Abstract: Compounds that are modified polysaccharides having pendant aldehyde functionalities are disclosed. Each of the aldehyde functionalities is attached through a linker to a position corresponding to a hydrogen atom of a different hydroxyl group of unmodified polysaccharide. Also disclosed is a method for introducing an amine-reactive functionality into a dextran. The method comprises (a) reacting the dextran with an alkylating agent having a functionality that reacts with an hydroxyl group of the dextran thereby forming an alkylated dextran wherein the alkylating agent has an olefin group and (b) treating the alkylated dextran to convert the olefin group to an amine-reactive functionality. A polysaccharide can be conjugated to a biomolecule by carrying out the above method and reacting the amine-reactive functionality with an amine functionality on the biomolecule to produce polysaccharide conjugated to the biomolecule.

Abstract: The invention provides use of interleukin-6 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of consumptive thrombohemorrhagic disorder. The invention also provides use of interleukin-6 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of a dysfunction associated with a reduced level of at least one acute phase protein.

Abstract: A plastic closure comprising a base wall and a peripheral skirt. The base wall has an inner surface and a liner is bonded to the inner surface of the base wall of the closure. The liner comprises a fusion blend of a linear ethylene polymer made utilizing single-site catalysts and a lubricant. Preferably the linear ethylene polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-1-octene copolymers and ethylene-1-butene copolymers. The liner is preferably compression molded in the closure. The lubricant comprises an amide, preferably selected from the group consisting of oleamide, erucamide, stearamide, and EBS (ethylene bis stearamide).

Abstract: Film forming blends, and films thereof, comprise copolymers of ethylene and alpha-olefins of 4 to 10 carbon atoms (LLDPE) containing up to about 35% of calcium carbonate exhibit excellent film impact properties which are sustained over time, without reduction in modulus or stiffness.

Abstract: Methods for making preparations of homogenous peptides are disclosed. In these methods, reversible alterations of the physicochemical properties of the peptides are exploited. In preferred embodiments, the methods include the following sequential steps: (1) exhaustive capping is carried out during solid-phase synthesis of a desired peptide; (2) a cleavable linker is attached to the peptide, (3) a polymer is added to the peptide either by condensation with preformed polymer or by in situ polymerization such that the linker is interposed between the polymer moiety and the peptide moiety of the resultant adduct; alternatively, steps (2) and (3) can be conducted simultaneously by attaching a combination polymer/linker to the peptide; (4) the polymer-peptide adduct is cleaved from the resin; (5) the polymer-peptide adduct is purified from undesired, nonadducted peptides; and (6) the polymer-peptide adduct is cleaved at the linker, and the desired peptide is purified from the polymer.

Abstract: An adsorbent for removing at least one interleukin selected from the group consisting of inerleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and interluekin-8 and/or TNF, which comprises a porous water-insolube carrier and a compound satisfying the value of log P of at least 2.50, in which P is a distribution coefficient in an octanol-water system and being immobilized onto the carrier, a process for removing the above IL(s) and/or TNF by the adsorbent and an adsorber comprising the adsorbent. According to the present invention, IL(s) and TNF in body fluid can be efficiently absorbed using the above-mentioned adsorbent.

Abstract: Surfaces of various types of substrates, including glass, ceramics, metals and fabrics, are rendered thermally stable by treatment with a silicon-containing polymer which may be a polysilazane, a polysiloxane, or a polysiloxazane. Curing the polymer in an atmosphere which contains an oxygen donor additionally renders the substrate surface nonwetting.

Abstract: A method of crosslinking a crosslinkable protein or carbohydrate substrate to form a crosslinked substrate in which the crosslinking groups are biodegradable. The crosslinking groups may comprise methylene diacrylate and the substrate can be galactose.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating inflammatory cell infiltration in a tissue of a mammalian subject are provided. The method involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of SERP-1, SERP-1 analog or biologically active fragment thereof admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject in need of such treatment. Biologically active SERP-1 analogs are also provided. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating numerous inflammatory based diseases and injuries.

