Abstract: The invention features a method of using insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth factor-III (IGF-III) to prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy in a mammal.

Abstract: Peptides of the formula IA-B-C-E-F-K-P-G-M-F'-I (I),wherein the terms A, B, C, E, F, K, P, G, M, F', and I are defined in the specification, have bradykinin antagonist action. Their therapeutic utility includes all pathological states which are mediated, caused or supported by bradykinin and bradykinin-related peptides.

Abstract: A product containing a) glutamine, L-amino acid of glutamine, N-acetyl-L-glutamine and/or glutamine-containing peptide;b) fatty acid containing 2-12 carbon atoms; andc) IGF-1 is useful for treating patients for atrophy of the gut mucosa.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the growth rate of a human patient having partial growth hormone insensitivity syndrome, but not Laron syndrome, are described. One such method comprises administering a dose of greater than 0.3 mg/kg/week of growth hormone, preferably growth hormone with a native human sequence, with or without an N-terminal methionine, to the patient. The patient is characterized as having a height of less than about -2 standard deviations below normal for age and sex, serum levels of high-affinity growth hormone binding protein and IGF-I that are at least 2 standard deviations below normal levels, and a serum level of growth hormone that is at least normal. In another such method, the same patient population is treated with an effective amount of IGF-I alone or in combination with an amount of growth hormone that is effective in combination with IGF-I.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for treating injury or degeneration of retinal neurons, and in particular photoreceptors, by administering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The invention relates specifically to methods for treating retinal conditions or diseases in which vision is lost such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral vitreoretinopathies, photic retinopathies, surgery-induced retinopathies, viral retinopathies, ischemic retinopathies, retinal detachment and traumatic retinopathy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of an animal to improve carcass quality and/or food conversion efficiency. The invention includes administering to an animal exogenous synthetic growth hormone at a frequency less than daily. The exogenous synthetic growth hormone is not orally administered and is not in a sustained release form. Animals including entire male, female, or castrated male pigs, bovine animals or sheep can be treated in this manner.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a purified extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves by solvent extraction with selected solvents. In the process, a crude or partially purified extract is subjected to solvent extraction with a solvent comprising toluene and n-butanol. Pharmaceutical. compositions comprising dimeric flavones and/or polyphenols are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of preventing oral mucositis in a subject susceptible to mucositis which comprises administering to the subject a prophylactically effective amount of TGF-.beta.3. Typically, administration is topical and initiated prior to anti-neoplastic therapy such as radiation treatment or chemotherapy. The invention is particularly suited for pediatric patients.

Abstract: The invention features a method of using insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth factor-III (IGF-III) to prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy in a mammal.

Abstract: Administration of a corticotropin-releasing factor (or a salt or analog thereof) decreases the leakage of blood components into tissues produced by various adverse medical conditions. Thus, treatments with corticotropin-releasing factor are useful in systemic inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Lipophilic and amphiphilic therapeutic or diagnostic agents having water solubilizing groups attached thereto by bonds that can be cleaved readily by one or more of the various proteases that are active in the extracellular fluid or on the surfaces of cells in many types of malignant tissue may accumulate selectively in such malignant tissues. Protease mediated removal of the water solubilizing groups converts such drugs into lipophilic or amphiphilic forms which are more soluble in plasma membrane lipids and which therefore enter cells more readily. Since the extracellular fluid in most non-malignant tissues under normal circumstances has little such protease activity, removal of the water solubilizing groups takes place primarily within malignant tissues, with consequent preferential accumulation of the lipophilic or amphiphilic forms of the drug within malignant tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing bone mass in a human or other animal subject afflicted with osteoporosis, comprising a thirty(30)-day treatment period, comprised of a parathyroid hormone administration regimen and a bisphosphonate administration regimen, wherein(a) said parathyroid hormone administration regimen comprises the administration to said subject of parathyroid hormone at one or more level of from about 4 IU/kg per day to about 15 IU/kg per day that said parathyroid hormone is administered, provided that said parathyroid hormone is administered at least one day every seven days of every said thirty(30)-day treatment periods; and wherein(b) said bisphosphonate administration regimen comprises the administration to said subject of a bisphosphonate at a level of from about 0.0005 mgP/kg to about 1.0 mgP/kg per day that said bisphosphonate is administered, provided that said bisphosphonate is administered at least 1 day of every said thirty(30)-day treatment period.

Abstract: Agents for stimulating insulin secretion and for treating diabetes which comprise glicentin as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to cyclosporin-containing liquid preparations for oral or parenteral administration, as well as to a process for preparing same. Besides the active ingredient cyclosporin, the preparations contain a polyoxyethylene glycerol fatty acid monoester and a monohydric and/or polyhydric alcohol(s). The preparations are stable and well tolerated, and they have higher bioavailability than the preparations known currently.

Abstract: A buffered intravesicular pharmaceutical dosage system for delivery of TGF.alpha.PE.sub.40 ab to a human bladder for bladder cancer chemotherapy, in which a buffer system of 100 mM phosphate at an initial pH of 7.8 maintains a pH range in the bladder of 6.5 to 7.8 that is sufficient to maximize interaction of TGF.alpha.PE.sub.40 ab with the EGF receptor expressed on the surface of bladder cancer cells and to prevent aggregation of the TGF.alpha.PE.sub.40 ab while in the bladder.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and compositions for affecting the immune system in animals and humans. The methods and compositions include the administration of prolactin agonists to an immunosuppressed animal or human thereby stimulating the immune system. In addition, the present invention includes a vaccine adjuvant comprising the administration of a prolactin agonist with the vaccine.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of neuronotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary derived neuronotrophic factor (CNTF), brain derived neuronotrophic factor (BDNF), neuronotrophin-3 (NT-3), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor .varies. (TFG-.varies.), transforming growth factor .beta. (TGF-.beta.) and others to prevent drug-induced neuropathy.

Abstract: A method is provided for generation of bone at a site of an animal where skeletal tissue is deficient comprising administering to the animal, locally at the bone site in the presence of a source of osteogenic cells, an effective amount of a composition comprising TGF-.beta. in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, provided that such composition excludes a bone morphogenetic cofactor, the composition being administered in an amount effective to induce bone growth at the bone site. Also provided is a device for implantation into a site of an animal where skeletal tissue is deficient comprising a device treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising TGF-.beta. and a source of osteogenic cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating obese mammals or preventing obesity from occurring in mammals. This method involves administering to the mammal an effective amount of growth hormone in combination with an effective amount of IGF-I. Preferably, the growth hormone is given so as to have a maintained, continual therapeutically effective presence in the blood, such as by continuous infusion or frequent injections, or by use of a long-acting formulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preventing hyperalgesia and other undesirable side-effects associated with the administration of growth factor, including nerve growth factor, utilizing an antagonist capable of inactivating excitatory opioid receptor-mediated functions on neurons in the nociceptive pathway. In addition, this invention relates to a composition comprising a growth factor and an antagonist capable of inactivating excitatory opioid receptor-mediated functions on neurons in the nociceptive pathway.