Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules engineered for efficient propagation of a heterologous DNA sequence (such as a heterologous viral gene) that is toxic in E. coli are described. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes were used as exemplary toxic heterologous DNA sequences. Plasmids that included a heterologous DNA positioned between bacterial regulatory elements (such as lac operator sequences and/or terminator sequences) exhibited decreased gene transcription in E. coli and increased stability of the heterologous DNA while also retaining the property of inducible expression in E. coli.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis B infection, including chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Abstract: The present invention provides a silk fibroin-based hydrogel and antibiotic composition consists of 5% silk fibroin embedded with 0.4-2% antibiotic, more specifically, tetracycline or doxycycline, and the antibiotic used to prepare the silk fibroin-based hydrogel is super saturated solution, i.e., 100% concentration of antibiotic in de-ionized water. The invention also provides a method to prepare silk fibroin-based hydrogel and antibiotic composition comprising steps of: preparing 5% silk fibroin solution and maintaining at 16-21° C.; adding saturated antibiotic solution in the silk fibroin solution to form silk fibroin-based hydrogel; stabilizing the hydrogel at 16-21° C.; and lyophilising the stabilized hydrogel at 4-6° C. to form a dry hydrogel silk fibroin matrix with drug embedded in it. Further, the invention provides composition of the drug-silk fibroin-based hydrogel formulation and method for using it for wound healing of tooth extraction socket.

Abstract: Optimized chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting glypican-2 (GPC2) and having a CD28 hinge region and a CD28 transmembrane domain are described. The antigen-binding domain of the disclosed CARs is derived from GPC2-specific antibody CT3 or humanized versions thereof. The optimized CARs also include an intracellular co-stimulatory domain and an intracellular signaling domain. Immune cells or induced pluripotent stem cells expressing the optimized CARs can be used to treat GPC2-positive solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma.

Abstract: A method for operational workflow transparency and end-to-end events tracking, the method includes at an event producer system, generating events, corresponding key business attributes, provider industry standard identifiers, patient identifiers, and patient information, and publishing the events and the key business attributes to a tracking system. At a tracking system, receiving and validating the events from the event producer system, generating a universally unique lexicographically sortable identifier (ULID) for an append-only log data structure for the respective event, generating a search index to enable search capabilities for the append-only log data structure, and temporally appending the respective event into the append-only log data structure for the corresponding prior-authorization case.

Abstract: Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind a coronavirus spike protein, such as SARS-CoV-2. Also disclosed is the use of these antibodies for inhibiting a coronavirus infection. In addition, disclosed are methods for detecting a coronavirus in a biological sample, using the disclosed antibodies.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia or osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis is disclosed where the apparatus may generally comprise one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect. These vibrating elements may be secured to the upper body of an individual via one or more respective securing mechanisms, where the securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements in a direction lateral to the individual, and the position, tension, and efficacy of these vibrating elements may be monitored and/or regulated by one or more accelerometers.

Abstract: A robotic system to assist a surgeon during ankle fracture procedures includes an imaging system configured to be at least one of mounted on or arranged adjacent to a robotic device. The system includes a passive arm, a separate actuatable section, and a controller configured to communicate with the actuatable section. The passive arm is structured to be placed on a side of a patient's leg fixed to a platform and the passive arm comprises a fastening mechanism structured to be attached to a tibia of the patient's leg. The actuatable section is structured to be placed on a side of said patient's leg fixed to the platform and the actuatable section comprises a fastening mechanism structured to be attached to a fibula of the patient's leg.

Abstract: A cell genetically modified to comprise at least one mechanism for providing a local immunosuppression at a transplant site when transplanted in an allogeneic host is, and methods for making and using the same is provided. The cell comprises a set of transgenes, each transgene encoding a gene product that is cytoplasmic, membrane bound, or local acting, and whose function is one or more of: to mitigate antigen presenting cell activation and function; to mitigate graft attacking leukocyte activity or cytolytic function; to mitigate macrophage cytolytic function and phagocytosis of allograft cells; to induce apoptosis in graft attacking leukocytes; to mitigate local inflammatory proteins; and to protect against leukocyte-mediated apoptosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides derived from COVID-19 virus envelope protein and spike protein. The invention further relates to polynucleotides and vectors encoding said peptides, and antibodies and chimeric antigen receptors that bind to said peptides. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosis and prediction of conditions in a subject which leverage recognition of said peptides, such as by antigen-specific T cells.

