Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of preparing a 4,7-di-O-alkyl chromogenic ketoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) for use in detecting influenza virus types A and B. The ketosides are substrates that are selectively cleaved by a neuraminidase on influenza virus, but not be neuraminidases found on other viruses or on bacteria. The synthesis is efficient and provides large quantities of the ketoside for commercial development. The synthesis includes a step of alkylating the 4- and 7-hydroxyl groups of a protected alkyl ester alkyl ketoside derivative of Neu5Ac by a process that comprises contacting the derivative with a composition comprising an alkyl halide to form a 4,7-di-O-alkyl protected alkyl ester alkyl ketoside derivative of Neu5Ac. The synthesis alternatively includes protecting the 8- and 9-hydroxyl groups of an alkyl ester alkyl ketoside derivative of Neu5Ac by forming an 8,9-epoxide protected alkyl ester alkyl ketoside derivative of Neu5Ac.

Abstract: A method of producing a melanin comprises oxidizing a phenolic compound at one or more hydroxyl groups thereof, wherein the phenolic compound is selected from 5-hydroxyindole and derivatives thereof and compounds of formula (1) and the oxidation is provided by biotransformation in the presence of an oxidoreductase enzyme, the compound of formula (1), wherein R1 is H or OH; R2 is H, OH orOCH3; R3 is H or OH at least one of R1 and R3 being OH; R4 is selected from H , R, —COOX and R7—COOX, wherein R is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R7 is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkylene group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and X is selected from H and aliphatic and aromatic ester forming groups; and R5 and R6 is each independently selected from H, OH, NH2, OCH3, CH3, SH, NHCO2, NHCH3, COOH and saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention provides a process that includes isomerizing at least one allylic substrate having an acyloxyl group or a hydroxyl group at the allyl position thereof, to produce a corresponding allylic isomer, wherein the isomerizing is conducted in the presence of a catalyst that includes a Group VIII-X metal compound and a phosphite compound.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an isotonic beverage product for direct increase of the muscular ATP level consisting essentially of a solution of D-ribose and blood glucose increasing monosaccharides and oligosaccharides and/or hydrogenated glucose syrups. These drinks serve to increase the overall performance during physical exercise and at the same time diminish fatigue.

Abstract: A chemical composition and method of use of the composition is described. The chemical composition includes an aza-enediyne, aza-enyne allene, or an aza-diallene. These compound are preferably non-hydrolyzable, cationic compounds that bind to nucleic acids. In addition it is believed that these compounds may undergo chemical reactions in the presence of a nucleic acid to generate reactive intermediates that cleave nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention is based upon the discovery that PAI-1 activity of a sample can be measured with sensitivity and correlation to in vivo activity without the use of standard curves. The assay determines the PAI-1 activity of a sample upon utilizing the second order rate equation for the reaction of PAI-1 and t-PA, as measured by their activities, in that sample.

Abstract: A material which has the ability to effect it's passage, at least in part, and the ability to transport other materials through the blood-brain barrier which includes any one or more pure sugars or pure amino sugars from the group consisting of meso ethritol, zylitol, D(+) galactose, D(+) lactose, D(+) xylose, dulcitol, myo-insoitol, L(−) fructose, D(−) mannitol, sorbitol, D(+) glucose, D(+) arabinose, D(−) arabinose, celloboise, D(+) maltose, D(+) raffinose, L(+)rhamnose, D(+) melibiose, D(−) ribose, adonitol, D(+) arabitol, L(−) arabitol, D(+) fucose, L(−) fucose, D(−) lyxose, L(+) lyxose, L(−) lyxose, D(+) glucosamine, D mannosamine, and D galactosamine; and any one or more amino acids from the group consisting of arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, glutamine, lysine, tryptophan, ty

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of positively-charged unsymmetrical cyanine dyes, including novel unsymmetrical cyanine dyes, to stain cells and selectively stain intracellular organelles, with particular advantages in staining mitochondria. The dyes are generally weakly fluorescent in aqueous solution but highly fluorescent in cells and organelles, typically staining cells or mitochondria with a green fluorescence. The dyes stain mitochondria in both live and dead cells, and are retained in mitochondria even where the cells are treated with solvents that permeabilize cell and mitochondrial membranes. Mitochondria or cells stained according to this method are optionally stained with an additional detection reagent, such as a labeled antibody, labeled oligonucleotide, fluorogenic enzyme substrate, or other indicator for a specific cellular component or substructure, including another unsymmetrical cyanine stain of the same or different class.

Abstract: Kit comprising biotin, fluorescent and chemiluminescent labeled vitamin D compounds are disclosed. The disclosed kit may be used in assays for the presence of vitamin D, its metabolites and vitamin D analogs in biological fluids.

