Abstract: This invention provides methods of isolating ferritin from plant and animal material. The isolated ferritin can be administered to humans or animals in need of iron, and can be used to treat or supplement iron deficiency. The isolated ferritin can be used in industrial applications, such as increasing the iron content in heat-processed food or beverages. The methods of the invention also include quantitation of iron derived from plant or animal ferritin.

Abstract: This invention relates to enzyme-sensitive biosensors and methods and kits using the same. Specifically, the invention relates to methods, systems and kits for the detection of enzymes using the chemical shift observed in an isotope complexed to the biosensor resulting from a change in the biosensor as the result of the enzyme's activity.

Abstract: Lactobacillus screening methods were carried out using surface plasmon resonance spectrums and human intestinal mucin and blood group antigens as probes. A trial to set selection criteria in the above-mentioned methods of screening for lactobacilli was made to adapt the methods to mass screening, and it was discovered that lactobacilli compatible with ABO blood groups can be screened by setting 100 RU as a criterion for judging bacterial binding under certain conditions. Using 238 lactobacillus strains, the above-mentioned screening methods and tests to judge their compatibility for the use of yogurt production were carried out, to at long last specifically discover bacillus strains compatible with blood groups A, B, and O.

Abstract: Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2959 and Lactobacillus oris OLL2779, were found.

Abstract: The invention provides, in certain embodiments, a method of detecting an indicator of renal injury or renal disease. The method entails assaying a urine sample for hematopoietic growth factor inducible neurokinin-1 (HGFIN), wherein the presence of HGFIN at an elevated level indicates the presence and/or degree of renal injury or renal disease, and/or the rate of loss of renal function. In other embodiments, the invention provides a method of detecting an indicator of systemic inflammation. This method entails assaying a biological sample for HGFIN, wherein the presence of HGFIN at an elevated level indicates the presence and/or degree of systemic inflammation. Also provided, are methods of determining progression of these conditions, as well as methods of determining subjects' response to treatment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of placental alkaline phosphatase, and other members of the alkaline phosphatase family, to enhance protein synthesis in the muscle as well as the survival of non-cancerous differentiated cells in the muscle, adipose and other tissues. The ability of alkaline phosphatase to selectively enhance the survival of healthy cells and increase protein synthesis has many therapeutic applications. The use of alkaline phosphatase may prevent the loss of body weight and muscle mass typically experienced by diseased (such as cancer) or aging patients, or developing fetuses subjected to harmful conditions, or by patients who are treated with a toxic therapy including chemotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of placental stem cells and stem or progenitor cells derived from a second source, wherein the combination shows improved engraftment as compared to placental stem cells or stem cells from a second source, alone. The combination is referred to as a combined stem cell population. The invention also provides in vitro and in vivo methods for identifying and producing combined stem cell populations, and models of engraftment. In accordance with the present invention, the placental stem cells may be combined with, e.g., umbilical cord blood-derived stem or progenitor cells, fetal or neonatal stem cells or progenitor cells, adult stem cells or progenitor cells, hematopoietic stem cells or progenitor cells, stem or progenitor cells derived from bone marrow, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions designed for treating a subject suffering from skin conditions, disorders or diseases. The compositions include fetal skin cell proteins obtained from fetal skin cells after induced cell lysis.

Abstract: This invention is related to sample preparation by a tissue differentiation method based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) which enables fast and accurate pathological identification for tissue differentiation by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The preparation of the sample includes homogenising a tissue sample by adding liquid nitrogen (104), crushing the frozen tissue and bringing it to a liquefied form (105).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing the effect of a gaseous medium on a biological test system using an extracellular metabolization system. The method consists of the following steps: a biological test sample is cultivated on a permeable carrier, the gaseous medium is guided over the surface of the biological test system in order to form an exposition atmosphere over the biological test system, the extracellular metabolization system is added to a conservation medium and the permeable carrier is brought into contact with a conservation medium that comprises the extracellular metabolization system below the permeable carrier, in such a manner that the extracellular metabolization system only passes through the permeable carrier and that the biological test system is not submerged by the conservation medium containing the extracellular metabolization system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of a biomarker specifically located in the plasma membrane of pancreatic beta cells. It was selected by a Systems Biology approach on Massively Parallel Signal Sequencing datasets obtained in human islets and Affymetrix microarray datasets on human islets, purified rat primary beta and non beta cells and insulinoma cells. Based on a set of specific features the biomarker is a unique candidate for imaging and targeting strategies to study the pancreatic beta cell mass in health and disease (T1 D, T2D, pancreatic cancers, obesity, islet transplantation, beta cell regeneration).

