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.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for stimulating meibomian gland epithelial cell function by administering to the ocular surface or immediate vicinity of an eye of a subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing a PLD-inducing compound, such as the cationic amphiphilic drugs (e.g. azithromycin), androgen or an androgen analogue with androgen effectiveness, corticosteroid, progesterone, IGF-1 or an IGF-1 analogue (e.g. insulin), GH, and mixtures thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions are effective to treat a variety of aliments to the eye including meibomian gland dysfunction, evaporative dry eye disease, lipid abnormalities in meibum or the tear film, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for stimulating meibomian gland epithelial cell function by administering to the ocular surface or immediate vicinity of an eye of a subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing a PLD-inducing compound, such as the cationic amphiphilic drugs (e.g. azithromycin), androgen or an androgen analogue with androgen effectiveness, corticosteroid, progesterone, IGF-1 or an IGF-1 analogue (e.g. insulin), GH, and mixtures thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions are effective to treat a variety of aliments to the eye including meibomian gland dysfunction, evaporative dry eye disease, lipid abnormalities in meibum or the tear film, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for stimulating meibomian gland epithelial cell function by administering to the ocular surface or immediate vicinity of an eye of a subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing a PLD-inducing compound, such as the cationic amphiphilic drugs (e.g. azithromycin), androgen or an androgen analogue with androgen effectiveness, corticosteroid, progesterone, IGF-1 or an IGF-1 analogue (e.g. insulin), GH, and mixtures thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions are effective to treat a variety of aliments to the eye including meibomian gland dysfunction, evaporative dry eye disease, lipid abnormalities in meibum or the tear film, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome.

The present invention relates to an in vitro culture of haematopoietic cells, wherein said haematopoietic cells differentiate to form granulocytes characterised by the ability to kill cancer cells. The invention also relates to said granulocytes, methods for identifying said haematopoietic cells and granulocytes, compositions and kits comprising the same, as well as uses of the same for treating cancer.

The present invention relates to an in vitro culture of haematopoietic cells, wherein said haematopoietic cells differentiate to form granulocytes characterised by the ability to kill cancer cells. The invention also relates to said granulocytes, methods for identifying said haematopoietic cells and granulocytes, compositions and kits comprising the same, as well as uses of the same for treating cancer.

The present invention relates to an in vitro culture of haematopoietic cells, wherein said haematopoietic cells differentiate to form granulocytes characterised by the ability to kill cancer cells. The invention also relates to said granulocytes, methods for identifying said haematopoietic cells and granulocytes, compositions and kits comprising the same, as well as uses of the same for treating cancer.

The present invention provides a method for measuring growth hormone level in a human child, including a method of assessing pituitary-related growth hormone deficiency in a human child as a stand-alone test. The method includes the steps of oral administration of an effective amount of macimorelin to the child, collecting from the child two or three post-administration blood samples within a range of about 60 minutes after administration, and determining the level of growth hormone in the samples. The method can be used for diagnosing pituitary-related growth hormone deficiency in a child when the peak level of determined growth hormone in the samples is below a cut-off value.

The present invention provides a method for measuring growth hormone level in a human child, including a method of assessing pituitary-related growth hormone deficiency in a human child as a stand-alone test. The method includes the steps of oral administration of an effective amount of macimorelin to the child, collecting from the child two or three post-administration blood samples within a range of about 60 minutes after administration, and determining the level of growth hormone in the samples. The method can be used for diagnosing pituitary-related growth hormone deficiency in a child when the peak level of determined growth hormone in the samples is below a cut-off value.

This invention relates to combination therapy of a subject suffering from acromegaly. The method of treatment comprises administration to the subject of a therapeutically effective amount of oral somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) e.g. octreotide in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of a dopamine agonist and/or a growth hormone receptor antagonist and/or a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and/or a 2.sup.nd somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL).