Abstract: The present invention is in the field of drug delivery, and specifically, cationic liposome-based drug delivery. In embodiments, this invention provides methods of making ligand-targeted (e.g., antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted) liposomes useful for the delivery of liposomes to tumors, including brain tumors. In embodiments, the liposomes deliver temozolomide across the blood-brain barrier for treatment of primary or metastatic brain tumors. Additional cancers that can be treated with the liposomes include neuroendocrine tumors, melanoma, prostate, head and neck, ovarian, lung, liver, kidney, breast, urogenital, gastric, colorectal, cervical, vaginal, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, choriocarcinoma, pancreatic, retinoblastoma and other types of cancer. In another embodiment the liposomes deliver melphalan for the treatment of multiple myeloma, other tumors of the blood or other solid tumors.

Abstract: Novel ubiquitin specific protease 13 (USP13) inhibitors are provided, along with methods for their use. The USP13 inhibitors described herein are useful in treating and/or preventing USP13-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Also provided are methods for inhibiting USP13 in a cell using the compounds and compositions described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying neopeptides in abnormal cells, with the methods comprising sequencing long-read messenger RNA (mRNA) isolated from the abnormal cells, identifying splice variants that could be generated from the sequenced long-read mRNA, determining if the abnormal cells contain neopeptides that correlate with the identified splice variants. The methods may also comprise identifying at least one neoantigen on the neopeptides that are present in the abnormal cells.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of treating medulloblastoma or glioblastoma in a subject by administering to the subject a PI3K activator (e.g., thymosin ?-4 or a derivative thereof) and one or more chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation. The combination therapy is effective in the treatment of medulloblastoma or glioblastoma characterized by cells with elevated p53 levels.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of treating medulloblastoma or glioblastoma in a subject by administering to the subject a PI3K activator (e.g., thymosin ?-4 or a derivative thereof) and one or more chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation. The combination therapy is effective in the treatment of medulloblastoma or glioblastoma characterized by cells with elevated p53 levels.

Abstract: A hypotheses generation and event recognition system that enables event recognition by analyzing documents to construct one or more qualitative metrics (e.g., frequency of keywords, changes in sentiment, occurrence of ontological terms, evolution of topics, etc.), establishing a baseline for the qualitative metric(s), and outputting changes to that baseline for display. In aggregate, those qualitative metrics comprise temporal and/or spatial signals that, when combined, define signatures of events of interest. Accordingly, the user and/or the system may identify an event of interest based on the change in baseline. The system may further provide functionality to generate hypotheses by coding data according to an ontology, populating an ontology space, and using an optimization algorithm to rank points or neighborhoods in the coded ontology space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present systems and methods may provide techniques to predict the success or failure of a drug used for disease treatment. For example, a method of determining drug efficacy may include, for a plurality of patients, generating a directed acyclic graph from health related information of each patient comprising nodes representing a medical event of the patient, at least one first edge connecting the first node to an additional node, each additional edge connecting nodes representing two consecutive medical events, the edge having a weight based on a time difference between the two consecutive medical events, capturing a plurality of features from each directed acyclic graph, generating a binary graph classification model on captured features of each directed acyclic graph, determining a probability that a drug or treatment will be effective using the binary graph classification model, and determining a drug to be prescribed to a patient based on the determined probability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical method that includes providing a sample potentially containing a chiral analyte that can exist in stereoisomeric forms, and providing a probe selected from the group consisting of metal salts. The sample is contacted with the probe under conditions that permit coordination of the probe to the analyte, if present in the sample; and, based on any coordination that occurs, the absolute configuration of the analyte in the sample, and/or the concentration of the analyte in the sample, and/or the enantiomeric composition of the analyte in the sample is/are determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for determining the absolute configuration of D/L-cysteine and/or the enantiomeric composition of cysteine and/or the concentration of total cysteine in a sample. Uses of the composition and method are also described.

