Abstract: This invention provides a method for rapidly culturing a large amount of human chondrocytes to give normal chondrocytes or a mass thereof. The culture method comprises co-culturing human chondrocytes together with perichondral cells in the chondrogenic stage, as feeder cells, which support the proliferation ability of the chondrocytes, to allow rapid culturing of the human chondrocytes in a large amount.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for differentiating stromal cells from adipose tissue into cells having osteoblastic properties, and methods for improving a subject's bone structure. The methods comprise culturing stromal cells from adipose tissue in ?-glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid and/or ascorbate-2-phosphate for a time sufficient to allow differentiation of said cells into osteoblasts. Such methods and compositions are useful in the production of osteoblasts for autologous transplantation into bone at a surgical site or injury. The compositions comprise adipose stromal cells, a medium capable of supporting the growth of fibroblasts and amounts of ?-(glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid and/or ascorbic-2 phosphate sufficient to induce the differentiation of said stromal cells into osteoblasts. The invention further provides methods of identifying compounds that affect osteoblast differentiation.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of eukaryotic cells with migratory capacity. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of CaR receptor expressing cells of hematopoietic, neural, epithelial, endothelial, or mesenchymal origin, in a specific site in a subject. The foregoing are useful, inter alia, in the treatment of conditions characterized by a need to modulate migratory-cell movement associated with specific sites in a subject. Specific sites include sites of inflammation and modulation of migratory-cell movement is movement away from an agent source, or repulsion. The invention also relates to methods for manipulating hematopoeitic progenitor cells and related products.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).

Abstract: A method for converting alkenes into epoxides and, particularly, to convert alkenes into enantio-specific epoxides by the use of enzymes which may be in their naturally-occuring (native) form or in mutated form, such as a native or mutated non-haem diiron-containing monooxygenase, and novel compounds produced thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides a formulation for inhibiting metastasis which includes 150–600 units of IL-2, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and cyclophosphamide. The present invention further provides a formulation for inhibiting metastasis that includes IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, ?-IFN and TNF-?.

Abstract: A method for inducing differentiation of monocytes contained in an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood into functional dendritic antigen presenting cells is provided. The monocytes are induced to differentiate into dendritic cells by activation forces resulting from flow of the monocytes through a treatment apparatus having plastic channels. The interior surface of the plastic channel may be modified to increase the available surface area for interaction with blood monocytes. Platelets and serum protein may be removed from the blood prior to treatment to reduce or eliminate contamination of the plastic channel by these blood components. Functional dendritic cells generated from induced monocytes are incubated together with apoptotic or inactivated disease effector agents to enhance the presentation of at least one disease-causing antigen expressed by the disease effector agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to immortalized STAT1-deficient mammalian cell lines. STAT1 is a signal transducer and activator of transcription that becomes phosphorylated when cells are treated with type I or type II interferons and leads to induction of specific gene expression, resulting in establishment of the antiviral state and the other known biological responses to interferons, including the inhibition of cell proliferation. Cells which lack this gene product are useful for producing high titers of viral stocks, for producing recombinant viral vectors, for testing samples, especially clinical samples for the presence of virus and for screening candidate compounds or drugs for anti-viral activity.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for preparing a biologically active ginkgo biloba extract that is not subject to environmental restrictions and is efficient. The method involves extracting purified ginkgo biloba from ginkgo biloba leaf through a series of steps using alcohol as a solvent, including filtration, vacuum distillation, adsorption with silica gel, centrifugation, and chromatography. The invention also provides for a method of making dietary supplements from the ginkgo biloba product and of administering these supplements.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates made of dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: A process is provided for the fermentation production of hyphal bodies which form conidia of species of the fungal order Entomophthorales, especially Entomophaga aulicae. The process uses an improved growth medium. The improved mediuem includes, in addition to a basal medium, filter-sterilized tryptic soy broth and calcium caseinate. Such medium allows the use of a protoplast and/or a walled stage inoculum in a batch fermentation process.

