Abstract: The present invention relates to primary cultures or established cell lines of ovarian epithelium origin which are substantially equivalent to the cells from the original clinical material from which they are derived and can serve as a powerful model in numerous types of studies including the elaboration of a patient-based tumor profile, thereby permitting a more precise and personalized design of an efficacious therapeutic regimen for cancer therapy. The invention further relates to a method to derive primary cell cultures from benign and malignant ovarian tissue and from ascites.

Abstract: Method for inactivating non-enveloped viruses using a viricide-potentiating agent. In a preferred embodiment, the method may be used to inactivate non-enveloped viruses present within a sample of whole blood or a blood product and comprises (a) adding to the blood sample a photoactivatable viricide, such as a psoralen, hypericin, methylene blue, toluidine blue or the like, which, when activated, is effective in inactivating enveloped viruses; (b) adding to the blood sample a viricide-potentiating chemical agent that increases the sensitivity of non-enveloped viruses to the activated viricide; and (c) activating the photoactivatable viricide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for immunomodifying a graft so that it is nonthrombogenic and substantially nonimmunogenic when transplanted into a recipient. In an ex vivo process, the lumenal surfaces of blood vessels comprising the vasculature within the graft are coated with an extracellular matrix, or membrane synthesized therefrom, that renders the surface substantially nonimmunogenic and nonthrombogenic to the recipient, while maintaining the viability of the donor graft vascular endothelial cells remaining underneath the coating. In addition, the extracellular matrix may provide a surface, exposed to the lumen, that can support efficient re-endothelialization with vascular endothelial cells allogeneic or preferably autologous with respect to the recipient receiving the graft.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active 3-hydroxy-hexanoic acid represented by formula (1) and the enantimer by asymmetrically hydrolyzing a racemic ester of 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid in the presence of a lipase derived from porcine pancreas.

Abstract: Described is a novel screening method for detecting an abnormal platelet condition in blood, and a kit for use in such a method. An initial screen for an abnormal platelet condition in blood applies to a non-interfering test surface a platelet rich plasma specimen from the blood and an aqueous reagent including a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound such as elagic acid, tannin or preferably propyl gallate and a metal ion such as Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, Cu.sup.+ or Cu.sup.2+ in concentrations sufficient to cause platelet aggregation in a normal platelet rich plasma sample upon agitation, lightly agitating the platelet rich plasma specimen in contact with the reagent, and visually detecting for the presence of platelet aggregates in the specimen.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active 1-substituted-3-hydroxy-1-butene or its derivatives of formula (II) or (III) ##STR1## is disclosed. The process comprises treating an ester derivative of racemic 1-substituted-3-hydroxy-1-butene of formula (I), ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is a substituted or unsabstituted alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or aryloxy group, and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy or aryloxy group, or a substituted or unsabstituted alkylsulfonyloxy, arylsulfonyloxy, alkylthio, or arylthio group. The process can produce a desired optically active alcohol or acyl-protected compound at a high yield and a high selectivity under mild conditions by the treatment of the substrate with a lipase. In particular, when R.sub.1 =methyl and R.sub.2 =halogen or phenylthio, use of Lipase AK, P-30 or K-10 gives high enantiomeric purity.

Abstract: (4R)-3-(Substituted aminoalkyl)oxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(nitrophenyl)pyridine-5- carboxylic acids can be prepared efficiently, by reacting bis(substituted aminoalkyl) 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates with a microorganism capable of asymmetric hydrolysis and belonging to the genus Streptomyces, the genus Paecilomyces, the genus Botryodioplodia, the genus Alternaria or the genus Helminthosporium, or a treated product thereof. The compounds are extremely useful as important intermediates for preparation of pharmaceuticals useful for the prevention and treatment of angina pectoris, hypertension, etc.

Abstract: An (R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol derivative shown by the general formula (IIa) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a halogen atom, etc., or a salt thereof, can readily be produced (1) by permitting a microorganism to act on a mixture of corresponding (R)-form and (S)-form to asymmetrically utilize, or (2) by permitting a microorganism to act on a corresponding aminoketone derivative to asymmetrically reduce. An (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-[(2-phenyl-1-alkylethyl) amino]ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (IIa) or a salt thereof. Said derivative is useful as an intermediate for producing an anti-obesity agent.

Abstract: Method using oxygen removal for extending the useful shelf-life of refrigerated red blood cells. A cost-effective, 4.degree. C. storage procedure that preserves red cell quality and prolongs post-transfusion in vivo survival is described. Preservation of adenosine triphosphate levels and reduction in hemolysis and in membrane vesicle production of red blood cells stored at 4.degree. C. for prolonged periods of time is achieved by removing oxygen therefrom at the time of storage; in particular, by flushing with an inert gas. Adenosine triphosphate levels of the stored red blood cells are boosted in some samples by addition of ammonium phosphate.

