Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a biologically active molecule having an increased serum half-life. The method involves conjugating a polymer such as polyethylene glycol to the biologically active molecule. Also provided are polypeptide drugs having an increased serum half-life, e.g., human urokinase plasminogen activator (human “uPA” or “hUPA”) or a fragment or derivative thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such molecules and methods of using them to treat uPA-mediated and uPA receptor-mediated disorders are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a biologically active molecule having an increased serum half-life. The method involves conjugating a polymer such as polyethylene glycol to the biologically active molecule. Also provided are polypeptide drugs having an increased serum half-life, e.g., human urokinase plasminogen activator (human “uPA” or “hUPA”) or a fragment or derivative thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such molecules and methods of using them to treat uPA-mediated and uPA receptor-mediated disorders are also provided.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump head with a non-resilient seal comprising: a valve head and a mating valve cover forming a diaphragm chamber. A pump diaphragm forming at least a part of a wall of the diaphragm chamber with the valve cover including an inlet passage leading from a pump input port and through an inlet valve to the diaphragm chamber, and an outlet passage leading from the diaphragm chamber and through an outlet valve to a pump outlet port. The inlet valve and the outlet valve each include a valve diaphragm, and an inlet non-resilient seal and an outlet non-resilient seal. Each non-resilient seal including first and second annular diaphragm seating faces formed in mating faces of the valve body and the valve cover surrounding the inlet passage and the outlet passage and a non-resilient, deformable valve diaphragm entrapped between the first and second diaphragm seating faces.

Abstract: A high density animal housing system with an air source conduit and an air exhaust conduit is normally coupled to one or more ventilating animal cage racks through standard inlet/outlet fittings. A euthanasia fixture is coupled into the standard inlet/outlet fittings and selectively and sequentially operates valves and/or blowers to switch from supply of respiration air to a gas supply, to open and close the flow to the exhaust and to resume ventilation afterwards, for venting. The sequence is timed and controlled by a programmable controller that activates the associated blowers and valves automatically to follow a user selected sequence. The system anesthetizes and then euthanizes the animals via the same flow conduits that otherwise supply respiration air, requiring no rack modifications and little if any human attention other than to couple the rack to the ventilation system at the euthanasia fixture. Operator inputs allow selection among sequences.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a biologically active molecule having an increased serum half-life. The method involves conjugating a polymer such as polyethylene glycol to the biologically active molecule. Also provided are polypeptide drugs having an increased serum half-life, e.g., human urokinase plasminogen activator (human “uPA” or “hUPA”) or a fragment or derivative thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such molecules and methods of using them to treat uPA-mediated and uPA receptor-mediated disorders are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a biologically active molecule having an increased serum half-life. The method involves conjugating a polymer such as polyethylene glycol to the biologically active molecule. Also provided are polypeptide drugs having an increased serum half-life, e.g., human urokinase plasminogen activator (human “uPA” or “hUPA”) or a fragment or derivative thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such molecules and methods of using them to treat uPA-mediated and uPA receptor-mediated disorders are also provided.

Abstract: Lens meter and method of measurement of progressive multifocal lens using the same which is able to set the amount of movement of the lens and to simply position a far- or near-distance refraction characteristics-measuring portion of a progressive multifocal lens. In accordance with the method the optical center of a lens is first found from measurement employing the lens and using the optical center as point of origin, the lens is moved by a distance up to the far-distance refraction characteristics measuring portion and the near-distance refraction characteristics measuring portion of the lens mentioned by the lens manufacturer, so as to effect alignment with the measurement optical axis of the lens meter, thereby measuring the refraction characteristics of each measuring portion.