Abstract: A positive expiratory pressure-generating device for reducing breathlessness in a subject with one or more pulmonary disorders is disclosed. The device is rigid and hollow and can be held in the mouth of the subject. The device has at least one air chamber, at least one opening in the portion of the device that is held in the mouth and at least one additional airflow orifice. The device is configured to increase expiratory resistance and can be supported by the mouth of the subject without the need for additional support by hands, another device or other means.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a localized surface plasmon renosance (LSPR) biosensing microfluidic or spot-plate device that combines the techniques photolithography and hole-mask colloidal lithography in a unique way to yield highly sensitive yet cost-efficient devices capable of miniaturization and portability, along with the devices and methods of utilizing the devices are disclosed. The desired device pattern is transferred to a photoresist on a substrate using photolithography; at least two coats of polymer are spin-coated onto the substrate to form a polymer layer, a plurality of polystyrene particles of a desired shape and size are drop-coated on the polymer layer, a nanomeric layer of gold is deposited thereover, the polystyrene particles are removed, the hole-mask is etched, a plasmonic metal is deposited into the holes, and the polymer layer and photoresist are then removed prior to optionally sealing with a cover.

Abstract: A method for preparing an autologous pancreatic tumor organoid and immune cell co-culture is provided, including: culturing pancreatic tumor cells obtained from a patient in a culture medium to provide a pancreatic tumor organoid and an organoid-conditioned medium; pulsing dendritic cells derived from the patient with a portion of the organoid-conditioned medium; contacting the pulsed dendritic cells with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) obtained from the patient in the organoid-conditioned medium to activate the CTLs; isolating the activated CTLs; and co-culturing the pancreatic tumor organoid with the activated CTLs and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) derived from the patient, to obtain an autologous pancreatic tumor organoid and immune cell co-culture that mimics the patient's pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Also provided are co-cultures obtained by the disclosed methods and methods of screening and determining whether a patient is likely to benefit from a candidate therapy.

Abstract: Provided herein is a device for rapid fixation and embedding of a biological specimen, the device including a barrel having a first end and a second end, the first end receiving a plunger and the second end opening to a compartment defining a block mold; and a plunger for inserting in the barrel, the plunger having a first end, a second end, and an interior conduit connecting the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the plunger connects to a vacuum source and the second end of the plunger includes a filter barrier between the interior conduit of the plunger and a receptacle for receiving, fixing, and embedding the specimen, the receptacle defined inside the barrel when the plunger is disposed in the barrel. Also provided are a system and method for rapid fixation and embedding of a biological specimen.

Abstract: A sweat sensing device includes a plurality of sweat collection pads communicating with a sensor. Each of the pads is activated by a timing circuit which allows one or more of the pads to be activated at a selected time and subsequent deactivated after a defined period of time. This allows for selective collection of sweat from a plurality of pads over a prolonged period of time. An impedance measuring circuit can be employed to determine if one or more of the pads becomes disconnected, in order to avoid irritation. Further, the devices can use a common microfluidic device which both transports sweat activating substance, such as pilocarpine, to the surface of the skin and directs sweat away from the skin to a sensing device.

Abstract: A method for k-space registration is provided. The method of k-space registration includes receiving a first partial k-space dataset for an object and a second partial k-space dataset for the object, selecting the first partial k-space dataset as a reference, selecting feature for estimating a transformation matrix for transforming k-space data, estimating a transformation matrix based on the feature of entire or part of the first partial k-space dataset and the feature of the second partial k-space dataset corresponding to the entire or part of the first partial k-space dataset, correcting the second partial k-space dataset based on the transformation matrix, and obtaining the corrected second partial k-space dataset. The present method is further used for partial Fourier reconstruction.

Abstract: A sweat sampling and sensing device for sensing sweat on skin includes an analyte-specific sensor for sensing a first analyte in sweat; a sweat collector placed on or adjacent to skin with a plurality of pores or pathways for entry of sweat from skin into said sweat collector, said sweat collector at least partly defining a sweat volume between said analyte-specific sensor and the skin; and a pressure element capable of holding said sweat collector against the skin with a pressure and reducing the sweat volume between said sweat collector and the skin.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing suppression in a subject is disclosed. The method involves prompting the subject to engage in three neurological assessments and recording the results from each test. The neurological assessments are a Brock String test, a Bates Field Splitters test, and a Thumb Thing test. The results of these tests are used to calculate a singular score that indicates the presence of suppression in the subject. In one embodiment, the method further includes using the results of the tests to diagnose the subject with near suppression, far suppression, or both.

