Abstract: In order to render sewage sludge suitable for beneficial purposes, it must be disinfected and stabilized. EDC deactivation is rapidly becoming a desirable result of any sludge or biosolids treatment process. Disclosed herein is a process of treating sewage sludge so as to stabilize the sludge that involves the presence of an iron-containing compound during dewatering of the sludge. Process embodiments described also achieve biosolid samples that have reduced EDC activity, Other embodiments disclosed involve use of a combination of iron salts ferrate and ferric chloride that are added to wastewater sludge in the dewatering step before heat drying. The biosolids resulting from sludge treated with aniron-containing compound are able to resist putrefaction for more than two to three weeks.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclic peptide agonists that bind to the mu (morphine) opioid receptor and their use in the treatment of acute and/or chronic pain. Embodiments of the invention are directed to cyclic pentapeptide and hexapeptide analogs of endomorphin that have (i) a carboxy-terminal extension with an amidated hydrophilic amino acid and (ii) a substitution in amino acid position 2. These peptide analogs exhibit decreased tolerance relative to morphine, increased solubility compared to similar tetrapeptide analogs, while maintaining favorable or improved therapeutic ratios of analgesia to side effects.

Abstract: The invention features somatostatin antagonists having a D-amino acid at the second residue.

Abstract: The disclosure provides drug delivery devices and methods of making and using the drug delivery devices. The devices include single and multi-layer polymer films made by a breath figure technique having therapeutic agents associated therewith. For example, the devices may be a dual layer polymer film wherein the first layer includes a therapeutic agent incorporated into it by spin coating the first agent with a polymer solution and the second agent is incorporated into the second layer by loading the agent into pores of the second layer after it is spin coated onto the first layer. In some cases one layer provides a burst release and the second layer provides a slow release drug delivery profile. The devices may take on the form of a surgical mesh with a slow release therapeutic drug.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating a coronavirus infection. A method embodiment comprises administering a polypeptide (preferably in a biocompatible pharmaceutical carrier) to a subject suffering from a coronavirus infection. The polypeptide comprises or consists of at least a portion of the fusion initiation region (FIR) of a coronavirus fusion protein. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises or consists of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 2, 22, 23, 24, and 25 or an 8 to 40 contiguous amino acid residue portion thereof.

Abstract: Artificial microvascular network (AMVN) devices are provided and related methods of making and methods of using such devices are provided. The present disclosure generally relates to an AMVN device comprising a substrate including a capillary network configured so as to simulate those actually encountered in the circulation of various humans and animal model systems. In certain aspects, the AMVN devices may be used, e.g., to investigate the effect of storing RBCs under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, the use of such AMVN devices is not so limited.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated peptide having an amino acid residue sequence that comprises at least one human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (HCMV-gB) sequence segment, each HCMV-gB sequence segment consisting of at least 8 and not more than 60 consecutive amino acid residues from residues 146 to 315, residues 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or from a sequence variant of residues 146 to 315 or 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1 that has at least 70% sequence identity thereto. The peptides of the invention are useful for treating, preventing, or inhibiting a herpesvirus (e.g., Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Human Cytomegalovirus, and the like) infection in a subject.

Abstract: Otologic materials and methods are provided. For example, a cell-adhesive, biodegradable hydrogel scaffold loaded with time-released drugs for repairing chronic tympanic membrane perforations is disclosed, methods of making same and administering same are provided. This hydrogel may promote vascular in-growth and epithelial cell growth of the tympanic membrane with the purpose of closing the perforation and providing a barrier between the external and middle ear. The hydrogel is initially a liquid polymer that only gels upon exposure to specific conditions, such as exposure to light. This scaffold may simultaneously induce repair of the tympanic membrane while preventing or alleviating middle ear infection, thus filling a void in current tympanic membrane perforation therapies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment, management, or prevention of multiple myeloma and/or renal dysfunction in mammals. The methods of the invention comprise the administration of an effective amount of one or more pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (“PACAP”) compounds, which includes PACAP, vasoactive intestinal peptide (“VIP”), their agonists, analogs, fragments, or derivatives, having one or more PACAP activities. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more PACAP compounds of the invention either alone or in combination with one or more other prophylactic/therapeutic agents useful in therapy for the treatment, management, or prevention of multiple myeloma and/or renal dysfunction.

