Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chimeric C3-like Rho antagonists and their use for promoting repair and neuron survival in injured mammalian central and peripheral nervous system and for treating or preventing cancer.

Abstract: Provided are methods for diagnosing the propensity of a subject to develop skin inflammation, in particular, psoriasis. Also provided are methods of treatment with antagonists of IL-17 and/or IL-23.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for facilitating repair of an area of bone by providing hemihydrate calcium sulfate particles, mixing the particles with an aqueous solution to obtain a paste, applying the paste to an area of bone in need of repair, and allowing the paste to set.

Abstract: Members of the TGF-? superfamily and peptide fragments based on member proteins are employed to purify solutions containing member proteins or as therapeutics.

Abstract: Regulation of sErbB3 isoforms in methods of regulating heregulin activity or ErbB receptor activities is disclosed. Cancer therapeutics and methods of therapeutically treating cancer comprising sErbB3 are also disclosed. Detection of sErbB3 in biological samples for risk assessment and prevention, screening, diagnosis, prognosis, theragnosis, evaluation of responsiveness to treatment, and/or monitoring of disease progression, recurrence, or metastasis of a cancer is disclosed as well. In examples, sErbB3 nucleic acid sequences, polypeptides, molecular probes, and antibodies are useful agents for regulation, expression, detection, and cancer therapeutics related to sErbB3.

Abstract: Regulation of sErbB3 isoforms in methods of regulating heregulin activity or ErbB receptor activities is disclosed. Cancer therapeutics and methods of therapeutically treating cancer comprising sErbB3 are also disclosed. Detection of sErbB3 in biological samples for risk assessment and prevention, screening, diagnosis, prognosis, theragnosis, evaluation of responsiveness to treatment, and/or monitoring of disease progression, recurrence, or metastasis of a cancer is disclosed as well. In examples, sErbB3 nucleic acid sequences, polypeptides, molecular probes, and antibodies are useful agents for regulation, expression, detection, and cancer therapeutics related to sErbB3.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to Apo2L/TRAIL purification involving crystallization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing agonist-activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and, a method for analyzing antagonist-activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance and a substance having agonist-activity to the cytokinin receptor into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and the like.

Abstract: The inventions include Apo2L/TRAIL formulations and methods of using such formulations. Lyophilized and crystal formulations of Apo-2L/TRAIL which are stable and have improved Apo2L/TRAIL trimer formation are provided. Methods of making Apo-2L/TRAIL formulations, as well as devices and kits containing such formulations are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods for diagnosing the propensity of a subject to develop skin inflammation, in particular, psoriasis. Also provided are methods of treatment with antagonists of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23.

Abstract: Methods of treating cancer in patients in need thereof with human interleukin-18 (IL-18) polypeptides and substitution mutants thereof that are conjugated to water-soluble polymers at specific sites on the human IL-18 protein are disclosed.

Abstract: Modified and stabilized propeptides of Growth Differentiation Factor proteins, such as GDF-8 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-11, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the modified propeptides to prevent or treat human or animal disorders in which an increase in muscle tissue would be therapeutically beneficial. Such disorders include muscle or neuromuscular disorders (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease, muscle wasting syndrome, sarcopenia, or cachexia), metabolic diseases or disorders (such as such as type 2 diabetes, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, or obesity), adipose tissue disorders (such as obesity), and bone degenerative diseases (such as osteoporosis).

Abstract: Antibody expression vectors and plasmids can incorporate various antibody gene portions for transcription of the antibody DNA and expression of the antibody in an appropriate host cell. The expression vectors and plasmids have restriction enzyme sites that facilitate ligation of antibody-encoding DNA into the vectors. The vectors incorporate enhancer and promoter sequences that can be varied to interact with transcription factors in the host cell and thereby control transcription of the antibody-encoding DNA. A kit can incorporate these vectors and plasmids.

Abstract: An improved monocyte activation test is described that is better able to detect non-endotoxin pyrogens in medical products, in which a sample is incubated with a monocyte-containing reagent in an assay system comprising at least one surface comprising polypropylene. The invention also concerns assay systems for use in these tests that include at least one microtiter well having at least one interior surface comprising polypropylene and having a shape such that monocyte-containing reagent is concentrated in the well to provide greater cell to cell contact. The invention also relates to a diagnostic kit that can be used to test for the presence of non-endotoxin pyrogens in a sample.

Abstract: Presence of free insulin receptor ?-subunit in blood was discovered. Furthermore, methods for measuring the insulin receptor ?-subunit was provided, the method comprising the steps of contacting the insulin receptor ?-subunit in a blood sample with an antibody recognizing the insulin receptor ?-subunit, and detecting the binding between the two. Measurement of the free insulin receptor ?-subunit in the blood is useful for evaluating risk factors for diabetes. In addition, the measurement methods of the present invention showed that concentrations of the free insulin receptor ?-subunit in the blood of diabetes or cancer patients are significantly high. Free insulin receptor ?-subunit in blood is useful as a marker for diabetes or cancer.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing renal disorder, hemolytic uremic syndrome and enterohemorrhagic E. coli infectious disease at an early stage, and for diagnosing the severity of these diseases are provided. Detection of excretion of AQP2 and/or molecules derived therefrom into urine of a subject, or determination of the amount of excretion of the same is conducted to diagnose the morbidity or the severity of renal disorder, hemolytic uremic syndrome and enterohemorrhagic E. coli infectious disease of the subject. For the detection and determination of AQP2, an immunochemical process may be suitably employed in which an antibody that specifically recognizes AQP2.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing renal disorder, hemolytic uremic syndrome and enterohemorrhagic E. coli infectious disease at an early stage, and for diagnosing the severity of these diseases are provided. Detection of excretion of AQP2 and/or molecules derived therefrom into urine of a subject, or determination of the amount of excretion of the same is conducted to diagnose the morbidity or the severity of renal disorder, hemolytic uremic syndrome and enterohemorrhagic E. coli infectious disease of the subject. For the detection and determination of AQP2, an immunochemical process may be suitably employed in which an antibody that specifically recognizes AQP2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to predicting therapeutic response of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells in atopic dermatitis. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating an autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for diagnosing, monitoring and treating an autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or chronic inflammatory disease (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus) based on detecting or altering (e.g., altering expression or methylation status of) autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease proteins (e.g., CD70 and CD40L). The present invention also provides kits for detecting methylation status of autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease proteins (e.g., CD70 and CD40L) and for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases.