Abstract: Compound with an indole linked through an aliphatic ring system to an aromatic moiety are useful in treating conditions associated with enhanced P38? kinase activity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of enhancing the biological activity of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The invention further concerns certain VEGF variants having enhanced biological activity, methods and means for preparing these variants, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. In a further aspect, the invention concerns methods of treatment using, and articles of manufacture containing such VEGF variants.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to inhibit p38-? kinase using compounds of the formula and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, wherein represents a single or double bond; one Z2 is CA or CR8A and the other is CR1, CR12, NR6 or N wherein each R1, R6 and R8 is independently hydrogen or noninterfering substituent; A is —Wi—COXjY wherein Y is COR2 or an isostere thereof and R2 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent, each of W and X is a spacer of 2-6 ?, and each of i and j is independently 0 or 1; as Z3 is NR7 or O; each R3 is independently a noninterfering substituent; n is 0-3; each of L1 and L2 is a linker; each R4 is independently a noninterfering substituent; m is 0-4; Z1 is CR5 or N wherein R5 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent; each of 1 and k is an integer from 0-2 wherein the sum of 1 and k is 0-3; Ar is an aryl group substituted with 0-5 noninterfering substituents, wherein two noninterfering substituents can form a fused ring

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to inhibit p38-? kinase using compounds which contain a phenyl group linked through a piperazine ring to a substituted indole.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in a mammal comprising the prolonged administration of GLP-1 (7-37), and related peptides. Also disclosed are compositions to prolong the administration of the peptides.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to inhibit p38-&agr; kinase using compounds of the formula and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, wherein represents a single or double bond; B is —Wi—COXjY wherein Y is COR2 or an isostere thereof and R2 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent, each of W and X is a spacer of 2-6 Å, and each of i and j is independently 0 or 1; each R3 is independently a noninterfering substituent, where n is 0-3; Z3 is NR7 or O; wherein R7 is H or a noninterfering substituent; one Z2 is CA or CR8A and the other is CR1, CR12, NR6 or N wherein each R1, R6 and R8 is independently hydrogen or noninterfering substituent; wherein A is: such that Z1 is CR5 or N wherein R5 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent; each of l and k is an integer from 0-2 wherein the sum of l and k is 0-3; Ar is an aryl group substituted with 0-5 noninterfering substituents, wherein two noninterfe

Abstract: The invention concerns new secreted factors encoded by clones P00184_D11 (SEQ ID NO:1), P00185_D11 (SEQ ID NO:3), P00188_D12 (SEQ ID NO:5), P00188_E01 (SEQ ID NO:7), P00194_G01 (SEQ ID NO:9), P00194_G05 (SEQ ID NO:11), P00194_H10 (SEQ ID NO:13), P00199_D08 (SEQ ID NO:15), P00203_D04 (SEQ ID NO:17), P00203_E06 (SEQ ID NO:19), P00209_F06 (SEQ ID NO:21), P00219_D02 (SEQ ID NO:23), P00219_F06 (SEQ ID NO:25), P00220_H05 (SEQ ID NO:27), P00222_G03 (SEQ ID NO:29), P00225_C01 (SEQ ID NO:32), P00227_D11 (SEQ ID NO:34), P00228_F03 (SEQ ID NO:36), P00233_H08 (SEQ ID NO:38), P00235_G08 (SEQ ID NO:40), P00239_C11 (SEQ ID NO:42), P00240_E05 (SEQ ID NO:45), P00247_A04 (SEQ ID NO:50), P00248_B04 (SEQ ID NO:52), P00249_F09 (SEQ ID NO:54), P00258_A10 (SEQ ID NO:56), P00262_C10 (SEQ ID NO:58), P00269_H08 (SEQ ID NO:62), P00628_H02 (SEQ ID NO:66), P00629_C08 (SEQ ID NO:68), P00641_G11 (SEQ ID NO:71), P00648_E12 (SEQ ID NO:73), P00697_C03 (SEQ ID NO:75), and other mammalian homologues and variants of such factor, as well as polyn

