Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of compositions comprising receptor ligands obtainable by a process comprising fermenting a food material, comprising animal milk or vegetable proteins, with lactic acid bacteria to obtain a fermented food or feed material that comprises ligands of specific adrenoreceptors and/or serotonin receptors. The fermented food or feed material is useful e.g. for reducing and/or stabilizing heart rate in a mammal. It may furthermore be used for treatment and/or relief of erectile dysfunctions and for treatment and/or relief of benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), in a mammal.

Abstract: A novel mammalian dihydroouabain-like factor is disclosed which substantially fails to cross-react with mammalian ouabain-like factor (OLF) for binding to anti-OLF antibody, but cross-reacts with plant-related dihydroouabain (dho) for binding to anti-dho antibody, has maximal u.v. absorbance at 196 nm, has a non-peptidic, non-lipidic chemical structure and a fully hydrogenated lactone ring, has a concentration-dependent Na+,K+-ATPase (sodium pump) catalytic inhibitory activity which is 10-fold lower than OLF and 3-fold higher than plant-related dihydroouabain, and a high pressure liquid chromatography elution time about the same as dho. This factor is useful for therapy for congestive heart failure. An antibody and antibody fragments having affinity for mammalian Dh-OLF but not for OLF, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods comprise the antibody and means for quantifying the antibody and are useful for treating a condition caused by high level of OLF or Dh-OLF.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel &bgr;-secretase that produces the A&bgr; peptide found in Alzheimer's Disease. One &bgr;-secretase is a protein having a molecular weight of about 61, 81 or 88 kDa that cleaves an amyloid precursor protein (APP) substrate. Another is a protease complex having a molecular between about 180 and 200 kDa, which, in one embodiment, contains the 61, 81, and 88 kDa proteins and, in another embodiment, contains proteins having a molecular weight of about 66, 60, 33 and 29 kDa. Another &bgr;-secretase has a molecular weight between about 50 and 90 kDA. The invention is also directed to methods of selecting agents that inhibit A&bgr; peptide production and treating Alzheimer's disease in patients.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the unexpected discoveries that hypothalamic inhibitory factor (HIF) has a positive inotropic effect in a whole organ preparation, such as an isolated perfused heart, and that HIF, to a greater extent than ouabain, dilates the coronary arteries in the isolated perfused heart as manifested in increased coronary flow in hearts treated with HIP. The present invention relates to a method for increasing coronary perfusion in a mammalian host comprising administering to the host in need thereof an effective amount of hypothalamic inhibitory factor (HIF). The invention also relates to a method for producing an increased coronary vasodilatory effect in a mammalian host comprising administering to a mammalian host in need thereof an effective amount of HIF. The method of the present invention can be used to prevent and/or treat ischemic cardiac malfunction and coronary artery restenosis.

Abstract: A biocompatible cell device having an internal foam scaffold to provide a growth surface for encapsulated cells which produce a biologically active molecule.

Abstract: A multi-agent tri-daily comestible of vitamin, mineral, plant extracts, aminos, neurochemical precursors, enzymes, and Ph regulating agents which supply key elements necessary for proper metabolization and function of the human body delivered at specific times of the daily biocycle when the need for such specific agents exists in order to maximize the body's extra- and intra-cellular matrix to cellular and biochemical protective and repair mechanisms utilized to deter the effects of otherwise normal aging.

Abstract: The use of CNS transplants, in particular adrenal medullary transplants, in reducing and/or preventing tolerance to opiates.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of alleviating chronic pain in humans. Viable, implantable cells are selected which release neuroactive substances that reduce chronic pain. The cells are cultured to improve their viability, and administered into a region of the central nervous system of a patient who is suffering from chronic pain. The cells continue to secrete the neuroactive substances within the patient without exogenous stimulation. Suitable implantable cells include adrenal medullary tissue cells, chromaffin cells or genetically engineered cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a physiologically active substance which inhibits plasma kallikrein production, improves peripheral blood flow, and exhibits analgesic, antiinflammatory and antiallergic action. The physiologically active substance of the present invention is prepared by activating various animals or animal tissues by means of inoculation with virus or tumor cells which act as a stressor, and then extracting the effective factor from the activated tissues. The substance exhibits a pharmacological action of inhibiting activity for production of plasma kallikrein and recovering and normalizing abnormal functions which are associated with the diseased state. The physiologically active substance and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention exhibit excellent regulating activity for biofunctions. They provide recovery and normalization of abnormal functions in living organisms in various diseased states.

Abstract: A composition for enhancing the performance of animals, such as horses or dogs, is composed of adrenal and pituitary raw tissue concentrates, vitamin C, bioflavonoid complex, pantothenic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacinamide, magnesium, vitamin B12, folic acid and organic iodine. The composition is adapted to be orally administered to an animal, is composed of all natural substances, and the relative proportions of the components are approximately:at least 40 parts adrenal raw tissue concentrate toat least 2 parts pituitary raw tissue concentrate to30-60 parts vitamin C to20-30 parts magnesium to10-20 parts of each of pantothenic acid, methionine and choline to8-15 parts of each of niacinamide and bioflavonoid complex to1-5 parts of each of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 to0.1-1 parts organic iodine to0.05-0.5 parts folic acid.

Abstract: A physiologically active substance is extracted from infected tissues inoculated with a poxvirus. The novel substance of the present invention has inhibitory action against the formation of kallikrein, thus is useful as drugs such as antiinflammatory, analgesic and antiallergic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to physiologically active substances extracted from infected tissues inoculated with a poxvirus. The substances of the present invention have excellent actions to improve blood flow and recover functions of diseased tissues, thus are useful as drugs for various diseases caused by blood flow disorders.

Abstract: A novel method for alleviating depression comprises implanting monoamine producing living cells in the CNS of depressive subjects.