Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for longitudinal closure of a dissected sternum are provided. The system includes first and second reinforcing members, fasteners, and closure members. Each reinforcing member is configured to be placed on an outer surface of a respective sternum portion, such that each reinforcing member is longitudinally disposed on an opposite side of a sternum opening with respect to the other reinforcing member. Fasteners may be placed in holes defined in the reinforcing members to secure a respective reinforcing member to a corresponding sternum portion. The closure members, which may be sternal closing wires, may then be wrapped around the sternum portions and the reinforcing members transversely to close the sternum opening. Because the reinforcing members include extended regions having lateral edges that extend away from a midline of the respective reinforcing member, the closure members are moved away from the edges of the bone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating or preventing fibrosis comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment or prevention an amount of microRNA-19b effective to treat or prevent said fibrosis. In some embodiments, the invention relates to inhibiting the activation of collagen-producing cells and thereby treating or preventing fibrosis. The methods of the invention also include detection of biomarkers that can be used to diagnose disease and/or evaluate the prognosis of a patient suffering from fibrosis or at risk of developing fibrosis, such as hepatic fibrosis. Such methods may be used to characterize the progression of diseases associated with fibrosis.

Abstract: Alkyl nitrate ester compounds are provided for the delivery of nitric oxide to targeted muscle tissues, and in particular, to normal and dystrophic muscles. In one aspect, nitrate ester compounds are provided having the following formula: wherein, R1 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, CnH2n+1OH, CnH2n+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H; R2 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, Cn?H2n?+1OH, Cn?H2n?+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H; R3 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, Cn??H2n?+1OH, Cn?H2n?+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H; and R4 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, Cn??H2n?+1OH, Cn?H2n?+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H; wherein n is an integer from 0 to 9, n? is an integer from 0 to 9, and n? is an integer from 0 to 9, and n+n?+n??9, and wherein at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an ester nitrate selected from the group consisting of ONO2, CH2ONO2, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composition and associated method for the treatment of musculoskeletal related disorders and diseases. In particular, the present invention provides a class of citrate compounds that can be used to for the treatment of diseases/disorders characterized by the degeneration of musculoskeletal tissues including menisci, bone, articular cartilage, and soft tissues. Examples of suitable citrate and citrate analog compounds include citrates having the following base formula (I): where X may be one of the following: wherein Y, Y?, and Y? are independently a citrate moiety, O, O—Y, OH, NH, NH—Y, R and R—Y, with R being an alkyl, alkyene, ester, aryl, or phenyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to antisense compounds and compositions for the treatment of muscular dystrophy, and in particular, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In one embodiment, the invention is directed to antisense oligonucleotide molecules, pharmaceutical compositions and formulations comprising antisense oligonucleotide molecules, and methods of treating muscular dystrophy related diseases and disorders wherein the antisense oligonucleotide molecules comprises a base sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5-8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 24, 27, 28, 34, 35, 37, 40, 42, 44-46, 79, 97, 100, 101, and 116, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A mobile medical facility capable of treating a plurality of patients and being transported over the roadways without requiring extensive transporting means. In general the mobile medical facility includes a trailer. The trailer defines a floor area and has at least a first and second configuration. In the first configuration, the floor area is reduced to allow for transporting of the trailer over the public highways. In the second configuration, the floor area of the trailer is expanded and large enough to support a plurality of beds for treating patients. In some embodiments, the floor area in the second configuration may be at least twice as large as the floor area in the first configuration.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of restriction to expired airflow in humans or animals by analyzing the expired capnogram and oxygram, as well as the geometric analysis of the real-time plot of the waveform that depicts the instantaneous ratio of CO2 to O2 (the carboxygram ratio). Airway obstructions causes an increase in the Q-angle between the slope of phase 11 and slope of phase III in the expired carboxygram. The diagnostic accuracy of the detection of airways obstruction is further enhanced by measuring the ratio of time spent in exhalation (Te) versus inhalation (Ti). The system uses the combination of an increased carboxygram Q-angle, and a prolonged Te/Ti to detect presence of airways obstruction.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of pulmonary embolism is a postoperative patient using the carbox ratio of the patient prior to the surgical procedure and the carbox ratio of the patient after to the surgical procedure. The characteristics of the breath of the patient are obtained prior to a surgical procedure for a baseline and then afterwards if the patient has difficult breathing. The mean carbox ratios from the baseline and post-surgical data collections are then compared to non-invasively predict the likelihood that the patient has developed pulmonary embolism. A decrease in the carbox ratio of more than twenty-five percent (25%) represents an abnormal test and is consistent with possible pulmonary embolism. No change or an increase in the carbox ratio suggests the absence of pulmonary embolism.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the degree of abnormality of a vital sign of a patient by obtaining the clinical profile of said patient and determining the statistical difference between the vital sign of the patient and the vital signs of previously evaluated patients having similar clinical profiles. The vital signs of previously evaluated patients having similar clinical profiles are determined based on matching the attributes of the patent's clinical profile to the clinical profiles of previously evaluated patients. The statistical difference, and the patent's clinical profile may be exported to an electronic medical record system or printed in hard copy for inclusion in the patient's medial file.

