Various aspects of the present invention relate to a method of treating cancer in a subject having cancer cells, wherein the cancer cells possess at least one growth hormone receptor, and wherein the method includes controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor. In various non-limiting embodiments, controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor may occur via knock down of the growth hormone receptor, or may be caused by inhibiting growth hormone action, such as via the use of antibodies directed against growth hormone or the growth hormone receptor. Methods may also relate to administering an antagonist of the growth hormone receptor, and administering at least one anti-tumor drug in concert with administration of the antagonist. Another aspect may include a method of maintaining an anti-tumor drug in cancer cells of a subject by controlling an action of at least one growth hormone receptor in the cancer cells.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to a method of treating cancer in a subject having cancer cells, wherein the cancer cells possess at least one growth hormone receptor, and wherein the method includes controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor. In various non-limiting embodiments, controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor may occur via knock down of the growth hormone receptor, or may be caused by inhibiting growth hormone action, such as via the use of antibodies directed against growth hormone or the growth hormone receptor. Methods may also relate to administering an antagonist of the growth hormone receptor, and administering at least one anti-tumor drug in concert with administration of the antagonist. Another aspect may include a method of maintaining an anti-tumor drug in cancer cells of a subject by controlling an action of at least one growth hormone receptor in the cancer cells.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to a method of treating cancer in a subject having cancer cells, wherein the cancer cells possess at least one growth hormone receptor, and wherein the method includes controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor. In various non-limiting embodiments, controlling an action of the growth hormone receptor may occur via knock down of the growth hormone receptor, or may be caused by inhibiting growth hormone action, such as via the use of antibodies directed against growth hormone or the growth hormone receptor. Methods may also relate to administering an antagonist of the growth hormone receptor, and administering at least one anti-tumor drug in concert with administration of the antagonist. Another aspect may include a method of maintaining an anti-tumor drug in cancer cells of a subject by controlling an action of at least one growth hormone receptor in the cancer cells.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a musclin peptide and methods of increasing muscle growth, performance, resistance to injury and/or preventing or reducing muscle atrophy and improving overall skeletal muscle, metabolic and cardiac health in an animal in need thereof by administering a musclin peptide.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a musclin peptide and methods of increasing muscle growth, performance, resistance to injury and/or preventing or reducing muscle atrophy and improving overall skeletal muscle, metabolic and cardiac health in an animal in need thereof by administering a musclin peptide.

An aqueous composition having increased protein stability is obtained by: a. determining a pH at which the protein has stability at the desired temperature; b. adding to the composition at least one displacement buffer wherein the displacement buffer has a pK.sub.a that is at least 1 unit greater or less than the pH of step (a); and c. adjusting the pH of the composition to the pH of step (a); wherein the aqueous composition does not comprise a conventional buffer at a concentration greater than about 2 mM and wherein the conventional buffer has a pK.sub.a that is within 1 unit of the pH of step (a).

An aqueous composition having increased protein stability is obtained by: a. determining a pH at which the protein has stability at the desired temperature; b. adding to the composition at least one displacement buffer wherein the displacement buffer has a pK.sub.a that is at least 1 unit greater or less than the pH of step (a); and c. adjusting the pH of the composition to the pH of step (a); wherein the aqueous composition does not comprise a conventional buffer at a concentration greater than about 2 mM and wherein the conventional buffer has a pK.sub.a that is within 1 unit of the pH of step (a).

The present disclosure relates to isolated non-naturally occurring delivery constructs comprising a bacterial toxin-derived delivery construct coupled to a biologically active therapeutic cargo; wherein the delivery construct is capable of delivering the biologically active cargo via transcytosis transport across an epithelial cell; and wherein the delivery construct does not comprise a bacterial toxin-derived translocation domain or a bacterial toxin-derived catalytic (cytotoxic) domain.

The present disclosure relates to isolated non-naturally occurring delivery constructs comprising a bacterial toxin-derived delivery construct coupled to a biologically active therapeutic cargo; wherein the delivery construct is capable of delivering the biologically active cargo via transcytosis transport across an epithelial cell; and wherein the delivery construct does not comprise a bacterial toxin-derived translocation domain or a bacterial toxin-derived catalytic (cytotoxic) domain.

Polymeric reagents are provided comprising a moiety of atoms arranged in a specific order, wherein the moiety is positioned between a water-soluble polymer and a reactive group. The polymeric reagents are useful for, among other things, forming polymer-active agent conjugates. Related methods, compositions, preparations, and so forth are also provided.