Abstract: The disclosure relates to oligodendrocyte-biased glial progenitor cells and methods of making, isolating, and using such cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are contractile cell constructs comprising contractile cells, or progenitors thereof, adhered to a surface of a three dimensional fibroblast containing scaffold (3DFCS) and methods for using them to treat disease. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for preparing a contractile construct, comprising (a) seeding immature contractile cells onto the surface of a three dimensional fibroblast containing scaffold (3DFCS) to produce a contractile construct; and (b) culturing the contractile construct under conditions to promote differentiation of the immature contractile cells into mature contractile cells, wherein the mature contractile cells form striations.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for stimulating weight loss and/or lowering triglyceride levels in an individual mammal in need thereof. In an exemplary method, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of DITPA, and optionally one or more lipid-reducing agents, is administered to an individual mammal to stimulate weight loss, and/or reduce levels of triglyceride and/or lipoprotein in the mammal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to oligodendrocyte-biased glial progenitor cells and methods of making, isolating, and using such cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating weight loss or lowering triglyceride levels in an individual in need thereof. In methods of the invention, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of DITPA, and optionally one or a plurality of lipid lowering agents, is administered to an individual to stimulate weight loss, lower triglyceride and/or lipoprotein levels, and/or to treat one or more symptoms of metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: Administration of a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid stimulates weight loss in patients, lowers triglyceride levels and reduces risk of death or progression of coronary heart disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: Administration of a therapeutically effective amount of 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid stimulates weight loss in patients, lowers triglyceride levels and reduces risk of death or progression of coronary heart disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.

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 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 an enriched or purified population of dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells and an enriched or purified population of dopaminergic neurons. These enriched or purified populations are derived from a population of embryonic stem cells by inducing production of dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells. A promoter or enhancer which functions only in dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells is selected and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a marker protein under control of said promoter or enhancer is introduced into the induced population of embryonic stem cells. The dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells are allowed to express the marker protein, and the cells expressing the marker protein are separated from the induced population of embryonic stem cells. As a result, an enriched or purified population of dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells is isolated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting differentiation of a population of neural stem cells by contacting a purinergic receptor agonist and a population of neural stem cells under conditions effective to inhibit differentiation of the population of neural stem cells. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing neurons and/or glial cells from a population of neural stem cells by culturing a population of neural stem cells with a purinergic receptor antagonist under conditions effective to cause the neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons and/or glial cells. The purinergic receptor agonist can also be used in a method of inducing proliferation and self-renewal of neural stem cells in a subject and a method of treating a neurological disease or neurodegenerative condition in a subject. The purinergic receptor antagonist can also be used in treating a neoplastic disease of the brain or spinal cord in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating production of neurons and/or oligodendrocytes from neural progenitor cells of human white matter and to a method of treating a subject for a condition modulated by underproduction of oligodendrocytes from human white matter. Both of these methods involve administering an agonist or antagonist of one or more molecules set forth in Tables 1 and/or 2 to the neural progenitor cells. Also disclosed is a method of using an inhibitor of sterol synthesis to differentiate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to oligodendrocytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treating a subject with acute spinal cord injury by administering a purine receptor antagonist to the subject under conditions effective to treat spinal cord injury. The purine receptor antagonist inhibits P2X purine receptor activation. The inhibition of P2X purine receptor activation can also be used in conjunction with methods of treating a subject with spinal cord ischemia resulting from stroke or vascular insult, interruption, or mechanical injury, treating a subject with ischemic or traumatic insults of brain tissue in regions expressing P2X receptors, and for inhibiting ATP-triggered brain or spinal cord cell death.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhancer which functions only in human brain and/or spinal cord motor neurons, where the enhancer comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 10, or SEQ ID NO: 16. The enhancer can be utilized as part of a nucleic acid construct which also has a nucleic acid encoding a marker protein or a therapeutic protein, a 3? control region, and, optionally, a basal promoter, where these components are positioned with respect to one another to permit expression of the marker protein or the therapeutic protein. The enhancer of the present invention is useful in a method of isolating an enriched or purified population of motor neurons from a mixed population of human brain and/or spinal cells. In addition, the enhancer of the present invention can be used in a method of therapeutically targeting motor neurons.

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 isolating an enriched or purified population of motor neurons from a population of embryonic stem cells. This method involves providing a population of embryonic stem cells and selecting a promoter or enhancer which functions only in the motor neurons selected. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a marker protein under control of the promoter or enhancer is introduced into the induced population of embryonic stem cells. The motor neurons are allowed to express the marker protein and, the cells expressed in the marker protein are separated from the population of embryonic stem cells. The population of embryonic stem cells can be induced to produce a mixed population of cells comprising motor neurons before or after a nucleic acid molecule encoding the marker protein under control of the promoter enhancer is introduced into the population of embryonic stem cells. As a result, an enriched or purified population of motor neurons is isolated.

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: 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: 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.