Abstract: Disclosed herein are T cell receptors (TCRs) capable of binding an antigen expressed by renal cell carcinoma cells. In some examples, the TCRs include an ? chain (such as SEQ ID NO: 2) and a ? chain (such as SEQ ID NO: 3). Also disclosed herein are vectors including nucleic acids encoding the disclosed TCR ? and/or ? chains. Further disclosed are modified T cells expressing the TCRs. In some examples, the modified T cells are prepared by transducing T cells with a vector including nucleic acids encoding the TCR ? chain and the TCR ? chain. In some embodiments, methods include treating a subject with RCC, by obtaining a population of T cells, transducing the population of T cells with a vector including a nucleic acids encoding the TCR ? chain and the TCR ? chain, and administering a composition comprising the modified T cells to the subject.

Abstract: A traceable device and procedure suitable for investigating gastrointestinal motility disorders by measuring transit time of the device as it is passed through the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. The device includes a core material configured to be imaged with a gamma imaging process and optionally also an x-ray imaging process, and a sealing material substantially insoluble in gastrointestinal fluids and fully encapsulating the core material.

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 KLHL 1 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: In a method, a user at a client device may be provided with a user interface having user interactive controls, including a control to enable selection from among a plurality of disease groups. Each disease group may correspond to a respective set of two or more individual disease codes. A user selection of a disease group of interest may be detected. The set of individual disease codes corresponding to the disease group of interest may be used to identify a set of encounters associated with a patient cohort. The user may be provided with an indication of a number of unique patients in the patient cohort, a number of patients in the cohort having particular characteristic(s), a total number of encounters in the set of encounters associated with the cohort, and/or a number of encounters, in the set of encounters associated with the cohort, having particular encounter characteristic(s).

Abstract: Surface-modified organic semiconductors and methods for making surface-modified organic semiconductors are disclosed. More particularly, surface-modified thin films are provided, the surface-modified thin films comprising a first layer comprising a polyaromatic organic semiconductor and a surface layer in direct contact with the first layer, the surface layer comprising an addition reaction product of the polyaromatic organic semiconductor with, for example, a dienophile, wherein the first layer is substantially free of the addition reaction product of the organic semiconductor with the dienophile. Also provided are surface-modified single crystals comprising a core comprising a polyaromatic organic semiconductor and a coating in direct contact with the core, the coating comprising, for example, an addition reaction product of the polyaromatic organic semiconductor with a dienophile, wherein the core is substantially free of the addition reaction product of the organic semiconductor with the dienophile.

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: Methods for generating and using omentum cells, and particularly stromal cells and/or omentum stem cells, in medical treatments such as tissue repair and regeneration to facilitate healing from traumatic injury to an abdominal organ, and immune modulation treatments such as suppression of immune responses and inflammation and prevention of tissue fibrosis. According to one aspect, a medical procedure is performed on a patient that involves harvesting omental tissue from the patient, and then transferring the omental tissue to an organ of the patient. At least a portion of the harvested omental tissue may be activated prior to transferring the omental tissue to the organ. Alternatively, the transferred omental tissue may comprise non-lymphoid cells isolated from the omentum tissue and obtained by homogenizing at least a portion of the harvested omental tissue.

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 user interface is provided that requests clinical note data from a healthcare provider as a patient is being seen by the healthcare provider. The clinical note data requested includes data needed to populate one or more variables of one or more national registries and data needed to populate a clinical note medical record of an existing electronic medical records system. The clinical note data entered by the healthcare provider for the patient is received from the user interface. Automatically and at substantially the same time, the entered clinical note data needed to populate a clinical note medical record of an existing EMR system for the patient is stored in the existing EMR system, and the entered clinical note data needed to populate one or more variables for the patient for the one or more national registries is stored in a database.

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: A user interface is provided that requests clinical note data from a healthcare provider as a patient is being seen by the healthcare provider. The clinical note data requested includes data needed to populate one or more variables of one or more national registries and data needed to populate a clinical note medical record of an existing electronic medical records system. The clinical note data entered by the healthcare provider for the patient is received from the user interface. Automatically and at substantially the same time, the entered clinical note data needed to populate a clinical note medical record of an existing EMR system for the patient is stored in the existing EMR system, and the entered clinical note data needed to populate one or more variables for the patient for the one or more national registries is stored in a database.

Abstract: Provided is a method of determining the level of resistance or sensitivity of cancer stem cells to a death receptor agonist. The method includes detecting the level of IAP in one or more DR5/DDX3/IAP complexes in or from the cancer stem cells. Also provided is a method of killing cancer stem cells in a subject and a method of reducing the risk of cancer recurrence in a subject.

Abstract: Methods and kits adapted for risk prediction, diagnosis, and analysis of myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial failure, and reduced cardiac function such as heart failure. The methods include collecting a sample of human body fluid or tissue from a subject and then identifying the presence of cardiac myosin binding protein-C 25-nucleotide deletion and/or detecting the presence of cardiac myosin binding protein-C, its peptides, its phosphorylation status, and/or its autoantibodies in the human body fluid or tissue.