Abstract: A method of preserving delicate biological substances or organic compounds (a) in a dry state and/or (b) at elevated temperatures and/or (c) under irradiation comprises incorporating in a system containing the said substances or compounds, a sugar or a sugar derivative selected from (i) a non-reducing glycoside of a polyhydroxy compound selected from sugar alcohols and other straight chain polyalcohols, or (ii) a non-reducing oligosaccharide selected from raffinose, stachyose and melezitose. In particular, methods for preserving dehydrated agarose gels comprising adding lactitol or glucopyranosyl-mannitol or glucopyranosyl-sorbitol to the gel during formation and prior to dehydration are disclosed.

Abstract: Process for the enzymatic separation of phosphinothricin derivatives, which comprises treating a mixture of D- and L-phosphinothricin derivatives of the formulae (I) and (II) ##STR1## with a hydrolytically active enzyme in an aqueous or aqueous-organic medium.

Abstract: A stereoselective reduction of compound II to compound of formula I ##STR1## which comprises adding ketone substrate II to a culture broth of the Zygosaccharomyces bailii ATCC 38924, incubating the resulting mixture, and isolating a hydroxy compound of formula I, is described. The resulting compound of formula I is useful as an intermediate in the preparation of 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(R)-[3(S)-hydroxy-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl]-4(S)-(4-hy droxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone which is a serum cholesterol lowering agent. Also described is a stereoselective reduction of a compound of formula IV to compound of formula III ##STR2## using Schizosaccharomyces octosporus ATCC 2479.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing N-substituted glucamines, a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof, and a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof and reducing the oxidized N-substituted glucamine to an N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin. In addition, a one pot process for producing N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin from D-glucose is disclosed.

Abstract: Polysaccharide biopolymers, e.g., xanthan gum, are produced by the aerobic microbial fermentation of a carbohydrate in an aqueous nutrient medium containing starch as a source of carbon, and wherein the fermentation is carried out in the presence of a saccharide-specific amylolytic enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid, by mixing glyoxylic acid, pyruvic acid and a microorganism to form the optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of D-lactic acid from lactate racemic mixture. It comprises the steps of: (i) hydrolysis of an alkyl lactate racemic mixture in the presence of an esterase as a catalyst to hydrolyze L-alkyl lactate; (ii) separation of unhydrolyzed D-alkyl lactate with an organic solvent, such as n-hexane or a high alcohol; and (iii) chemical hydrolysis of the separated portion obtained from step (ii) with a base to obtain D-lactic acid. The esterase can be selected from the group consisting of pig pancreas lipase of the trade name Sigma L-3126, wheat germ lipase of the trade name Sigma L-3001, Candida cyclindracea lipase of the trade name Sigma L-1754, Rhizopus lipase of the trade name Serva 27930, Mucor javanicus lipase of the trade name Fluca 62304, Aspergillus niger lipase of the trade name Fluca 62301, Rhizopus arrhizus lipase of the trade name Boehringer Mannherin 414590, and Candida cylindracea cholesterol esterase of the trade name Boehringer Mannherin 396800.

Abstract: A defined probiotic or composition of anaerobic bacteria effective for controlling or inhibiting Salmonella colonization of fowl. The probiotic includes populations or cultures of substantially biologically pure bacteria, which bacteria include:(a) at least one Lactobacillus species;(b) one or both of:Lactococcus lactis, andCitrobacter freundii; and(c) at least one of:one or more Enterococcus species,one or more Bifidobacterium species,one or more Propionibacterium species, andone or more Escherichia species.In use, the probiotic is administered to the subject fowl in an amount effective for inhibiting Salmonella colonization thereof. The invention also relates to a novel method for isolating probiotics which are effective for controlling or inhibiting Salmonella colonization of fowl, from fecal droppings or cecal contents of adult fowl. The droppings or cecal contents are combined with a culture medium and incubated without dilution (i.e. batch culture) under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a triglyceride, comprising reacting glycerol with a polyunsaturated fatty acid having at least 20 carbon atoms and at least three double bonds or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl ester thereof, for a reaction time in the range of 24-48 hours at a temperature between 40.degree. and 80.degree. C. in the presence of a mixture of lipase A and lipase B obtained from Candida antarctica which is immobilized, to form (i) the triglyceride and (ii) water or a C.sub.1-4 alcohol, while removing the water or the C.sub.1-4 alcohol during the reaction, and recovering the triglyceride.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing N-substituted glucamines, a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof, and a process for oxidizing an N-substituted glucamine with an oxidizing microbe or extract thereof and reducing the oxidized N-substituted glucamine to an N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin. In addition, a one pot process for producing N-substituted-1-deoxynojirimycin from D-glucose is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing carboxylic acids, in particular furoic, 3-methylthio-propionic and 2-methyl-butyric acids, as well as other short-chained, linear and branched acids consisting of the oxidation, in essentially quantitative yields, of the corresponding alcohols or aldehydes using microorganisms of the genera Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Candida or Kluyveromyces is disclosed.