Abstract: Provided are methods for enhancing anti-tumor and/or anti-cancer immunotherapies. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a composition that includes a conjugate that includes a gastrin immunogen conjugated to an immunogenic carrier, optionally conjugated via a linker, in an amount and via a route sufficient to enhance entry into the tumor and/or cancer of an anti-tumor T cell, whereby an anti- and/or anti-cancer tumor immunotherapy is enhanced. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions that have the conjugates for use in treating tumors and cancers, methods for treating tumors and/or cancers, and methods for sensitizing solid tumors and/or cancers in subjects to chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining if a subject has an increased risk of suffering from memory impairment. The methods comprise analyzing at least one plasma sample from the subject to determine a value of the subject's metabolite profile and comparing the value of the subject's metabolite profile with the value of a normal metabolite profile. A change in the value of the subject's metabolite profile, over normal values is indicative that the subject has an increased risk of suffering from memory impairment compared to a normal individual.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising CD4+ stem cell like memory T (TSCM) cells and their uses in the treatment of cancer, infection and autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: An enteral feeding device permitting diversion of gastrointestinal fluid from an afferent limb to an efferent limb of gastrointestinal tract in a subject is provided. The device can be used to reduce leakage from around device and thus reduce morbidity associated with such leakage. In certain embodiments the enteral feeding device is a jejunostomy tube (J-tube). Also provided are methods for positioning and using the enteral feeding device. Also provided are kits for positioning and using the enteral feeding device.

Abstract: A method for training vibrotactile speech perception in the absence of auditory speech can comprise selecting a first word, generating a first control signal configured to cause at least one vibrotactile transducer to vibrate against a person's body with a first vibration pattern based on the first word, sampling a second word, generating a second control signal configured to cause a vibrotactile transducer to vibrate against the person's body with a second vibration pattern based on the second word, and presenting a comparison between the first word and the second word to the person. An apparatus for training vibrotactile speech perception can comprise array of vibrotactile transducers can be in contact with the person's body. The array of vibrotactile transducers can replicate a vibration pattern based on one or more spoken words.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-matriptase antibodies and immunoconjugates of anti-matriptase antibodies with cytotoxic agents and the use thereof for killing or inhibiting the growth of matriptase-expressing cancer cells, such as those of multiple myeloma and breast cancers. In particular, immunoconjugates comprising an anti-matriptase monoclonal antibody and anticancer agents such as auristatin, including monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) are introduced, which have potent antitumor activity in vivo. Moreover, importantly; there was no weight loss or other evidence of toxicity in the animals, indicating that no significant free drug was released into the circulation from the conjugate. The present invention also provides compositions comprising these new immunoconjugates and use of them for treatment of malignancies comprising cells that express matriptase.

Abstract: Compounds and methods are described herein that are effective to modulate plant response (e.g., plant susceptibility) to environmentally-induced stress. The compounds and methods described herein advantageously may be used to modulate environmental stress resistance in a wide variety of plants. Environmental stresses include, for example, high light intensity (UV exposure), temperature (e.g., high heat), high soil salinity, and low soil moisture (e.g., drought). As used herein, environmental stresses include any conditions that result in increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and accumulation of ROS in the plant cells. The compounds described herein that are effective to modulate resistance to the stress prevent, directly or indirectly, or increase phosphorylation of Tyr248 of the RACK1A protein.

Abstract: A triage system that determines whether a user is likely to have contracted a disease based on sensor data received from a user device (e.g., a smartphone or activity tracker). Each symptom is identified by comparing sensor data to a predetermined baseline and comparing the difference to a predetermined symptom threshold. Because direct measurement of symptoms using the sensors available to the user may not be feasible or sufficiently accurate, the triage system also uses surrogates the identify certain symptoms. For example, a fever may be identified using heart data, a cough or shortness of breath may be identified by analyzing recorded sound, fatigue may be identified by analyzing the movement of the user device, and loss of smell or taste may be identified by recording sound and using speech detection algorithms to identify phrases in the recorded sound indicative of loss of smell or taste.

Abstract: Methods of treating human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced conditions, HPV-induced lesions, or HPV-infected cells. The method involves administering one or more artemisinin-related compounds and one or more histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. In addition, treatment regimens involving the use of artemisinin-related compounds and HDAC inhibitors, and kits comprising pharmaceutical compositions of artemisinin-related compounds and HDAC inhibitors.

Abstract: A construct, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: (a) a polyethylene glycol-block-poly(L-lysine) polymer moiety, wherein the polyethylene glycol is thiol-functionalized; (b) a cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor ligand coupled to the polyethylene glycol of the polymer moiety; and (c) a siRNA complexed with the poly(L-lysine) of the polymer moiety, wherein the construct is neutralized.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of cadherin-11 (CDH11) related diseases. The compositions include CDH11 inhibitors that are formulated for use in combination with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy, to treat or prevent cancer, fibrosis, and autoimmune diseases.