Abstract: Disclosed herein are ?-sheet peptides and their use for treating a bacterial infection and/or limiting bacterial biofilm formation.

Abstract: A surgical sealant comprising a first agent containing a hydrophobically-modified gelatin derived from a cold-water fish, and a second agent containing a water-soluble molecule for crosslinking, wherein the water-soluble molecule for crosslinking is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of poly acids and acid anhydrides having two or more active ester groups, and aldehyde compounds having two or more aldehyde groups, the hydrophobically-modified gelatin derived from a cold-water fish is a gelatin in which at least a part of amino groups of side chains of a gelatin derived from a cold-water fish has been substituted by hydrophobic groups, and the hydrophobic groups are linear chain aliphatic groups each having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, with a substitution rate (number of moles of hydrophobic groups/(total number of moles of hydrophobic groups and reactive amino groups in gelatin)×100) of 3 to 20 mol %.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogel-forming material from which a hydrogel can be formed with a simpler method and under milder conditions. A hydrogel-forming material comprising a lipid peptide-type gelator that is formed of at least one selected from compound of the following formula (1): where R1 is a C9-23 aliphatic group; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group which optionally has a C1-2 branched chain; R3 is a —(CH2)n—X group; n is a number from 1 to 4; and X is an amino group, a guanidino group, a —CONH2 group, or a 5-membered ring group or a 6-membered ring group, or a condensed ring group that contains a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring, optionally containing 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, and the similar compounds or pharmaceutically usable salts thereof; water; and an additive including either an organic acid or an organic acid salt.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel alkynyl and azide containing amino acids; kits containing these amino acids; peptides containing these amino acids; peptide macrocycles whose secondary structures are stabilized with linkers containing triazoles synthesized by reacting the side chains of the alkynyl and azide containing amino acids; and methods of making and using the alkynyl and azide containing amino acids, kits, peptides, triazole containing linkers, and peptide macrocycles.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including into and across ocular tissues and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length (for example, SEQ ID NO:86).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cosmetic or dermatological composition containing an acidic aqueous medium and at least one crosslinked poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) polymer neutralized to at least 90%. The composition contains, distributed randomly: (a) from 90 to 99.9% by weight of units of formula (1); and in which X+ denotes a cation or a mixture of cations, it being possible for at most 10 mol % of the cations X+ to be protons H+; (b) from 0.01 to 10% by weight of crosslinking units originating from at least one monomer having at least two olefinic double bonds; the proportions by weight being defined with respect to the total weight of the polymer. The invention also relates to the use of this composition in the cosmetic treatment of keratinous substances, in particular of the skin, hair and mucous membranes, and in particular to a non-therapeutic process for depigmentation of the skin.

Abstract: Low-toxicity, highly-bioavailable, pharmaceutical antioxidant compositions for preferred oral administration to mammals are provided which have at least one amino acid-based compound of the general formula (I): A—N(Z)—CH(R1)C(O)—Q  (I) wherein A is represented by the formula: XO—[C(R2)2]n— wherein n is an integer of from 1 to about 3, X is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an acyl group and a halogenated acyl group and each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and CH2OX; Z is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and A; R1 is an amino acid side chain group or an amino acid side chain group which forms with R2 a single heterocyclic structure having a total of from 5 to 7 atoms in the ring; and wherein Q is a substituent s

Abstract: A use for rho GTPase function inhibitors is provided. In the instant invention, rho GTPase function inhibitors are found to upregulate endothelial cell Nitric Oxide Synthase activity. As a result, rho GTPase function inhibitors are useful in treating or preventing conditions that result from the abnormally low expression and/or activity of endothelial cell Nitric Oxide Synthase. Such conditions include pulmonary hypertension, ischemic stroke, impotence, heart failure, hypoxia-induced conditions, insulin deficiency, progressive renal disease, gastric or esophageal motility syndrome, etc. Subjects thought to benefit mostly from such treatments include nonhyperlipidemics and nonhypercholesterolemics, but do not necessarily exclude hyperlipidemics and hypercholesterolemics.

