Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenic acid, dihomo-?-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterised in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a cytokine dysregulation comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a compound of general formula: (I) wherein R1 and R2 together form a group —(CH2)n—CR4R5—(CH2)m— wherein n and m are independently selected integers 0, 1 or 2 and R4 and R5 are independently selected from H, C1-18 alkyl, C1-18alkoxy, C1-18n hydroxyalkyl, C2-18 alkenyl and C6-18aryl or aralykyl and R3 is the a fatty acyl group of an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a triglyceride oil containing both ?-linolenic acid and linoleic acid residues as triglyceride ester, the ratio of ?-linolenic acid to linoleic acid residues at the sn-2 position of the triglyceride being at least 0.8; the amount of ?-linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position being at least 18%, wherein the oil is administered at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient at a therapeutic level. Preferably the method is that wherein the therapeutic level is such as to produce a TGF-?1/TNF-? ratio of at least 0.5 in blood of a patient, after 18 months of daily dosing. Preferred oils are Borage or Mucor oils having at least 35% of the sn-2 position fatty acid residues as ?-linolenic acid.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenic acid, dihomo-?-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterized in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

Abstract: Method for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease by administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a triglyceride oil containing both ?-linolenic acid and linolenic acid residues as triglyceride ester. The ratio of ?-linolenic acid to linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position of the triglyceride is at least 0.8. The amount of ?-linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position is at least 18%. The oil is administered at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient at a therapeutic level.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a cytokine dysregulation comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a compound of general formula: (I) wherein R1 and R2 together form a group —(CH2)n—CR4R5—(CH2)m— wherein n and m are independently selected integers 0, 1 or 2 and R4 and R5 are independently selected from H, C1-18 alkyl, C1-18alkoxy, C1-18hydroxyalkyl, C2-18 alkenyl and C6-18aryl or aralykyl and R3 is the a fatty acyl group of an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenic acid, dihomo-?-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterised in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenic acid, dihomo-?-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterised in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a cytokine dysregulation comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a compound of general formula: (I) wherein R1 and R2 together form a group —(CH2)n—CR4R5—(CH2)m— wherein n and m are independently selected integers 0, 1 or 2 and R4 and R5 are independently selected from H, C1-18 alkyl, C1-18 alkoxy, C1-18n hydroxyalkyl, C2-18 alkenyl and C6-18 aryl or aralyalkyl and R3 is the fatty acyl group of an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a disease in which cyokines have become dysregulated, or are otherwise capable of modulation to provide therapeutic benefit, is provided comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a phospholipid comprising a phosphatidyl group esterifed with one or more fatty acyl groups, characterised in that the phospholipid has at least one fatty acyl group at the sn-1 and/or sn-2 position of the phosphatidyl group, the fatty acyl group being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenoyl, dihomo-?-linolenoyl acid and arachidonoyl.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a cytokine dysregulation comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a monoglyceride or metabolic precursor thereof of general formula (I), wherein R1 is the fatty acyl group of an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from ?-linolenoyl, ?-dihomolinolenoyl and arachidonoyl.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a lipid glyceride comprising a glycerol moiety and a fatty acid moiety, the fatty acid moiety being selected from the group consisting of ?-linolenic acid, dihomo-?-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid characterised in that the selected fatty acid moiety is attached to the glycerol moiety at its sn-2 position. Preferably the method is that wherein the lipid is administered for a duration and at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-? levels in the patient to therapeutic levels.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a triglyceride oil containing both ?-linolenic acid and linolenic acid residues as triglyceride ester, the ratio of ?-linolenic acid to linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position of the triglyceride being at least 0.8; the amount of ?-linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position being at least 18%, wherein the oil is administered at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF-?1 levels in the patient at a therapeutic level. Preferably the method is that wherein the therapeutic level is such as to produce a TGF-?1/TNF-? ratio of at least 0.5 in blood of a patient, after 18 months of daily dosing. Preferred oils are Borage or Mucor oils having at least 35% of the sn-2 position fatty acid residues as ?-linolenic acid.

