Abstract: A method for treating inflammatory bowel disease in a patient by inhibiting the production of interleukin-8 in intestinal epithelial cells by administering to said patient an enema of an effective amount of tributyrin.

Abstract: A method of culturing hair follicular stem cells by isolating a subpopulation of follicular keratinocytes from the upper portion of a hair follicle, dispersing the isolated keratinocytes into a single cell suspension, and growing the dispersed isolated keratinocytes in the presence of 3T3 feeder cells is provided. A method of evaluating the efficacy of agents for modulating the activity of bulge cell populations by exposing bulge cells to an agent to be tested and comparing the response of the test cells to established controls for bulge cells is also provided. Methods of modulating the activity of hair follicular stem cells by identifying a subpopulation of follicular keratinocytes from the upper portion of a hair follicle and contracting the cells with a selected agent to stimulate growth or to selectively kill the cells is also provided.

Abstract: Methods of detecting label retaining cells in self-renewing tissues, such as hair follicle, are provided. Methods of modulating the activity of slow-cycling cells and methods of evaluating the efficacy of agents for modulating the activity of stem cell populations are also provided. Generally, cells are continuously labeled, induced into a proliferative phase by exposure to an agent such as TPA or a cytokine, and then observed in relation to established criteria.

Abstract: Propargylic and allenic sulfones are disclosed having the ability to selectively cleave nucleic acids, especially deoxyribonucleic acid. Such compositions are capable of being synthetically modified to effect cleavage at selected, sequenced sites on nucleic acids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of conducting affinity chromatographic separations of biomaterials which comprises contacting the biomaterial with a solid support comprising a generally spherical bead having a generally central magnetic core and a surrounding exterior coat about the core comprising a material capable of binding with the biomaterial.

Abstract: A general purpose programmable neural computer which parallel processes analog data. The neural computer comprises neural elements for outputting an analog signal in response to at least one input signal, synaptic circuits interfaced with the neural elements for modifying gains of the neural elements, and switching circuits interfaced with the synaptic circuits and the neural circuits for routing signals between the synapse circuits and the neural circuits and for modifying the synaptic time constants, thereby changing connection architecture of the general purpose analog computer as desired. In this manner, the neural computer of the invention can be programmed to learn different confirurations as well as different synaptic values.