Methods, compositions, devices and kits for increasing mechanical stiffness of an incompetent or a dilated biological tissue in a subject are provided herein. The methods described herein involve placing (e.g., injecting) a silk fibroin-based composition into at least a portion of an incompetent or dilated tissue of a subject. In some embodiments, the silk fibroin-based composition can further comprise at least two PEG components that will crosslink together upon placement (e.g., injection) into a subject in need thereof. In specific embodiments, the methods, compositions, devices and kits can be used to increase mechanical stiffness of a cervical tissue in a subject, for example, for treatment of cervical insufficiency.

Provided is a tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and/or indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor compound for use in medicine, which compound comprises the following formula: wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 may be the same or different and each is independently selected from C, N and O; each atom having a dotted line may independently have a double bond or a single bond, provided that valencies at each atom are maintained; each R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.7 may be present or absent and may be the same or different and is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of such R groups present is such that the valencies of X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 are maintained; one or two R.sup.6 groups may be present and are selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of R.sup.6 groups present is such that the valency of the carbon atom to which they are attached is maintained, and provided that at least one R.sup.6 is an organic group comprising an atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (preferably a carbonyl group or a sulphonyl group) at an -, -, or -position to the carbon atom to which the R.sup.6 is attached and in which the atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom is also bonded to a hetero-atom. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to methods of and compositions comprising cytokines for, improving the success rate of embryo implantation and the success rate of pregnancy rates in females, by providing an immunopermissive uterine environment prior to insemination or implantation of embryos. The methods of the present invention are used to make the uterus more receptive or less hostile to, for example, transferred embryos, sperm or other allografted tissue.

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganismsincluding novel strains of the microorganismsmicrobial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (3Z,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2-methyl-1,1-biphenyl-4-yl)carbonyl]pyrrolidin-3-one O-meth19243yloxime, and/or an active metabolite thereof having antagonist action at the oxytocin receptor and/or vasopressin V1a receptor, to processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (3Z,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2-methyl-1,1-biphenyl-4-yl)carbonyl]pyrrolidin-3-one O-meth19243yloxime, and/or an active metabolite thereof having antagonist action at the oxytocin receptor and/or vasopressin V1a receptor, to processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use.

Described is an intra-mammary teat sealant and a corresponding method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period. The method includes the step of infusing a teat seal formulation including a metal salt in a glyceride-containing gel base into the teat canal of the animal. The method also prevents the formation of black spot defect in dairy products, especially cheddar cheese, made from the milk of animals so treated.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of heparin derivatives having an average molecular weight of from about 4.6 to about 6.9 kDa and an anti-factor Xa activity of less than about 10 IU/mg, comprising the steps of oxidation of unfractionated heparin, depolymerisation and reduction of resulting terminal groups.

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganismsincluding novel strains of the microorganismsmicrobial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

Described is an intra-mammary teat sealant and a corresponding method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period. The method includes the step of infusing a teat seal formulation including a metal salt in a glyceride-containing gel base into the teat canal of the animal. The method also prevents the formation of black spot defect in dairy products, especially cheddar cheese, made from the milk of animals so treated.