Abstract: A method of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal receives digital demand data comprising at least one more significant bit and at least one less significant bit. The PWM signal comprises a sequence of one or more frames, each frame comprising a plurality of PWM pulses whose duty cycle is substantially governed by the at least one more significant bit. At least one of its PWM pulses is selected to have its duty cycle modified in response to the at least one less significant bit. Each of the at least one less significant bit uniquely mapping onto the at least one selected PWM pulse of the frame. An apparatus operable according to this method includes an optical attenuator whose optical attenuation is dependent upon its temperature and in which the temperature and, hence, the attenuation is controlled using the above PWM signal.

Abstract: A stabilized radiation source includes a distributed feedback laser, a back lens for coupling a portion of the output radiation into first and second optical paths, optical detectors for detecting radiation transmitted through the first and second paths, and for generating first and second signals indicative of radiation power, and a control circuit for controlling the laser in response to the signals for stabilizing. The first and second radiation paths are operable to provide substantially unfiltered and wavelength dependent filtered radiation transmission therethrough respectively to the detectors. Unfiltered radiation transmitted through the first path which is converted into the first signal is especially suitable for implementing laser output radiation power stabilization which is output radiation wavelength independent.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for multiple sclerosis is provided, comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a compound of formula I 1

Abstract: A method of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal comprises: receiving digital demand data Vcontrol comprising at least one more significant bit (bit7 to bit14) and at least one less significant bit (bito to bit). The PWM signal comprises a sequence of one or more frames (100), each frame: comprising a plurality of PWM pulses (W1 to W127) whose duty cycle is substantially governed by the at least one more significant bit (bit7 to bit14); and having at least one of its PWM pulses selected to have its duty cycle modified in response to the at least one less significant bit (bit0 to bit6); each of the at least one less significant bit (bit0 to bit6) uniquely mapping onto the at least one selected PWM pulse of the frame (100). The invention is also concerned with apparatus operable according to the above method and an optical attenuator whose optical attenuation is dependent upon its temperature and in which the temperature an hence attenuation is controlled using the above PWM signal.

Abstract: A method of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal receives digital demand data comprising at least one more significant bit and at least one less significant bit. The PWM signal comprises a sequence of one or more frames, each frame comprising a plurality of PWM pulses whose duty cycle is substantially governed by the at least one more significant bit. At least one of its PWM pulses is selected to have its duty cycle modified in response to the at least one less significant bit. Each of the at least one less significant bits uniquely mapping onto the at least one selected PWM pulse of the frame. An apparatus operable according to this method includes an optical attenuator whose optical attenuation is dependent upon its temperature and in which the temperature and, hence, the attenuation is controlled using the above PWM signal.

Abstract: A method of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal comprises: receiving digital demand data Vcontrol comprising at least one more significant bit (bit7 to bit14) and at least one less significant bit (bit0 to bit6). The PWM signal comprises a sequence of one or more frames (100), each frame: comprising a plurality of PWM pulses (W1 to W127) whose duty cycle is substantially governed by the at least one more significant bit (bit7 to bit14); and having at least one of its PWM pulses selected to have its duty cycle modified in response to the at least one less significant bit (bit0 to bit6); each of the at least one less significant bit (bit0 to bit6) uniquely mapping onto the at least one selected PWM pulse of the frame (100). The invention is also concerned with apparatus operable according to the above method and an optical attenuator whose optical attenuation is dependent upon its temperature and in which the temperature an hence attenuation is controlled using the above PWM signal.

Abstract: A stabilised radiation source (300) comprises: (a) a distributed feedback (DFB) laser (310); (b) a back lens (340) for coupling a portion of the output radiation into first and second optical paths; (c) optical detectors (370, 380) for detecting radiation transmitted through the first and second paths, and for generating first and second signals (J1, J2) indicative of radiation power; and (d) a control circuit (390) for controlling the laser (310) in response to the signals for stabilising. The invention is characterised in that the first and second radiation paths are operable to provide substantially unfiltered and wavelength dependent filtered radiation transmission therethrough respectively to the detecting means (370, 380). Unfiltered radiation transmitted through the first path which is converted into the first signal (J1) is especially suitable for implementing laser output radiation power stabilisation which is output radiation wavelength independent.