Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for detecting flow of biological fluid, and facilitating the diagnosis of stenosis or other pathology of a hepatic artery or other non-carotid vasculature by using machine learning to analyze a spectral Doppler ultrasound waveform of blood flow or flow of other biological fluids. A region of interest is identified in a sonogram, a waveform envelope is generated for a waveform within the region of interest, an extracted waveform is generated based on the waveform envelope, a Fourier transform is performed on the extracted waveform, and a Fourier spectrum is generated. Machine learning is used to determine a likelihood of pathology based on waveform parameters, including the Fourier spectrum, and to determine a pathology prediction value. Additional patient information may be accessed and used in determining the likelihood of the pathology.

Abstract: A non-invasive colon motility monitoring system comprises an electrobioimpedance unit, an electromyography unit, and a computing device. The electrobioimpedance unit measures an impedance of a body of a subject and communicates an impedance signal that varies according to the measured impedance. The electromyography unit measures an electric voltage of the body of the subject and communicates a voltage signal that varies according to the measured voltage. The computing device includes a processing element programmed to receive the impedance signal and determine impedance data from the impedance signal, receive the voltage signal and determine voltage data from the voltage signal, compute impedance derivative data from the impedance data, compute a correlation between any two of the impedance data, the voltage data, and the impedance derivative data, determine when a bowel event is about to occur based on the correlation, and provide an indication of the bowel event.

Abstract: An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.

Abstract: An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.

Abstract: Cell therapy compositions comprising engineered human regulatory T cells (eTregs) characterized by ectopic overexpression of FOXP3 and Helios protein, produced via introduction of separate nucleic acid constructs respectively encoding FOXP3 and Helios (FOXP3+Helios+eTregs). Cell therapy compositions comprising mixed populations of CD4+ and CD8+ Treg cells each with ectopic overexpression of FOXP3 and Helios. Methods of making and use the same for therapies involving inflammation and/or a disorder of the immune system.

Abstract: A composition and method for the prophylaxis and treatment of topical fungal infections is provided. Generally, the composition includes an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and a carrier. In some forms, the composition further includes an anti-fungal agent. The method generally includes the steps of applying the composition topically once or multiple times. The composition and method can be used in combination with another form of fungal treatment, such as oral medications.

Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions comprising decellularized cartilage tissue powder in the forms of paste, putty, hydrogel, and scaffolds, methods of making compositions, and methods of using these compositions for treating osteochondral defects and full- or partial-thickness cartilage defects.

Abstract: An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.

Abstract: A composition and method for the prophylaxis and treatment of topical fungal infections is provided. Generally, the composition includes an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and a carrier. In some forms, the composition further includes an anti-fungal agent. The method generally includes the steps of applying the composition topically once or multiple times. The composition and method can be used in combination with another form of fungal treatment, such as oral medications.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a device, method of using a device, and a method of making a device for predicting the nutritional status in an individual of any age or weight. The device includes one or more strips for measuring the circumference of a body part of an individual. The method includes taking the girth measurement and reading a standard score from the device to estimate the nutritional status of the individual.

Abstract: The method for genome analysis translates the clinical findings in the patient into a comprehensive test order for genes that can be causative of the patient's illness, delimits analysis of variants identified in the patient's genome to those that are “on target” for the patient's illness, and provides clinical annotation of the likely causative variants for inclusion in a variant warehouse that is updated as a result of each sample that is analyzed and that, in turn, provides a source of additional annotation for variants.

Abstract: A method of differentiating cells into CK19-positive cells capable of producing hair follicle-like and hair structure-like can include: providing a tissue scaffold; seeding cells into the scaffold, the cells being capable of differentiation; incubating the scaffold having the cells in a cell growth media; and incubating the scaffold having the cells in an osteogenic differentiation medium sufficient for CK19-positive cells to be generated in the scaffold. The tissue scaffold can be a decellularized Whartons' jelly matrix. The cell growth media excludes osteogenic differentiation components: dexamethasone, ?-glycerophosphate, 1?,25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and ascorbic acid 2-phosphate. The osteogenic differentiation medium includes the osteogenic differentiation components. The cells can be mesenchymal cells, such as WJMSCs.

