Abstract: An immobilization apparatus having at least one or more straps that engage a surface; wherein at least one of the straps comprises a force gauge to determine the amount of force applied to a patient immobilized with said straps; wherein the position of the patient is replicable for treatment of radiation and other head or neck treatments.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for freeze-drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; partially submerging the vials in a chilled water bath, wherein the water bath has a sub-freezing temperature; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for annealing surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; passing the vials in and out of liquid nitrogen (LN2) until the mixture is frozen; holding the vials at ?20° C.; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) comprising an outer shell and a gas core. The gas core is filled with oxygen, and the outer shell comprises a first surfactant and a second surfactant. The invention also relates to a method of making an oxygen-filled UCA and delivering oxygen to a local area of a subject's body. The method comprises injecting a composition comprising an oxygen-filled UCA of the invention into the subject's body; directing ultrasound radiation to the local area in an intensity sufficient to rupture the UCA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or ameliorating a neurodegenerative disease in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a neurodegenerative disease drug, wherein the drug is a substrate of an ABC transporter inhibitor, wherein the mammal is further administered a therapeutically effective amount of an ABC transporter inhibitor, whereby the neurodegenerative disease is treated in the mammal. In certain embodiments, the neurodegenerative disease comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, prion disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a tauopathy, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Abstract: An effective therapeutic agent for the M2 channel comprising sulfonylamide or oxabicyclo structures effective for treating amantadine-resistant influenza A infections, and methods of treating amantadine-resistant influenza A infections through administration of the same.

Abstract: A CMV-based vaccine that promotes immune-mediated destruction of cancer through a onetime or repeated intratumoral administration of a recombinant CMV to generate a robust, long-lasting anti-tumor immune response.

Abstract: An implantable vital sign sensor including a housing including a first portion, the first portion defining a first open end, a second open end opposite the first end, and a lumen there through, the first portion being sized to be implanted substantially entirely within the blood vessel wall of the patient. A sensor module configured to measure a blood vessel blood pressure waveform is included, the sensor module having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being insertable within the lumen and the proximal portion extending outward from the first open end.

Abstract: Provided is a fusion protein comprising a polypeptide component that blocks binding of CD47 to SIRP alpha and a polypeptide that binds to and triggers a TRAIL receptor or Fas. Also provided is a method of treating cancer in a patient comprising administering the fusion protein of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating cancer or an autoimmune disease comprising administering a liposome that comprises neutral phospholipids and a P-ethoxy oligonucleotide that targets a IGF-1R-encoding polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents to accomplish noninvasive subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) in a region of interest (ROI) of a subject. The method of the invention provides a non-invasive, direct, and accurate method for pressure estimation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a masked monoclonal antibody (mAb) is provided, the mAb, encoded by a nucleic acid sequence or an amino acid sequence molecule comprising a signal sequence, a masking epitope sequence, a linker sequence that is cleavable by a protease specific to a target tissue; and an antibody or a functional fragment thereof. In another embodiment, a masked monoclonal antibody (mAb) is provided, which includes a therapeutic mAb and a mask, the mask comprising protein A and protein L attached by a protease cleavable linker.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of making and using MYC mRNA antisense inhibitors. In a particular embodiment, the invention features compositions and methods useful for the treatment of a condition (e.g., cancer).

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) comprising an outer shell and a gas core. The gas core is filled with oxygen, and the outer shell comprises a first surfactant and a second surfactant. The invention also relates to a method of making an oxygen-filled UCA and delivering oxygen to a local area of a subject's body. The method comprises injecting a composition comprising an oxygen-filled UCA of the invention into the subject's body; directing ultrasound radiation to the local area in an intensity sufficient to rupture the UCA.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel compositions, methods, and systems for determining whether a subject has, or is at risk of developing, or is at a given stage of a condition afflicting a tissue of interest, or determining the tissue or cell provenance of a biological sample, based on expression level of one or more of the novel miRNA and isomiR sequences disclosed herein. The compositions, methods, and systems described herein can be used to diagnose a disease or disorder, or prognose a given stage and/or progression of the disease or disorder, or determine the identity of the tissue or cell in a sample. In some embodiments, the compositions, methods, and systems described herein can be used to develop a treatment for the disease or disorder. For example, in some embodiments, the novel miRNAs can be used as therapeutics for treatment of a disease or disorder.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a system for dynamically repositioning a portion of a screen. The system includes: at least one knife moveable between a first position and a second position; a hook moveable between an open position in which the hook is disengaged from the at least one knife and a closed position in which the hook is removably engaged with the at least one knife; a node located on a back surface of the screen; and a linkage between the node and a distal end of the hook. When the hook is in the closed position and the at least one knife is moved from the first position to the second position, the linkage pulls the node causing the portion of the screen centered around the node to be moved distally away from a remaining portion of the screen.

Abstract: Isolated pluralities of T cells which recognize at least one epitope of an intestinal cancer antigen or CNS cancer antigen and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are disclosed. Methods of making a plurality of T cells that recognize at least one epitope of an intestinal cancer antigen or CNS cancer antigen are also disclosed. Methods of treating an individual who has been diagnosed with cancer of a mucosal tissue or preventing such cancer in an individual at elevated risk are disclosed as are nucleic acid molecules that comprise a nucleotide sequence that encode proteins that recognize at least one epitope of an intestinal cancer antigen or CNS cancer antigen and T cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant masking proteins and recombinant ligand proteins useful in treating cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease. The recombinant masking proteins provided herein may, inter alia, be used as non-covalent masks of antagonists of, for example, cellular growth factors (e.g., TNF) or cell surface proteins (e.g., CTLA-4).

Abstract: Human lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a family of iron-containing enzymes involved in catalyzing the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids to provide the corresponding bioactive hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) metabolites. These eicosanoid signaling molecules are involved in a number of physiologic responses such as platelet aggregation, inflammation, and cell proliferation. Platelet-type 12-(S)-LOX (12-LOX) is of particular interest because of its demonstrated role in skin diseases, diabetes, platelet hemostasis, thrombosis, and cancer. Disclosed herein is the identification and medicinal chemistry optimization of a 4-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)amino)benzenesulfonamide-based scaffold. The compounds display nM potency against 12-LOX and excellent selectivity over related lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases. In addition to possessing favorable ADME properties, the compounds also inhibit PAR-4 induced aggregation and calcium mobilization in human platelets, and reduce 12-HETE in mouse/human beta cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein and to methods of treatment comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds of the formula (I) wherein these compounds contain a ligand which binds to one or more target proteins such as CDK4 or CDK6 and a ligand which binds to the machinery associated with the ubiquitinating protein machinery. Also provided herein are methods of using these compounds in compositions or methods of treating patients with these compounds for the treatment of a disease or disorders such as cancer.