Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the diagnosis of allergen hypersensitivity in a patient. Rare, allergen-specific cells are enriched from a complex cell population, e.g. a patient blood sample. The percentage of blood cells that bind to a particular allergen is less than 0.01%. The allergen-specific cell population is enriched by magnetic cell sorting. In normal blood, the allergen-binding cells are primarily B-cells expressing CD19 and CD21. In blood from allergic patients, an additional population of effector cells, e.g. basophilic granulocytes is labeled by the allergen.

Abstract: A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene, the gene being assayed for in the bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

Abstract: A cell-based assay technique for identifying and evaluating chemical compounds and agents which affect the production of PTH-rP in mammalian cells and other cell types is set forth. Specifically, tumor cell lines are transformed with an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding a promoter region of PTH-rP operatively linked to a reporter gene encoding an assayable product and cultured under conditions which permit expression of the assayable product. Chemical agents and factors can then be identified by their ability to modulate the expression of the reporter gene, thereby affecting the production of the assayable product. Such agents are then tested for inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth and for stimulatory effects on bone formation and repair.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the TGF-.beta. receptor-mediated signaling pathway. The invention is based on the unexpected finding that TGF-.beta. receptor-mediated signaling is inhibited by the cytoplasmic interactor FKBP12. The invention further concerns methods and pharmaceutical compositions for enhancing cellular response to TGF-.beta. ligands. A screening assay is also provided for identifying macrolide potentiators capable of binding FKBP12 and thereby blocking FKBP12-inhibition of TGF-.beta. receptor-mediated signaling.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies are provided which are specific for human interleukin-4. Kits and methods are also provided for detecting, measuring and immunopurifying human interleukin-4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bonding reagent, which is characterized in that it comprises a first bonding component specific for the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase molecule of a Newcastle Disease Virus and a second bonding component specific for a costimulatorily acting molecule of an effector cell.Furthermore, this invention concerns a process for the production of the bonding reagent as well as a vaccine containing the bonding reagent and inactivated tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention describes a new class of antigen binding molecules which contain Fv-fragments of an antibody but do not use the constant antibody domains. They can also dimerize with other antibody fragment molecules or with non-antibody fragment molecules to form bi- or multifunctional antibody-fragment fusion proteins and so-called miniantibodies, respectively. The new fusion proteins can be used in the broad field of diagnostic and therapeutical medicine.

Abstract: Nucleic acid encoding human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha and beta subunits, mammalian and amphibian cells containing said DNA, methods for producing alpha and beta subunits and recombinant (i.e., isolated or substantially pure) alpha subunits (specifically .alpha..sub.4 and .alpha..sub.7) and beta subunits (specifically .beta..sub.4) are provided. In addition, combinations of subunits (i.e., .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .alpha..sub.3, .alpha..sub.4, and/or .alpha..sub.7 subunits in combination with .beta..sub.4 subunits; or .beta..sub.2, .beta..sub.3 and/or .beta..sub.4 subunits in combination with .alpha..sub.4 and/or .alpha..sub.7 subunits) are provided.

Abstract: A method comprising administering a PEG.sub.12000 -IFN alpha conjugate to an individual afflicted with a viral infection susceptible of treatment with interferon alpha, preferably chronic hepatitis C, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant toxin and monoclonal antibody which specifically binds to glial-derived or meningioma-derived tumor cells. Also provided are various methods of screening for malignant gliomas and meningiomas. Further provided are methods of treating malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme and astrocytomas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting malignancy in a body cavity effusion. Also disclosed is a method of distinguishing a benign hyperplastic lymph node from a lymph node involved by a low grade follicular lymphoma. Also disclosed is a method of distinguishing a benign tumor from a malignant tumor which overexpresses GLUT-1.

