Abstract: A method for attenuating the HIV-associated myopathy and muscle wasting associated with infection by human immunodeficiency virus-Type 1. Administration of oxandrolone in a daily dosage of about 2.5 to about 20 milligrams is described.

Abstract: A method of sequentially removing one or more N-terminal amino acid residues from an analog of a eucaryotic polypeptide synthesized in a foreign host, comprises contacting the eucaryotic polypeptide analog with aminopeptidase under suitable conditions permitting sequential removal of N-terminal amino acid residues, where the polypeptide analog contains an amino acid residue or sequence of residues which blocks the action of an aminopeptidase located at a position other than the N-terminal end of the polypeptide analog. A specific embodiment of the invention concerns removing both an N-terminal methionine residue and its adjacent Leucine residue from a growth hormone analog produced in bacteria by contacting the growth hormone analog with Aeromonas aminopeptidase under suitable conditions permitting removal of the N-terminal methionine and Leucine residues. The invention also concerns eucaryotic polypeptide analogs produced in accordance with the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A novel mutant microorganism Streptococcus zooepidemicus HA-116 ATCC 39920, has been produced. The microorganism produces large amounts of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. The invention provides a method of obtaining such microorganisms.The invention also concerns a method of obtaining sodium hyaluronate which comprises growing with vigorous agitation a microorganism of the genus Streptococcus under appropriate conditions in a suitable nutrient medium containing a sugar component as a carbon source. The sugar component is present in a substantially constant concentration between 0.2 and 10 grams per liter. The medium has a substantially constant pH between about 6.0 and 7.5 and includes a substantially constant magnesium ion concentration above 0.05 grams per liter. The sodium hyaluronate excreted into the medium by the organism is purified using methods involving precipitation, redissolving and reprecipitating the hyaluronate.