Abstract: Compounds and compositions, and methods of use thereof, are provided and have utility in inhibiting hedgehog signaling and/or phosphodiesterase-4 activity.

Abstract: A method of detecting and measuring the condition of intraluminal esophageal mucosa. An esophagus is intubated with a catheter including an inflatable and deflatable balloon and one or more impedance sensing electrodes on an exterior surface of the catheter. The balloon is inflated to press the impedance sensing electrode(s) into a mucosa of the interior esophageal wall. An electric current is directed through the mucosa via the impedance sensing electrode(s) while the impedance sensing electrode(s) is/are pressed by the balloon against the mucosa and measure impedance of the mucosa.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of treating, preventing, and/or ameliorating fibrosis syndrome, and in particular cardiac fibrosis, by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of ifetroban, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are crosslinked polycarbonates, composition thereof and methods thereof. The crosslinked polycarbonates can be prepared from allyl or epoxy polycarbonates. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are isolated mutant erythropoietin (EPO) polypeptides, functional fragment thereof, nucleic acid encoding such peptides, vectors including such nucleic acids and compositions including such peptides and nucleic acids. The mutant EPO peptides are unique in that they include a substitution at amino acid position number 76, such as a glutamic acid for arginine substation at position 76. This substitution inhibits erythropoietic activity while retaining their neuroprotection. Also disclosed are methods of treating or inhibiting neuronal degeneration, reducing or inhibiting one or more symptoms associated with neuronal degeneration and/or glaucoma in a subject. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a isolated mutant erythropoietin EPO polypeptide, an expression vector encoding such a mutant erythropoietin EPO polypeptide, a viral particle including an expression vector, or a composition, thereby treating or inhibiting neuronal degeneration in the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glycidol-based polymers, nanoparticles, and methods related thereto useful for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, drug delivery. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling movement and an applied force at the tip of the continuum robot that includes a plurality of independently controlled segments along its length. An estimated force at the tip of the continuum robot is determined based on measurements of loads and positions of each segment. A reference position command and a force command are received from a user interface. The reference position command indicates a desired movement for the distal end of the continuum robot and the force command indicates a desired force to be applied by the tip of the continuum robot to a tissue surface. The position of the continuum robot is adjusted to cause the tip of the continuum robot to apply the desired force to the tissue surface based on the estimated force at the tip of the continuum robot, the reference position command, and the force command.

Abstract: Molecular probe suitable for quantification of caspase activity in vivo using positron emission tomography (PET). Embodiments of the present invention can detect apoptosis in tumors and as a novel, potentially translatable biomarker for predicting response to personalized medicine.

Abstract: Compounds which are useful as allosteric potentiators/positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders or other disease state associated with glutamate dysfunction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are positive allosteric modulators of melanocortin receptor and methods of using such modulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.

Abstract: A method for administering citrulline to a patient during surgery without filtration of the hemolysis to reduce the uncoupling of eNOS enzyme dimer that leads to cardiopulmonary bypass-induced pulmonary injury.

Abstract: Provided are improved optical detection systems and methods for using same, which systems and methods comprise single channel interferometric detection systems and methods for determining a characteristic property of samples. Such interferometric detection systems and methods employ a light beam that impinges two or more discrete zones along a channel, thereby avoiding variations that can result in increases in detection limits and/or measurement errors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards isolated antibodies that bind to GRP78.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tricyclic compounds, including pyrimido[4?,5?:4,5]thieno[2,3-c]pyridazine-8-amine, pyrido[3?,2?:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-4-amine, pyrazino[2?,3?:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-amine, pyrido[3?,2?:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-amine, and pyrimido[4?,5?:4,5]furo[2,3-c]pyridazin-8-amine compounds, which may be useful as positive allosteric modulators of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4 (mAChR M4). Also disclosed herein are methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with muscarinic acetylcholine receptor dysfunction using the compounds and compositions.

Abstract: Compounds which are useful as allosteric potentiators/positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4); pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders or other disease state associated with glutamate dysfunction.

Abstract: Compounds which are useful as allosteric potentiators/positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders or other disease state associated with glutamate dysfunction.

Abstract: Substituted pyrrolopyridine, imidazopyridine and triazolopyridine compounds having a formula are positive allosteric modulators of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 (mAChR M1) and the compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions may be useful in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with muscarinic acetylcholine receptor dysfunction. Compounds of the invention may be prepared in several steps from 2-halo-5,6-dihydro-7H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-7-one intermediates.

Abstract: This invention relates to ?A-crystallin protein modulating compounds (e.g., phosphomimetic peptides), compositions comprising such modulating compounds, and their use as therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of conditions involving neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Abstract: A method for identifying an increased risk of developing ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in a subject involves obtaining a platelet-containing plasma sample from the subject; determining a Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) phenotype of the platelets of the subject; and identifying the subject has having an increased risk of developing STEMI when the subject has a potentiating phenotype, as compared to the risk of a subject having an inhibitory phenotype.