Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing neuronal progenitor cells by providing an isolated population of progenitor cells from human brain white matter and permitting the isolated population of cells to differentiate to neuronal progenitor cells. Alternatively, neuronal progenitor cells can be produced by providing an isolated population of glial progenitor cells and permitting the isolated population of glial progenitor cells to differentiate to neuronal progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides neuronal progenitor cells which have been identified in histological sections of the adult human brain. The present invention also provides methods to localize, characterize, harvest, and propagate neuronal progenitor cells derived from human brain tissue. Additional methods are provided for introducing and expressing genes in the brain.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of separating cells of interest which method comprises: determining cells of interest; selecting a promoter specific for the cells of interest; introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding green fluorescent protein under control of the promoter into a plurality of cells; and separating cells of the plurality of cells that are expressing said green fluorescent protein, wherein the separated cells are the cells of interest.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of separating cells of interest which method comprises: determining cells of interest; selecting a promoter specific for the cells of interest; introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding green fluorescent protein under control of the promoter into a plurality of cells; and separating cells of the plurality of cells that are expressing said green fluorescent protein, wherein the separated cells are the cells of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isolating neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells from a population of embryonic stem cells. This method comprises selecting a promoter which functions only in neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells and introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a marker protein under control of said promoter into the population of embryonic stem cells. The population of embryonic stem cells are then differentiated to produce a mixed population of cells comprising neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells. The neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells are then allowed to express the marker protein. Cells expressing the marker protein are separated from the mixed population of cells, where the separated cells are neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of separating pancreatic Islet cells or progenitor or stem cells thereof from a mixed population of cells from the pancreas. This involves selecting an enhancer/promoter which functions in the pancreatic Islet cells or progenitor cells thereof and introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fluorescent protein under control of the enhancer/promoter into the mixed population of cells. The pancreatic Islet cells or progenitor or stem cells thereof are then allowed to express the fluorescent protein. The fluorescent cells (i.e. the said pancreatic Islet cells or progenitor or stem cells thereof) are then separated from the mixed population of cells. Also disclosed is an enriched or purified preparation of isolated human pancreatic Islet cells or progenitor or stem cells and the use of these cells in a method of treating a diabetic condition by transplanting the cells into a subject.

Abstract: One form of the present invention is directed to a method of remyelinating demyelinated axons by treating the demyelinated axons with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions which permit remyelination of the axons. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes by administering to the subject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells under conditions effective to treat the condition mediated by a loss of myelin or a loss of oligodendrocytes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an in vitro method of identifying and separating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from a mixed population containing other mammalian brain or spinal cord cell types. This further aspect of the present invention involves removing neurons and neuronal progenitor cells from the mixed population to produce a treated mixed population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enriched or purified preparation of isolated hippocampal neural progenitor cells and progeny thereof. The present invention also relates to a method of separating neural progenitor cells from a mixed population of cell types from hippocampal tissue. This method includes selecting a promoter which functions selectively in the neural progenitor cells, introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fluorescent protein under control of said promoter into all cell types of the mixed population of cell types from hippocampal tissue, allowing only the neural progenitor cells, but not other cell types, within the mixed population to express said fluorescent protein, identifying cells of the mixed population of cell types that are fluorescent, which are restricted to the neural progenitor cells, and separating the fluorescent cells from the mixed population of cell types, wherein the separated cells are restricted to the neural progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inducing neuronal production in a subject, a method of recruiting neurons to a subject's brain, and a method of treating a neurodegenerative condition by administering a neurotrophic factor and an inhibitor of pro-gliogenic bone morphogenetic proteins. Also disclosed is a method of suppressing astrocyte generation and inducing neuronal production in a subject, a method of treating a neurologic condition, and a method of suppressing glial scar formation in a subject by administering an inhibitor of pro-gliogenic bone morphogenetic proteins. Finally, the present invention involves a method of introducing a heterogeneous protein into a subject's brain and spinal cord by introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding the heterogeneous protein introduced into the subject's ependyma, permitting the protein from the nucleic acid molecule to be expressed within the subject's ependyma, and permitting the expressed protein to migrate within the subject's brain and spinal cord.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of immortalizing progenitor cells by providing a population of progenitor cells (e.g, neural progenitor cells) and immortalizing the progenitor cells either before or after they are enriched or purified. The present invention is also directed to an enriched or purified population of immortalized progenitor cells (e.g., neural progenitor cells).