Abstract: The present invention describes peptides which inhibit fusion of an arenavirus (e.g., Pichinde virus; PICV) with a host cell membrane. The arenavirus inhibiting (AVI) peptides described herein comprise a segment of the GP2 protein of an arenavirus. The AVI peptides are useful for inhibiting arenavirus-to-host cell membrane fusion and for treating arenavirus infections. In a particular embodiment, the arenavirus inhibiting peptide comprises a segment of PICV glycoprotein 2 (PICV GP2; SEQ ID NO: 1), Tamiami virus (TAMV) GP2 (SEQ ID NO: 14), or Lassa virus (LASV) GP2 (SEQ ID NO: 15). In particular, the segment is selected from a region of an arenavirus GP2 extending from the N-terminus into the first half of the FIR (i.e., from residues 1 through 105 of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 14, or SEQ ID NO: 15).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the involvement of miR function in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is shown that miR-23, miR-24 and/or miR-27 are involved in pathologic neovascularization in AMD, and that agonism (miR-24) and inhibition (miR23/27) of the function of these molecules blocks events contributing to development and progression of disease.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of modulating the expression of genes linked to adipocytokine signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, PPAR signaling, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, or combinations thereof, methods of treating hyperlipidemia, obesity, excessive cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, diabetes, or combinations thereof, and methods of stimulating glucose uptake in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering a composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin to said animal.

Abstract: A method of treating contaminated air, gas and surfaces is accomplished through the nebulization of gas and/or liquid oxidants through a field of electromagnetic radiation or sonic waves. The contaminated gas and/or liquid streams are blended with gaseous and/or liquid oxidants by the nebulizer and directly injected in the energy field. Free radicals produced from oxidants in the presence of the energy field instantaneously oxidize a large effective surface area of the contaminated media. Surfaces are treated more efficiently with the energy field situated directly above and parallel to but not on the surface; a high-frequency energy field may be used to create a large concentration of free radicals without damaging the surface in a collimated beam of the field situated parallel to the surface. A catalyst may be employed at the tip (i.e. discharge orifices of gas and/or liquid) of the nebulizer or blended into the nebulized cloud to increase the formation of free radicals.

Abstract: Simultaneous Multiple Sample Light Scattering systems and methods can be used to for polymer stability testing and for applying stressors to polymer or colloid solutions including heat stress, ultrasound, freeze/thaw cycles, shear stress and exposure to different substances and surfaces. among others, that create a polymer stress response used to characterize the polymer solution and stability.

Abstract: Provided are compositions for treatment of cancers, including breast cancer, comprising at least one novel daidzein analog, as well as methods of using the same for preventing or treating cancer or tumor growth.

Abstract: In order to render sewage sludge suitable for beneficial purposes, it must be disinfected and stabilized. EDC deactivation is rapidly becoming a desirable result of any sludge or biosolids treatment process. Disclosed herein is a process of treating sewage sludge so as to stabilize the sludge that involves the presence of an iron-containing compound during dewatering of the sludge. Process embodiments described also achieve biosolid samples that have reduced EDC activity, Other embodiments disclosed involve use of a combination of iron salts ferrate and ferric chloride that are added to wastewater sludge in the dewatering step before heat drying. The biosolids resulting from sludge treated with aniron-containing compound are able to resist putrefaction for more than two to three weeks.

Abstract: Soluble and membrane-anchored forms of Lassa virus (LASV) glycoprotein 1 (GP1), glycoprotein 2 (GP2), the glycoprotein precursor (GPC), the nucleocapsid protein (NP), and the nucleic acids encoding these proteins are disclosed, as well as diagnostic and preventative methods using these compositions. Also disclosed are methods including preparation of vaccines, factors (e.g. small molecules) that inhibit LASV infectivity, and diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies including neutralizing antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infection by LASV and other arenaviruses.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel analogs of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), which are agonists for the PACAP/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors: PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors. These PACAP analogs can be used as prophylactic/therapeutic agents for a wide range of medical disorders, including (but not limited to) cancer and autoimmune disease. These PACAP analogs can be coupled to suitable radionuclides and used in the localization, diagnosis and treatment of disseminated cancers and metastatic tumors, or coupled to small molecule therapeutics and used as vectors for targeted drug delivery. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of one or more PACAP-like compounds of the invention either alone or in combination with one or more other prophylactic/therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treatment, prevention or management of obesity, obesity related disorders, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome in a subject by administering a ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) inhibitor and/or a ghrelin receptor antagonist to the subject. The invention also provides ghrelin receptor antagonists of formula (VII): A11-A12-A13-Gly-Ser-A14-Phe-Leu-A15-A16-A17-A18 (SEQ ID NO: 93), wherein each of A11, A12, and A13 is independently absent, an amino acid, or an amino protecting group; each of A15, A16, A17, and A18 is independently absent or an amino acid; and A14 is a serine conjugated with a —(O)C1-C20alky or a diaminopropionic acid conjugated with a —C(O)C1-C20alkyl group, provided that at least one of A11, A12, or A13 is present.

Abstract: Disclosed are apta-chelamers comprising aptamer domains tethered to rationally designed synthetic protein-binding modules, and methods of designing and making the same. Also disclosed are stimulus-responsive apta-chelamers capable of simultaneously or sequentially binding (and, thus, inhibiting) two protein targets.