Abstract: Provided herein is a novel method of purifying an IgG antibody from a preparation by use of an electropositive membrane having a defined porosity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveniently producing a protein formulation in which viruses are inactivated, without impairing the quality of the obtained protein formulation, characterized by including the step of exposing the protein formulation contaminated with the viruses to a 0.1-2M aqueous solution of arginine, an arginine derivative, or a mixture thereof, the aqueous solution being adjusted to pH 3.5 to 5. The present invention also provides a virus inactivation method characterized by including the step of contacting a virus-containing object with a 0.1-2M aqueous solution of arginine, an arginine derivative, or a mixture thereof, the aqueous solution being adjusted to pH 3.5 to 5.

Abstract: Diagnostic tests for characterizing an individual's risk of developing or having a cardiovascular disease. In one embodiment the present diagnostic test comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a bodily sample obtained from the individual or test subject. In another embodiment, the diagnostic test comprises determining the level of MPO mass in a bodily sample obtained from the test subject. In another embodiment, the diagnostic test comprises determining the level of one or more select MPO-generated oxidation products in a bodily sample obtained from the test subject. The select MPO-generated oxidation products are dityrosine, nitrotyrosine, methionine sulphoxide or an MPO-generated lipid peroxidation products.

Abstract: Herein is reported a tangential flow filtration method with a pre-filtration solute concentration adjustment in order to ensure a defined concentration of the components of the solution after tangential flow filtration.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for reducing amyloid plaque burden associated with Alzheimer's disease and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and methods to effect prophylaxis of CAA. The methods can treat CAA concurrently with Alzheimer's disease or separately. The methods can effect prophylaxis of CAA concurrently with Alzheimer's disease or separately. The methods involve administering antibody that is specific for the N-terminus of A? or an agent that can induce such an antibody.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for inhibiting amyloidogenic protein toxicity, inhibiting formation of an amyloidogenic protein deposit and/or treating amyloidogenic diseases by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more agents that bind an integrin or an integrin subunit.

Abstract: Disclosed are RAGE fusion proteins comprising RAGE polypeptide sequences linked to a second, non-RAGE polypeptide. The RAGE fusion protein may utilize a RAGE polypeptide domain comprising a RAGE ligand binding site and an interdomain linker directly linked to an immunoglobulin CH2 domain. Such fusion proteins may provide specific, high affinity binding to RAGE ligands. Also disclosed is the use of the RAGE fusion proteins as therapeutics for RAGE-mediated pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Nephronophthisis, in particular to the NPHP6 protein (nephrocystin-6) and nucleic acids encoding the NPHP6 protein. The present invention also provides assays for the detection of NPHP6, and assays for detecting NPHP6 polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by determining the level or function of insulin, insulin-like growth factors, their receptors and/or their downstream signaling molecules. The invention further relates to methods for the treatment of AD by administering an insulin agonist and an insulin-like growth factor agonist. The invention additionally provides an animal model of AD and methods of screening for agents useful in the treatment, amelioration, or prevention of AD.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a methods and compositions for receptor mediated drug delivery, particularly across the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are TALL-1 and TALL-1 receptor protein homologues (agonists and antagonists) designed based on the three-dimensional structure of sTALL-1, eBCMA and eBAFF-R; agonist homologues of APRIL; methods of using wild-type APRIL to inhibit the activity of TALL-1; compositions comprising such homologues, nucleic acid molecules encoding such homologues, and therapeutic methods of using such compounds and compositions. Also disclosed are crystalline complexes of sTALL-1 and sTALL-1 in complex with either BCMA or BAFF-R; models of three-dimensional structures of such crystalline complexes and related structures, methods of drug design using any portion of such structures; methods of design and/or identification of regulatory peptides derived from the such structures; compounds identified by drug design using such structures; and the use of such compounds in therapeutic compositions and methods.

Abstract: Immunosorbents, kits and compositions for diagnosing a central nervous system disorder, particularly paroxysmal cerebral discharges and epilepsy, comprising measuring the concentration of GluR1 or fragment thereof and/or GluR1 antibodies in a biological sample from a human subject. The method is particularly useful for identifying individuals that are at risk for brain related seizures and epilepsy, for distinguishing epilepsy from pseudo-epilepsy and epilepsy-like disorders, for following up after anticonvulsive treatment, and for the adjustment of adequate therapy and doses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies that differentially recognize multi-dimensional conformations of A?-derived diffusible ligands, also known as ADDLs. The antibodies of the invention can distinguish between Alzheimer's Disease and control human brain extracts and are useful in methods of detecting ADDLs and diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease. The present antibodies also block binding of ADDLs to neurons, assembly of ADDLs, and tauphosphorylation and are there useful in methods for the preventing and treating diseases associated with soluble oligomers of amyloid ? 1-42.

Abstract: The present invention provides the enzyme and enzymatic procedures for cleaving the ? secretase cleavage site of the APP protein and associated nucleic acids, peptides, vectors, cells and cell isolates and assays.

Abstract: An antibody capable of recognizing amyloid ? while not recognizing amyloid ? precursor proteins, and a method for using the same. A monoclonal antibody characterized by being capable of recognizing the N-terminus peptide of amyloid ? while not recognizing amyloid ? precursor proteins, an amyloid ? assay kit, a therapeutic agent of Alzheimer's disease, and a method for treating Alzheimer's disease using the monoclonal antibody.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibody 9TL and antibodies derived from 9TL directed against amyloid-beta peptide and methods of using same for diagnosing and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and A? peptide associated diseases are described. Methods of using antibodies directed against amyloid-beta peptide having impaired effector function for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and A? peptide associated diseases are also described.

Abstract: Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. The neuromodulatory agent has one or more of the following characteristics: it is capable of inducing remyelination; binding to neural tissue; promoting Ca?? signaling with oligodendrocytes; and promoting cellular proliferation of glial cells. Amino acid and DNA sequences of exemplary antibodies are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a segment of glycosylation-deficient HGF having mutation(s) introduced into an amino acid sequence so as to prevent glycosylation at at least one glycosylation site of a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and a method of producing the same. The segment of glycosylation-deficient HGF of the present invention has the same activity as that of a segment of glycosylated HGF, therefore, it is useful as an alternate for a segment of glycosylated HGF.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and compositions for the therapeutic and diagnostic use in the treatment of diseases and disorders which are caused by or associated with amyloid or amyloid-like proteins including amyloidosis. In particular, the present invention provides novel methods and compositions for eliciting a highly specific and highly effective immune response in an organism, but particularly within an animal, particularly a mammal or a human, which is capable of preventing or alleviating amyloidosis, or the symptoms associated with amyloidosis, a group of diseases and disorders associated with amyloid plaque formation including secondary amyloidosis and age-related amyloidosis including, but not limited to, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), including diseases or conditions characterized by a loss of cognitive memory capacity such as, for example, mild cognitive impairment (MCI).