Abstract: The present invention provides for solutions and methods of preparing a decellularized tissue for recellularization. The solutions provide collagen conditioning to restore collagen triple helix structure, strengthening of the collagen structure of the tissue, and biologically preparing the decellularized tissue by placing it in an environment that promotes recellularization. Methods and solutions for recellularization of a decellularized tissue, in accordance with the present invention, are also provided.

Abstract: A sliding rod system for correcting a spinal deformity is disclosed. The sliding rod system may include at least one elongated thoracic sliding rod for slidable engagement with a plurality of connectors with each connector being fixedly engaged to multiple ribs of a patient for applying a continuous corrective force to the spinal column. Each of the connectors has a connector body that defines an upper clamp portion in communication with a lower clamp portion. The upper clamp is in slidable engagement with the at least one elongated thoracic sliding rod and the lower clamp is in fixed engagement with a respective rib of a patient. As the patient grows, the thoracic sliding rod slides relative to each connector, thereby permitting the sliding rod system to accommodate the gradual separation of the ribs during patient growth while providing continued corrective pressure to the patient's spinal column.

Abstract: A tissue retaining system having a pair of tissue retainers for retaining two end portions of tubular tissue, such as a heart valve, to a bioreactor is disclosed. Each tissue retainer includes a stepped portion that permits custom fitting of the tissue retainer to a particular size of tubular tissue. The stepped portion of each tissue retainer defines a plurality of progressively larger concentric steps in which one of the concentric steps matches the size of a particular tubular tissue being engaged. The tubular tissue is then anchored to the tissue retainer by suture pull downs that anchor the tubular tissue to one of the concentric steps of the tissue retainer in a fluid tight engagement. This engagement process is repeated to secure the other end portion of the tubular tissue to another tissue retainer such that the tissue retaining system may then be engaged to the bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a bioreactor system (3, 4) that is suited for one time use. The bioreactor system (3, 4) comprises a first bioreactor vessel (1), a second bioreactor vessel (20), a tissue retainer (35), and a cap (40). Advantageously, the bioreactor system (3, 4) of the present invention provides a sterile environment that is maintained over the course of cell seeding applications.

Abstract: A method for determining prognosis, diagnosis and theronosis of a sepsis infection in a patient is disclosed. The method involves measuring the age, mean arterial pressure, hematocrit, patient temperature, and the concentration of one or more metabolites that are predictive of sepsis severity. The method can involve obtaining a blood sample from said patient and determining the concentration of the metabolite in the patient's blood; and then determining the severity of sepsis infection by analyzing the measured values in a weighted logistic regression equation.

Abstract: A method of differentiating cells into CK19-positive cells capable of producing hair follicle-like and hair structure-like can include: providing a tissue scaffold; seeding cells into the scaffold, the cells being capable of differentiation; incubating the scaffold having the cells in a cell growth media; and incubating the scaffold having the cells in an osteogenic differentiation medium sufficient for CK19-positive cells to be generated in the scaffold. The tissue scaffold can be a decellularized Whartons' jelly matrix. The cell growth media excludes osteogenic differentiation components: dexamethasone, ?-glycerophosphate, 1?,25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and ascorbic acid 2-phosphate. The osteogenic differentiation medium includes the osteogenic differentiation components. The cells can be mesenchymal cells, such as WJMSCs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a device, method of using a device, and a method of making a device for predicting weight and/or the appropriate dose of a medication and/or degree of some other medical intervention in a child. The device includes one or more strips for taking a girth and a length measurement from an individual. The method includes adding or otherwise combining a value given by a girth measurement and a value given by a length measurement together to estimate the weight of the individual.