Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying metastases by detecting nucleic acid hypermethylation of one or more genes in one or more samples, and in particular in the lymph nodes. The invention further relates to DNA methylation as a predictor of disease recurrence and patient prognosis, specifically in the field of cancer biology.

Abstract: The invention generally features compositions and methods for modulating an immune response. In particular embodiments, such compositions and methods modulate regulatory T cell suppressive activity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for measuring blood volume using non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The method of the present invention includes a subtraction-based method using a pair of acquisitions immediately following velocity-sensitized pulse trains for the label module and its corresponding control module, respectively. The signal of static tissue is canceled out and the difference signal comes from the flowing blood compartment above a cutoff velocity. After normalizing to a proton density-weighted image acquired separately and scaled with the blood T1 and T2 relaxation factors, quantitative measurement of blood volume is then obtained.

Abstract: A system and method for treating nausea and vomiting are provided, including one or more electrodes (10, 12) applied on or under the skin, the electrodes being connected to an external current source (34). The electrodes can be implanted under the skin and connect to internal stimulator electronics (22), which can form a magnetic inductive link to the external current source (34). Alternatively, the electrodes can be placed on the skin and directly linked by wires to the external current source. As a further alternative, the vagus nerve can be directly stimulated in the neck, or the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, or intestines can be directly stimulated by magnetic stimulation. The electrodes can stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck to reduce nausea and vomiting, or can be arranged near the chest or abdomen, so as to stimulate the esophagus, stomach, duodenum or intestines. Because the current source is provided outside the body, it is not necessary to implant batteries or another power supply in the body.

Abstract: Methods for promoting skin regeneration, promoting hair follicle regeneration, and reducing scarring by topically administering polysaccharide-based hydrogel compositions to injured skin are presented.

Abstract: We describe a bis-benzylidine piperidone, RA190, which covalently binds to the ubiquitin receptor RPN13 (ADRM1) in the 19S regulatory particle and inhibits proteasome function, triggering rapid accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Multiple myeloma lines, even those resistant to bortezomib, were sensitive to RA190 via ER stress-related apoptosis. RA190 stabilized targets of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein, and preferentially killed HPV-transformed cells. After p.o. or i.p. dosing of mice, RA190 distributed to plasma and major organs excepting brain, and potently inhibited proteasome function in skin and muscle. RA190 administration i.p. profoundly reduced growth of multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer xenografts, and oral RA190 treatment retarded HPV+ syngeneic mouse tumor growth, without impacting spontaneous HPV-specific CD8+ T cell responses, suggesting its therapeutic potential. The bis-benzylidine piperidone RA190 is a new orally-available proteasome inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an indirect ophthalmoscopic system for imaging of the ocular fundus including a headband configured to hold a digital imaging device and a plus eyepiece lens in front of an eye of the examiner, with the plus eyepiece lens positioned in between the digital imaging device and the examiner's eye, such that the examiner is focused upon the display of the digital imaging device. The aperture of the digital imaging device receives light reflected from the ocular fundus of the patient's eye, emanating from the patient's pupil. The examiner examines the patient and composes the image of the ocular fundus directly in the display screen. In this way, what the examiner sees is captured by the digital imaging device. Stereoscopic imagery is obtained by optical means that create side-by-side virtual images of the aperture of the digital imaging device within the pupil of the eye.

Abstract: The present invention provides for very fast detection of gaze direction using retro-reflected light from the ocular fundus that is cost-efficient, small, and portable. These eye trackers are useful in many areas of science and technology, including but not limited to remote control, space, defense, medical and psycho-physiological applications, to identify for example subtle neurologic deficits that occur with cerebellar or vestibular disorders, Parkinson's disease, strokes, traumatic brain injury, possible concussions during sports matches, some forms of reading disability, or simply fatigue or inebriation. In ophthalmology, with two such devices operating simultaneously, the variability of relative eye alignment over time can be measured, without requiring individual calibration, and without requiring fixation on a specified target, ideal for use with small children.

Abstract: To better understand the biology of hormone receptor-positive and negative breast cancer and to identify methylated gene markers of disease progression, a genome-wide methylation array analysis was performed on 103 primary invasive breast cancers and 21 normal breast samples using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 array that queried 27,578 CpG loci. Forty CpG loci showed differential methylation specific to either ER-positive or ER-negative tumors. Each of the 40 ER-subtype-specific loci was validated in silico using an independent, publicly available methylome dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In addition, 100 methylated CpG loci were identified that were significantly associated with disease progression. Arrays containing the ER-subtype-specific loci and their use in methods of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are provided.

