1226 results about "Vascular endothelium" patented technology

The present invention is drawn to methods and compounds for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of a target tissue or compositions in a mammalian subject, using a light source that preferably transmits light to a treatment site transcutaneously. The method provides for administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a targeted substance, which is either a targeted photosensitizing agent, or a photosensitizing agent delivery system, or a targeted prodrug. This targeted substance preferably selectively binds to the target tissue. Light at a wavelength or waveband corresponding to that which is absorbed by the targeted substance is then administered. The light intensity is relatively low, but a high total fluence is employed to ensure the activation of the targeted photosensitizing agent or targeted prodrug product. Transcutaneous PDT is useful in the treatment of specifically selected target tissues, such as vascular endothelial tissue, the abnormal vascular walls of tumors, solid tumors of the head and neck, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, tumors of the liver, tumors of the breast, tumors of the prostate, tumors of the lung, nonsolid tumors, malignant cells of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue and other lesions in the vascular system or bone marrow, and tissue or cells related to autoimmune and inflammatory disease.

The present invention is directed to the use of antibodies or binding portions thereof, probes, ligands, or other biological agents which either recognize an extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen or bind to and are internalized with prostate specific membrane antigen. These biological agents can be labeled and used for detection of cancerous tissues, particularly cancerous tissues proximate to or containing vascular endothelial cells, which express an extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen. The labeled biological agents can also be used to detect normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof. They also can be used alone or bound to a substance effective to ablate or kill such cells as a therapy for prostate or other cancers. Also disclosed are four hybridoma cell lines, each of which produces a monoclonal antibody recognizing extracellular domains of prostate specific membrane antigens of normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof.

Medical devices with polymer coatings designed to control the release of angiotensin-(1-7) receptor agonists from medical devices are disclosed. The present application also discloses providing vascular stents with angiotensin-(1-7) receptor agonist-containing controlled-release coatings. Methods for treating or inhibiting post-stent implantation restenosis as well as improving vascular endothelial function in patients are also provided.

The present invention provides methods to culture and use vascular endothelial cells, including lymphatic, venous and arterial endothelial cells.

A method of treating a human subject which is effected by intermittent inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide at a concentration of at least 160 ppm is disclosed. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract. The disclosed method can be effected while monitoring one or more of on-site and off-site parameters such as vital signs, methemoglobin levels, pulmonary function parameters, blood chemistry and hematological parameters, blood coagulation parameters, inflammatory marker levels, liver and kidney function parameters and vascular endothelial activation parameters, such that no substantial deviation from a baseline in seen in one or more of the monitored parameters.

The present application relates to compositions of modified toxins exhibiting reduced immunogenicity and reduced binding to vascular endothelium or vascular endothelial cells, thereby reducing the incidence of Vascular Leak Syndrome. Also provided are polypeptide toxophores from a modified diphtheria toxin, where modifications are in at least one amino acid residue of at least one T-cell epitope. Another aspect relates to a polypeptide toxophore from a modified diphtheria toxin, where modifications are in at least one amino acid residue of at least one T-cell epitope and at least one amino acid residue of at least one VLS motif of an unmodified native diphtheria toxin. Another aspect relates to a fusion protein which comprises a modified diphtheria toxin and a non-diphtheria toxin fragment that is a cell binding portion. Another aspect relates to the use of a modified diphtheria toxin for the treatment of a malignant disease or a non-malignant disease.

An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and / or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and / or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and / or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and / or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank having a low pressure head to avoid organ overpressurization. Preventing overpressurization prevents or reduces damage to vascular endothelial lining and to organ tissue in general. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.