Abstract: The galacturonic acid derivatives of formula: ##STR1## R1 being a linear or branched alkyl having 2 to 22 carbon atoms, R being: ##STR2## for which the carbon carrying the hydroxyl group is attached to the endocyclic oxygen atom.R2 being hydrogen, R1, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline-earth metal atom or a quaternary ammonium group of formula: ##STR3## in which R3 to R6 is each independently of the other hydrogen, an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, are surface-active agents.

Abstract: According to the invention a method is provided for liquefying starch comprising the steps of adding a sodium composition to the starch prior to or simultaneously with liquefying the starch; adding .alpha.-amylase to the treated starch; and reacting the treated starch for a time and at a temperature effective to liquefy the treated starch. Preferred sodium compositions comprise sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium benzoate, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfite, sodium ascorbate, sodium acetate, sodium nitrate, sodium tartrate, sodium tetraborate, sodium propionate, sodium citrate, sodium succinate, monosodium glutamate, trisodium citrate, sodium phosphate or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fed batch production process for a composition of sophorosides, in which culturing takes place of at least one Candida bombicola or Candida apicola strain and the cultured strain is exposed in a reaction zone to an excess sugar supply and a continuous supply of at least one appropriate substrate at a supply rate to the reaction zone between 0.01 and 4 grams per hour and per liter of initial reaction volume and for a supply time such that the residual concentration of the substrate in the reaction zone is maintained at a value at the most equal to 18 grams per liter of initial reaction volume for the supply time and the composition of sophorosides produced is recovered.

Abstract: Isolated cultures of Pestalotiopsis funerea IFO 5427 and Pestalotiopsis neglecta FERM BP-3501 are provided. The cultures produce a glucoamylase which digests starch.

Abstract: A method for maintaining hepatocytes in culture includes providing the hepatocytes with a support, the support including extracellular matrix, the support having a configuration that permits each of at least a portion of the hepatocytes to form at least one apical surface and at least two discrete basal surfaces.

Abstract: A nutritional medium for enabling the growth, maintenance and transport of cells in a container of virtually any size or shape, including a substantially flat, multi-well plastic plate. The nutritional medium is capable of assuming a substantially liquid state above a first temperature and a substantially solid state below a second temperature. Both the first and second temperatures are generally compatible with the survival of the cells in the container. The cells are covered with the medium while the medium is in a substantially liquid state, and the temperature of the medium is then reduced to a temperature at which the medium assumes a substantially solid state. The medium is maintained in a substantially solid state while the cells are transported. Upon arrival at the end user, the temperature of the medium is increased to a temperature at which the medium assumes a substantially liquid state. Following a change to fresh maintenance medium, the cells in the container are ready for immediate use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for in vitro culture of cells infected by a virus associated with multiple sclerosis and to the infected cell lines thus produced. The process is the cultivation of human cells infected by a viral strain to obtain at least one culture of primary cells infected by the said viral strain, along with the cultivation of non-infected human cells permissive to the viral strain to obtain at least one permissive culture, followed by cocultivation of at least one sample of a culture of infected primary cells and one sample of the permissive culture to obtain a first infected derived culture, then cultivating in series of the first infected derived culture. The invention is used in particular in the pharmaceutical diagnostics industry sector. In the preferred process, the infected cells are leptomeningeal cells and the permissive cells are leptomeningeal cells or plexuschoroideus cells.

Abstract: A polysaccharide RON substance which has antitumor activity can be produced by fermenting sucrose with a synthetase. The synthetase can be isolated from Leuconostoc strains. Preferred strains of the microorganism are Leuconostoc mesenteroides FERM BP-2242, 2711, 2712, 2713, 2714, and 2670. The substance exhibits antitumor activity against syngenic tumor Meth A, a transplantable tumor in mice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new strain of Sporothrix flocculosa Arcc 74320 resistant to the fungicide dodemorph-acetate and its use as a biofungicide in integrated pest management with the fungicide.