Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing secretion of oils from oil producing cells are described herein. In particular, secretion of oils is enhanced by treating the cells with herbicides. The oils generated according to the invention may be useful, for example, in the production of biofuels.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treatment of atopic dermatitis and infectious dermatitis with biological spa therapy. The method seeks to cure or alleviate symptoms of atopic dermatitis by bathing in a bathwater containing, as dominant bacteria, not less than 105 Bacillus bacteria per 1 mL of the bathwater.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and compositions for aggregating algae so as to separate the algal cells from an aqueous algae suspension. A bioflocculent, comprising a composition comprising a bacteria, is used to aggregate the algae.

Abstract: There is provided an ex vivo method for reducing the immunogenicity of a tissue or organ prior to transplantation, comprising: (a) establishing the tissue or organ in a warm perfusion system capable of supporting oxidative metabolism of the tissue or organ; (b) perfusing the tissue or organ with a warm non-blood perfusion solution for at least 1 hour to allow passenger leukocytes within the tissue or organ to migrate from the tissue or organ into the recirculating perfusion solution; (c) isolating the passenger leukocytes from the recirculating perfusion solution to prevent the passenger leukocytes from re-entering the tissue or organ.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant comprising a biocompatible three-dimensional scaffold and at least two cell types selected from the group consisting of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and endothelial cells or progenitors thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various methods for generating airway and lung progenitors and epithelial cells and three-dimensional anterior foregut spheres, and to populations of cells made using the methods. The airway and lung progenitors and epithelial cells can be used as a model to study diseases that primarily affect airway epithelial cells, and to study human lung development. Methods are also provided for drug screening. Anterior foregut spheres can be used as a model for lung fibrosis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a soft tissue site, and augmenting the soft tissue site, such as the breast(s), scar, depression, or other defect, of a subject through use of devices that exert a distractive force on the breast(s) and grafting of autologous fat tissue such as domes with sealing rims for surrounding each of the soft tissue site and a regulated pump. The method for preparing the soft tissue site, and enhancing fat graft results, entails application of the distracting force to the targeted soft tissue site at least intermittently for some period of time and preferably several weeks prior to the graft procedure. A related aspect of the invention includes following the preparation steps by transfer of fat from other areas of the subject to the subject's soft tissue site, and then reapplication of the distractive force to the soft tissue site that received the autologous fat graft.

Abstract: Isolated cells are described that are not embryonic stem cells, not embryonic germ cells, and not germ cells. The cells can differentiate into at least one cell type of each of at least two of the endodermal, ectodermal, and mesodermal lineages. The cells do not provoke a harmful immune response. The cells can modulate immune responses. As an example, the cells can suppress an immune response in a host engendered by allogeneic cells, tissues, and organs. Methods are described for using the cells, by themselves or adjunctively, to treat subjects. For instance, the cells can be used adjunctively for immunosuppression in transplant therapy. Methods for obtaining the cells and compositions for using them also are described.

Abstract: Methods for preparing Factor X, activated Factor X, inactivated factor X and inactivated factor Xa, compositions comprising Factor X and Factor Xa, inactivated Factor X and inactivated Factor Xa and methods of medical treatment using Factor X, Factor Xa, activated Factor X and inactivated Factor Xa are disclosed. The preparation methods comprise a chromatography step using an immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography substrate.

Abstract: Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF ? signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for activating mammalian sperm and a method for activating sperm by use of the activating agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sperm activating agent containing endo-?-galactosidase and/or FGF, which accelerate motility of mammalian sperm, for use in in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination by husband and a sperm activating method by adding endo-?-galactosidase and/or FGF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a population of connective tissue derived cells that respond to interferon-gamma (IFN-?) by expressing indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) for use in preventing, treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with disorders in which modulation of a subject's immune system is beneficial, including, but not limited to, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and immunologically mediated diseases including rejection of transplanted organs and tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for generating populations of tissue precursor cells from pluripotent cells, and preferably induction of stem cells into definitive endoderm to generate anterior foregut endoderm from pluripotent cells. The anterior foregut endoderm cells can then be differentiated into an alveolar epithelial type II cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing an embedded mammalian cell, comprising the steps of providing an alginate sulfate in aqueous solution; reacting the alginate sulfate to form a hydrogel in a gelation step, providing a precursor cell, and embedding the precursor cell in the sulfated alginate hydrogel in an embedding step, thus yielding an sulfated alginate hydrogel embedded cell. The invention further relates to sulfated alginate hydrogels, and cellular grafts comprising a mammalian cell embedded in sulfated alginate hydrogel.

