Abstract: The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing the near term risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event in a patient presenting with chest pain are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of MPO mass in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of one or more select MPO-generated oxidation products in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. The select MPO-generated oxidation products are dityrosine, nitrotyrosine, chlorotyrosine, methionine sulphoxide or an MPO-generated lipid peroxidation product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to treating a tissue in a mammal from the effects of reperfusion using flagellin

Abstract: A method of treating a myocardial injury of a subject includes administering a population of at least one of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs), which have down-regulated expression of disabled-2 (Dab2), to the subject.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting the results of a therapeutic intervention to an eye. An imaging system is configured to provide image data representing at least a portion of the eye of the patient. An input device is configured to permit a user to design a proposed therapeutic intervention for the eye of the patient. A finite element modeling component is configured to generate a finite element model representing the condition of the eye of the patient after the proposed therapeutic intervention according to the image data, the proposed therapeutic intervention, and at least one biomechanical property of tissue comprising the eye. The generated model is constructed as to have no a priori restraints on the motion of the corneal limbus. A display is configured to display the generated model to the user.

Abstract: An arthroplastic implant is for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient. The arthroplastic implant may include a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom with the distal surface to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant may also include an anchor peg extending outwardly from the body to anchor the body within the basilar joint of the hand of the patient.

Abstract: A computer-assisted method can include defining a target volume of tissue activation to achieve a desired therapeutic effect for an identified anatomic region. At least one parameter can be computed for an electrode design as a function of the defined target volume of tissue activation. The computed at least one parameter can be stored in memory for the electrode design, which parameter can be utilized to construct an electrode.

Abstract: A cognitive and/or motor skill testing system and method may include a processor that records respective time information for each of multiple positions of a display device that are traced during administration of a test, that determines speed and/or velocity values based on the recorded time information, and that outputs test result information based on the determined values. The test result information may be based on a comparison between a graphed curve of such values to an ideal curve. The positions may correspond to a path between displayed targets whose size and/or distance therebetween depend on past test performance. The system and/or method may output a change expected with a change to therapy parameters for a patient, where the expected change is determined based on changes which occurred in other patients having similar test results and therapy parameters as those of the patient.

Abstract: Provided herein methods for determining whether a subject, particularly a human subject, is at risk of developing, having, or experiencing a complication of cardiovascular disease, and methods of treating subjects who are identified by the current methods of being at risk for cardiovascular disease. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining levels of one or more oxidized apolipoprotein A-I related biomolecules in a bodily sample from the subject. Also, provided are kits and reagents for use in the present methods. Also provided are methods for monitoring the status of cardiovascular disease in a subject or the effects of therapeutic agents on subjects with cardiovascular disease. Such method comprising determining levels of one or more oxidized apolipoprotein A-I related molecules in bodily samples taken from the subject over time or before and after therapy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of detecting Cowden syndrome (CS) or CS-like syndrome in an individual or determining whether an individual is at risk for developing Cowden syndrome (CS) or CS-like syndrome comprising detecting the presence of a mutated succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB), mutated succinate dehydrogenase D (SDHD) or combination thereof in the individual, wherein detection of a mutated SDHB, SDHD or a combination thereof indicates that the individual is positive for, or at risk of developing, CS or CS-like syndrome. The invention is also directed to an article of manufacture for detecting Cowden syndrome (CS) or Cowden-like syndrome in an individual, comprising one or more agents that detects mutated succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB), mutated succinate dehydrogenase D (SDHD) or combination thereof in the individual, and instructions for use.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a compound comprising the hyaluronan-containing structure A-(low molecular weight hyaluronan domain)-B. The compositions also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A is hydrogen, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene-6 (“TSG-6”) protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. B is hydroxyl, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for TSG-6 protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. The composition is suitable for administration by injection, inhalation, topical rub, or ingestion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to treating a tissue in a mammal from the effects of reperfusion using flagellin.

Abstract: A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel includes providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices. The expandable member is inserted into the blood vessel, positioned within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction, and expanded to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction. An outward radial force is exerted on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction. The at least one fragment is passed through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction, and is selectively retained within the expandable member.

Abstract: A method of potentiating the activity of a therapeutic drug, like a chemotherapeutic drug or an antibiotic, in a cell or tissue, by inhibiting the efflux capability of a multidrug transporter are disclosed. The method is useful in the treatment of a cancer by sensitizing tumor cells to a chemotherapeutic agent. Compounds capable of inhibiting an efflux capability of a multidrug transporter also are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions for diagnosis, including prognosis, of conditions associated with decreased arginine bioavailability (which can result from dysregulated arginine metabolism, e.g., due to increased arginase activity) by assessing in a sample from a subject the ratio of arginine to one or more, usually two or more, modulators of arginine bioavailability. In one embodiment, the ratio of arginine to (ornithine+citrulline) is assessed to aid in diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject includes at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source. The at least one electrode has oppositely disposed, dome-shaped first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is curved such that the first major surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ocular tissue when placed in contact with the ocular tissue. The medicament layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface. The electrical signal source provides a signal having certain characteristics and is electrically connected to the at least one electrode. The certain characteristics comprise at least one orienting frequency and at least one motivating frequency sufficient to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic device is used to acquire RF backscattered data (i.e., IVUS data) from a blood vessel. The IVUS data is then transmitted to a computing device and used to create an IVUS image. The blood vessel is then cross-sectioned and used to identify its tissue type and to create a corresponding image (i.e., histology image). A region of interest (ROI), preferably corresponding to the identified tissue type, is then identified on the histology image. The computing device, or more particularly, a characterization application operating thereon, is then adapted to identify a corresponding region on the IVUS image. To accurately match the ROI, however, it may be necessary to warp or morph the histology image to substantially fit the contour of the IVUS image.

Abstract: Provided herein are targets that can be used for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of a variety of cancers.