Abstract: A clamp for maintaining a stationary position on a pole includes clamp portions that area engageable with each other to surround the periphery of a pole. A positioning device disposed in one of the clamp portions and simultaneously compresses against periphery of the pole and tensions one of the engaged clamp portions against the periphery of the pole to maintain the clamp in the stationary position on the pole. A system for visual merchandising is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, using genetic markers that are implicated in severe, early-onset Crohn's Disease (CD). The invention also provides coding sequence mutations in the OCTN1 gene that significantly reduces its ability to transport the organic cation carnitine. The invention further provides mutations in the promoter region of OCTN2 (that downregulates both basal transcription and transcription induced either by heat shock or arachidonic acid. This transcription difference is apparently due to the disruption of a binding site for heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF 1). A haplotype of two mutations is found in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. Together, these mutations reduce cellular ability to respond to metabolic stress in inflamed tissue and may further be involved in the clearance of toxic substances from cells.

Abstract: A combination bone fixation/immobilization apparatus is adapted to stabilize a patient's foot and ankle. A foot plate is adapted to have one or more transfixation wires or pins or screws fixed thereto. A substantially rigid leg support assembly is adapted to receive a patient's leg, the leg support comprising a cuff and a strap adapted to secure the cuff around the patient's leg. The leg support is rigidly attached to the foot plate. A patient's foot may thereby be fixed with transfixation wires, or pins or screws and simultaneously immobilized with respect to the ankle and lower leg.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, using genetic markers that are implicated in severe, early-onset Crohn's Disease (CD). The invention also provides coding sequence mutations in the OCTN1 gene that significantly reduces its ability to transport the organic cation carnitine. The invention further provides mutations in the promoter region of OCTN2 (that downregulates both basal transcription and transcription induced either by heat shock or arachidonic acid. This transcription difference is apparently due to the disruption of a binding site for heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). A haplotype of two mutations is found in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. Together, these mutations reduce cellular ability to respond to metabolic stress in inflamed tissue and may further be involved in the clearance of toxic substances from cells.

Abstract: Permeability of the blood-brain barrier and other physiological barriers can be modulated by the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins. Agents which promote tyrosine protein dephosphorylation reduce the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and those which promote phosphorylation increase permeability. Increasing blood-brain barrier permeability is useful in delivering drugs having a desired effect upon the central nervous system; decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability and other physiological barrier permeability is useful in preventing undesired compounds reaching the CNS and in certain clinical conditions.

Abstract: Apoptotic cell death in a fully differentiated, non-dividing cell such as a neuron is caused by an abortive attempt of the cell to re-enter or pass through the mitotic cycle. Therefore, agents which prevent such entry or passage are effective in preventing, or at least delaying, apoptotic cell death and are therefore useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and motor-neuron disease in particular.

Abstract: Apoptotic cell death in a fully differentiated, non-dividing cell such as a neuron is caused by an abortive attempt of the cell to re-enter or pass through the mitotic cycle. Therefore, agents which prevent such entry or passage are effective in preventing, or at least delaying, apoptotic cell death and are therefore useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and motor-neuron disease in particular.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sandwich method and a kit for assaying interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) in a sample. The method comprises determining reactivity of said sample with a plurality of ligands, each said ligand having binding affinity for a specific site on the receptor, said site being different for each said ligand and distinct from interleukin-2 binding site on the receptor. The invention also discloses a method of detecting such disturbed or abnormal conditions in humans which release soluble IL-2R in the body fluid.

Abstract: The cover is made from a sheet of transparent plastic material and has a generally annular shape, i.e., the general shape of a flat ring, which is easily received over an annular rotatable sample tray having a plurality of sample cups therein. The cover has a horizontally radially extending projection adapted to engage a post on a table top supporting the sample tray to prevent rotation of the cover and an annular shoulder on the underside of the cover which fits around a circular envelope defined by the radially outwardly disposed top side edges of the sample cups in the sample tray and which engages the top side edges of the sample cups to prevent horizontal movement of the cover as the tops of the sample cups frictionally engage the underside of the cover and exert a moment force on the cover when the sample tray is rotated. The cover also has an opening therethrough for allowing liquid sample to be inserted or withdrawn from a sample cup when such sample cup is in registry with the opening.