Abstract: Metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) still carries a dismal prognosis with the current treatment paradigms. The effectiveness of drug treatment for many solid tumors such as TNBC is limited by tumor heterogeneity, lack of tumor specificity, off-target toxicities, and transient therapeutic action(s). Strategies that provide tumor-specific, sustained concentrations of drugs to the tumors and tumor receptor-specific binding, while reducing off-target effects are needed to ensure sufficient tumor cell uptake within the primary and metastatic tumor microenvironment. The decreased non-specific adhesivity, receptor-targeted nanoparticle formulations (“DART” nanoparticles) of the invention were assessed for clinical potential in directing biological agents to the cell surface receptor Fn14, which is expressed in many solid cancer types, including TNBC primary tumors and metastatic lesions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of lowering blood pressure in a subject, comprising genetically modifying a myosin phosphatase target subunit (Mypt1) gene in a vascular smooth muscle cell of the subject, whereby the genetic modification of Mypt1 results in a deletion or inactivation of exon 24. The invention further provides vectors, host cells, and compositions useful for carrying out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices for co-culture of cells. The devices include inserts having invertible wells that can be lowered into a well of any standard cell culture plate. A first population of cells can be cultured in the invertible wells of the inserts and a second population of cells can be cultured in the wells of a cell culture plate. Once the first population of cells attach to the invertible wells, the inserts are flipped over and placed into the wells of the cell culture plate to co-culture with the second population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for selective inhibition of the classical or non-classical LT?R-NF?B signaling pathway. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or preventing tissue graft rejection, inflammation, contact hypersensitivity, and cancer by decreasing cell motility.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are broadly drawn to methods for determining an optimum dose of an antiarrhythmic drug, for example sotalol. In particular, the method involves titrating the dose of the drug gradually to determine the optimum plasma concentration for a patient, whether the patient has normal or abnormal renal function.

Abstract: A method of using the transverse relaxation rate (R2) of solvent NMR signal to noninvasively assess alum-containing products such as vaccines. This technique can be used for quality control in vaccine manufacturing (e.g., fill-finish step) to determine the evenness of alum filling level as well as extent of alum particle sedimentation in filled and sealed products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the placement of elongate medical members within a patients body using coaptive ultrasound. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a flexible tube includes a first balloon at a distal end of the tube, and a second balloon at the distal end of the tube and positioned within the first balloon. The first and second balloons are inflatable to form one or more echogenic windows between them, which echogenic window may be detected from within a patient's body by an ultrasound probe that is external to the patient's body. Detection of such echogenic window is used to identify an acceptable location on the patient's body at which to insert a guidewire configured to receive an elongate medical member without damage to surrounding patient tissues or organs.

Abstract: Provided herein is an inhibitor for decreasing cellular levels X-box-binding protein 1 variant 1 (Xv1) in a cancer cell and a method for decreasing Xv1 in a cancer cell by contacting the cancer cell with this inhibitor. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition for treating a cancer and a method for treating a cancer by administering this composition. In addition there is provided a kit for targeting Xv1 with at least one Xv1 inhibitor, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a means for detecting the Xv1 protein or mRNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides for metallic structures comprising a sulfhydryl or amino-terminated hydrophilic coating to provide a layer of hydrophilic character on the surface of the metallic structures thereby allowing the use of low volumes of aqueous solvents of fluorophores that have the ability to “spread out” across the surfaces of the metallic structures and to provide for a more uniform surface coating of fluorophores attached to or near the metallic structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids encoding a fusion protein comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding GRIM-19 or a biologically active fragment or derivative thereof and a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein transduction domain. Proteins encoded by the nucleic acids, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also provided. The invention also provides viral vectors comprising GRIM-19 or a biologically active fragment or derivative thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: The present invention describes an integrated apparatus that enables identification of migratory cells directly from a specimen. The apparatus only requires a small number of cells to perform an assay and includes novel topographic features which can reliably differentiate between migratory and non-migratory cell populations in a sample. Both the spontaneous and chemotactic migration of cancer cells may be measured to distinguish between subpopulations within a tumor sample. The migratory cells identified using the apparatus and methods of the present invention may be separated and further analyzed to distinguish factors promoting metastasis within the population. Cells in the apparatus can be treated with chemotherapeutic or other agents to determine drug strategies to most strongly inhibit migration. The use of optically transparent materials in some embodiments allows a wide range of imaging techniques to be used for in situ imaging of migratory and non-migratory cells in the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods of treating cancer, such as leukemia, via administration of therapeutically effective amounts of artemisinins and one or more additional therapeutic agents are detailed herein. The artemisinins include artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, artemether, arteether, artelinate, ART-631, and ART-838. The one or more additional therapeutic agents include BCL-2 inhibitors such as ABT-199, ABT-263, and ABT-737; kinase inhibitors such as lestaurtinib, midostaurin, and sorafenib; and anti-neoplastic agents such as cytarabine, doxorubicin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, triplotide, vinorelbine, cisplatin, and rituximab.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preventing or treating a psychological disorder. A serotonin agonist or an agonist of serotonin receptors is administered separately, sequentially or simultaneously in combination with a serotonin receptor 2A antagonist.

