Abstract: Described herein are conditioned medium and processed conditioned medium, each of which comprises secreted stem cell factors; compositions containing conditioned medium and/or processed conditioned medium and a delivery polymer. The conditioned medium, processed conditioned medium and compositions may be used to promote blood vessel growth and healing of injured tissues.

Abstract: Described herein are homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque(s) in mammals and nucleic acids that encode such polypeptides. Also described are methods for detecting and treating conditions or disorders associated with, or characterized, by elevated levels of homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque and/or vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.

Abstract: Described herein are conditioned medium and processed conditioned medium, each of which comprises secreted stem cell factors; compositions containing conditioned medium and/or processed conditioned medium and a delivery polymer. The conditioned medium, processed conditioned medium and compositions may be used to promote blood vessel growth and healing of injured tissues.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.

Abstract: Described herein are homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque(s) in mammals and nucleic acids that encode such polypeptides. Also described are methods for detecting and treating conditions or disorders associated with, or characterized, by elevated levels of homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque and/or vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.

Abstract: The invention relates to predicting which individuals are at risk of developing atherosclerotic vascular disease, and once having disease, which individuals are at risk of experiencing plaque rupture which, depending on the site of the plaque, could produce myocardial infarction, stroke, critical limb ischemia, or other vascular event. The invention further relates to methods of diagnosing and aiding in the diagnosis of vascular conditions such as atherosclerosis, premature coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease, by detecting a resistin gene product in an individual. The invention further relates to methods of predicting, and aiding in predicting, the likelihood that an individual will experience a vascular event, such as but not limited to, a myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or critical limb ischemia.

Abstract: An association between the Ala allele of the P12A variant of the human PPAR? gene and development of CAD, particularly premature CAD, in individuals, and specifically in women, particularly Caucasian women, is described, as are methods of assessing or predicting the likelihood or risk that an individual, such as a woman, will develop premature CAD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human resistin gene, human resistin gene variants, gender-related increase in premature coronary artery disease, methods of assessing or aiding in assessing the risk that an individual will develop premature CAD, and methods of predicting the likelihood or aiding in predicting the likelihood that an individual will develop premature CAD are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases associated with atherosclerosis. The invention further relates to methods of diagnosing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases associated with atherosclerosis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides biological systems and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent or an imaging agent to atherosclerotic lesions such as vulnerable plaques.

Abstract: The present invention discloses development of a model live vaccine for HIV, using an attenuated strain of Salmonella engineered to surface express specific HIV proteins and testing of this vaccine in mice. There are provided two recombinant plasmids, containing the Lpp-OmpA genes required for surface exposure, followed by the genes for the HIV-1 proteins, Reverse Transcriptase or Transactivating protein (Tat). These plasmids are electroporated into an attenuated strain of Salmonella, and antigen expression is verified. These live vaccines are then used to orally inoculate mice and the vaccinated mice are tested for fecal IgA response and helper T cell response specific for the HIV antigens.