Abstract: The present invention is directed to isolated and purified human mesenchymal stem cells, to a method for isolating, purifying, and culturally expanding human mesenchymal stem cells (i.e. mesenchymal stem cells or "MSCs"), and to the characterization of and uses for such cells. In particular, the invention relates to isolation of MSCs that are associated with hematopoietic cells, such as megakaryocyte precursors, in the bone marrow.

Abstract: Porcine CD34, oligonucleotides encoding the porcine CD34, porcine CD34 antibodies and methods of making and using each are disclosed.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a stable, surface-active emulsion or dispersion of a pharmaceutical agent incorporated into an emulsion (i) having a hydrophobic discontinuous phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or ester or alcohol thereof dispersed in an aqueous phase or (ii) having a hydrophilic discontinuous phase dispersed in a hydrophobic phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or alcohol thereof. The emulsion with pharmaceutical agent is incorporated into a pharmaceutical carrier suitable for oral delivery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing an immune response to a parenterally administered non-autologous antigen in an individual who is immunologically responsive thereto by mucosally administering to the individual an amount of the antigen effective to reduce any immune response to parenteral administration of said antigen. The antigen can be a polypeptide such as a hormone, like insulin, which supplements a metabolic deficiency in the recipient of a polypeptide intended to serve the same function. The polypeptide can also be one which supplements a deficiency in the production of a physiologically important polypeptide, such as a hematologic regulatory factor. The hematologic regulatory factor can enhance or inhibit thrombogenesis or platelet deposition. Also, the antigen can be a tissue or cell preparation, such as of allogeneic or xenogeneic tissue or cells.

Abstract: Methods for in vitro or ex vivo lineage directed induction of isolated, culture expanded human mesenchymal stem cells comprising contacting the mesenchymal stem cells with a bioactive factor effective to induce differentiation thereof into a lineage of choice as well as such compositions including isolated culture expanded human mesenchymal stem cells and bioactive factors effective to induce directed lineage induction are disclosed. Further disclosed is this method which also includes introducing such culturally expanded lineage-induced mesenchymal stem cells into a host from which they have originated for purposes of mesenchymal tissue regeneration or repair.

Abstract: A gene trap construct for identification of genes whose activity is regulated upon a cellular transition event which comprises in downstream sequence (i) a cassette having a functional splice acceptor, a translation stop sequence and an internal ribosome entry site and (ii) a promoterless protein coding sequence encoding at least one polypeptide providing positive and negative selection traits. A method for identification of genes whose activity is regulated upon a cellular transition event by introducing the gene trap construct into a cell and observing expression of the positive and/or negative selection traits before and after the transition event.

Abstract: A phosphorus ester oligomer having the structure: ##STR1## wherein A can be the same or different in each monomeric unit and each is independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, lower alkyl, alkyl- or aryl-substituted amino and aminoalkyl; B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 can be the same or different and each is independently selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, a labelling group, a protecting group, a phosphoramidate or a phosphomonoester; R.sub.1 can be the same or different in each monomeric unit, and in at least one of the non-nucleotide monomeric units, R.sub.

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.

Abstract: A composition and method for maintaining the viability of human mesenchymal precursor cells in a serum-free environment which composition includes (1) a minimum essential medium; (2) serum albumin; (3) an iron source; (4) insulin or an insulin-like growth factor; and (5) at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of glutamine, arginine and and cysteine, and is free of serum. Also, a composition and method for culture expanding human mesenchymal precursor cells in a serum-free environment. This composition further includes a mitogen, paricularly a serotonergic agonist. The cells are preferably isolated human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a stable, surface-active emulsion or dispersion of a pharmaceutical agent incorporated into an emulsion (i) having a hydrophobic discontinuous phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or ester or alcohol thereof dispersed in an aqueous phase or (ii) having a hydrophilic discontinuous phase dispersed in a hydrophobic phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or alcohol thereof. The emulsion with pharmaceutical agent is incorporated into a pharmaceutical carrier suitable for oral delivery.

Abstract: A composition and method for inducing a protective immune response to HIV-1 in an individual, of (a) a replication incompetent HIV-1, HIV-1 pseudovirus, HIV-1 VLP or oligomeric gp120; and (b) a water soluble polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte, wherein (a) and (b) are present in an amount effective to induce a protective immune response against HIV-1.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation for oral acyclovir delivery comprising a stable, hydrophobic emulsion comprising continuous phase of a hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of a long chain carboxylic acid or ester or alcohol thereof dispersed in an aqueous phase or (ii) having a hydrophilic discontinuous phase dispersed in a hydrophobic phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or alcohol thereof. The emulsion with acyclovir is incorporated into a pharmaceutical carrier suitable for oral delivery.

