The invention relates to a method for identifying T cell populations involved in autoimmune diseases. This involves determining levels of a V.beta. element in a body fluid sample of a patient and comparing this to normal levels. Variation from normal levels is indicative of an autoimmune disease. The invention also involves assaying T cell subpopulations in a sample to determine clonality of .beta. chains. Clonality can also be used to diagnose autoimmune disorders.

The invention relates to novel diphenylpropylamine derivatives of the general formula (I). ##STR1## R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen or a methyl group; R.sup.2 stands for hydrogen, a methyl or n-decyl group; Z means a phenyl group substituted by R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, wherein R.sup.3 means hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, or a nitro, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, phenoxy or benzyloxy group; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent hydrogen, chlorine or a hydroxy, alkoxy, benzyloxy, acetamin...

L-carnitine is effective for the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, such as intermittent claudication. Administration of L-carnitine to patients suffering from intermittent claudication results in a significant increase in the distance the patients can walk before experiencing claudication.

The enzyme cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or a salt thereof is useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

An apparatus for detecting ophthalmic diseases such as an inflammation in a patient's eye which includes means for focusing a linearly polarized laser beam at a selected spot in the eye. The light scattered from the eye is photoelectrically detected and converted into an electrical signal which is subsequently used to determine the protein concentration essential to ophthalmic disease detection in the patient's eye. The laser beam of linear polarization projected on the spot to be measured only ...

Amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene is related to the status of neoplastic diseases, particularly breast and ovarian adenocarcinomas. The presence of multiple gene copies in tumor cells indicates that the disease is more likely to spread beyond the primary tumor site, and that the disease therefore may require more aggressive treatment than might otherwise be indicated by other diagnostic factors. In particular, the degree of gene amplification appears to provide greater prognostic utility t...

An apparatus for examining for the presence of absence of opthalmic diseases in a patient's eye comprises a laser beam projector for projecting a laser beam at a selected spot in the patient's eye, an optical element disposed to receive light scattered by protein in the patient's eye, and a photoelectrical converter for photoelectrically converting the scattered light into an electrical signal. The laser beam projector and the optical element are arranged so that their optical axes cross substan...

An apparatus for detecting ophthalmic diseases, such as inflammation in a patient's eye, includes a projection system for projecting and focusing a laser beam at a selected spot in the eye. The laser light scattered from the eye is photoelectrically detected through a slit in a mask and converted into an electrical signal which is used to determine the protein concentration in the patient's eye. A light shield member is displaceable in front of the mask slit to selectively block diffused light f...

Hydropyridine analogs, dihydropyridine analogs, trihydropyridine analogs, hydropurine analogs, dihydropurine analogs, trihydropurine analogs, N,N,N,'-trimethyl- N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,3-propanediamone analogs, 1-methyl-3-[N-(4-iodophenyl)- carbamoyl]-1,4-dihydropyridine analogs, that are lipid-soluble with the specific electron charge density and therefore useful for the administration of several compounds that need to penetrate the blood-brain capillary barrier. Once inside the brain these co...

A method of curing or alleviating hepatic disease comprising administrating to the patient 1,3-dithiole-2-thione or 1,3-dithiolane-2-thione is disclosed. Adminstration of the compound can be made in various dosing forms, including tablets, granules, powders, capsules, suspensions, injections, and suppositories. Normal dosing amount can be determined from the range of 0.01 to 50 mg/kg/day for oral administration, and 0.002 to 10 mg/kg/day for injection or other forms of administration.