The Nemours Foundation

Vicky L Funanage

Susan M Kirwin

Darlise O'Connor

Mena Scavina

Sandra G Hassink

Darlise 0'Connor

A method and composition for administering leptin to a subject. The invention includes suspending isolated native leptin-containing milk fat globules in a suitable medium for administering to a subject. The suspended milk fat globules may be administered orally as well as by intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitone41, other enteral routes of administration, and other parenteral routes of administration. The invention includes a method for treating growth or maturational-related disorders in newborns as, well as subjects having conditions that can be treated by the administration of leptin.

Compositions containing leptin

A method and composition for administering leptin to a subject. The invention includes suspending isolated native leptin-containing milk fat globules in a suitable medium for administering to a subject. The suspended milk fat globules may be administered orally as well as by intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, other enteral routes of administration, and other parenteral routes of administration. The invention includes a method for treating growth or maturational-related disorders in newborns as well as subjects having conditions that can be treated by the administration of leptin.

Administration of leptin

The invention provides a method for treating infants, children or adults suffering from pulmonary distress caused by low or insufficient production of surfactant. It is particularly suitable for treating premature infants suffering from Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The method comprises administering a leptin compound to an individual with impaired surfactant production for a time and in an amount sufficient to enhance surfactant production. The method may be used for treatment of any mammal with impaired lung surfactant production.

Method for treating respiratory distress syndrome

A diagnostic method for determining whether an individual is affected with spinal muscular atrophy involves evaluating the relative amounts of exon 5 of Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP) and exon 7 of centromeric and telomeric Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) genes in a genomic sample from the subject. A PCR analysis employing NAIP5F, NAIP5R, SMNX7DRA and SMNR111 primers is used to amplify the desired genes. The PCR product is digested with an enzyme which recognizes only the centromeric SMN sequence and the digested product can be separated by electrophoresis. The novel method allows multiplex analysis for both NAIP and SMN genes in the same sample work up. The analytical procedure further permits the digestion to be carried out without prior purification of the PCR product. Very importantly, the analytical procedure provides for the ability to diagnose the heterozygous telomeric SMN phenotype and thus allows the non-affected carrier of spinal muscular atrophy to be identified.

Method of diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy

A method of treating skeletal muscle fibrosis in mammals. The novel method is effective for reducing the extent of skeletal muscle fibrosis in an individual who suffers from a disorder which targets skeletal muscle tissue, such as Duchenne's and Becker's muscular dystrophy and denervation atrophy induced by either trauma or neuromuscular disease. The treatment includes administering to the individual an effective amount of a metalloporphyrin compound, especially hemin, heme arginate, cobalt protoporphyrin IX chloride and cobalt protoporphyrin IX arginate.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Vicky L Funanage