Abstract: Methods for determining the presence and level of active drugs in fluid samples are provided. Advantageously, entire families or classes of drugs can be tested for in one test by identifying the enzyme or receptor upon which members of that drug family act and measuring enzyme activity levels or binding activity levels of receptors. Methods for establishing standard activity levels of these drugs based upon results from samples having known quantities of drug therein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for more accurately assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in individuals or populations, using a bimodal analysis including cholesterol-based CVD risk markers together with serum triglyceride levels. Preferably, if a CVD marker (e.g., the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL) yields high risk factors, these factors may be adjusted in inverse relationship to serum triglyceride concentrations. If for example a given marker gives initial risk factors substantially equivalent to relative risk factors of about 1.5 or above, then the initial risk factors can be decreased if serum triglyceride levels are high, or increased if serum triglyceride levels are low. The invention is particularly useful for accurately assigning relative risk of mortality in the life insurance industry, and in decisions about prescribing or withholding medications.

Abstract: Methods for determining chronic hepatitis C infection are provided by the present invention. The methods generally involve determining the optical density of fluid samples which have tested positive for hepatitis C infection using an antibody-based assay. The optical density can then be used to determine in a predictive or probability-based manner whether the fluid sample contains chronic hepatitis C infection or whether the fluid sample merely contains antibodies to hepatitis C infection without resorting to costly molecular detection methods. Thus, the present invention permits differentiation between individuals who have cleared hepatitis C infection but still test positive in an antibody-based assay from individuals having chronic hepatitis C infection.

Abstract: Methods for determining the presence and level of active drugs in fluid samples are provided. Advantageously, entire families or classes of drugs can be tested for in one test by identifying the enzyme or receptor upon which members of that drug family act and measuring enzyme activity levels or binding activity levels of receptors. Methods for establishing standard activity levels of these drugs based upon results from samples having known quantities of drug therein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for determining the presence and level of active drugs in fluid samples are provided. Advantageously, entire families or classes of drugs can be tested for in one test by identifying the enzyme or receptor upon which members of that drug family act and measuring enzyme activity levels or binding activity levels of receptors. Methods for establishing standard activity levels of these drugs based upon results from samples having known quantities of drug therein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for determining the presence and level of active drugs in fluid samples are provided. Advantageously, entire families or classes of drugs can be tested for in one test by identifying the enzyme or receptor upon which members of that drug family act and measuring enzyme activity levels or binding activity levels of receptors. Methods for establishing standard activity levels of these drugs based upon results from samples having known quantities of drug therein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for determining chronic hepatitis C infection are provided by the present invention. The methods generally involve determining the optical density of fluid samples which have tested positive for hepatitis C infection using an antibody-based assay. The optical density can then be used to determine in a predictive or probability-based manner whether the fluid sample contains chronic hepatitis C infection or whether the fluid sample merely contains antibodies to hepatitis C infection without resorting to costly molecular detection methods. Thus, the present invention permits differentiation between individuals who have cleared hepatitis C infection but still test positive in an antibody-based assay from individuals having chronic hepatitis C infection.

Abstract: Methods for determining the presence and level of active drugs in fluid samples are provided. Advantageously, entire families or classes of drugs can be tested for in one test by identifying the enzyme or receptor upon which members of that drug family act and measuring enzyme activity levels or binding activity levels of receptors. Methods for establishing standard activity levels of these drugs based upon results from samples having known quantities of drug therein are also provided.

Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis method for resolving transferrin glycoforms in a sample is described. The capillary comprises a lumen, an inlet and an outlet. The lumenal surface of the capillary is charge-neutral and the capillary contains a buffer containing a polymeric matrix. The transferrin sample is contacted with the inlet of the capillary. A voltage is applied to the capillary such that the inlet is a cathode and the outlet is an anode and such that the voltage is effective for resolving transferrin glycoforms. A method for diagnosing chronic alcoholism or carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome using CE to resolve abnormal populations of transferrin glycoforms is also described.

