Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing an immune response with an adjuvant composition comprising: an anti-dendritic cell (DC)-specific antibody or fragment thereof conjugated to at least a portion of a TLR agonist; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are disclosed herein. The conjugate and agonist are each comprised in an amount such that, in combination with the other, are effective to produce the immune response in a human or animal subject in need of immunostimulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an ATP binding cassette transporter and mutated sequences thereof associated with macular degeneration. Methods of detecting agents that modify ATP-binding cassette transporter comprising combining purified ATP binding cassette transporter and at least one agent suspected of modifying the ATP binding cassette transporter an observing a change in at least one characteristic associated with ATP binding cassette transporter. Methods of detecting macular degeneration is also embodied by the present invention.

Abstract: A system for detecting a position and/or orientation of a magnetic dipole includes a first detector and a second detector, separate and spaced apart from the first detector. Each of the detectors includes three or more magnetic field sensors to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnetic dipole. The system has applications, for example, in image-guided surgery and/or therapy.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for use in preventing, inhibiting or reducing tumor cell growth comprising an effective amount of an active agent that kills IL-18 Receptor expressing T cells in admixture with a suitable diluent or carrier are described herein.

Abstract: A method for treating glycogen storage disease by administering an effective amount of a composition that includes ketogenic odd carbon fatty acids that ameliorate the symptoms of these diseases.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions and methods for detecting Norovirus or Norovirus particles. In particular, the present invention encompasses antibodies for detecting Norovirus or Norovirus particles, including, for example, monoclonal antibodies that have broad specificity of binding to various genogroups of norovirus.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for an immunotherapeutic approach for human breast cancer is provided herein. Any antagonist of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and/or OX40L to inhibit tumor development and IL-13 secretion by blocking the upregulation of OX40L by DCs exposed to breast cancer, thereby blocking their capacity to generate inflammatory IL-13+TNF?+IL-10negCD4+ T cells (Th2 cells). Thus, TSLP, and/or down-stream pathways, represent novel potential therapeutic targets against human breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods that include antibodies that selectively neutralize a bioactivity of at least two interferon alpha (“IFN?”) protein subtypes for the protein subtypes A, 2, B2, C, F, G, H2, I, J1, K, 4a, 4b and WA, but does not neutralize at least one bioactivity of IFN? protein subtype D. Examples of bioactivity for measurement include activation of the MxA promoter or antiviral activity and variants, derivatives and fragments thereof. The invention also includes host cells, hybridomas and plasmacytomas that produce antibodies. Because of their unique selectivity and affinity, the antibodies of the present invention are useful to detect IFN? subtypes in sample or tissue and/or for therapeutic applications that include, but are not limited to the treatment and/or amelioration of an IFN? related disorder such as SLE, lupus, type I diabetes, psoriasis, AIDS and Graft versus Host Disease.

Abstract: A serotonin reuptake inhibitor which can be used in the treatment of depression and which has a decreased occurrence of unwanted side effects. The serotonin reuptake inhibitors are bi-functional organic molecules which combine serotonin transporter reuptake inhibition with serotonin (5-HT, such as 5-HT2A) receptor antagonism in one molecular entity. The serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) homologue portion of the molecule shows an affinity to the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) and has antidepressant properties. The piperazine or piperidine portion of the molecule demonstrates an affinity to 5-HT receptors and restores the undesired side effects of SSRIs.

Abstract: The introduction of the human NeuroD1 gene into human non-endocrine pancreatic epithelial cells (NEPECs) for producing insulin producing cells in vitro is described herein. Cytokeratin19 (CK19) positive NEPECs were transfected with plasmids encoding human NeuroD1 gene under human CK19 promoter. On characterization following the induction it was found that NEPEC+ND strongly expressed NeuroD1 and insulin mRNA. The ratio of NeuroD1 and human insulin positive cells in NEPEC+ND was significantly higher than NEPEC. Human insulin and C-peptide levels in culture media in NEPEC+ND were significantly higher than NEPEC. The findings demonstrate that human NeuroD1 under control of the CK19 promoter induces the differentiation of CK19 positive NEPECs into insulin producing cells.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation using a DCIR-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an antigen is attached that forms an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the antigen is processed and presented by a dendritic cell that has been contacted with the antibody-antigen complex.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.

