Abstract: Described are positive allosteric modulators of the GLP-1 receptor, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions for diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, cognitive dysfunction, learning disability, and asthma in a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to human monoclonal IgE antibodies, and IgG antibodies engineered therefrom. Such engineered antibodies can be used to blunt pathologic IgE responses in subjects, such as in the treatment or prevention of allergies.

Abstract: Provided are compositions for inhibiting a biological activity of an aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C3 (AKR1C3) polypeptide. In some embodiments, the compositions are indomethacin derivatives that are AKR1C3-specific inhibitors. Also provided are methods for producing disclosed indomethacin derivatives that substantially lack cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity but that have AKR1C3 inhibitory activity, methods for inhibiting AKR1C3 polypeptide biological activities, and methods for treating prostate tumors in subjects.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to Marburg virus (MARV) glycoprotein (GP) and methods of use therefore.

Abstract: A surgical grasper includes a first handle arm, a second handle arm pivotally coupled to the first handle arm, a tool body pivotally coupled to both the first handle arm and the second handle arm, a first jaw member pivotally coupled to the tool body, a second jaw member pivotally coupled to the tool body, a first tension element coupled to both the first handle arm and to the first jaw member, a second tension element coupled to both the second handle arm and to the second jaw member, and a lock that locks relative movement between the first and second handle arms. Rotational movement of the first and second handle arms generates correlated rotational movement of the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: In certain aspects of the invention, a stackable device includes multiple elements stacked sequentially. A chamber is formed in each of the elements or between adjacent two of the elements, and each chamber is in fluid communication with an input channel and an output channel. The chambers are aligned with each other, and adjacent two chambers are separated from each other by a membrane. In certain aspects of the invention, a system includes at least one stackable device, each stackable device having multiple chambers; and at least one of a perfusion controller, a microformulator, and a microclinical analyzer in fluid communication with the at least one stackable device. In other aspects of the invention, the use of four microformulators, electrodes and an impedance analyzer can measure the impedance spectrum of each barrier in a multi-transwell plate.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relates to systems and methods for detecting volume status, volume overload, dehydration, hemorrhage and real time assessment of resuscitation, as well as organ failure including but not limited cardiac, renal, and hepatic dysfunction, of a living subject using non-invasive vascular analysis (NIVA). In one embodiment, a non-invasive device, which includes at least one sensor, is used to acquire vascular signals from the living subject in real time. The vascular signals are sent to a controller, which processes the vascular signals to determine at least one hemodynamic parameter, such as the volume status of the living subject. In certain embodiments, the vascular signals are processed by a spectral fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis to obtain the peripheral vascular signal frequency spectrum, and the volume status of the living subject may be determined by comparing amplitudes of the peaks of the peripheral vascular signal frequency spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of treating and/or ameliorating muscular dystrophy and/or treating cardiomyopathy in muscular dystrophy patients by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound of formula (I): wherein all symbols are defined in the description. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, methods of making the compounds, kits comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds, compositions and kits for treatment of disorders associated with TREK-1, TREK-2 or both TREK-1 and TREK-2 dysfunction in a mammal.

Abstract: A microclinical analyzer usable for analysis of one or more bio-objects, each bio-object including an organ or a group of cells includes a fluidic network having a plurality of fluidic switches, a plurality of fluidic paths in fluid communication with the plurality of fluidic switches, and one or more on-chip pumps coupled to corresponding fluidic paths; a sensor array coupled to the fluidic network; and a microcontroller for individually controlling the plurality of fluidic switches and the one or more on-chip pumps of the fluidic network as so to operably and selectively deliver an effluent of at least one bio-object to the sensor array for detecting properties of the effluent, or to a predetermined outlet destination.

Abstract: A robotic surgical apparatus includes at least two tubes having a nested, concentric configuration with an inner tube positioned in an outer tube. The tubes are configured to deliver surgical therapy. A first tube carrier connected to the outer tube and a second tube carrier connected to the inner tube. The first tube carrier and its associated outer tube and the second tube carrier and its associated inner tube form a robotic arm assembly. An actuator for actuating the robotic arm assembly is configured to receive the robotic arm assembly via a tube insertion interface into which the robotic arm assembly can be inserted.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a lower limb device having at least a powered joint are provided. A method includes configuring the device to a first state in a finite state model for a current activity mode including a stair ascent mode or a stair descent mode. The method also includes, based on real-time sensor information, transitioning the device between different states in the finite state model when pre-defined criteria for transitioning among the different states are met. In the method, the finite state model for stair ascent includes lifting and swing phases, where the lifting phase includes a powered knee extension and a powered ankle push-off. The finite state model for stair descent includes yielding and swing states, where the swing states include providing a powered plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint and the yielding states include providing a resistive and passive plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to polymers, crosslinked polymers, functionalized polymers, nanoparticles, and functionalized nanoparticles and methods of making and using same. In one aspect, the invention relates to degradable polymers and degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods of preparing degradable nanoparticles and, more specifically, methods of controlling particle size during the preparation of degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the degradable nanoparticles are useful for complexing, delivering, and releasing payloads, including pharmaceutically active payloads. 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: A method for image guided surgery includes obtaining intraoperative locations including intraoperative fiducial locations for a non-rigid structure and intraoperative rigid structure locations for associated rigid structures, estimating a gravity deformation for the non-rigid structure based on a first rigid registration for preoperative fiducial locations in a computer model relative to the intraoperative fiducial locations and a second rigid registration for the preoperative rigid structure locations for a rigid structure in the computer model with respect to the intraoperative rigid structure locations, modifying the preoperative fiducial locations using first rigid registration and the gravity deformation, determining a third rigid registration for the modified fiducial locations relative to the intraoperative fiducial locations, calculating a non-rigid transformation for the computer model using the volumetric gravity field deformation and first boundary conditions from errors in the third rigid registra

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to and neutralizing Zika virus and methods for use thereof.

Abstract: The invention generally relates in part to methods of effecting weight loss and/or improving glucose tolerance in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering a MetAP2 inhibitor.

Abstract: Provided are compositions for inhibiting a biological activity of an aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C3 (AKR1C3) polypeptide. In some embodiments, the compositions are indomethacin derivatives that are AKR1C3-specific inhibitors. Also provided are methods for producing disclosed indomethacin derivatives that substantially lack cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity but that have AKR1C3 inhibitory activity, methods for inhibiting AKR1C3 polypeptide biological activities, and methods for treating prostate tumors in subjects.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for segmenting tissue within a computed tomography (CT) scan of a region of interest into one of a plurality of tissue classes. A plurality of atlases are registered to the CT scan to produce a plurality of registered atlases. A context model representing respective likelihoods that each voxel of the CT scan is a member of each of the plurality of tissue classes is determined from the CT scan and a set of associated training data. A proper subset of the plurality of registered atlases is selected according to the context model and the registered atlases. The selected proper subset of registered atlases are fused to produce a combined segmentation.

Abstract: Described are negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGlu3), pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating depression, cognitive disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, or cancer in a subject.

Abstract: A mucosal impedance measuring apparatus detects and measures a condition of mucosa. The mucosal impedance measuring apparatus includes a catheter comprising a tube, impedance sensing electrodes on an exterior surface of the catheter, a balloon mounted on the tube in which the balloon is capable of inflation and deflation, and an impedance measuring system. The impedance measuring system is adapted to measure a pressure-regulated impedance measurement of the mucosa that is indicative of the condition of the mucosa when the balloon is inflated and the impedance sensing electrodes direct an electric current through mucosa while the balloon is pressed against the mucosa.