Abstract: Ultrasound surgical apparatus are disclosed, including: medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal guide members for control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal rolling members for manipulability and control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors providing a probe with a probe dilation region configured to have an average outside diameter that is equal to or greater than the average outside diameter of a probe tip and neck; as well as junctions to an ultrasonically inactive probe sheath; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors having positionable, ultrasonically inactive probe sheath ends slidably operable to both cover and expose at least a probe tip; and u

Abstract: The present invention is an atherectomy catheter with a hollow head. The head has a window with at least one internal bladed edge, a plunger, and an adjustable angle nose. The angle of the nose can be manipulated by the operator to apply pressure to an artery wall, thereby forcing the window and the window cutting edge up against a plaque target on the opposite side of the artery wall. The position of the plunger can be manipulated by the operator to open or close the window, thereby exposing or not exposing the bladed window edge, and optionally also pinching off dangling plaque fragments. Cut plaque enters the hollow catheter head through the open window, and is stored inside the catheter for removal from the body and subsequent analysis. In some embodiments, the catheter head may have optional sensors, or the plunger may also serve as a rotary cutter.

Abstract: The present invention is an atherectomy catheter with a rotary cutting knife that is driven from the distal (nose) or side (circumference) direction. The catheter collects plaque shavings in a hollow collection chamber mounted in between the rotary cutting knife and the main catheter tubing. In contrast to prior art designs, which utilized nose mounted plaque collection chambers, the present design is able to store a substantially larger volume of removed plaque, thus increasing the length of time and amount of plaque removal that can be accomplished before the catheter must be removed from the body and cleaned. This decreases medical procedure time, allows for more complete and careful plaque removal, and reduces the burden on the patient and physician.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated nucleic acids encoding a first polypeptide comprising a heavy chain of an anti-CCR5 antibody or a portion thereof containing three CDR regions, wherein the three CDR regions comprise consecutive amino acids, the sequences of such consecutive amino acids being identical to the sequences of CDR regions present in a heavy chain of a monoclonal antibody selected from the group: PA14, PA8, PA9, PA10, PA11, and PA12; and wherein the first polypeptide in combination with a second polypeptide comprising a light chain of an anti-CCR5 antibody binds to an epitope of CCR5 comprising amino acid residues in (1) an N-terminus of CCR5, (2) one of three extracellular loop regions of CCR5, or (3) a combination of (1) and (2).

Abstract: This invention provides a composition which comprises a monoclonal antibody or a fragment of such antibody, wherein the monoclonal antibody or fragment of such antibody binds to the same epitope as antibody PA14 produced by a hybridoma cell line designated PA14 (ATCC Accession No. HB-12610) and a carrier. This invention also provides a method of treating a subject infected with HIV-1 which comprises administering to the subject an effective dose of the composition of the invention.

Abstract: This invention provides a monoclonal antibody or a fragment of such antibody, wherein the antibody or the fragment of such antibody binds to the same epitope as monoclonal antibody PA14 produced by the hybridoma cell line designated PA14 (ATCC Accession No. HB12610). This invention also provides a hybridoma cell line designated PA14 (ATCC Accession No. HB-12610) which produces a monoclonal antibody designated PA14.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). In particular, the invention relates to ADCs which comprise an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof which binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and is conjugated to monomethylauristatin norephedrine or monomethylauristatin phenylalanine. The antibody-drug conjugate has a PC-3™ cell to C4-2 or LNCaP™ cell selectivity of at least 250. The invention also relates, in part, to compositions of and methods of using the ADCs. The methods provided include, for example, methods for treating a PSMA-mediated disease.

Abstract: The invention is directed an anti-CCR5 antibody which comprises (i) two light chains, each light chain comprising the expression product of a plasmid designated pVK:HuPRO14O-VK (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4097), and (ii) two heavy chains, each heavy chain comprising an expression product of either a plasmid designated pVgl:HuPRO140 HG2-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4098) or a plasmic designated pVgl:HuPRO140 (mutB+D+I)-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4099) or a fragment thereof which binds to CCR5 on the surface of a human cell.