Abstract: A method of using the transverse relaxation rate (R2) of solvent NMR signal to detect filling errors of an alum-containing product in real-time in-line during manufacturing, for example during a fill-finish unit operation. This technique can be used for quality control in vaccine manufacturing to ensure the delivery of the correct concentration of alum-containing product to the product container such as a vial or pre-filled syringe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of predicting whether a pulmonary nodule in a subject is benign or non-small cell lung cancer, comprising obtaining the results of an assay that measures an expression level of miR205-5p in a plasma sample from the subject; obtaining the results of an assay that measures an expression level of miR126 in a plasma sample from the subject; obtaining the results of an assay that provides a size of the pulmonary nodule in the subject; and calculating a probability value based on the combination of the expression levels of miR205-5p and miR126, and the size of the pulmonary nodule, wherein if the probability value exceeds a specified threshold, the pulmonary nodule is predicted as non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract: A device and method is provided herein for esophageal impingement of a patient's aorta. The device may be inserted into a patient's esophagus and positioned at the location where the esophagus passes over the patient's aorta. In this position, an actuation device is used to apply pressure to the patient's aorta through their esophagus to impinge or occlude the aorta to stop or significantly reduce hemorrhaging. A manually operable actuator handle enables a physician to manipulate a head assembly of the device through three distinct degrees of freedom of movement so as to control placement and direction of force against the patient's esophagus and, in turn, their aorta.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inter- and intra-catheter flow device for the management of vascular bleeding disorders that provide a liquid flow-pass between proximal and distal balloons for bridging the circulation between the upper and lower segments of a hemorrhaging artery or blood vessel, while blocking the blood flow to the hemorrhaging middle segment(s) of the artery or blood vessel between the two or more balloons. When only one balloon is inflated, these devices can create a pressure gradient between proximal or distal and middle segments of the artery or blood vessel. These devices are useful for controlling proximal artery blood pressure, preventing distal ischemia-reperfusion injury, identifying the bleeding location, controlling the bleeding, repairing and remodeling vascular structures, extending resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) use duration, and performing fluid resuscitation.

Abstract: The present invention provides transseptal puncture devices configured to access structures on the left side of the heart from the right side of the heart without requiring open-heart surgery. The devices have adjustable stiffness to enter the vasculature in a flexible, atraumatic fashion, then become rigid once in place to provide a stable platform for penetration of the fossa ovalis. The devices are further configured to controllably and stably extend a needle to puncture the FO. The devices include an indwelling blunt stylus that can extend perpendicularly from the device to increase the accuracy of placement near the fossa ovalis.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods using ultrasound to predict if a patient's cardiac stroke volume will increase with a fluid bolus. Ultrasound measures are taken before administering a fluid bolus, including measurement of the left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI), and venous measurements of the internal jugular vein. Data collected from such ultrasound scan is then used to predict the patient's cardiac volume response in the event that a fluid bolus is administered to that patient.

Abstract: Provided herein are protein translation inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that bind to an RNA Recognition motif in heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A18 to inhibit binding to mRNA transcripts thereby inhibiting protein synthesis. Also provided is a method for treating a cancer by administering a pharmaceutically acceptable amounts of at least one of the protein translation inhibitors.