Abstract: A composition including an effective amount of a treatment agent to inhibit tumor growth in a mammal by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway. A method comprising introducing an effective amount of a treatment agent to a mammal to inhibit tumor growth by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway while at the same time reducing production of other forms of prostaglandins that may produce ill effects, such as prostaglandin E2. A method comprising introducing an effective amount of a treatment agent to a mammal to inhibit tumor growth by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway while at the same time reducing potential undesirable side effects related to increased levels of prostaglandin D2. A composition comprising a genetic variant of human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS). A method comprising identifying an individual who carries a Val187Ile gene variant or allele and assessing a predisposition of an individual to various conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining vein patterns from a colour image for personal identification, the method comprising forming a counterpart of the colour image by applying a functional relationship obtained from optimization on the colour image, wherein the counterpart of the colour image comprises the vein patterns. An apparatus for determining vein patterns from a colour image is also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods useful in the reduction of localized fat deposits and tightening of loose skin in subjects in need thereof using pharmacologically active detergents are disclosed. The pharmacologically active detergent compositions can additionally include anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, dispersion or anti-dispersion agents and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmacologically active detergent compositions are useful for treating localized accumulations of fat including, for example, lower eyelid fat herniation, lipodystrophy and fat deposits associated with cellulite and do not require surgical procedures such as liposuction.

Abstract: The invention provides, in certain embodiments, a method of assaying an indicator of, and treating, renal injury or renal disease. The method entails assaying a urine sample for periostin, wherein the presence of periostin at an elevated level indicates the presence and/or degree of renal injury or renal disease. The method also involves prescribing, initiating, or altering prophylaxis or therapy for renal injury or renal disease. Also provided, are methods of determining progression of these conditions, as well as methods of determining subjects' response to treatment.

Abstract: This invention is directed to multifunctional, context-activated protides that have two or more effectors with individually distinct biological functions and one or more corresponding activator sites that can each initiate or amplify the biological function of one or more effectors upon context-activation. The context-activated protides of the invention are useful in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy of a broad range of pathological conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of killing an infectious microbe by administering an effective amount of transferrin to an individual having a microbial infection, wherein the transferrin has microbicidal activity, thereby reducing survival of the infectious microbe in the individual. The invention also provides a method of prophylactically treating an individual to decrease the likelihood of contracting a microbial infection, comprising administering an effective amount of transferrin to an individual, wherein the transferrin has microbicidal activity, thereby decreasing the likelihood that the individual will contract a microbial infection. The invention still further provides a method of treating septicemia by administering an effective amount of transferrin to an individual in need thereof, thereby treating the individual.

Abstract: A method including isotope labeling of a newly synthesized protein in a sufficient quantity such that a newly synthesized protein spectra and the pre-existing protein spectra are sufficiently separated. A further method including determining a ratio of a new and a pre-existing protein from mass spectra obtained by using mass spectrometry. In this method a resultant spectrum may be presented as integrated peak heights for a corresponding mass to charge ratio in the “centroid” mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel kinocidin peptides comprising a C-terminal portion of a kinocidin, wherein the C-terminal portion encompasses an ?-helical secondary structure and further displays antimicrobial activity. The kinocidin peptides of the invention are derived from and correspond to a C-terminal portion of a kinocidin that includes a ?KC core and that can be a CXC, CC, or C class chemokine. Structural, physicochemical and functional properties of this novel class of antimicrobial peptides and amino acid sequences of particular kinocidin peptides are also disclosed. The invention also provides related antimicrobial methods.

Abstract: A method and system for detection of pulsus paradoxus are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a power spectrum density for a plethysmographic waveform and identifying pulsus paradoxus based on the power spectrum density. The power spectrum density may include a first wave peak indicative of a respiratory rate and a second wave peak indicative of a heart rate. Pulsus paradoxus can be identified by comparing a height of the first wave peak and a height of the second wave peak.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic lung surfactant compositions that contain one or more of phospholipase-resistant phospho-glycerol derivatives, phospholipase-resistant phospho-choline derivatives, and surface active proteins or peptides, more preferably a combination of at least two or all three of these materials. Novel phospholipase-resistant phospho-glycerol derivatives, phospholipase-resistant phospho-choline derivatives, and surface active peptides are also disclosed herein. Uses of the surfactant compositions of the present invention to treat endogenous surfactant dysfunctional or deficient lung tissue, to prepare synthetic peptides for use in the surfactant compositions, and to deliver therapeutic agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Filament formation and adherence to host cells are critical virulence factors of C. albicans. Multiple filamentation regulatory pathways have been discovered, however the downstream effectors of these regulatory pathways remain unknown. The cell surface proteins in the ALS group are downstream effectors of the filamentation regulatory pathway. Particularly, Als1p mediates adherence to endothelial cells in vitro and is required for virulence. The blocking of adherence by the organism is described resulting from the use of a composition and method disclosed herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a gene, gene product, or specific antibody to the ALS gene family is administered as a vaccine to generate an immune response capable of blocking adherence of the organism.

