Abstract: Some embodiments comprise methods, systems, and compositions to produce and/or administer modified exosomes or other vesicles containing one or more selected microRNAs, including but not limited to, miR-146b. Some embodiments also comprise the therapeutic administration and use of such modified exosomes and/or producer cells to treat mammalian brain or neurologic injuries and diseases, including in human beings.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for treating and/or ameliorating at least one symptom associated with traumatic brain injury in a subject, the method comprises administering a safe and therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising exosomes generated from hMSCs in 2D or 3D cultures.

Abstract: An endoscopic catheter assembly including a catheter portion is disclosed. The catheter portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter portion includes a tube-shaped body defining a passage extending there-through.

Abstract: Disclosed delivery catheters have a three-dimensional curvature that facilitates reaching the RAA from the inferior vena cava, positioning the distal end of the catheter generally parallel to the plane of the pericardial space at the puncture location within the RAA, orienting the puncturing device in a direction that avoids the right coronary artery, aorta, pulmonary artery, and other structures to prevent bystander injury to such structures, and provides sufficient rigidity to puncture through a wall of the RAA into the pericardial space.

Abstract: A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a nerve disease or disorder in a subject, the method comprising up-regulating a level of at least one exogenous miRNA in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or down-regulating a level of at least one miRNA using a polynucleotide agent that hybridizes to the miRNA, thereby generating the population of cells useful for treating the nerve disease or disorder. Isolated populations of cells with an astrocytic phenotype generated thereby and uses thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the placement of a prosthetic heart valve in a structure of interest. The method comprises acquiring one or more depictions of an anatomical region of interest that includes the structure of interest, wherein each depiction shows the structure of interest and/or the blood pool volume of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) of the patient's heart. The method further comprises designating one or more positions in at least one of the one or more depictions wherein each position corresponds to a respective position in the structure of interest at which the prosthetic valve may be placed. The method still further comprises predicting, for each of the one or more designated positions, an amount of blood flow obstruction through the LVOT of the patient's heart that would occur if the prosthetic valve was to be placed at a corresponding position in the structure of interest.

Abstract: A method for treating diastolic heart failure is provided including identifying a subject having diastolic heart failure and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a galectin-3 inhibitor to the subject to at least partially alleviate a symptom of diastolic heart failure.

Abstract: A method of generating neural stem cells or motor neurons is disclosed, the method comprising up-regulating a level of at least one exogenous miRNA and/or down-regulating at least one miRNA using an agent which hybridizes to the miRNA in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or down-regulating Related to testis-specific, vespid and pathogenesis protein 1 (RTVP-1).

Abstract: Cardiomyopathy may be treated by distributing space-occupying agent within the myocardium in a pattern about one or more chambers of the heart, such that the space-modifying agent integrates into and thickens at least part of the cardiac wall about the chamber so as globally to reduce wall stress and stabilize or even reduce chamber size. Some patterns also cause a beneficial global reshaping of the chamber. These changes occur quickly and are sustainable, and have a rapid and sustainable therapeutic effect on cardiac function. Over time the relief of wall stress reduces oxygen consumption and promotes healing. Moreover, various long-term therapeutic effects may be realized depending on the properties of the space-occupying agent, including combinations with other therapeutic materials. Specific cardiac conditions treatable by these systems and methods include, for example, dilated cardiomyopathy (with or without overt aneurismal formations), congestive heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmias.

Abstract: Without limitation, some embodiments comprise a method of treatment for promoting recovery of peripheral neuropathy in a subject, including administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprised of thymosin beta 4, amino acid sequences LKKTET or LKKTNT, and/or any conservative variants thereof, or an agent that stimulates production of any of those materials, or a conservative variant thereof.

