Abstract: A bone cutting assembly includes a manually actuated upper cutting element that carries a plurality of cutting blades configured to cut through frozen bone segments. A lower cutting element supports a bone segment to be cut and can include cutting blades aligned with the cutting blades of the upper cutting assembly. A pivoting linkage or a rack and pinion arrangement can be provided between the upper cutting element and a manually operated handle to provide sufficient mechanical advantage or leverage to allow an operator to manually cut through the bone.

Abstract: The disclosure of the present application provides methods and kits for the increase in efficacy of adipose stromal cells. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure includes disclosure of a method of cell-based therapy, the method comprising the steps of exposing at least one mammalian stem cell expressing mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) to a compound operable to phosphorylate c-Met and administering the at least one mammalian stem cell to a patient.

Abstract: Cell based compositions and methods are provided for inducing the formation of vascular structures in a warm blooded vertebrate. In one embodiment the composition comprises purified endothelial progenitor cells and adipose stromal cells and the method of stimulating the formation of vascular structures comprises the steps of implanting the composition in a host organism.

Abstract: Cell based compositions and methods are provided for inducing the formation of vascular structures in a warm blooded vertebrate. In one embodiment the composition comprises purified endothelial progenitor cells and adipose stromal cells and the method of stimulating the formation of vascular structures comprises the steps of implanting the composition in a host organism.

Abstract: Markers for detecting and staging chondrogenesis in cells are provided. In one aspect the markers are isolated polynucleotides, referred to hereinafter as CZF-1 and CZF-2, and fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the CZF-1 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.1. In one embodiment, the CZF-2 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 3. In another aspect the markers are antibodies, which are immunospecific for proteins encoded by CZF-1 or CZF-2. Methods which employ the present markers to identify cells that have begun to differentiate into chondrocytes are provided. The present invention also relates to the CZ-1 protein and the CZ-2 protein and to polynucleotides or oligonucleotides whose sequences are complementary to the coding sequences of CZF-1 or CZF-2, or regions thereof.

Abstract: Methods for assessing potential pharmacological effects and/or side effects of an agent, based on the effect of the agent on the distribution and properties of accessible regions in cellular chromatin, are provided.

Abstract: Markers for detecting and staging chondrogenesis in cells are provided. In one aspect the markers are isolated polynucleotides, referred to hereinafter as CZF-1 and CZF-2, and fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the CZF-1 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.1. In one embodiment, the CZF-2 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 3. In another aspect the markers are antibodies, which are immunospecific for proteins encoded by CZF-1 or CZF-2. Methods which employ the present markers to identify cells that have begun to differentiate into chondrocytes are provided. The present invention also relates to the CZ-1 protein and the CZ-2 protein and to polynucleotides or oligonucleotides whose sequences are complementary to the coding sequences of CZF-1 or CZF-2, or regions thereof.

Abstract: Methods for the identification of a drug target, wherein the drug target is a component of a signal transduction pathway, are provided. The methods are based, in part, on selection of a gene of therapeutic interest and determination of regulatory DNA sequences which regulate expression of the gene in a cell of interest, followed by reconstruction of signal transduction pathways which act on molecules which bind to the regulatory sequence. Also provided are methods for assessing potential pharmacological effects and/or side effects of an agent, based on the effect of the agent on the distribution and properties of accessible regions in cellular chromatin.

Abstract: Methods for the identification of a drug target, wherein the drug target is a component of a signal transduction pathway, are provided. The methods are based, in part, on selection of a gene of therapeutic interest and determination of regulatory DNA sequences which regulate expression of the gene in a cell of interest, followed by reconstruction of signal transduction pathways which act on molecules which bind to the regulatory sequence. Also provided are methods for assessing potential pharmacological effects and/or side effects of an agent, based on the effect of the agent on the distribution and properties of accessible regions in cellular chromatin.

Abstract: Markers for detecting and staging chondrogenesis in cells are provided. In one aspect the markers are isolated polynucleotides, referred to hereinafter as CZF-1 and CZF-2, and fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the CZF-1 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.1. In one embodiment, the CZF-2 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 3. In another aspect the markers are antibodies, which are immunospecific for proteins encoded by CZF-1 or CZF-2. Methods which employ the present markers to identify cells that have begun to differentiate into chondrocytes are provided. The present invention also relates to the CZ-1 protein and the CZ-2 protein and to polynucleotides or oligonucleotides whose sequences are complementary to the coding sequences of CZF-1 or CZF-2, or regions thereof.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the identification, isolation and characterization of regulatory DNA sequences in a cell of interest are provided. Also provided are libraries of regulatory sequences obtained according to the methods, and databases comprising collections of regulatory sequences for a particular cell of interest. In addition, various uses for the regulatory sequences so obtained, and uses for the databases of regulatory sequences, are provided. Also disclosed are computer systems and computer program products for utilizing the databases to conduct various genetic analyses, and uses of accessible regulatory sequences in the design of vectors bearing transgenes.

Abstract: Markers for detecting and staging chondrogenesis in cells are provided. In one aspect the markers are isolated polynucleotides, referred to hereinafter as CZF-1 and CZF-2, and fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the CZF-1 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1. In one embodiment, the CZF-2 polynucleotide comprises the open reading frame sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 3. In another aspect the markers are antibodies, which are immunospecific for proteins encoded by CZFI-1 or CZF-2. Methods which employ the present markers to identify cells that have begun to differentiate into chondrocytes are provided. The present invention also relates to the CZ-1 protein and the CZ-2 protein and to polynucleotides or oligonucleotides whose sequences are complementary to the coding sequences of CZF-1 or CZF-2, or regions thereof.

Abstract: Methods for the design of exogenous regulatory molecules, comprising a DNA-binding domain and a functional domain, are provided. The methods rely on the identification, isolation and characterization of regulatory DNA sequences obtained on the basis of their accessibility in cellular chromatin.

Abstract: Methods for the identification of a drug target, wherein the drug target is a component of a signal transduction pathway, are provided. The methods are based, in part, on selection of a gene of therapeutic interest and determination of regulatory DNA sequences which regulate expression of the gene in a cell of interest, followed by reconstruction of signal transduction pathways which act on molecules which bind to the regulatory sequence. Also provided are methods for assessing potential pharmacological effects and/or side effects of an agent, based on the effect of the agent on the distribution and properties of accessible regions in cellular chromatin.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the identification, isolation and characterization of regulatory DNA sequences in a cell of interest are provided. Also provided are libraries of regulatory sequences obtained according to the methods, and databases comprising collections of regulatory sequences for a particular cell of interest. In addition, various uses for the regulatory sequences so obtained, and uses for the databases of regulatory sequences, are provided. Also disclosed are computer systems and computer program products for utilizing the databases to conduct various genetic analyses, and uses of accessible regulatory sequences in the design of vectors bearing transgenes.

Abstract: Methods for the design of exogenous regulatory molecules, comprising a DNA-binding domain and a functional domain, are provided. The methods rely on the identification, isolation and characterization of regulatory DNA sequences obtained on the basis of their accessibility in cellular chromatin.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition of chemically defined components which support the in vitro chondrogenesis of mesenchymal progenitor cells, a method for in vitro chondrogenic induction of such progenitor cells and a method of forming human chondrocytes in vitro from such progenitor cells.