optical density measurements at the three or more wavelengths in conjunction with a known path length. The device may be an intravenous or intra-arterial fiber optic catheter used to deliver the interrogating light signal to the blood and to detect the reflected signal. A method and device of determining the thickness of the retinal well using spectroscopic information are also disclosed.

Abstract: A passive wireless gastroesophageal sensor includes a LC resonance circuit, two or more electrodes and a passive batteryless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit connected to the LC resonance circuit and the one or more electrodes. The electrodes are configured to measure an impedance within a gastroesophageal tract. The passive batteryless RFID circuit transmits a frequency modulated signal using the LC resonance circuit that varies between a first frequency corresponding to a non-acid reflux condition and a second frequency corresponding to an acid reflux condition based on the measured impedance in response to a signal received from a detector.

Abstract: Peptides and mimetics of selected domains of mammalian serum amyloid A isoform 2.1 (SAA2.1) and compounds and compositions thereof are provided that enhance the effect on macrophage cholesterol ester hydrolase activity and/or inhibit acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase activity. Methods of using these compositions in the treatment and/or prevention of atherosclerosis as well as coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining tissue versus fluid components of an organ include a detector that generates a detector signal based on electrical signals derived from tissue and fluid. The apparatus includes a signal processor in communication with the detector which subtracts in real time a tissue component from the detector signal and produces a fluid volume signal. A method for monitoring a patient's fluid volume of a patient's organ. An apparatus for monitoring a patient's organ. A method for monitoring a patient's organ. A method to piggyback an admittance system onto a AICD/Bi-ventricular Pacemaker for a heart of a patient, in particular a weakened heart having features consistent with congestive heart failure. An apparatus for monitoring an organ, such as a heart, lungs, brain, skeletal muscle, and bladder of a patient which includes a detector which detects the admittance of the organ.

Abstract: This invention provides a polyfunctional polymer having high stereoregularity, in particular, isotacticity, and provides a production process thereof. The present invention relates to a polymer having, in a molecule, a repeating unit represented by General Formula (2): wherein R1 and R2 are different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and an aryl group; * represents an asymmetrical carbon, the polymer containing meso diad (m) and racemo diad (r) at a proportion of 60:40 to 100:0 (m:r). The invention also relates to chemical modifications and a production process of the polymer.

Abstract: A domain model generator (DMG) for an integrated development environment (IDE) guides a software engineer through a process of identifying domain-specific concepts for a domain of an object-oriented software application. The DMG also helps the engineer to classify the domain-specific concepts as pertaining to particular object-oriented modeling concepts for the object-oriented software application. Those modeling concepts may include classes, attributes, inheritance, etc. In addition, the DMG may automatically generate a Unified Modeling Language (UML) domain diagram, based at least in part on the domain-specific concepts and the corresponding modeling concepts. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biocompatible material and in particular to a two-phase or composite biocompatible ceramic material, wherein the first phase is a doped calcium zinc silicate and the second phase is a metal oxide. In an embodiment, the invention has been developed for use in tissue regeneration including bone tissue. In other embodiments, the invention has been developed as a coating to improve the long-term stability of prior art implantable medical devices.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices which utilize Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) techniques to measure degradation of electronic components are provided. Such measurements may be implemented while the components “live” or otherwise functioning within an overall system. In one embodiment, monitoring a power converter in a high power system is accomplished. In this embodiment, degradation of components within the power converter (e.g. metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), capacitors, insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), and the like) may be monitored by processing data from reflections of an SSTDR signal to determine changes in impedance, capacitance, or any other changes that may be characteristic of components degrading. For example, an aging MOSFET may experience an increase of drain to source resistance which adds additional resistance to a current path within a power converter.

Abstract: Composition and method for irrigating a prepared dental root canal. The composition is an aqueous composition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, chlorhexidine or orally acceptable addition salt, and N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, and is effective for simultaneous smear layer removal and disinfection.

Abstract: Disclosed are hierarchically porous carbon materials with a plurality of discreet nanoparticles dispersed on their carbon phase. The materials possess a continuous network of pores that spans the porous material, permitting the flow of fluids into and through the material. The porous materials can be used as heterogeneous catalysts.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions comprising selective AKR1C3 inhibitors. The invention also includes compositions comprising bifunctional AKR1C3 inhibitors and selective androgen receptor modulators. The invention further includes methods of treatment using the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: Method of identifying a microRNA-recognition element and of generating microRNAs are disclosed. System and computer programs for performing such methods are disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a heterologous coding sequences and one or more MREs are also disclosed as are isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more MRE sequences and being free of a coding sequence operably linked to regulatory elements. MicroRNA generated by a methods of the invention and the use of the microRNAs to downregulate gene expression are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention has demonstrated for the first time that orally administered type I collagen (CI) induced tolerance to CI in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ameliorated clinical manifestations of the disease. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of treating a fibrosing disease by oral administration of a tissue protein, for example, collagen, derived from the tissue undergoing fibrosis.

Abstract: A three-dimensional nanobattery formed by individually wiring nanostructured electrodes and combining them with an electrolyte. Short, capped nanotubes termed ‘nanobaskets’ are formed by sputtering coating onto nanoporous templates. Metallic nanowires are grown by electrochemical deposition from the nanobaskets and through the template, making electrical contact with each nanobasket electrode. The same procedure can be used to fabricate both a battery anode and a battery cathode. A thin layer of electrolyte is placed between the two nanobasket electrodes, and electrical contact is made through the nanowires.

Abstract: The invention relates to perhexiline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as well as to a method of treating HCM, which comprises administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of perhexiline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to treat said HCM. The invention further relates to a treatment programme for treating HCM, which involves the co-use or co-administration of perhexiline with one or more other compounds that are advantageous in treating HCM or the symptoms thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods relating to antibodies specific for a soluble form of CTLA-4 (sCLTA-4). Such antibodies have been shown to have a strong boosting effect on antigen-specific human immune responses.

Abstract: During lung injury, p53 expression increases, inducing plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) while inhibiting expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR), resulting in apoptosis of lung epithelial cells (LECs). In the bleomycin lung injury model, p53 and PAI-1 are induced while uPA and uPAR are inhibited. A 20 residue peptide DGIWKASFTTFTVTKYWFYR termed PP-1 (the Cav-1 scaffolding domain) or peptide NYHYLESSMTALYTLGH, termed PP-2, protected LECs from bleomycin-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo and prevented subsequent pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating lung epitheilial damage. Pharmaceutical compositions, peptide multimers and deliverable polypeptides comprising the above peptides are dislcosed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a joint prosthesis, bearing material and a production method thereof, which suppresses wear in a sliding section and suppresses the production of abrasive powder even during repeated daily operation. To achieve the object, there is provided a biomaterial comprising: a substrate made of metal, alloy or ceramic; and a biocompatible material layer laminated on the substrate, wherein hydroxyl groups are formed on the substrate by surface-treating, while the biocompatible material layer comprises a polymer containing phosphorylcholine groups, the substrate and the biocompatible material layer are bound via a binder layer which is combined with the hydroxyl groups of the substrate and with the biocompatible material layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of hyperpolarized 89Y. Hyperpolarized 89Y may be used as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents for sensitive detection and imaging.