Abstract: Provided is a method of determining a risk of pouchitis development following a surgical procedure whereby colon is removed and an internal pouch is created in a patient with UC by determining a first pANCA titer, where the first pANCA titer is determined following the surgical procedure; determining a second pANCA titer at a later time; and comparing the first pANCA titer and the second pANCA titer, where a significantly elevated second pANCA titer indicates an increased risk of pouchitis development.

Abstract: A method for reducing irregular astigmatism and debris during lamellar surgery of the eye is practiced by preoperatively marking the corneal surface with a pattern or radial and pararadial lines. After making the incision, the incised corneal cap or flap is removed, followed by reshaping of the corneal stroma, irrigating the corneal bed to wash residual debris, and aspirating fluid from the eye. The corneal cap or flap is then repositioned on the cornea by realignment of the pattern of radial and pararadial lines.

Abstract: Gelatin film compositions are useful for immobilization over tissue, usually by the application of energy to the films. Exemplary films comprise cross-linked and non-cross-linked granular and non-granular gelatin sheets, typically including a plasticizer. The gelatin films are dry, thin, and preferably meet certain pliability, elasticity, melting temperature, and other criteria. Methods are described for producing these films from collagen. Methods are further described for applying these films to tissue.

Abstract: Hydromagnesite-magnesium hydroxide compositions are prepared which, when used as fillers in smoking article wrappers, significantly reduce the amount of sidestream smoke produced by the burning smoking article while providing the smoking article with good subjective characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of inhibiting a disease process in a luminal structure of a subject including introducing within the luminal structure a complex of a radionuclide and a chelating agent in an amount effective to inhibit the disease process.

Abstract: There are disclosed filters for tobacco combustion products that, when employed in conjunction with exposure to tobacco smoke, inhibit the accumulation of AGEs and AGE-like tobacco- and tobacco smoke-derived adducts in individuals exposed to tobacco smoke. There is further disclosed a use of ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof for the preparation of filters to inhibit the accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and AGE-like tobacco- and tobacco smoke-derived adducts in individuals exposed to tobacco smoke.

Abstract: Precise, three-dimensional localization of neuroanatomic substrates responsible for an established pattern of anti-social behavior such as violence, substance abuse, pedophilia and the like is used to guide temporally and spatially coordinated pulsed multi-origin ablative modalities, wherein the pulse duration is shorter than thermal relaxation time of the target tissue. By selectively destroying aberrant neural networks, the anti-social behavior is eliminated while minimizing unwanted neurologic side-effects.

Abstract: A method of modifying epidermis for transport of a material by electroporation includes applying to epidermis an agent that, upon entry into the epidermis, will modify the epidermis to thereby cause and altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. Typically, the altered rate will be an increased rate of transport. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the modifying agent enters the electroporated epidermis, thereby modifying the epidermis to cause an altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. In another embodiment, the modifying agent can modify the epidermis to enable measurement and/or monitoring of physiological conditions or change within or beneath the epidermis. The modifying agents can also be employed to facilitate discharge of fluids from within an organism, such as by providing pathways for discharge of fluids from a tumor.

Abstract: This invention refers to a method of withholding noxious compounds contained in cigarette smoke (NO, NOx, carcinogenic nitrosocompounds, free radicals, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, CO, aldehydes, and trace elements) which were up to today insufficiently retained by conventional cigarette filters. The method described specifically refers to the enrichment of common convention filters with biological substances of the metal ions (Fe.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+) complexed with porphirin ring as well as Fe.sup.2+ ions stereospecifically bound to protein molecules, either separately or in combinations. The enrichment of these conventional filters with the abovementioned biological substances alters neither the physical properties of the cigarette smoke (odor, taste and appearance) nor the physical properties of the filter itself.

Abstract: A cardiovascular treatment method utilizes an elongate flexible surgical instrument (e.g., catheter) having a distal end. A distal end portion of the instrument is inserted into a vascular system of a patient. A surgical head at the distal end of the instrument is positioned so that the head is disposed adjacent to myocardium tissue of the patient. The head is operated to form a recess in the myocardium tissue. Prior to operating the head to form the recess, a thickness of the myocardium tissue is measured, the recess formed during the operation having a length determined in accordance with the measured thickness of the myocardium tissue. The thickness measurement partially determines the length of the recess. The angle of entry of the recess with respect to the heart wall also partially determines the length of the recess: the greater the angle, the longer the recess can be for a given myocardium thickness.

Abstract: An obstructed coronary artery is bypassed by forming a first blood flow path from a left ventricle of the heart to a coronary vein associated with the obstructed coronary artery. A second blood flow path is formed form the obstructed coronary artery to the right ventricle for blood to flow from the left ventricle through the coronary vein to the myocardium and subsequently through the coronary artery to the right ventricle in a blood flow direction opposite a normal blood flow direction in the coronary artery and coronary vein.

Abstract: A method of chronically instrumenting an animal enabling one to simulate congestive heart failure. A method for assessing the effects of a test compound on cardiac function and systemic vascular dynamics.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel devices and methods for continuous, controlled delivery of a biologically active molecule to the eye, either intraocularly or periocularly, to treat ophthalmic disorders. A capsule is surgically placed in the desired location in the eye. The capsule includes cells which produce the biologically active molecule. The capsule also includes a surrounding biocompatible jacket through which the biologically active molecule may diffuse into the eye. This jacket may immunoisolate the encapsulated cells, protecting them from attack by the immune system of the patient.

Abstract: A catheter, for example a balloon or treatment catheter, is positioned to prevent hemorrhage during surgery by inserting the catheter in a deflated configuration along a passage such as a blood vessel near to the operative site in a position determined by direct or video-assisted viewing from outside the passage. In the event a blood vessel is cut during surgery, the previously positioned catheter inflates a balloon to occlude the passage and stop blood flow into the injured site. A flow-directed catheter includes an inflatable balloon attached at its distal end and an optical fiber connected to one or more light emitting regions positioned in the vicinity of the balloon. The light is emitted transversely, and preferably omnidirectionally at one or more points with a sufficient brightness to provide beacons that are readily detected through the walls of a blood vessel and permit a direct determination of the exact location of the balloon within the vessel.

Abstract: An inhaler for inhalation of a medicament from a pierced capsule has a swirling or emptying chamber where the capsule is emptied by inhalation action of an operator. A rotary magazine for a multi-unit does inhaler which holds a number of capsules containing a medicament in a number of recesses arranged around the periphery of the magazine. The capsules are held in place by pins or plugs at both ends. Either the capsules are pierced before being loaded into the magazine or they are pierced by the pins when they are loaded into the magazine. In either case a seal may be provided around the ends of the capsules near the holes which are plugged to keep them fresh. When a recess is rotated to a particular position within the magazine then it releases its capsule. Contents of a capsule are drawn out during inhalation when the capsule is in the swirling chamber. A motor can be used to operate the magazine.

Abstract: An examination of a portion of the body, such as a female breast, is conducted in the relaxing environment of floatation. When submerged, the buoyancy of the breast tissue counteracts the effects of gravity, and enhances the examiner's ability to detect abnormalities. While the breast is immersed in warm water, a constricted portion of the breast tissue is examined with the fingers. Forming this constricted three-dimensional projection of tissue is quite different from the generally flat or planar, circular rubbing motions advocated by more conventional methods of breast examination. Although the method is especially useful for conducting a self-examination of the female breast, tissues of the male abdomen and testicles may also be examined using the present invention.

Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing device such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site.

Abstract: An abdominal decompression apparatus is used to treat a variety of disorders including acute abdominal compartment syndrome, increased intra-abdominal pressure related morbidity in severely obese persons, and pre-eclampsia and other complications associated with increased abdominal pressure in pregnancy. The abdominal decompression apparatus is worn for an extended period of time (e.g., 6-12 hours at a time), with relatively low levels of pressure being applied (e.g., -20 to -45 mm Hg). Preferably, abdominal decompression is performed on a continuous basis with the final pressure being gradually achieved. In a preferred embodiment, the patient's urinary bladder pressure is used as a measure of intra-abdominal pressure. The sensed urinary bladder pressure can be used to gauge the effectiveness of treatment as well as to control parameters of the abdominal decompression device (e.g., time of use, pressure utilized, etc.).

Abstract: Method for non-invasively determining glucose level in fluid of subject, typically blood glucose level. A particular device is mounted on the skin of the patient for a fixed period of time. The device is mounted on the skin such that a substrate such as paper or gel or an aqueous glucose solution carried by the device are in contact with the patient's skin. Water and/or glucose migrates between the substrate or the aqueous glucose solution of the device. The degree of migration of the substance in question is monitored, for example the amount of glucose remaining in an aqueous solution of the device is measured at the end of the fixed period. This can be done by a conventional or other spectrophotometric method, for example. The glucose level is determined based on the degree of migration of the migrating substance. That is, the degree of migration is correlated with previously determined fluid glucose levels based on directly measured fluid glucose levels.

Abstract: Dry eyes are more objectively and exactly diagnosed on the basis a rate of decrease in corneal surface temperature due to the heat vaporization in tear evaporation as determined by measuring corneal surface temperatures in time course from one blinking to next blinking of eyes of patients by an infrared radiation thermometry.