Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that an increased fraction of albumin is carbamylated in patients suffering from kidney disease (e.g., end-stage renal disease) and that the fraction of carbamylated albumin is also correlated with increased disease severity, particularly risk of mortality. The present invention also relates to the discovery that free amino acids can reduce carbamylation of albumin. Based on these discoveries the present invention provides diagnostic and prognostic methods for patients suffering from, or suspected of suffering from kidney disease. The invention also provides methods for treating kidney disease by administration of a compound or composition that reduced protein carbamylation, such as free amino acids or dipeptides.

Abstract: The invention features methods of treating an immune disorder characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels in a subject by administering a retinoic acid compound. Additionally, the invention features methods of treating immune disorders (e.g., immune disorders characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels) by administering a retinoic acid compound in combination with an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, or anti-microbial compound.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated soluble endoglin polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding soluble endoglin polypeptides, antibodies that specifically bind soluble endoglin polypeptides, and kits containing these materials. The invention also provides methods for treating or decreasing the likelihood of developing a soluble endoglin-mediated disorder in a subject requiring the administration of an agent capable of reducing the expression or biological activity of a soluble endoglin polypeptide and methods for treating or decreasing the likelihood of developing a soluble endoglin-preventive disorder in a subject requiring the administration of a soluble endoglin polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding the soluble endoglin polypeptide. The invention further provides methods for the diagnosis of a soluble endoglin-mediated disorder or a soluble endoglin-preventive disorder and methods for identifying a compound to treat a soluble endoglin-mediated or a soluble endoglin-preventive disorder.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods of diagnosing or assessing an individual at increased risk of developing chronic rejection, or chronic allograft vasculopathy, based on analysis the individual's biomarker profile.

Abstract: Dietary formulations in the form of an oil emulsion providing total enteral or parenteral nutrition, or in the form of food oil suitable for oral administration is provided. The formulations include about 2-60% by calories of a C20 or longer omega-3 fatty acid and about 0.05% to 1% by calories of arachidonic acid, where the formulation provides less than 1% of total calories from linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, and where the fatty acids provide 5-60% of the total calories of said dietary formulation. Methods for treatment of diseases and disorders using the dietary formulations are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to materials fabricated from collagen and uses relates thereto. Typically, layers of collagen are stretched during a curing period and optionally coated or impregnated with an elastin like protein. In certain embodiments, these materials can be used in tissue repair or arranged into cylinders and utilized as a prosthetic vascular graft.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for the generation and use of conformation-specific anti-bodies or fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of enhancing liver repair after injury, resection or transplantation using antagonists of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway in the liver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric RNA oligonucleotides that are single-stranded oligonucleotides. These compounds are capable of targeting particular genes and reducing DNA methyltransferase activity. Accordingly, these compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of disease associated with aberrant DNA methyltransferase activity, such as cancer or a genetic disorder.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) image processing system includes a data collection unit that acquires image data from a target region of an object. A navigator unit acquires a motion signal indicating motion comprising motion of at least a portion of an object. A data processing unit derives k-space data for a k-space data array from the acquired image data, by acquiring k-space data for a first portion of the k-space from the acquired image data in response to the motion signal indicating motion is within a predetermined range and acquiring k-space data for a second portion of the k-space from the acquired image data irrespective of the predetermined range.

Abstract: The present invention features a method of treating or reducing the likelihood of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)) or a kidney disorder (e.g., glomerulonephritis) in a subject by administering an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV (CaMKIV). The invention additionally features methods of diagnosing a subject with SLE or a kidney disorder by determining the level or biological activity of a CaMKIV nucleic acid or polypeptide in a sample from a subject. Also included in the invention are methods for identifying compounds that inhibit CaMKIV for the treatment of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder (e.g., SLE) or a kidney disorder (e.g., glomerulonephritis).

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for performing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging on a region of an object being imaged is provided.

Abstract: Prognostic methods useful in assessing patients who have received a transplant and reagents that can be used to carry out those methods are provided. The inventions are based, in part, on our analysis of gene expression in renal allografts and clinical parameters, i.e., variables associated with the donor, the recipient and/or the graft. The genes that can be assessed include those encoding agents that mediate inflammation, immune activation, and cell death (we may refer to these genes as “inflammatory”, “immune” or “cytoprotective”). Surprisingly, the levels of gene expression could predict the occurrence of DGF, AR, and the quality of later graft function even when analyzed shortly after (e.g., after vascular anastomosis and tissue reperfusion). We also found that clinical parameters available at the time of transplantation correlate with decreased graft health and can be considered in combination with gene expression to evaluate a patient's risk for an adverse outcome.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating patients (e.g., patients who are insulin resistant, patients who have diabetes, or are at risk for developing diabetes) are disclosed herein. The methods can include administration of an ?1 antitrypsin (AAT) polypeptide or an agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule or organic compound, that promotes the expression or activity of ?1-antitrypsin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the treatment of patients at risk for liver damage due to the overingestion of acetaminophen by administering agents that increase hepatic levels of nitric oxide.

Abstract: Some embodiments are based on the discovery that proliferative diseases (e.g., neoplastic diseases, for example, tumors or cancers) having an FBW7 mutation or other FBW7 deficiency are sensitive to Mcl1 inhibiting agents, but resistant to pro-apoptotic drugs that do not inhibit Mcl1. Some embodiments provide methods of treating a proliferative disease based on an assessment of FBW7 expression level or mutation status. Some embodiments provide methods of classifying a hyperproliferative cell or cell population, for example, a malignant cell or cell population based on an assessment of FBW7 expression level or mutation status. Some embodiments provide methods of selecting a treatment regimen for treating a proliferative disease, for example, a malignant disorder, based on an assessment of FBW7 expression level or mutation status.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic plant which is tolerant to a salt, comprising one or more plant cells transformed with exogenous nucleic acid which alters expression of vacuolar pyrophosphatase in the plant. The present invention also relates to a transgenic plant with increased Pi uptake, comprising one or more plant cells transformed with exogenous nucleic acid which alters expression of vacuolar pyrophosphatase in the plant. Also encompassed by the present invention are transgenic progeny and seeds of the transgenic plants described herein. Progeny transgenic plant grown from seed are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for a particular epitope on CD40 and antibodies that bind CD40 and have particular functional characteristics. The present invention also relates to fragments of these antibodies, uses of the antibodies for reduction or treatment of transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease, and methods for making the antibodies.

Abstract: The invention features methods of treating a proliferative disorder characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels and/or reduced Pin1 Ser71 phosphorylation in a subject by administering a retinoic acid compound. Additionally, the invention features methods of treating proliferative disorders (e.g., proliferative disorders characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels) by administering a retinoic acid compound in combination with another anti-proliferative compound. Finally, the invention also features methods including high-throughput screens for discovering and validating Pin1 inhibitors.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting the onset of heart arrhythmias more accurately observes trends in abnormal or pathologic morphology of the electrocardiogram (ECG). A first set of ECG signals is monitored from a patient. A baseline measurement is generated from the monitored first set of ECG signals to contain nonpathologic ECG morphologies in each lead. A second set of ECG signals is monitored from the patient and the baseline measurement is subtracted from the second set of ECG signals on a beat-to-beat basis. Afterwards, a residuum signal is generated for each lead based on the subtraction. R-wave heterogeneity, T-wave heterogeneity, P-wave heterogeneity, or ST-segment heterogeneity or other indicators of arrhythmia risk or myocardial ischemia are quantified based on the generated residuum signals.