Abstract: The invention relates to the synergistic interaction of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and gamma-interferon (IFN-.gamma.) in the stimulation of hepatocyte growth. Accordingly, the invention concerns a method of enhancing the biological activity of HGF by administering a biologically effective amount of HGF and a synergistically effective amount of IFN-.gamma. to a patient in need.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro tissue culture-based assay for amyloid deposition specific for Alzheimer's disease which is suitable for routine drug screening analysis. Immunological diagnostic reagents for Alzheimer's disease are also provided.

Abstract: A method for testing the inducibility of the hypothalamus to effect the secretion of andrenocorticotropic hormone comprising the steps of:(a) administering to a test subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a derivative of human IL-1.beta. selected from the group consisting of human IL-1.beta. [7-153], human IL-1.beta. [1-148], human IL-1.beta. [Gly.sup.4 ], human IL-1.beta. [Leu.sup.93 ] and human IL-1.beta. [des Arg.sup.98]; and(b) measuring an increase in blood levels of at least one of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone,wherein the degree of increase in said blood levels of at least one of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone, corresponds to the degree of inducibility of the hypothalamus and is not substantially due to the induction of fever.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of gamma-interferon for the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of vascular stenosis caused by e.g. intimal hyperplasia, including the treatment of restenosis following treatment of arterial stenosis or occlusion.In a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the use of gamma-interferon for the treatment of arterial stenosis following vascular surgery and/or angioplasty.

Abstract: A method for preparing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (.alpha.-APM), substantially free from acid ion contamination, is disclosed which comprises the steps of contacting a solution of a mineral acid salt or an organic sulfonic acid salt of .alpha.-APM in an aqueous solvent with an anion exchange resin in free base form, separating the resin from the thus-produced solution of .alpha.-APM; and isolating the .alpha.-APM therefrom, preferably with regeneration and recycling the resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing activated protein C (APC) from a sample containing the said activated protein C, characterized in that the activated protein C is bound to insolubilized aprotinin and then in that, after washing of the said activated protein C/aprotinin complex with a buffered saline solution, the said activated protein C is collected by elution with an acidic aqueous solution or a solution containing a chaotropic agent.The invention also relates to the activated protein C thereby obtained according to the method described above.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a biochemically pure protein, termed antistasin, which exhibits both antimetastatic and anticoagulant properties. Methods of producing the protein and methods of using the protein to inhibit or reduce metastasis and/or coagulation of blood are disclosed. The complete amino acid sequences of antistasin and some variants have been determined from purified protein and cloned cDNAs.

Abstract: An intravenously administrable polyclonal immunoglobulin preparation for the treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infections containing at least 50% by weight of IgM in terms of the total content of immunoglobulin, exhibiting a low anticomplementary activity, being stable in aqueous solution, and being free of viruses. It can also consist of or also contain a mixture of several monoclonal IgM antibodies. The source material for its manufacture is an immunoglobulin-containing fraction of human, animal, or bacterial provenance. The fraction is treated with an anion exchanger that is eluted with a saline or pH gradient and the eluate is optionally subjected to gel filtration, treated before or after the chromatography with .beta.-propiolactone and PEG 4000, and optionally heated. Treatment with .beta.-propiolactone and ultraviolet light, treatment with solvents and detergents, or pasteurization can also be conducted. Proteins, sugars, or mixtures of amino acids are optionally added to the preparation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the administration of Interleukin 6 for the purpose of enhancing endogenous erythropoietin levels in vitro and in vivo. The invention further encompasses methods of treatment of disorders characterized by, or including, erythropoietin deficiency. Such disorders include the anemias of chronic inflammation, renal failure, AIDS, and malignancy.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of diabetes mellitus are disclosed, wherein the pharmaceutical formulations contain at least one insulin derivative modified with a base in position B31 of the insulin B chain and having an isoelectric point between 5.8 and 8.5 and/or at least one of its physiologically tolerated salts in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a relatively high zinc ion content in the range from above 1 .mu.g to about 200 .mu.g of zinc/IU. The preferred insulin derivative modified with a base for this pharmaceutical formulation is human insulin-B31-Arg-OH and human insulin-B31-Arg-B32-Arg-OH. The formulation is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus; it has a particularly favorable action profile.