Abstract: An in vivo method is described for increasing the population of Natural Killer (NK) cells in the blood of patients suffering from cancer, such NK cells having known activity against tumor cells. The method broadly involves injecting a specially prepared biologic into the patient's bloodstream and allowing the biologic to activate the patient's immune system so as to achieve a desired NK cell population increase (preferably at least a twofold increase). The biologic is produced by injecting an animal such as a goat with a virus (preferably a normally immunosuppressive Parvovirus) and allowed to react to the virus for a period of time to generate the biologic in its blood serum; blood is then withdrawn from the animal and the serum fraction thereof, containing the desired biologic, can be used in fractionated or more highly purified form.

Abstract: A method is described for the production of large quantities of biologic which serves as an immunomodulator and also to decrease the concentration of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. In practice, an animal such as a goat is injected with a virus (preferably a normally immunosuppressive Parvovirus) and allowed to react to the virus for a period of time to generate the biologic in its blood serum; blood is then withdrawn from the animal and the serum fraction thereof, containing the desired biologic, can be used in fractionated or more highly purified form. Examples are also provided of use of the biologic as an immunostimulant and for reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides.

Abstract: A method is described for the production of large quantities of biologic which serves as an immunomodulator and also to decrease the concentration of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. In practice, an animal such as a goat is injected with a virus (preferably a normally immunosuppressive Parvovirus) and allowed to react to the virus for a period of time to generate the biologic in its blood serum; blood is then withdrawn from the animal and the serum fraction thereof, containing the desired biologic, can be used in fractionated or more highly purified form. Examples are also provided of use of the biologic as an immunostimulant and for reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides.

Abstract: Improved catalyzed substrates for use in developing characteristic colors or fluorescence in the presence of peroxidase enzymes (e.g., horseradish peroxidase) are disclosed which include as a rate accelerator a substituted phenol such as a p-halogenated phenol. The complete system typically includes a peroxide type oxidizing agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), a chromogenic or flurogenic compound (e.g., ABTS), a buffer and the accelerator compound. Advantageously, the accelerator should provide at least about 50 percent rate enhancement for the substrate, as compared with an otherwise identical, accelerator-free substrate reacted under the same conditions; however, the most preferred accelerator, p-iodophenol, gives enhancements on the order to 1,000 percent. The invention is particularly useful in so-called ELISA determinations which involve an enzyme-linked moiety, and permit detection at very low concentration levels unobtainable with conventional colorimetric substrates.

Abstract: An improved immunoassay sample determination process for determining the presence of a component of an antigen-antibody reaction in a sample is disclosed which substantially eliminates non-specific interactions between the sample and the reaction vessel wall surfaces during the antigen-antibody reaction, to thereby greatly increase the accuracy of the process. In practice, a site-deactivating medium such as an animal- or vegetable-derived total biological fluid or extract (e.g., plasma or gelatin) is covalently bound to the vessel wall surfaces for deactivation purposes. In preferred forms the process is solid-state, wherein one of the components of the antigen-antibody reaction is coupled covalently to the coating medium, and a reaction mixture fraction including the sample being determined and the other component which has been labeled, for instance by means of a colorimetrically active enzyme.

Abstract: A rotary vane gas cycle apparatus having radial slots in the vanes and with cam bearings supported in the slots. A camtrack member is supported by the rotary vane gas cycle apparatus housing and fits into the slots in the vanes and rotor to control the movement of the vanes during rotation of the rotor assembly within the chamber in the housing. Springs are provided in the rotor slots to support the weight of the vanes when the rotor assembly is not rotating.

Abstract: An improved immunoassay sample determination process for determining the presence of a component of an antigen-antibody reaction in a sample is disclosed which substantially eliminates non-specific interactions between the sample and the reaction vessel wall surfaces during the antigen-antibody reaction, to thereby greatly increase the accuracy of the process. In practice, a site-deactivating medium such as an animal-or vegetable-derived total biological fluid or extract (e.g., plasma or gelatin) is covalently bound to the vessel wall surfaces for deactivation purposes. In preferred forms the process is solid-state, wherein one of the components of the antigen-antibody reaction is coupled covalently to the coating medium, and a reaction mixture fraction including the sample being determined and the other component which has been labeled, for instance by means of a colorimetrically active enzyme.

Abstract: A rotary vane gas cycle apparatus having radial vane guide slots in the rotor for receiving vane guides on the rotor vanes which slide in the slots. One or more radial guides are provided for each vane. In one embodiment a vane guide is provided on one side of the vane. The rotor guide slots restrict movement of the vane toward or away from the guide slot.