Abstract: The substitution of the L-Pro at the 7-position of the peptide hormone bradykinin or other substituted analogs of bradykinin with a D-configuration hydroxyproline ether or thioether converts bradykinin agonists into bradykinin antagonists. The invention further includes the intermediate compounds and additional modifications at other positions within the novel 7-position modified bradykinin antagonists which increase enzyme resistance, antagonist potency, and/or specificity of the new bradykinin antagonists. The analogs produced are useful in treating conditions and diseases of a mammal and human in which an excess of bradykinin or related kinins are produced or injected such as by insect bites.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for administration of synergistic levels of a diuretic and a natriuretic peptide, especially a recombinant form of human BNP, or hBNP. These compositions and methods are useful for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the findings that BACE 2, a homolog of &bgr;-secretase BACE, is able to stimulate processing of APP in a non-amyloidogenic pathway, thereby suppressing the level of A&bgr;. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods and means for the identification and use of modulators of this unique activity of BACE 2 to suppress A&bgr; production. The compounds identified using the methods and means provided herein may be used as potential candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a disease, specifically cardiac, kidney or inflammatory disease, and related disorders. The present invention also relates to compositions and methods useful in the diagnosis, prevention and therapeutic treatment of a disease, specifically cardiac, kidney or inflammatory disease. Specifically, methods and compositions are provided for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of conditions involving a disease, specifically cardiac, kidney or inflammatory disease, for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions, for modulating the effect of these differentially expressed genes, for monitoring patients undergoing clinical evaluation for the prevention and treatment of a disease, specifically cardiac, kidney or inflammatory disease, and its disorders, and for monitoring the efficacy of compounds used in clinical trials.

Abstract: Certain compounds which contain a piperidine moiety flanked by aryl groups are inhibitors of p38-&agr; kinase and thus useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions characterized by inappropriate p38-&agr; kinase activity.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of agonists and antagonists of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PTBR) in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and other circulatory conditions. The invention specifically concerns the use of PTBR antagonists in the prevention or treatment of decompensated cardiac hypertrophy and, eventually, heart failure. The invention also concerns the use of PTBR agonists in the management of conditions calling for increased blood flow or cardiac output, including injury or functional compromise of the heart, increased demand for physical exercise, or an acquired or inherited predisposition to cardiac contractile disfunction. Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of such conditions and screening methods to identify PTBR agonists and antagonists are also included.

Abstract: The invention concerns the prevention and treatment of endothelial injury and the injury of tissues containing injured blood vessels by administration of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF).

Abstract: The present invention provides cell-free &ggr;-secretase activity. The method of the invention utilizes a membrane source of APP/&ggr;-secretase mixture in the assay to determine factors that may enhance or decrease enzymatic activity affecting &bgr;-amyloid peptide production. The cell membranes used in the assay may be from cells expressing an endogenous APP or, preferably, cells expressing a recombinant APP. The APP may be full-length or a fragment capable of being proteolytically cleaved by &ggr;-secretase. In addition, the APP expressed in the cells may have one or more mutation, such as a point mutation, small deletion, etc.

Abstract: Analogues of the Kunitz Protease Inhibitor (KPI) domain of amyloid precursor protein bind to and inhibit activity of serine proteases, including kallikrein, plasmin and coagulation factors such as factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, and XIIa. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the KPI analogues, along with methods for using such compositions, are useful for ameliorating and treating clinical conditions associated with increased serine protease activity, such as blood loss related to cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Nucleic acid sequences encoding these analogues and systems for expression of the peptides of the invention are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays to identify compounds that affect microglial cell activation, and specifically assays to identify compounds that affect secretion of cytokines from these microglial cells by modulating PGE2-mediated activity. The assays of the invention include assays for testing microglial cell activation by contacting microglia with compounds that modulate &bgr;-amyloid PGE2-mediated activation, which can be identified by cellular activity such as secretion of cytokines, e.g., TNF-&agr; and IL-1&agr;. The effect of the candidate compound can be determined by comparing the effect with a control culture which is not contacted with the compound, or by comparing the effect with a standardized profile.

Abstract: Indoles, benzimidazoles and benztriazoles which are substituted at the 5 or 6 position with a substituent comprising an aromatic moiety linked through a piperazine ring to said indole, benzimidazole or benztriazole are useful in treating cardiac conditions associated with heart failure and in treating conditions characterized by proinflammation.

Abstract: The cDNA sequence encoding porcine brain natriuretic peptide and related genes encoding canine and human peptides with natriuretic activity are disclosed. The gene is shown to make accessible the DNAs encoding analogous natriuretic peptides in other vertebrate species. The genes encoding these NPs can be used to effect modifications of the sequence to produce alternate forms of the NPs and to provide practical amounts of these proteins. The NPs of the invention can also be synthesized chemically.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell-free &ggr;-secretase activity. The method of the invention utilizes a membrane source of APP/&ggr;-secretase mixture in the assay to determine factors that may enhance or decrease enzymatic activity affecting &bgr;-amyloid peptide production. The cell membranes used in the assay may be from cells expressing an endogenous APP or, preferably, cells expressing a recombinant APP. The APP may be full-length or a fragment capable of being proteolytically cleaved by &ggr;-secretase. In addition, the APP expressed in the cells may have one or more mutation, such as a point mutation, small deletion, etc.