Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating pain are disclosed. The compositions are based on dry powders comprising microparticles of diketopiperazines and an analgesic active agent. The analgesic in the compositions comprises one or more peptide analgesics or derivatives thereof, which are administered to a subject using a pulmonary inhalation drug delivery system comprising a dry powder inhaler and the analgesic composition. The present compositions produce fewer side effects associated with current opioid therapy.

Abstract: Methods for identifying modified proteases with modified substrate specificity or other properties are provided. The methods screen candidate and modified proteases by contacting them with a substrate, such as a serpin, an alpha macroglobulins or a p35 family protein or modified serpins and modified p35 family members or modified alpha macroglobulins, that, upon cleavage of the substrate, traps the protease by forming a stable complex. Also provided are modified proteases.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are drawn to pure forms of human or simian immunodeficiency virus trimeric gp120/gp41 Env protein (Env trimers) and methods for making them. These embodiments address the need for an authentic immunogen lacking uncleaved gp160 Env protein and/or other forms of Env, such as gp41 “stumps” dissociated from gp120, which interfere with neutralizing antibody production in a vaccinated subject.

Abstract: Methods for identifying modified proteases with modified substrate specificity or other properties are provided. The methods screen candidate and modified proteases by contacting them with a substrate, such as a serpin, an alpha macroglobulins or a p35 family protein or modified serpins and modified p35 family members or modified alpha macroglobulins, that, upon cleavage of the substrate, traps the protease by forming a stable complex. Also provided are modified proteases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders. Also disclosed are methods for treating such autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders with the administration of sulfatides. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders by administering an amount of a sulfatide to the body of a patient effective to reduce or prevent the symptoms of the autoimmune or immune related disease or disorder.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated agents having novel chemical structures and possessing superior activity as derepressors of IAP inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides assay methods employing labeled compounds of the invention, especially fluorescent labeled compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to the diagnosis and monitoring of ischemia, including but not limited to myocardial and cerebral ischemia, by measuring the concentration of molecules that do not originate from the ischemic tissue but whose concentration in the blood and other fluids changes as a consequence of the ischemic state.

Abstract: Disappearance of a cell population, designated CD4+ CD44v.low, has been shown to be associated with cachexia and lymphopenia, and those conditions can be treated or delayed by administering those cells to a patient. In addition, disclosed are assays for those cells for diagnosing or prognosticating cachexia and/or lymphopenia and the end of the honeymoon period in Type I diabetes. Furthermore, disclosed herein are methods related to the use of CD4+ CD44v.low cells in promoting insulin-secreting beta cell mass.

Abstract: Small, polybasic peptides are disclosed that are effective as furin inhibitors, e.g. hexa- to nona-peptides having L-Arg or L-Lys in most positions. Removing the peptide terminating groups can improve inhibition of furin. High inhibition was seen in a series of non-amidated and non-acetylated polyarginines. The most potent inhibitor identified to date, nona-L-arginine, had a Ki against furin of 40 nM. Non-acetylated, poly-D-arginine-derived molecules are preferred furin inhibitors for therapeutic uses, such as inhibiting certain bacterial infections, viral infections, and cancers. Due to their relatively small size, these peptides should be non-immunogenic. These peptides are efficiently transported across cell membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders. Also disclosed are methods for treating such autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders with the administration of expanded populations of regulatory T cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders by administering an amount of expanded regulatory T cells to the body of a patient effective to reduce or prevent the symptoms of the autoimmune or immune related disease or disorder.

Abstract: This invention relates to the diagnosis and monitoring of ischemia, including but not limited to myocardial and cerebral ischemia, by measuring the concentration of molecules that do not originate from the ischemic tissue but whose concentration in the blood and other fluids changes as a consequence of the ischemic state.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for enhancing the immunogenicity of an antigen in a mammal by introducing into the mammal an antigen or a portion thereof and administering to the mammal a treatment that increases antigen presentation in a lymphoid organ.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated agents having novel chemical structures and possessing superior activity as derepressors of IAP inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides assay methods employing labeled compounds of the invention, especially fluorescent labeled compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated agents having a core peptide selected from the group consisting of Core peptides 5 through 39 and 42 through 55, wherein the agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. Also provided is an isolated agent having a core structure selected from any of the structures shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 14B, and 21-24 wherein said agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The method consists of contacting an IAP-inhibited caspase with an effective amount of an agent to derepress an IAP-inhibited caspase, the agent having a core motif selected from the group consisting of a core peptide having a sequence set forth in any of Core peptides 4 through 39 and 42 through 55, and a core structure selected from the group consisting of TPI759, TPI882, TPI914 or TPI927.

Abstract: The solid-phase synthesis of individual 1,3-disubstituted and 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones and libraries thereof from a resin is described. Reaction of resin-bound amino acids with isocyanates yields resin-bound ureas, which further react with chlorocarbonyl isocyanate to selectively afford the resin-bound 1,3-disubstituted-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones. Selective alkylation at the N-5 position of the resin-bound 1,3-disubstituted-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones produces a trisubstituted triazinetrione. The products are cleaved from their solid support and obtained in good yield and purity.

Abstract: The synthesis of individual di- and tri-substituted-1,4-diazacyclic compounds having 6- to 8-atoms in the cyclic ring, their corresponding 1,6-diketo-2,5-diazacyclic compounds and similar 1,4-diazacyclic ring compounds having one ring carbonyl gorup and 6-8 atoms in the ring is disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of detecting cardiac ischemia by detecting elevated levels of serum free fatty acids in serum unbound to serum albumin (FFAU) compared to an average FFAU level in individuals without cardiac ischemia, wherein the detection method uses a free fatty acid binding protein derivatized with a fluorescent moiety, is disclosed.

Abstract: Individual substituted [3,5,7]-1H-imidazo[1,5-a]imidazol-2(3H)-one compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts are disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: Individual substituted [3,5,7]-1H-imidazo[1,5-a]imidazol-2(3H)-one compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts are disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: The synthesis of individual di- and tri-substituted-1,4-diazacyclic compounds having 6- to 8-atoms in the cyclic ring, their corresponding 1,6-diketo-2,5-diazacyclic compounds and similar 1,4-diazacyclic ring compounds having one ring carbonyl group and 6-8 atoms in the ring is disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.