Abstract: Methods for classifying and measuring orientations of objects, as nonlimiting examples, implants utilizing two-dimensional radiographs. One such method determines a three-dimensional orientation of an object based on its area projected onto a two-dimensional image and known or measured geometry. Another such method provides an automated solution to computationally determine the orientation and characterizing features of an implant based on two-dimensional radiographs. Orientations and characteristics of one or more objects in the vicinity of an object of interest may also be determined.

Abstract: Medical procedures and devices suitable for reducing the risk of embolic cerebrovascular events, including but not limited to cardioembolic stroke, that result from emboli entering the right or left common carotid artery. The invention uses a combination of intracranial flow diverting stent technologies and carotid stent technologies to achieve clinical objectives of embolic stroke prevention without thromboembolic and/or vascular stenosis complication. Such a stent has struts that generate high radial forces for endothelial apposition, and a mesh with interstices sufficiently small to prevent clinically significant-sized embolic material from passing therethrough from the common carotid artery into the internal carotid artery, but sufficiently large to enable blood and small clinically insignificant-sized embolic material to pass therethrough from the common carotid artery into the internal carotid artery.

Abstract: Phantoms for use in calibrating a dual energy imaging system and methods for their use. The phantoms include a body having at least first and second portions arranged in a through-thickness direction of the body. The first portion defines an anterior surface of the body and contains a first material simulating soft tissue and a second material simulating bone. The second portion contains a third material simulating lung tissue and at least a first object embedded in the third material and formed of a fourth material simulating tumor tissue. The first and second portions of the body are configured such that the second material in the first portion superimposes the first object in the second portion in the through-thickness direction of the body relative to the anterior surface thereof.

Abstract: Methods for identifying a compound that alters fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of a protein. The methods include use of a genetically engineered cell that includes a target protein. The target protein includes one or more heterologous domains. In one embodiment, a target protein includes two heterologous domains, and in another embodiment, the target protein includes a heterologous domain and the cell further includes a second protein that includes a heterologous domain. A heterologous domain may include a chromophore or an amino acid to which a fluorescent dye attaches. The fluorescence lifetime of one or more chromophore, one or more fluorescent dye, or the combination thereof, is measured after contacting the cell with a compound A difference between the fluorescence lifetime in the presence of the test compound and the fluorescence lifetime in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound alters the FRET of the target protein.

Abstract: Compositions and treatments for inducing tumor regression by activating inflammasomes in tumor cells and tumor-associated cells. A tumor in a subject is treated by administering a composition to the subject that activates inflammasomes in cells of the tumor and thereby causes tumor cell pyroptosis and tumor regression.

Abstract: Methods for modulating T-type calcium channel activity without directly targeting the T-type calcium channels are provided that include modulating kelch-like protein 1 (KLHL1) levels in a subject by providing a small hairpin RNA (shRNA) that targets a KLHL1 gene, and then administering the shRNA to the subject in an amount sufficient to modulate KLHL1 gene expression. The KLHL1 level directly effects current activity in T-type calcium channels and therefore modulation of KLHL1 gene expression indirectly modulates current activity in T-type calcium channels. The methods may be implemented with, for example, an shRNA molecule suitable for modulating a KLHL1 level in the subject which may be provided as a plasmid encoding the shRNA molecule or an adeno-associated virus vector encoding the shRNA molecule. Methods of identifying compounds that modulate current activity in T-type calcium channels by determining an effect of the compound on KLHL1 gene expression are also provided.

Abstract: Methodologies, formulations, and kits suitable for decontaminating environments containing bacterial spores by degrading the spores. Formulations contain papain and at least one germinant. Methods for killing bacterial spores include contacting the spores with the formulation for a duration sufficient to initiate germination of the bacterial spores. The spores are then killed with the papain in the formulation, or are rendered by the papain susceptible to being killed by a reagent.

Abstract: Methods and combination pharmaceuticals for treating bronchospastic medical conditions by utilizing the electrophysiology of proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The combination pharmaceuticals include at least one ?-adrenergic receptor agonist, and at least one composition adapted to effect the electrophysiology of Kv7 potassium channels of a lipid membrane of an airway smooth muscle cell. The pharmaceutical may be administered to a living body in a therapeutic amount sufficient to activate the Kv7 potassium channels of an airway smooth muscle cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for medializing a paralyzed vocal cord are disclosed. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a lateral portion, a medial portion, and a strut coupled to the lateral and the medial portions. Either the medial portion or the lateral portion can be adjustable in two dimensions which are not parallel to the length of the strut, which can also be adjustable. In some embodiments, the medial portion and/or the lateral portion can each comprise two adjustable arms and a base member which has a curvilinear configuration.

