Abstract: An intraluminal vascular graft in the form of a tube of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene film has a microstructure containing a multiplicity of fibrils oriented substantially parallel to each other. The tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.25 mm and is made from at least one first layer and at least one second layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film, wherein the fibrils of the first and second layers are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Preferably the fibrils of the at least one first layer are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and the fibrils of the at least one second layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film are oriented substantially circumferential to the tube. The first and second layers may be inner and outer layers respectively, or alternatively their relationship may be reversed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for accelerating wound healing in a mammal. The method includes identifying an unhealed wound site or partially-healed wound site in a mammal; administering a photosensitizer to the mammal; waiting for a time period wherein the photosensitizer reaches an effective tissue concentration at the wound site; and photoactivating the photosensitizer at the wound site. The dose of photodynamic therapy is selected to stimulate the production of one or more growth factor by cells at the wound site, without causing tissue destruction.

Abstract: Synthetic collagen in triple helical conformation and comprising amino acid chains of repeating trimers of highly populated collagen sequences as well as those sequences wherein the proline or hydroxyproline residue is replaced with a peptoid residue. The invention includes methods of preparing synthetic collagen structures having the triple helix conformation present in collagen from collagen-type polypeptides and poly(peptide-peptoid residue) chains by means of a helix-inducing template.

Abstract: The subject-matter of the invention are pharmaceutical non inorganic saline solutions for endonasal administration containing: (a) a calcitonin, preferably salmon or alternatively carbacalcitonin (elcatonin), or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts; characterized in that it further contains the organic excipients; (b) N-(methyl)-glucamine or glucamine; (c) tromethamine; (d) citric acid; and (e) polyvinylpyrrolidone ranging from K15 to K120. These are odorless and tasteless and thus have improved patient's compliance not having the undesirable secondary effects of known compositions as well as permit a complete and accurate analysis of the active principle and develop less degradation products during storage.

Abstract: Methods for providing an image of an internal region of a patient. Embodiments of the methods involve administering to the patient a contrast agent which comprises a vesicle composition comprising, in an aqueous carrier, a gas or gaseous precursor and vesicles comprising lipids, proteins or polymers. The patient is scanned using diagnostic imaging, such as ultrasound, to obtain a visible image of the region. The contrast agent is administered to the patient at a rate to substantially eliminate diagnostic artifacts in the image. The methods are particularly useful for diagnosing the presence of any diseased tissue in the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclic peptides which inhibit platelet aggregation without causing prolonged bleeding time. The invention provides RGD or KGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic amino acids adjacent to the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Peptides of this nature are also provided which contain in addition to the hydrophobic amino acid an adjacent positively charged amino acid. Such peptides have a high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and a low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses useful surfactant molecules including polypeptides, proteins, and a variety of other organic molecules, as well as methods of making and using same. Surfactant compositions, including liposomal surfactant compositions, are also disclosed. Use of the surfactant molecules of the present invention in pulmonary lavage procedures for a variety of therapeutic applications is also disclosed, including the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome; the removal of inflammatory exudate from inflamed lung tissues; and the treament of meconium aspiration syndrome in infants.

Abstract: The invention provides RGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic moieties adjacent the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Such peptides have an high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: A porphyrin metal complex-albumin inclusion compound wherein a substituted porphyrin metal complex comprising, as a central, coordinated metal, a transitional metal belonging to the fourth or fifth period of the periodic law, is included in the albumin, and an oxygen carrier composition comprising said inclusion compound as an active ingredient. The compound functions as an oxygen carrier which is superior in biocompatibility, capable of adsorption and desorption of oxygen under physiological conditions, and is rather easily produced at an industrial scale.

Abstract: A process is provided for isolating a protein component of animal muscle tissue by mixing a particulate form of the tissue with an acidic aqueous liquid having a pH below about 3.5 to produce a protein rich solution. A protein rich aqueous solution is separated from solids and lipids, including membrane lipids. The protein rich aqueous solution can be treated to effect protein precipitation, followed by protein recovery.

