Abstract: Side-chain crystallizable (SCC) polymers are useful in various medical applications. In certain applications, heavy atom containing side-chain crystallizable polymers (HACSCCP's) are particularly useful. An example of a HACSCCP is a polymer that comprises a main chain, a plurality of crystallizable side chains, and a plurality of heavy atoms attached to the polymer. In certain configurations, the heavy atoms are present in an amount that is effective to render the polymer radiopaque. A polymeric material that includes an HACSCCP may be fabricated into a medical device useful for at least partially occluding a body cavity. For example, such a medical device may be an embolotherapy product. A polymeric material that includes a SCC polymer may also be fabricated into other medical devices, such as stents.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of using peristalsis to force a polymer plug through a mammalian lumen, thereby removing any calculi and/or calculi fragments present in the lumen. In one embodiment, the method is used as an alternative to conventional lithotripsy. In another embodiment, the method is used in conjunction with lithotripsy, thereby removing the small calculi fragments that result from such procedures.

Abstract: This invention reports a drug for hyperphospheremia and its preparative method. The preparation includes active constituents, lanthanum polystyrene sulfonate, and excipients. The preparative method in the invention can be summarized as follows: Polystyrene sulfonic acid is obtained by treating polystyrene sulfosalt with hydrochloric acid, soaked or eluted with water soluble lanthanum-contained solution, and washed with water till its PH is neutral. Then, the lanthanum polystyrene sulfonate solution is washed till the superfluous La? unexchanged is washed out. Lanthanum polystyrene sulfonate is taken out and crushed to powder after being dried. The lanthanum polystyrene sulfonate, whose weight percentage of lanthanum is 14-22%, is used as active constituents to prepare gastrointestinal tract preparations together with general amount of excipients with routine preparative method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating obesity, a method for reducing the absorption of dietary fat, and a method for treating hypertriglyceridemia in a patient and to particular polymers for use in the methods or in a manufacture of a medicament. The methods comprise the step of orally administering to a mammal, such as a human, a therapeutically effective amount of one or more fat-binding polymers. The administration of the fat-binding polymer of the invention facilitates the removal of fat from the body prior to digestion, with minimal side effects and low toxicity. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more fat-binding polymers are administered in combination with one or more lipase inhibitors, for example, lipstatin and tetrahydrolipstatin.

Abstract: A composition comprising of a monomer component comprised of at least one alkyl cyanoacrylate and at least one inhibitor, and a second component comprised of a resultant aggregate structure formed from an alkyl cyanoacrylate monomer, an alkyl esterified fatty acid and an opacificant agent where said composition forms a resultant aggregate structure when said composition contacts an anionic environment. The compositions are useful for filling, occluding, partially filling or partially occluding an unfilled volume or space in a mass in an anionic environment. The composition are also useful for ablating diseased or undesired tissue by cutting off the blood supply to the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of human growth hormone and zinc containing human growth hormone and zinc at a molar ratio of about 1:1.6 to about 1:2.4, and a sustained-release preparation which comprises the complex of human growth hormone and zinc and a biodegradable polymer and which has a high entrapment ratio of human growth hormone and exhibits a stable sustained-release suppressing the initial burst.

Abstract: A composition useful as an embolic agent that selectively creates an embolic blockage in the lumen of a blood vessel, duct, fistula or other like body passageways by combining a monomer component and a second component wherein, said monomer component comprises of a alkyl cyanoacrylate monomer and at least one inhibitor agent; and said second component that functions as an opacificant agent and a polymerization retardant.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first component includes at least two polymerizable organic monomers, and wherein the second component includes an oligomer of a polymerizable organic monomer, a plasticizer and an opacificant agent, wherein said composition polymerizes upon contact with an anionic environment. The compositions are useful for filling, occluding, partially filling or partially occluding an unfilled volume or space in a mass in an anionic environment. The composition are also useful for ablating diseased or undesired tissue by cutting off the blood supply to the tissue.

Abstract: An assay comprises contacting cells containing a conformationally altered protein with test compound and determining if the altered protein is cleared. The cells may be scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells. Another assay comprises contacting organ or tissue homogenate (at pH 5.0 or less) with test compound to determine if altered protein in the homogenate is cleared. The homogenate may be brain homogenate from a transgenic mouse infected with human prions. Compounds which are found to clear the altered protein are useful in preventing, arresting and/or reversing (i.e. treating) a disease associated with the conformationally altered protein.

Abstract: An antimicrobial material is described which can be used to form on the surface on a substrate a non-leaching antimicrobial coating or layer which kills microorganisms on contact. The non-leaching antimicrobial coating or layer is a unique combination of an organic matrix immobilized on the surface of the substrate to having biocidal metallic materials non-leachably associated with the matrix. When a microorganism contacts the coating or layer, the biocidal metallic material is transferred to the microorganism in amounts sufficient to kill it. Methods of applying the coating or layer to a substrate also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of human growth hormone and zinc containing human growth hormone and zinc at a molar ratio of about 1:1.6 to about 1:2.4, and a sustained-release preparation which comprises the complex of human growth hormone and zinc and a biodegradable polymer and which has a high entrapment ratio of human growth hormone and exhibits a stable sustained-release suppressing the initial burst.