Abstract: A system and method for detecting bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a first composition separated from a second composition. The first composition contains urea in powdered form. The second composition, on the other hand, contains an indicator. A biopsy of a gastric sample is first contacted with the first composition and then placed in the second composition. The second composition indicates the presence of an enzyme that, in turn, indicates the presence of bacteria. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a biopsy of a gastric sample is contacted with a single composition. The composition contains urea in a powdered form combined with a dry indicator. Besides urea and a dry indicator, the composition can also contain an anti-caking agent.

Abstract: A process is described for detecting modulation of NAD(P)H and/or a NAD(P)H dependent oxidoreductase (“NDO”) in or by a biological system which comprises NAD(P)H and an NDO. The process comprises generating a detectable marker of NAD(P)H modulation, and detecting said detectable marker.

Abstract: Peptides synthesized to match the human ?1 (I) and ?2 (I) amino-telopeptide sequences of type I collagen degradation products in body fluids, preferably either Asp-GIu-Lys-Ser-Thr-Gly-Gly (SEQ ID NO:5) or Gln-Tyr-Asp-Gly-Lys-Gly-Val-Gly (SEQ ID NO:6). used as calibrators and antigens in immunoassays for detecting type I collagen degradation products in body fluids.

Abstract: The invention provides chemiluminescent assays that incorporate a film including at least one chemiluminescent precursor immobilized therewith which produces a triggerable chemiluminescent compound, the film being free of compounds which generate singlet oxygen and being adapted for use with a sensitizer-labeled agent or agent probative of the analyte.

Abstract: This invention provides a direct method for monitoring bacterial transglycosylase activity using labeled substrates produced by chemo-enzymatic synthesis wherein the labels are selected to permit the detection of both polymeric and non-polymeric products simultaneously, either directly or following the separation of product from starting material. The invention promotes the discovery of new antibiotics with activity against bacterial transglycosylases by a) laying the groundwork for structural analysis of purified, active transglycosylase (which permits structure-based design); and b) providing an assay that can be used to screen for inhibitors.

Abstract: A method for measuring protein kinase activity comprising: (a) providing a first solution comprising ATP and a protein kinase to be tested, and a second solution comprising ATP in the absence of said kinase to be tested; (b) adding a substrate capable of being phosphorylated by the protein kinase to be tested to the first and second solutions of step (a); (c) measuring the concentration of ATP and/or ADP, or the rate of change thereof with respect to time, in each of the reaction mixtures formed in step (b) using a bioluminescence reaction; and (d) using the information about the concentration of ATP and/or ADP to determine the activity of the protein kinase to be tested.

Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. In one embodiment, a plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 3 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. In another embodiment, a visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective after about 3 hours to 17 hours of incubation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for qualitative and quantitative proteome analysis are provided. The methods and apparatus allow for the isolation of a subset of peptides out of complex mixtures of peptides. The isolation is based on a specific chemical and/or enzymatic alteration of one or more types of peptides. This alteration modifies the biophysical, chemical or any other biochemical property of the affected types of peptides (e.g., net electrical charge and/or hydrophobicity) in such way that the altered peptides can be separated from the unaltered peptides.

Abstract: The disruption of the murine ROR2 gene leads to profound skeletal abnormalities, with essentially all endochondrally derived bones foreshortened and/or misshapen, albeit to differing degrees. ROR2 is selectively expressed in the chondrocytes of all developing cartilage anlagen, where it plays a critical role during initial growth and patterning, as well as subsequently in the proliferating chondrocytes of mature growth plates, where it is required for normal expansion. As ROR2 appears to play a critical role in cartilage formation and it may be useful in developing therapeutic strategies to treat diseases of cartilage such as osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Compounds that inhibit ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of phosphorylated I?B by interfering, directly or indirectly, with the ability of ?-TrCP/E3RS to engage in protein-protein association involving hnRNP-U, are useful as drugs for treating conditions associated with NF-?B activation. Cellular and non-cellular screening methods for identifying such compounds are based on monitoring the association/dissociation of ?-TrCP/E3RS.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating in vivo human cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A), at least a 2-hour urine collection and one blood sample are obtained. Endogenous cortisol in plasma and 6?-hydroxycortisol in urine are measured. Metabolic clearance specific for the 6?-hydroxylation of cortisol is then expressed as the amount of urinary excreted 6?-hydroxycortisol divided by the area under the concentration-time curve of cortisol, being a safe and reliable index for CYP3A phenotyping to assess in vivo CYP3A activity in humans.