Abstract: A device for maintaining patency of a channel of an uveolymphatic region or a Schlemm's canal in a patient's eye may include a single elongated element configured for radial expansion of the channel of the uveolymphatic region or the Schlemm's canal when inserted into the channel, wherein the single elongated element is configured to follow an arc of a circumference of the channel, wherein the arc subtends an angle comprising a degree of arc greater than approximately 75 degrees.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a medical instrument are discussed herein. For example, image data can be received from a first instrument that is configured to access an anatomical site via a first access path. The image data can be representative of the anatomical site and a second instrument that is configured to access the anatomical site via a second access path. A visual representation of the image data can be displayed in a user interface and a first directional input signal can be received from an input device. An orientation of the first instrument relative to the second instrument can be determined. Movement of the second instrument can be controlled based at least in part on the first directional input signal and the orientation of the first instrument relative to the second instrument.

Abstract: The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a next generation DNA sequencing method and use for accurate and massively parallel quantification of one or more nucleic acid targets, for example in large volumes of unpurified sample material. Also a method and a kit, the kit including probes for detecting and quantifying genetic targets in complex samples. One or more target-specific nucleic acid probes per genetic target (left probe and right probe) are included, as is a bridge oligo or bridge oligo complex.

Abstract: Provided are a mRNA vaccine composition with improved storage stability and a method of improving storage stability of the vaccine composition.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a laser illumination system are disclosed. In an example, a system includes one or more lasers, a beam combiner (if multiple lasers are used) configured to direct a combined light beam along a path, a focusing optical element to receive the light beam and focus the received light towards a focus point, a MEMS mirror positioned to receive light from the focusing optical element and output a moving light beam, moving in an angular range ar1 and at a frequency f1, a collimating element configured to receive the beam output by the MEMS mirror and output a beam that is more collimated than the light received from the MEMS mirror, and a CLA positioned to receive the light beam from the collimating optical element, alter the received light beam, and output a substantially flat-top distribution of light that propagates through an objective lens to a target plane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for administering directed fluidics during a medical procedure for removing an object are disclosed. A method includes inserting first and second medical instruments into a treatment site, providing irrigation and aspiration of the treatment site through the first and second medical instruments, determining a characteristic of one of the irrigation and the aspiration, and selecting a characteristic of the other of the irrigation and aspiration based on the determined characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods for regulating and detecting the cytosine methylation status of DNA. The invention is based upon identification of a novel and surprising catalytic activity for the family of TET proteins, namely TET1, TET2, TEM3, and CXXC4. The novel activity is related to the enzymes being capable of converting the cytosine nucleotide 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by hydroxylation.

Abstract: An embodiment of a uterine hemorrhage controlling system comprises a suction module including a suction end coupleable to a pump by a connecting tube, and a sealing module coupled to the suction module. The system may further comprise the pump and a filter coupled to the suction module. A uterine hemorrhage controlling method comprises: shielding a suction module that has been delivered into a uterus; sealing an entrance into the uterus while the suction module is situated within the uterus; applying a negative pressure within the uterus upon activation of a pump; and maintaining the negative pressure within the uterus to induce uterine contraction. The method may further comprise delivering the suction module into the uterus; transmitting bodily fluids, out of the uterus through the suction module, and filtering the bodily fluids.

Abstract: A method of managing fluid conditions in a patient involves advancing at least one medical instrument into a target organ of a patient, the at least one medical instrument comprising an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel, coupling the at least one medical instrument to an irrigation fluid source, providing irrigation from the irrigation fluid source into the target organ through the irrigation channel of the at least one medical instrument, determining an irrigation pressure limit based at least in part on one or more case-specific parameters, providing irrigation into the target organ through the irrigation channel, and limiting the irrigation based at least in part on the determined irrigation pressure limit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to training data sets and a system and method for generating training images especially those which are medical images. Especially disclosed is a method of training a machine learning model to recognize movement of a body part in an acquired medical image The machine learning model is trained by varying/modifying a blur convolution kernel constructed with pixels oriented in a direction of the movement; the method including determining at least one motion weighting factor corresponding to a motion time period when the body part is moving during acquisition of the medical image, and using the motion weighting factor to vary/modify the blur convolution kernel.