Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing cardiomyocytes in vivo by administering to the heart of an individual a cardiomyocyte producing amount of mesenchymal stem cells. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectible or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.

Abstract: A transgenic mouse containing disruptions in both vitamin D alleles and lacking vitamin D receptor activity is described. The transgenic mouse displays perioral and periorbital alopecia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and bone demineralization. The transgenic mouse is useful for screening treatments for a number of conditions associated with vitamin D receptor related disorders including skin disorders, immune system disorders, and proliferative disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the &agr;-dystroglycan receptor is required for Mycobacterium leprae entry into cells, assays for high throughput screening of drugs for use in treatments against leprosy, and methods for studying the role of the receptor in neurodegenerative and musculodegenerative diseases, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds which are based on the anti-flammatory properties of etheric oils selected from the group consisting of Origanum vulgaris, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita, Thymus serpilum, Saturea hortensis, Saturea montana, Saturea subricata, Carum corticum, Thymus zugis, Ocimum gratisimum, Moranda pungtata, Mosla japanoica and Salvia officinalis. Preferably the etheric oils, obtained at the distillation of Origanum vulgaris, Thymus vulgaris and/or Mentha piperita are used. Such pharmaceutical compounds, compared to synthetic sulfonamids, antibiotics and cortisones do not create biorecidives in the human body as well as in animal meat and milk and milk and do not contribute to the resistance of microorganism against pharmaceutical compositions in general.

Abstract: The gene for hypocretin (orexin) receptor 1 (HCRTR1), which is associated with narcolepsy, is disclosed. Also described are methods of diagnosis of narcolepsy, pharmaceutical compositions comprising nucleic acids comprising the HCRTR1 gene, as well as methods of therapy of narcolepsy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a transgenic mouse comprised of germ cells and somatic cells which contain a recombinant CD36 gene operatively linked to a muscle creatine kinase promoter. Overexpression of the reconbinant CD36 gene in muscle tissue promotes localized (tissue-specific) and systemic changes in fatty acid metabolism, overall body fat and weight gain in the animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an atrichia mouse which grows juvenile hair but is deficient in the ability to grow pelage hair and, more particularly, to an atrichia mouse such that the spontaneous prevalence of wet and dry skin lesions is not less than 70%. at the 24th week of age, the number of mast cells in the skin is not less than about 50/linear mm at the 24th week of age, and the serum IgE level is not less than about 3500 ng/ml at the 24th week of age. The atrichia mouse of the invention finds application as an animal model of disease for the research and development of therapeutic drugs for dermatitis, among other kinds of drugs.

Abstract: The invention relates to cells or tissues having an increased amount of regulatory proteins, including cytokines, growth factors, angiogenic factors and/or stress proteins, and methods of producing and using those cells or tissues. The invention is based on the discovery that the production of regulatory proteins is induced in cells or tissue constructs following cryopreservation and subsequent thawing of the cells or constructs. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful for the treatment of wound healing and the repair and/or regeneration of other tissue defects including those of skin, cartilage, bone, and vascular tissue as well as for enhancing the culture and/or differentiation of cells and tissues in vitro.

Abstract: This invention provides a vaccine for protecting swine against influenza virus by administration of an attenuated recombinant vaccinia virus containing inserts of the hemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) genes of influenza virus, which express the hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein proteins.

