Abstract: The invention relates to a method of instilling insulin ophthalmic drops in the conjunctival sac for treating retinitis pigmentosa due to any etiological factors both genetic and non genetic. The retinitis pigmentosa is treated with Insulin and/or IGF-I with or without known anti-retinitis pigmentosa therapeutic, pharmaceutical, biochemical, and biological agents or compounds. The invention furthermore uses this method as prophylactic on patients where the patients are predisposed to develop retinitis pigmentosa. The invention additionally treats other oculopathies associated with and/or contributing to retinitis pigmentosa.

Abstract: A conjugate consisting of an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) variant and one or two poly(ethylene glycol) group(s), characterized in that said IGF-I variant has an amino acid alteration at up to three amino acid positions 27, 37, 65, 68 of the wild-type IGF-I amino acid sequence so that one or two of said amino acids is/are lysine and amino acid 27 is a polar amino acid but not lysine, is conjugated via the primary amino group(s) of said lysine(s) and said poly(ethylene glycol) group(s) have an overall molecular weight of from 20 to 100 kDa is disclosed. This conjugate is useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: Synthetic oxysterols can be made and can be used for the treatment of bone disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological disorders.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for alleviating the symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome are provided. The compositions are based on use of a transdermal gel formulation delivery system for androgens, either alone or in combination with other hormones.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating diseases, disorders or conditions using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: IGF-I variants having an alanine, glycine, or serine amino acid residue at position 16, 25, 49 or at positions 3 and 49 of native-sequence IGF-I are provided that are useful to treat a disorder characterized by dysregulation of the GH/IGF axis in a mammal, such as a renal disorder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition including an effective amount of at least one of an antimicrobial peptide and a substance having an antimicrobial peptide effect and an effective amount of a neurotrophin. The composition can also include an effective amount of at least one of a growth factor and a neuropeptide. The present invention also relates a method of treating an injury to a nervous system of an animal that includes the steps of identifying the injury to the nervous system and applying to the injury an effective amount of at least one of antimicrobial peptide and a substance having an antimicrobial peptide effect. The method can also include applying an effective amount of one or more trophic factors selected from the group consisting of a growth factor, a neurotrophin, and a neuropeptide to the injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for stimulating the proliferation of cardiomyocytes for enhancement of cardiac repair. The invention is based on the discovery that upon contact with stem cells, or conditioned media derived from said stem cells, terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes can be stimulated to enter the cell cycle. Additionally, scaffolds capable of attracting stem cells to the area of implantation have been shown to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation. The present invention further relates to the discovery that the Wnt-5A ligand, which binds to the frizzled receptor (fz), functions to stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation. The methods and compositions of the invention may be used in the treatment of cardiac disorders including, but not limited to, myocardial dysfunction or infarction.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition, for augmentation and regeneration of living tissue in a subject, comprising a population of porous microparticles of a biodegradable polymer, one or more mammalian cell populations, and optionally, a biocompatible adhesive.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) comprising nucleic acids encoding the serine/threonine kinase PIM-1, and methods for making and using them; including methods for inducing cellular proliferation, and protecting cardiac cells from hypoxia and cellular apoptosis. The invention provides compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) comprising nucleic acids encoding PIM-1, and methods for enhancing the regenerative potential of stem cells in the heart.

Abstract: A formulation of octreotide or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which provides controlled release of a therapeutically effective amount of octreotide for a period of at least about two months. Methods of treating acromegaly, decreasing growth hormone, decreasing IGF-1, and treating conditions associated with carcinoid tumors and VIPomas by administering a controlled release formulation of octreotide are provided herein.

Abstract: The invention is for the combination and related methods of liposomal reduced glutathione in oral, inhaled, or intravenous, or glutathione inhaled or intravenous, to ameliorate the effects of exposure to or ingestion of radiation or radioactive materials, as treatment to ameliorate the toxic effects of radiation exposure or ingestion and to facilitate the decorporation of radioactive materials such as Co-60. The invention may also be used in conjunction with a decorporation agent such as DTPA, EDTA, DMPS or penicillamine to ameliorate the toxic effects of exposure or ingestion of radioactive agents or other toxic metals.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to compositions and methods for promoting repair of damaged nerve tissue. The compositions and methods of the subject invention can be employed to restore the continuity of nerve interrupted by disease, traumatic events or surgical procedures. Compositions of the subject invention comprise one or more chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)-degrading enzymes that promote axonal penetration into damaged nerve tissue. The invention also concerns methods for promoting repair of damaged nerve tissue using the present compositions and nerve tissue treated according to such methods. The invention also pertains to kits for nerve repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating cancer involving administering an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1 receptor) agonist and an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent. Also provided are compounds for treating cancer comprising an IGF-1-receptor ligand coupled to an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent. Also provided are compounds for treating cancer comprising an insulin-receptor ligand coupled to an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: Maternal diabetes can lead to a developmental malformation of an embryo. A developmental malformation caused by maternal diabetes is commonly referred to as a diabetic embryopathy. There is currently no effective treatment for reducing or inhibiting a diabetic embryopathy. To this end, the present invention is drawn to novel methods of treating a diabetic embryopathy.

Abstract: Mixtures, such as gels or pastes, comprising freeze-milled cartilage particles and exogenous growth factors are used for repairing chondral defects. Such mixtures may be applied to constructs comprising cancellous bone for implantation at the defect site. Suitable growth factors include variants of FGF-2, particularly variants that include a sole amino acid substitution for asparagine at amino acid 111 of the ?8-?9 loop of the FGF-2 peptide. Such FGF-2 variants are released slowly and continuously at a constant rate from cartilage pastes. In other embodiments, the amino acid substituted for asparigine is glycine. Other variants that may be used include FGF-9 variants having truncated chains and a sole amino acid substitution in the ?8-?9 loop of the FGF-9 peptide either for tryptophan at amino acid 144 or for asparagine at amino acid 143.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dosage forms of human growth hormone, the use of an absorption enhancer to allow absorption of human growth hormone into the systemic circulation in a biologically active form, in particular after oral administration, as well as the use of oral dosage forms comprising human growth hormone and an absorption enhancer for the treatment of human growth hormone deficiencies and disorders associated therewith.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for delivering octreotide to a patient, comprising implanting a controlled release composition for delivering octreotide, wherein the composition does not require hydration prior to implantation, and wherein the composition optionally comprises a release agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cyclic Prolyl Glycine (“cyclic PG” or “cPG”) and analogs and mimetic s thereof, as neuroprotective agents for the treatment and or prevention of neurological disorders including but not limited to cerebral ischemia or cerebral infarction resulting from a range of phenomena, such as thromboembolic or hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral basospasms, hypoglycemia, cardiac arrest, status epilepticus, perinatal asphyxia, anoxia such as from drowning, pulmonary surgery, and cerebral trauma, as well as to the treatment and prevention of chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, and as anticonvulsants.