Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions (i.e., amplification primers and probes), methods, and kits that are particularly useful for detecting and/or quantifying nucleic acids present in a sample, such as those derived from HIV or a lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytoking-1 (MID-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining opening of an aortic valve of a biological subject, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that determines a pump speed of a ventricular assist device that is assisting cardiac function of the biological subject, analyses the pump speed to determine a pump speed indicator at least partially indicative of changes in pump speed and uses the pump speed indicator to determine an opening indicator indicative of opening of the aortic valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a ventricular assist device that is assisting cardiac function of a biological subject, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that determines a flow rate of blood through the ventricular assist device, analyses the flow rate to determine a flow parameter value at least partially indicative of a change in the flow rate during diastole; and uses the flow parameter value to either derive at least one blood pressure parameter value at least partially indicative of a blood pressure in the biological subject or control the ventricular assist device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions (i.e., amplification primers and probes), methods, and kits that are particularly useful for detecting and/or quantifying nucleic acids present in a sample, such as those derived from HIV or a lentiviral vector.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive determination of oxygen saturation of blood within a deep vascular structure of a human or animal patient comprising locating on skin of the patient in a vicinity of the deep vascular structure of interest emitter and receiver elements of a light oximeter device, wherein optimal location of said elements is achieved through matching of a plethysmography trace obtained from the oximeter device to known plethysmography characteristics of the deep vascular structure of interest, wherein the emitter element emits light at wavelengths of from about 1045 nm to about 1055 nm and from about 1085 nm to about 1095 nm, and wherein oxygen saturation is determined from a ratio of light absorbed at these two wavelengths by haemoglobin in blood within the vascular structure of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: A method of identifying an antigen-specific regulatory T cell (Treg) from a subject is discussed wherein the method comprises quantitatively or qualitatively detecting co-expression of each of cell markers CD4, CD25 and CD134, or alternatively, each of cell markers CD8, CD25 and CD137, as well as one or more cell markers selected from the group of Treg cell markers consisting of CD39, CD73, CD127, CTLA-4 and Foxp3 on a cell in a suitable lymphocyte-containing sample from the subject in response to exposure to a target antigen. Also discussed are methods of isolating and expanding the identified antigen-specific Treg population, which may permit antigen-specific Treg cell therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and novel types of agents for modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of screening for agents which interact and modulate the activity of the receptor complex for macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a subject having or at risk of a diabetes-related disorder. In a preferred embodiment, the method involves increasing the level or activity of Hypoxia Induced Factor 1 (HIF-1?) in pancreatic-?-cells or insulin-sensitive tissues in the subject by administering to the subject an inhibitor of a protein that decreases the level or activity of HIF-1?. The present invention also relates to a method of transplanting pancreatic islet cells in a subject.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive determination of oxygen saturation of blood within a deep vascular structure of a human or animal patient comprising locating on skin of the patient in a vicinity of the deep vascular structure of interest emitter and receiver elements of a light oximeter device, wherein optimal location of said elements is achieved through matching of a plethysmography trace obtained from the oximeter device to known plethysmography characteristics of the deep vascular structure of interest, wherein the emitter element emits light at wavelengths of from about 1045 nm to about 1055 nm and from about 1085 nm to about 1095 nm, and wherein oxygen saturation is determined from a ratio of light absorbed at these two wave-lengths by haemoglobin in blood within the vascular structure of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for non-invasive determination of oxygen saturation of blood within a deep vascular structure of a human patient comprising locating on skin of the patient in a vicinity of the deep vascular structure of interest emitter and receiver elements of a light oximeter device, wherein optimal location of said elements is achieved through matching of a plethysmography trace obtained from the oximeter device to known plethysmography characteristics of the deep vascular structure of interest, and wherein oxygen saturation is determined from a ratio of light absorbed at different wavelengths by haemoglobin in the blood within the vascular structure of interest. The invention also relates to modified oximetry devices capable of carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.

Abstract: Method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of a MIC-1 modulating agent. The agent is selected from (i) MIC-1 inhibiting agents which decrease the amount of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, (ii) MIC-1 inhibiting agents which inhibit the activity of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, (iii) MIC-1 enhancing agents which enhance the amount of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, and (iv) MIC-1 enhancing agents which enhance the activity of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An air sterilization apparatus for sterilizing air that can include a fan assembly, which may be mounted in an upper-part of a room, and a UVC lamp to emit a UVGI field. The air sterilization apparatus may direct air across the UVGI field to sterilize the air. A baffle may also be provided to shield the eyes of occupants of the room from UVC energy contained in the UVGI field. The air sterilization apparatus may also include an illuminator lamp to provide illumination to a room.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for the quantitative or qualitative detection of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells and/or CD8+ T cells in a subject, said method comprising quantitatively or qualitatively detecting the expression of cell surface marker CD25 and one or more of cell surface markers CD134 and CD137 in a suitable lymphocyte-containing sample from said subject in response to exposure to an antigen. A method for determining the immunocompetence of a subject and a method for isolating antigen-specific CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of identifying an antigen-specific regulatory T cell (Treg) from a subject is discussed wherein the method comprises quantitatively or qualitatively detecting co-expression of each of cell markers CD4, CD25 and CD134, or alternatively, N each of cell markers CD8, CD25 and CD137, as well as one or more cell markers selected from the group of Treg cell markers consisting of CD39, CD73, CD127, CTLA-4 and Foxp3 on a cell in a suitable lymphocyte-containing sample from the subject in response to exposure to a target antigen. Also discussed are methods of isolating and expanding the identified antigen-specific Treg population, which may permit antigen-specific Treg cell therapy.