Abstract: A medicinal plant-derived antiviral powder is provided as obtained by collecting a medicinal plant having an antiviral action, immediately quickly heating the plant to de-activate enzymatic activity, subjecting to low temperature drying, and milling after the quick heating or low temperature. The powder may be extracted with hot water or a lower alcohol to obtain antiviral extract. These powder and extract may be utilized as preparations, particularly, a powder, comprising an effective amount thereof The powder and extract obtained by treating, as a medicinal plant, young leaves of Rhus verniciflua and a flower portion of Ulmus davidiana var.japonica are useful.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering peripheral blood containing a population of cells enhanced in human mesenchymal stem cells from an individual by (i) administering to said individual at least one growth factor and, thereafter, (ii) recovering peripheral blood from said individual. The growth factors preferably include G-CSF, GM-CSF and combinations thereof. Any of the known human growth factors or combinations thereof are suitable. Also disclosed is a method for recovering an isolated, culture-expanded population of human mesenchymal stem cells from the mesenchymal stem cell-enriched peripheral blood of an individual. Also disclosed is a method for preserving ex vivo an isolated, culture-expanded population of human mesenchymal stem cells from the mesenchymal stem cell-enriched peripheral blood. Also disclosed is a method for treating an individual with an isolated, culture-expanded population of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant poliovirus vector and method of making the vector. The recombinant poliovirus vector comprises an RNA polymerase promoter operably linked to a poliovirus nucleic acid sequence which has been altered by removal of the CelII-SnaBI fragment and insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of interest. The heterologous nucleic acid sequence is flanked on both sides by internal ribosomal entry sites which allow for the expression of the encoded protein of interest and subsequent proteins encoded by the altered poliovirus nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: An isolated DNA molecule that directs neuron-specific transcription of a downstream heterologous DNA segment (a promoter segment) in a mammalian cell is disclosed. The isolated DNA molecule contains a promoter segment from the mouse genomic Presenilin-1 DNA, or a DNA sequence that hybridize to such DNA and directs neuron-specific transcription of a downstream heterologous DNA segment in a mammalian cell. DNA constructs comprising such promoter segments and various uses thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising known verotoxins, particularly, verotoxin 1, have been found to be useful in the treatment of mammalian neoplasia, particularly, ovarian cancer and skin cancer. Surprisingly, although verotoxin 1 has previously been shown to have anti-neoplastic activity in vitro, non-lethal doses of verotoxin 1 have been shown to be therapeutically anti-neoplastic in vivo.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for large-scale purification of living Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) suitable for use in vaccine preparation from a JEV source, including a JEV-infected cell culture and a JEV-infected mouse brain. The process includes the following steps: (a) obtaining a sample from a JEV-infected mouse brain or a JEV-infected cell culture, (b) subjecting the sample to a preliminary separation to remove cell and cell debris from the sample of step (a), (c) concentrating the sample from step (b) by ultra-filtration to remove substances having molecular weight below 100 kDa, and (d) subjecting the sample concentrate to gel filtration to obtain a substantially pure fraction of JEV.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided that comprises creatine combined with ginseng and astragalus and, optionally, glutamine. The dietary supplement enhances the general energy boost and muscular strength increase achieved from the consumption of creatine alone.

Abstract: Higher concentrations of oak bark ash extract, i.e., greater than 20% by weight, are useful for the treatment of skin cancers. Lower concentrations of oak bark extract possess additional therapeutic properties not heretofore recognized. For example, preparations containing 40-80% oak bark extract are useful in the treatment of acute cancerous skin ulcers. In addition, synthetic mixtures containing potassium ions, zinc ions, calcium ions provide many of the same advantageous properties of oak bark extract. The inclusion of rubidium ions and sulfur is also advantageous for some applications.

Abstract: A novel cell seeded hollow fiber bioreactor is described as a potential bioartificial kidney. Endothelial cells along with pericyte, vascular smooth muscle, and/or mesangial cells or any mesenchymally derived support cells are seeded along a hollow fiber in a perfused bioreactor to reproduce the ultrafiltration function and transport function of the kidney. Maintenance of tissue specific function and ultrastructure suggest that this bioreactor provides an economical device for treating renal failure.

Abstract: A method of cultivating macrophages from blood, including collecting a quantity of blood, fractionating the quantity of blood into a plasma fraction, a white blood cell fraction generally including monocytes, and a red blood cell fraction, segregating the white blood cell fraction from the plasma fraction, while allowing a portion of the red blood cell fraction to remain mixed with the white blood cell fraction, the portion of the red blood cell fraction being less than the white blood cell fraction, and inducing differentiation of the monocytes into macrophages and lysing at least part of the portion of the red blood cell fraction mixed with the white blood cell fraction by causing an osmotic shock to the white blood cell fraction and the red blood cell fraction

Abstract: A method is described for culturing morphologically and antigenically distinguishable types of normal human breast epithelial cells (HBEC) derived from reduction mammoplasty. Type I HBEC showed luminal and stem cell characteristics i.e. the ability to form budding/ductal structures when cultured on MATRIGEL and expressed a variant ER (.about.48 Kd) which has a deletion in the DNA binding domain (exon 2). In contrast, Type II HBEC with basal epithelial phenotype are ER-negative when cultured on MATRIGEL. Simian virus 40 (SV40) transformed Type I and Type II HBEC lines also expressed the variant ER. Tumors formed in athymic nude mice by in vitro transformed tumorigenic Type I cell lines, however, expressed a high level of wild type ER which was undetectable in these cells grown in vitro before and after tumor formation. Thus, there appears to be a differentional ER mRNA splicing between the in vitro and in vivo milieu.