Abstract: A buccal delivery system is disclosed suitable for delivery of a therapeutic agent to the oral cavity of a patient. The delivery system comprises a matrix for containing and releasing the therapeutic agent into the oral cavity and an alkyl N,N-disubstituted amino acetate in said matrix. A particularly preferred delivery system comprises a matrix containing an effective amount of therapeutic agent together with an alkyl N,N-disubstituted amino acetate, such as dodecyl 2-(N,N-dimethylamino) propionate salt.

Abstract: A peptide includes SEQ ID NO:3, substitution and addition variants thereof which maintain the ability to activate CD44. A complex includes this peptide or an ?6 polypeptide with a CD44 polypeptide. An isolated polypeptide includes the Link region sequence of human CD44, functionally active fragments thereof, substitution variants, and addition variants. A method of treating a disease characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or invasion includes administering to a subject an effective amount of the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or an ?6 polypeptide to bind to a CD44 polypeptide and modulate signal transduction activity for a sufficient period of time to treat the disease. Other methods include using the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or an ?6 polypeptide for diagnosing, identifying a subpopulation of subjects responsive to treatment, and screening for compounds that bind a CD44 polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of treating a disease characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or invasion includes administering to a subject an effective amount of the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, an ?6 polypeptide, or an isolated polypeptide consisting essentially of the Link region of human CD44 as indicated in FIG. 17 to modulate a FAK signal transduction pathway for a sufficient period of time to treat the disease. A method of diagnosing a condition characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or invasion includes measuring the effect of these polypeptides on FAK signal transduction activity; wherein a change in FAK signal transduction activity is indicative of said aberrant cell migration or invasion. A method of diagnosing a condition characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or invasion includes imaging FAK signal transduction activity in the presence of these polypeptides.

Abstract: A peptide includes SEQ ID NO:3, substitution and addition variants thereof which maintain the ability to activate CD44. A complex includes this peptide or an ?6 polypeptide with a CD44 polypeptide. An isolated polypeptide includes the Link region sequence of human CD44, functionally active fragments thereof, substitution variants, and addition variants. A method of treating a disease characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or invasion includes administering to a subject an effective amount of the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or an ?6 polypeptide to bind to a CD44 polypeptide and modulate signal transduction activity for a sufficient period of time to treat the disease. Other methods include using the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or an ?6 polypeptide for diagnosing, identifying a subpopulation of subjects responsive to treatment, and screening for compounds that bind a CD44 polypeptide.

Abstract: A biologically active composition which has desirable properties, for example, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties is disclosed. A process for preparing active ingredient(s) of the composition of the present invention, including, for example, extraction of the active ingredient(s) from a natural product is also disclosed. The biologically active composition may be extracted from a part of a variety of the walnut species J. regia L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to membrane-permeable peptides which are intracellular agonists and/or antagonists of chemotactic factor receptors rendered hydrophobic through acylation and acetoxymethylation of their amine and acid functional groups. The modified peptides of the present invention are loaded into cells. The acetoxymethyl esters are cleaved by non-specific esterases rendering the peptides active in the intracellular compartments of the cells. The effects of the introduction of transformed specific peptides corresponding to intracellular regions common to the major chemokine receptors are illustrated. These peptides completely inhibited chemotactic factor and chemokine-induced calcium mobilization. Furthermore, leukocytes of mice intravenously injected with these peptides failed to migrate towards chemokines(IL-8).

Abstract: A method is described for producing recombinant eukaryotic cell lines expressing multiple proteins of interest. Eukaryotic host cells are transfected with (a) a first episome which contains an EBV origin of replication and a first gene encoding a protein of interest; and (b) a second episome containing an EBV origin of replication and a second gene encoding a protein of interest. Transfected cells are obtained expressing an EBNA 1 protein. The cells are grown under conditions wherein the episomes express the first and second genes.