摘要:
Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
摘要:
Disclosed are methods of treating vitamin D-sensitive diseases without inducing severe forms of hypercalcemia. The methods comprise administering biologically inert vitamin D prodrugs. The vitamin D prodrugs have a vitamin D-drug moiety and a pro moiety, wherein the pro moiety is selected from the group consisting of a glycone moiety and a sulfate moiety. The vitamin D prodrugs are activated by enzymes at target tissues or cells that cleave the pro moiety from the vitamin D-drug moiety, freeing the vitamin D-moiety from the pro moiety in the vicinity of the target tissues or cells. In some versions, the vitamin D-drug moiety is an active vitamin D drug that has direct therapeutic effects at target sites. In other versions, the vitamin D-drug moiety is an inactive vitamin D drug that regulates the production and/or turnover of an active vitamin D drug and, therefore, abundance of the active vitamin D drug at the target site. The methods of the invention prevent large, acute, systemic increases in the free form of the vitamin D-drug moiety that would otherwise lead to hypercalcemia. The methods can be used to treat hyperproliferative, autoimmune, or infectious diseases throughout the body, including the intestine. Compositions of the vitamin D prodrugs useful in the described methods are also disclosed.
摘要:
A pneumatic tocodynamometer ("pTOCO") (10) having a guard-ring (13) with a thin elastic membrane (18) stretched across a shallow spherical depression (12) trapping a small volume of air in the center of the guard-ring (13). A pressure transducer (17) may be molded into the body 11 of the pTOCO (10). In an alternative embodiment, the air volume beneath the membrane (18) of the pTOCO (10) may be connected via a low volume air conduit (14, 15) to a separate pressure transducer (16).
摘要:
The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as "tiers" of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g. by specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide tag to its tag complement on an addressable array; or such analysis can be carried out serially by successive specific hybridizations of labeled word complements, or the like.
摘要:
Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
摘要:
Among other things, there are disclosed apparatuses and methods for medically sealing an opening in a vessel or wall. For example, in medical applications, a delivery tube is provided for insertion through a sheath into a vessel (e.g. a blood vessel). A dome-shaped seal fixed to a filament, an absorbent and/or compressible buffer, and a locking member are provided in the delivery tube. The delivery tube is configured so that it can be inserted into the vessel through a sheath. Tension is maintained on the filament to hold the seal against the tube or sheath. The sheath is pulled out, which pulls out the tube at the same time, leaving the seal over the opening in the vessel wall. The locking member compresses the buffer against the outside of the vessel and with the filament holds the seal in place against the inside of a vessel.
摘要:
A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter-reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter-reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.