Abstract: This method provides a method for reducing HIV-1 viral load in an HIV-1-infected human subject which comprises administering to the subject at a predefined interval effective HIV-1 viral load-reducing doses of (a) a humanized antibody designated PRO 140, or of (b) an anti-CCR5 receptor monoclonal antibody. This invention also provides a method for inhibiting in a human subject the onset or progression of an HIV-1-associated disorder, the inhibition of which is effected by inhibiting fusion of HIV-1 to CCR5+CD4+ target cells in the subject. This invention also provides a method for treating a subject infected with HIV-1 comprising administering to the subject (a) a monoclonal antibody which (i) binds to a CCR5 receptor on the surface of the subject's CD4+ cells and (ii) inhibits fusion of HIV-1 to the subject's CCR5+CD4+ cells, and (b) a non-antibody CCR5 receptor antagonist, in amounts effective to treat the subject.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition which comprises an admixture of three compounds, wherein: (a) one compound is an antibody which binds to a CCR5 receptor; (b) one compound retards attachment of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by retarding binding of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 on the surface of the CD4+ cell; and (c) one compound retards gp41 from adopting a conformation capable of mediating fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by binding noncovalently to an epitope on a gp41 fusion intermediate; wherein the relative mass ratio of any two of the compounds in the admixture ranges from about 100:1 to about 1:100, the composition being effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell. This invention also provides a method of inhibiting HIV-1 infection of a CD4+ cell which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of the composition of the subject invention effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell so as to thereby inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell.

Abstract: This invention concerns methods for determining whether an agent preferentially binds to at least one allelic variant of L-SIGN. The invention is also directed to agents that preferentially bind to at least one allelic variant of L-SIGN. The invention also provides methods and agents for treating and preventing disorders associated with infection by pathogens, including hepatitis C virus, that bind to particular L-SIGN allelic variants. The invention further provides methods for predicting the resistance or susceptibility of a subject to pathogen infection.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of reducing an HIV infected subject's HIV-1 viral load which comprises administering to the subject an effective viral load reducing amount of an antibody which (a) binds to a CCR5 chemokine receptor and (b) inhibits fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+CCR5+ cell, so as to thereby reduce the subject's HIV-1 viral load to 50% or less of the subject's HIV-1 viral load prior to administering the antibody to the subject.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGN protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGNR protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. Compounds of the present invention inhibit HCV infection of cells susceptible to HCV infection.

Abstract: A method for identifying hazardous substances in a printed wiring assembly having a plurality of discrete components, using micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. A micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (?-XRF) and/or X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopy are used as detecting analyzers, to identify materials of concern in an electronic device. The device or assembly to be examined is analyzed by moving it in the X, Y, and Z directions under a probe in response to information in a reference database, to determine elemental composition at selected locations on the assembly, the probe positioned at an optimum analytical distance from each selected location for analysis. The determined elemental composition at each selected location is then correlated to the reference database, and the detected elements are assigned to the various components in the assembly.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide segment having a sequence encoding a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention also provides a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention further provides methods of treating HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: A wireless, programmable system for bio-potential signal acquisition (e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG) data) includes a base unit and a plurality of individual wireless, remotely programmable transceivers that connect to patch electrodes. The base unit manages the transceivers by issuing registration, configuration, data acquisition, and transmission commands using wireless techniques. Bio-potential signals from the wireless transceivers are demultiplexed and supplied via a standard interface to a conventional monitor for display.

Abstract: This invention provides a first composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable particle and a stable HIV-1 pre-fusion envelope glycoprotein trimeric complex operably affixed thereto. This invention further provides a second composition comprising (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable particle, (b) an antigen, and (c) an agent which is operably affixed to the particle and is specifically bound to the antigen, whereby the antigen is operably bound to the particle. Finally, this invention provides related nucleic acids, vectors, cells, compositions, production methods, and prophylactic and therapeutic methods.

Abstract: A patient warming apparatus includes a patient support and a canopy that moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the patient support. A first heater is coupled to the canopy and moves upwardly and downwardly with the canopy. A second heater is coupled to the patient support.