Abstract: This invention provides methods of diagnosis, predicting and diagnosing susceptibility to, predicting disease progression and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and/or subtypes of Crohn's disease (CD) and/or Ulcerative Colitis (UC). In one embodiment, a method of the invention is practiced by determining the presence or absence of the genetic variants NOD2, TLR8, TLR2, CARD8, CARD15 and/or JAK3 to diagnose, predict and diagnose susceptibility and predict disease progression in an individual. In another embodiment, a method of the invention is practiced by determining the presence or absence of anti-Cbir1, anti-OmpC, ASCA, anti-I2 and/or pANCA in an individual. In another embodiment, the invention further associates the presence or absence of the risk variants with the expression of anti-Cbir1, anti-OmpC, ASCA, anti-I2 and/or pANCA for the diagnosis, prediction of susceptibility, prediction of disease progression and/or treatment of IBD, including CD and/or UC.

Abstract: There are provided methods for diagnosing coronary heart disease in a subject in need thereof comprising administering an admixture comprising CO2 to a subject to reach a predetermined PaCO2 in the subject to induce hyperemia, monitoring vascular reactivity in the subject and diagnosing the presence or absence of coronary heart disease in the subject, wherein decreased vascular reactivity in the subject compared to a control subject is indicative of coronary heart disease. There are also provided methods for increasing sensitivity and specificity of BOLD MRI.

Abstract: The present invention teaches apparatuses, systems and methods for performing a variety of medical procedures, including those involving introducing one or more substances into a subject's body. In some embodiments, the invention teaches automatically performing guided injections into a tissue site (e.g. spinal cord) of a subject by using one or more electronically operated components including a cannula, a syringe pump, and a stereotactic device.

Abstract: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a disease condition characterized by heart failure (HF) signs and symptoms, but with normal or near normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and is not responsive to standard therapy for treatment of HF. Described herein are compositions and methods related to use of cardiosphere derived cells (CDCs) and their exosomes to improve left ventricular structure, function and overall outcome. Administration of CDCs led to improved LV relaxation, lower LV end-diastolic pressure, decreased lung congestion and enhanced survival. Lower risk of arrhythmias in HFpEF was also observed following CDC administration. Improvement of diastolic dysfunction following administration of CDC-derived exosomes was observed, along with decreased mortality. In view of these salutary effects, CDCs and CDC-derived exosomes are beneficial in the treatment of HFpEF.

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: A fixation device for securing together leaflets of a heart valve is provided. The fixation device may comprise two plates that are disposed on either side of the tricuspid valve. The plates may be secured to one another by a locking clip, thereby securing the valve leaflets between the plates.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides for methods and systems for determining, selecting, and/or treating diseases and conditions caused by or associated with high quantities of methanogens in a subject, or diseases and conditions caused by or associated with low quantities of methanogens in a subject. In various embodiments, a therapy to inhibit the growth of methanogens or to promote the growth of methanogens are selected and/or administered to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing responsiveness to anti-TNF? therapy by determining the presence or absence of risk factors in the individual. In one embodiment, the risk factors are genetic markers, serological markers and/or clinical phenotypes associated with non-responsiveness to treatment with anti-TNF? therapy in an individual diagnosed with IBD.

Abstract: Several embodiments relate to methods of repairing and/or regenerating damaged or diseased tissue comprising administering to the damaged or diseased tissues compositions comprising exosomes. In several embodiments, the exosomes comprise one or more microRNA that result in alterations in gene or protein expression, which in tum result in improved cell or tissue viability and/or function.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising a CD4 lymphocyte depleting agent; and methods of using the compositions to treat, prevent, reduce the severity of and/or slow the progression of a condition in a subject. The invention also relates to use of combinations of a CD4 lymphocyte depleting agent and at least one additional agent to treat, prevent, reduce the severity of and/or slow the progression of a condition in a subject. The additional agent may be an immune check point inhibitor, an adoptive immune therapeutic, an immune adjuvant, or an immune modulating agent, or their combinations.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of diagnosing systemic sclerosis (SSc) involving the detection of anti-vinculin antibodies. Also described herein are methods of selecting treatment of subjects diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and methods of treating systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Abstract: A unified coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. The coil assembly includes an RF coil element and a shim coil array with a shim coil element. The shim coil element is physically separated or partially separated from the RF coil element. The shim coil element includes a DC current loop having a DC power supply connection to allow DC current to generate a local BO magnetic field. The unified coil array assembly is configured to simultaneously provide an RF mode for at least one of transmit or receive and a direct current mode to generate a local B0 magnetic field for B0 shimming Larger number of shim coils relative to the RF coil element provides superior shimming performance. The mutual inductance between the shim coil element and the RF coil element is minimized by proposed geometrical decoupling methods in order to minimize the RF interaction between the two.

Abstract: Methods for desensitization of patients in need of organ transplant are provided Human leukocyte antigen-sensitized patients awaiting incompatible kidney transplant have been treated with clazakizumab to show reduced or eliminated levels of donor-specific antibodies and an improved transplant rate Clazakizumab and variants are provided for use in various embodiments of the methods. In some embodiments, clazakizumab, or its variants, is administered simultaneously or sequentially with intravenous immunoglobulin.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for safely and effectively deploying a hemoclip onto a patient's desired target using a combined hemoclip and endoscopic system. For instance, disclosed is an endoscope that includes a lumen for a hemoclip of the present disclosure to pass through. Additionally, disclosed are hemoclips that are configured to be in a compressed position until the hemoclip is deployed out of an endoscope where it opens into an X-shape. Then, the hemoclip may be clipped onto the target to encapsulate the desired target within the patient. Once the hemoclip is clamped onto the target, the endoscope can move onto the next target for successive deployment and utilization of the hemoclips without manual reload.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease in a subject in need thereof by detecting the presence of one or more cleavage products of the one or more natriuretic peptides over a period of time, wherein the presence of one or more cleavage products is indicative of an increased risk of the subject developing cardiovascular disease. Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising a non-natural natriuretic peptide comprising one or more D-amino acids. Also provided herein are methods of diagnosing a subject for a disease and treating the subject for the disease, wherein the method comprises the use of a non-natural natriuretic peptide comprising one or more D-amino acids.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for imaging a sample. In various embodiments, the invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a visible light source, a notch beam splitter, a notch filter, a synchronization module, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a laser clean-up filter, a notch filter, a white light source, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In accordance with the present invention, the image sensor can detect both visible light and infrared light.

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 methods of diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease, including but not limited to Crohn's Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and/or Medically Refractive Ulcerative Colitis (MR-UC), using RNA-SET2, TL1A and/or IFN-Y. The methods may comprise treating inflammatory bowel disease by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent to a subject. Described further herein are processes for patient identification and/or stratification.

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: The aspects disclosed herein describe methods of identifying a subject that is non-responsive to anti-TNF therapy. The aspects disclosed herein further provide for a method of selecting a therapy for a subject with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and treating the subject with the therapy.