Abstract: Applicants' invention includes a method to treat a patient having congestive heartfailure by administering a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid. Applicants' invention further includes a method to lower cholesterol blood levels of a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid. Applicants' invention further includes a synthetic method to prepare 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides neuronal progenitor cells which have been identified in histological sections of the adult human brain. The present invention also provides methods to localize, characterize, harvest, and propagate neuronal progenitor cells derived from human brain tissue. Additional methods are provided for introducing and expressing genes in the brain.

Abstract: Applicants' invention includes a method to treat a patient having congestive heart failure by administering a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid. Applicants' invention further includes a method to lower cholesterol blood levels of a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid. Applicants' invention further includes a synthetic method to prepare 3,5-diidothyropropionic acid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of separating cells of interest which method comprises: determining cells of interest; selecting a promoter specific for the cells of interest; introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding green fluorescent protein under control of the promoter into a plurality of cells; and separating cells of the plurality of cells that are expressing said green fluorescent protein, wherein the separated cells are the cells of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing neuronal production in the brain, recruiting neurons to the brain, and treating a neurodegenerative condition by providing a nucleic acid construct encoding a neurotrophic factor, and injecting the nucleic acid construct intraventricularly into a subject's brain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of separating multipotential neural progenitor cells from a mixed population of cell types. This method includes selecting a promoter which functions selectively in the neural progenitor cells, introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fluorescent protein under control of said promoter into all cell types of the mixed population of cell types, allowing only the neural progenitor cells, but not other cell types, within the mixed population to express said fluorescent protein, identifying cells of the mixed population of cell types that are fluorescent, which are restricted to the neural progenitor cells, and separating the fluorescent cells from the mixed population of cell types, wherein the separated cells are restricted to the neural progenitor cells. The present invention also relates to an isolated human musashi promoter and an enriched or purified preparation of isolated multipotential neural progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of separating cells of interest which method comprises: determining cells of interest; selecting a promoter specific for the cells of interest; introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding green fluorescent protein under control of the promoter into a plurality of cells; and separating cells of the plurality of cells that are expressing said green fluorescent protein, wherein the separated cells are the cells of interest.

Abstract: An absorbent article adapted to receive feces having a first waist region, a second waist region opposed to the first waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and the second waist region. The absorbent article includes a liquid pervious topsheet a liquid impervious backsheet joined to at least a portion of the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between at least a portion of the topsheet and the backsheet and an effective amount of an ionic complexing feces modifying agent disposed in the article such that the ionic complexing feces modifying agent is available to contact at least a portion of the feces deposited in the article.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and treating abnormal electrical conducting tissue of an organ of the body which comprises a catheter insertable within a blood vessel or body cavity into proximity with the organ to be treated. An electrode or other electrical field-producing element is carried within the catheter and is effective to produce an electric field capable of inducing abnormal movement of the organ, e.g., a cardiac arrhythmia, when the electrode is placed at or near the focus of the abnormal electrical conducting tissue of the organ. A relatively undistorted image of such abnormal tissue is obtained using optical phase conjugation of a low energy laser beam which is directed to the focus of the damaged tissue and the along one or more optic fibers carried within the catheter to a viewing apparatus. A laser beam transmitted through another optic fiber carried within the catheter is then employed, if necessary, to destroy the damaged tissue.

Abstract: A piece of machinery which, in an abnormal operating condition exhibits a vibration frequency characteristic of or peculiar to that condition, is monitored by securing a spring and mass unit to the machinery, the spring and mass unit having a natural frequency equal to said vibration frequency so that upon the occurence of the abnormal condition the magnified vibration of the spring and mass unit can be used to effect a control function or sound an alarm.