Abstract: A method of characterizing a biological sample comprising separating the biological sample into constituents; observing the separated constituents; applying statistical classification modeling to the observed constituents; deriving quantifiable data from the applied statistical classification modeling; and analyzing the data from the applied statistical classification modeling to assess a donor of the biological compounds' health.

Abstract: A method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal persons, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal person, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal person. The body specimen may be blood or urine. If a substantial elevation is deemed to exist, the magnitude from the departure from the concentration of a normal person may be employed in determining the timing and nature of treatment provided to the patient. The method may be repeated at predetermined intervals to monitor changes in the marinobufagenin with time. Corresponding apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A method comprising preparing a vascular hyperpermeability treatment composition comprising an apoptosis regulating protein, a antioxidant, a mitochondrial modulator, a biological effector molecule, or combinations thereof in a form deliverable to a mammal; whereby an effective amount of the composition raises the threshold for apoptosis and/or prevents or lessens the occurrence of vascular hyperpermeability. A method comprising preventing hyperpermeability associated with hemorrhagic shock via preparing a composition in a form deliverable to a mammal, the composition comprising an apoptosis regulating protein, a antioxidant, a mitochondrial modulator, a biological effector molecule, or combinations thereof; and raising the threshold for apoptosis in a mammal's endothelial cells by administering an effective amount of said antioxidant; whereby said raising the threshold for apoptosis prevents said hyperpermeability.

Abstract: An isolated double stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) molecule that inhibits the expression of a target gene, the dsRNA comprising two strands of nucleotides wherein a first strand has a length of from 19 to 28 consecutive nucleotides and is substantially identical to a sequence in the target gene and wherein a second strand is substantially complementary to the first strand, and a binding moiety that binds a 3? end of the first strand to a 5? end of the second strand. An isolated double stranded ribonucleic acid molecule comprising a first strand of nucleotides that is substantially identical to SEQ ID NO: 3 and a second strand that is substantially complementary to the first.