Repair of ruptured membrane by injection of naturally occurring protein in amniotic fluid

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for use in treatment of premature rupture of membranes. The compositions of the invention include a therapeutic amount of an avian thick egg white composition. Preferably, the compositions include the purified thick egg white protein, ovomucin. The methods of the invention involve injecting an effective amount of the compositions into the prematurely ruptured amniotic sac of a patient in order to seal the rupture.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A method of sealing an open wound comprising topically applying an effective amount of a composition comprising egg white protein onto the open wound of a subject.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the egg white protein is selected from the group consisting of ovomucin, ovalbumin, avidin, ovoflavoprotein, ovomacroglobulin, ovotransferrin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the egg white protein is ovomucin.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the open wound is a surgical wound, a burn wound, an abrasion, an avulsion, a puncture, or an abscess.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is topically applied over a suture.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the egg white protein is derived from an avian egg.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the avian egg is a chicken egg.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the subject is an animal.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the animal is a mammal.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a dog, a deer, a cat, a horse, a pig, a cow, a bison, a goat, a sheep, a primate, an elephant, a rhinoceri, a hippopatami, an antelope, a lion, a tiger or a bear.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the mammal is human.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises egg white protein in the range of 1 to 90 percent by weight.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the egg white protein is ovomucin.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more antibiotics, or bacterial inhibiting substances.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 6 to about 8.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition has a temperature of about 32 to about 110 degrees Fahrenheit.  
   
   
       33 . A method of sealing a ruptured organ comprising introduction of a composition comprising egg white protein into or applied directly onto the organ of a subject.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the egg white protein is selected from the group consisting of ovomucin, ovalbumin, avidin, ovoflavoprotein, ovomacroglobulin, ovotransferrin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the egg white protein is ovomucin.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is introduced into the organ of a subject.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is applied directly onto the organ of a subject.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the egg white protein is derived from an avian egg.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the avian egg is a chicken egg.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the egg white protein is derived from a non-avian egg.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the organ is a large intestine, a small intestine, a stomach, a kidney, a bladder, a uterus, a brain, an eye, a spinal chord, a ureter, a liver, a pancreas, a gall bladder, a lung, a heart, an artery, or a vein.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the subject is an animal.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the animal is a mammal.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a dog, a deer, a cat, a horse, a pig, a cow, a bison, a goat, a sheep, a primate, an elephant, a rhinoceri, a hippopatami, an antelope, a lion, a tiger or a bear.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the mammal is human.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition comprises egg white protein in the range of 1 to 90 percent by weight.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the egg white protein is ovomucin.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is introduced into the organ by an injection procedure.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more antibiotics, or bacterial inhibiting substances.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 6 to about 8.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition has a temperature of about 32 to about 110 degrees Fahrenheit.  
   
   
       53 - 67 . (canceled)