1366 results about "Pancreas" patented technology

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

The present invention is directed to an antigen found on the surface of rat and human pancreatic cancer cells and provides antibodies of high specificity and selectivity to this antigen as well as hybridomas secreting the subject antibodies. Methods for both the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer are also provided. This tissue marker of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an approximately 43.5 kD surface membrane protein designated PaCa-Ag1, is completely unexpressed in normal pancreas but abundantly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma cells. Moreover, a soluble form of PaCa-Ag1 exists, having a molecular weight about 36 to about 38 kD, that is readily identified in sera and other body fluids of pancreatic cancer patients, using a subject antibody.

A method for stimulating a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a pancreatic disorder is provided. At least one electrode is coupled to at least one portion of an autonomic nerve of the patient. The portion may include a celiac plexus, a superior mesenteric plexus, and a thoracic splanchnic. An electrical signal is applied to the portion of the vagus nerve using the electrode to treat the pancreatic disorder.

Methods are described to more efficiently produce cells of the endoderm and pancreatic lineage from mammalian pluripotent stem cells. These methods provide a simple, reproducible culture protocol using defined media components to enable consistent, large-scale production of pancreatic cell types for research or therapeutic uses.

This invention relates to compositions comprising temozolomide and thalidomide which can be used in the treatment or prevention of cancer, in particular malignant melanoma, cancer of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, brain, lung, liver, bone, intestine, colon, heart, pancreas, adrenals, kidney, prostate, breast, colorectal, or a combination thereof. A particular composition comprises temozolomide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or clathrate thereof, and thalidomide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or clathrate thereof. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer, in particular malignant melanoma, cancer of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, brain, lung, liver, bone, intestine, colon, heart, pancreas, adrenals, kidney, prostate, breast, colorectal, or a combination thereof, which comprise the administration of temozolomide and thalidomide and another anti-cancer drug to a patient in need of such treatment or prevention. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with the administration of cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy which comprise the administration of temozolomide and thalidomide to a patient in need of such reduction or avoidance.

The present invention relates to compositions for the treatment of conditions, including pancreatic insufficiency. The compositions of the present invention comprise lipase, protease and amylase in a particular ratio that provides beneficial results in patients, such as those afflicted with pancreatic insufficiency. This invention also relates to methods using such compositions for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency.

The present invention provides methods for the directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells along the endodermal lineage, especially the pancreatic lineage.

Novel chimeric fusion proteins comprising immunodominant epitopes of GAD and insulin are provided. Also provided are immunomodulatory methods for the use of such proteins for both the prevention and treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The chimeric fusion proteins of the invention are useful in predicting risk of onset of Type 1 diabetes, determining prognosis of Type 1 diabetes patients early in disease progression, and in evaluating patients for suitability as recipients of transplants of pancreatic cells or tissues. The administration of the proteins of the invention in accordance with the immunomodulatory methods of the invention results in beneficial effects on disease development and severity in patients suffering from or predicted to be at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, as well as on the outcome of transplants of pancreatic cells or tissues in Type 1 diabetes patients.

It is intended to provide a method of forming pancreatic β cells from mesenchymal cells characterized by comprising using mammal-origin mesenchymal cells as starting cells, culturing these cells in the presence of, for example, a pancreatic β cell-forming agent, and selecting and separating the thus obtained pancreatic βcells with the use of a gene expressed specifically in such cells as a selection marker; a remedy for glucose intolerance which comprises pancreatic β cells obtained by the above method as the active ingredient; a pancreatic β cell-forming agent such as a cytokine to be used in the above method; a method of screening a candidate compound promoting the formation of pancreatic β cells from mesenchymal cells; and a pancreatic β cell formation promoter obtained by this screening method.

Methods are provided for reducing serum proinsulin levels, lessening post-prandial pancreatic stress, and reducing risk factors for atherosclerosis in subjects with diabetes mellitus, type 2. The method includes administration of insulin in a manner that mimics the meal-related first phase insulin response, using a dose sufficient to reduce serum levels of proinsulin. In some embodiments of the method insulin administration is commenced early in the course of the disease. Mimicking first phase kinetics, peak serum insulin levels can be reached within about 18 minutes of administration. In increasingly preferred embodiments peak serum insulin levels can be reached within about 15, 12, or 10 minutes of administration. Serum insulin levels return to baseline within about two hours of administration.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

A method for the early diagnosis of breast, lung, pancreatic and colon growths and cancers as well as conditions associated with donor and recipient organ transplants, both before and after transplantation to identify and allow treatment of possible transplanted organ rejection and other disease conditions related and unrelated to the transplantation, compares the gene expression patterns from a patient's peripheral blood monocytes-lymphocyte's gene system with either the similar gene expression patterns of a normal person, or with the similar gene expression patterns of a person known to have the condition being screened for. Differences between the patient's gene expression patterns for particular genes and the normal patterns indicates the presence of the condition with the number of differences indicating the probability of the condition. Similarities between the patient's gene expression patterns for those particular genes and the patterns of a person known to have the condition indicates the presence of the condition with the number of similarities indicating the probability of the condition. For example, particular genes for use in identifying pancreatic cancer are disclosed.

