Abstract: An impeller in a turbomachinery has blades designed such that reduced static pressure difference .DELTA.Cp between the hub and the shroud on the suction surface of the blade shows a remarkably decreasing tendency near the impeller exit as it approaches the impeller exit between the impeller inlet and the impeller exit.

Abstract: A total knee replacement prosthesis (TKR) is provided in which a pintle hinge enables the knee to pivot about a horizontal axis. A degree of rotational movement about a vertical axis is provided by fabricating the tibial component in at least two parts. One part is attached to the hinge and includes a stem portion which is designed to be rotatable with a hollow shell adapted to be fixed into the tibia. The hinge portion is standardized and is designed to receive femoral and tibial stem portions having dimensions to suit a particular patient.

Abstract: A thread guide device is provided which is adapted to be removably or fixedly mounted on the distal end of an endoscope, or which is an integral part thereof. Alternatively, the device may comprise a head joined to the distal end of an elongate shaft that is slidable within the endoscope. The device has a pair of thread guides, for example in the form of longitudinally extending passages, which are laterally spaced from one another. The device permits a knot formed by threads which have passed through the thread guides to be viewed by the endoscope.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of glycosidase inhibitors for inhibiting the conversion of a pro-toxin to a toxin by a glycosidase enzyme. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of glycosidase inhibitors for the treatment of malaria, endotoxic shock or septic shock.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint for replacing a natural joint in a body includes a first prosthetic component of the prosthetic joint which, when implanted into a first resected bone of the natural joint has a junction between the implanted component and the bone. The joint further includes a second prosthetic component of the prosthetic joint which, when implanted into an adjacent resected bone of the natural joint, articulates with the first component. A microporous membrane surrounds the first prosthetic component and is secured to the first prosthetic component and, when implanted in a body, is secured to bone surrounding said first prosthetic component, thereby sealing the junction against ingress of particles, but permitting liquids to pass through said membrane without restricting articulation of the joint.

Abstract: A handle is provided for attachment to a medical endoscope for advancing instrumentalities through the instrument channel of the endoscope. The handle is adapted for use with instrumentalities requiring multiple longitudinal strokes to be performed in a predetermined sequence. A detent mechanism is provided to assure that a first stroke is completed before the next succeeding stroke begins. The invention as disclosed is used to operate an endoscopic sewing machine.

Abstract: Antigenic and/or immunoregulatry material derived from Mycobacterium vaccae is useful in the treatment of mental diseases associated with an autoimmune reaction initiated by an infection and/or the auto immunologically mediated consequences (other than uveitis) of chronic infection.

Abstract: By conducting two assays for related serological disease markers in a single vessel and arranging for one assay to give a signal which increases with increasing concentration of a first marker while the second assay gives a signal which decreases with increasing concentration of a second marker, and by balancing the respective sizes of the two signals, a combined signal can be generated which indicates the status of an individual or a blood donation with respect to the stage of recovery from the disease.

Abstract: The invention comprises an anti-idiotypic antibody designated 2F10 and permitted variants thereof, which have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial but not complete homology with such surface antigen. The invention further comprises a peptide having a chain comprising the amino acid residues Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Thr Arg Gly Tyr His Gly Ser Ser Leu Tyr and permited variants thereof, which, like 2F10, have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial, but not complete, homology with said surface antigen. The amino acid sequence is found in and forms a part of 2F10.

Abstract: Immunoregulatory material derived from Mycobacterium vaccae, especially dead cells of M. vaccae, are useful for the treatment of pathological conditions (other than mycobacterial disease and arthritic disease) in a patient in which the patient's IgG shows an abnormally high proportion of agalactosyl IgG and for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders (other than an arthritic disease) caused or accompanied by an abnormally high release from macrophages of interleukin-6 and/or tumor necrosis factor.

Abstract: A method is provided for setting up a photon counting detector, to enable it to carry out a centroiding procedure in which a photon event occurring in a given range is allocated to one of a plurality of channels into which the range is divided. The method comprises the steps of: a) sub-dividing the range into a plurality of channels of preferably equal width and loading the channel boundaries into a look-table; b) performing an integration on a flat field and allocating photon events to the channels defined in step a); c) counting the number of events allocated to each channel; d) altering the channel boundaries in directions tending to equalize the number of events allocated to each; and, optionally, e) repeating steps b), c) and d) until the variation between the number of events held by the channels is at an acceptable level.

Abstract: The invention concerns a complex comprising a cell adhesion protein or a fragment thereof and Cu ions. The cell adhesion protein may be, for example, fibronectin and the Cu ions may be, for example, Cu.sup.2+ ions. The Cu ions stabilize the cell adhesion protein and the complex may be used to promote wound healing.

Abstract: A sewing device is provided for passing a thread through a substrate portion, particularly a portion of a patient's tissue. The device comprises a hollow needle movable between a first position in which it is out of the substrate portion and a second position in which it passes through the substrate portion. A thread carrier is attached to the thread and can be moved from a position being within the hollow needle to a position outside it.

Abstract: A device is provided for cutting threads, particularly curing surgery carried out using an endoscope. The device has a cutting member having at least one aperture extending therethrough of a size sufficient to permit the surgical thread to slide therethrough, the aperture having a thread-cutting edge. In use, the cutting member is located at the distal end of an endoscope.

Abstract: The invention comprises an anti-idiotypic antibody designated 2F10 and permitted variants thereof, which have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial but not complete homology with such surface antigen. The invention further comprises a peptide having a chain comprising the amino acid residues Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Thr Arg Gly Tyr His Gly Ser Ser Leu Tyr and permitted variants thereof, which, like 2F10, have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial, but not complete, homology with said surface antigen. The amino acid sequence is found in and forms a part of 2F10.

Abstract: A method of fitting orthopaedic prostheses is disclosed in which a semi-permeable microporous membrane is fitted over an implanted prosthesis so as to cover the junction between the prosthesis and the bone. In this way, particles generated by mechanical wear of the prosthesis are excluded. Such particles are believed to inhibit bone regeneration in the region of the prosthesis. In addition, by preventing the ingress of fibrous connective tissue cells, a secondary seal of new bone will form between the membrane and the original bone.

Abstract: An impeller in a turbomachine has blades designed such that a reduced static pressure difference .DELTA.Cp between a hub and a shroud on a suction surface of a blade has a tendency to remarkably decrease in the vicinity of an impeller exit as it approaches the impeller exit from an inlet.

Abstract: Non-depleting CD4 monoclonal antibodies may be used in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: The invention comprises an anti-idiotypic antibody designated 2F10 and permitted variants thereof, which have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial but not complete homology with such surface antigen. The invention further comprises a peptide having a chain comprising the amino acid residues Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Thr Arg Gly Tyr His Gly Ser Ser Leu Tyr and permited variants thereof, which, like 2F10, have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial, but not complete, homology with said surface antigen. The amino acid sequence is found in and forms a part of 2F10.

Abstract: A depot formulation comprising fibronectin or a fragment thereof, a growth factor binding agent linked thereto and growth factor bound to the binding agent is used to promote wound healing in combination with macroscopically oriented cell adhesion proteins, the depot formulations allow the healing process to be directed to afford stronger or more cosmetically acceptable results.