New Patents V

the extent of expression of P-selectin in a platelet sample in vitro, using a maximally activated platelet sample as a reference standard.

5529933

S U S P E N S I O N M E D I A F O R

H E M A T O L O G I C A L

C O M P O S I T I O N A N D M E T H O D F O R I T S U S E

Young Carole; Elliott Michael; Naylor Nancy R; Fischer Timothy; Miami, FL, UNITED STATES assigned to Coulter Corporation

A hematology control product comprising leukocyte analogs and an aqueous solution of a plasma substance for use in a blood counting instrument is described. The instrument employs a lytic reagent system for the lysable red blood cells in the control product. The plasma substance is in an amount effective to enable the differentiation of each of said leukocyte analogs relative to the physical attributes of the analogs, said physical attributes of the analog are similar to human leukocytes. Preferably, the plasma substance comprises cholesterol or its derivatives. A method for using the cell suspension media comprising an aqueous solution of a plasma substance is also described. The method provides a quality control to determine whether an instrument is operating within manufacturer's specifications.

5532223

U S E O F A Q U E O U S S O L U B L E G L U C A N P R E P A R A T I O N S T O

S T I M U L A T E P L A T E L E T

P R O D U C T I O N

Jamas Spiros; Easson D Davidson; Ostroff Gary R; Boston, MA, UNITED STATES assigned to Alpha-Beta Technology lnc

The present invention relates to neutral soluble beta-giucans which exert potent and specific hematopoietic and immunological effects without stimulating the production of certain cytokines, to preparations containing the novel beta-giucans, and

to a novel manufacturing process therefor. The neutral soluble glucan preparation has a high affinity for the beta-glucan receptor of human monocytes and retains two primary biological (or immunological) activities, (1) the enhancement of microbicidal activity of phagocytic cells, and (2) monocyte and neutrophil hemopoietic activity. Unlike soluble glucans described in the prior art, the neutral soluble glucan of this invention neither induces nor primes IL-I and TNF production in vitro and in vivo. Safe and efficacious preparations of neutral soluble glucan of the present invention can be used in therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment regimens of humans and animals to enhance their immune response, without stimulating the production of certain biochemical mediators (e.g., IL-1, TNF and leukotrienes) that can cause detrimental side effects, such as fever and inflammation.

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M O D I F I E D P L A T E L E T F A C T O R - 4

A N D C L E A V E D P L A T E L E T

F A C T O R 4

Gupta Shalley K; Singh Jai; Indianapolis, IN, UNITED STATES assigned to Eli Lilly and Company

The present invention is based of the discovery of two modified forms of human platelet factor-4, herein named MPF-4 and CPF-4, which were isolated from serum free culture medium of iipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood leukocytes. Amino acid sequence determination revealed that MPF-4 shares homology with platelet factor-4 beginning at N-terminal residue 17. CPF-4 consists of MPF-4 disulfide bonded to the 16 N-terminal residues of platelet factor-4. Both MPF-4 and CPF-4 are potent inhibitors of endothelial cell proliferation, approximately 10-100 fold more potent than native or recombinant platelet factor-4, making them useful in the treatment of angiogenic diseases.