Abstract: The present invention concerns an improved therapeutic regimen for GHD therapy. In particular, the invention concerns methods for bolus dose administration of a human growth hormone-XTEN (hGH-XTEN) fusion protein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pediatric growth hormone deficiency (PGHD) therapy for pediatric subjects. The therapy comprises administering to the pediatric patient with PGHD a human growth hormone-XTEN (hGH-XTEN) fusion protein in therapeutically effective doses every week, every two weeks, semimonthly, every three weeks, or monthly. This therapy is not inferior compared to the height velocity achieved with daily injections of hGH not linked to XTEN over the same period.

Abstract: The present invention provides standard deviation score (SDS) calculators, which SDS calculators are useful for transforming insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations to IGF-1 standard deviation scores. In one embodiment, IGF-1 blood levels are calculated so as to take into account IGFBP-3 blood levels (and, optionally, IGF-2 blood levels) to provide an IGF-1 production rate, which can be used to calculate an IGF-1 production rate SDS. The IGF-1 SDS and IGF-1 production rate SDS are particularly useful in assessing the stimulated rate of IGF-1 production in response to, for example, growth hormone therapy.

Abstract: A self-contained, hand held and operated exerciser for the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, chest and back muscles is disclosed. A pair of spaced parallel handles having freely rotatable gripping pads are biased apart by main torsion springs anchored to the handles near their ends. The main torsion springs are restrained by substantially rigid keepers and allow lateral displacement of the handles toward and away from each other over a limited distance during use of the exerciser. Supplemental torsion springs increasing the ability of the exerciser to resist forces exerted on it are conveniently installed and removed without the necessity for fastener elements or the use of tools.