Abstract: A method for producing a protein suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis, in a cell-free protein synthesis system comprising a cell-free extract, a nucleic acid coding for said protein, and amino acids for the substrate of said protein, wherein said amino acids comprises at least one amino acid comprising a heavy atom, and wherein the introduced rate of said amino acid comprising the heavy atom into the synthesized protein is at least 80%.

Abstract: The present invention provides pro-micelle compositions comprising a pharmaceutically active agent encapsulated with a membrane of esterified C12-C18 fatty acids. In the mammalian intestine, exposure to C12-C18 fatty acids results in conversion of the pro-micelle to a stable micelle that effectively delivers the pharmaceutically active agent to the systemic circulation. The present invention further provides methods of making and using such compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of a botulinum toxin to treat cerebral palsy in juvenile patients by transdermal administration of the botulinum toxin. The juvenile patients are preferably juveniles of up to 6 years in age.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and devices are provided for inducing or enhancing the growth, proliferation, regeneration of inner ear tissue, particularly inner ear hair cells. In addition, provided are compositions and methods for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a mammal afflicted with an inner ear disorder or condition, particularly for hearing impairments involving hair cell damage, loss, or degeneration, by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of IGF-1 or FGF-2, or their agonists, alone or in combination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of protecting organs or tissue susceptible to reperfusion-induced dysfunction after ischemia. The method comprises parenterally administering to a patient a therapeutical composition containing natural alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, natural alpha-1 antitrypsin or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, organ or tissue transplants can be contacted with natural alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, natural alpha-antitrypsin or mixtures by perfusing or flushing them with a solution containing natural alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, natural alpha-1 antitrypsin or mixtures thereof in a concentration of 0.1 to 5 g/l.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of marine invertebrate type V telopeptide containing collagen preparations from marine invertebrates, compositions containing preparations, and methods of using these preparations. The collagen preparation includes telopeptide containing and optionally invertebrate atelopeptide containing, type V fibrillar collagen. The present collagen preparations may be employed in a variety of products including for example, cosmetic, pharmacological, dental, and cell culture products.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel collagen peptides that are modified by grafting free or substitued thiol functions carried by mercaptoamine radicals. The aim of the invention is to provide thiol collagens that can be cross-linked in a sufficient and controlled manner by forming S—S bridges and which are biocompatible. This is achieved by means of the inventive thiol collagens which are characterized in that the mercaptoamine radicals are identical to or different from each other and are exclusively grafted on the aspartic and glutamic acids of the collagen chain by amide bonds. The invention also relates to a method for the production of said thiol and cross-linkable collagens. The novel modified cross-linkable and/or cross-linked collagens can be used as biomaterials.

Abstract: Provided herein is a heretofore unknown insulin analogue, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such an insulin analogue, as well as processes for preparing such an insulin analogue and such a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A cartrilage and bone morphogenetic repairing composition comprising a collagen-free aqueous solution of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene and an effective amount of a bone morphogenetic protein, the molecular weight of polyoxypropylene as a constituent of said polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene molecular is 900 to 4,000 in a unit of Dalton (D) and the ethylene oxide content is 5 to 90% by weight of the polyoxyethylene-propoxypropylene molecule whereby the solution is liquid at 1 to 30° C. and gelatinizes at about 37° C. and a method of using the same.

Abstract: Compositions of substantially homogeneous type II-like collagen from invertebrates belonging to the class Scyphozoa, phylum Coelenterata, i.e., jellyfish, particularly Stomolophus meleagris, and methods for its extraction are provided. Methods for the treatment of arthritis, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, by administering an effective amount of the collagen-containing compositions of the invention so as to induce immune tolerance, are also provided.

Abstract: Polymeric crosslinking agents are disclosed that have an inert water soluble polymeric component, biodegradable components, functional components reactive with chemical groups on a protein, for example, amine or thiol groups. The inert polymeric component may be flanked at each end with a biodegradable component which is flanked at each end with a protein reactive functional component. A polymeric crosslinking agent is disclosed having a biodegradable component, polyalkylene oxide, and at least three reactive functional groups that are each capable of forming a covalent bond in water with at least one functional group such as an amine, thiol, or carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A method of protein precipitation, concentration and removal of non-protein agents from the protein solution wherein the protein solution is treated with a protein-precipitation agent containing an acidic agent, a salt and a precipitate forming agent. After precipitation, the protein precipitate is washed with a water miscible organic solvent agent to remove non-protein agents present in the protein precipitate.

Abstract: There is described antifungal combination use of known antifungal agents such as the azoles or polyenes in combination with a lipopeptide compound antifungal agent. More particularly, the invention relates to antifungal combination use of azols such as fluconazole voriconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, ER 30346 and SCH 56592; polyenes such as amphotericin B, nystatin, liposomal and lipid forms thereof such as Abelcet, AmBisome and Amphocil; purine or pyrimidine nucleotide inhibitors such as flucytosine; or polyoxins such as nikkomycins, in particular nikkomycin Z or nikkomycin X; other chitin inhibitors; elongation factor inhibitors such as sordarin and analogs thereof; mannan inhibitors such as predamycin, bactericidal/permeability-inducing (BPI) protein products such as XMP.97 or XMP.127; or complex carbohydrate antifungal agents such as CAN-296; with a lipopeptide compound (I) as described herein.

Abstract: An albumin preparation that prevents onset of hepatic encephalopathy caused by conventional amino acid preparations and enhances an effect of improving the symptoms is provided. The albumin preparation containing amino acids is characterized in that a content of albumin is 0.01 to 1.0 w/v %, a content of plurality of amino acids containing branched amino acid is 5 to 10 w/v %, a content of the branched amino acids is equal to or more than 30 w/w % on the basis of the content of total amino acids and further, the Fischer ratio (branched amino acid/[phenylalanine+tyrosine] (molar ratio)) is equal to or more than 20.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial chaperon useful for refolding the proteins having low voluntary folding ability and being difficult or unable to be a native form without a second (or assistant) of a molecular chaperon in a short time, and folding said proteins as an active form. The present invention relates to an artificial chaperon kit characterized in that the kit comprises cyclic saccharide cycloamylose and polyoxyethylenic detergent or cyclic saccharide cycloamylose and ionic detergent. The present invention also relates to a method for diluting the denaturant making the protein a denatured state by adding a specific detergent to a denatured protein, and preventing protein molecules from aggregation, thereafter adding cyclic saccharide cycloamylose, utilizing the inclusion ability thereof to strip detergent, accelerating the proper folding of protein into a correct higher-order structure with activity.

Abstract: Methods for treating a patient for insulin resistance to decrease the insulin resistance in a patient having Metabolic Syndrome comprising Primary Insulin Resistance and abdominal/visceral obesity comprise administering to the patient growth hormone or a functional derivative thereof in an amount effective for decreasing insulin resistance of the patient.

Abstract: Crystals of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and GLP-1 analogues, and processes for preparation of crystals of GLP-1 and GLP-1 analogues.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for separating and extracting biological products of avian origin. The method allows for the production of avian cartilages and of active ingredients which can be extracted from the cartilages thus obtained.

Abstract: A solid composition containing a meiosis activating substance can be prepared by adding a protein or a phosperglycid.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel antiproliferative and anti secrectory peptides that are inhibitory to vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor and are useful in the treatment of cancer. The invention particularly relates to the synthesis of lipid-peptide conjugates containing fatty acids of different sizes, which inhibits the binding of VIP to its receptors. The invention encompasses methods for generation of these peptides, composition containing these peptides and the pharmacological applications of these peptides especially in the treatment and prevention of cancer.