Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction characteristics of a biological sample are provided. The system generally includes a test strip and a readout device. A fluid sample is placed in the test strip, and the test strip is in turn operatively connected to the readout device. The readout device provides a controlled current that is sent across the fluid in the sample chamber. In addition, the readout device identifies an inflection point or transition time at which the voltage between contacts of the test strip is changing at the highest rate. The oxidation-reduction capacity of the sample is taken as the integral of the current profile from the time at which current begins to be supplied to the sample to the identified transition time.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with providing enhanced privacy during usage of computer vision are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may include one or more privacy indicators to indicate one or more privacy conditions of the apparatus in association with provision of computer vision on the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a privacy engine coupled with the one or more privacy indicators, and configured to pre-process images from an image source of the apparatus associated with the provision of computer vision to the apparatus, to increase privacy for a user of the apparatus, and to control the one or more privacy indicators. In embodiments, the apparatus may include means for blanking out one or more pixels with depth values identified as greater than a threshold. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

Abstract: In some embodiments, privacy protection may be achieved for video streams that are recorded on a substantially ongoing basis, for example for gesture recognition purposes. The address of recorded groups of pixels making up the video stream may be shuffled in memory. That is, instead of changing the data, successive pixels are not written successively into the memory but instead the data may be shuffled so that whatever is in memory is unrecognizable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the overall oxidative status of a body fluid or a tissue of a patient by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the body fluid or tissue. The method has been found to be useful in the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of patients who have suffered a trauma (such as a head injury), patients suspected of being critically-ill, patients who have a viral infection, and patients suspected of having a myocardial infarction. The method has also been found useful in monitoring and evaluating exercise performance in patients. In addition, the method has been found useful in monitoring and evaluating stored blood products and patients who will receive such a product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF). For instance, a disease or condition mediated by PAF (particularly inflammation) can be treated or platelet aggregation can be inhibited. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting the production and/or release of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by cells. The effects of PAF and the production and/or release of IL-8 are inhibited according to the invention by a compound of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are defined in the application, or a physiologically-acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of reducing the side effects of tramadol. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides a method of reducing the incidence of newly-discovered side effects related to sexual function in human males taking a tramadol material. The method comprises administering a phosphodiesterase inhibitor to a male taking the tramadol material. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a tramadol material and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The invention further provides kits. In one embodiment, the kit comprises a tramadol material and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of diseases and conditions with an effective amount of a steroid having those formulas given in the specification, or a pharmacologically-acceptable salt or ester thereof. The disease or conditions treatable according to the invention include angiogenic diseases and conditions of the eye, angiogenic diseases and conditions of the brain, inflammatory diseases and conditions of the eye, inflammatory diseases and conditions of the brain and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a method of treating metabolic syndrome in an animal, (ii) a method of suppressing the appetite of an animal, (iii) a method of treating obesity in an animal, (iv) a method of reducing the weight of an animal in need thereof, (v) a method of reducing a blood lipid level in an animal in need thereof, (vi) a method of treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in an animal, and (vii) a method of inhibiting adipogenesis. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient comprises a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them to the animal. The invention also provides a kit comprising a container holding a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them; and instructions for administration of the diketopiperazine, the prodrug or the pharmaceutically-acceptable salt according to a method of the invention.

Abstract: A multiple layer gel and method for forming a multiple layer gel are provided. The multiple layer gel includes an isolation layer and an electrolyte layer. The isolation layer provides a molecular weight screen, to prevent proteins or other molecules from contacting a reference cell covered by the isolation layer. The electrolyte layer covers the isolation layer, and provides a source of ions that place the reference cell in ionic and/or electrical contact with a fluid sample. The multiple layer gel can be used to maintain a reliable reference voltage from an associated reference cell while an electrical potential or other electrical characteristic of a sample fluid is being determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating T-cell mediated diseases and a method of inhibiting the activation of T-cells using certain diketopiperazines. The invention also provides methods of synthesizing diketopiperazines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain diketopiperazines. The invention further provides methods of making improved pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides by either increasing or decreasing the content of diketopiperazines in the compositions and the resultant improved pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A safety stanchion includes a support base having a vertically extending generally cylindrical post which in turn includes an upper end supporting a belt reel. Within the belt reel, a belt spool having a quantity of flexible belt wound thereon is supported for rotation and spring biased toward a belt rewound configuration. A connector is supported on the outer end of the belt facilitating the withdrawal of a belt portion against the spring force for connection to an adjacent cooperating safety stanchion. The belt reel further defines a plurality of slots each configured to receive corresponding connectors of adjacent safety stanchions to form a pathway or guide for persons within the area. The vertical post is formed of a clear material and a message sleeve bearing a visible message such as direction information or advertising is received within the post.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating T-cell mediated diseases and a method of inhibiting the activation of T-cells using certain diketopiperazines. The invention also provides methods of synthesizing diketopiperazines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain diketopiperazines. The invention further provides methods of making improved pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides by either increasing or decreasing the content of diketopiperazines in the compositions and the resultant improved pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the overall oxidative status of a body fluid or a tissue of a patient by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the body fluid or tissue. The method has been found to be useful in the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of patients who have suffered a trauma (such as a head injury), patients suspected of being critically-ill or who are critically ill, patients who have an infection, and patients suspected of having a myocardial infarction (MI) or who have had an MI. The method has also been found useful in monitoring and evaluating exercise performance in patients. In addition, the method has been found useful in monitoring and evaluating stored blood products and patients who will receive such a product.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a method of treating metabolic syndrome in an animal, (ii) a method of suppressing the appetite of an animal, (iii) a method of treating obesity in an animal, (iv) a method of reducing the weight of an animal in need thereof, (v) a method of reducing a blood lipid level in an animal in need thereof, (vi) a method of treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in an animal, and (vii) a method of inhibiting adipogenesis. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient comprises a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them to the animal. The invention also provides a kit comprising a container holding a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them; and instructions for administration. The diketopiperazines have the formula given in the application.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by increased phosphorylation, such as inflammation and cancer. The invention also provides methods for the inhibition of increased phosphorylation in cells, tissues and organs. The methods utilize a phosphate acceptor compound (PAC). The invention also provides products comprising a PAC.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for diagnosing and monitoring inflammation and/or ischemia in an animal. The methods comprise determining the quantity of a post-translationally modified protein, other than phosphorylated tau, present in a body fluid from an animal. The invention also provides an improved method and kits for diagnosing appendicitis in an animal. The method comprises determining the quantities of orthohydroxyhippuric acid and of a marker of general inflammation, such as a post-translationally modified protein, present in one or more body fluids of the animal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF). For instance, a disease or condition mediated by PAF (particularly inflammation) can be treated or platelet aggregation can be inhibited. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting the production and/or release of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by cells. The effects of PAF and the production and/or release of IL-8 are inhibited according to the invention by a compound of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are defined in the application, or a physiologically-acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF). For instance, a disease or condition mediated by PAF (particularly inflammation) can be treated or platelet aggregation can be inhibited. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting the production and/or release of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by cells. The effects of PAF and the production and/or release of IL-8 are inhibited according to the invention by a compound of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are defined in the application, or a physiologically-acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a disease or condition mediated by vascular hyperpermeability in an animal. The method comprises administering an amount of a danazol compound effective to inhibit vascular hyperpermeability and an amount of a second drug effective to treat the disease or condition. The invention further provides a method of inhibiting vascular hyperpermeability when it is a side effect caused by administration of a drug to, or another treatment of, an animal. The method comprises administration of an amount of a danazol compound effective to inhibit the vascular hyperpermeability. The invention also provides a method of modulating the cytoskeleton of endothelial cells in an animal comprising administering an amount of a danazol compound and an amount of a second drug effective to modulate the cytoskeleton. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising a danazol compound and a second drug.