Abstract: Methods for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Methods and assays for diagnosis or prognosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject are also provided and include the steps of providing a biological sample from the subject, determining an expression level or activity in the sample of at least one biomarker selected from Caveolin-1, Survivin, and SMAC; and comparing the expression level or activity of the at least one biomarker in the sample, if present, to a control expression level or activity of the at least one biomarker. Prophylaxis or treatment of the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject can then be initiated based on the expression level or activity of Caveolin-1, Survivin, and SMAC in the sample.

Abstract: Methods of treating obesity include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a therapeutic agent capable of reversing an inhibition of a Na/K-ATPase in a small intestine of a subject, such as a basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase. Administering the therapeutic agent can further decrease an amount of glucose transport and/or decrease an amount of salt absorption in the small intestine of the subject to thereby treat the obesity. Methods for screening for a compound useful for treating obesity include contacting a small intestine cell with an effective amount of a test compound, and detecting whether an activity level of a Na/K-ATPase in the small intestine cell is increased in the presence of the test compound. The test compound is then identified as a compound useful for the treatment of obesity if the activity level of the Na/K-ATPase is increased in the presence of the test compound.

Abstract: Methods and assays for diagnosis or prognosis of endometriosis include comparing an expression level or activity of miR-155 and JARID2 in a sample to detect a measurable difference. Therapeutic methods for treating endometriosis in a subject comprise identifying a subject as having a decreased expression level and/or activity of JARID2 in a sample obtained from the subject; and administering an agent that inhibits an activity of an miRNA that targets JARID2 or an agent that inhibits EZH2. Methods for screening for a compound useful for treating endometriosis are also provided and include contacting a cell with an effective amount of a test compound, and detecting whether the expression level or activity level of JARID2 or miR-155 in the cell is altered in the presence of the test compound.

Abstract: Bacterial cultures are provided that comprise a modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium missing or deficient in two or more virulence factors. The two or more virulence factors can be selected from exotoxin A, hemolytic phospholipase C, phenazine-specific methyltransferase, alpha-1,3-rhamnosyltransferase, and 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase. Certain of the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are also missing or deficient in one or more alginate acetylation enzymes including the alginate Oacetyltransferases AlgI, AlgJ, AlgF, AlgX, and/or the C5-mannuronan epimerase AlgG. Methods of producing alginate are also provided along with compositions comprising alginate produced by the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Abstract: Methods for treating uremic cardiomyopathy are provided and include the step of administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. The polypeptide anatagonist can further include a cell penetrating polypeptide. Methods of treating anemia, including anemia-associated with chronic kidney disease, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosis or prognosis of a cancer in a subject are provided and include the steps of: obtaining a biological sample from a subject; determining an amount of a phosphorylation at a Y260 residue in a Na/K ATPase present in the biological sample; and comparing the amount of the phosphorylation in the sample to a control level to thereby diagnose the cancer. Methods for detecting a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis are also provided in which a biological sample including one or more cells is obtained and an amount of a phosphorylation at a Y260 residue in a Na/K ATPase is determined in the one or more cells.

Abstract: An oral therapy tool is provided that comprises a mouthpiece including a first side and a second side, a pressure sensor operatively connected to the mouthpiece, and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure sensor. The microcontroller is configured to collect data relating to a usage of the oral therapy tool and to communicate the data to a central computer server. Systems and methods for monitoring oral therapy are further provided and collect, via a central computer server, data from the oral therapy device relating to a usage of the oral therapy device by a user. The central computer server then analyzes the data to determine the effectiveness of the oral therapy device, and transmits the analysis of the data to a remote device via a software application running on the remote device to assess and/or provide a recommended oral therapy regimen.

Abstract: Methods for treating obesity are provided and include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Methods for reducing adiposity and adipogenesis are also provided and make use of a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject.

Abstract: Methods treating pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, are provided, and include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Administration of the polypeptide antagonist reduces pulmonary artery acceleration time, reduces an amount of right ventricular hypertrophy, reduces right ventricular wall thickness, reduces an amount of pulmonary vessel wall thickness, reduces an amount of plexiform lesions in a lung of the subject, reduces an amount of collagen deposition in a pulmonary blood vessel, reduces an amount of collagen deposition in a pulmonary blood vessel media or adventitia, and/or reduces an amount of right ventricular fibrosis. Methods of reducing pulmonary vessel wall thickness are also provided and include the administration of the polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex.

