Abstract: The current application is directed to methods of treating or ameliorating myocardial ischemia, an acute coronary event, and a myocardial reperfusion injury comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of deferiprone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient in need thereof. The application is also directed to reducing the risk for myocardial reperfusion injury as well as promoting the beneficial remodeling of cardiac tissue in a patient, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of deferiprone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient before, during or after reperfusion therapy. The application also includes methods of selecting a patient for treatment of reperfusion injury and subsequently treating the selected patient.

Abstract: The invention provides with means to predict, in subjects affected by type-2-diabetes (T2D), the probability of developing complications related to the disease. The invention involves (1) identification of genetic features such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the establishment of a patient profile that can be used for prediction of complications associated with T2D. Signature profiles comprising a combination of SNPs which have greater predictive value for prognosticating particular types of complications, such as, stroke, myocardial infarction and kidney complications associated with T2D are further described. Compositions and kits that can be used with a set of complementary phenotypic markers to evaluate the risk for an individual affected by T2D to develop complications related to the disease and to evaluate the likelihood that an individual affected by type 2 diabetes type will benefit from treatments that collectively aim to reduce the risk of developing such complications.

Abstract: The invention provides means and methods to predict, in subjects affected by type II diabetes (T2D), the probability of developing complications which include, but are not limited to, micro/macrovascular disorder, hypertension, neuropathy, atrial fibrillation, nephropathy and other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) that are associated with the disease, by detecting one or more genetic features. The genetic features that are useful in prediction include, but are not limited to, genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other genomic markers. The invention further involves characterizing individuals based on the probability of developing complications related to T2D, such as, micro/macrovascular disorder, hypertension, neuropathy, atrial fibrillation, nephropathy or MACE, based on the identification of one or more aforementioned genetic features. Also described are combinations and kits for carrying out the above-described methods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of determining a predisposition to atrial fibrillation (AF) in a subject comprising: determining the presence of at least one copy of a risk allele from at least one polymorphic marker in a sample from the subject, wherein the presence of at least one copy of the risk allele is indicative of a predisposition to AF, and wherein said at least one polymorphic marker is: a) rs4674485; b) rs1466560; c) rs1880039; d) rs3849387; e) rs7039; f) rs2952860; g) rs9312515; h) rs1897527; i) rs2299277; j) rs2418828; k) rs2385833; l) rs6717960; m) rs10510266; or n) a substitute polymorphic marker in linkage disequilibrium with any one of the polymorphic markers of a) to m). Also described are kits for determining a predisposition to atrial fibrillation (AF).

Abstract: The invention provides with means to predict, in subjects affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D), the probability of developing complications related to the disease. The invention involves 1) use of genetic features (SNPs, STRs, or other genomic markers) together with other chromosomal features and phenotypic information to establish a patient profile specifically developed for prediction of complications of T2D 2) use of a set of SNPs allowing to discriminate between individuals according to their descent. The invention also provides with methods for characterizing and selecting, within a population of subjects with type-2 diabetes, subjects that are suited for clinical trials based on the identification of one or more genetic features. Also described are combinations and kits for carrying out the above-described methods.

Abstract: The invention provides with methods for characterizing and selecting, within a population of subjects with type-2 diabetes, subjects that are suited for clinical trials based on the identification of one or more genetic features, which are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), short tandem repeats (STRs), and/or other genomic markers. The invention further involves characterizing these subjects based on the probability of developing complications related to type-2 diabetes, such as, myocardial infarction, stroke and albuminuria. Also described are combinations and kits for carrying out the above-described methods.

Abstract: The invention provides with means to predict, in subjects affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D), the probability of developing complications related to the disease. The invention involves 1) use of genetic features (SNPs, STRs, or other genomic markers) together with other chromosomal features and phenotypic information to establish a patient profile specifically developed for prediction of complications of T2D 2) use of a set of SNPs allowing to discriminate between individuals according to their descent. A preferred set of genomic markers selected for their association with complications of T2D is provided that can be used with a set of complementary phenotypic markers to evaluate the risk for an individual affected by T2D to develop complications related to the disease and to evaluate the likelihood that an individual affected by T2D type will benefit from treatments reducing the risk of developing such complications.