Abstract: A novel endonasal method for occipitocervical fusion is provided. This new method provides a minimally invasive advance in the ability of surgeons to treat pathology of the craniocervical junction. The method uses an implant system comprising a body having a spacer section that engages with the occipital condyle and a plate section that engages with the C1 lateral mass. Fasteners fix the plate section with the occipital condyle the plate section with the C1 lateral mass.

Abstract: Methods and kits for detection and quantification of EGFRvIII in the peripheral blood for monitoring the therapy of GBM patients.

Abstract: Expression of a phosphatase inhibitor in heart cells can be used to treat cardiac disorders, e.g., heart failure. Decreasing phosphatase activity can improve ?-adrenergic responsiveness.

Abstract: A method of determining that an absence of suspicion of neurological injury is indicated in a subject is disclosed. The method involves prompting the subject to engage in three or more of the following neurological assessments: a) Reading Saccades, b) Near/far accommodation using Hart charts of different font sizes; c) Brock string, d) Maddox rod, e) closed-eye turns, f) Near Point of Convergence, and g) PERRLA with consensual reflex. The data from the neurological assessments is used to determine that an absence of suspicion of neurological injury is indicated in the subject.

Abstract: Novel lentivirus packaging systems engineered with a synthetic gene network having a positive feedback loop to amplify the expression of virus genes are provided. When co-transfected into a host cell with a transfer plasmid and envelope vector, extremely high viral titers are achieved when compared to transfection of a host cell with conventional third generation packaging systems. Methods for enhancing production of lentivirus, compositions comprising high titer lentivirus, and therapeutic methods based on delivery of lentiviral nucleic acid to target cells are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivery of pulsated air to a user using a device including a flow generator to generate a continuous air flow, a first actuator comprising a pulsated flow delivery mechanism configured to generate a pulsated air flow from the continuous air flow based on a pre-determined duty cycle to vary a frequency of the pulsated air flow, a user interface configured to generate and deliver vortices of pulsated air to the user at the frequency of the pulsated air flow, and a set of tubing to couple the flow generator, the first actuator, and the user interface.

Abstract: Described are novel female fertility therapies. A first aspect of the invention is directed to therapies that include FSH lowering methodologies to prevent and/or treat egg infertility. A second aspect of the invention is directed to agents that bind to activin, bind to receptors that bind activin, or that otherwise disrupt activin signaling (collectively referred to herein as “activin pathway modifier agents” or “APM agents”) and methods of utilizing these agents to prevent and/or treat egg infertility. A third aspect of the invention is directed to methods of administering an effective amount of an APM agent to a subject to increase oocyte yield and/or ovarian reserve. All three aspects of the invention may be used in humans and in animals. Additional aspects of the invention include therapeutic drug kits for treatment of humans and animals based on the methodologies described above.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods for treating tumors such as glioma and cancers such as leukemia with (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2HG) are provided, along with therapeutic regimens including treatment of a patient suffering from glioma or leukemia with a MYC-signaling inhibitor followed by or cotemporaneous with treatment with R-2HG, and optionally other chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for slowing, preventing, or reversing platelet damage, particularly as may occur during blood banking or during refrigeration of platelets. The composition may include one or more of a RAC inhibitor, a CDC42 inhibitor, a RHOA inhibitor, or a combination thereof. The compositions may further include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) of the Prolactin receptor, pharmaceutical compositions of the SMIs, and methods for treating patients suffering from disorders characterized increased expression or excitation of the Prolactin receptor, including breast cancer, prostate cancer and nociceptive pain disorders such as migraine headache, by administering pharmaceutical compositions of SMIs are provided.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a full k-space dataset using parallel magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique is provided. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of receiver coils, a set of first under-sampled k-space data, receiving a set of second partial or fully-sampled k-space data, respectively performing k-space interpolation of the set of the first under-sampled k-space data respectively acquired by each of the plurality of receiver coils, recovering respectively missing k-space lines of each of the set of first under-sampled k-space data using corresponding second partial or fully-sampled k-space data and corresponding first under-sampled k-space data, forming a plurality of full k-space datasets by respectively combining each of the set of first under-sampled k-space data and corresponding recovered missing k-space lines for each of the plurality of receiver coils, obtaining a plurality of fully-sampled images from the plurality of full k-space datasets, and combining images into a final image.

Abstract: A method for the treatment or the prevention of a kidney disorder is disclosed. The method involves administering an effective concentration of pregnenolone sulfate to a subject to increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ in kidney cells.