Abstract: The invention relates to a self-adhesive transdermal device for the administration of testosterone and/or at least one of the derivatives thereof, comprising successively at least one support layer, a self-adhesive matrix layer and a detachable protective layer, whereby the matrix layer comprises at least one self-adhesive polymer, at least one formulating adjuvant for the matrix layer, at least one solvent chosen from the group made up of solvents of testosterone or the derivatives thereof and testosterone and/or at least one of the derivatives thereof in an oversaturated solution. The device has excellent testosterone permeation qualities and excellent cutaneous tolerance and adhesion qualities. The invention also relates to a method for the production of said device and the use thereof for a medicament, i.e. within the framework of a testosterone replacement therapy.

Abstract: A method of generating neural crest stem cells involves inducing neuroepithelial stem cells to differentiate in vitro into neural crest stem cells. Differentiation can be induced by replating the cells on laminin, withdrawing mitogens, or adding dorsalizing agents to the growth medium. Derivatives of the peripheral nervous system can be generated by inducing the neural crest stem cells to differentiate in vitro.

Abstract: A method of identifying a compound useful in the treatment of a disease characterized by the presence of mutant huntingtin by: (a) providing a cell which expresses mutant huntingtin; (b) contacting the cell with a test compound; and (c) determining whether the level of clathrin-mediated endocytosis is increased in the presence of the test compound, compared to the level in the absence of the test compound. An increase in clathrin-mediated endocytosis is an indication that the test compound is useful in treating the disease.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aggregating amyloid A&bgr; peptides which are covalently bonded (for example, at a cysteine amino acid residue) to a fluorescent label, and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel truncated forms of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which specifically antagonizes the activity of HGF and to a novel truncated form of HGF that is a partial HGF agonist. In particular, the present invention relates to the purification, molecular cloning, recombinant expression of the truncated HGF variants and related pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention further relates to the utilization of the small HGF variants to either inhibit HGF mitogenesis or stimulate HGF mitogenesis in cells expressing the receptor for HGF.

Abstract: The expression of various cell adhesion molecules and growth factor receptor was examined on human progenitor cells (i.e., CD34+/CD38+). Certain changes in the expression if one or more of these molecules and receptors correlates with the progression of cell from non-lineage committed to commitment to a specific lineage. Using one or more markers for these molecules and/or receptors in combination with markers for CD34 and CD38 will enable one to identify and isolate each of the different progenitor cell populations.

Abstract: Inadequate growth due to deficiencies in growth hormone (GR), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), or genetic diseases can be ameliorated utilizing recombinant protein therapy with a novel GHRH analog having a sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). Also included is (1) a method of treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with the growth hormone pathway; (2) a method for treating growth hormone-related deficiencies associated with genetic disease; (3) a method to improve growth performance in an animal; (4) a method of treating an animal having a growth deficiency disease; (5) a method of increasing the efficiency of an animal used for food; and, (6) a method to enhance growth in an animal.

Abstract: New compounds of the general formula (I): Nu-O-Fa, wherein O represents an oxygen, Nu is a nucleoside or nucleoside analogue, and Fa is an acyl group of a mono-unsaturated C18 or 20 fatty acid. The invention also concerns anti viral pharmaceutical and veterinary compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) alone in a combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Fusion proteins having a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) polypeptide and at least one additional polypeptide covalently fused thereto and selected from an interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) and a second TNF-R polypeptide. The receptor polypeptides are preferably fused together by a peptidyl linker. Suitable fusions include, for example, TNF-R-linker-TNF-R; TNF-R-linker-IL-1R; and TNF-R-linker-TNF-R-linker-L-1R molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric receptors. The chimeric receptors comprise at least one region homologous to a region of a metabotropic glutamate receptor and at least one region homologous to a region of a calcium receptor. The invention also includes methods of preparing such chimeric receptors, and methods of using such receptors to identify and characterize compounds which modulate the activity of metabotropic glutamate receptors or calcium receptors. The invention also relates to compounds and methods for modulating metabotropic glutamate receptor activity and binding to metabotropic glutamate receptors. Modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor activity can be used for different purposes such as treating neurological disorders and diseases, inducing an analgesic effect, cognition enhancement, and inducing a muscle-relaxant effect.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules encoding human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha and beta subunits, mammalian and amphibian cells containing the nucleic acid molecules, and methods for producing alpha and beta subunits are provided. In particular, nucleic acid molecules encoding &agr;6 subunits and molecules encoding &bgr;3 subunits of human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are provided. In addition, combinations of a plurality of subunits, such as one or more of &agr;1, &agr;2, &agr;3, &agr;4, &agr;5, &agr;6 and/or &agr;7 subunits in combination with one or more of &bgr;3 subunits or such as one or more of &bgr;2, &bgr;3 and/or &bgr;4 subunits in combination with an &agr;6 subunit are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for predicting the likely timing of the onset of menopause for a perimenopausal female subject by determining the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in a sample from the subject comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a sample from the subject with an antibody which specifically binds to hLH&bgr;cf without substantially cross-reacting with hLH, hLH&bgr; or hLH&bgr;cf, under conditions permitting formation of a complex between the antibody and hLH&bgr;cf; (b) measuring the amount of complex formed, so as to thereby determine the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the sample; and (c) comprising the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the subject's sample determined in step (b) with either (i) the amount determined for known postmenopausal female subject or (ii) the amount determined for a sample from a known premenopausal female subject, wherein an amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the sample similar to the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the known postmenopausal sample indicates temporal proximity to the onset of menopa