A method of glucose level control comprising providing at least one electrode adapted to apply an electric field to a pancreas; and applying an electric field to the pancreas using said at least one electrode such that blood glucose levels are significantly reduced and blood insulin levels are not significantly increased compared to a regular insulin response in a same person.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into insulin producing cells. In particular, the present invention provides a method to increase the expression of NGN3 and NKX6.1 in populations of cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage.

The lack of safe, reliable, automated and clinically acceptable blood sampling has been the main problem precluding the development of real-time systems for blood analysis and subsequent closed-loop physiological function control. While the analysis of a static blood sample in laboratory conditions has been rapidly advancing in reliability and blood volume reduction, non-invasive real-time blood analysis performed in vivo (while the blood is circulating in the body) has been elusive and unreliable. In this study we propose an innovative idea for semi-invasive blood sampling and analysis, which resembles the operation of a mosquito. At a miniature scale the proposed system does penetrate the skin to extract a static blood sample for further analysis, but the extent of this penetration, and the fact that it can be made painless, is particularly attractive for such applications as automated glucose analysis for closed-loop control of insulin infusion (artificial pancreas), continuous drug monitoring, or even periodic DNA analysis for security and identification purposes. These design aspects are described, and a specific implementation, applying MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, is suggested. The proposed microsystem is a matrix of individually controllable e-Mosquito™ cells, packaged in a disposable patch and attached to the skin, could be an avenue for real-time semi-invasive blood analysis and diagnostics.

Methods and devices for culturing human pluripotent stem cells to produce cells of the pancreatic lineage are disclosed. The methods include steps of culturing the stem cells under conditions that induce the expression of mesendoderm / primitive streak and definitive endoderm markers in a chemically defined medium including an effective amount of i) fibroblast growth factor, ii) Activin A, and iii) bone morphogenetic protein. The methods further include the steps of culturing cells under conditions favoring the formation of at least one of intact embryoid bodies and pancreatic progenitor PDX1+ Ins− cells.

Methods and modules for using physiological (biometric) variables to advance the state of the artificial pancreas. The method and system includes one or more modules for recursive model identification, hypoglycemia early alert and alarm, adaptive control, hyperglycemia early alert and alarm, plasma insulin concentration estimation, assessment of physical activity (e.g., presence, type, duration, expected effects on insulin sensitivity and GC), detection of acute stress and assessment of its impact on insulin sensitivity, detection of sleep and its stages and assessment of sleep stages on GC, sensor fault detection and diagnosis, software and controller performance evaluation and adjustment and / or pump fault detection and diagnosis.

The present invention relates to placenta tissue-derived multipotent stem cells and cell therapeutic agents containing the same. More specifically, to a method for producing placenta stem cells having the following characteristics, the method comprising culturing amnion, chorion, decidua or placenta tissue in a medium containing collagenase and bFGF and collecting the cultured cells: (a) showing a positive immunological response to CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105, and showing a negative immunological response to CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR; (b) showing a positive immunological response to Oct4 and SSEA4; (c) growing attached to plastic, showing a round-shaped or spindle-shaped morphology, and forming spheres in an SFM medium so as to be able to be maintained in an undifferentiated state for a long period of time; and (d) having the ability to differentiate into mesoderm-, endoderm- and ectoderm-derived cells. Also the present invention relates to placenta stem cells obtained using the production method. The inventive multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells, osteogenic cells, nerve cells, satellite cells, fat cells, cartilage-forming cells, osteogenic cells, or insuline-secreting pancreatic β-cells, and thus are effective for the treatment of muscular diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, nervous diseases, diabetes and the like, and are useful for the formation of breast tissue.

