Abstract: A facet screw system for surgical implantation into bone tissue having a shaft, a compression member and a washer. The shaft includes a shaft having a bone engaging portion and a compression member engaging portion. The compression member includes a spherical head portion having a recess for engaging with a driving instrument, and an elongated coupling portion having internal threads for coupling with the compression member engaging portion of the shaft and a washer coupled to the spherical head portion of the compression member and having a plurality of bone engaging protrusions. The washer is adapted to be polyaxially rotatable with respect to the compression member.

Abstract: A facet joint prosthesis comprising an inferior prosthetic portion and a superior prosthetic portion is disclosed. Inferior prosthetic portion includes a first anchor member and a first articulating member and superior prosthetic portion includes a second anchor member and a second articulating member. The first articulating member comprises a support portion and first articulating surface and the second articulating member comprises a second articulating surface, and first and second articulating surfaces are configured and dimensioned to contact or engage one another. A flexible element is positioned between the support portion and the first articulating surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a subject having a reduced risk of developing sepsis, comprising detecting at least one APOE3 allele in nucleic acid from the subject.

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. Also described are methods of screening compounds for the ability to suppress or reduce microglial activation.