Abstract: The invention relates to a specific substrate on an ALDH isoenzyme, to a composition comprising at least one such substrate, to a diagnostic marker comprising such a substrate, and to the uses thereof and associated methods.

Abstract: The probiotic composition comprises at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, preferably Lactobacillus with intestinal tropism, for use in promoting juvenile growth in livestock, with stimulation of linear growth and/or of IGF-1 level. Exemplary lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The strains can be selected in a mouse model. The invention also relates to a probiotic treatment method using this composition.

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting and counting the relative content of a microorganism, comprising: adding a redox indicator to a growth medium to produce an indicating growth medium; the range of color variation of the redox indicator comprising three or more colors that can be easily recognized by the naked eye; diluting a sample to be tested, configuring multiple degrees of dilution, configuring multiple parallels for each degree of dilution, and growing the diluted test sample using the indicating growing medium; reading the color or absorbance of the indicating growth medium while growing and/or when growing is completed; and producing the relative content of a microorganism in the test sample on the basis of the level of color variation or the value of absorbance variation of the indicating growth medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) monolayers or bone-marrow cell monolayers and methods for its culture and corresponding uses of said monolayers. The present invention also relates, in some aspects, to screening methods comprising the PBMC monolayer or bone-marrow cell monolayer of the invention for determination of response or lack of response of a disease to a therapeutic agent and/or drug screening methods. In some aspects, the invention further relates to methods for diagnosing a disease or predisposition to a disease in a PBMC donor or bone-marrow cell donor comprising the PBMCs/bone-marrow cells cultured according to the method of the invention and/or to methods for determining whether the disease is likely to respond or is responsive to treatment with a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Described are Neo-Islets comprising: a) dedifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells; or b) redifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells where the cells have been treated so as to facilitate redifferentiation. Further described herein are methods of generating Neo-Islets, the methods comprising: culturing a) dedifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells; or b) redifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells; on a surface that promotes the formation of cell clusters. Also described are methods of treating a subject, the methods comprising: providing to the subject Neo-Islets described herein. Additionally described are methods of treating a subject suffering from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and other types of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or impaired glucose tolerance by providing to the subject Neo-Islet as described herein.

Abstract: To reduce the effect of L-proline in the reaction of a sarcosine oxidase. A modified sarcosine oxidase having reduced reactivity to L-proline is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the clinical prognosis of a human subject to the administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising of stem cells (preferably mesenchymal stem cells), stromal cells, regulatory T-cells, fibroblasts and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A modular engineered tissue construct includes a plurality of fused self-assembled, scaffold-free, high-density cell aggregates. At least one cell aggregate includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles and/or microparticles that are incorporated within the cell aggregates. The nanoparticles and/or microparticles acting as a bulking agent within the cell aggregate to increase the cell aggregate size and/or thickness and improve the mechanical properties of the cell aggregate as well as to deliver bioactive agents.

Abstract: Provided is a microcapsule for increasing the survival and/or function of a cell, such as an islet cell, microcapsule can include an outer shell comprising a first polymer; an interior core comprising: at least one live cell; a second polymer; and at least one microsphere comprising a third polymer and a compound capable of improving survival of the at least one cell. The improved survival and/or function of the at least one live cell in the microcapsule is compared to a live cell in a microcapsule in the absence of the compound capable of improving survival of the at least one cell. The first and second polymer may include alginate and the third polymer (used for the microsphere) may comprise PLGA. The compound may include a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Also provided are methods for producing such microcapsules; insulin delivery systems using the microcapsules, and methods to treat disease, such as diabetes, using the microcapsules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of capsaicinoid compounds including Capsaicin and Nonivamide via microbial fermentation.

Abstract: A method of indicating the presence of a bacterial infection in a biological sample is provided. The method detects a marker for infection by providing a device, the device including a biosensor, an interaction arising between the biosensor and the marker when the marker is present in the biological sample. Contacting at least a part of the biological sample with the biosensor of the device, therefore, provides analysis of the biological sample with respect to the marker by detecting for the interaction between the biosensor and the marker. A preferred marker is the enzyme amylase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dissolvable, gel-forming film, and methods for its use, comprising a water-soluble cellulose ether, a hydrophilic rheological modifying agent, and an active proteolytic enzyme or other drug substance. The gel-forming film has a water content of less than 15% w/w and is capable of forming a hydrogel when contacted with water or other aqueous medium. The disclosed films achieve delivery of stable proteolytic enzymes to the desired site of action in a manner that provides uniform delivery of the enzymes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogel comprising a hydrophilic gelling agent that includes a nonionic cellulose ether, and active thermolysin, wherein the proteolytic activity of the thermolysin does not decrease by more than 20% when stored at room temperature for 6 months.

Abstract: A stable emulsion, comprising oil, water and a stabilizer, wherein said stabilizer is selected from a single-cell microorganism.

Abstract: Selection of probiotic strains belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and to a symbiotic composition containing the same for use of feeding infants, is described.

Abstract: A method for assaying activity of the enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) uses SSAT substrates by detecting their acetylated forms. SSAT substrates may include rimantadine and tocainide wherein their metabolism occurs in part by the action of the inducible enzyme SSAT to produce the acetylated metabolites N-acetylrimantadine and N-acetyltocainide respectively. SSAT activity may be correlated to pathologic conditions.

Abstract: A repaired ex vivo organ suitable for transplantation in a human, said repaired ex vivo organ having undergone ex vivo organ perfusion for a maintenance period, wherein said organ had been assessed as being unsuitable for transplantation into a human before the maintenance period and was determined to be suitable for transplantation after the maintenance period.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for recruiting brown adipocytes in vitro and in vivo from brown adipocyte progenitor cells found in human skeletal muscle. Methods for treating metabolic disease are also provided. Additionally, methods for treating hypothermia are provided. In some embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a human protein or peptide. In other embodiments the brown adipocyte recruiter may be a non-human protein or peptide. In still other embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a small molecule or natural product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, and a method of treating or preventing a retinal disease by using the produced cell. The retinal pigment epithelial cell is prepared by (a) inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into a pigment cell by adhesion cultivation of a human pluripotent stem cell in a medium containing a Nodal signal inhibitor and a Wnt signal inhibitor in the absence of a feeder cell to give a culture containing the pigment cell, (b) subjecting the obtained culture to further adhesion culture to give a culture containing a pigment cell colony, and (c) isolating the pigment cell from the obtained culture and culturing the cell to give a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recellularizing an organ or tissue matrix.