Abstract: Blood coagulation factor XII (FXII) is activated using a receptor for globular heads of the complement component Clq. The receptor (gC1qr) is a protein and provides a more faithful in vitro reproduction of the actual FX-II-activating reaction which occurs in living organisms. The protein receptor, gClqR may be obtained in at least substantially pure or isolated form by recombinant genetic engineering techniques or by isolation from animal cell membranes to which the complement component Clq binds. The receptor may be separated, purified, or isolated from cell membranes. The activation of the blood coagulation factor XII may be conducted in: 1) an animal plasma, 2) a reconstituted plasma kallikrein-kinin system, or 3) an at least substantially pure blood coagulation factor XII. The activation with the receptor is preferably conducted in the presence of zinc ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to St. John's Wort materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of compositional and activity fingerprints in the processing of St. John's Wort materials to produce drugs which qualify as pharmaceutical grade compositions which are suitable for use in clinical or veterinary settings to treat and/or ameliorate diseases, disorders or conditions.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of alopecia areata and male pattern baldness is preferably made from boric acid, zinc oxide, and starch. The method of the present invention comprises applying the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention to a person's scalp. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can comprise 10 parts by weight starch, 60 parts by weight boric acid, 40 parts by weight zinc oxide, and 500 parts by weight water. The dry ingredients (starch, boric acid, and zinc oxide) are mixed together, then the water is added. The mixture is boiled for 20 minutes, stirring continuously. The mixture will thicken, become smooth, and the final consistency will have minute lumps within the liquid. Preferably, before the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is applied to the scalp, the bald spots are scrubbed with either pure lamb's wool or a soft-bristled brush made of animal hair. This cleanses the residue from the skin.

Abstract: A process of microdissection where a tissue sample is conventionally visualized in a microscope. A selectively activatable convex surface is provided, preferably on the periphery at the distal end of a rod. This selectively activatable convex surface when locally activated, typically with a laser through an optic light path in the microscope, provides the activated region with adhesive properties. The tissue sample has at least one portion, which is to be extracted is identified. This identified portion is contacted with a portion of the selectively activatable convex surface on the periphery of the rod. When the convex surface is locally activated, typically by exposure to laser light in the footprint of the desired portion, an adhesive transfer surface on the selectively activatable convex surface is activated which adheres to the desired cells in the footprint of the desired portion.

Abstract: A chromogenic assay for determination of blood coagulation Factor VIII:Ca, using an indicator of Factor Xa simultaneously as a measure of Factor VIII:Ca concentration and as an inhibitor of Factor Xa. This technique can be applied to measure the concentration of an activating enzyme using the rate of conversion of the indicator molecule of the product of that enzyme as an indirect indicator of enzyme concentration.

Abstract: Inhibition of protein elongation factor 2 provides a target for identifying potential antifungal and antiparasitic compounds. EF2 inhibitors are useful as therapeutic agents against fungal and parasitic infections.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a derivatized sample presentation apparatus is provided. The sample presentation apparatus has a complex bound to the surface of the sample presentation apparatus. This complex includes a molecule which may chemically modify a biomolecule.

Abstract: Novel binding assay techniques have been developed which improve accuracy and sensitivity via accounting for interfering factors. They rely on use, in a simultaneous incubation, of two or more different labels, some of which are used primarily to detect analyte, and others to detect interfering substances originating in the sample. The mathematical relationships between the labels allow corrections that lead to more accurate and sensitive determination of the presence and concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: A method for the determination of factor IXa in a sample solution using a measurable factor IXa substrate and a water-miscible alcohol and measuring the cleavage of the factor IXa substrate as a measure for factor IXa activity is suitable for the direct determination of factor IXa.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an extract or combination of extracts having an antiviral, antibacterial, or immunomodulating property, wherein the extract or combination of extracts is obtained from a combination of plants wherein at least one plant is selected from each of the genuses Labiatae, Caprifoliaceae, and Oleaceae. A preferred extract is obtained from Radix scutellaria, Flos lonicera, and Fructus forsythiae. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising baicalin, chlorogenic acid and forsythiaside in isolated and purified form. The present invention further provides certain novel derivatives of baicalin, chlorogenic acid and forsythiaside. The present invention additionally provides processes for preparing the extracts as well as baicalin, chlorogenic acid, and forsythiaside in isolated and purified forms.