A composition of bio-active compounds and methods for facilitating and supporting the metabolism and transport of glucose and carbohydrates into muscle cells, promoting muscle function and growth, promoting glycogen synthesis, enhancing glucose disposal, stimulating pancreatic beta cells, promoting metabolic recovery, promoting muscle recovery, promoting lean body mass, and promoting fat burning. Preferably, the composition of bio-active compounds includes a combination of 4-hydroxyisoleucine with at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of arginine, aspartate, threonine, serine, glutamate, proline, glycine, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, ornithine, lysine, histidine, gamma-amino butyrate and tyrosine. In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combination is derived, isolated, and / or extracted from fenugreek seeds. Methods for using a novel composition of bio-active compounds from fenugreek seed for facilitating and supporting the metabolism and transport of glucose and carbohydrates into muscle cells, promoting muscle function and growth, promoting glycogen synthesis, enhancing glucose disposal, stimulating pancreatic beta cells, promoting metabolic recovery, promoting muscle recovery, promoting lean body mass, and promoting fat burning are also disclosed, wherein methods comprise the steps of: (1) providing an effective amount of a composition of bio-active compounds derived, isolated, and / or extracted from fenugreek seeds; and (2) administering the composition to a human or animal.

A human immature endocrine cell population and methods for making an immature endocrine cell population are provided. Specifically, immature beta cells and methods for production of immature beta cells are described. Immature beta cells co-express INS and NKX6.1 and are uni-potent and thereby develop into mature beta cells when implanted in vivo. The mature beta cells in vivo are capable of producing insulin in response to glucose stimulation.

Isolated antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof directed against Ovrl 10 which is expressed by head and neck, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, pancreatic, lung or breast cancer are provided. Also provided are cells and methods for their production as well as methods for their use in killing an Ovrl 10-expressing cancer cells and alleviating or treating an Ovrl 10-expressing cancer in a mammal. The anti-Ovrl 10 antibodies modulate Ovrl 10 function or internalize upon binding to Ovrl 10 expressed by mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. Compositions comprising an anti-Ovrl 10 antibody and a carrier as well as articles of manufacture or kits thereof are also provided. In addition, isolated nucleic acids encoding an anti-Ovrl 10 antibody, expression vectors containing the isolated nucleic acids, and host cells containing the vectors are provided.

The present invention relates to pyridines, pyrimidines and derivatives thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also included is a method of treatment of inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, Pagets disease, osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, uveititis, acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia, pancreatic β cell destruction, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, gouty arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), psoriasis, Crohn's disease, allergic rhinitis, ulcerative colitis, anaphylaxis, contact dermatitis, asthma, muscle degeneration, cachexia, Reiter's syndrome, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, bone resorption diseases, graft vs. host reaction, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemia reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, brain trauma, multiple sclerosis, cerebral malaria, sepsis, septic shock, toxic shock syndrome, fever, myalgias due to HIV-1, HIV-2, HIV-3, cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza, adenovirus, the herpes viruses or herpes zoster infection in a mammal comprising administering an effective amount a compound as described above.

The present invention provides methods, systems and apparatuses for effecting excitation or inhibition of small sensory nerve fibers, such as C-afferent fibers, by electrical stimulation of nerves innervating the pancreas in diabetic subjects. In an aspect the methods are directed to effecting insulin production and for the treatment of diabetes. This invention includes a closed or open loop feedback control system in which biomarker levels are monitored in order to direct electrical stimulation. An implantable or external neural stimulation device is also provided.

A composition for the treatment of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) including a compound which binds to a receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1, and a pharmaceutical carrier. The amount of the compound present is an effective amount to improve pancreatic β-cell sensitivity to blood glucose levels in a human with IGT. Also, a method for improving the pattern of insulin secretory responses in a human with IGT by administering to the human a composition comprising a compound which binds to a receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1 and a pharmaceutical carrier.

Methods, devices, algorithms, and systems controlling insulin delivery employ velocity-weighting. Predicted glucose outcomes are penalized with a cost modulated by a factor that is a function of the glucose velocity, wherein glucose outcomes are penalized increasingly less for increasingly negative glucose velocities, when glucose level is high, and / or wherein a hyperglycemic glucose value that is already converging to the euglycemic zone results in less corrective action by the controller than were the hyperglycemic state steady.

The affinity chromatographic process for producing high purity chymotrypsin includes the following technological steps: freezing fresh ox or pig pancreas as the material, crushing and extracting protein, stepped salting out and crystallizing zymogen, enzymolyzing to obtain coarse product, affinity chromatographic separating and purifying, ultrafiltering and concentrating sterilizing, and vacuum freeze drying to obtain product. Compared with available technology, the present invention has the advantages of suitability for large scale produce, high efficiency, specificity, low cost and high product quality.