Abstract: The peptides and derivative metapeptides based upon natural antimicrobial peptides have potent and broad spectrum activity against pathogens exhibiting multiple antibiotic resistance. Specific peptides can also potentiate the antimicrobial functions of leukocytes, such as neutrophils. In addition, they exhibit lower inherent mammalian cell toxicities than conventional antimicrobial peptides, and overcome problems of toxicity, immunogenicity, and shortness of duration of effectiveness due to biodegradation, retaining activity in plasma and serum. The peptides and derivative metapeptides exhibit rapid microbicidal activities in vitro, can be used to potentiate conventional antimicrobial agents, to potentiate other antimicrobial peptides and are active against many organisms that exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics currently in existence.

Abstract: The present invention provides vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing bacterial inventions. The vaccine compositions of the invention include a carbapenemase such as a serine carbapenemase, a metallo-?-lactamase or an immunogenic fragment thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions include an anti-carbapenemase antibody or fragment thereof. Also provided are methods for treating and preventing a bacterial infection using the vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. The invention further provides antibody conjugates that include an antibody or fragment thereof conjugated to a siderophore or an analog thereof.

Abstract: The invention provide isolated peptides, protides and conjugates having novel peptide sequences which are able to induce antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative or programmed cell death activity. The invention also provides a method of inducing programmed cell death in a cell by contacting the cell with an isolated peptide, protide or conjugate described herein. In some aspects, the method can be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease, such as an infection, cancer, autoimmune disease, or inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A method and system for detection of respiratory variation in pulse oximetry are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a pattern consistent with a respiratory cycle of a waveform representing cardiac oscillations and identifying an abnormality based on the pattern. A system is further provided including a database and a module. The database to store data representing a physiological condition of a patient over a period of time, wherein the data comprises data corresponding to respiratory activity and data corresponding to cardiac oscillations, wherein the data corresponding to respiratory activity comprises a first waveform and the data corresponding to the cardiac oscillations comprises a second waveform; and a module for detecting a pattern of the second waveform consistent with a cycle of a first waveform and detecting an abnormality in the pattern.

Abstract: The invention provides, in certain embodiments, a method of detecting an indicator of renal injury or renal disease. The method entails assaying a urine sample for hematopoietic growth factor inducible neurokinin-1 (HGFIN), wherein the presence of HGFIN at an elevated level indicates the presence and/or degree of renal injury or renal disease, and/or the rate of loss of renal function. In other embodiments, the invention provides a method of detecting an indicator of systemic inflammation. This method entails assaying a biological sample for HGFIN, wherein the presence of HGFIN at an elevated level indicates the presence and/or degree of systemic inflammation. Also provided, are methods of determining progression of these conditions, as well as methods of determining subjects' response to treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic compositions and methods for treating and preventing fungal disease or conditions including mucormycosis. The therapeutic methods and compositions of the invention include vaccine compositions having an FTR polypeptide or an antigenic fragment of the polypeptide; a vector including a nucleotide sequence that is substantially complimentary to at least 18 contiguous nucleotides of FTR sequence; an antisense; a small interfering RNA or an antibody inhibitor of FTR. The vaccine compositions of the invention can further include an adjuvant.

Abstract: The peptides and derivative metapeptides based upon natural antimicrobial peptides have potent and broad spectrum activity against pathogens exhibiting multiple antibiotic resistance. Specific peptides can also potentiate the antimicrobial functions of leukocytes, such as neutrophils. In addition, they exhibit lower inherent mammalian cell toxicities than conventional antimicrobial peptides, and overcome problems of toxicity, immunogenicity, and shortness of duration of effectiveness due to biodegradation, retaining activity in plasma and serum. The peptides and derivative metapeptides exhibit rapid microbicidal activities in vitro, can be used to potentiate conventional antimicrobial agents, to potentiate other antimicrobial peptides and are active against many organisms that exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics currently in existence.

Abstract: A method comprising inhibiting myostatin expression or activity to increase muscle mass. Still further, methods for locally inhibiting myostatin expression or activity to reduce fibrosis are provided. The method comprises introducing a nucleotide sequence into a vector wherein the nucleotide sequence is expressed as a shRNA having a property to inhibit myostatin expression. The vector including the sequence may be delivered to a mammalian tissue. An electrical pulse may be applied across a point of delivery. A composition comprising a vector having a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence is expressed as a shRNA having a property to inhibit myostatin expression is further provided.

Abstract: An apparatus including a chest strip including a plurality of precordial leads positioned to correspond with desired lead placement for an electrocardiogram; and a plurality of limb leads coupled to the chest strip. A system including a chest strip including a plurality of precordial leads positioned to correspond with desired lead placement for an electrocardiogram; a plurality of limb leads coupled to the chest strip; and a transmitter coupled to plurality of precordial leads and the plurality of limb leads to transmit signals generated by the plurality of precordial leads and the plurality of limb leads. A method including coupling a chest strip including a precordial leads to a newborn; and generating an electrocardiogram from the precordial leads.