Patents Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
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Publication number: 20240191226Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for treating a subject with type 2 diabetes. These methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor that decreases expression of smad2. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is an inhibitory RNA, a small molecule, or a CRISPR-Cas9 system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2022Publication date: June 13, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: George Gittes, Krishna Prasadan
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Publication number: 20240189349Abstract: Methods are disclosed for inhibiting esophageal inflammation in a subject, that include administering to the esophagus of the subject with esophageal inflammation a therapeutically effective amount of an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel. Methods are also disclosed for reducing esophageal stricture. Compositions are disclosed that include an esophageal extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2023Publication date: June 13, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Stephen Francis Badylak, Juan Diego Naranjo Gutierrez, Lindsey Tamiko Saldin
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Publication number: 20240185626Abstract: A computational systems pathology spatial analysis platform includes: (i) a spatial heterogeneity quantification component configured for generating a global quantification of spatial heterogeneity among cells of varying phenotypes in multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data; (ii) a microdomain identification component configured for identifying a plurality of microdomains for tissue samples based on the global quantification, each microdomain being associated with a tissue sample; and (iii) a weighted graph component configured for constructing a weighted graph for the multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data, the weighted graph having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges each being located between a pair of the nodes, wherein in the weighted graph each node is a particular one of the microdomains and the edge between each pair of microdomains in the weighted graph is indicative of a degree of similarity between the pair of the microdomains.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Srinivas C. Chennubhotla, Filippo Pullara, Douglass L. Taylor
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Publication number: 20240185625Abstract: A method of compensating for focus drift in a microscopy system includes receiving data representing a reference light signal reflected from a sample and received by an image sensor, identifying from the data a peak of the reference light signal, the peak having a maximum intensity value for the reference light signal, extracting a sub-region having a center from the data, the center being located at the peak, calculating a first harmonic of a Fourier transform of the extracted sub-region, estimating a peak position of the reference light signal based on a phase of the first harmonic, and moving the lens system of the microscopy system or the sample in the axial direction using the translation stage based on the estimated position. Also, a system compensating for focus drift in a microscopy system according to the above method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: June 6, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: HONGQIANG MA, YANG LIU
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Publication number: 20240164665Abstract: A system for classifying the severity of a user's impairment can include a target apparatus, a plurality of inertial measurement units, and a processor. The target apparatus can include a base, a target structure coupled to the base, and a plurality of targets coupled to the target structure. The processor can be configured to classify the severity of the user's impairment based on the data collected from the inertial measurement units. A method can include classifying a severity of a person's impairment based on one or more motion features associated with the person's performance of one or more tasks at a target apparatus. A target apparatus used in assessing physical impairment of a user can include a track system, a target structure coupled to the track system, and a plurality of targets coupled to a central portion and arms of the target structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: May 23, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Amit Sethi, Marcus C. Allen, William W. Clark
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Publication number: 20240156779Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, or cancer cachexia, or inhibiting abnormally increased white adipose tissue browning, or decreasing the risk of a kidney stone in a subject, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a negative allosteric modulator of parathyroid hormone (PTH) type 1 receptor (PTHR) signaling.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2022Publication date: May 16, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Ieva Sutkeviciute, Jean-Pierre Vilardaga, Jiyoung Lee, Ivet Bahar, Burak Kaynak
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Publication number: 20240156370Abstract: A portable hearing screening and amplification device structured to be coupled to a headset includes: a housing, a plurality of buttons, a plurality of indicators, a microphone circuit, an output circuit, a power source, and a controller. Upon passing a background noise test, the portable hearing screening and amplification device is structured to transmit a plurality of hearing screening tones to the headset for a user for testing of the plurality of hearing screening tones and complete the hearing screening based on responses of the user related to the plurality of hearing screening tones, the responses including a number of hearing screening tones that the user has perceived during the hearing screening. Based on a determination that the number of hearing screening tones perceived is less than a prerequisite number, the portable hearing screening and amplification device is further structured to switch to amplification mode and provide amplification.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2022Publication date: May 16, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Jeffrey Vipperman, Catherine Palmer, Erik Rauterkus, Jacalynn Ona Sharp, Christopher Dumm, Joseph Lyle Koch
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Patent number: 11983943Abstract: A computational systems pathology spatial analysis platform includes: (i) a spatial heterogeneity quantification component configured for generating a global quantification of spatial heterogeneity among cells of varying phenotypes in multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data; (ii) a microdomain identification component configured for identifying a plurality of microdomains for tissue samples based on the global quantification, each microdomain being associated with a tissue sample; and (iii) a weighted graph component configured for constructing a weighted graph for the multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data, the weighted graph having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges each being located between a pair of the nodes, wherein in the weighted graph each node is a particular one of the microdomains and the edge between each pair of microdomains in the weighted graph is indicative of a degree of similarity between the pair of the microdomains.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Srinivas C. Chennubhotla, Filippo Pullara, Douglass L. Taylor
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Publication number: 20240148862Abstract: Methods are provided for promoting, reducing, or desensitizing various immune responses by delivery of sub-immunogenic doses of an allergen, alone or with other agents, or by delivery of antigens and adjuvants to a cutaneous microenvironment of a subject. Microneedle arrays can be used in connection with this delivery.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Louis D. Falo, JR., Adriana Teresita Larregina De Morelli
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Patent number: 11972858Abstract: A method of characterizing cellular phenotypes includes receiving multi-parameter cellular and sub-cellular imaging data for a number of tissue samples from a number of patients or a number of multicellular in vitro models, performing cellular segmentation on the multi-parameter cellular and sub-cellular imaging data to create segmented multi-parameter cellular and sub-cellular imaging data, and performing recursive decomposition on the segmented multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data to identify a plurality of computational phenotypes. The recursive decomposition includes a plurality of levels of decomposition with each level of decomposition including soft/probabilistic clustering and spatial regularization, and each cell in the segmented multi-parameter cellular and subcellular imaging data is probabilistically assigned to one or more of the plurality of computational phenotypes.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Srinivas C. Chennubhotla, Filippo Pullara, Samantha A. Furman
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Publication number: 20240131075Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating an autoimmune disorder in a subject in need thereof. These methods include administering to the subject a pharmaceutical preparation comprising isolated matrix bound vesicles (MBV) derived from extracellular matrix. The administration can be systemic. In some embodiments, the subject has rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Stephen Badylak, George S. Hussey, Raphael Crum
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Publication number: 20240124410Abstract: Small molecule inhibitors that block the interaction between B-cell lymphoma 10 protein (BCL10) and mucosa- associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1), thereby inhibiting both the protease and scaffolding activities of MALT1, and MALT1- dependent downstream signaling, including IL-6 and IL-10 secretion by B-cell lymphoma cells and IL-2 transcription and secretion by Jurkat T cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicants: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Peter C. Lucas, Linda M. McAllister, Heejae Kang, Beibei Chen, Lisa Maurer, Dong Hu, Jing Cheng, Linda Klei, Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska
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Publication number: 20240122980Abstract: Disclosed herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that include (a) an extracellular scFv comprising a light chain variable domain (VL) a heavy chain variable domain (VH), wherein the scFv specifically binds to an antigen of interest; (b) a CD8 hinge domain and transmembrane domain; and (c) a cytoplasmic domain comprising (i) a TIM-3 cytoplasmic domain and an intracellular signaling domain, wherein (a)-(c) are in N-terminal to C-terminal order. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding these CARs, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids, and the use of these compositions for treating a subject, such as a subject with a tumor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2020Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Lawrence Patrick Kane, Jason Lohmueller
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Patent number: 11944426Abstract: A load cell apparatus includes a base member, a cap member, a number of first members provided between the base member and the cap member and forming at least a portion of a support wall of the load cell apparatus, and a plurality of strain gauges directly coupled to the number of first members, the plurality of strain gauges being positioned to measure an axial load applied to the load cell in a direction extending from the cap member to the base member.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignees: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Jonathan A. Duvall, Samuel T. Bucior