Abstract: A mixed oxide solid composition of formula (I):Mo.sub.12 W.sub.a Bi.sub.b Fe.sub.c Co.sub.d Ni.sub.e Si.sub.f K.sub.g Sn.sub.h O.sub.x (I)where O.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.10, 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.10, 0.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10, 0.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.15, 0.ltoreq.g.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.h.ltoreq.2 and x is the quantity of oxygen bonded to the other elements and depends on their oxidation states, is used in the manufacture of acrolein by oxidizing propylene, the solid composition reacting with propylene according to the redox reaction (1):solid.sub.oxidized +propylene.fwdarw.solid.sub.reduced +acrolein(I)To manufacture acrolein, gaseous propylene is passed over a solid composition of formula (I), to conduct the redox reaction (1) by operating at a temperature of 200 to 600.degree. C., at a pressure of 1.01.times.10.sup.4 to 1.01 to 10.sup.6 Pa (0.1 to 10 atmospheres) and with a residence time of 0.01 second to 90 seconds, in the absence of molecular oxygen.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein X in each of formulas (1) and (2) represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene, or alkynylene linker of 2-6 C;Y represents one or more carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings; when two or more rings are present in Y, they may optionally be fused; andR' represents a cation, H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1-6 C; andthe dotted lines represent optional .pi.-bonds,promote bone formation and are thus useful in treating osteoporosis, bone fracture or deficiency, primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, periodontal disease or defect, metastatic bone disease, osteolytic bone disease, post-plastic surgery, post-prosthetic joint surgery, and post-dental implantation. These compounds can be used in combination with other bone growth-promoting compounds and/or estrogens and/or bisphosphonates for this purpose.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, in particular, to a process for preparing cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone by selectively oxidizing cyclohexane with Fe/Pd catalyst in a flow of hydrogen and oxygen gases in the mixture of acetone and acetic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a galenic preparation for prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma. More specifically, the present invention relates to a galenic preparation which comprises an injectable composition having a good preventive and therapeutic effect particularly against hepatitis B virus and containing 4 kinds of main natural drugs, i.e., Hedyotidis herba, Curcumae longae rhizoma, Polygonati cuspidati radix and Sophorae tonkinesis radix; and an oral composition having a preventive and therapeutic effect against fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis and containing 10 kinds of natural drugs, i.e.

Abstract: A process and a reagent for the determination of ions in fluids, wherein the influence of these ions on the activity of an enzyme is measured. The ions for example are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, lithium, lead, zinc, copper, iron or other heavy metals or non-metallic ions comprising chloride, bicarbonate, protons, ammonium and substances that give rise to ammonium. The enzymes which are used may be a transferase, a hydrolase, an oxidoreductase or a lyase. An essential feature is a method to exclude interferences by ions by masking the interfering ions with a binding agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to presqualene diphosphate (PSDP) analogs having an active region of natural PSDP and a metabolic transformation region resistant to rapid intracellular inactivation in vivo. For example, PSDP and its stable analogs can inhibit neutrophil signal transduction events in cellular activation that result in the generation of active oxygen species, regulation of leukocyte adherence, both homotypic (leukocyte-leukocyte) or heterotypic adherence with leukocytes and epithelial cells of mucosal origin or endothelial cells of vascular origin. These analogs can also be used to regulate leukocyte-dependent tissue injury.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of diagnosing periodontal disease in a subject by detecting elevated concentrations of .beta.-glucuronidase in saliva from the subject. The concentration of .beta.-glucuronidase in the subject's saliva may be determined by adding to a sample of the saliva a substrate for .beta.-glucuronidase and measuring the amount of a product produced by the reaction of .beta.-glucuronidase on the substrate. Also, the concentration of .beta.-glucuronidase in the subject's saliva may be determined by adding to a sample of saliva a labeled antibody specific for .beta.-glucuronidase and measuring the amount of labeled antibody which complexes with .beta.-glucuronidase present in the saliva.

Abstract: A system is used for determining efficacy of a sterilization cycle. A biological sterilization indicator exhibits fluorescence in response to biological activity which is indicative of bacterial growth in the biological sterilization indicator. The biological sterilization indicator is exposed to the sterilization cycle and is placed in a fluorescence reading apparatus. The fluorescence from the biological sterilization indicator is read to obtain a first fluorescence reading. The fluorescence from the biological sterilization indicator is re-read to obtain a second fluorescence reading. The efficacy of the sterilization cycle is determined based on the first and second fluorescence readings.

Abstract: Methods of assaying insects for pesticide resistance and to identify insect species are based on feeding disruption caused by pesticides such as the biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Bt). The assay end-point is feeding disruption, measured by the fecal production of insects exposed to a diagnostic dose of pesticide in a test diet. Pesticide resistance can be assessed at the level of an individual insect or at population levels. Apparatus useful in such assays are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of an inhibitor of an activatable metabolic enzyme, which inhibitor is bound to a high molecular weight carrier, as a molecular marker for determining the activation of this enzyme for the diagnosis of the enzyme. The invention relates in particular to the use of a thrombin inhibitor, which is bound to a high molecular weight carrier, as a molecular marker for determining clotting activation in clotting diagnosis and therapy monitoring. The invention preferably relates to the use of dextran-hirudin or PEG-coupled hirudin as a molecular marker for clotting diagnosis and therapy monitoring.