Abstract: A vaccine and method of treatment suitable for treating autoimmune diseases, such as Vitiligo, by using variant peptides representing a sequence of amino acids found in heat shock protein 70. The vaccine includes a peptide derived from inducible heat shock protein 70 and a plasmid containing a full inducible heat shock protein 70 DNA sequence encoding the peptide.

Abstract: An imaging process capable of selectively enhancing visualization of soft tissues, for example, a tumor. The imaging process includes producing a hard tissue-enhanced image of a body containing both soft and hard tissues, wherein the hard tissue-enhanced image contains images of the hard tissues that are enhanced relative to the soft tissues. A radiographic image of the body and the soft and hard tissues thereof are then obtained, after which a weighted subtraction algorithm is performed between the radiographic image and the hard tissue-enhanced image to produce a soft tissue-enhanced image in which imaging of the soft tissues is enhanced relative to the hard tissues. The hard tissue-enhanced image may be produced by obtaining first and second initial radiographic images of the body including the soft and hard tissues, and then performing a weighted subtraction algorithm on the first and second initial radiographic images to produce the hard tissue-enhanced image.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic strategies utilizing proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The methods entail administering a pharmaceutical to a lipid membrane of a mammalian cell, and then determining the effect of the pharmaceutical on the electrophysiology of at least one vascular proteinacious channel of the lipid membrane, wherein the vascular proteinacious channel is a vascular Kv7 potassium channel and/or a vascular L-type calcium channel. The method can be used to identify pharmaceuticals that may be used to treat hypertension and/or vasospastic conditions, or to perform drug screening to assess potential cardiovascular risk of pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Methods and combination pharmaceuticals for treating bronchospastic medical conditions by utilizing the electrophysiology of proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The combination pharmaceuticals include at least one ?-adrenergic receptor agonist, and at least one composition adapted to effect the electrophysiology of Kv7 potassium channels of a lipid membrane of an airway smooth muscle cell. The pharmaceutical may be administered to a living body in a therapeutic amount sufficient to activate the Kv7 potassium channels of an airway smooth muscle cell.

Abstract: Methods of utilizing the arrestin-2/sTAM-1 complex as a therapeutic target. The methods include treating cells of a living organism to mediate an interaction between arrestin-2 and STAM-1 adapter protein molecules, wherein the interaction is characterized by the arrestin-2 adapter protein molecule directly binding to the STAM-2 adapter protein molecule. Pharmacological agents can be identified for therapeutic uses by determining whether the pharmacological agent disrupts the interaction between the arrestin-2 and STAM-1 adapter protein molecules.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic strategies utilizing proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The methods entail administering a pharmaceutical to a lipid membrane of a mammalian cell, and then determining the effect of the pharmaceutical on the electrophysiology of at least one proteinacious channel of the lipid membrane, wherein the proteinacious channel is a Kv7 potassium channel and/or a L-type calcium channel of an airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC). The method can be used to identify pharmaceuticals that may be used to treat asthmatic and other bronchospastic conditions that can lead to airway obstruction, or to perform drug screening to assess potential risk of pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzymatic and a chemical synthesis of melanins and novel melanins.

Abstract: A method and engineered proteins for use therewith suitable for studying SERCA that are capable of being used in vivo and do not require protein purification or chemical labeling of SERCA, or reconstitution into artificial membranes. The engineered protein for calcium handling within human cells includes a two-color SERCA construct having three component proteins fused together. The three component proteins include a blue fluorescent protein (cerulean), SERCA2a and a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), or a red fluorescent protein (tagRFP acceptor), SERCA and a green fluorescent protein (GFP). The method of determining SERCA activity for optimization of cardiac function includes resolving structure changes of the two-color SERCA construct. The two-color SERCA constructs are catalytically active and able to pump calcium following the step of resolving structure changes.

Abstract: The invention involves a papilloma pseudovirus that can induce immune response after oral intake as well as its preparation. It is characterized in that HPV or BPV pseudovirus are made by disrupting HPV-VLP or BPV-VLP, mixing them with plasmids (plasmids or DNA vaccine), and reassembling them into the pseudoviruses (VLPs with plasmids inside). Oral administration of the pseudoviruses will result in delivery to mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues and induce immune responses for disease prevention and treatment. The pseudovirus induces stronger immune response than DNA vaccines. Additionally, the pseudovirus can be applied in gene therapy by bringing the therapeutic genes into lymphoid tissues in the human body.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic strategies utilizing proteinacious channels in lipid membranes of mammalian cells. The methods entail administering a pharmaceutical to a lipid membrane of a mammalian cell, and then determining the effect of the pharmaceutical on the electrophysiology of at least one vascular proteinacious channel of the lipid membrane, wherein the vascular proteinacious channel is a vascular Kv7 potassium channel and/or a vascular L-type calcium channel. The method can be used to identify pharmaceuticals that may be used to treat hypertension and/or vasospastic conditions, or to perform drug screening to assess potential cardiovascular risk of pharmaceuticals.