Abstract: Provided are substantially dephosphorylated forms of lysosomal storage disease (LSD) proteins, including dephosphorylated forms of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS, or I2D) and iduronidase (IDU), having increased ability to traverse or penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) relative to phosphorylated forms of the protein, and p97 conjugates thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising such dephosphorylated LSD proteins and p97 conjugates, and methods of use thereof, for instance, to treat any one or more lysosomal storage diseases, such as Hunter Syndrome (or MPS Type II).

Abstract: A preferred embodiment biosensor is a multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure. Pores in a top layer of the micro-porous thin film structure are sized to accept a first molecule of interest. Pores in a second layer of the micro-porous thin film structure are smaller than the pores in the top layer and are sized to accept a second molecule of interest that is smaller than the first molecule of interest. The pores in the second layer are too small to accept the first molecule of interest. The pores in the top layer and the pores in the second layer are sized and arranged such that light reflected from the multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure produces multiple superimposed interference patterns that can be resolved. In preferred embodiments, the multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure is a porous silicon thin film multi-layer structure formed on a silicon substrate, such as a silicon wafer. Specific and nonspecific binding can be detected with biosensors of the invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatus and systems for fabricating highly aligned arrays of polymeric fibers having isodiameters ranging from sub 50 nm to microns with lengths of several millimeters. The approach disclosed herein uses (e.g.) a micropipette to deliver polymeric solution which is collected in the form of aligned fibers on a rotating and linearly translating substrate. The methods deposit polymeric fibers on spherical surfaces and gapped surfaces with precise control, thus heralding new opportunities for a variety of applications employing polymeric fibers. The design workspace for depositing fibers disclosed herein is dependent upon processing parameters of rotational/linear translational speeds and material properties of solution rheologies. Techniques for fabrication of multilayer fiber arrays, for fabrication of cell growth scaffolds and for attachment of particles to the fiber arrays are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are ejaculum of animals as medicinal materials and uses thereof in manufacture of medicaments for treatment of various tumors, depression, senile dementia, and dermatosis. Said tumors include ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, osteocarcinama, etc. The present medicinal material, alone or in combination with additional agents, is similar to cyclophosphamide in antineoplastic effects, which is accepted presently the most potent chemotherapeutic agent. It can inhibit the growth of tumors, not destroying the normal immune system of human. The present medicinal material of ejaculum is powdery crystal prepared by vacuum lyophilization from fresh ejaculum of animals, and it is suitable to a variety of dosage forms such as capsule or oral solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for enhancing stem cell bioactivity using tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a method for separately or simultaneously quantifying whole HDL-C and cholesterol in HDL subfractions: ApoE-Containing HDL-C and ApoE-deficient HDL-C. A method for enzymatically and separately quantifying cholesterol in the ApoE-deficient HDL comprising: adding a surfactant composed of a polyoxyethylene benzyl phenyl ether derivative to a test sample in a final concentration of 0.05 to 0.10%, reacting the test sample with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase, and quantifying hydrogen peroxide generated. A method for enzymatically and separately quantifying cholesterol in ApoE-Containing HDL comprising: adding a surfactant composed of a polyoxyethylene benzyl phenyl ether derivative so as to obtain a final concentration of 0.15 to 0.75%, reacting the test sample with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase, and quantifying hydrogen peroxide generated.