Abstract: The objects of the present invention are: to provide a therapeutic agent and a therapeutic method for periodontal diseases and pulpal diseases, a transplant for periodontal tissue regeneration, and a method for regenerating the periodontal tissue. According to the present invention, there are provided therapeutic agents for periodontal diseases and pulpal diseases which comprise neurotrophic factors as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibroblast growth factor variants demonstrating enhanced receptor subtype specificity and/or affinity. Preferred embodiments include both variants having enhanced activity that act as improved agonists and variants having reduced activity that act as antagonists. Methods of utilizing preferred FGF variants in preparation of medicaments for the treatment of skeletal disorders including skeletal dysplasia, osteoporosis and enhancing bone fracture healing and cartilage healing processes are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to T. cruzi trans-sialidase (TS) and to the neurotrophic and IL-6 secretion-inducing activities of the protein. TS, neurotrophic variants and/or neurotrophic peptides based upon the sequence of TS can be administered to a mammal to directly or indirectly provide neurotrophic support for neurons. A mammalian neurotrophic factor (e.g., CNTF, LIF) can be co-administered with the TS, neurotrophic variant and/or neurotrophic peptide. TS, IL-6 secretion-inducing variants and/or IL-6 secretion-inducing peptides based upon the sequence of TS can be administered to a mammal to induce the secretion of IL-6. TS, active variants and/or active peptides can be administered to a mammal having an acquired or congenital condition characterized by neuronal degeneration or to a mammal that has experienced trauma to the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves. The invention also relates to neurotrophic and IL-6 secretion-inducing variants of TS and to neurotrophic and IL-6 secretion-inducing peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnosis and/or treatment of medical conditions. The present invention relates to new method of diagnosing dry mucosa condition in a subject. The condition may be dry eye. The present invention also provides a method to monitor the efficacy of a treatment of a dry mucosa condition, a method of treating a dry mucosa condition and/or a diagnostic kit for a dry mucosa condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a neurological condition in a mammal by administering at least one hematopoietic growth factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a neurological condition in a mammal by administering at least one hematopoietic growth factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of soluble isoforms of an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, or sErbB1 variants, the provision of the sequences of nucleic acids encoding these isoforms, purified recombinant proteins, novel antibodies specific for these isoforms, and the use of immunoassay and other protein assay techniques to measure the concentration of these protein isoforms in a patient biological sample in the femtomolar range. The present invention also provides methods for determining the presence of an ovarian carcinoma in the patient by assaying the concentration of soluble ErbB1 variants in a biological sample from a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising Hom polypeptide (also known as Xom, Ventx2) and methods for treating cellular proliferative disorders comprising. Also disclosed are diagnosis methods, prognosis methods, and drug screening methods.

Abstract: Complexes of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 with new levels of purity are provided. Chromatographic techniques have been developed that remove contaminants, such as mass and charge variants of IGFBP-3. The new techniques enable the production of high-quality pharmaceutical compositions comprising IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complexes.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for decreasing FSH levels in a patient. The patient may, for example, be diagnosed with an FSH-related disorder or desire to delay or inhibit germ cell maturation.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods for preventing post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (ERCP). The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising secretin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of identifying modulators of longevity. Also featured are organisms, cell systems and compositions for performing those methods. Further featured are therapeutic methods for the use of modulators identified according to said methodologies.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating a subject for a condition. In accordance with the subject methods, at least a portion of a subject's autonomic nervous system is modulated during at least one predetermined phase of the subject's menstrual cycle to alter the parasympathetic activity/sympathetic activity ratio in a manner that is effective to treat the subject for the condition. The subject methods find use in the treatment of a variety of different conditions, including various disease conditions, that increase in severity and/or occurrence during one or more phases of the menstrual cycle. Also provided are systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Chimeric polypeptides of relaxin-3, prepropolypeptides thereof, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, and associated expression vectors and host cells are described. The polypeptides may be used to prepare receptor-ligand complexes with GPCR135 or GPCR142, which may be used in assay methods.

Abstract: Stabilized pharmaceutical compositions comprising substantially monomeric interferon-beta (IFN-?) and methods useful in their preparation are provided. The compositions comprise the IFN-? solubilized in a low-ionic-strength formulation that maintains the composition at a pH of about 3.0 to about 5.0. Methods for preparing these compositions, and for increasing solubility of IFN-? in pharmaceutical compositions, are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to p110 soluble EGFR (p110 sEGFR) peptides and nucleic acid sequences. Antibodies, methods of detection, kits, and expression vectors for p110 sEGFR are disclosed. In addition, assays on biological samples for determining and evaluating risk assessment and cancer prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, theragnosis, monitoring of responsiveness to treatment, and monitoring of disease progression, recurrence, or metastasis of a cancer, are disclosed. In examples, a lower p110 sEGFR concentration adjusted for demographical and physiological variables and other biomarkers is associated with cancer. Therapeutics and methods of treating a cancer related to p110 sEGFR also are embodied herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a neurological condition in a mammal by administering at least one hematopoietic growth factor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a screening mechanism for identifying members of the general population at increased risk for alcoholism and premenstrual syndrome. The screening mechanisms may be used to measure the expression of the ?4?2? GABAA receptors, in order to identify members of the general population as having an increased sensitivity to lower concentrations alcohol coupled with a decrease sensitivity to higher concentrations of alcohol, a scenario frequently found in patients suffering from alcoholism and premenstrual anxiety. Methods of screening for drugs which decrease expression of the ?4?2? subunit of GABAA are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically stable muteins of type 1 Placental Growth Factor (PLGF-1) bearing the substitution or elimination of a cysteine residue from the wild type protein amino acid sequence, their preparation, their therapeutic and cosmetic uses, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions containing the derivatives. The invention likewise relates to the production of antibodies for the derivatives and their use in the diagnosis and treatment of tumoral and non-tumoral pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding saitohin (STH), an isolated nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes to said sequence, and a purified protein encoded by said nucleic acid sequences. The present invention also provides a purified STH protein, and a method of making STH protein. The present invention is further directed to an antibody specific for STH, and a method for producing said antibody. Additionally, the present invention discloses a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding STH, a host cell transformed with said vector, and transgenic nonhuman animals. The present invention further provides methods for determining whether a subject has, or is at increased risk for developing, a neurodegenerative disease, and for assessing said subject's prognosis. Finally, the present invention discloses kits for determining whether a subject has, or is at increased risk for developing, a neurodegenerative disease.