Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for treating uterine fibroids, wherein a uterine fibroid treatment agent comprising collagenase in an amount effective to cause shrinkage of uterine fibroids is injected or inserted into the uterine fibroid.

Abstract: Herein, we describe a direct in vitro method that identifies agents that are toxic against natural human tissue stem cells. We provide a novel schedule for culturing any cell population containing homologous tissue stem cells that allows the number and cell kinetics of tissue stem cells, transient cells, and terminally differentiated cells within the population to be monitored. Using the passage schedule together with determination of a growth curve for the population, one can determine whether or not an agent is toxic to tissue stem cells, or to transient cells and/or terminal cells. The same method can also be used to identify agents that act positively on tissue stem cells and the other specific cell types.

Abstract: A method for observing biological species on a culture medium contained in a container having at least one translucent face, the method including the steps of: a) directing a light beam onto one portion of the translucent face, so as to define at least one illuminated region and at least one non-illuminated region of the face; and b) acquiring an image of a portion of the surface of the culture medium illuminated by the light beam, the acquisition being carried out through at least one of the non-illuminated regions of the translucent face and along an optical acquisition axis forming a non-zero angle (a) with the direction of propagation of the light beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bacteriophage having a specific bactericidal activity against Salmonella, a composition for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseseases comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient, an antibiotic comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient, an animal feed or drinking water comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient, and a sanitizer or cleaner comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient. The bacteriophage of the present nvention has a specific bactericidal activity against Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella derby, Salmonella infantis, or Salmonella newport with no influences on beneficial bacteria, as well as excellent acid- and heat-resistance and desiccation tolerance.

Abstract: Microencapsulation of bioactive and chemical cargo in a stable, cross-linked polymer matrix is presented that results in small particle sizes and is easily scaled-up for industrial applications. A formulation of a salt of an acid soluble multivalent ion, an acid neutralized with a volatile base and one or more monomers that cross-link in the presence of multivalent ions is atomized into droplets. Cross-linking is achieved upon atomization where the volatile base is vaporized resulting in a reduction of the pH of the formulation and the temporal release of multivalent ions from the salt that cross-link the monomers forming a capsule. The incorporation of additional polymers or hydrophobic compounds in the formulation allows control of hydration properties of the particles to control the release of the encapsulated compounds. The operational parameters can also be controlled to affect capsule properties such as particle-size and particle-size distribution.

Abstract: A method and a platelet concentrate preservation device for platelet concentrate storage. A method includes at least partially saturating platelet concentrate xenon, and storing the platelet concentrate at less than 15 C in a generally horizontal position. A device can be used to store blood, blood products, or combinations thereof that may or may not be under pressure. The device includes a chamber having a cavity. The chamber includes first and second chamber parts that form the cavity when releasably connected together. The cavity is designed to receive at least one bag that contains the blood, blood products, or combinations thereof. The device also includes a high-strength casing and includes a chamber cavity. The high-strength casing includes first and second casing parts that form the chamber cavity when releasably connected together. The chamber cavity is designed to receive the chamber.

Abstract: A food safety detection device includes a xylem fiber substrate, which is configured with a sampling portion and a reaction portion. The reaction portion includes at least one chemical reagent. The sampling portion absorbs a test sample. The test sample moves on the xylem fiber substrate to the reaction portion and reacts with the chemical reagent. A manufacturing method for the food safety detection device is also disclosed. The food safety detection device is advantageous for easy operation, safety and rapid analysis.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition comprising at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, at least one probiotic and a mixture of oligosaccharides, said mixture containing at least one N-acetylated oligosaccharide, at least one sialylated oligosaccharide and at least one neutral oligosaccharide, for use in the promotion of healthy bone growth and/or in the prevention and/or treatment of bone disease. Said bone disease is in particular osteomalacia, rickets, osteopenia or osteoporosis. Preferably the composition is a nutritional composition.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for economically and effectively removing co-produced oxygenated organic compound from an anaerobic, aqueous fermentation broth used for the bioconversion of syngas to product oxygenated organic compound. Nitrate anion is added to the broth and the broth is contacted with denitrifying microorganisms that bioconvert the nitrate and organic compounds in the broth to reduced nitrogen compound and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for treating ocular contusion and blunt injury to the eye and for treating traumatic injury of the optic nerve. The invention is further directed to treating ocular contusion and blunt injury to the eye and for treating traumatic injury of the optic nerve by administering to a subject suffering from such conditions Amnion-derived Cellular Cytokine Solution (ACCS), including immediate-release, targeted-release, and sustained-release (SR) ACCS compositions (referred to herein as “SR-ACCS” compositions) and/or Amnion-derived Multipotent Progenitor (AMP) cell compositions. Such administration includes intranasal administration of ACCS and/or AMP cells.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to develop a method for amplifying in vitro to a large amount of a homogenous insoluble aggregate that is equivalent to an insoluble aggregate formed in the brain of a patient. A method of producing an insoluble aggregate including TDP-43 protein and fragments thereof according to the present invention includes the steps of: (1) introducing an insoluble fraction originated from the brain of a neurodegenerative disease patient into a cell culture in which the intact TDP-43 protein can be expressed in a constitutive manner; (2) culturing the cultured cell into which the insoluble fraction has been introduced; and (3) separating an insoluble fraction from the cultured cell. Optionally, the method may additionally include a step of amplifying the insoluble aggregate of the neurodegenerative-disease-related protein in the cultured cell.