Abstract: To provide a pre-treatment kit for saliva and a pre-treatment method for saliva for identification and quantitation of mutans streptococci in human saliva by the immunochromatographic method, which can eliminate mucin in saliva and prevent mutans streptococci from chaining and aggregation in a simple method, the pre-treatment kit is constructed of (A) an aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide, (B) a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer solution containing tartaric acid and/or citric acid, and (C) a nonionic surfactant and/or an amphoteric surfactant, wherein the component (C) is previously mixed with or prepared separately from the component (A) and/or the component (B), and further (D) a pH indicator having a color transition range of pH 5 to 9 is previously mixed with or prepared separately from the component (A) or the component (A) having the component (C) previously mixed therewith, and/or the component (B) or the component (B) having the component (C) previously mixed therewith.

Abstract: Methods of producing fluorescence from fluorogenic substrates reactive with a peroxidase enzyme are disclosed. Use of the methods in assays for peroxidase enzymes, peroxidase-labeled analytes are provided. Fluorogenic compounds, compositions and kits for reaction with peroxidase enzymes are described. Two modes of producing fluorescent compounds are described.

Abstract: A microorganism mixture consisting of a first microorganism that secretes a substance upon perception of an environmental factor and a second microorganism that expresses a marker gene upon perception of the secreted substance is disclosed. The present invention provides a means for measuring environmental factors, such as osmotic pressure, simply and with high accuracy.

Abstract: A method for assaying bone resorption rates which consists of quantitating the concentration of peptide fragments derived from bone collagen, found in a body fluid is disclosed. The method includes immunometric assay, fluorometric assay and electrochemical titration. The structure of specific peptide fragments having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links found in urine of Paget's disease patients and procedures for making monoclonal antibodies is described.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed that are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular and cardiac diseases and disorders, or damage resulting from surgical or medical procedures that may cause ischemic or ischemic/reperfusion damage in humans; and cardiovascular trauma. The beneficial effects of the compositions and methods are achieved through the use of pharmaceutical compositions that include agents that interfere with the production and/or biological activities of sphingolipids and their metabolites, particularly sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Also disclosed are methods for identifying and isolating therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A small diameter flexible electrode designed for subcutaneous in vivo amperometric monitoring of glucose is described. The electrode is designed to allow “one-point” in vivo calibration, i.e., to have zero output current at zero glucose concentration, even in the presence of other electroreactive species of serum or blood. The electrode is preferably three or four-layered, with the layers serially deposited within a recess upon the tip of a polyamide insulated gold wire. A first glucose concentration-to-current transducing layer is overcoated with an electrically insulating and glucose flux limiting layer (second layer) on which, optionally, an immobilized interference-eliminating horseradish peroxidase based film is deposited (third layer). An outer (fourth) layer is biocompatible.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of evolving and selecting cells resistant to a selective agent by inducing directed evolution in continuous culture while applying both a mutagenic and selective agent to the cells to determine the cells having resistance. This also provides a method of generating mutant drug targets useful for screening for effective compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase that makes possible quantitative measurement of formaldehyde by cycling reaction, and a determination method of formaldehyde and biological components, such as creatinine, creatine, and homocysteine, which produces formaldehyde as a reaction intermediate. In addition, the present invention provides a reagent kit for the above-mentioned determination method. The present invention provides a novel determination method of a homocysteine using transferase utilizing homocysteine and other compound as a pair of substrates. Particularly, the present invention provides a determination method of homocysteine which includes bringing betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and dimethylglycine oxidase into contact with a sample and measuring produced hydrogen peroxide or formaldehyde. Moreover, the present invention provides novel dimethylglycine oxidase stable to thiol compound, which is suitably used for the measurement.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzymatic cycling assay for assessing the amount of homocysteine and/or cystathionine in a solution such as blood, blood derivatives, or urine. The assay comprises the steps of contacting the solution containing homocysteine and/or cystathionine to form a reaction mixture, with CBS, or a derivative thereof, L-serine, and CBL, or a derivative thereof, for a time period sufficient to catalyze the cyclical conversion of homocysteine form to cystathionine and the reconversion of cystathionine to homocysteine with the production of pyruvate and ammonia; determining the amount of homocysteine and/or ammonia present in the reaction mixture; and determining the amount of homocysteine and/or cystathionine present in the solution based on the amount of pyruvate and/or ammonia formed. Expression vectors and isolation procedures for CBS, or derivatives thereof, and CBL, or derivatives thereof, are also provided as well as test kits for carrying out the assay.