Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the effects of the eye-length-related disorders. Embodiments of the present invention include methods for early recognition of patients with eye-length-related disorders, therapeutic methods for inhibiting further degradation of vision in patients with eye-length-related disorders, reversing, when possible, eye-length-related disorders, and preventing eye-length-related disorders. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to particular devices used in therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders.

Abstract: Provided herein are engineered non-catalytic, non-toxic tetanus toxin variants and methods of using such engineered tetanus toxin variants as low dose, protective vaccines that are non-toxic and more potent than their respective chemically inactivated toxoids. In addition, provided herein are conjugate vaccine carriers comprising engineered tetanus toxin variants and methods of using such conjugate vaccines to elicit T-cell dependent immune memory responses which can target a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens as a single vaccine.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing cardiac or vascular toxicity in a subject receiving a chemotherapeutic agent, where the cardiac or vascular toxicity is associated with administration of the chemotherapeutic agent. Also provided are compositions and methods for treating or preventing endothelial dysfunction and for modulating endothelial function and oxidative stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides mito-honokiol compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using the mito-honokiol compounds in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CXCL121 peptide engineered to resist peptide-induced dimerization by maintaining steric repulsion of the chemokine helix, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using said dimer in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disease, and HIV/AIDS.

Abstract: Provided herein are therapeutic agents having specificity for human CLPTM1L polypeptide, including therapeutic agents comprising one or more CLPTM1L-targeting agents, compositions comprising such therapeutic agents, and methods of using such compositions for treating or preventing a cancer, pre-cancerous lesion, or other disease condition associated with CLPTM1L protein dysfunction (e.g., pathogenic production, modification, or function).

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and composition for trans-tympanic membrane delivery of therapeutic agents such as antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and anti-biofilm agents to the middle ear for rapid, localized treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions associated with a middle ear infection. In particular, provided herein are cationic, anionic, and polymer-based nanoparticles that provide a platform for delivery of therapeutic cargo, as well as cationic, anionic, and polymer-based nanoparticles compositions for rapid, localized delivery of therapeutic agents to the middle ear.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of reducing or eliminating undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, where the methods comprise contacting an effective amount of a compound to a heterogeneous cell population or sample comprising or suspected of comprising differentiated cell types and undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, whereby the contacting selectively reduces or eliminates undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells from the cell population or sample. Also provided are methods for obtaining a population of stem cell-derived cell types substantially free of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells as well as isolated populations of such of stem cell-derived cell types.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the effects of the eye-length-related disorders. Embodiments of the present invention include methods for early recognition of patients with eye-length-related disorders, therapeutic methods for inhibiting further degradation of vision in patients with eye-length-related disorders, reversing, when possible, eye-length-related disorders, and preventing eye-length-related disorders. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to particular devices used in therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for quantitative susceptibility mapping (“QSM”) using magnetic resonance imaging (“MRf”) and a localized processing technique are described. A field-shift map is processed based on localized regions of local field perturbations. These localized field-shift regions are processed using established QSM algorithms, or using direct dipole inversion techniques, to compute regional susceptibility distributions from the localized field shift information. When the localized regions correspond to subvolumes of the field-shift map, local susceptibility maps can be generated and combined to form a composite quantitative susceptibility map. By computing regional susceptibility distributions based on localized field-shift information, residual streaking artifacts in the susceptibility map are constrained to the individual volumes from which they originate, thereby eliminating their propagation through the image.

Abstract: Described here are EET analogs conjugated to folate receptor ligands such as folic acid or folic acid analogs recognized by and selectively bound by folate receptors and other folate binding proteins and the use of such conjugated EET analogs for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to folate-receptor bearing cell populations. More particularly, provided herein are EET analogs conjugated to folate receptor ligands and uses of such conjugated EET analogs as kidney targeted therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CCL20 locked dimer polypeptide, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using said dimer in the treatment of psoriasis, inflammatory disorders and autoimmune disease.

Abstract: An esophageal device is used to recognize, diagnose, characterize, or relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the esophageal device measures a UES response to esophageal fluid infusion to detect or characterize an abnormality or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. An Upper Esophageal Sphincter compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the Upper Esophageal Sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality.

Abstract: The present invention provides mito-magnolol compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using the mito-magnolol compounds in the treatment of cancer, especially anti-cancer therapy or kinase resistant cancers.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing diffusion-weighted multi-spectral imaging (“MS!”) with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system are provided, Diffusion-weighted images can thus be acquired from a subject in which a metallic object, such as an implant or other device, is present. In general, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional diffusion-weighted PROPELLER acquisition is performed to acquire data from multiple different spectral bins. Images from the spectral bins are reconstructed and combined to form diffusion-weighted composite images. Non-CPMG phase-cycling and split-blade PROPELLER techniques are combined with PROPELLER MSI metal artifact mitigation principles to this end.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits for the reduction of protein aggregation are provided. Further compositions, methods and kits are also provided for the treatment of diseases associated with protein aggregation, particularly polyglutamine disease, including Huntington's disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for assessing an amount of cancer-specific nucleic acids in a sample, such as from a subject. The methods and compositions provided herein can be used to determine risk of a condition, such as cancer, in a subject.

Abstract: A swallow exerciser device that exercises and thereby strengthens the muscles involved in swallowing includes a rigid shell, an adjustable fastener, and an inflatable pad. The rigid shell has a longitudinal dimension such that the shell extends above and below the larynx of the subject when the swallow exerciser device is positioned over the larynx of the subject. The adjustable fastener is dimensioned to secure the shell around a neck of the subject with the shell positioned over the larynx of the subject. The inflatable pad is connected to a proximal surface of the shell. The inflatable pad is dimensioned to apply resistance to force of at least one swallowing muscle of the subject when the shell positioned over the larynx of the subject and when the inflatable pad is in an inflated position. The swallow exerciser device can be used in a method for improving swallowing function in a subject.