Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying agents that modulate prokineticin receptors, particularly, in the brain. Such agents are useful in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral ischemia, cerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic reperfusion injury. Additionally, such agents are useful to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy.

Abstract: Methods of suppressing the activation of microglial cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS), methods of ameliorating or treating the neurological effects of cerebral ischemia or cerebral inflammation, and methods of combating specific diseases that affect the CNS by administering a compound that binds to microglial receptors and prevents or reduces microglial activation are described. ApoE receptor binding peptides that may be used in the methods of the invention are also described, as are methods of using such peptides to treat peripheral inflammatory conditions such as sepsis. Also described are methods of screening compounds for the ability to suppress or reduce microglial activation.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel family of biologically active neuropeptides and the nucleic aid molecules coding for same. The peptides are derived for the C-terminus of the teneurin family peptides (Ten M1-4). These novel peptides, referred to as teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAPs) are active in neuronal communication and are implicated in a number of neuropathologies. They are particularly useful in modulating stress responses and anxiety and in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing and treating cerebrovascular events, and for defining the time and anatomical location of an event, are provided based on the detection and quantification of bound or total and unbound NR2 peptides in biological fluids. The methods are optionally performed in conjunction with neurological scoring and neuroimaging, and are directed to risk assessment, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of TIA and stroke on an emergency basis in the emergency room.

Abstract: The invention relates to an epitope protection assay for use in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic intervention in diseases, for example, involving polypeptide aggregation, such as prion infections. The methods of the invention first block accessible polypeptide target epitope with a blocking agent. After denaturation of the polypeptide, a detecting agent is used to detect protein with target epitope that was inaccessible during contact with the blocking agent. The invention also relates to novel amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-specific epitopes and their uses to make antibodies, and to the novel antibodies and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of MRI monitoring of ventricular enlargement rate as an objective measure for the purpose of assessing disease progression in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and for the purpose of determining therapeutic effectiveness of a treatment regimen for Alzheimer's patients. Methods for treating Alzheimer's Disease and monitoring therapeutic effectiveness are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating the activity of one or more neurotrophins, such as neural growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), in an animal and methods for treatment of a disease or disorder in an individual by modulation of neurotrophin activity. The modulation is carried out by interfering with binding between a neurotrophin and a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family or modulating the expression of a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family. Methods for screening for agents capable of modulating neurotrophin activity and agents selected using these screening methods are also disclosed, as are methods for determining the effect of an agent on one or more neurotrophins in cells. The present invention also pertains to methods for modulating the transport of one or more neurotrophins.

Abstract: A clonogenic neurosphere assay is described that carries out high throughput screens (HTS) to identify potent and/or selective modulators of proliferation, differentiation and/or renewal of neural precursor cells, neural progenitor cells and/or self-renewing and multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs). Compositions comprising the identified modulators and methods of using the modulators and compositions, in particular to treat neurological disorders (e.g. brain or CNS cancer) or damage are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for treating sepsis, including septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), comprising administering an effective amount of a HMG1 antagonist. There is further disclosed a diagnostic method for monitoring the severity or potential lethality of sepsis or septic shock, comprising measuring the serum concentration of HMG1 in a patient exhibiting or at risk or exhibit sepsis or septic shock symptoms. Lastly, there is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for effecting weight loss or treating obesity, comprising administering an effective amount of HMG1 or a therapeutically active HMG1 fragment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment of an autoimmune demyelinating disease/disorder. Also included in the present invention is the use of bone marrow stromal cells for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosing neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and dementia with Lewy body disease by detecting a pattern of gene product expression in a cerebrospinal fluid sample and comparing the pattern of gene product expression from the sample to a library of gene product expression pattern known to be indicative of the presence or absence of a neurodegenerative disease. The methods also provide for monitoring neurodegenerative disease progression and assessing the effects of therapeutic treatment. Also provided are kits, systems and devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing the presence of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) or predicting the risk of developing HSP in a human subject, comprising detecting the presence or absence of a defect in a gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the sequence of FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO: 19), in a nucleic acid sample of the subject, whereby the detection of the defect is indicative that the subject has or is at risk of developing HSP.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunoglobulins, particularly antibodies that bind to NOGO and neutralise the activity thereof, polynucleotides encoding such antibodies, pharmaceutical formulations containing said antibodies and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases.

Abstract: Novel parathyroid hormone peptide (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) or derivatives thereof which are biologically active are disclosed, as are pharmaceutical compositions containing such peptides, and synthetic and recombinant methods for producing such peptides. Also disclosed are methods for treating mammalian conditions characterized by decreases in bone mass using therapeutically effective pharmaceutical compositions containing such peptides. Also disclosed are methods for screening candidate compounds of the invention for antagonistic or agonistic effects on parathyroid hormone receptor action. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of such compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a medical condition, disease, or disorder mediated by a misfolded form of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a subject in need of treatment. The method optionally comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an agent selected from (1) an exogenous antibody or fragment thereof that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (2) an immunogen that elicits production of an endogenous antibody that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (3) a nucleic acid sequence encoding (1) or (2). In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using amyotrophic disease-specific epitopes, and compositions including these epitopes. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to monomeric or misfolded SOD1, and not on the molecular surface of native homodimeric SOD1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to administration of C-peptide in a once daily dose for use in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses anti-histone H1 monoclonal antibodies, hybridomas for the production thereof, and polypeptides, which are useful for suppressing, predicting, or diagnosing transplant rejection in organ transplantation.

Abstract: A brain damage-related disorder is diagnosed in a subject by detecting at least one polypeptide, or a variant or mutant thereof, selected from A-FABP, E-FABP, PGP 9.5, GFAP, Prostaglandin D synthase, Neuromodulin, Neurofilament L, Calcyphosine, RNA binding regulatory subunit, Ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 homolog, Nucleoside diphosphate kinase A, Glutathione S tranferase P, Cathepsin D, DJ-1 protein, Peroxiredoxin 5 and Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A (Cyclophilin A) in a sample of body fluid taken from the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a peptide immunogen useful for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. More particularly, the peptide immunogen comprises a main functional/regulatory site, an N-terminal fragment of Amyloid ? (A?) peptide linked to a helper T cell epitope (Th) having multiple class II MHC binding motifs. The peptide immunogen elicits a site-directed immune response against the main functional/regulatory site of the A? peptide and generate antibodies, which are highly cross-reactive to the soluble A?1-42 peptide and the amyloid plaques formed in the brain of Alzheimer's Disease patients. The antibodies elicited being cross reactive to the soluble A?1-42 peptide, promote fibril disaggregation and inhibit fibrillar aggregation leading to immunoneutralization of the “soluble A?-derived toxins”; and being cross-reactive to the amyloid plaques, accelerate the clearance of these plaques from the brain.

Abstract: To provide a novel protein that can be a preventive/remedy in neurodegenerative diseases such as polyglutamine diseases based on the finding obtained by revealing the relationship between transcriptional dysfunction and neuronal death. Disclosed is a protein that is one of the following proteins (a) and (b). (a) A protein including an amino acid sequence represented by any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3. (b) A protein including an amino acid sequence in which one to several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence of (a), the protein having a dominant negative effect on a transcriptional activation factor YAP.