Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions including D-tagatose along with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof. Methods of prophylaxis and therapy by administering to a mammal a pharmaceutically effective amount of D-tagatose, optionally in combination with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof to prevent or treat atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome, obesity, or diabetes.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions including D-tagatose along with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof. Methods of prophylaxis and therapy by administering to a mammal a pharmaceutically effective amount of D-tagatose, optionally in combination with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof to prevent or treat atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome, obesity, or diabetes.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions including D-tagatose along with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof. Methods of prophylaxis and therapy by administering to a mammal a pharmaceutically effective amount of D-tagatose, optionally in combination with a stilbene or stilbenoid component, or a salt or derivative thereof to prevent or treat atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome, obesity, or diabetes.

Abstract: A method and system for spectroscopically determining surface and product characteristics is employed for rapid detection of product characteristics and/or the presence or absence of suspected analytes, and the concentration of the analyte. The method and system uses a signal wide band detector that does not require focusing optics in many environments. It can be used for cleaning validation of pharmaceutical products and process equipment.

Abstract: A pill dispenser and a related method of pill dispensing including a container having a holder, a gate, a controller, a sensor, and a neutralizing device. The dispenser releases pills at a prescribed release rate. The sensor detects tampering with the container. Upon detection of tampering, the neutralizing device renders the contents of the pill dispenser impotent.

Abstract: A pill dispenser (10) and a related method of pill dispensing including a container (12) having a holder (14), a gate (16), a controller (18) a sensor (20) and a neutralizing device (22). The dispenser (10) releases pills at a prescribed release rate. The sensor (20) detects tampering with the container (12). Upon detection of tampering, the neutralizing device (22) renders the contents of the pill dispenser (10) impotent.

Abstract: An optical monitoring system for determining the constituents of a sample or specimen. An absorption spectrum is obtained from a sample and is passed through one or more filters having a specified absorption spectrum defined by a single atom or a compound. If the filter's absorption spectrum is included in the sample's absorption spectrum, then the sample contains that atom or compound. The apparatus includes a switching assembly that sequentially places one or more filters into the light path to determine if the subject atom or compound is contained in the sample.

Abstract: A method and system for spectroscopically determining surface and product characteristics is employed for rapid detection of product characteristics and/or the presence or absence of suspected analytes, and the concentration of the analyte. The method and system uses a signal wide band detector that does not require focusing optics in many environments. It can be used for cleaning validation of pharmaceutical products and process equipment.

Abstract: A pill dispenser (10) and a related method of pill dispensing including a container (12) having a holder (14), a gate (16), a controller (18) a sensor (20) and a neutralizing device (22). The dispenser (10) releases pills at a prescribed release rate. The sensor (20) detects tampering with the container (12). Upon detection of tampering, the neutralizing device (22) renders the contents of the pill dispenser (10) impotent.

Abstract: A medical interventional optical monitoring system for determining the geometry and composition of a lumen is provided. An absorption spectrum is obtained through the use of molecular filters and a switching assembly. In particular, an absorption spectrum can be obtained by reflecting a light beam from a catheter against a lumen wall or material, and the resulting spectrum is passed through one or more filters having a specified absorption spectrum defined by a single atom or compound. If the reflected sample spectrum contains the wavelengths of the absorption spectrum of the filter, the sample did not absorb the wavelengths and does not contain the substance. Alternatively, the light can be filtered prior to entry of the light into the catheter. The apparatus includes a switching assembly that sequentially places one or more filters into the light path to determine if the subject atom or compound is contained in the lumen.