Abstract: A stereospecific method for accomplishing the below reaction: results in the compound of formula 2 having the same stereochemistry at both carbon 1 and carbon 3 as that in the compound of formula 1. Thus, if carbon 3 is in the R-configuration in the compound of formula 1, then carbon 3 will be in the R-configuration in the compound of resulting formula 2. In the above process, R1 is C1-C6 alkyl that can be straight-chain or branched. The process functions using a fluorinated alcohol having a pKa less than about 9, in the presence of a palladium catalyst. The compounds of formula 1, as well as novel intermediates in this process, are useful in manufacturing vitamin D analogs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating a mixture of a liquid oil and a copper chlorophyll extract with a mixture of at least 90% by weight of a C2-C4 alcohol, and water at a certain concentration. The thus treated mixture is then suitable for making micro capsules with a green colorer liquid core material comprising said mixture by means of complex coaceration. These microcapsules can be included in oral care products to import a speckled appearance thereto. The liquid oil is typically sunflower oil or paraffin oil, and the C2-C4 alcohol is typically ethanol or isopropanol.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and rapid assay for intracellular niacin status in a biological sample that is both highly sensitive and accurate over a wide range of niacin status. The assay can be performed directly on a biological sample such as blood and is useful for determining the niacin status in a subject such as a human. In a preferred form, the assay is incorporated into a kit or an apparatus for the rapid and accurate determination of niacin status in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling microbial growth on a material or surface. The method includes applying to the material an antimicrobial agent including colloid particles having an ion exchange capacity and having attached a quantity of one or more ligands with antimicrobial properties where the quantity of ligand attached to the colloid particles is in excess of 100% and up to 200% of the ion exchange capacity of the colloid particles. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling mircobial growth in a material. In addition, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial surface, an antimicrobial material, and an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: Compounds having the formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof are matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors. Also disclosed are matrix metalloproteinase-inhibiting compositions and methods of inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase in a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing (1→3)-&bgr;-D-glucan, comprising subjecting a fungal cell to oxidation degradation under alkaline conditions to release (1→3)-&bgr;-D-glucan from a cell wall of the cell. (1→3)-&bgr;-D-Glucan can be prepared easily and efficiently from a cell of a microorganism belonging to the genus Candida. An accurate measurement process having a high reproducibility of (1→3)-&bgr;-D-glucan can be provided by using the above-described glucan or stabilized glucan into a kit and using it as a standard substance, and a large amount of the (1→3)-&bgr;-D-glucan having various biological activities can be solubilized and purified from a fungus, such as Candida or the like.

Abstract: A sample of an epithelial lesion which may be keratinized is disclosed in which an analytical system including an imaging system is provided to detect precancerous and cancerous cells. A transepithelial non-lacerational brush produces sufficient cells from all three layers of the epithelium so that an analytical system comprising a programmed computer can detect which cells exhibit abnormal keratinization and require further examination because of a likely suspicion of said pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions. The method and system can apply to the diagnosis non-cancerous conditions as well.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a benzenepolycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof or a mixture of two or more thereof by bringing the benzenepolycarboxylic acid or the derivative thereof or the mixture of two or more thereof into contact with a hydrogen-containing gas is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which comprises as active metal at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the periodic table applied to a support which contains macropores with the proviso that if dimethyl terephthalate is hydrogenated, the hydrogenation using a catalyst which comprises as active metal ruthenium either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I, VII or VIII of the Periodic Table applied to a support, where the support has a mean pore diameter of at least 50 nm and a BET surface area of at most 30 m2/g and the amount of the active metal is from 0.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of vinyl esters from butene oligomers, wherein butenes are oligomerized, the butene oligomers are separated from the oligomerized mixture, the butene oligomers are converted to carboxylic acids which are longer by one carbon atom, and the resulting carboxylic acids are converted to the corresponding vinyl esters. The butene oligomers are in particular dibutene, tributene and tetrabutene. The invention also relates to the use of the vinyl esters as plasticizers or as comonomers in polymerization reactions.

Abstract: A solution for peritoneal dialysis or for infusion comprises two single solutions which, after heat sterilization, are brought together and dispensed, with the first single solution containing calcium ions, additional electrolytic salts and glucose in an osmotically effective concentration and the second single solution containing bicarbonate and a weak acid with pKa<5. To provide a biocompatible solution, in particular for use as a peritoneal dialysis solution, the first single solution is acidified with a physiologically compatible acid to a pH of below 3.2. The second single solution contains bicarbonate only in a proportion which does not exceed 10 mmol/l.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of testing for periodontal disease in a subject which comprises detecting an elevated concentration of &bgr;-glucuronidase in saliva from the subject relative to the concentration of &bgr;-glucuronidase present in saliva from a healthy subject. The concentration of &bgr;-glucuronidase in the subject's saliva is determined by adding to a sample of the saliva a substrate for &bgr;-glucuronidase and measuring the amount of a product produced by the action of &bgr;-glucuronidase in the substrate. Also, the concentration of &bgr;-glucuronidase in the subject's saliva is determined by adding to a sample of saliva a labeled antibody specific for &bgr;-glucuronidase and measuring the amount of labeled antibody which forms a complex with &bgr;-glucuronidase present in the saliva.