Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides, compositions and methods are described that are useful for treating infectious diseases, including those caused by drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter) and parasite-caused diseases such as malaria. The peptides include a modular kinocidin gamma-core connected directly, or through a short spacer, to a kinocidin C-terminal alpha-helix.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for lysis of cells, such as bacteria present in microbiomes, that combine three lysis steps—(1) heat, (2) detergent and (3) base—into a single step and that can be completed in a short period of time, e.g., a few minutes. The methods combine a normally incompatible detergent and base lysis, allows for simplified removal of detergent after lysis, and importantly, yields improved quantities of genomic DNA (gDNA) from difficult to lyse bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel collagen materials and, specifically, collagen membranes, tubes and threads. Said materials combine enhanced properties of resilience and strength. The invention also relates to a method for preparing collagen materials using acid fibrous collagen comprising coagulation and, optionally, cross-linking of the collagen in the presence of ammonia gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of an alginate Io inhibit pancreatic lipase. The use may be directed to the control of weight in animals including human beings. Preferably the fraction of guluronate dimers in the alginate is at least 0.5.

Abstract: An implant may be used for implantation into tissue of a body. The implant includes an elongated conduit and a loop. The elongated conduit has an interior passageway for conducting fluid. The loop has an interior circumference with a fluid conducting channel formed therein. The channel is interconnected with the interior passageway for delivery of fluid between the channel and the interior passageway.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positioning apparatus for head and neck assessment comprising a base, a head fixation assembly including a main body, a guide and an ear aligning member, a first connector pivotally connected to a lateral end of the main body, a first light transmitter, and a holder assembly including an adjustable first stand secured to the base and a holder for holding a medical device for the assessment or intervention, pivotally connected to the first stand.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for treating an ocular disease, particularly a diabetes related ocular disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a group of compounds having a structure of Formula A1, wherein the ocular disease is selected from the group consisting of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), uveitis, glaucoma and age related macular degeneration (AMD), and the diabetes related ocular disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of antibodies against S100A7 protein for the prevention and/or treatment of cancer or a disease associated to an undesired angiogenesis or a disease associated with inflammation; and to methods and kits for diagnosing and determining the prognostic of said diseases in vitro and in vivo by means of detecting levels of S100A7 in a biofluid, preferably with an antibody. The invention also relates to specific anti-S100A7 monoclonal antibodies, hybridoma cell lines producing them and method for obtaining them, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and conjugates containing them.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bone fusion device which allows a distant bone body in a surgery direction to be pulled toward an adjacent bone body in the surgery direction while fusing the adjacent bone bodies. The bone fusion device includes a bone screw which includes a shank having an elongated shape with a circular cross-section, a screw thread formed on one end portion of the shank, and an adjustment female thread formed in the other end portion of the shank; a washer which includes a through hole into which the other end portion of the shank is inserted, and has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the bone screw; and an adjustment screw having an adjustment male thread screwed with the adjustment female thread of the bone screw through a through hole of the washer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for use in combination with an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasonic probe, comprising a housing including a main body and a handle, the main body extending along a first axis from a first end to a second end, and having an accommodating space; a holder adapted for holding the ultrasonic probe, the holder being slidably movable within the accommodating space along the first axis with the ultrasonic probe held therein; a duct for conveying conductive gel having an opening at the first end of the main body; and a control means adapted for controlling the supply of conductive gel from the opening of the duct.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a composition containing a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, optionally, in combination with at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor compound. Kits containing the composition, and methods of using the composition for ameliorating or treating the effects of a disease such as a cancer, in a subject, are also provided herein.

Abstract: A medicament delivery device (1) comprises an actuation mechanism by successive operation of which a predetermined number of unit doses of medicament can be dispensed. The device includes a locking mechanism for preventing further operation of the actuation mechanism after dispensing of said predetermined number of unit doses. The locking mechanism comprises a resilient member (51), a formation (18) with which the resilient member (51) is engageable to disable operation of the actuation mechanism, and a barrier member (20) that prevents engagement of the resilient member (51) and the formation (18) until said predetermined number of unit doses has been dispensed. The device (1) may be a dry powder inhaler.

Abstract: A method adapted to diagnose airway obstruction in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: providing plural cross-sectional ultrasound images of a region of the respiratory tract during the subject's normal breathing, wherein each ultrasound image has plural pixels and each pixel has a color scale value; selecting a region of interest in each ultrasound image; calculating a respective first statistic value. The pixels in each of the region of interest are identified to define a respective airspace region by the color scale values larger than or equal to the respective first statistic value. A respective width of the respiratory tract is calculated and based on the distribution of the pixels in the respective airspace region. The status about an airway obstruction in the subject is classified according to the second statistic value obtained by the calculation of the widths of the respiratory tract.

Abstract: Polypeptides and proteins that specifically bind to and immunologically recognize CD276 are disclosed. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), anti-CD276 binding moieties, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the polypeptides and proteins are also disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are certain indoloquinolone compounds, methods of preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and uses thereof, such as their uses as ALK inhibitors.

Abstract: Antibodies that specifically bind TEM8 protein, conjugates thereof, and their use, are disclosed herein. In some examples the conjugates and antibodies are useful for methods of detecting and treating pathogenic angiogenesis. In other examples the conjugates and antibodies are useful for methods of detecting and treating cancer. In additional examples, the conjugates and antibodies are useful for methods of decreasing binding of Anthrax protective antigen to a cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, methods for treating or ameliorating the effects of a glioma. Methods of this invention include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a first active agent, such as e.g., an angiotensin receptor blocker, an antifungal agent, a bisphosphonate, an oxytocin inhibitor, an interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitor, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an ?2? voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) inhibitor, a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor, a calcium channel blocker, a renal sodium-chloride symporter inhibitor, an a2 adrenergic agonist, a phenothiazine antipsychotic, a calcineurin inhibitor, a 5-HT agonist, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a direct rennin inhibitor, or combinations thereof, and a second active agent, which is a chemotherapeutic agent. Compositions for treating or ameliorating the effects of a glioma are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods for re-positioning or displacing a patient's esophagus a safe distance away from the patient's heart during an atrial ablation surgical procedure. An esophageal displacement catheter is disclosed that is configured to reposition a patient's esophagus 20 mm or more away from the ablation location in the patient's heart. A distendable section of the catheter is configured such that portions of a first pulling member extend sufficiently far away from joints located in the distendable section when the first pulling member is in a retracted position to permit the distendable section to assume a deployed and distended configuration. At least one flexible deformable or distendable member, sheath or covering is configured to be disposed over and cover the portions of the first pulling member extending away from the joints when the distendable section is the deployed and distended configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are a use of a methylacryloyl benzimidazolone derivative, an optical isomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof in the preparation of: (a) a pharmaceutical composition or reagent for down-regulating the activity of PI3K/Akt pathways; (b) a pharmaceutical composition or reagent for treating or inhibiting a tumour; and/or inhibiting tumour cell growth; and/or (c) a pharmaceutical composition or reagent for blocking the cell cycle. The compounds involved in the present invention can down-regulate the level of Akt phosphorylation in P13K/Akt signaling pathways, and the functional effects of the compounds are equivalent to those of a novel small-molecular targeting drug MK2206; while the research at the cellular level has found that the methylacryloyl benzimidazolone derivatives represented by FD1 have a good proliferation inhibiting effect on tumour cells. What is different from MK2206 is that FD1 has better effects on a PTEN deleted cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising leukotoxin for the treatment of lung inflammation.