87results about How to "Prevent degeneration" patented technology

A method for treatment of degenerative disc disease using capacitively coupled electrical stimulation. In one embodiment, a subject diagnosed as having degenerative disc disease is treated by placing first and second electrodes on the subject's body at the site of an identified disc in a state of degenerative disc disease, and applying an electric field to the identified disc via the first and second electrodes with the intent to treat the degenerative disc disease. The electric field is created with an electrical signal having a frequency within a range of 20 to 100 kHz and having a symmetrical waveform with an amplitude within a range of 0.1 to 20 volts peak-to-peak, preferably a frequency of approximately 60 kHz and an amplitude of approximately 5 volts peak-to-peak.

Compounds that cause reversible night blindness may be used to treat ophthalmic conditions associated with the overproduction of waste products that accumulate during the course of the visual cycle. We describe methods and compositions using such compounds and their derivatives to treat, for example, the macular degenerations and dystrophies or to alleviate symptoms associated with such ophthalmic conditions. Such compounds and their derivatives may be used as single agent therapy or in combination with other agents or therapies.

Airway disorders in a horse are relieved by electrical stimulation of the airway tissue. Particular disorders and techniques include electrical stimulation to relieve laryngeal hemiplegia. A pacemaker processor generates an electrical treatment signal to be applied to upper airway tissue of the horse for treating the upper airway disorder. One or more stimulation electrodes interfaces with the upper airway tissue for delivering the treatment signal to the upper airway tissue.

An improved dual-filter lens for protective eyewear that combines a first filter for blocking essentially 100% of UV light, and second filter for filtering blue light. The first filter may comprise a multi-layered dielectric mirror layer 14 or Rugate filter 50, and the second filter may comprise dye-impregnated lens layer(s) 16, 18 or Rugate filter 50. The first filter blocks essentially 100% of UV light, while the second filter establishes an increasing transmission profile that cuts on sharply at approximately 415 nm, and establishes an increasing transmission profile between approximately 415 nm to about 475 nm. The cut-on slope rises approximately 0.15% in transmissivity for every nanometer of increasing wavelength change, with a maximum filtering effect within the 440-465 nm range. These dual filters provide a balanced light transmission profile that reduces harmful light transmission and prevents macular degeneration, cataracts and other ocular injuries, while still preserving visual acuity.

Preparations are disclosed containing the 3R-3'R stereoisomer of zeaxanthin as a sole detectable isomer, packaged for oral ingestion by humans as a therapeutic drug or nutritional supplement. Zeaxanthin is a yellow carotenoid pigment found in the macula (in the center of the human retina), which helps protect retinal cells against phototoxic damage. The pure R-R stereoisomer can be prepared by fermenting cells, such as Flavobacterium multivorum (ATCC 55238), which do not create any detectable quantity of the undesired and potentially toxic S-S or S-R isomers, and which do not synthesize any other carotenoids. The R-R isomer can be concentrated, in large quantities and at low cost, into a viscous oily fluid containing about 5 to 20% zeaxanthin, by means of a simple solvent extraction process. This oily fluid can be mixed with a carrier such as vegetable oil and enclosed within a digestible capsule, comparable to a conventional capsule containing Vitamin E. Alternately, a zeaxanthin fluid can be added to various types of foods, such as margarine, dairy products, syrup, cookie dough, and certain types of meat preparations which are not subjected to harsh cooking. Additional purification steps can also be used to purify zeaxanthin to a granular or powdered state which contains nearly pure zeaxanthin. Such processing can be used to create formulations such as ingestible tablets, and particulate formulations that can be added to soups, salads, drinks, or other foods. Preferred stabilizers and anti-oxidants are also disclosed herein. When consumed by humans in any of these modes, the purified R-R stereoisomer of zeaxanthin can help treat and prevent macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness and vision loss, especially among the elderly.

