Disclosed are methods of inducing differentiation of stem into myogenic cells without gene manipulation and for inducing proliferation of satellite cells. The cells can be used as a source of cells for transplantation in a subject in need thereof. Also disclosed is a screening assay for screening test compounds using blastomere cultures.

The present invention features methods of treating patients with chronic heart failure by administering a neuregulin polypeptide within a dosage range which is both effective and safe.

The present invention provides a therapeutic device that comprises of mixture of cells secreting combination of therapeutic proteins, where cells producing therapeutic proteins are sealed in container which enables the exchange of nutrient and therapeutic proteins. The cells inside the therapeutic device produce and secrete certain amounts of therapeutic proteins. Cells are prepared by introducing genes encoding therapeutic proteins under the control of a constitutive or inducible promoter. The combination and concentration of therapeutic proteins is defined by the ratio of cells secreting different therapeutic proteins and/or by the gene expression ratio of the therapeutic proteins in the cells incorporated into the semi-permeable container. The therapeutic device can be used for treatments of various diseases and injuries for instance enhancement of wound healing and angiogenesis.

Provided is a hair growth-promoting composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a stem cell culture solution obtained from a culture medium of mesenchymal stem cells which have been subcultured two or more times; 0.001 to 0.1 parts by weight of zinc; 5 to 50 parts by weight of a panthenol based compound; and 0.0001 to 0.1 parts by weight of a water-soluble vitamin, wherein it is sprayed or applied on the scalp to promote hair growth. Said hair growth-promoting composition may have an excellent effect and improve economical efficiency in treating alopecia due to a simple delivery method of the composition.

Provided is a method of treating a bladder cancer in an animal or human comprising: administering to an animal or human patient a therapeutic composition comprising a first fusion protein capable of specifically binding to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of a cancer cell and comprising an epidermal growth factor (EGF) polypeptide conjugated to a bacterial toxin polypeptide and a second fusion protein comprising an anthrax Lethal Factor N-terminus (LF.sub.N) conjugated to a Diptheria Toxin A (DTA) catalytic domain.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders with immunomodulating agents and auris pressure modulators. In these methods, the auris compositions and formulations are administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disorder, through direct application of the immunomodulating and/or auris pressure modulating compositions and formulations onto the auris media and/or auris interna target areas, or via perfusion into the auris media and/or auris interna structures.

Acellular compositions for treating inflammation, comprising two or more of IL1-ra, sTNF-R1, sTNF-RII, IGF-I, EGF, HGF, PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, VEGF, TGF-β1, and sIL-1RII. Components of the acellular compositions may be derived from biologic materials, such as blood clots and urine. Components may also be obtained from cell cultures.

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a bioactive fraction derived from a platelet concentrate, methods of making the bioactive fraction, and culture medium supplemented with the bioactive fraction. Preferred bioactive fractions have relatively low fibrinogen concentrations while retaining native growth factors in beneficial amounts and ratios.

In vitro and in vivo application of sub-atmospheric, negative pressure on growth factor starting material, such as whole blood, extracts growth factors from the platelet granules of the growth factor starting material in a non-destructive medium without activating the clotting process. The extracted growth factors are released into a growth factor composition containing blood plasma, extracellular fluid or interstitial fluid depending upon the type and location of the growth factor starting material. The growth factors have a weight of about 70-76 kDaltons and are applied in either a filtered or unfiltered state topically to the area of a surface wound to effect healing. The extracted growth factors are also injected into soft tissue, such as a torn tendon, to promote tissue growth and healing. The growth factors are released in one method from a patient's own blood. In another method the growth factors are released from a whole blood source and freeze dried by lyophilization. Then at a later date, the freeze-dried product is reconstituted by normal saline for treatment of a patient's wound, for use in a surgical procedure, or for tissue regeneration.

The present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods for treating an infection by MERS-CoV. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods that entail administering agents having an anchoring domain that anchors the compound to the surface of a target cell, and a sialidase domain that can act extracellularly to inhibit infection of a target cell by MERS-CoV.