Abstract: A protein complex for inducing growth of bone in the maxillary sinus of an animal is disclosed. The complex is generally made from animal bone, defated, demineralized, ground, slurried, and fractionated ssuch that functional structural, adhesive, chemotaxis, and growth components are isolated and purified.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for modulating wound healing in a mammal. The method includes the steps of: (a) administering a photosensitizer to a mammal that has an unhealed or partially-healed wound; (b) waiting for the photosensitizer to reach an effective tissue concentration at the wound site; (c) photoactivating the photosensitizer by delivering specifically to the wound site light of a effective wavelength and intensity, for an effective length of time. The modulation of wound healing can include hastening healing by administering a low dose of photodynamic therapy. Alternatively, the modulation can include inhibiting fibrosis by administering a high dose of photodynamic therapy. The photosensitizer can be targeted, for example, to macrophages or myofibroblasts. Targeting can be by conjugation to a targeting moiety such as a protein, peptide or microparticle.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymers are described comprising the recurring monomeric units shown in formula I: ##STR1## wherein: R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic; andR' is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, heterocyclic or heterocycloxy; andn is 5 to 500,wherein said biodegradable polymer is biocompatible before and upon biodegradation.Processes for preparing the polymers, compositions containing the polymers and biologically active substances, articles useful for implantation or injection into the body fabricated from the compositions, and methods for controllably releasing biologically active substances using the polymers, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for counteracting preeclampsia, eclampsia of pregnancy and preterm labor in a pregnant female mammal treated by administering thereto calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its analogues including CGRP/adrenomedullin or their peptide or receptor-based analogues, or in combination with a progestin, and with or without a nitric oxide substrate, or a nitric oxide donor or both, optionally in further combination with one or more of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, a PGI.sub.2 -mimetic, a thromboxane (TXA.sub.2) inhibitor, a compound possessing TXA.sub.2 -agonistic, and TXA.sub.2 -inhibiting properties, a compound possessing TXA.sub.2 -antagonistic and PGI.sub.2 -mimetic activities, and a TXA.sub.2 antagonist. CGRP, progesterone and some of the nitric oxide substrate and donor compounds are naturally occurring compounds. As such these agents do not have the same toxicity and allergy problems as the foreign substances that are currently used for similar purposes.

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: Methods of treating autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, are disclosed. The methods employ administration of interferon-tau (IFN.tau.) in a therapeutically-effective dose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to delivery vehicles which are useful for the administration of active principles (APs), preferably medicinal or nutritional active principles, in particular via the oral or parenteral route.The technical problem solved by the invention is that which consists in providing delivery vehicles composed of (nano)- or (micro)particles based on polyamino acids, and which are invert with respect to the AP (proteins), of controllable particle size, strong and inexpensive.According to the invention, the particles have an average size of less than 200 .mu.m and consist of a polyamino acid of the Leu/Glu type, in which Leu/Glu+Leu.gtoreq.3% and the M.sub.w .gtoreq.4,000 D.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adsorbent being capable of efficiently adsorbing and removing interleukins in a body fluid and to a method for adsorbing and removing, if necessary, and recovering interleukins in a body fluid with the above-mentioned adsorbent. According to the present invention, there are provided an adsorbent of interleukins which comprises a water-insoluble carrier having an anionic functional group, a method for adsorbing, removing and recovering interleukins using the same and an adsorber using the same.

Abstract: A process that involves the packaged polymerization of olefinic monomer(s) and catalyst systems comprising a transition metal species that mediates the polymerization of the monomer(s) is disclosed. This process provides a way to use the resultant polymer without extensive further processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-layer laminate molding having a layer structure that a main material layer made mainly of a polyethylenic resin at the outer side and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer saponified product layer or polyamide resin layer at the inner side are laminated through at least an adhesive material layer, the adhesive material layer comprising a resin composition containing (A) 60 to 95% by weight of at least one resin selected from the-group consisting of (1) a high density polyethylenic resin having specified physical properties, (2) a linear low density polyethylenic resin having specified physical properties, (3) a modified high density polyethylenic resin obtained by grafting unsaturated carboxylic acid and the like onto the above (1), and (4) a modified linear low density polyethylenic resin obtained by grafting unsaturated carboxylic acid and the-like onto the above (2), and containing at least 0.

Abstract: A composition that expands or contracts upon a change in exposure to electrical energy is provided that comprises a protein or protein-based polymeric material having an inverse temperature transition in the range of liquid water, wherein at least a fraction of the monomers in the polymer contain an electrical energy-responsive group that undergoes a change in hydrophobicity or polarity upon a change in exposure to electrical energy and is present in an amount sufficient to provide a shift in the inverse temperature transition of the polymer upon the change in exposure to electrical energy. Compositions of the invention, including those further containing a side-chain chemical couple, can be used in a variety of different applications to produce mechanical work, cause turbidity changes, cause chemical changes in an enclosed environment, or transduce other free energies by varying the exposure to electrical energy on the composition.