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and compositions designed for treating a subject suffering from a skin condition, disorder or disease. The compositions include undifferentiated fetal skin cells that are either integrated with a collagen matrix or a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides lactic acid bacteria which are suitable for use for dietary products and pharmaceuticals, and which can suppress the increase of blood uric acid level. Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2922, were found.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for inhibiting subacute thrombosis and/or intimal hyperplasia following an interventional vascular procedure by contacting a blood vessel or a synthetic material with a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitor. The present invention further relates to vascular devices comprising a MAPK pathway inhibitor.

Abstract: A prognostic assay and kit and method of use thereof are provided. The kit and assay are used to determine the likelihood of a diseased cell or tissue having a therapeutic response to treatment with a cardiac glycoside in a disease having an etiology associated with excessive cell proliferation. The kit and assay are used to determine the ratio of isoforms of the ? subunit of Na, K-ATPase obtained from the diseased cell or tissue. The kit can be used to predict the therapeutic responsiveness of cancer or tumor in a subject to treatment with a cardiac glycoside. The kit and assay can be incorporated in a method of treating a disease or disorder having an etiology associated with excessive cell proliferation with a composition comprising a cardiac glycoside.

Abstract: Method for the quantitative determination of vitamins, amino acids, or other substances necessary for life, in a substance mixture, whereby in the culture container, the cavities of a microtitration plate, in each case a predetermined number of vital cells of a suitable microorganism are prepared in a permanent manner. For this purpose, the cells are shock frozen at ?80° C. and then freeze dried in a freezing solution containing 200 to 500 mM trehalose/sucrose. The freezing solution is preferably the test medium. The culture containers are preferably the wells of a microtitration plate.

Abstract: A method for detecting cancer uses a first detection reagent containing a first adsorbent, which is physically adsorbed by biomedical sample. The first adsorbent comprises a long-chain ester wax containing 16-46 carbon atoms or a long-chain alkane wax containing 21-30 carbon atoms and a concentration of the first adsorbent is between 5% to 10% w/w. The present invention could be widely applied for detecting various cancers based on the differential physisorption of adsorbent. The present invention can provide a method for rapidly and non-invasively detecting cancers.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of preparing and delivering small particles of a pharmaceutically active material to a mammalian subject for treating diseases or disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a determination method of a blood plasma amygdalin of body resistance-strengthening and blood stasis-dissipating botanical composition, comprising the following steps: (1) first adding 2-5 mol/L phosphoric acid to the plasma of mammals administered with the blood stasis-dissipating botanical composition, and mixing to homogenize, the volumetric ratio of plasma to phosphoric acid is 1:2-3, applying the solution to a small column of Waters Oasis HLB activated by methanol and water, after leaching by water and 80-100% methanol and eluting by 0.2-1% ammonia-methanol, drying through evaporation and enriching the eluent at 25-30° C.; and re-dissolving with a mobile phase; (2) UPLC/MS determination method: chromatographic conditions: chromatographic column: Acquity UPLC BEH C18, 2.1×100 mm, mobile phase A: Water-Acetonitrile-Formic acid 95:5:0.1 v/v/v, mobile phase B: Acetomtrile-Formic acid 100:0.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that collagenase injections are effective in lyse the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder and treat the disorder, adhesive capsulitis. As such, the invention relates to methods of treating or preventing adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, in a patient in need of such treatment comprising injecting or otherwise delivering an effective amount of collagenase to the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder. The invention also relates to the use of collagenase in the manufacture of a medicament to treat adhesive capsulitis.