Abstract: An assay for the diagnosis of multi-infarct dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type in an individual is provided. It comprises the steps of obtaining a sample from said individual being a blood sample, a platelet-containing fragment thereof, or a fragment containing platelet associated antibodies (PAA) detached from the platelets, and then determining the level of a platelet associated antibody against a 75 kD platelet-protein in said sample. A level higher than that of a control sample indicates that said individual has a high likelihood of having multi-infarct dementia or dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Abstract: A method and a device (10) for trapping insects which feed on mammalian blood, such as mosquitoes, utilize in combination a chemical attractant (24) and a physical attractant consisting of a dark panel (22), heated to e.g., 30 to 45 degrees Celsius. The chemical attractant may include carbon dioxide, generated for example by action of microorganisms on a fermentable substrate in aqueous medium, or it may be selected from fermenting yeast, yeast extract, peptone, acetone, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. The insects may be killed by adhesive applied onto the panel (22).

Abstract: Metabolizable lipid emulsions, such as Intralipid and Lipofundin, are excellent vehicles for peptide therapy of autoimmune diseases and of other TH1 T cell mediated diseases or conditions, as it promotes a TH1 to TH2 cytokine shift.

Abstract: Metabolizable lipid emulsions, such as Intralipid and Lipofundin, are excellent vehicles for peptide therapy of autoimmune diseases and of other TH1 T cell mediated diseases or conditions, as it promotes a TH1 to TH2 cytokine shift.

Abstract: A lipid preparation comprising at least about 10% phosphatidic acid (PA) is used to treat human conditions or disease. Examples of such conditions or disease are withdrawal syndromes or cancer.

Abstract: A method of treating an individual with an immune system with decreased activity by administering an effective amount of a lipid preparation derived from a natural source and enriched to contain at least 10% (w/w) phosphatidic acid (PA) is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is to a method for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms selected from the group consisting of nausea, sweating, shaking, substance craving and hot flushes.

Abstract: There is described an assay for the diagnosis of a mental disorder in an individual. A blood sample, a platelet-containing fraction thereof, or a fraction containing platelet-associated antibodies (PAA) shed from the platelets is withdrawn from the individual to be diagnosed. The withdrawn sample is contacted with an anti-human immunoglobulin antibody lacking the Fc domain (Fc-less anti-hIg antibody) and the degree of binding thereof to the PAA is determined. A degree of binding above that found in normal individuals indicates that diagnosed individual has a high likelihood of having a mental disorder.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of schizophrenic disorders that comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and as active ingredient an immunosuppressive agent.

Abstract: Obesity is treated by the administration to a subject of a compound having the general formula (I): R.sub.4 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CO--N(R.sub.1)--CH(R.sub.2)--CO(--R.sub.3), wherein R.sub.1 represents H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 represents a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid; R.sub.3 represents OH, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 and NH.sub.2 ; n is 6-18; and R.sub.4 represents CH.sub.3 or a group having the general formula (II): R.sub.3 --CO--CH(R.sub.2)--N(R.sub.1)--CO--, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 have the above meanings. The compounds of formula (I) wherein R.sub.4 is a group of formula (II), are novel compounds.

Abstract: An immunogen derived from modified tumor cells and capable of inducing an anti-tumor immune response is prepared in accordance with the invention by exposing tumor cells to a crosslinking agent, which is a 2',3'-nucleoside or nucleotide dialdehyde at a concentration and for a time sufficient to cause crosslinking of proteins in the cells' plasma membranes. Improved immunogenicity may be obtained if the cells are also exposed to hydrostatic pressure at a level and for a time sufficient to cause displacement of the proteins in the cells+ plasma membranes. Exposure of the tumor cells to the crosslinking agent and to hydrostatic pressure at the same time is a preferable method of producing the immunogen. The immunogen is suitable for use as an anti-tumor vaccine for inducing an anti-tumor immune response in cancer patients.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparations are provided for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases in which the active principle is activated T-lymphocyte cells, specific for the autoimmune disease to be treated, which cells have been treated by incubation with a photoactivatable psoralen cross-linking agent, such as 8-methoxypsoralen, and then photoactivated. The active principle may also be the membrane fraction of such cells. Such preparations may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions and administered to prevent or treat autoimmune disesases.

Abstract: Composition for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases are provided which comprise as an active ingredient membrane material shed from autoimmune T lymphocytes, or activated T lymphocytes which are treated by a pressure application and releases process. There is also provided processes for obtaining such active materials and for preparing pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Abstract: There are provided anti-tumor vaccines which contain as active ingredient tumor cells which have been pressure treated so as to augment their antigenic properties, tumor cells treated with cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS) and subsequently pressure treated, or plasma membranes from either of, or membrane proteins shed from either of these cells, or a combination of any of these. According to another embodiment, tumor cells are treated with cholesteryl hemisuccinate or by the application and release of pressure, and subsequently with a cross-linking agent. Such cells, plasma membranes obtained from these and proteins shed from the surface of these are effective active ingredients in anti-tumor vaccines.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel lipid extracts obtainable from natural sources such as egg, yolk or soyabean; and useful for treating various diseases and physiologic conditions.

Abstract: Compositions for the prevention of, and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases which comprise as active ingredient membrane material shed from autoimmune T lymphocytes, or T lymphocytes activated by a pressure application and release process. There is also provided a process for obtaining such active materials and for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for these.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel lipid extracts obtainable from natural sources such as egg, yolk or soyabean; and useful for treating various diseases and physiologic conditions.

Abstract: Perinatal lung maturity is evaluated by determining the fluorescence polarization of a sample of pulmonary effluent containing pulmonary surfactant labeled with a fluorescent dye. The sample is excited with polarized radiation for causing the dye to fluoresce. I.sub.81 and I.sub.195, the intensities of fluorescence polarized in directions parallel to, and perpendicular to, the direction of polarization of the excitation radiation, are measured. From these measurements, the fluorescence polarization P, where P = (I.sub..parallel. - I.sub..perp.)/(I.sub..parallel. + I.sub.195), is determined. The value of P, which is functionally related to the microviscosity of the constituents of the surfactant, has been found to decrease with perinatal lung maturity. When the sample is amniotic fluid containing fetal pulmonary effluent, the evaluation of lung maturity can be carried out antepartum. Postpartum evaluation can be carried out by sampling neonatal tracheal or pharyngeal aspirates.

Abstract: Abnormal behavior of mammalian cells is detected in vitro by measuring the fluidity or an associated phenomenon of the lipid layer of the cell surface membrane. Abnormal behavior of cells, in particular if caused by malignant transformations, is associated with increase of fluidity of the liquid layer of the cell membrane, as compared with normal cells. The fluidity can be determined, e.g., by measuring the degree of fluorescence polarization of the radiation emitted from a suspension of cells labelled in the lipid layer with a fluorescent compound. 1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was found to be a suitable fluorescent probe.

Abstract: Compositions for the prevention of, and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases which comprise as active ingredient membrane material shed from autoimmune T lymphocytes, or T lymphocytes activated by a pressure application and release process. There is also provided a process for obtaining such active materials and for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for these.