Negatively charged phospholipids, as well as compositions including negatively charged phospholipids and possibly carotenoids and/or antioxidants, for treating the eye are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a composition comprising at least one negatively charged phospholipid except cardiolipin is used to treat age-related macular degeneration. Methods for producing the negatively charged phospholipids, as well as methods for producing the compositions including negatively charged phospholipids and possibly carotenoids and/or antioxidants for treating age-related macular degeneration, are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a method for inducing stem cells to differentiate into retinal cells at high yield within a short period of time, without gene implantation and co-culture with retinal tissues, by implementing a differentiation process similar to the in vivo embryonic development in chemically defined conditions. Also, retinal cells including the photoreceptor cells and their progenitor cells, and various types of other retinal cells, generated according to the method, are disclosed. A composition comprising the retinal cells and a method are provided for treating retinal degeneration-related diseases. The differentiated photoreceptor cells, when transplanted into degenerated or injured retinas, can be engrafted and fused within the retinas to prevent or cure retinal degeneration.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing the absorption of dietary carotenoids in humans. The methods and compositions of the invention can used to increase the concentration of retinal lutein and zeaxanthin, thereby preventing the onset and/or slowing the progression of macular degeneration. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are disclosed.

The invention provides a specific protocol for use in grafting donor cells genetically modified to produce nerve growth factors into grafting sites within the cholinergic basal forebrain and is especially useful in treating neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease. Grafting sites are selected for proximity to previously identified defective, diseased or damaged brain cells. Each graft is situated no more than about 550 mum from a targeted cell and no more than about 5 mm from another graft. Depending on the size of the region to be treated, the number of grafting sites will vary upwards of 10 sites, with between 5 and 10 sites serving to deliver a therapeutically significant dosage of nerve growth factors to targeted cells. Donor cells are delivered in a composition concentration of at least 1x105 cells/mul, wherein each graft is comprised of between 2 and 20 mul of the donor cell composition. The composition is delivered to each grafting site over a period of about 5-10 minutes.

The present invention relates to methods of suppressing neuronal death, such as is observed with ischemia-related diseases and disorders, including neuronal and cardiac conditions arizing from a sudden loss of oxygen and/or energy loss, and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease to name just one. The methods involve the use of inhibitors that act primarily in a simultaneous manner on the cyclin-dependent kinases, CDK4 and CDK6.

Described herein are combination methods, compositions and therapies for treating ophthalmic conditions or diseases arising from, associated with or leading to the overproduction of waste products in the visual cycle. Agents included within these combinations are 13-cis-retinyl derivatives; other agents included within these combinations are selected from vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, inducers of nitric oxide production, anti-inflammatory agents, and negatively-charged phospholipids. Such combination methods may be used as single or multiple administration therapies, or in combination with other agents or therapies.

The invention relates to an adjustable artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral connecting complex. The adjustable artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral connecting complex comprises a centrum part and two end plate parts, wherein the two end plate parts are connected with the upper end and the lower end of the centrum part respectively through fetlock structures; the centrum partconsists of an upper centrum part and a lower centrum part which are axially connected with each other through threads; a plurality of screw holes are formed on the side peripheral walls of the uppercentrum part and the lower centrum part radially and correspondingly; a bolt with fixed length is arranged among the screw holes of the upper centrum part and the lower centrum part; and end plate part fixing bolts are arranged on the two end plate parts respectively. The adjustable artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral connecting complex has the supporting function of an artificial centrum and the movability of an artificial intervertebral disk, is adjustable in length, can realize immediate stability after an anterior cervical operation, has the supporting function, can realize immediate movement function reconstruction after the anterior cervical operation, and has the highly bionic movability compared with the normal cervical vertebra.

