Abstract: A method is described for the therapeutic use of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to treat epilepsy.

Abstract: A stable albumin-free Recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) formulation in lyophilized form having both crystalline and amorphous components and comprising, when reconstituted with water, about 65 to 400 mM glycine, up to 50 mM histidine, 15 to 60 mM sucrose, up to 50 mM NaCl, up to 5 mM CaCl.sub.2 and 50 to 1500 IU/ml of rFVIII. A very preferred formulation comprises upon reconstitution with water about 290 mM glycine, 20 mM histidine, 30 mM sucrose, 30 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM CaCl.sub.2 and 50 to 1500 IU/ml of rFVIII. The residual water content of the lyophilized preparation is about 1 to 3% by weight, preferably about 1% by weight.

Abstract: Intravenous administration and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of neurotrophic factors for treating neuronal damage in the central nervous system of individuals in need of such treatment are disclosed. The neuronal damage associated with ischemia, hypoxia, or neurodegeneration may result from stroke or cardiac arrest. This invention provides for the intravenous administration of neurotrophic factors such as bFGF, aFGF, NGF, CNTF, BDNF, NT3, NT4, IGF-I and IGF-II.

Abstract: A process for the long term modification and regulation of lipid metaboli-generally to reduce obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia (the three hallmarks of Type II diabetes)--by injections into the bloodstream of a vertebrate, animal or human, of prolactin, or both prolactin and a glucocorticosteroid. The injections are made over a limited period at a time of day dependent on the normal circadian rhythm of fat and lean members of a similar species. Decreases (or increases) in body fat deposits result by treatment of an obese species (lean species) on a daily timed sequence based on circadian rhythms of the peak prolactin, or peak prolactin and peak glucocorticosteroid, blood level established for lean members (or obese members) of a similar species. Insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia can also be controlled in humans on a long term basis by treatment corresponding to that of the treatment for obesity.

Abstract: Treatment with IGF/IGFBP-3 complex increases renal tubular mass and potentiates and/or stimulates kidney function in subjects suffering from acute and chronic renal failure or insufficiency resulting from such disorders as glomerulonephritis, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial nephritis, acute tubular necrosis due to ischemia and drug-induced toxicity, diabetic and autoimmune nephropathies and renal dysfunction due to acute and chronic rejection episodes in post-transplantation patients.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing secretory protein production. In another aspect, the present invention provides compositions for use in methods of treating and diagnosing protein trafficking disorders. These methods generally involve the alteration of calnexin activity to increase protein secretion or retention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oral and edible compositions intended to provide an anticaries benefit. The primary active ingredient in these compositions is a protein selected from the group consisting of cystatin S, cystatin SA, cystatin SN and mixtures thereof which are salivary proteins. Also included are fragments of the proteins which may be used in place of the total proteins.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting ovarian steroidogenesis in women comprising administering to women an ovarian steroidogenesis inhibitorilly effective amound of D Ser (tbu).sup.6 des Gly NH.sub.2 .sup.10 LH-RH ethylamide.

Abstract: Colon epithelial cells are stimulated to multiply, grow and mature by contacting them in vivo with peptides derived from the EGF-like domain of proteins of the NDF/heregulin family.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for treating injury or degeneration of retinal ganglion cells by administering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The invention relates specifically to methods for treating optic nerve injury or degeneration associated with glaucoma.

Abstract: A process for treating a gynecological malignancy in a host which comprises administering to the host at least one biologically active amphiphilic peptide or protein. The peptide or protein may be administered intralesionally, intravenously, or intraperitoneally, whereby the peptide or protein may inhibit, prevent, or destroy the growth of the gynecological malignancy, such as an ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, or cervical cancer.

Abstract: Described are new glycoprotein hormones capable of competing with natural hormones for the normal receptor binding sites but substantially incapable of effecting post receptor activities. The glycoprotein hormones of the present invention have had specific (rather than all) oligosaccharide chains removed so as to effectively diminish biologic activity while not significantly reducing plasma half-life, thus improving the molecules effectiveness as an antagonist compared with conventionally-produced molecules. The preferred glycoprotein hormones are ideally obtained by site-directed mutagenesis to selectively deglycosylate the protein. Also described are therapeutic treatments comprising the administration of the recombinant glycoprotein hormones of the present invention as hormone antagonists.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the proliferation rate of hepatocytes in a subject by administering to the subject the free tripeptide of the composition SDK (serine-aspartic acid-lysine) or the salt thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the mineralization of collagen fibers whereby collagen fibers formed from collagen are contacted with a solution of calcium and phosphate ions under conditions to effect nucleation and in-vitro growth of mineral crystals within and on the surface of the collagen fibers to form intact collagen fibers with subfibrillar substructure and wherein preparations of such mineralized collagen fibers are used in bone replacement therapy as well as to induce repair in bony defects.

Abstract: The invention features a method of preventing or treating a peripheral neuropathy that results from a systemic disease (e.g., post-polio syndrome) or a toxic agent (e.g., a chemotherapeutic agent), and that is not caused by an abnormal insulin level in a mammal. The method involves administering a neuropathy-reducing amount of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth factor-III (IGF-III) to the mammal.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound comprising:(1) a polypeptide moiety havinga) an identifying number of amino acids for SPAAT,b) an elastase binding activity; and(2) an extracellular matrix protein bound to the polypeptide moiety.Also provided is a method of inhibiting an elastase comprising contacting the elastase with a polypeptide moiety having:(1) an identifying number of amino acids for SPAAT;(2) a collagen binding activity; and(3) elastase binding activity.

Abstract: The protein materials of the invention are essentially those obtained through reaction of a concentrated aqueous solution of type I and/or type III collagens and elastin or elastin peptides having a molecular weight above about 10,000, which can be dissolved in water. Preferred ratios of collagen reactants to elastin reactants in the process of the invention are in the range 1:10. The materials of the invention are obtained through solubilization of elastin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable hemoglobin based composition having sufficiently low levels of methemoglobin to effectively function as an oxygen carrying solution upon administration to a patient made by the process comprising: a) adding an oxygenated or deoxygenated form of said blood substitute to an oxygen impermeable package, and b) storing said container at from between 5.degree. C. to 45.degree. C. for sufficient time to permit the autoreduction of methemoglobin. The stable hemoglobin based composition includes hemoglobin, modified hemoglobin and/or encapsulated hemoglobin. To effectively function as an oxygen carrying solution upon administration to a patient, the stable hemoglobin based solution cannot have greater than about 50% of said hemoglobin based solution in the methemoglobin form but, preferably no more than about 15%. The invention further relates to a method to store a stable oxygen carrying solution according to the above discussed process.

Abstract: A method of treating pneumothoraxes in warm-blooded animals comprising administering to warm-blooded animals an amount of polypeptide having human interleukin 2 activity sufficient to treat pneumothoraxes.

Abstract: Whey derived from ordinary milk includes a bottom fraction including lactose and minerals, a middle fraction including lower molecular weight proteins, and a top fraction including higher molecular weight proteins. The top whey fraction includes a measurable but low level concentration of immunologically active immunoglobulin plus other pathogen specific antibodies. The whey is ultrafiltered through one or more different process steps to yield a filtered product having a concentration of immunologically active immunoglobulin of at least about seven percent of total solids. The filtered product is periodically tested to verify its activity to a specified microbe. The filtered product is orally administered in a therapeutically effective dose to an animal to treat a disease.