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided nucleic acids encoding human NMDA receptor protein subunits and the proteins encoded thereby. The NMDA receptor subunits of the invention comprise components of NMDA receptors that have cation-selective channels and bind glutamate and NMDA. In one aspect of the invention, the nucleic acids encode NMDAR1 and NMDAR2 subunits of human NMDA receptors. In a preferred embodiment, the invention nucleic acids encode NMDAR1, NMDAR2A, NMDAR2B, NMDAR2C and NMDAR2D subunits of human NMDA receptors. In addition to being useful for the production of NMDA receptor subunit proteins, these nucleic acids are also useful as probes, thus enabling those skilled in the art, without undue experimentation, to identify and isolate related human receptor subunits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to methods and composition for monitoring the processing of epitope-tagged beta-APP. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of such methods and composition for monitoring responses of cells expressing such epitope-tagged beta-APP or fragments thereof or cell free systems containing the epitope-tagged polypeptides to therapy of diseases associated with an altered metabolism of the beta amyloid precursor protein (APP), and for screening and evaluation of potential drugs for the treatment of these disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Abstract: Complexes of a protein selected from the group consisting of VEGF-B167, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and processed VEGF-B186 and analogs thereof and the neuropilin-1 (NP-1) receptor, the extracellular domain or a ligand-binding fragment or analogue thereof; the use of such complexes in assays for growth factor proteins having substantially the same binding affinity for a cell surface receptor as VEGF-B167, VEGF-C, VEGF-D or processed VEGF-B186 and/or in promoting or antagonizing a cellular response mediated by VEGF-B167, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and/or processed VEGF-B186; and specific binding partners, e.g. antibodies, for such complexes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a cytokine inexpensively in large amounts by expressing the cytokine in a hen's egg using Sendai virus vector. The cytokine obtained by the present process is expected to be useful as medication because it has sugar chains very similar to those of mammals.

Abstract: This invention relates to the PrtR-PrtK cell surface protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis in particular a multimeric cell associated protein complex comprising the PrtR and PrtK proteins. There is provided a substantially purified antigenic complex for use in raising an antibody response directed against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The complex comprises at least one multimeric protein complex of arginine-specific and lysine-specific thiol endopeptidases each containing at least one adhesin domain. The complex has a molecular weight of greater than about 200 kDa. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and associated agents based on said complex for the detection, prevention and treatment of Periodontal disease associated with P. gingivalis.

Abstract: A chimeric G&agr; protein having yeast G&agr; (Gpa1p) amino acid sequences modified by a minimum of 3 amino acids positions within the C-terminal 10 amino acids by substitution by alternative amino acids, a transformed yeast cell comprising said chimeric G&agr; protein and a method of screening for a compound able to interact with a receptor comprising contacting a compound of interest with said yeast cell and observing the growth response of the cell or observing production of a reporter gene product.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a purinergic receptor and, particular, to a P2X7 (also designated P2Z) receptor. The invention further relates to a nucleic acid encoding the P2X7 receptor and to a method of producing P2X7 combinantly using same. The invention also relates to a method of screening compounds for their ability to inhibit P2X7 activity and thereby for their usefulness in treating a variety of diseases/disorders, including arthritic and respiratory disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: IGF-I and insulin variants are provided that selectively bind to IGFBP-1 or IGFBP-3. These agonist variants are useful, for example, to improve the half-lives of IGF-I and insulin, respectively.