Abstract: Nonaqueous additive systems which includes dispersant-coated pigments physically dispersed in a liquid nonaqueous polymeric carrier are added directly to a melt flow of a polymeric host material prior to spinning. The additive system is most preferably in the form of a particulate paste which can be added in metered amounts (dosed) to a melt flow of the polymeric host material prior to being spun into filaments. By providing a number of additive systems having a number of different additive attributes, and controllably dosing one or more into the melt flow of polymeric material, melt-spun filaments having different additive attributes may be produced on a continuous basis (i.e., without shutting down the spinning operation).

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is treated by the extra corporeal removal of IgG and IgG-containing circulating immune complexes from the patient's blood. Removal is preferably accomplished by exposing the blood or blood plasma to a protein A immunoadsorbent which binds to IgG-containing immune complexes with high affinity.

Abstract: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is treated by removal of IgG and circulating immune complexes from the patient's blood. Removal is accomplished by exposing the blood or blood plasma to an immunoadsorbent capable of removing IgG and its complexes. The immunoadsorbent comprises a suitable solid phase coupled to a receptor capable of binding IgG and its complexes, such as protein A. The IgG and its complexes are then removed by the extracorporeal exposure of the patient's blood to the immunoadsorbent, either in a continuous or discontinuous process. In the continuous process, the blood is removed in a steady flow from the patient, separated into its plasma and cellular components, the plasma treated, and the combined cellular components and treated plasma reinfused to the patient.

Abstract: Additives are introduced into a thermoplastic melt by feeding at least one additive in an aqueous vehicle containing a dispersant to form an aqueous additive stream to a vented extruder which is extruding a thermoplastic followed by volatilizing an aqueous portion of the aqueous additive stream and removing substantially all the volatilized aqueous portion through the extruder vent to achieve a substantially homogeneous system containing the thermoplastic and at least one additive and forming a fiber from the homogeneous system by extrusion of the system through a spinneret.

Abstract: Extracorporeal perfusion using an immunoadsorbent material specific for disease-related antigens is used for therapy of the disease state. Antibodies to particular antigens, including tumor antigens, viral antigens, and bacterial antigens, are used to prepare the immunoadsorbent material. Patients suffering from the disease are then treated by removing a flow of blood, separating the blood into plasma cellular components, passing the plasma through the immunoadsorbent material, recombining the treated plasma and cellular components of the blood, and returning the treated blood to the patient.

Abstract: Patients suffering from HIV-1 infection, including both those who have and those who have not developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, are treated by extracorporeal removal of IgG and immune complexes. An immunoadsorbent material for removing IgG and IgG-complexes from biological fluids is prepared by covalently binding protein A to a solid-phase silica matrix. It has been found that particularly stable, high-capacity immunoadsorbents are obtained by derivatizing the silica with amino and/or carboxyl groups, and reacting the protein A with a carbodiimide at a pH in a range from 3.5 to 4.5. Binding through free hydroxyl groups may be achieved with cyanogen halides at a pH in the range from 11.0 to 11.5. After acid washing (pH 2.0-2.5) to remove non-covalently bound protein A, the immunoadsorbent may be employed in a column for therapeutic treatment of various cancers and autoimmune disorders where IgG-complexes are implicated as suppressing factors in inhibiting a normal immune response.

Abstract: Antibody is removed from the blood of patients who are being treated or diagnosed with exogenous macromolecules, such as immunotoxins. As the immunotoxins are foreign antigens, the patient will develop an immune response. The antibodies produced by the immune response upon subsequent immunization with the immunotoxins will interfere with the desired function of the immunotoxins by preventing them from binding with their specific target site. By extracorporeally removing the antibodies, the activity of the immunotoxins can be enhanced.

Abstract: An immunoadsorbent material for removing IgG and IgG-complexes from biological fluids is prepared by covalently binding protein A to a solid-phase silica matrix. It has been found that particularly stable, high-capacity immunoadsorbents are obtained by derivatizing the silica with amino and/or carboxyl groups, and reacting the protein A with a carbodiimide at a pH in the range from 3.5 to 4.5. Binding through free hydroxyl groups may be achieved with cyanogen halides at a pH in the range from 11.0 to 11.5. After acid washing (pH 2.0-2.5) to remove non-covalently bound protein A, the immunoadsorbent may be employed in a column for therapeutic treatment of various cancers and autoimmune disorders where IgG-complexes are implicated as suppressing factors in inhibiting a normal immune response. The column has been successfully employed in treating patients suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma.