Abstract: An electrosurgical device having a tubular outer shaft and an inner shaft is disclosed. The tubular outer shaft includes an axis and a distal end region. The distal end region includes a distal-most tip and a cutting edge defining a window in the outer shaft proximal along the axis to the distal-most tip. The inner shaft inner shaft coaxially maintained within the outer shaft such that the inner shaft is movable about the axis with respect to the outer shaft and wherein a portion of the inner shaft is exposed in the window of the outer shaft. A first electrode is disposed on the outer shaft in a region proximal along the axis to the window, and a second electrode is electrically isolated from the first electrode and disposed on the inner shaft. The second electrode is exposed in the window of the outer shaft.

Abstract: Creation of HIV-1 vaccine immunogens based on glycopeptide scaffolds containing sequences from the V1/V2/V3 and C3 domains of HIV-1 gp120 that is able to bind multiple broadly neutralizing antibodies when expressed in mammalian cells that incorporate mannose-5 and mannose-9 glycans.

Abstract: Selection of HIV vaccine antigens by use of intrapatient sequence variation to identify mutations in the HIV envelope glycoprotein that affect the binding of broadly neutralizing antibodies and polypeptides identified by these methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument that may an interior tube and an external tube. The exterior tube may be fixed relative to an interior tube, where the interior tube may rotate or oscillate relative to the exterior tube. Further, the two tubes may be co-bent such that an angle is formed by both of the tubes.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and markers for diagnosing cardiovascular disease and/or neurodegenearative diseases in a subject. The methods include obtaining a biological sample from a subject in need of diagnosis and detecting the amount of a citrullinated protein or a citrullinated peptide in the biological sample obtained from said subject.

Abstract: Selection of HIV vaccine antigens by use of intrapatient sequence variation to identify mutations in the HIV envelope glycoprotein that affect the binding of broadly neutralizing antibodies and polypeptides identified by these methods.

Abstract: HIV-1 envelope proteins and fragments that possess naturally occurring and novel engineered epitopes that can be used to elicit (and are recognized by) broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions and methods for treating HIV including identification and manipulation of particular domains associated with immunogenicity.

Abstract: HIV-1 envelope proteins and fragments that possess naturally occurring and novel engineered epitopes that can be used to elicit (and are recognized by) broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument that may an interior tube and an external tube. The exterior tube may be fixed relative to an interior tube, where the interior tube may rotate or oscillate relative to the exterior tube. Further, the two tubes may be co-bent such that an angle is formed by both of the tubes.

Abstract: HIV-1 envelope proteins and fragments that possess naturally occurring and novel engineered epitopes that can be used to elicit (and are recognized by) broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions and methods for treating HIV including identification and manipulation of particular domains associated with immunogenicity.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical system for implanting pedicle screw assemblies to be connected by a spinal rod is disclosed. In one form, the system includes a plurality of holding mechanisms for the pedicle screw assemblies, each holding mechanism for being inserted through an incision and configured to receive tools along an axis thereof for driving a screw anchor of the pedicle screw assembly into a vertebra and securing the spinal rod thereto and a rod inserter that is configured to adjustably hold the rod and insert the rod through a common incision with one of the holding mechanism for being fed into position in an initial direction that is transverse to the axes of the holding mechanisms.

Abstract: A retraction apparatus and method are disclosed that provide optimized access to a surgical site. In one form, a retraction frame has a retraction opening with two sets of blades operating therein. The blades are used to sequentially retract the tissue from about an incision. The sequential retraction of the blades generates only narrow gaps between the blades so that tissue and blood encroachment during the surgical procedure are minimized.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing bone tissue using a mammography device is provided. Image data is obtained from the mammography device and used to generate a bone condition profile. The bone condition profile includes use of radiographic absorptiometry methods to construct a representative mammography profile of a particular sample tissue. The bone condition profile includes a measure of bone mineral density.

Abstract: The present invention provides HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins having unusual disulfide structure. In particular, the invention includes gp120 polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, as well as related vectors, host cells, and expression methods. The invention also encompasses immunogenic compositions containing gp120 polypeptides or polynucleotides and their use in eliciting a gp120-specific immune response. gp120 polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention are also useful in diagnostic methods of the invention.

Abstract: A database system for personal information includes storing personal information in a database remote from the person using the public key of a person as a record identifier. The person's public key is published on a card, which may be a physical card or a virtual card, published on an Internet site in unencrypted form, together with unencrypted demographic information of the user. The person's public key is a unique identifier which becomes the person's record identifier, as well as possibly a social security number, medical record number, tax identification number, insurance file number, etc. The card contains the person's public key in eye readable and machine readable format, such as bar-coded format and can be used to gain access to personal information in the database. In an alternate embodiment the personal information may additionally be encrypted with the public key of a target agency, such as an insurance company or a bank.

Abstract: An image manipulation system including: at least one of a plurality of display monitors for displaying at least one of a plurality of digital images, each of the display monitors including at least one of a plurality of image display windows, wherein each of the image display windows is capable of displaying at least one of the digital images. The system further includes a cursor and instructions associated with virtual spaces of the image display windows, and is capable of designating the virtual spaces of each of the image display windows as function activating; generating the instructions associated with the virtual spaces; assigning each of the virtual spaces with image manipulation functions corresponding to a position of the cursor when located within each of the virtual spaces; and executing the instructions associated with each of the virtual spaces.

Abstract: An image manipulation system including: at least one of a plurality of display monitors for displaying at least one of a plurality of digital images, each of the display monitors including at least one of a plurality of image display windows, wherein each of the image display windows is capable of displaying at least one of the digital images. The system further includes a cursor and instructions associated with virtual spaces of the image display windows, and is capable of: designating the virtual spaces of each of the image display windows as function activating; generating the instructions associated with the virtual spaces; assigning each of the virtual spaces with image manipulation functions corresponding to a position of the cursor when located within each of the virtual spaces; and executing the instructions associated with each of the virtual spaces.

Abstract: An image manipulation system including: at least one of a plurality of display monitors for displaying at least one of a plurality of digital images, each of the display monitors including at least one of a plurality of image display windows, wherein each of the image display windows is capable of displaying at least one of the digital images. The system further includes a cursor and instructions associated with virtual spaces of the image display windows, and is capable of. designating the virtual spaces of each of the image display windows as function activating; generating the instructions associated with the virtual spaces; assigning each of the virtual spaces with image manipulation functions corresponding to a position of the cursor when located within each of the virtual spaces; and executing the instructions associated with each of the virtual spaces.