Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: A system with an analyzer device in fluid communication with a sample of a bodily fluid is configured to chemically or electrochemically convert at least a portion of ammonium (NH4+) contained within the bodily fluid into ammonia (NH3) and dispel the converted ammonia (NH3) into a gas sensing chamber. An ammonia (NH3) sensor located within the gas sensing chamber in conjunction with a processor can quantify an amount of ammonia (NH3) present in the gas sensing chamber in relation to the total ammonia of the bodily fluid.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for accessing an intracranial extravascular space of a patient. For example, this disclosure describes devices and methods for drainage of a subdural hematoma disposed within an intracranial extravascular space of a patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating physiological signal quality. A physiological signal, based on a series measurements on a subject, may be received. A quality of the physiological signal received may be evaluated, and an analysis of the physiological signal may be based at least in part on the quality evaluation.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for joint (e.g., shoulder) arthroplasty. In one aspect, there is provided a device for determining inclination and/or version of a prosthetic head with respect to a prosthetic stem. In another aspect, there is provided a joint (e.g., shoulder) prosthesis. In another aspect, there is provided a method for setting an inclination angle and/or a version angle of a prosthetic head with respect to a stem implanted or to be implanted in a bone of a joint (e.g., shoulder).

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in identifying and treating autoimmune GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) astrocytopathy, a novel meningoencephalomyelitis, in humans as well as methods and materials for identifying and offering early treatment for patients having autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy whose autoantibody profile predicts a high likelihood of having underlying cancer (e.g., adenocarcinoma or teratoma).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tracheostomy exchange system including a catheter comprising a distal end and a proximal end, a balloon fluidly coupled to the distal end of the catheter, and an adapter assembly removably coupleable to the catheter and configured to fluidly couple the balloon with the proximal end of the catheter when the adapter assembly is coupled to the catheter. When the adapter assembly is decoupled from the catheter, the balloon is fluidly sealed from the proximal end of the catheter. When the is inflated before the adapter assembly is decoupled from the catheter, the balloon can remain inflated while the tracheostomy is exchanged preventing aerosolization, protecting the lungs from bleeding and aspiration, allowing for effective oxygenation while preserving an access to the main airway.

Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods are provided using mass characterization frequency methods that provide for predicting benign or malignant lesions, a response to treatment, tumor grading, and/or the expressions of immunohistochemical biomarkers, which are currently used for breast cancer classification and hormone therapy determination. The systems and methods are based on the shear wave parameter, mass characteristic frequency. The status of malignancy, treatment response, grade, and/or each immunohistochemical biomarker may be determined based on a corresponding mass characteristic frequency threshold.

Abstract: This document provides methods, devices, and systems for detecting the presence, absence, or amount of two or more analytes present within a small volume (e.g., less than 10 ?L) of a sample (e.g., a blood sample) obtained from a mammal (e.g., a human such as a human neonate). For example, methods and materials for using plasma separation and multiplex analyte detection to detect two or more analytes (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, intact cells, intact viruses, intact microorganisms, and/or chemicals) within a small volume of a blood sample are provided.

Abstract: This document relates to methods for detecting and quantifying heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin using mass spectrometry techniques.

Abstract: This document describes methods and materials for treating ventricular fibrillation. For example, this document describes methods and devices for electroporation of Purkinje tissue to treat ventricular fibrillation.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in identifying mammals as having, or being likely to have, a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This document also provides methods for treating mammals identified as having, or being likely to have, a TBI, based on the identification methods described herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating acoustic properties in a region-of-interest in a subject or other object being imaged using a reference frequency method (“RFM”) is described. Using this RFM technique, ultrasound data acquired at a given frequency are normalized by ultrasound data acquired at different frequencies (e.g., adjacent frequencies or otherwise) in order to provide estimations of the acoustic properties (e.g., attenuation coefficient, a backscatter coefficient, or both) that are independent of the ultrasound system used to acquire the underlying data. For instance, the amplitude of each frequency component can be normalized by a different frequency in the power spectrum to cancel out the system-dependent effects. Because the methods described in the present disclosure are system independent, they can be applied to any transducer geometry (e.g., linear or curved arrays) and using any beam pattern (e.g., focused or unfocused).

Abstract: Anchor delivery systems and methods for repairing a valve inside a body, such as an atrioventricular valve, may include an anchor delivery device including a sheath for at least partially retaining an anchor in a collapsed form. The anchor delivery device may be configured to deliver the anchor to the atrioventricular valve. The anchor and an adjacent anchor may be connectable to each other in an expanded form, to link a series of anchors implanted at least partially around the atrioventricular valve. In some embodiments, the anchors may be connectable by a connecting member, such as a pledget, or a material disposable on a bulb of the anchor. In other embodiments, a bulb of the anchor and a bulb of the adjacent anchor may be configured to be directly interlocked.

Abstract: This document provides antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) short, and more particularly to humanized TRAILshort antibodies that can neutralize TRAILshort. For example, materials and methods for using one or more humanized TRAILshort antibodies to induce apoptosis (e.g., via TRAIL mediated cell death, natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity, and/or CD8+ T cell killing) are provided.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, systems, methods, and media for estimating compensatory reserve and predicting hemodynamic decompensation using physiological data are provided. In some embodiments, a system for estimating compensatory reserve is provided, the system comprising: a processor programmed to: receive a blood pressure waveform of a subject; generate a first sample of the blood pressure waveform with a first duration; provide the sample as input to a trained CNN that was trained using samples of the first duration from blood pressure waveforms recorded from subjects while decreasing the subject's central blood volume, each sample being associated with a compensatory reserve metric; receive, from the trained CNN, a first compensatory reserve metric based on the first sample; and cause information indicative of remaining compensatory reserve to be presented.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for phase velocity imaging using an imaging system, such as an ultrasound system, an optical imaging system (e.g., an optical coherence tomography system), or a magnetic resonance imaging system. In general, systems and methods for constructing phase velocity images (e.g., 2D images, 3D images) from propagating mechanical wave motion data are described. The systems and methods described in the present disclosure operate in the frequency domain and can be implemented using a single frequency or a band of selected frequencies. If there are multiple mechanical wave sources within the field-of-view, directional filtering may be performed to separate mechanical waves propagating in different directions. The reconstructions described below can be performed for each of these directionally filtered components.

Abstract: In an example method for increasing synaptic gain in a region of a brain of a subject, a first electromagnetic pulse is applied to a first neural element of a first neuron of the subject using a first electrode. The first neural element includes a first synapse coupled to a second neuron of the subject. Subsequent to applying the first electromagnetic pulse to the first neural element, a second electromagnetic pulse is applied to a second neural element of the second neuron using a second electrode.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of using blood or fractions thereof, e.g., serum, obtained from a mammal subjected to liver surgery, for example, obtained following a partial hepatectomy, to increase the engraftment, proliferation and/or functionality of cells on a biocompatible scaffold.

Abstract: Methods that implement image-guided tissue analysis, MRI-based computational modeling, and imaging informatics to analyze the diversity and dynamics of molecularly-distinct subpopulations and the evolving competitive landscapes in human glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”) are provided. Machine learning models are constructed based on multiparametric MRI data and molecular data (e.g., CNV, exome, gene expression). Models can also be built based on specific biological factors, such as sex and age. Inputting MRI data into the trained predictive models generates maps that depict spatial patterns of molecular markers, which can be used to quantify and co-localize regions molecularly distinct subpopulations in tumors and other regions, such as the non-enhancing parenchyma, or brain around tumor (“BAT”) regions.