Abstract: Methods for producing hepatocyte and/or cholangiocyte lineage cells from pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising (a) specifying the extended nodal agonist treated induced endodermal cell population to obtain a cell population comprising hepatocyte and/or cholangiocyte progenitors by contacting the extended nodal agonist treated induced endodermal cell population with specification media comprising a FGF agonist and a BMP4 agonist and/or active conjugates and/or fragments thereof; (b) inducing maturation, and optionally further lineage specification and/or expansion of the hepatocyte and/or cholangiocyte progenitors of the cell population to obtain a population comprising hepatocyte lineage cells such as hepatoblasts, hepatocytes and/or cholangiocytes, the inducing maturation step comprising generating aggregates of the cell population. Optionally, the method also comprises activating the cAMP pathway within the aggregates and forming co-aggregates.

Abstract: The present invention relates a system and method for cancer-cell specific transcription identification. The method including: receiving nucleic acid data from one or more samples; determining variant allele fraction (VAF) of markers in ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the nucleic acid data and markers for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the nucleic acid data; comparing the VAF of the RNA relative to the DNA for each of the markers; and outputting the comparison as a quantification of cancer-cell specific changes in transcriptional output as a marker of prognosis or therapeutic response in cancer.

Abstract: A method for treating and/or preventing VacA+ H. pylori infection and a disorder associated with VacA+ H. pylori infection is provided. The method comprises the administration of TRPML agonists such as ML-SA1, SF-22, SF-51, MK6-83 and their derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to modulating the SIRP?-CD47 interaction in order to treat hematological cancer and compounds therefor. In some embodiments, there is provided methods and uses of SIRP? polypeptides, fragments and fusion proteins for treating hematological cancer, preferably human acute myeloid leukemia.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations of developmental disorders. For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess susceptibility of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical shunt assembly tool that provides a more efficacious grip on the catheter tubes and prevent the tip of the catheter from buckling while the catheter is pushed onto the tip of the valve during installation of shunts during CSF shunt surgery. The tool includes standard handles such as used in a shodded mosquito tool having a clamping jaw integrated into the distal end section of the handle. The distal jaw includes two forcep jaw sections each having a proximal end integrally formed with a distal end of a distal end arm section of one of the two handle arms, and a distal end section extending away from the distal end arm section. The distal end sections of the forcep jaw sections are cylindrically shaped such that when the forcep jaw is closed by bringing the two forcep jaw sections together, a cylinder is formed having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a catheter tube to be attached to a shunt valve tip.

Abstract: The disclosure features in some aspects methods for identifying subjects with constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD), a mismatch repair deficiency (MMD) cancer, a polymerase proofreading deficiency (PPD) cancer, and/or a MMD&PPD cancer. The disclosure also features in some aspects methods for predicting response of a subject to immunotherapy.

Abstract: There is provided a method of profiling a tumour, the method comprising determining a relative proportion for each of 96 mutation types, wherein the 96 mutation types are defined as the six possible sequence changes C>A, C>G, C>T, T>A, T>C, or T>G in the context of each of four possible nucleotides (A, C, G, or T) at the position immediately 5? to the mutation and each of four possible nucleotides at the position immediately 3? to the mutation; assigning the tumour, using the determined relative proportion for each of the 96 mutation types, to at least one of eight clusters defined herein; and determining at least one tumour characteristic based on the assignment to a cluster.

Abstract: A flexible elongate shaft assembly which includes an elongate flexible tube having at least one joint built into the elongate flexible tube, and the at least one joint comprised of at least one notch. Each notch includes a contact-aided compliant notch topology built into the elongate flexible shaft configured to cause each notch to mechanically interfere with itself and self-reinforce during bending of each notch resulting in an increase in stiffness of each notch to prevent buckling and plastic deformation of the elongate flexible shaft assembly, and assume a predetermined and designed bending shape of the elongate flexible shaft assembly. The flexible elongate shaft assembly is incorporated into a flexible articulate surgical tool that provides the needed stiffness in order to be able to manipulate tissue and bear loads in anatomically confined spaces.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of GYS1 in an individual. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate a glycogen storage disease or disorder in an individual in need.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a biofilm-related infection and methods of preventing and treating biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, implants, and non-medical surfaces comprising administering at least one soluble microbial protein that is encoded by an exopolysaccharide biosynthetic operon or functional gene cluster, wherein the protein comprises a glycosyl hydrolase domain. The present disclosure further provides particular soluble glycosyl hydrolases and compositions thereof.

