Abstract: Methods of treating renal failure are described in particular, methods of treating renal failure by administration of pharmaceutical composition including a mixture of nicotine and salicylic acid are described.

Abstract: Methods of producing non-human animal models of corneal angiogenesis and corneal ectatic diseases, such as corneal keratoconus, by applying an aromatic compound to the eye of a non-human animal are described. Also described are non-human animal models of corneal angiogenesis and corneal ectatic diseases, and methods of using the non-human animal models to screen compounds that modulate corneal angiogenesis and corneal ectatic diseases.

Abstract: Uses of QIAPINE™ to treat internal bleeding, such as subdural hematoma and subarachinoid hemorrhage, and ocular bleeding, such as such as hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage, in a subject are described. Also described are uses of QIAPINE™ to treat vision loss resulting from hyphema or vitreous hemorrhage.

Abstract: Electrochemical processes and systems for preserving perishable food are described. The process and system allow for the preservation of perishable food in the presence of water moisture, melanin, or a precursor, derivative, analog, or variant of melanin, and electromagnetic energy, such as visible or invisible light energy. There exists a need in the art for improved methods and processes for preserving perishable foods that overcome certain disadvantages associated with known methods for preserving perishable food, such as addition of preservatives, refrigeration/freezing, drying/dehydration of food, and storage under vacuum. The invention satisfies this need by providing a process and system for preserving perishable food in the presence of water moisture, electromagnetic energy, and melanin, melanin precursors, melanin derivatives, melanin analogs, or melanin variants.

Abstract: The use of nicotine for treating renal pain is described. It is believed that renal pain, such as renal pain caused by renal ischemia or renal reperfusion, can be improved by increasing the activity of ?-melanocyte stimulating hormone (?-MSH), the release of which is affected by nicotine.

Abstract: An electrochemical process and system for producing glucose and glucose precursors are described. The process and system allow for the production of glucose from carbon dioxide and water, requiring only melanin, or a precursor, derivative, analog, or variant of melanin, and electromagnetic energy, such as visible or invisible light energy.

Abstract: The use of nicotine for treating inflammatory pain and hyphema is described. It is believed that inflammatory pain, such as renal pain, and hyphema can be improved by The various diseases, disorders or conditions can be improved by increasing the activity of ?-melanocyte stimulating hormone (?-MSH), whose release is affected by nicotine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for hydrogen production from water, known as a photoelectrochemical system. The system integrates a semiconductor material and a water electrolyzing material inside a monolithic design, to produce hydrogen directly from water. Natural or synthetic light is used as the main or sole source of energy. The water electrolyzing material is melanins, melanin precursors or melanin derivatives, melanin variants, melanin analogues, natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals, ions, drugs. The system or light absorbing compound generates enough energy to start, lead and complete the photoelectrolysis reaction. The system can generate hydrogen, oxygen and high energy electrons, and can synthesize water from the union of hydrogen and oxygen, thereby generating electricity. The system can also be coupled to other processes, generating a multiplication effect, and can be used for the reduction of carbon dioxide, nitrates, sulphates and the like.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cement composition that contains dopamelanin, its precursors and/or its analogues as an additive in a maximum percentage of 30% of the cement. This additive substitutes water of the capillary nets. The mentioned cement mixture posses a water/cement relation of 0.2 to 0.4, optionally it can contain different sand and gravel proportions. This cement mixture generates strong chemical bonds, and increased scouring resistance, of at least 28% and a higher elastic resistance of the concrete, of at least 50%. Its cracking in early stages is very low or practically null. The present request also refers to the use of dopamelanin and/or its precursors and/or its analogues as an additive of the cement mixture that substitutes the capillary water proportion in the cementant mixture.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for hydrogen production from water, known as a photoelectrochemical system. The system integrates a semiconductor material and a water electrolyzing material inside a monolithic design, to produce hydrogen directly from water. Natural or synthetic light is used as the main or sole source of energy. The water electrolyzing material is melanins, melanin precursors or melanin derivatives, melanin variants, melanin analogues, natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals, ions, drugs. The system or light absorbing compound generates enough energy to start, lead and complete the photoelectrolysis reaction. The system can generate hydrogen, oxygen and high energy electrons, and can synthesize water from the union of hydrogen and oxygen, thereby generating electricity. The system can also be coupled to other processes, generating a multiplication effect, and can be used for the reduction of carbon dioxide, nitrates, sulphates and the like.