Abstract: A process for the production of polypropylene comprising continuously contacting liquid propylene or a mixture comprising liquid propylene and one or more other alpha-olefins in one or more reaction zones, under gas phase polymerization conditions, with a catalyst system comprising (i) a solid particulate catalyst precursor, which includes magnesium; titanium; a halogen which is chlorine, bromine, or iodine, or mixtures thereof; and, as an inside electron donor, a carboxylic acid ester; (ii) a hydrocarbylaluminum cocatalyst; and (iii) as an outside electron donor, a silicon compound containing at least one silicon-oxygen-carbon linkage, the particles of precursor being carried into the reaction zone(s) via a portion of the liquid propylene, the flow rate of said portion having a Reynolds number greater than about 15,000.

Abstract: Stroma-free hemoglobin intermolecularly cross-linked, i.e., polymerized, so as to transform stroma-free hemoglobin into a physiologically competent oxygen carrier which is retained in vivo for adequate periods of time, and thus can be used in fluids for transporting oxygen is described.

Abstract: The present invention is interferon-inducible protein 10 and fragments and analogs of interferon-inducible protein 10 as inhibitors of angiogenesis. The present invention is also the use of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) as well as fragments and analogs of IP-10 as potent inhibitors of angiogenesis. IP-10 profoundly inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced neovascularization in immunocompromised mammals. In addition, IP-10, is useful in a dose-dependent fashion in suppressing endothelial cell differentiation into tubular capillary structures.

Abstract: Novel synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides which have high affinity and specificity for their receptors by virtue of restrictions on their stereochemical conformation. Such restrictions can be provided by cyclization, by inclusion into a constraining conformational structure such as a helix, by providing an additional chemical structure such as an amide or an enantiomer of a naturally occurring amino acid, or by other methods. In particular, there are provided cyclic peptides having increased affinity and selectivity for the certain receptors over that of linear, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing synthetic peptides.

Abstract: Protein surfactants are recovered from processed menhaden fish. Stick water is clarified and soluble proteins contained therein are precipitated by the addition of ammonium sulfate. The precipitated proteins are recovered from the solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a polymer, a short and a long fiber composite that can be used in the form of a linear extrudate or thermoplastic pellet to manufacture structural members. The linear extrudate or pellet can have a cross-section of any arbitrary shape, or can be a regular geometric. The polymer and short/long fiber composite containing structural members can be manufactured from the composite or pellet in an extrusion process or an injection molding process. The pellet can have a cross-section shape having a volume of at least about 12 mm.sup.3. Preferably the pellet is a right cylindrical pellet having a minimum radius of about 1.5 mm and a minimum length of 1 mm weighing at least 14 mg. The initial mixing step before extrusion of the composite material insures substantial mixing and melt contact between molten polymer and wood fiber. The extruded pellet comprises a consistent proportion of polymer, short and long fiber and water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises an elastomer, silica, optionally carbon black, and a silica coupler comprised of an N,N'-diorgano-N,N'-dithiobis (organosulfonamide).

Abstract: A creping adhesive is described which provides the ability to readily control glass transition temperature (Tg) and adhesion and which can be easily removed from dryer surfaces. The creping adhesive contains a crosslinkable polymer and preferably an ionic crosslinking agent such as metal cations having a valence of three or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the screening of a wound-healing agent, which comprises determining a substance to be active as a wound-healing agent on the basis of potentiation or modification of biological activities of a growth and/or differentiation factor, a growth hormone or a cytokine. This invention also provides a wound-healing method, which comprises as an active ingredient a compound of the following formula (1) or formula (2) found to be active by the screening method.

Abstract: A method of securing an intraluminal vascular graft within a living body, the intraluminal vascular graft being in the form of a tube of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene film has a microstructure containing a multiplicity of fibrils oriented substantially parallel to each other. The tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.25 mm and is made from at least one first layer and at least one second layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film, wherein the fibrils of the first and second layers are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Preferably the fibrils of the at least one first layer are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and the fibrils of the at least one second layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film are oriented substantially circumferential to the tube. The first and second layers may be inner and outer layers respectively, or alternatively their relationship may be reversed.