Abstract: The candidates are screened and then employed by administering to patients in need thereof of a drug candidate that affects heterotypic intercellular mechanotransduction. At least two types of cells are labeled with distinct intracellular fluorescent marker labels and combined to form a cell suspension and cultured to form a microtissue, such as spheroids. The cells or the spheroids are combined with a drug candidate, either before, during or after forming the spheroids. The distribution of the different cell types is compared to that of essentially the same suspension culture in the absence of the drug candidate. Alternatively, the cell power of cells cultured in a non-adherent mold that determines at least in part, the shape of microtissue formed is measured and compared with essentially the same cell suspension cultured in the same manner in the absence of a drug candidate. A patient in need thereof can be administered a drug identified as affecting heterotypic intercellular mechanotransduction.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to mass spectrometry and related techniques, and in some cases, to determining single species using mass spectrometry. In certain instances, polymers such as DNA or RNA can also be sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to passing a polymer, such as DNA, RNA, a protein, a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, etc., through a pore and cleaving the polymer in sequence. For instance, the polymer may be cleaved using a laser or an electric field. In some embodiments, a property of at least one subunit of a polymer is determined using mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a single ion (which may be a subunit of a polymer, or an ion based on another species) can be isolated in a mass spectrometer and a signal generated from the single ion.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, systems, devices and kits are provided herein for preparing and using a nanoparticle composition and spatial frequency heterodyne imaging for visualizing cells or tissues. In various embodiments, the nanoparticle composition includes at least one of: a nanoparticle, a polymer layer, and a binding agent, such that the polymer layer coats the nanoparticle and is for example a polyethylene glycol, a polyelectrolyte, an anionic polymer, or a cationic polymer, and such that the binding agent that specifically binds the cells or the tissue. Methods, compositions, systems, devices and kits are provided for identifying potential therapeutic agents in a model using the nanoparticle composition and spatial frequency heterodyne imaging.

Abstract: Drugs are screened for affects on inhibiting efflux pumps and blocking gap junction communication in tumors by culturing cells to thereby form self-assembled spheroids and incubating the spheroids. Uptake of a substrate of the efflux pump and distribution of a substrate for the efflux pump within the spheroids is imaged to thereby select drugs that inhibit the efflux pump or do not block gap junction communication. Selected drugs can then be employed to treat a tumor.

Abstract: Chemoselective derivatization of biological amines, carboxylic acids, aldehydes or ketones are employed in methods to detect a plurality of components, or members of a component, such as metabolites, that vary in molecular structure. The methods of the invention can be employed in aqueous and nonaqueous conditions.

Abstract: The invention is a cell aggregation device comprising a hydrogel substrate having at least one, preferably a plurality, of cell-repellant compartments recessed into the uppermost surface. Each compartment is composed of an upper cell suspension seeding chamber having an open uppermost portion and a bottom portion, and one, or more than one, lower cell aggregation recess connected to the bottom portion of the upper cell suspension seeding chamber by a port. The diameter of the port may be fully contiguous with the walls of the chambers and walls of the recesses, or the diameter of the port may be more narrow than the walls of the chamber but fully contiguous with the walls of the recesses or more narrow than both the walls of the chamber and the walls of the recesses. The upper cell suspension seeding chambers are formed and positioned to funnel the cells into the lower cell aggregation recesses through gravitational force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making fatty acid esters from glycerides and free fatty acids.

Abstract: Optical gratings that perform a number of functions at various wavelengths are formed by various methods that preserve spectral information within a wavelength band, the functions including: coupling radiation from one waveguide (7a3) to another (7a2), controllable gratings that operate on different wavelengths in response to external control signals.

Abstract: An optical-acoustic transducer structure includes at least one metal or semiconducting film in which a part of a pump light pulse is absorbed to generate a sound pulse; and at least one dielectric film. The thicknesses and optical properties of the at least one metal or semiconducting film and the at least one dielectric film are selected so that a returning sound pulse results in a measurable change in the optical reflectivity and/or some other optical characteristic of the transducer structure. The transducer structure includes a resonant cavity, and an output surface that is shaped so as to provide no significant focusing of generated sound waves when the sound waves are launched towards a surface of the sample.

Abstract: An antibody-conserving method for linking a therapeutic platinum compound to nanoparticles comprising Au Like-Fe3O4, which is used for both drug delivery and tumor diagnosis.

Abstract: This invention comprises a multiplex-capable oligonucleotide which is capable of hybridizing to at least one of the C. difficile tcdB, tcdC, or cdtB genes, wherein, wherein said primer consists of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 9, or a sequence that exhibits no more than one substitution of a base to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 9 and method for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determining of the presence of a toxigenic strain of C. difficile in a biological sample utilizing said probes.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Example of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.

Abstract: An effective method for prolonging localization of therapeutics within the rat gastrointestinal tract of at least about 12 hours is provided. The method includes localization of therapeutic agents that are nanoparticulated or nanoencapsulated. Attractive forces between an orally administered magnetic dose and an external magnet were monitored and internal dose motion in real time using biplanar videofluoroscopy was visualized. Tissue elasticity was quantified as a measure of tissue health by combining data streams. The methods address safety, efficacy, and monitoring capacity of magnetically localized doses and show a platform for testing the benefits of localized drug delivery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to delivery complexes of rosette nanotubes and one or more biologically active agents or diagnostic agents.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and apparatus for detecting subject matter of interest in view data obtained by scanning an object including generating a filter adapted to respond to the subject matter of interest, splatting the filter onto a portion of the view data to provide a filter splat, and performing at least one operation on the portion of the view data using the filter splat to facilitate determining whether the subject matter of interest is present in the portion of the view data.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing a carcinoma include comparing the expression of miRNAs in a sample with a control and determining ratios of expression of miRNAs. Methods of treatment include administering a nucleic acid encoding a miR-375 gene product. Methods of optimizing treatment in a subject include determining expression of an miR21-gene product.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of this invention relate at least in part to a method, apparatus and system to characterize white matter, such as for detecting a presence of a white matter impairment. An exemplary method to characterize white matter includes identifying at least one tract of interest (TOI) in the brain of a subject of interest, the tract of interest having a set of streamtubes representing white matter fibers; determining a set of quantitative tractography metrics associated with the tract of interest, the set of quantitative tractography metrics having a plurality of members; and comparing at least one member of the determined set of quantitative tractography metrics to a corresponding member of a reference set of quantitative tractography metrics, or comparison of one TOI in a single subject or group of subjects and other TOI in the same subject(s).

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Example of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.

Abstract: An effective method for prolonging localization of therapeutics within the rat gastrointestinal tract of at least about 12 hours is provided. Attractive forces between an orally administered magnetic dose and an external magnet were monitored and internal dose motion in real time using biplanar videofluoroscopy was visualized. Tissue elasticity was quantified as a measure of tissue health by combining data streams. The methods address safety, efficacy, and monitoring capacity of magnetically localized doses and show a platform for testing the benefits of localized drug delivery.

Abstract: Diuretic bioactivity profiles of phase inversion micronized furosemide and furosemide co-precipitated with Eudragit L100, and mixtures of those formulations with stock furosemide, reduced or eliminated the rapid spike in diuresis associated with immediate release formulations and maintained cumulative urine output. Of the formulations tested, each of a mixture of micronized furosemide with stock furosemide, and Eudragit L100 polymer with stock furosemide demonstrated optimal diuretic bioactivity profiles in subjects.