Methods and compositions for treating or preventing C. difficile infections, particularly recurring C. difficile infections are described. The compositions for use in treating C. difficile include at least one agent that enhances a biological activity of interleukin-13 (IL-13), such as a recombinant IL-13 peptide or an agent that neutralizes the interleukin-13 (IL-13) decoy receptor, interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL-13Ra2). Additionally or alternatively, the compositions can include a interleukin-4 (IL-4) peptide. The methods can result in more rapid recovery from CDI and decreased weight loss, e.g., than treatment without the neutralizing agent.

Methods and compositions for treating or preventing C. difficile infections, particularly recurring C. difficile infections are described. The compositions for use in treating C. difficile include at least one agent that enhances a biological activity of interleukin-13 (IL-13), such as a recombinant IL-13 peptide or an agent that neutralizes the interleukin-13 (IL-13) decoy receptor, interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL-13Ra2). Additionally or alternatively, the compositions can include a interleukin-4 (IL-4) peptide. The methods can result in more rapid recovery from CDI and decreased weight loss, e.g., than treatment without the neutralizing agent.

Methods for using the human interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4) as a biomarker for determining patent populations for treatment, predicting disease treatment efficacy, and predicting disease treatment prognosis in a variety of cancers, in particular glioblastoma and recurrent glioblastoma.

The present invention relates to a hair growth-inducing ability enhancing effect of adipose stem cells obtained by performing treatment with udenafil and performing culture, and provides a composition for preventing or treating alopecia, or promoting hair growth, comprising, as an active ingredient, adipose stem cells obtained by performing treatment with udenafil and performing culture, IL-4, or IL-12B. In a case where a culture medium of adipose stem cells is treated with udenafil and cultured, IL-4 and IL-12B expression levels are increased in the adipose stem cells, and thus maturation of hair follicle cells is further promoted, so that hair growth can be induced. In addition, in a case where IL-4 and IL-12B, which are expressed in the adipose stem cells obtained by performing treatment with udenafil and performing culture, are applied to skin tissue, hair growth can be induced.

The present invention relates to biomaterials coated with an active agent eluting coating, wherein implantation of the coated biomaterial results in reduced implant-related complications and/or improved integration of the biomaterial into the host tissue and further relates to kits containing the coated biomaterial. The present invention also relates to methods and kits for coating the biomaterial. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that biomaterial coated with a cytokine eluting coating resulted in the shift of early stage macrophage polarization that were associated with positive long-term effects such as minimized capsule formation and improved tissue quality and composition as compared to uncoated biomaterials.

Embodiments relate to peptide antagonists of γc-family cytokines, which is associated with important human diseases, such as leukemia, autoimmune diseases, collagen diseases, diabetes mellitus, skin diseases, degenerative neuronal diseases and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Thus, inhibitors of γc-cytokine activity are valuable therapeutic and cosmetic agents as well as research tools. Traditional approaches to inhibiting γc-cytokine activity involve raising neutralizing antibodies against each individual γc-cytokine family member/receptor subunit. However, success has been limited and often multiple γc-cytokine family members co-operate to cause the disease state. Combinatorial use of neutralizing antibodies raised against each factor is impractical and poses an increased risk of adverse immune reactions. The present embodiments overcome these shortcomings by utilizing peptide antagonists based on the consensus γc-subunit binding site to inhibit γc-cytokine activity. Such approach allows for flexibility in antagonist design. In several embodiments, peptides exhibit Simul-Block activity, inhibiting the activity of multiple γc-cytokine family members.

Compositions and methods of promoting wound healing in a human by administering to the human mesenchymal stem cells in an effective amount.

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

A drug delivery system is described comprising a detachable support and a plurality of drug-loaded transdermal microneedles, for delivering drugs into gingival tissue for the treatment of periodontal disease.

A method of forming an immunomodulatory implant operatively arranged to chemotactically facilitate bone morphogenesis, the method including forming a matrix of a first material, the matrix including an outer surface, and a plurality of pores, and applying an antigen to the matrix, wherein the antigen including at least one of a bacterial antigen or a viral antigen.