Genetically modified non-human animals comprising a humanized interleukin-15 (IL-15) gene. Cells, embryos, and non-human animals comprising a human IL-15 gene. Rodents that express humanized or human IL-15 protein.

Disclosed are a therapeutic agent for muscular dystrophy employing pluripotent stem cells obtained from dental pulp and a method for preparation thereof. The therapeutic agent for muscular dystrophy comprises pluripotent stem cell-enriched human dental pulp-derived cells as the active ingredient, and is prepared by a method of preparation comprising the steps of: (a) adding dental pulp-derived cells contained in a dental pulp suspension, in a culture vessel containing feeder cells whose proliferative ability is suppressed, onto a membrane having micropores that can block feeder cells from passing therethrough and supported within the vessel in a manner that avoids direct contact of the lower side face thereof with the feeder cells, and culturing the dental pulp-derived cells on the membrane while preventing direct contact with the feeder cells, and (b) recovering the cells having grown on the membrane as the pluripotent stem cell-enriched human dental pulp-derived cells.

The invention provides expression vectors or vector systems comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide, wherein the gene is operably linked to a neuronal activity-dependent promoter suitable to drive expression of the gene product in a subject’s neural cells. The features of the expression vectors combine to advantageously improve the treatment of a neurological disorder associated with neuronal hyperexcitability in a subject. The invention also provides the expression vectors or vector systems for use in related methods of treatment, as well as viral particles, cells, kits and methods using the expression vectors or vector systems.

A multifunctional dog chain includes at least two ropes, a handle ring and hooks. Rear ends of the at least two ropes are interconnected to form a first connecting portion, the handle ring is in 360° rotary connection with the first connecting portion, front ends of the ropes are separated, the hooks used for connecting with dog collars are arranged on each of said ropes, an adjustable rope clamp is arranged between the ropes and connected to the ropes to separate the ropes into a front part and a rear part, the ropes between the first connecting portion and the adjustable rope clamp form the closed rear part, each of the ropes in the front part is of a separated structure, and the adjustable rope clamp can move back and forth along said ropes. The multifunctional dog chain can prevent accidents out of too long ropes.

Mice that comprise a replacement of endogenous mouse IL-6 and/or IL-6 receptor genes are described, and methods for making and using the mice. Mice comprising a replacement at an endogenous IL-6Rα locus of mouse ectodomain-encoding sequence with human ectodomain-encoding sequence is provided. Mice comprising a human IL-6 gene under control of mouse IL-6 regulatory elements is also provided, including mice that have a replacement of mouse IL-6-encoding sequence with human IL-6-encoding sequence at an endogenous mouse IL-6 locus.

A system, apparatus, and/or method of determining a health condition of an animal is provided. First data may be received from a first sensor device. The first data may be indicative of an animal event of an animal. Second data may be received from a second sensor device. The second sensor may be separate and/or distinct from the first sensor device. The second data may confirm an occurrence of the animal event. The animal event may be a discharge event and/or a feeding event. The occurrence of the animal event may be identified based on the first data and the second data. The occurrence of the animal event may be displayed via a display device. A health condition of the animal may be determined based on the animal event. The determination of the health condition may be based on a quantity and/or a duration of the animal event.

Non-human animals, and methods and compositions for making and using the same, are provided, wherein said non-human animals comprise a humanization of an Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) gene. Said non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a genetic modification to an endogenous ANGPTL8 locus so that said non-human animals express a human ANGPTL8 polypeptide.

Genetically modified rodents such as mice and rats, and methods and compositions for making and using the same, are provided. The rodents comprise a humanization of at least one endogenous rodent Tmprss gene, such as an endogenous rodent Tmprss2, Tmprss4, or Tmprss11d gene.

Provided is a method for producing an animal model of osteoblastic bone metastasis. A non-human animal in which an osteoblastic lesion is formed in a wide range has been successfully produced with a probability of 100% by: administering a calcineurin inhibitor to a non-human animal; and injecting a tumor cell into an artery or a vein of the non-human animal, wherein the non-human animal and the tumor cell are in an allogeneic or xenogeneic relation.

Deferred treatment of nerve injuries is provided. Accordingly, there is provided a method of deferred treatment of a nerve injury in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising implanting at least 1 week following onset or diagnosis of the nerve injury in the subject a composition comprising a hyaluronic acid, a laminin polypeptide and an antioxidant at or near the nerve injury of the subject.