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.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyherbal composition useful for treating acute Hepatitis E virus infection including acute liver failure due to HEV infection, healthy Hepatitis B virus carriers who develop superadded hepatitis E virus infection, acute hepatitis B virus infection, and animal hepadna virus, therapeutic effects on hepatitis B virus infection and also used as a hepatoprotective agent, said composition comprising essentially extracts of plants Rheum emodi Wall., Phyllanthus amarus Linn., Eclipta alba Hassk., Andrographis paniculate Nees., and Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth., and optionally Fumaria officinalis, Tinospora cordifolia Miers., Terminalia chebula Retz., Cichorium intybus Linn., Tephrosea purpurea Linn. and Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.

Abstract: A multiple coagulation test system and method for determining an appropriate coagulation promoting substance for administration to a patient as a therapy for improving clotting function in said patient has at least three sample wells. One of the wells is for testing a baseline clotting indicator time of a patient's blood to serve as a control sample. Each of the other wells are for testing clotting indicator times of different coagulation promoting substances when mixed with the patient's blood. The coagulation promoting substances are agents or combination of agents capable of improving clotting function in the patient. An appropriate therapy for improving clotting function in the patient is determined by comparison of the baseline control clotting indicator time with the clotting indicator times of the coagulation promoting substances mixed with the patient's blood. Generally, the agent giving the lowest clotting indicator time is selected as an appropriate treatment for reducing hemorrhaging begun.

Abstract: Methods of obtaining enriched populations of osteoclast precursor cells which can be released from tissue culture dishes and used for biochemical studies are described. Osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells are co-cultured. Next a .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 receptor ligand, such as echistatin is used for cell detachment. The result is a 75-95% pure enriched population of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP.sup.+) cells, in high yields (2-3.times.10.sup.6 cells per experiment) can be obtained. These cells are mosty mononucleated and based on their characteristics are considered to be pre-fusion osteoclasts (pOC cells). The precursor osteoclasts can be reseeded onto osteoblasts to obtain an enriched population of mature, multinucleated osteoclast cells.

Abstract: A method and preparations for the treatment of vaginal yeast and other yeast infections is provided for the treatment of infections caused by Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The method and preparations of the invention can also be used for other yeast and fungal infections including systemic, mucosal and cutaneous caused by Candida and Cryptococcus. The vaginal antiyeast and antifungal preparations include, in addition to suppositories and mouth washes, troches, lotions, creams, tablets and capsules containing gentian preparations as an active ingredient obtained from the plant Radix gentianae Longdancao. For systemic fungal infections gentian preparations from the plant Radix gentianae Longdancao are taken orally in the form of lozenges, tablets, capsules or in solution form for gargling or swallowing.

Abstract: The cords of Dupuytren's disease are injected with collagenase, the hand is immediately immobilized and maintained immobile for several hours. The cord becomes relaxed or ruptured, relieving the hand contracture of the disease.

Abstract: A method and a medium for culturing epithelial cells of both normal and malignant origin is provided. The method entails physically disaggregating tissue samples, placing the resulting fragments onto a surface comprised of basement membrane matrix components, and culturing the tissue in a medium containing preselected fetal and newborn calf sera and rat sera. Both primary explant cell cultures and cell lines, which are long-lived and particularly suitable for further study, are produced. The cultured primary explant cells undergo differentiation to form complex structures resembling those seen in vivo.

Abstract: This invention relates to analgesic compositions obtained from the fruit of the Capsicum genus, in particular Capsicum annuum and more particularly to purees or extracts of sweet peppers. This invention further relates to therapeutic uses of such analgesic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for inhibiting the complement pathway in a mammal comprising administering an effective dose of a composition comprising an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of isolated sea cucumber (Phylum Echinodermata, Class Holothuroidea) body wall, isolated sea cucumber epithelial layer, isolated sea cucumber flower, sea cucumber fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, combinations thereof, active derivatives thereof or combinations of active derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides inhibition of angiogenesis in a warm-blooded animal by the administration of preparations isolated from the echinoderm sea cucumber (Class Holothuroidea). This preparation is useful as a therapeutic agent against malignant tumors and as a preventive or therapeutic drug against various diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, caused by vascular hyperplasia.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the product produced by inactivating extracellular or intracellular pathogenic virus in a biological composition without incurring substantial disruption or inactivation of cells and without significant loss of labile proteins or other valuable biological components also contained therein, the inactivation process comprising subjecting said composition to a virucidally effective amount of irradiation in the presence of (a) a mixture of a compound that quenches type I photodynamic reactions and a compound that quenches type II photodynamic reactions or (b) a bifunctional compound that is capable of quenching both type I and type II reactions, to thereby inactivate said virus while retaining functionality of said composition. The composition is advantageously subjected to the irradiation and the mixture of compounds or bifunctional compound in the presence of an irradiation sensitizer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis in mammals, by oral administration of collagen, including type I collagen, or biologically active peptide fragments thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to an herb composition which comprises an amount of 30 to 45% by weight of one or more herbs for invigorating of blood circulation, an amount of 55 to 70% by weight of one or more herbs for excreting toxin from human body, and an amount of 0.

Abstract: Methods of stabilizing lymphocytes and/or stem cells obtained from a mammal by suspending them in an aqueous medium comprising gelatin.

Abstract: Provided is an herbal extract-based composition comprising an extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, an extract of Crataegus pinnatifida (hawthorn leaves or berries), and an extract of Camellia sinensis (green tea). Also provided is a process for preparing a herbal extract-based composition which comprises separately extracting each of hawthorn berries, green tea leaves, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves; drying extraction eluates obtained from the extracting of each of hawthorn berries, green tea leaves, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves to obtain organic residues in forming a hawthorn berry extract powder, green tea extract powder, and a Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract powder; and combining the green tea extract powder, the Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract powder, and the hawthorn berry extract powder in desired proportions to form the herbal extract-based composition which has health promoting effects including potent inhibition of free radicals.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for stimulating, the proliferation of V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cells comprising contacting V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cells with a V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cell proliferation stimulating amount of a compound selected from the group-consisting of a monoalkyl phosphate, a hydroxy monoalkyl phosphate, a carboxy monoalkyl phosphate, a monoalkyl pyrophosphate, an alkenyl pyrophosphate, a .gamma.-monoalkyl nucleoside triphosphate, a .gamma.-monoalkyl deoxnucleoside triphosphate, a .gamma.-alkenyl nucleoside triphosphate, and a .gamma.-alkenyl deoxynucleoside triphosphate.

Abstract: Camomile oil having a high cis- and trans-spiroether content is produced in a process which includes steam distillation or aqueous distillation of fresh camomile or an extraction residue of camomile.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for treating patients having basal cell carcinoma comprising subcutaneous, intralesional or topical administration of Product R, a peptide-nucleic acid preparation.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of (-)-pimara-9(11),15-diene-19-oic acid(acanthoic acid) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising acanthoic acid useful for the treatment of diseases caused by an excessive production of interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-.alpha..