Abstract: A method for the treatment for hepatitis delta infection in a host, that includes administering an effective amount of a nucleoside or a nucleoside analog that suppresses the expression of the hepatitis B surface or preS1 antigen in the host 100-fold or more relative to pretreatment values in vivo; or to not more than 1 microgram per milliliter in vivo. In a preferred embodiment, the nucleoside is L-FMAU, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 30, 2003
Assignees:
Georgetown University, Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
John L. Casey, Brent E. Korba, Paul J. Cote, John L. Gerin, Bud C. Tennant, Chung K. Chu
Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying compounds and compositions useful in the regulation of weight, the treatment of obesity, diabetes and other insulin resistance-related disorders hypertension, cardiovascular disease and the like. The methods comprise the use of adipocytes and predipocytes in assays and screens for compounds or compositions of interest. The present invention recognizes the presence of the sulfonylurea receptor in adipocytes and its utility in identifying compounds and in treating obesity and other insulin resistance-related disorders.
In addition to assaying for agonists and antagonists of the sulfonylurea receptor, the methods of the invention also provide for identifying novel calcium channels or other calcium regulatory channels that are selectively expressed in human adipocytes as compared to human preadipocytes and for screening adipocytes for compounds that selectively antagonize calcium.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
May 27, 2003
Assignee:
Artecel Science, Inc.
Inventors:
William O. Wilkison, Michael B. Zemel, Naima Moustaid-Moussa
Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for the differentiation of stromal cells from adipose tissue into hematopoietic supporting stromal cells and myocytes of both the skeletal and smooth muscle type. The cells produced by the methods are useful in providing a source of fully differentiated and functional cells for research, transplantation and development of tissue engineering products for the treatment of human diseases and traumatic tissue injury repair.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2003
Assignee:
Artecel Sciences, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey Martin Gimble, Juan-Di Chang Halvorsen, William O. Wilkison
Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides that hybridize to segments of the pres1, S, C, and &egr; regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA pregenome inhibit replication of the virus. Pharmaceutical compositions which contain these oligonucleotides as the active ingredients are effective against HBV infection.
Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining the ability of compounds to regulate lipogenesis and lipolysis by acting as a sulfonylurea-1 (SUR 1) potassium channel activator, an adipocyte potassium channel activator, an SUR 1 antagonist, and an adipocyte specific SUR 1 antagonist. The present invention recognizes the presence of the sulfonylurea receptor in adipocytes and its utility in identifying compounds and in regulating lipogenesis and lipolysis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 10, 2002
Assignee:
Artecel Sciences, Inc.
Inventors:
William O. Wilkison, Michael B. Zemel, Naima Moustaid-Moussa
Abstract: The present invention is a method and composition to increase bone strength in a manner that decreases fracture incidence, which may or may not include increasing bone mineral density (“BMD”). The invention includes administering an effective amount of a bisphosphonate to a host in need thereof to increase bone strength, which inhibits the apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes, without a significant effect on osteoclasts. In one embodiment, the bisphosphonate is not 1-amino-3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-propyliden-1,1-bisphosphonic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt. An increase in osteoblast life span can lead to an increase in bone mass, i.e., an anabolic effect. Preservation of osteocyte life span can increase bone strength, which may be disproportional to the increase in bone mass.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 19, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 9, 2002
Assignee:
Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas