Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cell. In particular, diseases or disorders including contact dermatitis, drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia aereata, vitiligo, acne rosacea, prurigo nodularis, and herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof will benefit from the administration of an IL-31 antagonist. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

Abstract: The present invention provides biodegradable particles (e.g., three-dimensional particles) and micelles which can be used to encapsulate active agents for delivering to a subject. The present invention further provides methods for producing and delivering such particles and micelles. Additionally, the invention provides vaccination strategies that encompass the use of the novel particles and micelles.

Abstract: Methods and materials for delivering biologically active molecules to cells in vitro or in vivo are provided. The methods and materials use carbon nanotubes or other hydrophobic particles, tubes and wires, functionalized with a linking group that is covalently bound to the nanotubes, or, alternatively, to the biologically active molecule, such as a protein. The biologically active molecule is preferably released from the nanotube when the complex has been taken up in an endosome.

Abstract: Chimeric heteromultimer adhesins that bind the ligand of natural heromultimeric receptors and uses therefor are disclosed. The chimeric molecules of the heteromultimer adhesins comprise an extracellular domain of a heteromultimeric receptor monomer and a multimerization domain for the stable interaction of the chimeric molecules in the adhesin. Specifically disclosed are heteromultimeric adhesins comprising the extracellular domains of the ErbB2 and ErbB3 and ErbB2 and ErbB4. The chimeric ErB heteromultimer adhesins of the present invention are useful as competitive antagonists or agonists of a neuregulin for the treatment of diseases such as various cancers.

Abstract: Modified and stabilized propeptides of Growth Differentiation Factor proteins, such as GDF-8 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-11, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the modified propeptides to prevent or treat human or animal disorders in which an increase in muscle tissue would be therapeutically beneficial. Such disorders include muscle or neuromuscular disorders (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease, muscle wasting syndrome, sarcopenia, or cachexia), metabolic diseases or disorders (such as such as type 2 diabetes, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, or obesity), adipose tissue disorders (such as obesity), and bone degenerative diseases (such as osteoporosis).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for diagnosing SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, or MODS in a subject, or assigning a prognostic risk for one or more clinical outcomes for a subject suffering from SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, or MODS, the method comprising performing an immunoassay for CCL23 splice variant.

Abstract: A biocompatible meniscal repair device is disclosed. The tissue repair device includes a scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, the scaffold comprising a high-density, dry laid nonwoven polymeric material and a biocompatible foam. The scaffold provides increased suture pull-out strength.

Abstract: A method to treat cancer uses ultrapheresis, refined to remove compounds of less than 120,000 daltons molecular weight, followed by administration of replacement fluid, to stimulate the patient's immune system to attack solid tumors. In the preferred embodiment, the patient is ultrapheresed using a capillary tube ultrafilter having a pore size of 0.02 to 0.05 microns, with a molecular weight cutoff of 120,000 daltons, sufficient to filter one blood volume. The preferred replacement fluid is ultrapheresed normal plasma. The patient is preferably treated daily for three weeks, diagnostic tests conducted to verify that there has been shrinkage of the tumors, then the treatment regime is repeated. The treatment is preferably combined with an alternative therapy, for example, treatment with an anti-angiogenic compound, one or more cytokines such as TNF, gamma interferon, or IL-2, or a procoagulant compound. The treatment increases endogenous, local levels of cytokines, such as TNF.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.

Abstract: Provided are methods for diagnosing the propensity of a subject to develop skin inflammation, in particular, psoriasis. Also provided are methods of treatment with antagonists of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23.

Abstract: A linear or cyclic peptide and the use of said peptide in medicine and especially in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a disease associated with inflammatory mediated cartilage destruction. The minimal core sequence of the linear or cyclic peptide is WLEAK (SEQ ID No. 1). Alternatives are WLEAR (SEQ ID NO. 17) and WLDAK (SEQ ID No. 18).

Abstract: Antibodies to human MDL-1 are provided, as well as uses thereof, e.g., in treatment of immune disorders, in particular, infectious diseases and sepsis.

Abstract: A practical high potency anti-craving oral medication or combined oral/IV drip medication is disclosed which comprises three components: a group of amino-acid substances, a group of vitamin substances, and a group of minerals, wherein each substance is selected for maximum efficacy in the body of an individual suffering from substance abuse disorder as opposed to the body of a healthy individual. The ingredients of the invention are selected to cooperate in easing metabolization in the bodies of individuals suffering the various medical conditions associated with substance abuse. The ingredients are provided orally to ease administration and to provide convenient use by patients: the oral medication may be a maintenance dosage or a corrective dosage.

Abstract: A practical high potency anti-craving medication is disclosed which comprises three components: an amino-acid component, a vitamin component, and a mineral component, wherein each component is selected for maximum efficacy in the body of an individual suffering from substance abuse disorder as opposed to the body of a healthy individual. Additionally, the active agents are received by means of a prolonged administration, preferably by means of an IV drip, thus assuring a period of time in which the active agents are present in desired concentrations, and more preferably a prolonged time during which they are simultaneously present in desired concentrations. The agents of each component are also selected so as to allow easy administration of the medication to patients in three vials of medication rather than as a large number of individual vials.

Abstract: A biocompatible meniscal repair device is disclosed. The tissue repair device includes a scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, the scaffold comprising a high-density, dry laid nonwoven polymeric material and a biocompatible foam. The scaffold provides increased suture pull-out strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating psoriasis in a subject (i.e., psoriasis associated with a joint disease), by administering to the subject an effective dose of a composition comprising a soluble IL-22R/IL-20RB heterodimeric polypeptide, wherein the heterodimeric polypeptide comprises an IL-22R extracellular domain covalently linked to an IL-20RB extracellular domain.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of forming medical device that includes RGD attached to the device via a spacer compound. The method comprises providing a spacer compound comprising a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety, grafting or embedding the spacer compound to the surface layer of the polymer to cause the hydrophobic moiety to be grafted to or embedded within the surface layer of polymer, and attaching a chemo-attractant to the hydrophilic moiety.

Abstract: Provided herein is a medical device that includes RGD attached to the device via a spacer compound.