Abstract: There is provided a method for growing human intervertebral cells. Disc tissue is surgically removed from a normal disc of a patient, the cells expanded by feeding with a cell stimulant such as a growth factor, or a cytokine or a bioactive agent to form monolayer primary cell cultures on a plastic mesh such as a nylon mesh. In the case of a growth factor, fetal bovine serum is preferred as it improves cell proliferation and production of appropriate extracellular matrix components. In another aspect of this invention, the monolayer primary cell cultures are seeded in alginate or agarose and fed again with the cell stimulant until three-dimensional cell cultures are formed. The cells are recovered from the alginate or agarose or from monolayer cultures. Re-implantation is carried out using bioresorbable carriers or cell suspensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sock containing a coating applied to at least a portion of a surface of the sock for sensing pressure points on a patient's foot. The coating material comprises a pressure-sensitive film comprised of oxygen-sensitive photo luminescent probe molecules dispersed within a polymer matrix, and, optionally, an inorganic pigment. Areas of increased pressure can be detected by correspondence to areas on the film of increased fluorescence intensity. The coating material can also be comprised of a coloring agent or dye such that after the sock has been worn for a period of time, in those areas of the foot susceptible to pressure points, the coating material transfers from the interior of the sock and adheres to the foot in those points. The present invention is particularly applicable to persons having diabetic neuropathic feet wherein portions of the foot may be insensitive to pressure.

Abstract: Dithiocarbamate, particularly tetraethylthiuram disulfide, and thiocarbamate anions strongly inhibit the growth of cancer cells of a variety of cell types. Such inhibitory effect is enhanced by heavy metal ions such as copper ions, cytokines and ceruloplasmin. A method is presented for using tetraethylthiuram disulfide to reduce tumor growth, and to potentiate the effect of other anticancer agents.

Abstract: The invention is a transvaginal ultrasound probe having an attached echogenic needle that is useful in the treatment of uterine fibroids. The echogenic needle has an echogenic surface near its tip that allows the physician to visualize its location using ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, the needle has an active electrode at its distal end. The active electrode supplies radio frequency energy to a fibroids causing necrosis of the targeted fibroid or by destroying the fibroid's vascular supply. The radio frequency needle preferably has a safety device that shuts-off energy if the needle punctures the uterine wall. In a second embodiment, the needle has a cryogen supply tube and cryogen supply. This embodiment destroys fibroid tissue by freezing it or its vascular supply when the tissue comes in contact with the needle's frozen distal end. The invention further includes the method of using the ultrasound probe with the attached needle.

Abstract: There is provided a method for inhibiting ATF/CREB and cancer cell growth using disulfiram, administered in combination with heavy metals. It was found that disulfiram disrupts transcription factor DNA binding by forming mixed disulfides with thiols within the DNA-binding region, and that this process is facilitated by metal ions. Disulfiram administered to melanoma cells in combination with copper (II) or zinc(II) decreased expression of cyclin A, reduced proliferation in vitro, and inhibited growth of melanoma cells. The combination of oral zinc gluconate and disulfiram at currently approved doses for alcoholism stabilized tumor growth in two of three patients with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, with 12 and 17 month survivals, respectively, to date, and produced a >50% reduction in hepatic metastases in one individual.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sock containing a coating applied to at least a portion of a surface of the sock for sensing pressure points on a patient's foot. The coating material comprises a pressure-sensitive film comprised of oxygen-sensitive photo luminescent probe molecules dispersed within a polymer matrix, and, optionally, an inorganic pigment. Areas of increased pressure can be detected by correspondence to areas on the film of increased fluorescence intensity. The coating material can also be comprised of a coloring agent or dye such that after the sock has been worn for a period of time, in those areas of the foot susceptible to pressure points, the coating material transfers from the interior of the sock and adheres to the foot in those points. The present invention is particularly applicable to persons having diabetic neuropathic feet wherein portions of the foot may be insensitive to pressure.

Abstract: Dithiocarbamate, particularly tetraethylthiuram disulfide, and thiocarbamate anions strongly inhibit the growth of cancer cells of a variety of cell types. Such inhibitory effect is enhanced by heavy metal ions such as copper ions, cytokines and ceruloplasmin. A method is presented for using tetraethylthiuram disulfide to reduce tumor growth, and to potentiate the effect of other anticancer agents.

Abstract: A pelvic splint for immobilizing and maintaining the annular integrity of the pelvis in the event of a pelvic ring fracture. The pelvic splint extends from about 5-10 cm above the iliac crest down to about the middle third of the thighs and substantially encircles the pelvis of the victim. The splint is then secured about the pelvis of the victim with two or more adjustable straps. The splint comprises a flexible casing having at least one pliable padding layer disposed therein and a plurality of flexible members individually disposed in pockets spaced apart about the casing. Once tightly secured around the pelvis by the adjustable straps, the splint conforms to the contours of the victim's pelvic area and stabilizes the pelvis by preventing lateral movement and constraining the pelvis in such a manner to preserve the annular integrity thereof. An associated method of stabilizing a pelvis is also disclosed.