Abstract: A biotin-antibiotin immunoassay comprises coating a solid phase with a ligand-specific binding material, reacting the solid phase with a test sample, reacting the solid phase with the biotin-labeled form of the ligand-specific binding material and antibiotin labeled with a suitable marker. The marker is then measured to detect the amount of ligand present in the test sample.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid processing method making use of a pipette device which sucks a liquid containing a target high molecular substance from inside of a vessel through a chip detachably set on a sucking port or a discharging port of a liquid sucking/discharging line and transfers this liquid or target high molecular substance to the next target processing position for the purpose to execute such works as quantifying, separating, taking out, pipetting, clarifying, condensing, and diluting a liquid or a target high molecular substance contained in a liquid and also such works as extracting, recovering, and isolating the target high molecular substance by means of sucking and discharging a liquid with a pipette device and controls by a magnetic body over magnetic particles and/or a filter combined according to the necessity, and the chip can isolate the target high molecular substance by having the substance attracted onto magnetic particles or with a filter set on each chip.

Abstract: Aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen exists in serum in two forms: classical type I procollagen which is a heterotrimer containing two pro .alpha.1-chains and one pro .alpha.2-chain of type I procollagen, and an .alpha.1-homotrimer type I procollagen containing three identical pro .alpha.1-chains. These intact, trimeric aminoterminal propeptides may be isolated without the use of proteolytic enzymes and the resultant propeptides may be used to prepare antibodies specific for the intact trimeric propeptide, having no affinity for the monomeric form of the propeptide. Such antibodies are useful in methods of assaying intact trimeric aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen in serum, without false information resulting from inadvertent assay of the monomeric form of the propeptide.

Abstract: A method for converting a precursor of a polypeptide that induces IFN-.gamma. production in immunocompetent cells, characterized in that it comprises a step of contacting an interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme with the precursor to convert it into an active polypeptide that induces IFN-.gamma. production in immunocompetent cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cDNA sequences from a region of amplification on chromosome 20 associated with disease. The sequences can be used in hybridization methods for the identification of chromosomal abnormalities associated with various diseases. The sequences can also be used for treatment of diseases.

Abstract: A system and method is described for permitting the simultaneous automated collection of data with regard to the presence of diseased cells, in particular neo-plastic, dysplastic or cancerous cells, or normal cells at a given site in a section of tissue. This is accomplished according to the following steps. First, IR spectral data are collected simultaneously for each cell or pixel of the tissue. Next, these data are analyzed by identifying the cell types encountered in the sample by comparing them with reference data sets for healthy and diseased cells. Finally, a false color mapping of the distribution of different types of cells in the tissue section is presented that permits assessment of the prevalence of diseased cells.

Abstract: New humanized and chimeric monoclonal antibodies that recognize EGF-R and comprise an artificial sequence at least of the FRs of the heavy chain variable region of a human immunoglobulin. The hypervariable regions of both monoclonal antibodies is the following amino acid sequence: light chain:CDR-1: arg-ser-ser-gln-asn-ile-val-his-ser-asn-gly-asn-thr-tyr-leu-asp;CDR-2: lys-val-ser-asn-arg-phe-ser;CDR-3: phe-gln-tyr-ser-hys-val-pro-trp-thr.Heavy chain:CDR-1: asn-tyr-tyr-ile-tyr;CDR-2: gly-ile-asn-pro-thr-ser-gly-gly-ser-asn-phe-asn-glu-lys-phe-lys-thr;CDR-3: gln-gly-leu-trp-phe-asp-ser-asp-gly-arg-gly-phe-asp-phe.Use of the antibodies for therapeutical and diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for quantifying the presence of extracellular LBP in body fluids including blood in a subject comprising conducting an LBP immunoassay on plasma obtained from said subject.

Abstract: The invention involves the recognition of a previously identified protein, SCP-1, as a marker for cell transformation. Diagnostic and therapeutic uses of this protein and related molecules are taught. Also disclosed is a method for identifying substances which are immunoreactive and indicative of pathological conditions, using normal cells as source material.