Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits useful for reducing pain in a subject by inhibiting Epac, PLC?, and/or PLD. In addition, the invention provides a variety of prescreening and screening methods aimed at identifying agents that reduce pain. Methods of the invention can involve assaying test agent binding to Epac, PLC?, or PLD. Alternatively, test agents can be screened for their ability to alter the level of Epac, PLC?, or PLD polypeptides, polynucleotides, or action.

Abstract: This invention concerns in general treatment of diseases and pathological conditions with anti-VEGF antibodies. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer using an anti-VEGF antibody, preferably in combination with one or more additional anti-tumor therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of PKC isozyme ? (PKC?)-deficient cells and non-human animals. The present invention is further directed to the identification of PKC? as a target for drugs that reduce anxiety. According to the present invention, PKC?-inhibiting compounds act in synergy with drugs acting at the GABAA receptor. The present invention is also directed to the use of modulators of PKC? to modulate alcohol consumption, self-administration of other drugs of abuse, and the effects of alcohol consumption as well as the use of inhibitors of PKC?, either alone or in conjunction with allosteric agonists of GABAA receptors, to treat conditions, such as addiction, withdrawal syndrome, skeletal muscle spasms, convulsive seizures, and epilepsy, that are amenable to treatment by allosteric agonists of GABAA receptors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of PKC isozyme ? (PKC?)-deficient cells and non-human animals. The present invention is further directed to the identification of PKC? as a target for drugs that reduce anxiety. According to the present invention, PKC?-inhibiting compounds act in synergy with drugs acting at the GABAA receptor. The present invention is also directed to the use of modulators of PKC? to modulate alcohol consumption, self-administration of other drugs of abuse, and the effects of alcohol consumption as well as the use of inhibitors of PKC?, either alone or in conjunction with allosteric agonists of GABAA receptors, to treat conditions, such as addiction, withdrawal syndrome, skeletal muscle spasms, convulsive seizures, and epilepsy, that are amenable to treatment by allosteric agonists of GABAA receptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing or preventing a drug-related effect or behavior in a subject by inhibiting N-type calcium channels. In addition, the invention provides a variety of prescreening and screening methods aimed at identifying agents that modulate a drug-related effect or behavior. These methods involve assaying test agent binding to N-type calcium channels or channel subunits. Alternatively, test agents can be screened for their ability to alter the level of N-type calcium channels, channel subunit polypeptide or RNA, or the depolarization-induced inward calcium current mediated by these channels. Finally, the invention also provides a diagnostic method that entails measuring one or more of these levels and determining risk for a drug-related effect or behavior based on comparison to the corresponding level for a control population.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving one or more bobbin carriers along a track of a bobbin transport system, comprises track engaging elements for engaging with the track and allowing the drive unit to travel along the track, a detector for detecting position indicators spaced along the track and for producing detector signals, and a computing device for receiving the detector signals from the detector and for computing the location of the drive unit on the basis of the detector signals.