Abstract: Some embodiments comprise methods, systems, and compositions to produce and/or administer modified exosomes or other vesicles containing one or more selected microRNAs, including but not limited to, miR-146b. Some embodiments also comprise the therapeutic administration and use of such modified exosomes and/or producer cells to treat mammalian brain or neurologic injuries and diseases, including in human beings.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the placement of a prosthetic heart valve in a structure of interest. The method comprises acquiring one or more depictions of an anatomical region of interest that includes the structure of interest, wherein each depiction shows the structure of interest and/or the blood pool volume of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) of the patient's heart. The method further comprises designating one or more positions in at least one of the one or more depictions wherein each position corresponds to a respective position in the structure of interest at which the prosthetic valve may be placed. The method still further comprises predicting, for each of the one or more designated positions, an amount of blood flow obstruction through the LVOT of the patient's heart that would occur if the prosthetic valve was to be placed at a corresponding position in the structure of interest.

Abstract: Some embodiments comprise methods, systems, and compositions to promote, improve and/or increase neuronal differentiation, oligodendrocyte differentiation, or neurological outcome or function in a patient in need thereof. Some embodiments also comprise the administration a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more of a group comprising microRNA-146a, a promoter of microRNA-146a expression, a microRNA-146a mimic, thymosin beta 4, and a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor to treat neurological conditions, disease, or injury in mammals, including in human beings.

Abstract: Some embodiments comprise methods, systems, and compositions to produce and/or administer modified exosomes or other vesicles containing one or more selected microRNAs, including but not limited to, miR-146b. Some embodiments also comprise the therapeutic administration and use of such modified exosomes and/or producer cells to treat mammalian injuries and diseases, including in human beings.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer in a human subject is provided, the method comprises: a. providing a sample of prostate tissue, blood, or urine from the subject; b. determining the level of expression of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the expression of SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sample, wherein an increased level of expression of SEQ ID NO:1 and a reduced level of expression of SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sample is indicative of a diagnosis that the subject has prostate cancer; and c. administering a therapeutically effective prostate cancer treatment selected from the group consisting of an androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy, an antimicrotubule agent, an alkylating agent and an anthracenedione to the subject to treat the prostate cancer in the human subject diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Abstract: Technology disclosed herein provides a reduced transition between the edge of a rigid vascular dilator and the distal edge of the accompanying introducer sheath. Disclosed dilators can be segmented into two or more primarily longitudinally extending parts, can have rigid circumferential or semi-circumferential leading shoulders to minimize the transition between the dilator and the sheath edge, and can contain internal recesses to allow sequential retraction of segments once the introducer sheath is delivered to a target chamber. With this technology, vascular introducer sheaths can be introduced percutaneously into a broad range of diseased target vessels and chambers with reduced damage to the wall of the vessel or chamber, and with reduced damage to the distal end of the introducer sheath.

Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing a bone disease or other condition related to collagen in a subject are provided. These include providing a bone sample from the subject and determining a quantitative collagen morphology value of the bone sample. A reference value is provided from a non-affected control subject where the reference value is a quantitative collagen morphology value from the same type of bone sample obtained from a population of non-affected control subjects. The quantitative collagen morphology value of the subject's bone sample is compared to the reference value. If the collagen morphology value is altered versus the reference value, the subject is diagnosed as having a collagen related bone disease. The collagen morphology value can include mean fibril spacings and distributions of the fibril spacings taken from a subject's bone sample.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems, methods, and apparatus to correlate changes in MRI data with CA concentration, using an adaptive neural network In MRI techniques, CAs are used to estimate vascular properties such as blood flow, blood volume, and transfer constant of tissue microvessels However, the relationship between the contrast in the MRI image and the contrast agent concentration is not linear, instead depending on factors such as the nature of the sequence, the nature of the tissue, and the tissue concentration of contrast agent, and thus limiting the reliability of vascular properties using MRI.

Abstract: An adjustable front-opening hospital gown includes first and second front panels having respective mating fasteners, a rear panel, and an orientation feature such as a V-neck or other type of collar. The first front panel overlaps the second front panel in front of a torso of a patient. The rear panel is connected to the front panels, and defines an elongated slot that is overlapped or otherwise remains closed when access to a back of the patient is not required. The orientation feature identifies a designated front of the hospital gown. The gown may include intravenous access flaps, each positioned between the rear panel and a respective front panel. The rear panel may include first and second rear panels, one of which includes an edge overlapped by the other of the panel within the elongated slot to close the elongated slot.