Abstract: Methods of preparing glucitollysine-hemoglobin from a sample of glucohemoglobin containing stable and labile glucohemoglobins and for assaying for the presence of stable glucohemoglobin are disclosed, as is a diagnostic assay system useful for carrying out the methods.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a new and improved means of modifying gluten. The modification process consists of acid hydrolysis at relatively low temperatures for short periods of time to produce a modified gluten having improved physical characteristics of solubility, high water holding capacity, good emulsifying properties and the formation of stable foams.

Abstract: A substantially heme-free blood protein product is produced by adding an acid to a blood cell suspension to a low pH to disrupt erythrocytes present in the suspension thereby releasing hemoglobin, and to cleave off the heme moiety from the major proportion of the hemoglobin. The released heme forms a precipitate which is removed by centrifugation. Heme moieties remaining in the blood protein solution are degraded by treatment with an oxidizing agent, e.g. hydrogen peroxide. The product has a content of sulfur-containing amino acids which corresponds to the content thereof in natural hemoglobin, as well as foaming and emulsifying properties corresponding to naural hemoglobin. The product has a high lysine content and may be used to enrich the protein content of edible products, e.g. cereals, or to replace part of the meat in meat products. An edible product containing up to about 25% by weight of blood plasma mixed with the product is also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for their use in modulating animal cellular responses are disclosed. The compositions include as an active agent an effective amount of an 8-substitued guanine derivative bonded 9-1' to an aldose having 5 or 6 carbon atoms in the aldose chain. The composition includes a diluent amount of a physiologically tolerable carrier. The guanine derivative is free of electrically charged functioinality, while the 8-substituent has an electron withdrawing inductive effect greater than that of hydrogen and contains fewer than about 15 atoms. Animal cellular responses are modulated by contacting the cells with a composition of this invention.

Abstract: An artificial carrier for immobilization of biological proteins, which are composed of particles comprising gelatin, an alkali metal metaphosphate and an anionic high-molecular electrolyte, said particles being water-insolubilized by a treatment with an aldehyde.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting production of IgE, and a method for enhancing production of IgG are taught. The methods are linked to the role of interleukin 9 in antibody production. Specifically, production of IgG is potentiated by administering either to a subject or a cell culture a combination of interleukin 4 and interleukin 9. Production of IgE is inhibited by administering an amount of an interleukin 9 inhibitor to a subject.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for at least partially restoring normal growth, weight gain, and lean body mass of a mammal afflicted with glucocorticoid excess. This method comprises the administration to the mammal of an effective amount of IGF-I. Preferably, the mammal is a child and the IGF-I is native-sequence or brain IGF-I.

Abstract: A process for the production of crosslinked hemoglobin comprises crosslinking hemoglobin in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate.

Abstract: A method for purifying hemoglobin, mixed with other proteins is described, wherein the mixture is contacted with an ion exchange matrix so that the hemoglobin is adsorbed to it. The matrix is washed to remove unadsorbed components, and the hemoglobin is then selectively eluted using a ligand which specifically binds the hemoglobin causing it to desorb from the matrix. The method can also be used to effect reduction of methemoglobin to hemoglobin on an ion exchange matrix followed by selective elution to achieve purification. The method can also be used to purify methemoglobin.

Abstract: A source for antibodies (both IgG and IgM types) is put into an aqueous solution which includes a virucidal agent under conditions sufficient to assure substantially complete dissolution of both the antibodies and the virucidal agent and virus inactivation. Then the pH, conductivity and antibody concentration of the solution are then changed to obtain conditions sufficient to assure the precipitation of substantially all antibodies while maintaining substantially all of the virucidal agent in the supernatant solution.In preferred embodiments, using a TNBP/TWEEN virucidal agent, the original solution conductivity ranges from about 0.03 to 0.20 M MHO/CM, the pH ranges from about 4.75 to 4.85, and the protein concentration, when measured at A280, ranges from a reading of about 5 to 40. In the second precipitation step, the pH is changed to a range of about 6.0 to 7.5 and the conductivity is changed to a range of about 0.05 to 0.