1. A method of treating obesity of an animal, inhibiting adipoctye differentiation, inhibiting SCD-1 gene transcription, andor reducing body fat in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having the formula:
where X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, are each selected from hydrogen or a hydroxy-protecting group.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered orally.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered parenterally.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered transdermally.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered rectally.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered nasally.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered sublingually.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered in a dosage of from about 0.01 \u03bcgday to about 1000 \u03bcgday.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is 2-methylene-19,26,27-trinor-(20S)-1\u03b1-hydroxyvitamin D3 having the formula:
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a human.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a domestic animal.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is an agricultural animal.
13. A method of treating acne in an animal, the method comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having the formula:
where X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, are each selected from hydrogen or a hydroxy-protecting group.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered orally.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered parenterally.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered transdermally.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered rectally.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered nasally.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered sublingually.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is administered in a dosage of from about 0.01 \u03bcgday to about 1000 \u03bcgday.
21. The method of claim 13 wherein the compound is 2-methylene-19,26,27-trinor-(20S)-1\u03b1-hydroxyvitamin D3 having the formula:
22. A method of treating hypertension in an animal, the method comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having the formula:
where X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, are each selected from hydrogen or a hydroxy-protecting group.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered orally.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered parenterally.
25. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered transdermally.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered rectally.
27. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered nasally.
28. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered sublingually.
29. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is administered in a dosage of from about 0.01 \u03bcgday to about 1000 \u03bcgday.
30. The method of claim 22 wherein the compound is 2-methylene-19,26,27-trinor-(20S)-1\u03b1-hydroxyvitamin D3 having the formula:
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-26. (canceled)
27. A sling assembly comprising:
a mesh sling;
an elongated expandable chamber attached to the mesh sling; and
a protective sleeve, wherein the protective sleeve at least partially encloses the mesh sling and comprises an upper side and lower side between which the mesh sling is situated.
28. The sling assembly of claim 27, wherein the upper side of the sling assembly further comprises a discontinuity along its length.
29. The sling assembly of claim 27, wherein the sling assembly further comprises a tab enclosing a looped portion of the lower side of the sleeve.
30. The sling assembly of claim 29, wherein by cutting the tab, the looped portion of the lower side separates the sleeve into two halves which may be slidely removed the sling.
31. The sling assembly of claim 27, wherein the expandable chamber further comprises a valve on one end of the chamber.
32. The sling assembly of claim 31, wherein the valve is configured on the expandable chamber so that it will not come into contact with an anatomical location that the sling supports when implanted in a patient.
33. The sling assembly of claim 27, wherein the expandable chamber further comprises axially distributed sub-chambers.
34. The sling assembly of claim 33, wherein the sub-chambers are in fluid communication for even expansion and contraction.
35. The sling assembly of claim 33, wherein the sub-chambers expand and contract individually to create a desired chamber shape.
36. A method of implanting a sling assembly comprising:
implanting a sling assembly under a patient’s bladder neck or urethra wherein the sling assembly comprises:
a mesh sling;
an elongated expandable chamber attached to the mesh sling; and
a protective sleeve, wherein the protective sleeve at least partially encloses the mesh sling and comprises an upper side and lower side between which the mesh sling is situated; and
expanding the elongated chamber.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein the upper side of the sling assembly further comprises a discontinuity along its length.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein the sling assembly further comprises a tab enclosing a looped portion of the lower side of the sleeve.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein by cutting the tab, the looped potion of the lower side separates the sleeve into two halves which may be slidely removed from the sling.
40. The method of claim 36, wherein the expandable chamber further comprises a valve on one end of the chamber.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the valve is configured on the expandable chamber so that it will not come into contact with an anatomical location that the sling supports when implanted in a patient.
42. The method of claim 36, wherein the expandable chamber further comprises axially distributed sub-chambers.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the sub-chambers are in fluid communication for even expansion and contraction.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein the sub-chambers expand and contract individually to create a desired chamber shape.