Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising a therapeutic agent linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E. Also provided are methods of treating one or more symptoms of a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E in a subject and methods of eliminating a cancer cell characterized by expression of cathepsin E using the provided compositions and kits. Further provided herein are methods of detecting the presence of a cancer cell or detecting a cathepsin E expressing cell using a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for recording anatomic orientation and position.

Abstract: An endoscopic microscopic system for collecting and processing a sequence of images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a surgical tool. Exemplary embodiments can comprise a surgical port, a tracking element configured for coupling to a surgical tool, and a camera mounted to a proximal end of the surgical port and configured to capture image data associated with the tracking element.

Abstract: A stent system is provided that includes a stent and a migration-prevention bridle extending from the stent and secured to a portion of the body so as to resist or prevent movement of the stent relative to the portion of the body. Methods of use include positioning a stent that includes a one-way valve in an unexpanded orientation in an passageway of a patient, expanding the stent after being located adjacent an esophageal perforation such that the one-way valve controls the flow of material through the esophageal passageway, and extending a migration-prevention bridle into the esophageal passageway and securing it to the stent. A second portion of the migration-prevention bridle is then secured to a body part of the patient to help resist or prevent migration of the stent. Additional methods, systems, stent apparatuses, and a kit including a stent and instructions for the use of same are also provided.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention pertains to therapeutic compositions for treating a brain tumor. Such therapeutic compositions generally comprise: (1) a nanovector; (2) an active agent associated with the nanovector with activity against brain tumor cells; and (3) a targeting agent associated with the nanovector with recognition activity for a marker of the brain tumor cells. In some embodiments, the active agent and the targeting agent are non-covalently associated with the nanovector. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of treating a brain tumor in a subject (e.g., a human being) by administering the aforementioned therapeutic compositions to the subject. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of formulating therapeutic compositions for treating a brain tumor in a subject in a personalized manner.

Abstract: Disclosed are vascular access devices, implantable dialysis grafts, and systems including them useful for improved access to implanted medical devices. Also disclosed are implantable hemodialysis vascular access graft devices that facilitate easy, accurate and reproducible cannulation or needle entry into the implanted device by magnetically-locating a portion of the graft that includes one or more paramagnetic materials operably defining the physical boundaries of the target cannulation site/entry port.

Abstract: Disclosed are multivalent, integrin-receptor antagonists that are useful in a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic, and/or diagnostic imaging modalities. In illustrative embodiments, such compounds have been prepared and utilized in the imaging, detection, localization, and/or quantitation of one or more samples of biological interest. Similarly, these compounds, as well as formulations comprising them, find utility in the prevention, treatment, and/or amelioration of one or more symptoms of a disease, abnormal condition, dysfunction, etc., including, for example proliferative diseases such as cancer in affected animals. In certain embodiments, fluorescently- or radio-labeled-non-peptidic, multivalent integrin ?v?3 compounds are provided. Compositions including such compounds have been shown to have utility in detecting, localizing, quantitating, and/or imaging integrin ?v?3 receptor-expressing cells, including, for example, cancer cells in vitro, in vivo, and/or in situ.

Abstract: An endoscopic microscopic system for collecting and processing a sequence of images in order to provide diagnosis and treatment is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the system in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a composition for the sustained-release delivery of an active agent to a target cell of an individual. The compositions disclosed herein comprise of at least one porous particle; at least one polymer; and at least one active agent. In an embodiment, the porous particle comprises a plurality of microscale reservoirs. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one active agent is covalently linked to the at least one polymer to form a polymer-active agent conjugate, and the polymer-active agent conjugate is contained in the plurality of microscale reservoirs of the porous particle. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of treating a tumor, comprising the step of administering to an individual the composition described supra. Additionally, disclosed herein is a method of eliminating tumor stem cells. Furthermore, there is provided a method of circumventing multi-drug resistance in a tumor cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a controller including a first control member, a second control member that extends from a portion of the first control member, and a controller processor that is operable to produce a rotational movement output signal in response to movement of the first control member, and a translational movement output signal in response to movement of the second control member relative to the first control member. The rotational movement output signal may be any of a pitch movement output signal, a yaw movement output signal, and a roll movement output signal, and the translational movement output signal may be any of an x-axis movement output signal, a y-axis movement output signal, and a z-axis movement output signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides that are selectively cleaved by cathepsin E. Also provided are methods of detecting cathepsin E. The methods comprise contacting cathepsin E with the polypeptides provided herein and detecting fluorescence. Further provided are methods of diagnosing cancer or pre-cancerous conditions in a subject. Also provided herein is a multilayered nanoparticle or a composition comprising the multilayer nanoparticle, wherein the multilayered nanoparticle comprises a negatively charged nanoparticle core or capsule coated with alternating positive and negative layers. Optionally, the positive layer comprises a positively charged protease degradable polypeptide. Optionally, the negative layer comprises a negatively charged therapeutic agent or a therapeutic agent and a means for providing the agent with a negative charge. For example, optionally, the therapeutic agent is linked to a negatively charged polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are mesoporous silicon multi-stage vehicles that comprise liposomal-based second-stage particles, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and formulations including such vectors for use in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic indications. In particular embodiments, MSV comprising ligand decorated second-stage particles are provided for therapeutic methods including, for example, treatment of mammalian cancers, including those of the human breast.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for quantitation and calibration of images in fluorescence microscopy. Also provided are tissue phantoms that contain known amount(s) of fluorophore standard(s), as well as components and diagnostic kits containing the same for use in various histological analyses. In certain embodiments, three distinct nucleic-acid based assays provide improvements over conventional TUNEL methods to facilitate precise quantitation of a variety of nucleic acids obtained from a biological sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems biology-based methods for repositioning known pharmaceutical compounds to new indications, through the identification of network-based signatures. In particular, the invention provides new and useful methods for selecting drugs or combinations of drugs (and preferably previously-approved drugs) for use in new therapeutic indications. Also disclosed are methods for identifying anti-breast tumor initiating cell (TIC)-based therapeutics from within populations of target compounds. In illustrative embodiments, the invention provides methods and computer programs for the repositioning of FDA-approved pharmaceutical compounds to new indications using network-based signature analysis coupled with conventional in vitro and in vivo testing of identified drug candidates. The invention also allows identification of drugs or drug combinations for treating unmet medical needs including, for example, “orphan” diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed are molecular diagnostic compositions and methods for predicting brain metastasis of breast cancer, as well as methods for drug repositioning to identify existing and new therapeutics for use in developing individualized, patient-specific treatment regimens for improving diagnoses and patient outcomes in individuals at risk for brain metastasis of breast cancer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of processing MRI images to determine one or more characteristics of an anatomical feature that includes obtaining one or more first MRI images of the anatomical feature; identifying a boundary of an anatomical feature in the MRI images; and using the identified boundary to mask one or more corresponding second MRI images of the anatomical feature to isolate the anatomical feature within the second MRI images.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for targeted drug delivery using image-guided energy deposition to help localize active compounds to particular sites within the body of an animal. Also provided are compounds and formulations thereof for use in the targeted administration of therapeutically, prophylactically, and/or diagnostically effective amounts of such agents to a population of cells or tissues of a mammal in need thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are vascular access devices, implantable dialysis grafts, and systems including them useful for improved access to implanted medical devices. Also disclosed are implantable hemodialysis vascular access graft devices that facilitate easy, accurate and reproducible cannulation or needle entry into the implanted device by magnetically-locating a portion of the graft that includes one or more paramagnetic materials operably defining the physical boundaries of the target cannulation site/entry port.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for recording anatomic orientation and position.