Abstract: Angiotensin II fragments and analogs thereof are useful in accelerating wound healing. These compounds form the basis of compositions useful for accelerating wound healing, in which the active agent is present in an amount effective to accelerate wound healing. Preferably, the compositions are in the form of matrical or micellar solutions.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and peptide analogues that mimic the structural and pharmacological properties of human ApoA-I. The peptides and peptide analogues are useful to treat a variety of disorders associated with dyslipidemia.

Abstract: This invention describes analogs of human parathyroid hormone which have increased activities in bone restoration, and increased bioavailabilities. The peptides described are derivatives of hPTH-(1-31) which have lactams formed for example, between either Glu.sup.22 and Lys.sup.26 or Lys.sup.26 and Asp.sup.30. In addition, the natural Lys.sup.27 may be substituted by either a Leu or other hydrophobic residues, such as Ile, norleucine, Met, Val, Ala, Trp, or Phe. Typically, these analogs have enhanced abilities to stimulate adenylyl cyclase in rat osteosarcoma cells, and show increased activities in bone restoration, using the ovariectomized rat model. The analogs also show enhanced activities and bioavailabilities, as demonstrated by their hypotensive effects in the rat.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a peptide composition which includes a peptide having units of the formula:(a) (A).sub.n wherein A is Lysine or Arginine and n is an integer with a minimum value of 7.(b) (AB).sub.m wherein A is Lysine or Arginine and B is a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine and Tryptophan; m is an integer with a minimum value of 3; and(c) (ABC).sub.p wherein A is a cationic amino acid which Is Lysine or Arginine; B and C are hydrophobic amino acids which may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine and Tryptophan; p is an integer with a minimum value of 2. The compositions of the invention bind Lipid-A of endotoxins.

Abstract: The invention relates to substantially pure interleukin 9 receptor molecules and the use thereof. The uses include use as an interleukin-9 inhibitor, as a diagnostic agent for determining interleukin-9, and as a screening agent for pharmaceuticals. The interleukin-9 receptor is characterized as a glycoprotein of about 94 kilodaltons which, upon digestion with N-glycosidase F, yields a peptide of about 54 kilodaltons.

Abstract: Quartz is purified by removing mineral impurities, particularly alkali metal impurities, from within the quartz crystal lattice structure. According to the disclosed process, quartz crystals are subjected to a pretreatment that removes surface bound impurities and then contacted with gaseous HCl at a temperature of from 800.degree. C. to 1600.degree. C. for a period of time of from a few minutes to several hours, thereby diffusing the mineral impurities to the quartz crystal surface where they form salts with chloride ion, removing the salts, and recovering the purified quartz crystals.

Abstract: For removing hydrogen phosphide from waste air, the hydrogen phosphide-containing waste air is passed at temperatures from 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. over a catalyst which is composed, at least on its surface, of at least one metal which, in a 1-molar acidic aqueous solution, has a potential which is at least 200 mV more positive than that of the standard hydrogen electrode.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for ultra-drying of a gas or gas mixture by bringing this into contact with a silicate containing material.In order to obtain a residual water level of 5 ppb or less, the invention is characterized in that the gas or gas mixture is brought into contact with a silcate containing material, preferably a zeolite or silicagel, that has been modified with silane, borane, and/or the alkyl and/or halogen substituted compounds thereof.The invention is further concerned with the separation of tritium oxide from gas mixtures preferably with water.

Abstract: A process for decomposing ammonium thiocyanate and equivalent compounds comprising mixing the compounds with molten ammonium sulfate at atmospheric pressure and about 310.degree. C. The compounds decompose giving off carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia and sulfur and leave a residue of ammonia salts but no organic materials.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of fragment of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a method of using said analogues alone or in combination with a bisphosphonate or calcitonin to treat osteoporosis and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said analogues alone or in combination with a bisphosphonate or calcitonin.