Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating atherosclerosis. The compositions comprise unilamellar liposomes having an average diameter of 100-150 nanometers. Methods for treating atherosclerosis employing the compositions of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, medium and signal for producing a representation of a measurable property which varies in time and space are disclosed. The apparatus includes a receiver for receiving a plurality of sets of values representing measurements of the property across the object at respective measurement times, each set being associated with a respective measurement time. The apparatus further includes a processor circuit in communication with the receiver. The processor circuit is programmed to produce a plurality of sets of values representing the property at a plurality of locations throughout the object at the respective measurement times, by minimizing a figure of merit function relating the values representing the measurements with the values representing the property at the plurality of locations, with a shape constraint imposed on the values representing the property at the plurality of locations.

Abstract: Therapeutic agents which target heat shock protein (hsp) 27 in vivo are used to provide treatment to individuals, particularly human individuals, suffering from prostate cancer and other cancers that overexpress hsp27. A therapeutic agent, for example an antisense oligonucleotide or RNAi nucleotide inhibitor with sequence specificity for hsp27 mRNA, for example human hsp27 mRNA, is administered to an individual suffering from prostate cancer or some other cancer expressing elevated levels of hsp 27 in a therapeutically effective amount. The therapeutic agent is suitably formulated into a pharmaceutical composition which includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and packaged in dosage unit form. A preferred dosage unit form is an injectable dosage unit form.

Abstract: Mutant glycosidase enzymes are formed in which the normal nucleophilic amino acid within the active site has been changed to a nonnucleophilic amino acid. These enzymes cannot hydrolyze disaccharide products, but which can still form them. Using this enzyme, oligosaccharides are synthesized by preparing a mixture of an &agr;glycosyl fluoride and a glycoside acceptor molecule; enzymatically coupling the &agr.glycosyl fluoride to the glycoside acceptor molecule to form a glycosyl glycoside product using the mutant glycosidase enzyme; and recovering the glycosyl glycoside product. Particular enzymes include a mutant form of Agrobacterium &bgr.Glucosidase in which the normal glutamic acid residue at position 358 is replaced with an alanine residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide, called EspA, which is secreted by pathogenic E. coli, such as the enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding EspA polypeptide, EspA peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant EspA, antibodies which bind to EspA, and a kit for the detection of EspA-producing E. coli.

Abstract: An ion lens is used to focus ions produced by various types of ion sources which are substantially at atmospheric pressure. The ions are focused to the inlet of a downstream mass spectrometer or other devices which require a larger and more stable ion flux improved performance. The ion lens is mounted in close proximity to the sprayer tip. The ion lens increases the total ion count rate summed over all of the generated ions. The ion lens may also be employed to vary the degree of ion fragmentation and the charge state pattern of the generated ions. The ion lens may also result in a more stable ion signal. Furthermore, more than one ion lens may be used. This invention may also be extended to multisprayer ion sources.

Abstract: Steroid compounds having various oxygen substitution on the steroid nucleus are disclosed. A specific functionality present on many of the steroid compounds is oxygen substitution at both of positions 6 and 7. Thus, certain steroids have oxygen substitution at C6 and C7, and some have specific stereochemistries such as 6? and 7? oxygen substitution, and an alpha hydrogen at the 5 position in addition to having 6? and 7? oxygen substitution. Steroids having 3,4-epoxy functionality are also disclosed. In addition, steroids having C17 pyran and ?-lactone functionality, with oxygen substitution at C6 and C7, or at C15, of the steroid nucleus, are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides analogs of eleutherobin and the eleuthesides modified at the C-11 position or comprising an epoxide functionality from C-11 to C-12. C-11 to C-12 is an ideal location for conjugating functional moieties to the eleutherobin pharmacophore without significant loss of antimitotic activity. Moieties that may be conjugated at C-11 include those intended to increase the solubility of the pharmacophore, to facilitate drug formulation, or to facilitate in vivo delivery or targeting.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate-coated implantable medical devices and processes of making same. The calcium-phosphate coatings are designed to minimize the immune response to the implant (e.g. restenosis in stenting procedures) and can be used to store and release a medicinally active agent in a controlled manner. Such coatings can be applied to any implantable medical devices and are useful for a number of medical procedures including (but not limited to) balloon angioplasty in cardiovascular stenting, ureteral stenting and catheterisation. The calcium phosphate coatings can be applied to a substrate as one or more coatings by a sol-gel deposition process, an aerosol-gel deposition process, a biomimetic deposition process, a calcium phosphate cement deposition process, an electro-phoretic deposition process or an electrochemical deposition process. The coating can contain and elude a drug in an engineered manner.

Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating or preventing diseases associated with body passageways, comprising the step of delivering to an external portion of the body passageway a therapeutic agent. Representative examples of therapeutic agents include anti-angiogenic factors, anti-proliferative agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and antibiotics.

Abstract: Agents that reduce the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that are known to be useful in the treatment of cancer result in increased expression of the protein clusterin. Since clusterin can provide protection against apoptosis, this secondary effect detracts from the efficacy of the therapeutic agent. In overcoming this, the present invention provides a combination of therapeutic agents that is useful in the treatment of cancer. The combination includes an agent that reduces the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that stimulates expression of clusterin as a secondary effect, and an oligonucleotide that is effective to reduce the amount of clusterin in cancer cells. In some embodiments of the invention, the agent that reduces IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 is a bispecific antisense species. The oligonucleotide may be an antisense oligonucleotide or an RNAi oligonucleotide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing useful materials from filament-forming ?-helical proteins or filaments made of such proteins. The method comprises allowing filament-forming ?-helical proteins to self-assemble into ?-helix containing filaments and forming fibres, films or bulk materials from the filaments. The materials are stretched to strain the filaments so that the ?-helices substantially irreversibly change to ?-sheet forms. The filament-forming ?-helical proteins can comprise intermediate filament proteins. In a specific embodiment, the filament-forming proteins comprise hagfish slime thread IF proteins.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer having an elongated rod set, and a method of operating same. The rod set has an entrance end, an exit end and a longitudinal axis. Ions are admitted into the entrance end of the rod set. At least some of the ions are trapped in the rod set by producing a barrier field at an exit member adjacent to the exit end of the rod set and by producing an RF field between the rods of the rod set adjacent at least the exit end of the rod set. The RF and barrier fields interact in an extraction region adjacent to the exit end of the rod set to produce a fringing field. Ions in the extraction region are energized to mass selectively eject at least some ions of a selected mass to charge ratio axially from the rod set past the barrier field. The RF field is a two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field having a quadrupole harmonic with amplitude A2, an octopole harmonic with amplitude A4, and a hexadecapole harmonic with amplitude A8. A8 is less than A4, and A4 is greater than 0.1% of A2.

Abstract: Improved ?,??-dihydroxy meso-substituted chlorin, bacteriochlorin or isobacteriochlorin compounds are provided as photosensitizers. Pharmaceutical compositions and photodynamic therapy comprising them are also disclosed.

Abstract: Therapeutic agents which target heat shock protein (hsp) 27 in vivo are used to provide treatment to individuals, particularly human individuals, suffering from prostate cancer and other cancers that overexpress hsp27. A therapeutic agent, for example an antisense oligonucleotide or RNAi nucleotide inhibitor with sequence specificity for hsp27 mRNA, for example human hsp27 mRNA, is administered to an individual suffering from prostate cancer or some other cancer expressing elevated levels of hsp 27 in a therapeutically effective amount. The therapeutic agent is suitably formulated into a pharmaceutical composition which includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and packaged in dosage unit form. A preferred dosage unit form is an injectable dosage unit form.

Abstract: Compositions and devices including hyaluronic acid and a compound that inhibits degradation of hyaluronic acid, and methods of making and using same.

Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the invention, CXCR4 antagonists may be used to treat hematopoietic cells, such as progenitor or stem cells, to promote the rate of cellular multiplication, self-renewal, proliferation or expansion. CXCR4 antagonists may be used therapeutically to stimulate hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell multiplication/self-renewal.

Abstract: The use of screening assays based on the role of human stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (“hSCD1”) in human diseases, disorders or conditions relating to serum levels of triglyceride, VLDL, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, or production of secretions from mucous membranes, monounsaturated fatty acids, wax esters, and the like, is disclosed. Also disclosed are conventions useful in the prevention and/or treatment of such diseases.

Abstract: Antibiotic polyketide compounds are provided having the formula wherein: R1 and R2 are the same or different and are independently H or R; R is a structural fragment having a saturated or unsaturated linear, branched, or cyclic, skeleton containing one to ten carbon atoms in which the carbon atoms may be optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of: —OH; ?O; —OR5; —O2CR5, —SH; —SR5; —SOCR5; —NH2; —NH5; —NH(R5)2; —NHCOR5; NRCOR5; —I; —Br; —Cl; —F; —CN; —CO2H; —CO2R5; —CH0; —COR5; —CONH2; —CONHR5; —CON(R5)2; —COSH; —COSR5; —N02; —S03H; —SOR5; and —SO2R5, wherein R5 is a linear, branched or cyclic, one to ten carbon saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; R3 and R4 are different and are independently selected from the groups consisting of OH, wherein Z1 and Z are linear or branched saturated or unsaturated, one to en carbon fragments optionally substituted with Y; Ar is a monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic, fully or partially aromatic system containing five or six membe