Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject by administering directly to, or expressing locally in, a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. Also provided are methods of treating critical limb ischemia in a subject by administering a DNA plasmid encoding human SDF-1 by direct injection into the affected limb.

Abstract: The invention relates to medicine. The invention provides inventive method for treating human diseases associated with an increased deoxyribonucleic acid content in extracellular spaces of tissues and organs, which method comprises enterally administering DNAse enzyme in a quantity of 20 000-500 000 Kunz units in a day per 1 kg of the body mass. The single dose of the inventive medicinal preparation for treating human diseases associated with an increased deoxyribonucleic acid content in extracellular spaces of tissues and organs comprises 20 000-500 000 Kunz units of the DNAse enzyme. The oral administration of the above-mentioned important doses of the preparation allows the catalytically significant amount of DNAse to be absorbed into the systemic circulation in such a way that the dose-dependent treating effect thereof is exhibited.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of evaluating whether a compound is effective in activating a calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II? promoter in a human neuronal cell which comprises: (a) contacting the human neuronal cell which has been stably transformed by a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a gene of interest operatively linked to a nucleic acid encoding a calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II? promoter which has a nucleotide sequence of the promoter in ATCC Accession No. 98582 with the compound, and (b) comparing the expression level of the gene of interest in the neuronal cell in step (a) with the level in the neuronal cell in the absence of the compound, thereby determining whether the compound is effective in activating the calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II? promoter.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for automated culture of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) such as human ESCs. In some aspects, methods of the invention employ optimized culture media and limited proteolytic treatment of cells to separate cell clusters for expansion. Automated systems for passage and expansion of ESCs are also provided.

Abstract: We disclose a method of preparing a conditioned cell culture medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), a descendent thereof or a cell line derived therefrom in a cell culture medium; and (b) optionally isolating the cell culture medium; in which the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is obtained by propagating a cell obtained by dispersing a embryonic stem (ES) cell colony, or a descendent thereof, in the absence of co-culture in a serum free medium comprising FGF2.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects, relates to the selective killing of cancer stem cells by oncolytic Herpes virus mediated oncolysis. In some aspects, the invention relates to methods for treating a subject having a cancer stem cell by administering to the subject an oncolytic Herpes virus. In other aspects, the invention provides methods for evaluating the efficacy of an oncolytic Herpes virus for killing cancer stem cells.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions encoding rapidly maturing fluorescent proteins, as well as non-aggregating versions thereof (and mutants thereof) as well as the proteins encoding the same, are provided. The proteins of interest are proteins that are fluorescent, where this feature arises from the interaction of two or more residues of the protein. The subject proteins are further characterized in that, in certain embodiments, they are mutants of wild type proteins that are obtained either from non-bioluminescent Cnidarian, e.g., Anthozoan, species or are obtained from Anthozoan non-Pennatulacean (sea pen) species. In certain embodiments, the subject proteins are mutants of wild type Discosoma sp. “red” fluorescent protein. Also of interest are proteins that are substantially similar to, or mutants of, the above specific proteins. Also provided are fragments of the nucleic acids and the peptides encoded thereby, as well as antibodies to the subject proteins and transgenic cells and organisms.

Abstract: This invention provides an inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells comprising a fragment of the REIC/Dkk-3 gene and a cancer therapeutic agent comprising the same. This invention also provides a polynucleotide fragment encoding the REIC/Dkk-3 protein (a) or (b), which encodes a polypeptide having apoptosis activity: (a) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of amino acid 1 to any of amino acids 39 to 78 of the amino acid sequence of the REIC/Dkk-3 protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of amino acid 1 to any of amino acids 39 to 78 of the amino acid sequence of the REIC/Dkk-3 protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 by substitution, deletion, or addition of 1 or several amino acids and having apoptosis activity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions of cell aggregates and methods for making and using the cell aggregates where the aggregates comprise cells that are not embryonic stem cells but can differentiate into cell types of at least two of ectodermal, endodermal, and mesodermal embryonic germ layers, e.g., stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides reporter constructs for in vivo or in vitro monitoring of alternative pre-mRNA splicing events. The reporter constructs described herein are also particularly useful for high-throughput screening of compounds that affect alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Kits comprising the reporter constructs of the present invention find utility in a wide range of applications including, for example, basic research, drug screening, and drug design.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of treating an inflammatory condition in a patient. This method includes providing a therapeutic agent that is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) agonist or a nucleic acid molecule encoding a VEGFR-3 agonist. The present invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic systems for treating an inflammatory condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds, compositions, and methods for the delivery of biologically active RNA molecules to cells. Specifically, the invention provides novel nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, and RNA-protein complexes useful for the delivery of biologically active RNAs to cells and polynucleotides encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors for expressing said polynucleotides. In addition, the invention provides cells and compositions comprising the novel compounds and vectors, which can be used as transfection reagents. The invention further provides methods for producing said compounds, vectors, cells, and compositions. Additionally, vectors and methods for delivering biologically active RNA molecules to cells and/or tissues are provided.

Abstract: A nerve regeneration which comprises a compound is represented by formula (I): (wherein all symbols are shown in the description), a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof. The compound of the present invention is suppresses nerve cell death as a substance for accelerating growth and/or differentiation of stem cells (nerve stem cells, embryonic stem cells, bone marrow cells, etc.), a substance for accelerating growth and/or differentiation of nerve precursor cells, a potentiator for neurotrophic factor activity, a neurotrophic factor-like substance or a neurodegenerative suppressor, and accelerates repair and regeneration of nerve tissues by neogenesis, regeneration and/or axon evolution. In addition, the compound of the present invention is useful for preparation from brain tissues, bone marrow and/or embryonic stem cells of cells for transplant (nerve stem cells, nerve precursor cells, nerve cells, etc.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of Parkinson's Disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ?-L-iduronidase knock-out mouse. More particularly, this invention relates to a ?-L-iduronidase knock-out mouse to be designed for developing a treatment or an agent for mucopolysaccharidosis type I (Hurler syndrome or Hurler-Scheie syndrome) as an animal model.

Abstract: A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification.

Abstract: A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification.

Abstract: Provided are methods for generating mast cells from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. Methods are disclosed for the differentiation of pluripotent cells, such as iPS cells and/or human embryonic stem cells, into mast cells. The resulting mast cells may be used for various purposes including screening cells for drug development and research. Growth factors which may be included in culture media according to the present invention include stem cell factor (SCF), FLT-3 ligand, thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and/or interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Abstract: Implantable nerve regeneration conduits and methods of making the same are disclosed. The implantable nerve regeneration conduits mainly comprise a biodegradable polymer and a metal. Moreover, the conduits may also comprise one or more nerve regeneration enhancing elements, which comprise bioactive molecules or cells. The inner surface of the conduits may be micropatterned photolithographic processes to form microgrooves for facilitating cell alignment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of neural progenitors, neurons, and dopaminergic neurons from human embryonic stem cells with high efficiency, in which neural selection can be performed by the selected media and physical methods. The invention has advantages such as higher efficiency, the effect of lowering cost and time, and maintenance of neural progenitors for a longer period of time, as compared to the known methods for inducing the differentiation into neural progenitors, neurons, and dopaminergic neurons. Accordingly, the method can stably generate cells used for treating Parkinson's disease or other nervous system diseases.