Abstract: A method is disclosed for inhibiting the action of TNF for treating muscular diseases in a human by administering a TNF antagonist for reducing the inflammation of muscle of a human, or for modulating the immune response affecting the muscle of a human by administering a therapeutically effective dosage level to the human of a TNF antagonist.

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: 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: 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: A laser apparatus and method for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles from the skin of a patient. The laser apparatus includes a housing having first and second lasers contained therein for emitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy; first and second fiber optic bundles connected to the first and second lasers, respectively, for transmitting the pulses of coherent light energy from the first and second lasers; the first and second fiber optic bundles connected to a common fiber optic bundle for combining and transmitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy from each of the first and second lasers through the common fiber optic bundle; and a sequence control device for controlling the first and second lasers to emit at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy either sequentially or simultaneously, with a time delay of less than 20 milliseconds between the sequential pulses from the first and second lasers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed 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 or the neuromuscular junction of a human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue or the neuromuscular junction 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), other agents containing soluble TNF receptors, CDP571 (a humanized monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody), other monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibodies, TNF-alpha converting enzyme inhibitors and D2E7 (a human anti-TNF mAb) for reducing the inflammation of neuronal tissue or the neuromuscular junction of a human, or for modulating the immune response affecting neuronal tissue or the neuromuscular junction of a human.

Abstract: A laser apparatus and method for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles 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 width in the range of ½ ms to 40 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 100 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: A laser apparatus and method for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles from the skin of a patient. The laser apparatus and method includes a housing having at least first and second lasers contained therein for emitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy having a pulse width in the range of 1/2 ms to 40 ms; a first fiber optic bundle connected to the first laser for transmitting at least a first pulse of coherent light energy to the skin of a patient, and a second fiber optic bundle connected to the second laser for transmitting at least a second pulse of coherent light energy to the skin of a patient; and a sequence control device for controlling at least first and second lasers to emit at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy either sequentially or simultaneously, with a time delay of less than 100 milliseconds between the sequential pulses of the first and second lasers.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles or blood vessels from the skin of a patient. The laser apparatus includes a housing having first and second lasers contained therein for emitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy; first and second fiber optic bundles connected to the first and second lasers, respectively, for transmitting the pulses of coherent light energy from the first and second lasers; the first and second fiber optic bundles connected to a common fiber optic bundle for combining and transmitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy from each of the first and second lasers through the common fiber optic bundle; and a sequence control device for controlling the first and second lasers to emit at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy either sequentially or simultaneously, with a time delay of less than 100 milliseconds between the sequential pulses from the first and second lasers.

Abstract: A method of removing hair or blood vessels from the skin of a patient using a flashlamp, a sequence control device and an optical delivery system, and includes the steps of controlling the flashlamp to sequentially emit a series of pulses of incoherent light energy, transmitting the series of pulses of incoherent light energy through the optical delivery system to the same spot on the skin containing the hair or blood vessels with the sequential pulses of incoherent light energy transmitted through the optical delivery system from the flashlamp, and pulsing the flashlamp at least two times at a wavelength in the range 550 to 1200 nm, at a power level in the range of 4 to 25 Joules/cm.sup.2, each pulse having a duration in the range of 1/2 to 10 milliseconds, a delay between pulses in the range of 1 to 10 milliseconds, and having a beam diameter on the treatment area in the range of 4 to 50 millimeters.

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.