The invention discloses a three-layer integrated composite stent and a transplanting method thereof. The highly bionic stent comprises a cartilage layer, an intermediate transition layer, and a bone layer which are sequentially stacked from top to bottom, wherein the cartilage layer is prepared from low-concentration chitosan; the intermediate layer is prepared from a mixture of high-concentration chitosan and metallic titanium; the bone layer is prepared from a metallic 'titanium cage' and an autologous bone. The transplanting method comprises the following steps: using chitosan and the metallic 'titanium cage' as the stent materials to manufacture the three-layer integrated composite stent; partially inoculating autologous chondrocytes to the cartilage part of the stent; performing in-vitro culture; transplanting the tissue block to the position in front of a defected part, and inoculating the autologous bone to the bone part of the stent; and embedding the stent to the articular cartilage defect zone through a press fit principle according to an autologous bone-cartilage transplantation method at last. According to the three-layer integrated composite stent and the transplanting method thereof, disclosed by the invention, the intermediate layer has the function of stopping the chondrocytes from growing downwards; the 'titanium cage' part has the function of fixing the autologous bone, and promoting the coalescing function for the autologous bone and the host bone, so as to treat the cartilage injury.

The invention provides a spinal column dynamic connection rod, comprising an upper connection part, a lower connection part and an elastic piece, wherein the upper connection part and the lower connection part are connected with each other via the elastic piece. The spinal column dynamic connection rod is characterized in that: the upper connection part, the lower connection part and the elastic piece are integrally formed; the elastic piece is provided with an elastic hole; and an elastic groove is formed on an external periphery of the elastic piece. The spinal column dynamic connection rodprovided by the invention can realize stability of the spinal column and keep the normal physiological movement of the spinal column with a simple structure.

A plurality of smoke injection needles are inserted into or then withdrawn from tuna meat while bubbles of smoke are ejected from the smoke injection needles at intervals. The smoke is produced by burning a smoking material and containing carbon monoxide (CO) gas. The bubbles of the smoke are thus dispersed and injected into the tuna meat, and the residual CO concentration in the tuna meat is thereby set at 1100 to 2400 mg/kg. The resulting smoked tuna meat M is preserved in frozen storage at about -18 .degree. C.

The present invention is related to a pharmaceutical composition suitable for the treatment and/or the prevention of atherosclerosis from infectious origin, which comprises an adequate pharmaceutical carrier, a corticosteroid and a stilbene-type alexin, preferably further comprising a flavonoid to regenerate the stilbene and/or to increase the effect of the latter. The latter compositions are highly suitable for long-term therapies like the treatment of atherosclerosis from infectious origin.

The present invention provides agents effective to treat eye diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, methods for preparing pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases comprising using the agents, use of the agents in manufacture of pharmaceuticals for treatment of eye diseases and methods for treating eye diseases comprising administering the agents or the pharmaceutical compositions. The eye diseases treated by the present invention include particularly glaucoma, especially normal tension glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa. The present invention provides the compound of formula (I)

wherein R is as defined in the description.

A washing machine for preventing contaminants from degenerating and laundry from being damaged when water is supplied in a washing operation, and a method for controlling the supply of water thereof. Particularly, a washing machine for supplying cold water to laundry for sufficiently soaking the laundry and then supplying warm water at a high temperature to the laundry so as to prevent contaminants from degenerating, and a method for controlling the supply of water of the washing machine, thereby preventing the deterioration of washing performance of the washing machine. The method includes determining whether or not a water supply operation is selected, supplying cold water to soak laundry when it is determined that the water supply operation is selected and supplying warm water, after the soaking of the laundry in the cold water, to prevent contaminants of the laundry from degenerating.

Embodiments of this invention include novel peptides that can promote survival of neurons and other cell types. Other embodiments of this invention include the methods for the use of peptides to promote neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, neuronal proliferation, neural differentiation, neuronal survival and/or trophoblast proliferation, trophoblast migration and trophoblase survival. NRP compounds may be administered directly to a subject or to a subject's cells by a variety of means including orally, intraperitoneally, intravascularly or indirectly via a replicable vehicle. NRP compounds can be formulated into pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms for therapeutic use. Kits containing pre-determined doses of an NRP can be used to conveniently store, prepare and administer an NRP to a subject in need thereof.