The present invention provides a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal using a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal including the following steps:

(1) using, as a test sample, expired air of a mammalian subject excreted at any point in time within 30 minutes after oral administration of a predetermined amount of a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound, measuring behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 in the expired air;

(2) comparing the behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 (measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) obtained in step (1) with the behavior of corresponding .sup.13CO.sub.2 (reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) that has been obtained beforehand in a control mammal; and

(3) determining the gastric acidity of the mammalian subject based on a difference between the reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior and the measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior obtained above.

Monoclonal neutralizing antibodies are disclosed that specifically bind to the HIV-1 gp41 membrane-proximal external region (MPER). Also disclosed are compositions including the disclosed antibodies that specifically bind gp41, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors including the nucleic acids, and isolated host cells that express the nucleic acids. The antibodies and compositions disclosed herein can be used for detecting the presence of HIV-1 in a biological sample, or detecting an HIV-1 infection or diagnosing AIDS in a subject. In additional, the broad neutralization breadth of the disclosed antibodies makes them ideal for treating a subject with an HIV infection. Thus, disclosed are methods of treating and/or preventing HIV infection.

Compounds used as labels with properties comparable to known fluorescent compounds. The compounds are conjugated to proteins and nucleic acids for biological imaging and analysis. Synthesis of the compounds, formation and use of the conjugated compounds, and specific non-limiting examples of each are provided.

Disclosed herein is a selective delivery molecule comprising: (a) an acidic sequence (portion A) which is effective to inhibit or prevent the uptake into cells or tissue retention, (b) a molecular transport or tissue retention sequence (portion B), and (c) a linker between portion A and portion B, and (d) cargo moieties (portion D.sub.A and D.sub.B).

The present invention provides antibodies and related molecules that bind to chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The invention further provides antibody-drug conjugates comprising such antibodies, antibody encoding nucleic acids, and methods of obtaining such antibodies. The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies and anti-CXCR4 antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of a disorder associated with CXCR4 function or expression (e.g., cancer), such as colon, RCC, esophageal, gastric, head and neck, lung, ovarian, pancreatic cancer or hematological cancers.

Compounds useful as contrast agents in image-guided surgery are provided. The compounds comprise a latent cationic lysosomotropic fragment that is detectable upon cleavage by lysosomal proteases within treated tissues, particularly within tumors and other diseased tissues. Also provided are compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds, for example in dynamically monitoring protease activity in vivo during image-guided tumor resection surgery.

The present invention relates to an autophagic cell targeted peptide and its use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the general formula (I) and specifically binding to an autophagic cell and a composition for detecting autophagic cells comprising the same as an active ingredient, a drug delivery composition containing the same as an active ingredient, and a composition for imaging comprising the same as an active ingredient. The peptide of the present invention specifically binds to the cell membrane of autophagic cells and can be applied to various kinds of tissues and cells. Also the detection and imaging effect of autophagy is remarkable in vitro and in vivo.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to compounds and methods for imaging myocardial perfusion, comprising administering to a patient a contrast agent which comprises a compound that binds MC-1, and an imaging moiety, and scanning the patient using diagnostic imaging.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to compounds and methods for imaging myocardial perfusion, comprising administering to a patient a contrast agent which comprises a compound that binds MC-1, and an imaging moiety, and scanning the patient using diagnostic imaging.

The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy.

The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRI) and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies. The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.