Abstract: Disclosed are nitrosated and/or nitrosylated phosphodiesterase inhibitors having the formula NO.sub.n -PDE inhibitor wherein n is 1 or 2. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor can be nitrosylated or nitrosated through sites such as oxygen (hydroxyl condensation), sulfur (sulfhydryl condensation), carbon and nitrogen. The invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also provides a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE inhibitor), which can optionally be substituted with at least one NO or NO.sub.2 moiety, and one to ten fold molar excess of a compound that donates, transfers or releases nitrogen monoxide as a charged species, i.e., nitrosonium (NO.sup.+) or nitroxyl (NO.sup.-), or as the neutral species, nitric oxide (NO.cndot.) or which stimulates endo genous EDRF production The invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte immunoadjuvant having improved water solubility, a vaccine composition of the immunoadjuvant and an antigen or immunogen and methods of their use in producing or enhancing an immunoprotective response in a host are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated human mesenchymal stem cells, a method for isolating, purifying, and culturally expanding human mesenchymal stem cells (i.e. mesenchymal stem cells or "MSCs"), and characterization of (including by cytokine expression profiling) and uses, particularly research reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic uses for such cells. The stem cells can be culture expanded without differentiating. Further disclosed are monoclonal antibodies specific for human mesenchymal stem cells and the monoclonal hybridoma cell lines (ATCC nos. 10743-10745) that synthesize and secrete these monospecific antibodies, and uses of the monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation for oral insulin delivery comprising a stable, hydrophobic emulsion comprising continuous phase of a hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of a long chain carboxylic acid or ester or alcohol thereof dispersed in an aqueous phase or (ii) having a hydrophilic discontinuous phase dispersed in a hydrophobic phase of a long chain carboxylic acid or alcohol thereof. The emulsion with insulin is incorporated into a pharmaceutical carrier suitable for oral delivery.

Abstract: Novel quinidine derivatives are provided which can be used in an improved immunoasssay for the detection of quinidine and quinidine metabolites.

Abstract: The invention provides hydroxamic acid derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl; R.sup.2 represents a saturated 5- to 8-membered monocyclic or bridged N-heterocyclic ring, which N-heterocyclic ring is attached via the N atom and when it is monocyclic, optionally contains NR.sup.4, O, S, SO or SO.sub.2 as a ring member and/or is optionally substituted on one or more C atoms by hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, oxo, ketalized oxo, amino, mono(lower alkyl)amino, di(lower alkyl)amino, carboxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-methyl, lower alkoxymethyl, carbamoyl, mono(lower alkyl)-carbamoyl, di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl or hydroxy-imino; R.sup.3 represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heterocyclic ring which (a) is attached via the N atom, (b) optionally contains N, O and/or S, SO or SO.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides hydroxamic acid derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein Bz represents benzyl; R.sup.1 represents cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl; R.sup.2 represents a saturated 5- to 8-membered monocyclic or bridged N-heterocyclic ring, which N-heterocyclic ring is attached via the N atom and when it is monocyclic, optionally contains NR.sup.4, O, S, SO or SO.sub.2 as a ring member and/or is optionally substituted on one or more C atoms by hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, oxo, ketalized oxo, amino, mono(lower alkyl)amino, di(lower alkyl)amino,carboxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-methyl, lower alkoxymethyl, carbamoyl, mono(lower alkyl)-carbamoyl, di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl or hydroxy-imino; R.sup.3 represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heterocyclic ring which (a) is attached via the N atom, (b) optionally contains N, O and/or S, SO or SO.sub.

Abstract: Novel dioxopyrrolo-pyrrole derivatives of the formula ##STR1## as well as hydrates or solvates thereof, which inhibit thrombin-induced or Factor Xa-induced platelet aggregation and fibrinogen clotting in blood plasma. The derivatives can be manufactured from the corresponding maleimides which are N-substituted by .alpha.-amino carboxylic acids of the formula HN(R.sup.2)CH(R.sup.4)COOH, or functional derivatives thereof; and ketones or aldehydes of the formula R.sup.5 C(O)R.sup.6.