Abstract: An eye alignment monitor and method are described for the detection of variability of the relative alignment of the two eyes with each other, thereby detecting deficits of binocular function, for use as a screening device for these abnormalities especially in infants and young children. Each embodiment includes means for tracking of the positions of a subject's two eyes simultaneously, and furthermore includes repetitive calculation of the relative positions of the two eyes with respect to each other. The embodiments do not require fixation by either eye on a specific point. Typically, a movie on a video display is used for viewing by the subject. Variability of relative alignment of the two eyes with each other is typically determined by variability of the relative positions of images of the pupils of the eyes with respect to each other over time.

Abstract: A method of determining matching between at least a first sample comprising a sequence of tokens A and a second sample comprising a sequence of tokens B may include, for monotonically decreasing values of n, performing operations including recording a subset SA of n-grams of A in a hash table LA, such that a value of each n-gram determines an index in LA and a location of each respective n-gram in A is recorded as the value in LA, recording a subset SB of n-grams of B in a hash table LB, such that a value of each n-gram determines an index in LB and a location of each respective n-gram in B is recorded as the value in LB, for each location L that is occupied in both LA and LB, examining a region in A centered on LA(L) and a region in B centered on LB(L), and reporting a largest matching region aligning LA(L) with LB(L) that does not include already-matched tokens in A or B and marking the largest matching region as matched.

Abstract: Nanostructures comprising ?-conjugated peptides for energy migration in aqueous environments are disclosed. Conductive material comprising these nanostructures, and supramolecular assemblies comprising covalently-bound electron donor-acceptor chromophores for photoinduced electron transfer also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and their antigen-binding fragments and to other molecules that are capable of immunospecifically binding to the B7-H5 ligand of the B7-H5:CD28H pathway, and to the uses of such molecules in the treatment and diagnosis of autoimmune disease, transplant rejection and other inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Featured is a robot and a needle delivery apparatus. Such a robot comprises a plurality of actuators coupled to control locating any of number of intervention specific medical devices such as intervention specific needle injectors. Such a robot is usable with image guided interventions using any of a number of types of medical imaging devices or apparatuses including MRI. The end-effector can include an automated low needle delivery apparatus that is configured for dose radiation seed brachytherapy injection. Also featured is an automated seed magazine for delivering seeds to such an needle delivery apparatus adapted for brachytherapy seed injection.

Abstract: Non-adhesive particles as large as 110 nm can diffuse rapidly in the brain ECS, if coated with hydrophilic coatings such as PEG coatings and preferably having neutral surface charge. The ability to achieve brain penetration with larger particles will significantly improve drug and gene delivery within the CNS since larger particles offer higher drug payload, improved drug loading efficiency, and significantly longer drug release durations.

Abstract: Example apparatuses and methods relating to antennas are provided. An example apparatus in the form of an antenna assembly includes a first conductor formed into a first helical structure wound around a central axis and a second conductor formed into a second helical structure wound around the central axis. The first helical structure may have a first coil sense and the second helical structure may have second coil sense that is opposite the first coil sense. The first conductor may have a first conductor proximal end and a first conductor distal end and the second conductor may have a second conductor proximal end and a second conductor distal end. The first conductor distal end may be adjacent the second conductor proximal end. The antenna assembly may further include first, second, and third ground planes with one disposed at each end of the conductors and one disposed between the conductors.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to analyzing the end-to-end sequence and the relative distributions in heterogeneous mixtures of polynucleotides and methods and enabling reagents related thereto.

Abstract: A continuous throughput microfluidic system includes an input system configured to provide a sequential stream of sample plugs; a droplet generator arranged in fluid connection with the input system to receive the sequential stream of sample plugs and configured to provide an output stream of droplets; a droplet treatment system arranged in fluid connection with the droplet generator to receive the output stream of droplets in a sequential order and configured to provide a stream of treated droplets in the sequential order; a detection system arranged to obtain detection signals from the treated droplets in the sequential order; a control system configured to communicate with the input system, the droplet generator, and the droplet treatment system; and a data processing and storage system configured to communicate with the control system and the detection system.

Abstract: An active optical detection system includes an optical transmitter configured to transmit light in a signal pattern and an optical receiver configured to receive light and determine a correlation between the received light and the signal pattern. The correlation of the received light and the signal pattern is indicative of range to an object.

Abstract: In DN-DISC1 mice, a mouse model for major mental illnesses, the model that expresses pathological phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, mood disorders, and addiction simultaneously, the inventors of the present invention found pronounced levels of oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex, but not in the striatum. These mice also displayed greater amounts of GAPDH-Siah1 binding, a protein-protein interaction that is activated under exposure to oxidative stress. The present inventors investigated the role of oxidative stress in other organ systems. As detailed herein, the inventors found that GAPDH-Siah1 binding was increased in mouse models of cardiac failure. It was also found, that certain novel analogs of deprenyl, significantly inhibited GAPDH-Siah1 binding in cardiac tissue.