Abstract: A flow control method and system including an algorithm for deciding to transmit an arriving packet into a processing queue or to discard it, or, in the case of instructions or packets that must not be discarded, a similar method and system for deciding at a service event to transmit an instruction or packet into a processing queue or to skip the service event. The transmit probability is increased or decreased in consideration of minimum and maximum limits for each flow, aggregate limits for sets of flows, relative priority among flows, queue occupancy, and rate of change of queue occupancy. The effects include protection of flows below their minimum rates, correction of flows above their maximum rates, and, for flows between minimum and maximum rates, reduction of constituent flows of an aggregate that is above its aggregate maximum. Practice of the invention results in low queue occupancy during steady congestion.

Abstract: An interface layer and method is provided that permits applications, without modification, to operate with any type of meter. The interface comprises an abstraction layer and library or repository of descriptions specific to each meter type. The abstraction layer provides the capability to communicate with any meter through a variety of applications. Upon receiving an application request, the abstraction layer retrieves the description for the particular meter type from the repository and processes the request. In this manner, only one data representation is needed for applications to communicate with a wide variety of meters.

Abstract: A drive system comprises a brushless multi-phase motor which is supplied with power by way of an inverter including thyristors which are fired by a firing network. The firing network is supplied with information relative to the position of the rotor of the motor, by means of a transducer and this information flows by way of a logic network. Also provided is a current sensing device, a signal from which is passed through a control network to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit acts to modify the signals applied to the inverter in the event that the current flowing in one of the d.c. supply lines to the inverter exceeds a predetermined value for more than a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: Multiple embodiments of a credit card mailer or mailing assembly including an envelope, a carrying member having an adhesive area thereupon for releasably engaging one or more credit cards in order to effectively immobilize the credit cards within the envelope and a wrapping member for enclosing the carrying member and masking the presence of the credit cards within the envelope.

Abstract: A brushless A.C. synchronous motor includes a stator assembly having a stator winding and an inverter for feeding the stator winding, a rotor assembly including a field winding and a transformer having a primary winding on the stator assembly and a secondary winding on the rotor assembly. The primary winding is fed by an oscillator on the stator assembly, and the secondary winding provides an output for the field winding by way of rectifier.

Abstract: An electrical inverter comprises positive and negative supply lines across which is connected a first series circuit including the anode-cathode path of a first thyristor and the anode-cathode path of a second thyristor. A second series circuit bridges the supply lines and includes a pair of capacitors. In addition a commutating circuit is provided for the first and second thyristors, and this includes a transformer having a secondary winding connected between a point intermediate the first and second thyristors, and the capacitors of the second series circuit, and the primary winding of the transformer is connected in a series circuit, one end of which is connected to the point intermediate the first and second thyristors. The arrangement is such that when the commutating circuit is operated, current flow in the primary and secondary windings of the transformer acts to reduce the current flowing in the conducting thyristor to zero.

Abstract: A brushless a.c. synchronous motor comprises a stator assembly having a stator winding which is supplied with power by an invertor. The main input power to the invertor flows through the primary winding of a transformer the secondary winding of which supplies current by way of a rectifier, to a field winding of the rotor assembly of the motor.

Abstract: An electrical inverter comprises first and second supply lines, which in use are connected to the positive and negative terminals of a d.c. supply. An inverting network is connected between the supply lines and has output terminals for connection to the load. A current sensing device is provided in one of the supply lines and is operable when the current flow in the supply line exceeds a predetermined value, to stop current flowing in the load for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An electrical inverter comprises positive and negative supply lines, first and second thyristors the anodes of which are connected to the positive line and the cathodes of which are connected respectively to the anodes of third and fourth thyristors. An oscillatory commutating circuit including a capacitor and an inductor is provided and which is connected between the anodes of the third and fourth thyristors and also a firing circuit is provided to provide gate signals to the first, fourth, third and second thyristors in that order. In addition, means is provided to over-damp the oscillatory circuit thereby to limit the commutating voltage.