Abstract: Administration of an HNO/NO− donating compound, such as Angeli's salt, increases myocardial contractility while concomitantly lowering left ventricular preload in subjects experiencing heart failure Moreover, administration of the HNO/NO− donating compound isopropylamine (IPA)/NO (Na(CH3)2CHNHN(O)NO) surprisingly exhibited positive inotropic effects in subjects experiencing heart failure that were superior to those caused by the HNO/NO− donating compound Angeli's salt. Additionally, in contrast to the effects observed with NO− donors, administration of an HNO/NO− donor in combination with a positive inotropic agent did not impair the positive inotropic effect of the positive inotropic agent Further, HNO/NO− exerts its positive inotropic effect independent of the adrenergic system, increasing contractility even in subjects receiving beta-antagonist therapy.

Abstract: The polymorphic character of a sequence of the human genome comprising approximately 950 base pairs and methods for using it to determine human identification and parentage are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel method for estimating the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) is presented. The method provides for accurate estimation of the ESPVR from a single beat of the cardiac cycle. The method is based on normalized human time varying elastance curves [E.sub.N (t.sub.N)]. The ESPVR is estimated from one beat using PV data measured at normalized time t.sub.N and end-systole (t.sub.max) to predict intercept: ##EQU1## and slope: E.sub.max(SB) =P(t.sub.max)/[V(t.sub.max)-V.sub.0(SB) ]. The present invention provides a method for ESPVR estimation which is non-invasive and particularly applicable for bedside applications.

Abstract: The invention is a method of treating cancer comprising administering an effective amount of either a composition of three herbal extracts consisting essentially of 30% to 70% by weight Goldenseal, 20% to 40% by weight of Myrtle, and 5% to 20% by weight of Centaurea, or a composition of seven herbal extracts consisting essentially of 3% to 5% by weight Centaurea, 1.5% to 4% by weight Capsicum, 1.5% to 4% by weight Lobelia, 20% to 40% by weight Myrrh, 30% to 50% by weight Echinacea, 15% to 25% by weight Goldenseal, and 3% to 5% by weight Myrtle. The compositions were prepared by separately extracting each herb by mixing the herb in water, ethyl alcohol, or a mixture of water and ethyl ether, boiling and cooling the mixture, allowing the mixture to stand for about two weeks, filtering the mixture to obtain the liquid phase, and combining each of said extracts to obtain said compositions.