Abstract: A tissue engineering construct made from a nonwoven fabric. The fabric is made from first and second staple fibers. The first staple fibers are made from a first biocompatible, bioabsorbable material, and the second staple fibers are made from a second biocompatible, bioabsorbable material. The first material has a melting temperature lower than the second material. The fabric is formed into a three-dimensional construct suitable for the repair of urinary tract structures.

Abstract: A tissue engineering construct made from a nonwoven fabric. The fabric is made from first and second staple fibers. The first staple fibers are made from a first biocompatible, bioabsorbable material, and the second staple fibers are made from a second biocompatible, bioabsorbable material. The first material has a melting temperature lower than the second material. The fabric is formed into a three-dimensional construct suitable for the repair of urinary tract structures.

Abstract: Metal particulates capable of generating low levels of corrosion current beneficial for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other medical uses are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to administering a doxycycline compound into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: A tissue engineering construct made from a nonwoven fabric. The fabric is made from first and second staple fibers. The first staple fibers are made from a first biocompatible, bioabsorbable material, and the second staple fibers are made from a second biocompatible, bioabsorbable material. The first material has a melting temperature lower than the second material. The fabric is formed into a three-dimensional construct suitable for the repair of urinary tract structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to administering a doxycycline compound into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: Tissue engineering devices and methods are provided for the reconstruction, repair, augmentation, or replacement of a luminal organ or tissue structure involving the use of a biodegradable polymer matrix conforming to a portion of a laminarly arranged luminal organ, the processing of autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic tissue comprising multiple cell populations to obtain a minced tissue composition, the seeding of the matrix with the composition, and the implanting of the seeded polymer matrix into a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to injecting a cycline compound into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: Combination therapies of drugs and biologics for treatment of acute and chronic organ degeneration are disclosed. More specifically, the use of morphogens, stem cells, and anti-inflammatories or inhibitors for the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) for the treatment of acute and chronic renal disease is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a novel use for vascular endothelial growth factor, herein designated VEGF-X, and a CUB domain present in the sequence of VEGF-X, which enhance smooth muscle cell proliferation and can be used to treat diseases associated with reduced smooth muscle cell proliferation. VEGF-X, and a CUB domain can also be used in tissue engineering applications to increase the number of smooth muscle cells within specific tissue to restore that tissue function or architecture. Screening methods for identifying inhibitors of VEGF-X biological activity are also disclosed and these inhibitors include neutralizing VEGF-X antibodies, antisense VEGF-X sequences or non-protein antagonists competing with VEGF-X biological activity. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating disorders associated with smooth muscle cells hyperproliferation and methods of diagnosis a pathological condition or susceptibility to a pathological condition associated with smooth muscle cell hyperproliferation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to injecting a high affinity antagonist of MMPs into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: There is provided a novel use for vascular endothelial growth factor, herein designated VEGF-X, and a CUB domain present in the sequence of VEGF-X, which enhance smooth muscle cell proliferation and can be used to treat diseases associated with reduced smooth muscle cell proliferation. VEGF-X, and a CUB domain can also be used in tissue engineering applications to increase the number of smooth muscle cells within specific tissue to restore that tissue function or architecture. Screening methods for identifying inhibitors of VEGF-X biological activity are also disclosed and these inhibitors include neutralizing VEGF-X antibodies, antisense VEGF-X sequences or non-protein antagonists competing with VEGF-X biological activity. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating disorders associated with smooth muscle cells hyperproliferation and methods of diagnosis a pathological condition or susceptibility to a pathological condition associated with smooth muscle cell hyperproliferation.

Abstract: A novel method has been developed for screening anti-scarring and anti-fibrotic agents. This method offers simplicity, it is reproducible and could be adopted to screen large numbers of new potential ant-fibrotic agents. This method has characteristics in common with the BAEC/BASMC co-culture system, but is more sensitive and does not require screening large number of clonal lines for developing an effective method. In this system, similar to the co-culture system, activation of L-TGF-&bgr;1 occurs by several independent mechanisms which involve binding of the latent complex to M6P/IGF-II receptors, thrombospondin and/or tissue type II transglutaminase. But, in contrast to the co-culture system, this macrophage-dependent system does not appear to involve plasmin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of protecting skin from the oxidative effects of ultraviolet A radiation including UVA-induced lipid peroxidation. The method comprises topically applying to the skin an effective amount of a photoprotective composition that contains a lipophilic antioxidant that does not have appreciable absorbance near wavelengths of 320-380 nm.