Abstract: The invention essentially consists in the use of melanins, melanin precursors or melanin derivatives, melanin variants, melanin analogues, natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals, ions, drugs; as water electrolyzing material, using as sole or main source of energy, natural or synthetic light, coherent or not; in the systems of hydrogen production from water, known as photoelectrochemical systems. These systems integrate as semiconductor material and a water electrolyzer inside a monolithic design, to produce hydrogen directly from water, using light (between 200 to 900 nm) as the main or sole source of energy.

Abstract: The uses of nicotine, analogues, precursors or derivatives thereof for treatment of inflammatory, infectious, candidal or degenerative diseases of the joint, central nervous system, kidney, lung, and liver, depression, obesity, bone disease and the like are described. The various diseases, disorders or conditions can be improved by means of intensification of the actions of ?-MSH, whose release is affected by the use of nicotine, analogues, precursors or derivatives thereof, which can increase and/or reduce the bioavailability of ?-MSH in blood and/or central or peripheral tissues to accentuate or diminish the effect of the ?-MSH for therapeutic and/or prophylactic purposes.

Abstract: The invention essentially consists in the use of melanins, melanin precursors or melanin derivatives, melanin variants, melanin analogues, natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals, ions, drugs; as water electrolyzing material, using as sole or main source of energy, natural or synthetic light, coherent or not; in the systems of hydrogen production from water, known as photoelectrochemical systems. These systems integrate as semiconductor material and a water electrolyzer inside a monolithic design, to produce hydrogen directly from water, using light (between 200 to 900 nm) as the main or sole source of energy.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cement composition that contains dopamelanin, its precursors and/or its analogues as an additive in a maximum percentage of 30% of the cement. This additive substitutes water of the capillary nets. The mentioned cement mixture posses a water/cement relation of 0.2 to 0.4, optionally it can contain different sand and gravel proportions. This cement mixture generates strong chemical bonds, and increased scouring resistance, of at least 28% and a higher elastic resistance of the concrete, of at least 50%. Its cracking in early stages is very low or practically null. The present request also refers to the use of dopamelanin and/or its precursors and/or its analogues as an additive of the cement mixture that substitutes the capillary water proportion in the cementant mixture.

Abstract: This invention protects the use of nicotine, analogues thereof precursors thereof or its derivates for treatment of inflammatory, infectious, candidal or degenerative (of the joints and/or of the central nervous system, of kidneys, the lungs, liver), depression, obesity, bone disease and the like, which can be improved by means of intensification of the actions of ?-MSH, given the fact that this hormone are extraordinary properties: e.g., it has an antipyretic potency 20,000 times as great as acetaminophen, its antimicrobian potency, is comparable to gentamycine, it is the best anticandidiasic known; it inhibits apoptosis of various stem cells, and significantly modulates the immune reactions, and therefore the use of agents that affect its release may have significant therapeutic potential.

Abstract: This invention consists essentially in the employment of the melanines, precursors of the melanines, derivates of the melanines, variants, analogues of the melanines, or their precursors natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals ions drugs; as water electrolyzing materials, employing as its only or main energy source light, natural or synthetic, coherent or not, in the hydrogen producing systems from water known as photoelectrochemical. These systems integrate a semiconductor material and a water electrolyzing element within a monolytic design to produce hydrogen directly from water, employing light (from 200 to 900 nm wavelengths) as its only or main energy source Although simple in concept, the challenge was to find a material that could bear or sustain the whole process.