Abstract: In some aspects, this invention provides a method of making a bone marrow-derived tissue-specific stem cell proliferation, expansion, isolation and rejuvenation extracellular matrix. In other aspects, this invention provides a method of making a tissue-specific fibroblast-derived stem cell differentiation extracellular matrix. Also provided are methods of using such a cell-derived preservation or differentiation matrices to induce tissue-specific differentiation of pluripotent cells, repair damaged tissue, and treat a subject having a physiologic deficiency using the same.

Abstract: A detection device includes a xylem fiber substrate configured with a sampling portion and a reaction portion. The reaction portion includes at least one enzyme reagent. The sampling portion absorbs a test sample. The test sample moves on the xylem fiber substrate to the reaction portion and reacts with the enzyme reagent. A manufacturing method for the detection device is also disclosed. The detection device is advantageous for easy operation, safety and rapid analysis.

Abstract: A placental tissue assembly for treating wounds or surfaces of a patient has one or more layers of placental tissue and a backing material. The one or more layers of placental tissue have a first side and a second side. The backing material is adhered to and covers one of either the first or second sides of the one or more layers of placental tissue to create the assembly. The assembly when applied onto a surface to be treated on the side of the tissue opposite the backing material adheres to the surface with an attachment force greater than an attachment force of the backing material adhered to the first or second side. This allows the backing material to be released leaving the placental tissue affixed to the surface to be treated.

Abstract: Processes for starting up and operating anaerobic, deep tank fermentation systems to anaerobically bioconvert hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a gaseous substrate stream to oxygenated organic compounds and for steady operation of such fermentation systems are shown. Injectors use a motive liquid to introduce gas substrate as a stable gas-in liquid dispersion into the deep tank fermentation reactor where at least one of: (i) adjusting the gas to liquid flow ratio through an injector, (ii) changing the rate of liquid flow through an injector, and (iii) adjusting the carbon monoxide mole fraction in the gas feed by admixture with at least one other gas, wherein the mass transfer of carbon monoxide to an aqueous menstruum in the reactor is controlled to obtain the robust growth of the microorganism and/or continued conversion of gas substrate while maintaining the carbon monoxide concentration below that amount which is unduly adverse to the microorganism.

Abstract: The invention relates to cassettes for culturing cells. The invention also relates to analytical and preparative incubators for housing the cassettes. The invention also relates to methods of using the cassettes, for example, to culture cells wherein the processes of feeding and passaging cells are automated.

Abstract: Provided are an enzyme treatment apparatus for proteins using a hollow fiber membrane and an on-line proteomics method using same. The enzyme treatment apparatus for proteins according to the present invention can increase a recovery rate of peptides, which are recovered through an enzyme treatment process, by basically solving the problem of low reproducibility of an enzyme activity which may occur during a conventional enzyme treatment process, and can also reduce a time for purification and provide higher yield by performing separation and purification through a single step. In particular, the present invention can be usefully applied for developing a disease-specific protein biomarker through a statistical analysis method having highly efficient detectability for proteins in research for finding biomarkers related to human diseases.

Abstract: A method for collecting cells that have been cultured by using a cell culture kit in which, at least, a culture container for cultivating cells, a cell collection container for collecting cells after cultivation and a waste liquid container for collecting a culture medium after cultivation are linked to one another through a conduit is provided. The method includes transferring a culture supernatant that has been cultured from the culture container to the waste liquid container, transferring a concentrated suspension of cells from the culture container to the cell collection container, returning part of the culture supernatant discharged in the waste liquid container to the culture container and allowing cells remaining in the culture container to be suspended in a suspension of cells, and transferring again a suspension of cells in which remaining cells are suspended from the culture container to the cell collection container.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for reducing the number of apoptotic cell deaths in a population of cells undergoing excessive cellular apoptosis. The invention is also directed to methods for preventing apoptotic cell death in a population of cells at risk for developing excessive cellular apoptosis. In particular, the invention is directed to methods for reducing or preventing excessive cellular apoptosis comprising exposing cells exhibiting or at risk for developing excessive cellular apoptosis to a cellular factor-containing composition called Amnion-derived Cellular Cytokine Solution (referred to herein as ACCS), which is obtained from the culturing of Amnion-derived Multipotent Progenitor (AMP) cells, or AMP cells.

Abstract: Microplate reader has a housing, at least one optical measuring/detection device, a microplate support, a moving unit and an integrated lid holding apparatus. The lid holding apparatus moves the microplate in one respective, at least approximately vertical direction for moving the microplate lid away from the microplate. The lid holding apparatus is arranged inside the housing as a magnetic lifter and comprises a non-array arrangement of at least one permanent magnet, or at least three electro magnets, or at least one switchable permanent magnet. Each microplate lid to be moved away from the microplate comprises magnetizable material with a physical area. A projected area of the at least one permanent magnet, electro magnet, or switchable permanent magnet is smaller than the physical area of the magnetizable material of the microplate lid.