Abstract: A method of using biologics to treat chronic brain injury or spasticity due to stroke, trauma and other causes. Preferred embodiments include perispinal, parenteral, transepidermal or intranasal use of TNF antagonists. The TNF antagonists include TNF receptor fusion proteins, TNF monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), humanized TNF mAbs, fully human TNF mAbs, chimeric TNF mAbs, domain TNF antibodies, mAB fragments, anti-TNF nanobodies, dominant negative TNF constructs and TNF inhibitory single chain antibody fragments. One of the preferred embodiments of this invention is the perispinal administration of etanercept for treatment of mammals following stroke. The use of Trendelenburg positioning, catheters, pumps, or depot formulations are included.

Abstract: A method, comprising: introducing a therapeutically effective amount of a specific TNF blocker to cerebrospinal fluid of a human in need of treatment for symptoms associated with neronal compression.

Abstract: A method for delivering a biologic pharmaceutical, comprising: administering an effective amount of a biologic pharmaceutical to a patient in need thereof by perispinal injection, without direct intrathecal or direct epidural injection.

Abstract: A method for delivering a biologic pharmaceutical, comprising: administering an effective amount of a biologic pharmaceutical to a patient in need thereof by perispinal injection, without direct intrathecal or direct epidural injection.

Abstract: Methods for treating neurological or neuropsychiatric diseases or disorders in humans by administering to the human a therapeutically effective dose of specific biologics are presented. The biologics of consideration include antagonists of tumor necrosis factor or of interleukin-1. The administration of these biologics is performed by specific methods, most, but not all of which fall into the category of anatomically localized administration designed for perispinal use. Anatomically localized administration involving perispinal use includes, but is not limited to the subcutaneous, intramuscular, interspinous, epidural, peridural, parenteral or intrathecal routes. Additionally, intranasal administration is discussed as a method to provide therapeutic benefit.

Abstract: A method of treating a nerve disorder mediated by nucleus pulposus in a mammal in need thereof, comprising: administering to said mammal a TNF-? inhibitor that is a monoclonal antibody which blocks TNF-? activity, thereby inhibiting TNF-? and treating said disorder.

Abstract: The present invention provides specific methods of using and administering etanercept to improve cognitive function in a human, for both the treatment and prevention of cognitive impairment, or, alternatively, to enhance cognitive function including Alzheimer's Disease, Idiopathic Dementia, and Traumatic Brain Injury. The methods of the present invention include the perispinal administration of etanercept. For the purposes of this patent “perispinal” is to be considered as referring to “perispinal extrathecal;” therefore direct intrathecal administration is excluded. Perispinal administration leads to enhanced delivery of etanercept to the brain in a therapeutically effective amount, via the vertebral venous system and/or the cerebrospinal fluid. Delivery of etanercept to the brain utilizing the methods of the present invention includes the use of the vertebral venous system to deliver etanercept to the brain via retrograde venous flow.

Abstract: Cytokine antagonists for use in localized clinical disorders are provided for the treatment and prevention of damage to the optic nerve, other cranial nerves, spinal cord, nerve roots, peripheral nerves or muscles caused by any one of the following: a herniated nucleus pulposus, osteoarthritis, other forms of arthritis, disorders of bone, disease, or trauma. The cytokine antagonists are used to treat these disorders by local administration. These cytokine antagonists include antagonists to tumor necrosis factor.

Abstract: Interleukin (IL) antagonists are provided for the treatment in humans of neurological disorders, trauma, injuries or compression; neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's Disease; demyelinating neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis; retinal disorders; and muscular disorders. The IL antagonists are used to treat these disorders by inhibiting the action of IL in the human body. The administration of these IL antagonists is performed by intrathecal administration; intracerebroventricular administration; intranasal administration; by inhalation; or by alternative routes of administration.

Abstract: A method is provided of removing hair from the skin of a patient using a laser apparatus capable of producing an emission of laser energy in the form of a group of pulses having defined parameters, being a defined pulse group, and using an optical delivery system, which includes the steps of controlling the laser apparatus in each emission of laser energy to emit a defined pulse group of 2 to 15 pulses of coherent light energy; transmitting the defined pulse group of pulses of coherent light energy through an optical delivery system to the same spot on the skin of the patient; irradiating the same spot on the skin containing the hair to be removed with the defined pulse group of coherent light energy transmitted through the optical delivery system from the laser apparatus; controlling the laser apparatus in each emission of laser energy to emit the defined pulse group through the optical delivery system, the defined pulse group having 2 to 15 pulses at a wavelength in the range of 550 to 1200 nm, each pulse a

Abstract: A laser apparatus for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles, veins or capillaries from the skin of a patient. The laser apparatus includes a housing having a single laser for sequentially emitting a series of pulses of coherent light energy having a pulse duration in the range of ½ ms to 10 ms; a fiber optic bundle connected to the laser for transmitting said series of pulses of coherent light energy to the skin of a patient; and a sequence control device for controlling the laser to emit the series of pulses of coherent light energy sequentially, with a time delay of less than 20 milliseconds between the sequential pulses of the single laser. The laser apparatus includes a handpiece assembly for holding a section of the fiber optic bundle for directing the series of pulses of coherent light energy to the same spot of the patient's skin to remove the plurality of hair follicles, veins, or capillaries.

