Abstract: The present invention is a system and method capable of increasing retinal and neural glucose oxidation by enhancing pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and therefore treats retinopathy and central nervous system disorders in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The current invention is a system and method of the treating of eye and nerve diseases using insulin pulses to a patient utilizing Chronic Intermittent Intravenous Insulin Therapy to achieve an increase in retinal and neural glucose oxidation by enhancing pryuvate dehydrogenase activity, therefore treating retinopathy and central nervous system disorders in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Abstract: The invention provides a human ena/VASP-like protein splice variant (EVL1) and polynucleotides which identify and encode EVL1. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of EVL1.

Abstract: A conjugate of a polypeptide reactive with a fibroblast growth factor receptor and a cytotoxic agent is used for inhibiting the proliferation of epithelial lens cells, especially following extracapsular cataract surgery.

Abstract: A conjugate of a polypeptide reactive with a fibroblast growth factor receptor and a cytotoxic agent is used for inhibiting the proliferation of epithelial lens cells, especially following extracapsular cataract surgery.

Abstract: A benzoylecgonine conjugate represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein, R is H or CH.sub.3 ; R' is --NH--NH--, --(NH).sub.2 --CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CO--NH--NH--, or related linear chains wherein at least one (CH.sub.2) is replaced with a substituent selected from the group consisting of an ether, an amide, a sulfide, a disulfide, an alkyl, an aryl, an alkoxy, an aryloxy or an alkylhalide; and T is a targeting substance selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, antigens, polypeptides, dyes, biotins, enzymes, antibodies, hormones, carbohydrates, polysaccharide supports, and filter paper.

Abstract: Macrophage Migration Inhibition Factor (MIF) can be obtained from ocular lens of various birds and mammals. The amino acid sequences of lens MIF from mice, chickens and humans has been determined and the corresponding cDNA has been cloned.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which makes possible the isolation of the luminal endothelial cell membrane from associated tissue. It is particularly applicable to vasculature, but broadly is applicable to all tissue cavities which are accessible from adjacent perfusable lumens. The method involves the identification of characteristic molecules (primarily proteins and lipids) associated with the luminal surface of the any endothelial membrane in situ by utilizing a novel membrane-isolation scheme to separate the endothelium from associated tissue. In this method, the endothelial luminal plasmalemma of a given organ is coated with colloidal silica by perfusion, a pellicle is formed, the coated area of tissue is excised and the coated plasmalemma fragments are isolated from the cognate homogenate by centrifugation. The isolated plasmalemma attached to the pellicle can then be subjected to biochemical analysis to identify and catalogue molecules characteristic of the endothelial membrane.

Abstract: Neovascularization inhibitors are disclosed, which are purified polypeptides recovered from cultured cells, including retinal pigment epithelial cells and human fibroblast cells. The polypeptides may be used for the treatment of diseases in which new blood vessel formation plays a role, such as diabetic retinopathy, senile macular degeneration, tumor growth, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) is substantially purified by the employment of affinity chromatography using heparin-linked support material. Described is a simplified three step procedure for extracting basic FGF from either mammalian brain or mammalian pituitary tissue. Salt precipitation, e.g., with ammonium sulfate is used to provide a partially purified precipitate that is then subjected to ion-exchange chromatography, e.g., using a Carboxymethyl-Sephadex column. Substantially pure basic FGF fractions are then obtained by fractionating the further partially purified fractions using affinity chromatography on a heparin-linked support e.g., Heparin-Sepharose.

Abstract: A method of increasing the modulus of elasticity of a biopolymer is disclosed, which comprises incorporating a hexameric unit of the formula--X--(APGVGV).sub.n --Y--whereinA is a peptide-forming residue of L-alanine;P is a peptide-forming residue of L-proline;G is a peptide-forming residue of glycine;V is a peptide-forming residue of L-valine;X is PGVGV, GVGV, VGV, GV, V, or a covalent bond;Y is APGVG, APGV, APG, AP, A, or a covalent bond; andn is an integer from 2 to 200, wherein said hexameric unit comprises at least 18 amino acid residues, into an elastomeric polypeptide chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides human characterized by a molecular weight of about 170,000 Dalton, a hexameric structure with monomeric subunits with a molecular weight of about 28,000 Dalton and a carbohydrate content of about 2%.The present invention provides a process for obtaining and purifying globular domain NC1 of basal membrane collagen, wherein human or animal tissue is subjected to a first limiting treatment with bacterial collagenase, the degradation products obtained are separated from non-collagen proteins by chromatography on a weakly basic anion exchanger, the collagen degradation products are then subjected to a second collagenase digestion at an elevated temperature and the globular domain NC1 is purified by molecular sieve fractionation.Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with the use of this for the determination in body fluids in the case of the use of their antibodies, as well as far the detection of antibodies directed thereagainst in body fluids.