Abstract: Improvements to gratings for use in waveguides and methods of producing them are described herein. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.

Abstract: A method of displaying medical data, particularly data representative of the condition of patients suffering from chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension. The display consists of two graphical elements, one of which indicates the current value of a parameter indicative of the patient's condition, this being displayed against another graphical element which represents a model of normality for that patient. The graphical element indicating the current condition may be, for example, a needle, against a scale which is constructed according to the patient-specific model of normality. This is particularly advantageous in the case of displays which have a small display area, such as mobile telephones and PDAs. Other forms of display are disclosed, such as histograms with the display being dynamically colour-coded and auto-scaled, or displays including limits which may vary.

Abstract: A conjugated prodrug of an estradiol compound conjugated to a biological activity modifying agent.

Abstract: A telemedicine system for monitoring chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes includes an electronic measurement device such as an electronic peak expiratory flow meter or an electronic blood glucose meter, connected to a GPRS cellular telephone. The cellular telephone automatically receives, formats and transmits the data on acquisition by the medical device to a remote server. The server may acknowledge the data and make the data available to a clinician. The server may also analyse the data and provide automatic alerts to the patient and/or clinician in the event of the data causing concern. The formatting and transmission of the data from the telephone to the server occurs in real time as the measurements are taken and is invisible to the patient.

Abstract: A skin evaluation apparatus and method for rapidly assessing the degree of erythema of the skin and the skin's response to blanching. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a probe head having an emitter and sensor and a blanching edge. The emitter consists of bundles of optical fibers by means of which light from LEDs is delivered to and recovered from the skin. In use, the probe head is held flush with the skin surface causing the blanching edge to indent a fixed area of skin causing a local blanche. As the probe head is moved, the blanching edge slides along the skin surface evacuating blood as it moves. During the blanche, the LEDs are switched on and the scattered signal collected using a photodiode. A processor measures the attenuation of scattered light and gives a display of blood content against time, providing an indication of the blood circulation in that area.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions which modulate airway remodelling comprisiing the sterioid 2-methyoxy-estradiol or analogues thereof, for administration by inhalation.

Abstract: A low air loss mattress continuously supports a person lying thereon, and includes an upper layer of inflatable cells, and a separate lower layer of inflatable cells. The lower layer of inflatable cells is always maintained at a constant pressure which is higher than the pressure in the upper layer of cells to prevent a person lying on the mattress from contacting the underlying support surface, in particular, when sitting or during transport. Cells forming the upper layer may be inflated at different pressures to provide optimum support to different parts of the body.

Abstract: A patient support includes an alternating pressure pad having separate sets of alternately inflatable cells and at least one further inflatable cell under the pad, with a support for the head of a patient lying thereon, and a control mechanism arranged to maintain alternate inflation and deflation of the cells of the pad to deflate the cells at the head end of the pad and also to inflate the cells under the pad in order to raise the level of the chest of a patient supported on the pad.

Abstract: The invention relates to use of steroids or steroid analogues in the treatment of chronic and acute inflammation of the airways, particularly asthmatic conditions. It also relates to compounds and compositions which modulate airway remodelling. In a preferred embodiment, the steroid is 2-methoxyoestradiol.

Abstract: A peripheral interrupt priority technique in a micro program system is disclosed which system employs two levels of subinstruction sets. The first level of subinstructions, or micro instructions, is implemented by a second level of control instructions that can be stored in a processor read-only memory. The respective micro instructions are made up of varying numbers of syllables according to the function of the particular micro instructions. The various types of micro instruction syllables are stored in a micro instruction memory to be fetched therefrom in sequence in accordance with the requirements of a particular macro instruction or subject instruction. In this manner, a variety of micro instructions can be created by selecting a plurality of different syllables from the micro instruction memory. A different control instruction syllable is provided to specify each combination of the function to be performed and the source and destination registers to be used with the particular buses in the processor.