Abstract: Cytokine antagonists for use in localized clinical disorders are provided for the treatment and prevention of damage to the optic nerve, other cranial nerves, spinal cord, nerve roots, peripheral nerves or muscles caused by any one of the following: a herniated nucleus pulposus, osteoarthritis, other forms of arthritis, disorders of bone, disease, or trauma. The cytokine antagonists are used to treat these disorders by local administration. These cytokine antagonists include antagonists to tumor necrosis factor.

Abstract: Interleukin (IL) antagonists are provided for the treatment in humans of neurological disorders, trauma, injuries or compression; neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's Disease; demyelinating neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis; retinal disorders; and muscular disorders. The IL antagonists are used to treat these disorders by inhibiting the action of IL in the human body. The administration of these IL antagonists is performed by intrathecal administration; intracerebroventricular administration; intranasal administration; by inhalation; or by alternative routes of administration.

Abstract: Interleukin (IL) antagonists are provided for the treatment in humans of neurological disorders, trauma, injuries or compression; neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's Disease; demyelinating neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis; retinal disorders; and muscular disorders. The IL antagonists are used to treat these disorders by inhibiting the action of IL in the human body. The administration of these IL antagonists is performed by intrathecal administration; intracerebroventricular administration; intranasal administration; by inhalation; or by alternative routes of administration.

Abstract: Interleukin (IL) antagonists are provided for the treatment in humans of neurological disorders, trauma, injuries or compression; neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's Disease; demyelinating neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis; retinal disorders; and muscular disorders. The IL antagonists are used to treat these disorders by inhibiting the action of IL in the human body. The administration of these IL antagonists is performed by intrathecal administration; intracerebroventricular administration; intranasal administration; by inhalation; or by alternative routes of administration.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for inhibiting the action of TNF for treating conditions of the optic nerve or retina in a human by administering a TNF antagonist for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of a human by administering to the human a therapeutically effective dosage level of a TNF antagonist. The TNF antagonist is selected from the group consisting of etanercept, infliximab, pegylated soluble TNF receptor Type I (PEGsTNF-R1), CDP571 (a humanized monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody), and D2E7 (a human anti-TNF mAb) for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue of a human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of a human.

Abstract: Specific Cytokine Antagonists, including TNF antagonists and/or Interleukin-1 antagonists, are used as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of hearing loss, including presbycusis and other forms of sensorineural hearing loss. The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the action of TNF and/or IL-1 antagonists for treating hearing loss in a human by administering a TNF antagonist and/or an IL-1 antagonist for reducing the inflammation affecting the auditory apparatus of said human, or for modulating the immune response affecting the auditory apparatus of said human, by administering a therapeutically effective dosage level to said human of a TNF antagonist and/or an IL-1 antagonist. Administration may be systemic, through the subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral, or intravenous routes; or by delivering an anatomically localized application in the region of the head.

Abstract: Cytokine antagonists for use in localized clinical disorders are provided for the treatment and prevention of damage to the optic nerve, other cranial nerves, spinal cord, nerve roots, peripheral nerves or muscles caused by any one of the following: a herniated nucleus pulposus, osteoarthritis, other forms of arthritis, disorders of bone, disease, or trauma. The cytokine antagonists are used to treat these disorders by local administration. These cytokine antagonists include antagonists to tumor necrosis factor; interleukin-1; interleukin-6; and interleukin-8.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the action of TNF for treating neurological conditions in a human by administering a TNF antagonist for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue of said human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of said human, comprising the step of: administering a therapeutically effective dosage level to said human of said TNF antagonist selected from the group consisting of etanercept, infliximab, and D2E7 (a human anti-TNF mAb from Knoll Pharmaceuticals) for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue of said human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of said human. In addition, for the viral-associated neurological disorders, the following additional step is performed: administering a therapeutically effective dosage level to said human of an antiviral agent or anti-retroviral agents for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue of said human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of said human.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the action of TNF for treating neurological conditions in a human by administering a TNF antagonist for reducing damage to neuronal tissue or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue of the human. The TNF antagonist administered is selected from the group consisting of etanercept and infliximab. The TNF antagonist is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, intrathecally, or intramuscularly. Methotrexate or Leflunomide may be administered concurrently with the TNF antagonist for demyelinating diseases and certain other neurological disorders.