Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting stem cell and/or progenitor cell proliferation and/or differentiation. The provided compositions may be useful in treating a disease or condition that is related to mucosal barrier function, e.g., wound healing, treating skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, bed sores, or condition related to the aging of skin), treating a lung disorders (e.g., asthma), a condition related to improving mucosal barrier function, and/or treating injury to GI mucosa in a subject in need thereof. The present disclosure also provides methods for promoting the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in a subject in need of such treatment by administering a composition. The ability to stimulate the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in vivo, ex vivo and/or in vitro provides tremendous benefit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting stem cell and/or progenitor cell proliferation and/or differentiation. The provided compositions may be useful in treating a disease or condition that is related to mucosal barrier function, e.g., wound healing, treating skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, bed sores, or condition related to the aging of skin), treating a lung disorders (e.g., asthma), a condition related to improving mucosal barrier function, and/or treating injury to GI mucosa in a subject in need thereof. The present disclosure also provides methods for promoting the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in a subject in need of such treatment by administering a composition. The ability to stimulate the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in vivo, ex vivo and/or in vitro provides tremendous benefit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting stem cell and/or progenitor cell proliferation and/or differentiation. The provided compositions may be useful in treating a disease or condition that is related to mucosal barrier function, e.g., wound healing, treating skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, bed sores, or condition related to the aging of skin), treating a lung disorders (e.g., asthma), a condition related to improving mucosal barrier function, and/or treating injury to GI mucosa in a subject in need thereof. The present disclosure also provides methods for promoting the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in a subject in need of such treatment by administering a composition. The ability to stimulate the proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells and/or the progenitor cells in vivo, ex vivo and/or in vitro provides tremendous benefit.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to materials and methods of determining accumulated mutations and the rate of mutations in a target genomic sequence which is a part of a short interspersed element (SINE). The assay utilizes a combination of a target sequence clamp and digital PCR (dPCR). The target sequence clamp prevents PCR amplification of the wild-type target sequence and permits PCR amplification of only the mutated target sequence. The dPCR provides the number of mutated target sequences per genome, which can be used to determine the rate of mutations in the target sequence, the accumulated mutations in the genome and/or the rate of mutations in the genome. The accumulated mutations and the rate of mutations in the target sequence and/or the genome can be used to determine the genomic age and/or the risk of cancer of a subject. A kit for performing the assay is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are peptide analogs of human FGF. These peptide analogs exhibit improved therapeutic activity and fewer side effects when used in humans. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions comprising the FGF analogs and pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable carriers or excipients. Also provided are methods of treating or preventing a disease in a subject that involves administering to the subject the disclosed FGF analogs.