Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting T-lymphocyte-mediated immune responses, including those directed against autologous and/or heterologous tissues, e.g., by a recipient mammal of a transplanted tissue, said method comprising providing the recipient mammal with Fas ligand. The Fas ligand may be provided to the recipient mammal by a variety of means, including by pump implantation or by transplantation of transgenic tissue expressing Fas ligand. Also provided is a method for diagnostic use of Fas ligand expression in improving transplantation success.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the formation of microparticles from copolymers during a process involving precipitation with compressed antisolvents. The family of suitable copolymers have a semi-crystalline structure that above their glass transition temperature retain sufficient crystalline strength to form microparticles. The invention also provides systems comprising the microparticles encapsulated with a desired compound for the controlled release of the compound over a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: This invention provides a complementary color polarizer using a single polarizing film followed by a stack of two or more retarders. In a preferred embodiment, the color polarizers of this invention produce orthogonally polarized complementary primary colors (red/cyan, green/magenta, or blue/yellow). This invention further provides color filters which utilize the color polarizers of this invention in combination with a polarization separator to separate the orthogonally polarized colors. The polarization separator can be passive, such as a polarizing beam splitter, or active, such as a switchable polarizer. The switchable polarizer can employ a nematic or a smectic liquid crystal cell. Two color filters of this invention can be cascaded to provide a three color (RGB) filter with an off-state. In combination with a monochrome display or camera, the color filters of this invention provide color displays or cameras.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.

Abstract: The present invention provides the sequence for a novel gene called TRC8 which is located on chromosome 8. Various types of alterations in the gene have been shown to be associated with renal and thyroid tumors. One such alteration involves a 3;8 translocation which interrupts TRC8 and results in a fusion with the 3p14 gene, FHIT. Another alteration includes a mutation in the 5′ untranslated region of TRC8. Thus, the invention further provides sequences corresponding to the gene fusions created during the translocation, as well as the sequence of the gene containing the mutation in the 5′ region. The invention further provides methods for detecting alterations in TRC8 which have potential utility in the diagnosis of tumors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for transplantation of neurons. The methods and compositions of the present invention provide a renewable supply of safe and effective therapeutic transplantable tissue. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the transplantation of terminally differentiated neurons derived from cell lines for the treatment of Huntington's disease and other neurological disorders.

Abstract: The present application shows that the expression of Coxsackievirus and/or Adenovirus (CAR) in various lymphocyte cell lines is sufficient to facilitate the efficient transduction of these cells by adenoviruses. This property of CAR does not require its cytoplasmic domain. Use of a truncated CAR (tCAR) lacking the cytoplasmic domain has the unexpected advantage in that integrin expression is not increased in lymphocytes expressing tCAR, whereas lymphocytes expressing full-length CAR exhibit upregulated integrin expression. Further provided are transgenic mice which have been genetically engineered for tissue-specific (lymphocyte) expression of tCAR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gene and amino acid sequences encoding DNA polymerase III holoenzyme subunits and structural genes from thermophilic organisms. In particular, the present invention provides DNA polymerase III holoenzyme subunits of T. thermophilus. The present invention also provides antibodies and other reagents useful to identify DNA polymerase III molecules.

Abstract: An immortalized line of human fetal brain cells capable of synthesizing dopamine has been developed. No tumor formation or rejection at 30 days post-transplantation has been detected. The cells are useful for transplantation therapy of a neurological deficit characterized by dopamine deficiency in the local region of the brain.

Abstract: A method for treating pulmonary and systemic vascular diseases associated with cardiac hypotrophy, dysfunction or failure that involves the administration of an effective amount of a PKC antagonist to a patient suffering from one of such diseases is disclosed. PKC antagonists are selected from bryostatin derivatives and more preferably from bryostatin-1. The disease states treatable in accordance with the present invention are characterized by alterations in vascular structure, vascular tone, myocardial hypotrophy, dysfunction or failure, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Particular formulations include bryostatin-1 in an effective amount to treat one or more of the above-referenced diseases.

Abstract: Compositions for tissue engineering and drug delivery have been developed based on solutions of two or more polymers which form semi-interpenetrating or interpenetrating polymer networks upon exposure to active species following injection at a site in a patient in need thereof. The polymers crosslink to themselves but not to each other; semi-interpenetrating networks are formed when only one of the polymers crosslink. The resulting viscous solutions retain the biologically active molecules or cells at the site of injection until release or tissue formation, respectfully, occurs. As a result of studies conducted with polymer-cell suspensions forming interpenetrating polymer networks, it has been determined that polymer solutions can be formulated wherein the active species is provided by exposure of the polymer solution to an exogenous souce of active species, typically electromagnetic radiation, preferably light.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules capable of binding phospholipid membranes, and more particularly RNA molecules capable of binding and forming channels in biological membranes. In this regard the present invention provides methods for screening nucleic acid molecules that bind phospholipid membranes. The present invention also provides compositions of nucleic acid molecules capable of binding phospholipid membranes, as well as methods employing these compositions to alter the permeability or detectably label phospholipid membranes.

Abstract: The invention provides a transgenic mouse that is a model for heart muscle disease and heart failure. Also provided are methods of using the transgenic mouse model to study heart muscle disease and heart failure and conditions and treatments related thereto.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication utilizes available channel bandwidth when multiplexing a plurality of user signals over a communication channel. The method utilizes signal power characteristics as a signature to multiplex and de-multiplex the plurality of signals applied to the communication channel. Many wireless communication applications are required to utilize a limited, assigned frequency range. Modulation of digital information in such a limited bandwidth is a critical factor in determining the data transferred through the wireless communication channel. The present invention provides for multiplexing of a plurality of digital data sequences over a wireless communication channel having a fixed frequency range. The method provides for a base station which dynamically assigns signaling power parameters to each remote device which is optimally bandwidth-efficient for present signal traffic loads and for present received power conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods to identify adrenergic receptor antagonists having good tolerability. These methods include measuring the inverse agonist activity and/or the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of an adrenergic receptor antagonist. Also disclosed are a method to treat heart failure and compounds useful therefor.

Abstract: A low-loss comb-generating optical cavity including an optical amplifier and a microwave-driven electro-optic modulator crystal, produces a comb of optical frequency sidebands having spectral lines equally spaced around the frequency of an input laser beam incident on the comb-generating cavity. The comb-generating cavity includes an input mirror movable along the beam propagation direction, and a fixed position output mirror located at time synchronous distances of both the input laser wavelength and modulation wavelength. The comb-generating cavity and its microwave driven modulator are in resonance with the input laser beam, and provide iterative or recirculating beam action that transfers the input optical frequency of the laser, sideband by sideband, to remote and precisely known comb frequencies offset from, and centered on, the input laser frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stable HPV capsomeres which express at least one virus-neutralizing conformational epitope of a native HPV L1 protein which are substantially incapable of assembly into virus-like particles. These capsomeres, because of their smaller size, and immunogenic properties are well suited for use in HPV vaccines and as diagnostic agents. Moreover, because of their smaller size (relative to VLPs), these stable capsomeres may be easily purified and should result in HPV vaccines of enhanced homogeneity.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to telomerase reverse transcriptase, the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.