Abstract: Systems, including compositions and methods, for measuring pH, particularly in cells, organelles, and other samples. The compositions include pH-sensitive fluorescent and fluorogenic 2?,7?-dialkylfluorescein derivatives and associated nonfluorescent precursor compounds. The compositions may permit ratiometric measurement in the excitation spectrum and the emission spectrum. The methods include adding a precursor compound to a sample cell, incubating the sample cell to release the free indicator, illuminating the sample cell, and detecting the fluorescence response of the free indicator.

Abstract: A method for the identification and/or quantification of GBP-1 or fragments of this protein in the culture supernatant of a tissue sample, a body fluid sample or a sample from a cell culture supernatant is described.

Abstract: It is demanded that pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic treatment of diseases such as cancer, acromegaly and diabetic complications, of which IGF is involved in the progress of the conditions. The present invention provides a recombinant antibody or an antibody fragment thereof which specifically binds to human insulin-like growth factor-I (hereinafter referred to as hIGF-I) and human insulin-like growth factor-II (hereinafter referred to as hIGF-II) to inhibit the biological activities of human IGF-I and human IGF-II, a transformant producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, a process for producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, and a medicament comprising the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof as the active ingredient therein.

Abstract: CC-Chemokine mutants having reduced Glycosaminoglycans (GAG)-binding properties are effective against liver fibrotic inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases. Particularly preferred are the mutants of CCL5/RANTES having reduced GAG-binding properties.

Abstract: A novel equine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (ePSGL-1) is disclosed having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. DNA sequences encoding the ePSGL-1 are also disclosed, along with vectors, host cells, and methods of making the ePSGL-1. The invention further provides methods for preventing or reducing acute inflammatory response in an equine subject by administering ePSGL-1 and fragments thereof (e.g., an ePSGL-1-Ig fusion protein). The invention also provides methods for identifying compounds capable of reducing or preventing damage to tissue or organs caused by acute inflammatory response in an equine subject.

Abstract: Biologically active polypeptides comprising a therapeutically active polypeptide fused to human serum albumin or a variant thereof, methods for the preparation thereof, nucleotide sequences encoding such fusion polypeptides, expression cassettes comprising such nucleotide sequences, self-replicating plasmids containing such expression cassettes, and pharmaceutical compositions containing said fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for diagnosing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia or a propensity to develop pre-eclampsia or eclampsia by detecting the levels of placental growth factor in a subject.

Abstract: A method for treating an IL-10 deficiency in a human subject is described, where a person having an IL-10 deficiency is identified and treated with interferon-tau (IFN?) at a dose sufficient to increase the IL-10 level.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a tissue-specific transporter inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract and can prevent deterioration in the QOL of a patient caused by diet therapy, and a therapeutic drug for tissue dysfunction diseases and a therapeutic drug for suppressing the progress of chronic renal failure containing the inhibitor as an active ingredient. A tissue-specific transporter inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract is constructed by introducing a dipeptide which is a ligand of an oligopeptide transporter 1 into a supramolecular structure polyrotaxane wherein its structurally modified active residue is expected to be excellent in the interaction with a transmembrane transporter.

Abstract: A treatment method for restoring of age related tissue loss in the face or selected areas of the body is disclosed which includes injecting an injectable composition containing a growth factor and hyaluronic acid as a carrier into the dermis, the hypodermis, or both, in various areas of the face, or selected areas of the body of a person to stimulate collagen, elastin, or fat cell production, thereby restoring age related tissue loss in the face and selected areas of the body. Further disclosed is an injectable composition for restoring of age related tissue loss in the face and selected areas of the body, which contains a growth factor and hyaluronic acid as a carrier for providing time release of the growth factor into tissues. The growth factor can be insulin, insulin-like growth factor, thyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor, estrogen, retinoic acid, or their combinations.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention concerns proteins with IL-6 inhibiting activity and thier use, and the use of proteins containing at least the amino acid seqeunce SEQ ID NO. 4 as medicianl product, in paritcular as anti-cancerous agent.

Abstract: The invention includes biologically active polypeptides comprising a therapeutically active polypeptide fused to human serum albumin or a variant of human serum albumin, methods for the preparation of such fusion polypeptides, nucleotide sequences encoding such fusion polypeptides, expression cassettes comprising such nucleotide sequences, self-replicating plasmids containing such expression cassettes, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for diagnosing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating pre-eclampsia and eclampsia using compounds that increase VEGF or PlGF levels or compounds that decrease sFlt-1 levels. Compounds that inhibit the binding of VEGF or PlGF to sFlt1—are also disclosed herein for the treatment of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods of making soluble proteins having free cysteines in which a host cell is exposed to a cysteine blocking agent. The soluble proteins produced by the methods can then be modified to increase their effectiveness. Such modifications include attaching a PEG moiety to form pegylated proteins.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising at least one IGF1 variant component and a fusion component (F), and, optionally, a signal sequence, exhibiting improved stability relative to the native IGF1 or IGF2 polypeptide. The fusion component (F) may be a multimerizing component, a targeting ligand, or another active or therapeutic compound. IGF1 variants were shown to have improved ability to induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy relative to native IGF1.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel potassium channels and genes encoding these channels. More specifically the invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding the KCNQ4 potassium channel, cells transformed with these polynucleotides, transgenic animals comprising genetic mutations, and the use of the transformed cells and the transgenic animals for the in vitro and in vivo screening of drugs affecting KCNQ4 containing potassium channels.

Abstract: Antibodies which bind to IGF-IR and inhibit the binding of IGF-I and IGF-II to IGF-IR are characterized. These antibodies are implicated in anti-tumor therapy.

Abstract: Provided is a sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone which combines biodegradability with sustained-release performance while avoiding the use of an organic solvent as much as possible, allows the sustained-release of a human growth hormone over 3 days or more and reduction in the initial burst release, can contain a human growth hormone at 10% or more, can quantitatively adsorb and encapsulate a human growth hormone at up to 20%, and has excellent dispersion and needle penetration properties. A process for producing the sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone is also provided. The sustained-release microparticle preparation comprises a porous apatite derivative, a human growth hormone, and a water-soluble divalent metal compound.

Abstract: The present provides compounds capable of modulating IL-4 receptor-mediated IgE production, as well as IL 4 induced processes associated therewith, methods and kits for identifying such compounds that utilize a chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) as a surrogate analyte and methods of using the compounds in a variety of in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo contexts.

Abstract: A method for identifying a selective persistent Na+ channel blocker by measuring the ability of the blocker to reduce or inhibit a persistent Na+ current to a greater degree than a transient Na+ current. Aspects of the present method provide Na+ depletion/repletion methods for identifying a selective blocker of a persistent Na+ channel, hyperpolarization methods for identifying a blocker of a persistent Na+ channel, and Na/K ATPase pump inhibitor methods for identifying a selective blocker of a persistent Na+ channel.