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Patent number: 11945847Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for the inducing neurodegenerative disease pathologies. In one aspect, disclosed herein is a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric polypeptide, comprising: a first nucleotide sequence encoding a light-induced oligomerization domain and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a neurodegenerative disease in target protein. Disclosed herein is a method of inducing a neurodegenerative disease pathology in a cell, comprising the steps: introducing into the cell an expression vector encoding a chimeric polypeptide, comprising: a first nucleotide sequence encoding a light-induced oligomerization domain and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a low complexity domain from a neurodegenerative disease target protein, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter; expressing the chimeric polypeptide; and inducing oligomerization of the chimeric polypeptide by stimulation with blue light.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Christopher James Donnelly, Jacob R. Mann
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Publication number: 20240101625Abstract: EphA2 T-cell epitope are provided herein. The epitopes include peptides corresponding to specific fragments of human EphA2 protein containing one or more T-cell epitopes, and conservative derivatives thereof. The EphA2 T-cell epitopes are useful in an assay, such as an ELISPOT assay, that may be used to determine and/or quantify a patient's immune responsiveness to EphA2. The epitopes also are useful in methods of modulating a patient's immune reactivity to EphA2, which has substantial utility as a treatment for cancers that overexpress EphA2, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The EphA2 epitopes also can be used to vaccinate a patient against EphA2, by in vivo or ex vivo methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Walter J. Storkus, Michael S. Kinch
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Publication number: 20240099924Abstract: A system for assisting a user with navigating a set of stairs includes a pulley system positioned adjacent to the stairs, the pulley system including a first pulley, a second pulley, and an elongated member coupled to and looped around the first pulley and the second pulley. The system further includes a motor coupled to the first pulley, a sensing assembly operatively coupled to the pulley system, the sensing assembly being structured and configured to sense that a force is being applied to or that is about to be applied to the elongated member by the user, and a controller coupled to the motor and the sensing assembly. The controller is structured and configured to, responsive to the sensing assembly sensing the force, turn the motor on to drive the first pulley.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: Alexandra Delazio, Alton E. James, III, David M. Brienza, Jonathan L. Pearlman, Paulina M. Villacreces, MD Rayhan Afsar, Todd Hargroder
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Publication number: 20240102836Abstract: A linear variable differential pitot tube includes a primary solenoid, a first secondary solenoid, a second secondary solenoid, wherein the primary solenoid is positioned in between the first secondary solenoid and the second secondary solenoid, wherein the first secondary solenoid and the first secondary solenoid have identical geometries, and a high permeability magnetic core, the high permeability magnetic core being structured to move relative to the primary solenoid, the first secondary solenoid, and the second secondary solenoid. Also, a system and method for measuring the localized velocity of a flow of a fluid using the linear variable differential pitot tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventors: HENG BAN, GREGORY E.J. KINZLER
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Publication number: 20240091271Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the engraftment and proliferation of cells in fat-associated lymphoid clusters (“FALCs” or “milky spots”), which may be used to generate functional ectopic tissue. The present disclosure further provides methods and compositions for grafting and proliferating cells, in FALCs by activating the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LT?R) and/or NF-?B-inducing kinase (NIK) signaling pathway. The present disclosure also provides for methods and compositions to establish ectopic liver tissue in FALCs (milky spots) and to use such ectopic liver tissue for therapeutic benefit, and provides methods and compositions to generate ectopic kidney tissue in FALCs, which can be used in a subject for therapeutic benefit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONInventor: Eric Lagasse
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Publication number: 20240090810Abstract: A neurofeedback system includes an EEG apparatus, a presentation apparatus and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) cause the presentation apparatus to display an overlaid image to the user that comprises a first image flickering at a first frequency and a second image flickering at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the first image being an affective distractor stimulus image and the second image being a task-relevant stimulus image, (ii) receive from the EEG apparatus a number of first steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) signals generated in response the first image of the overlaid image and a number of second SSVEP signals generated in response the second image of the overlaid image, and (iii) calculate feedback indicative of how much attention of the was user allocated to the task-relevant stimulus image versus how much attention of the user was allocated to the affective distractor stimulus image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, UPMC, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: Mary L. Woody, Murat Akcakaya, Sarah Ostadabbas, Rebecca Price, Xiaofei Huang, Richard T. Gall, Anna Wears, Nastasia O. McDonald, Jennifer Mak