Abstract: Methods of treating a bacterial lung infection are provided and comprise administering an effective amount of rifaximin to a subject in need thereof. The rifaximin can be delivered by inhalation therapy, such as by delivering the rifaximin in aerosol form. The rifaximin is administered alone or in combination with tobramycin, including in multiple doses. Methods of reducing biofilm formation are also provided and comprise contacting a bacteria with an effective amount of rifaximin. Pharmaceutical composition are also included and comprise rifaximin and a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle suitable for administering the rifaximin in aerosol form.

Abstract: Methods for treating retinopathy are provided and include administering an effective amount of a polypeptide antagovist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject. The retinopathy can include diabetic retinopathy. Methods of decreasing angiogenesis in a retinal vasculature are also provided and include the step of administering, such as by intravitreous injection, a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A wound covering is provided that comprises a substrate and vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, embedded in the substrate. Methods of making a wound covering are also provided and include the steps of providing a solution that includes a polymer; adding vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to the solution to form a mixture; and forming one or more fibers from the mixture that are then embedded with the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof. Methods of treating a subject are further provided and include the step of applying a wound covering including one or more fibers embedded with vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to a site on a subject.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring peptides are provided that act as a Src SH2 domain antagonist of cardiotonic steroids. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides are also provided along with vectors encoding the peptides. Methods of treating a Src-associated disease and reducing Src activity in a cell are further provided and include administering or contacting a cell with an effective amount of the peptide.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating striated muscle injury, treating striated muscle atrophy, and/or for promoting striated muscle growth are provided and include administering zinc oxide nanoparticles to a subject in need thereof. The zinc oxide nanoparticles can be adminstered before, during, and/or after exposure to an injurious stimuli, such as radiation. Administration of the zinc oxide nanoparticles reduces activation of autophagy regulators, increases striated muscle anabolism, increases DNA repair signaling, and/or increases striated muscle protein synthesis and growth.

Abstract: Methods for treating sepsis are provided and include the administration an effective amount of cerium oxide nanoparticles to a subject in need thereof. The sepsis being treated can include polymicrobial sepsis and can include the administration of about 0.1 mg/kg to about 1.0 mg/kg of the cerium oxide nanoparticles. The administration of the cerium oxide nanoparticles further allows one or more of the symptoms of sepsis to be treated. Methods of treating an inflammatory disorder that make use of cerium oxide nanoparticles are further provided.

Abstract: Compositions are provided comprising a nanofiber scaffold that is seeded with one or more relevant cells and has a basketweave configuration that mimics the structure of a tissue, such as a cardiac tissue. Methods for treating damaged cardiac tissue in a subject are also provided and include applying an effective amount of the composition to damaged cardiac tissue. Methods for making nanofiber scaffold compositions are further provided and include electrospinning a biodegradable polymer onto a mandrel to create a mat of electrospun nanofibers, dividing the mat into nanofiber strips; and weaving the strips into a nanofiber scaffold having a basketweave configuration that mimics the structure of a tissue.

Abstract: Methods for selecting chemotherapeutic agents for treating a cancer are provided that include the steps of providing a cancer cell sample having a population of bulk cancer cells and a population of cancer stem-like cells, culturing a first portion of the cancer cell sample in a hydrodynamic focusing bioreactor under microgravity conditions and for a period of time to selectively enhance the population of cancer stem-like cells and selectively kill the population of bulk cancer cells, contacting the cancer stem-like cells with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, and then selecting the one or more chemotherapeutic agents for treating the cancer if there is an increase in an amount of cytotoxicity. Methods for treating a cancer are also provided in which the identified chemotherapeutic agents are administered to a subject. Further provided are methods for identifying a test compound useful for treating a cancer.

Abstract: Methods for mass producing bacterial alginate, bacterial cultures for producing alginate, and pharmaceutical compositions containing bacterial alginate are contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for rapidly expanding a stem cell population with or without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention relates to methods for rapidly increasing the life span of stem cell populations without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing the sensitivity of cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions and in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The methods of the present invention can also be used to proliferate cancer cells by culturing them in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods for testing the sensitivity of cancer cells and cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer cells and cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions.

Abstract: A thermal cycle system and method suitable for mass production of DNA comprising a temperature control body having at least two sectors. Each sector has at least one heater, cooler, or other means for changing temperature. A path traverses the sectors in a cyclical fashion. In use, a piece of tubing or other means for conveying is placed along the path and a reaction mixture is pumped or otherwise moved along the path such that the reaction mixture is repetitively heated or cooled to varying temperatures as the reaction mixture cyclically traverses the sectors. The reaction mixture thereby reacts to form a product. In particular, polymerase chain reaction reactants may continuously be pumped through the tubing to amplify DNA. The temperature control body is preferably a single aluminum cylinder with a grooved channel circling around its exterior surface, and preferably has wedge-shaped or pie-shaped sectors separated by a thermal barrier.