Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that involves administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating CARD to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that involves administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating CARD to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization.

Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell having a polymer separator membrane for separation of electrodes in the electrochemical cell, including providing a cathode and providing a polymer separator membrane. At least one cycle of irradiating the polymer separator membrane is performed by an energy beam under a radiation dose ranging between 50 and 200 kGy to effect a cross-linking in the polymer separator membrane. The polymer separator membrane is maintained at a temperature between 30° C. and 70° C. An anode is then provided. Subsequently, the polymer separator membrane is compressed between the cathode and the anode. An electrolyte is provided to form the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A duckbill mask includes a mask upper side and a mask lower side. A manufacturing process includes: respectively performing edge folding and press sealing on an upper nose edge on the mask upper side and a jaw edge on the mask lower side, and using a double-way staggered cutting process to add a nose bridge while folding the upper nose edge; and overlapping the mask upper side and the mask lower side, then performing press sealing on convex edges of the mask upper side and the mask lower side by using a staggered opposite arrangement method, and using a double-way staggered cutting process to add an ear belt while performing press sealing on the convex edges. In the multi-line machining process, multi-line edge folding and press sealing of all layers of materials, overlapping and then finished product cutting are performed, whereby two duckbill masks are manufactured at a time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a delivery vector for transferring a small peptide coding sequence to a cell for expression of the small peptide coding sequence within the cell. The delivery vector comprises a secretory signal sequence; a sequence encoding a carrier protein operatively associated with the secretory signal sequence; a sequence encoding a cleavage site operatively associated with the sequence encoding a carrier protein; and a sequence encoding a small peptide operatively associated with the sequence encoding a cleavage site.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that involves administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating CARD to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization.

Abstract: The invention provides a multilayer-structure absorbent core for a disposable absorbent article, and a method for preparing the absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core is compacted and formed by each layer; its surface presents a grid-shaped groove; the depth at the intersection point of the grid-shaped groove is bigger than that at the non-intersection point thereof. The invention adopts a new synchronous split-level process; that is, a linear grid-shaped trapezoid-shaped compaction mechanism, of which the height is smaller than that of a circular-platform structure, incompletely compacts the absorbent core and separates the absorbent core into numerous small convex spaces, while a circular-platform structure carries out the dot-shaped compaction for the absorbent core. Under the conditions that the liquid-absorption functions of a deflector layer and a reservoir layer are maintained, the movement of polymer water-absorption material is completely limited while the strength of a core body is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or inflammation, including ocular inflammation. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating Nrf2 to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or inflammation, including ocular inflammation. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating Nrf2 to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that involves administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating CARD to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.