Abstract: An optical monitoring system for determining the constituents of a sample or specimen. An absorption spectrum is obtained from a sample and is passed through one or more filters having a specified absorption spectrum defined by a single atom or a compound. If the filter's absorption spectrum is included in the sample's absorption spectrum, then the sample contains that atom or compound. The apparatus includes a switching assembly that sequentially places one or more filters into the light path to determine if the subject atom or compound is contained in the sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing the chemical composition of vulnerable plaques with an intravascular catheter having a near-infrared light source, a fiber-optic probe, a mechanism for directing the light from the light source into a blood vessel, and detectors for detecting light reflected or scattered by the tissue. The light source may be a tunable laser, and may transmit an incident beam having a wavelength ranging from 1400 to 4100 nm. A computer may be included to receive and process the spectral data in the analysis of the vulnerable plaques. A catheter system may be configured to provide near-IR spectrometric imaging of arteries to non-destructively locate and determine lipid pool and fibrous cap size and composition. Additionally, mediators and cellular components may be also determined that are typically associated with vulnerable plaques which have an increased risk of rupture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing the chemical composition of vulnerable plaques with an intravascular catheter having a near-infrared light source, a fiber-optic probe, a mechanism for directing the light from the light source into a blood vessel, and detectors for detecting light reflected or scattered by the tissue. The light source may be a tunable laser, and may transmit an incident beam having a wavelength ranging from 1400 to 4100 nm. A computer may be included to receive and process the spectral data in the analysis of the vulnerable plaques. A catheter system may be configured to provide near-IR spectrometric imaging of arteries to non-destructively locate and determine lipid pool and fibrous cap size and composition. Additionally, mediators and cellular components may be also determined that are typically associated with vulnerable plaques which have an increased risk of rupture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for magnetohydrodynamic acoustic-resonance, near-IR spectroscopy. The method includes a step of applying to a subject under study a magnetic field having a strength between 2,00-10,000 gauss, near-IR radiation having a wavelength between 800-3,000 nm and an acoustic wave having a frequency between 10 khz -1 Mhz. The method also includes the steps of inducing vibration of ions in the magnetic field and detecting an electric wave generated magnetohydrodynamically by the acoustic wave induced vibration of the ions. Next is the collecting of the electrical, acoustical and near-IR spectra and the analyzing of the collected spectra. The spectra is analyzed in a hyphenated, multidimensional fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the chemical composition of tissue includes a near infrared light source, a fiber-optic probe, a mechanism for directing the light from the light source onto the tissue and detectors for detecting light reflected by the tissue. The light source transmits an incident beam having a wavelength ranging from 1000 to 2500 nm. A compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) is connected to a distal end of the fiber optic probe to focus or concentrate the wavelengths of light simultaneously and in parallel on a particular spot of tissue. Alternatively, an inverted, substantially conical reflector is positioned to scatter the incident light across the tissue. The method includes the steps of (1) focusing light onto the tissue to be analyzed; (2) detecting light reflected by the tissue; and (3) analyzing the resulting spectra across the full wavelength of the originally focused light. A color image is then produced for subsequent study.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for magnetohydrodynamic acoustic-resonance, near-IR spectroscopy. The method includes a step of applying to a subject under study a magnetic field having a strength between 2,00-10,000 gauss, near-IR radiation having a wavelength between 800-3,000 nm and an acoustic wave having a frequency between 10 khz-1 Mhz. The method also includes the steps of inducing vibration of ions in the magnetic field and detecting an electric wave generated magnetohydrodynamically by the acoustic wave induced vibration of the ions. Next is the collecting of the electrical, acoustical and near-IR spectra and the analyzing of the collected spectra. The spectra is analyzed in a hyphenated, multidimensional fashion.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms in a liquid test sample is provided without need for withdrawing an aliquot or destroying the sample. The method comprises taking near-infrared spectra of the sample and comparing it visually or mathematically to the spectra of a standard, which may be the values of the spectra known to the operator or may be a standard sample that is provided and run side-by-side.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the noninvasive and nondestructive detection of microorganisms within a liquid product contained within a sealed vial. The apparatus includes a near-IR light source that produces both incident and reference beams having a wavelength between 800 and 2500 nm and, more preferably, 1100 and 1360 nm. The apparatus also includes an integrating sphere having incident and reference beam ports and a sample window opposite the incident beam port. A detector is mounted in the integrating sphere substantially adjacent the sample window. A substantially U-shaped mirror is provided to hold the vial. The U-shaped mirror is of a size substantially corresponding to the diameter of the vial. In operation, the incident beam is directed through a sample window so as to enter the vial adjacent a sidewall of the mirror. In this way the U-shaped mirror reflects the incident beam so that it passes through the vial three times before returning to the detector.

Abstract: The multiple linear regression approach typically used in near-infrared spectrometry yields equations in which any amount of reflectance at the analytical wavelengths leads to a corresponding composition value. As a result, when the sample contains a component not present in the training set, erroneous composition values can arise without any indication of error. There is described a method of detecting "false" samples by constructing a multi-dimensional form in space using reflectance values of samples in a training set at a number of wavelengths. A new sample is projected into this space and a confidence test is executed to determine whether the new sample is part of the population from which the training set was drawn. The method relies on few assumptions about the structure of the data; therefore, deviations from assumptions do not affect the results of the confidence test.

Abstract: A method for using spectral analysis to detect subpopulations is disclosed. According to this method, a training set of spectra of a first plurality of samples is obtained and a bootstrap distribution is formed. A test set of spectra of a second plurality of samples is then obtained and a second bootstrap distribution is formed. First and second univariate distributions are then formed from the bootstrap distributions. A quantile-quantile relationship of the training and test sets is then developed and a determination of whether the test set and training set are substantially identical is made. The plurality of test samples are thus used to calculate probability density contours inside a training-set spectral cluster and detect perturbations of those contours using a bootstrap procedure. False samples are detected as subclusters well inside the training set, and trace analyses using a very small number of wavelengths are facilitated.