Abstract: A surgical tool for compact articulating during surgical procedures includes a pitch cable, at least one yaw cable, a first link, a second link, at least one end-effector link, and at least one tensioning mechanism. The first link has a pitch joint end with a pitch joint pin and at least one yaw cable guide channel. The second link has a yaw joint end with a yaw joint pin. The second link is rotatably connected to the pitch joint pin. The at least one end-effector link is rotatably connected to said yaw joint pin. The yaw cables are coupled to the end-effector links such that the yaw cables can actuate the end-effector links about the yaw joint pin. The yaw cable guide channel is configured such that the yaw cables travel through a smooth trajectory to the end-effector links. The tensioning mechanism is configured to maintain a constant length.

Abstract: Described herein is a genetic modifier of cystic fibrosis (CF), which may serve as a predictor of the efficacy of a CFTR-directed therapy. SNPs rs7512462 or rs2869027 in non-coding regions of SLC26A9 are shown to correlate with CF lung disease severity in patients having CFTR mutations that leave protein at the cell surface, e.g. gating mutations such as G551D. It is also shown that patient response to Ivacaftor correlates with SLC26A9 genotype. Given the biology of SLC26A9, risk alleles of SLC26A9 should correlate with reduced SLC26A9. SLC26A9 activity (marked by e.g. genotype or expression level) is therefore a predictor of treatment efficacy for any CFTR-directed therapeutic, such as Ivacaftor or Lumacaftor. Associated methods of selecting and treating patients are described, along with related kits, uses, and drug discovery platforms.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A pressure sensor is mounted to the frame for measuring a pressure inside the chamber and is connected to a display for displaying the pressure inside the chamber. An active pressure controller is connected to the pressure sensor, and a vacuum pump is in flow communication with inside the chamber and connected to the active pressure controller.

Abstract: A capsule shredding device is provided, which includes first and second housing sections. The first housing section has a chamber slightly larger than the capsule located in one end of the housing section so that when the capsule is seated in the chamber it cannot freely rotate in the chamber. A vial is releasably coupled to other end of the first housing section. One or more passageways extend from the bottom of the chamber toward the other end of the second housing section. The second housing section has an internal chamber with a spike extending into the chamber integrally formed on the interior upper section of the housing section. When the two housing sections are threaded together such that are drawn towards each other, the spike pierces the capsule, and upon further rotation the spike shreds the capsule thereby releasing the powder contained therein which flows through the one or more passageways into interior of the vial.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to device for providing continuous negative abdominal pressure (CNAP) which selectively recruits (inflates) the dorsal (spinal region) collapsed areas of the lung, while enabling the patient to remain in the supine (usual) position. The CNAP device includes a rigid frame configured to have a shape and size to envelop a patient's lower chest and abdominal area while in a supine position with the frame having opposed edges which sit on a surface on which the supine patient is resting. A series of panels are mounted in the frame such that the series of panels extend around the patient's lower chest and abdominal area. A flexible sheet wrapped around the outside of the panels and is long enough to extend up to the patient's upper chest and down to the patient's thighs and wide enough to envelop the supine patient's lower chest and abdominal area.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing traumatic injury through the use of ischemic conditioning.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides delivery systems for delivering FK506 locally to damaged nerve sites. Particulate FK506 incorporated into a fibrin gel, with the amount of FK506 sufficient to give an FK506 release rate over at least 14 days of at least 5 micrograms per milliliter of the treated tissue per day has been shown to remarkably improve axon regeneration. The delivery systems include particulate FK506 having sizes between about 500 microns to about 1 millimeter encapsulated in a fibrin matrix, powdered FK506 encapsulated within electrospun films, powdered FK506 encapsulated within a cellulose matrix, and a flexible film of small intestinal submucosa having a plurality of solid islands located on one side thereof, with each island containing a preselected amount of FK506 and a polyester.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations of developmental disorders. For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess susceptibility of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract: Methods of determining the risk of ASD in an individual are provided which comprise identifying the presence of one or more genomic mutations in one or more of the genes, PTCHD1, SHANK3, NFIA, DPP6, DPP10, DYPD, GPR98, PQBP1, ZNF41 and FTSJ1.