Abstract: Described are nicotine-degrading enzyme variants that exhibit increased nicotine-degrading activity and/or decreased immunogenicity relative to the wild-type NicA2 and NOX enzymes, compositions comprising the variants, and methods using them.

Abstract: Described are nicotine-degrading enzyme variants that exhibit increased nicotine-degrading activity and/or decreased immunogenicity relative to the wild-type NicA2 and NOX enzymes, compositions comprising the variants, and methods using them.

Abstract: Described are nicotine-degrading enzyme variants that exhibit increased nicotine-degrading activity and/or decreased immunogenicity relative to the wild-type NicA2 enzyme, compositions comprising the variants, and methods using them.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing vectors for one or more immunomodulators under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. These vector may be provided to treat a variety of disorders, e.g., neoplastic disorders, through direct injection or through in vitro engineered cells, such as dendritic cells.

Abstract: Described are nicotine-degrading enzyme variants that exhibit increased nicotine-degrading activity and/or decreased immunogenicity relative to the wild-type NicA2 and NOX enzymes, compositions comprising the variants, and methods using them.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing vectors for one or more immuunomodulators under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. These vector may be provided to treat a variety of disorders, e.g., neoplastic disorders, through direct injection or through in vitro engineered cells, such as dendritic cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of generating conditionally expressing erythropoietin under the control of an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. The methods of the invention cause an in vivo increase in the expression of erythropoietin and an increase in the hematocrit or volume percentage of red blood cells in blood after administration of the ligand.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing vectors for one or more immuunomodulators under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. These vector may be provided to treat a variety of disorders, e.g., neoplastic disorders, through direct injection or through in vitro engineered cells, such as dendritic cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of generating conditionally expressing erythropoietin under the control of an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. The methods of the invention cause an in vivo increase in the expression of erythropoietin and an increase in the hematocrit or volume percentage of red blood cells in blood after administration of the ligand.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of conditionally expressing erythropoietin under the control of an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. The methods of the invention cause an in vivo increase in the expression of erythropoietin and an increase in the hematocrit or volume percentage of red blood cells in blood after administration of the ligand.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing vectors for one or more immunomodulators under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. These vector may be provided to treat a variety of disorders, e.g., neoplastic disorders, through direct injection or through in vitro engineered cells, such as dendritic cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing one or more proteins under the control of a gene expression modulation, system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. The vector may be provided to treat or prevent disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapeutics. Most specifically, the invention provides methods of generating conditionally expressing vectors for one or more immunomodulators under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals. These vector may be provided to treat a variety of disorders, e.g., neoplastic disorders, through direct injection or through in vitro engineered cells, such as dendritic cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to mammalian PAI-I ligands and modulators. In particular, the invention relates to polypeptides, polypeptide compositions and polynucleotides that encode polypeptides that are ligands and/or modulators of PAI-I. The invention also relates to polyligands that are homopolyligands or heteropolyligands that modulate PAI-I activity. The invention also relates to ligands and polyligands localized to a region of a cell. The invention also relates to localization tethers and promoter sequences that can be used to provide spatial control of the PAI-I ligands and polyligands. The invention also relates to inducible gene switches that can be used to provide temporal control of the PAI-I ligands and polyligands. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing atherosclerosis. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing fibrosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to mammalian PAI-I ligands and modulators. In particular, the invention relates to polypeptides, polypeptide compositions and polynucleotides that encode polypeptides that are ligands and/or modulators of PAI-I. The invention also relates to polyligands that are homopolyligands or heteropolyligands that modulate PAI-I activity. The invention also relates to ligands and polyligands localized to a region of a cell. The invention also relates to localization tethers and promoter sequences that can be used to provide spatial control of the PAI-I ligands and polyligands. The invention also relates to inducible gene switches that can be used to provide temporal control of the PAI-I ligands and polyligands. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing atherosclerosis. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing fibrosis.

Abstract: A novel cardiotomy reservoir apparatus and method for use in an extracorporeal blood circuit which provides for the effective defoaming of blood that has been aspirated from a patient during surgery. The apparatus includes an outer receptacle, which is preferably generally cylindrical in shape, the receptacle having at least one inlet formed in the top thereof, an outlet formed in the bottom thereof, and a vent port. The receptacle contains a defoaming means which substantially occupies the entire interior volume of the receptacle, and which has an increasing density in the direction of blood flow through the receptacle. In addition, the cardiotomy reservoir of the present invention may be used with an external blood filter and the outlet of the reservoir receptacle has a valve formed therein to facilitate rapid and safe replacement of the external filter in the event that it becomes occluded.

Abstract: A bubble oxygenator for oxygenating blood in an extracorporeal circuit. The oxygenator is formed from three concentric shells which define an oxygenating chamber, a defoaming chamber and an arterial reservoir. The arterial reservoir includes a view chamber which permits visual inspection of the level of blood held in the arterial reservoir. The outer shell which forms the arterial reservoir is rotatable with respect to the remainder of the apparatus so that the view chamber can be easily positioned for observation.

Abstract: An autotransfusion system for salvaging, washing, and concentrating blood and returning the blood to a patient during surgery. The system comprises both a filtration unit and an ultrafiltration unit. The ultrafiltration unit is configured so as to communicate with the filtration unit, and both the filtration unit and the ultrafiltration unit are provided with a suitable conduit for conveying blood back to a patient. The ultrafiltration unit is divided into two chambers by a semipermeable membrane, the membrane being selected so as to permit fluid to pass therethrough, while preventing the passage of blood cells and other formed elements.A mixture of healthy blood cells, fluid, and particulate debris is salvaged from an operative field of a patient. The blood mixture is filtered in the filtration unit and can then be immediately returned to the patient, if needed.

Abstract: Novel methods and apparatus are provided for regulating the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass. According to the invention, probes capable of measuring the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood are provided in the venous and arterial lines, both probes measuring the blood gas levels at the ambient temperature of the blood in the extracorporeal blood circuit. These concentrations are monitored on a real-time basis by a processor unit which compares the values reported by the arterial probe with selected values chosen by the perfusionist. The processor unit then preferably controls the gas flow to the oxygenator portion of the perfusion system so that the treated blood maintains the chosen concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, the probes are adapted to measure other perfusion variables, including temperature, hematocrit, blood flow rate, and pH, thus allowing further automation by the processor unit.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis incorporating a dynamic stiffener element is disclosed. The prosthesis is adapted for securement to the annulus of an atrioventricular valve and has the characteristic of allowing normal movement of the annulus during the cardiac cycle while providing mechanical support to the valve annulus so as to maintain the valve leaflets in proper physiological alignment. The stiffener element has a plurality of reciprocating members allowing it to be modifiable in shape so as to be capable of assuming the optimum shape for a particular heart valve.