Abstract: A patient transfer assembly can transfer patients (e.g., young, sleeping patients or patients unable to move freely/easily) onto a destination surface (e.g., an imaging table of an imaging device) gently (e.g., with a reduced chance of waking). The assembly can include rollers permitting the assembly to be rolled into a position above or adjacent the destination surface. A support surface upon which the patient rests can be moved to a deployed position (e.g., lowered and/or slid out) and/or the destination surface can be raised until the support surface rests upon the destination surface. The support surface can then be detached, allowing the patient and the support surface to remain on the destination surface without needing to remove the patient from the support surface.

Abstract: Described herein is a human, cardiovascular platform for assessing cardiotoxicity of novel/existing chemotherapeutic agents that takes advantage of microfluidic organ chip systems to examine interaction between hiPSC-derived cardiovascular cells in an integrated system. Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived endothelial cells (hiPSC-ECs) can serve as an in-vitro platform for assessing disease pathology, including infectious disease, evaluate drug efficacy, toxicity, cardiotoxicity and cardioprotection. This includes evaluating VEGFR2/PDGFR-inhibiting tyrosine kinase inhibitors and drug efficacy in a viral infection model, including coronaviruses. They are scalable, functionally-active cell types that mimic the cells comprising the myocardium and systemic vasculature.

Abstract: A system and method of accessing a heart of a patient is provided. A cardiac access channel is established through an apical wall of the heart to provide direct access through the apical wall to the left ventricle. A vascular access channel is established through the skin to a peripheral blood vessel. A first end of an elongate member is advanced from the outside of the apical wall through the cardiac access channel and into the left ventricle. A second end disposed opposite the first end remains outside the patient. The elongate member is drawn into and through the vascular access channel to externalize the first end of the elongate member while leaving the second end outside the apical wall of the heart.

Abstract: A UV light delivery device for performing intra-corporeal ultraviolet therapy is provided. The device includes an elongated body separating a proximal end and a distal end. The device also includes a UV light source configured to be received at the receiving space and a cooling tube. In some examples, the UV light source is configured to emit light with wavelengths with a desired intensity between 320 nm and 410 nm and is utilized in conjunction with an endotracheal tube or a nasopharyngeal airway.

Abstract: Described herein are treatments and patient selection methods for cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, and melanoma. The treatment involves administering a RIPK2 inhibitor to a subject. The patient selection involves selecting a patient who has increased copy numbers or expression of both RIPK2 and MYC.

Abstract: The present invention describes proteins that are capable to binding to mtDNA and/or gDNA and depleting circulating mtDNA and/or gDNA from a subject in need thereof. These proteins can be used to treat diseases and conditions such as cancer, cardiac infarction, and traumatic brain injury. These proteins can also be used to detect and measure circulating mtDNA and gDNA.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods of detecting biomarkers in tumor tissue, as well as methods of improving responsiveness to or providing survival prognosis for a subject having received or in need of, an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the treatment of cancers such as bladder cancer, lung cancer, leukemia. Discoidin domain receptor (DDR)-driven gene signatures have been identified and validated to stratify patient response to anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint therapy.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for characterizing a biological sample in vivo or ex vivo in real-time using time-resolved spectroscopy. A light source generates a light pulse or continuous light wave and excites the biological sample, inducing a responsive fluorescent signal. A demultiplexer splits the signal into spectral bands and a time delay is applied to the spectral bands so as to capture data with a detector from multiple spectral bands from a single excitation pulse. The biological sample is characterized by analyzing the fluorescence intensity magnitude and/or decay of the spectral bands. The sample may comprise one or more exogenous or endogenous fluorophore. The device may be a two-piece probe with a detachable, disposable distal end. The systems may combine fluorescence spectroscopy with other optical spectroscopy or imaging modalities. The light pulse may be focused at a single focal point or scanned or patterned across an area.

Abstract: A system and a method for identifying a patient with a threshold number of distinct ECG abnormalities. The system and the method include an ECG monitoring device; a server; a database; a network; a memory containing machine readable medium comprising a machine executable code having stored thereon instructions for identifying patients with a threshold number of distinct ECG abnormalities; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the machine executable code to cause the processor to: receive an ECG data output from the ECG monitoring device; process the ECG data output to identify abnormalities in the ECG data; and analyze the abnormalities in the ECG data in order to output an indication of whether the patient has depressed LVEF, wherein the ECG monitoring device, the server, the database, the memory, and the processor are coupled to the network via communication links.

Abstract: Described herein are donor vectors and systems for use in in vivo dual recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. Also described are animal models for consistent, rigorous, and facile investigation of transgene expression. Further described are methods of screening for therapeutic drugs using these animal models, and methods of treatment.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for determining the source of pain in intervertebral discs by measuring one or more physiological biomarkers associated with disc pain and/or disc degeneration.

Abstract: Immune-modulating genes are provided for prognosis and diagnosis of metastases or reoccurrence of cancer, as well as methods of prognosis, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of cancer metastases.

Abstract: According to some implementations of the present disclosure, a system for identifying individuals at risk for PDAC includes a CT scanner, a memory, and a control system. The CT scanner is configured to generate CT image data associated with a pancreas of a patient. The memory stores machine-readable instructions. The control system includes one or more processors configured to execute the machine-readable instructions. The CT image data associated with the pancreas of the patient is received. The received CT image data is processed to output a set of CT image features. The set of CT image features is received as an input to a machine learning PDAC prediction algorithm. An indication of whether the patient is at high risk for PDAC is determined as an output of the machine learning PDAC prediction algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method to treat pancreatic cancer. In various embodiments the method provides for administering one or more MAPK one or more MAPK pathway inhibitors to the subject, wherein the subject has a mutation in one or more genes in the MAPK signaling pathway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, in part, methods for the treatment of methanogen-associated disorders such as, for example, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) using at least one anti-methanogenic lovastatin analog or derivative. In addition, modified-release formulations comprising at least one anti-methanogenic lovastatin analog or derivative are provided which release the anti-methanogenic lovastatin analog or derivative in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions related to generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Improved techniques for establishing highly efficient, reproducible reprogramming using non-integrating episomal plasmid vectors. Using the described reprogramming protocol, one is able to consistently reprogram non-T cells with close to 100% success from non-T cell or non-B cell sources. Further advantages include use of a defined reprogramming media E7 and using defined clinically compatible substrate recombinant human L-521. Generation of iPSCs from these blood cell sources allows for recapitulation of the entire genomic repertoire, preservation of genomic fidelity and enhanced genomic stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, in part, methods and compositions for the treatment of methanogen-associated disorders such as, for example, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Particularly, modified-release formulations comprising at least one antimethanogenic statin are provided which release the antimethanogenic statin in the intestines.

Abstract: A UV light delivery device for performing intra-corporeal ultraviolet therapy is provided. The device includes an elongated body separated by a proximal end and a distal end. The device also includes a UV light source configured to be received at the receiving space. In some examples, the UV light source is configured to emit light with wavelengths with significant intensity between 320 nm and 410 nm and is utilized in conjunction with an endotracheal tube or a nasopharyngeal airway.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), treating LOAD and assessing efficacy of therapeutic agents used to treat LOAD.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods related to derivation of human notochordal cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The inventors have developed a two-step process for generating these iPSC-derived notochordal cells (iNCs), which can provide a renewable source of therapeutic material for use in degenerative disc disease (DDD). As iNCs are capable of reversing DDD and supporting regeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue based on the understanding that NC cells maintain homeostasis and repair of other IVD cell types such as nuclear pulposus (NP).