Abstract: A method and system for non-contact fluorescent optical tomography using patterned illumination is disclosed. The method comprises illuminating a surface of a medium with light from at least one excitation light source to project at least two patterns. Each pattern comprises at least one motif, wherein the medium comprises at least one fluorescent target. The method further comprises for each pattern, measuring excitation light reflected from the medium to generate an excitation data set. In addition, the method comprises, for each pattern, measuring fluorescence emitted from the at least one fluorescent target to generate a fluorescence data set. The method also comprises generating a 3D image of the at least one fluorescent target in the medium by applying iterative algorithm. The iterative algorithm minimizes the difference between a predicted data set based on a mathematical model, and each excitation data set and each fluorescence data set.

Abstract: The discovery and validation of a candidate biomarker signature for the diagnosis of sepsis, and more particularly septicemic meliodiosis, based on genomic transcriptional profiling using microarrays is described herein. The microarray technology of the instant invention generates genome-wide transcriptional profiles (>48,000 transcripts) from the whole blood of patients with septicemic melioidosis (n=32), patients with sepsis caused by other pathogens (n=31), and uninfected controls (n=29). Unsupervised analyses demonstrated the existence of a whole blood transcriptional signature distinguishing patients with sepsis from control subjects.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods that include antibodies that selectively neutralize a bioactivity of at least two interferon alpha (“IFN?”) protein subtypes for the protein subtypes A, 2, B2, C, F, G, H2, 1, J1, K, 4a, 4b and WA, but does not neutralize at least one bioactivity of IFN? protein subtype D. Examples of bioactivity for measurement include activation of the M×A promoter or antiviral activity and variants, derivatives and fragments thereof. The invention also includes host cells, hybridomas and plasmacytomas that produce antibodies. Because of their unique selectivity and affinity, the antibodies of the present invention are useful to detect IFN? subtypes in sample or tissue and/or for therapeutic applications that include, but are not limited to the treatment and/or amelioration of an IFN? related disorder such as SLE, lupus, type I diabetes, psoriasis, AIDS and Graft versus Host Disease.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the treatment and management of adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD) are disclosed herein. The APBD patients studied in the present invention experienced stabilization of disease progression and limited functional improvement with dietary triheptanoin (C7TG). The amount of C7TG administered to the patient daily for 6-8 months was 1-2 g/kg/24 hrs. The present invention demonstrates, for the first time, the arrest of clinical deterioration with limited functional recovery in APBD with triheptanoin diet therapy.

Abstract: Method and compositions for reducing the inflammation after cytokine exposure of an islet cell transplant without affecting the viability and potency are disclosed herein. The present invention describes a composition comprising Withaferin A (WA), a steroidal lactone derived from Withania somnifera to effectively block NF-kB activation in beta cells, minimize cytokine-induced cell death and improve survival of transplanted islets. The method of the present invention involves identifying a subject having islet cells in need of treatment; and providing a effective amount of a Withaferin A composition disposed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount sufficient to reduce the inflammation after cytokine exposure without affecting the viability and potency of the islet cell population.

Abstract: Methods for modification of tissue using covalent chemistry. Tissue can be modified through direct alkylation, reduction followed by alkylation, or oxidation followed by condensation to covalently attach small organic molecules or appropriately modified proteins. The modification can be spatially limited to desired regions of the tissue surface.

Abstract: A non-metallic medical device treated with a antimicrobial agents is provided. Different combinations of antimicrobial agents can be used for different types of non-metallic medical devices depending on the types of infections related to each device. The combination of different antimicrobial substances has a synergistic effect against certain bacteria and fungi. An antimicrobial agent can be used to treat a non-metallic medical device by mixing the antimicrobial agent with an acid solution and glycerol and exposing the non-metallic medical device to the resulting mixture such that an enough of the antimicrobial agent binds to a portion of the non-metallic medical device to inhibit the growth of bacterial and fungal organisms.

Abstract: Trauma cervical stability devices for use by ambulatory personnel arriving at the scene of an injured patient are disclosed. The trauma cervical stability devices comprise a cap element, releasable and adjustable head straps, a shoulder harness, and at least one adjustable member operatively connected to the cap element and the shoulder harness. The trauma cervical stability devices are compact, easy to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and can be placed on a patient with little or no movement of the patient. The trauma cervical stability devices are also useful in diagnosing the severity of damage to a neck and the stability of the patient's neck by applying forces to the patient's head using the trauma cervical stability device. In another embodiment of the devices the devices comprise head straps 210, shoulder harnesses 220, lateral head elements 212, and adjustable pressure fixation elements 214. The fixation elements may be vacuum pillows.