Abstract: A subdural drainage system includes: (a) a subdural drainage device having an opening formed therethrough, said subdural drainage device having an upper portion, a body portion, and a lower portion; (b) a housing having an upper portion and lower portion, with said housing connected to said subdural drainage device; said housing movable between (i) a first configuration and (ii) a second configuration; and (c) an elongated element positioned inside said housing, said elongated element having an upper portion, a lower portion and a deformable member connected to the lower portion; said elongated element being configured such that said elongated element is moved between (i) a retracted position with said elongated element inside a portion of said subdural drainage device and said deformable member inside said housing, and (ii) an extended position with said elongated element extending through said subdural drainage device such that said deformable member automatically extends to an extended, deformed position i

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for detecting, diagnosing and treating cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme.

Abstract: Provided herein are scaffolds and methods useful to promote the formation of functional clusters on a tissue, for example, motor endplates (MEPs) or a component thereof on skeletal muscle cells or tissue, as well as the use of scaffolds so produced for repairing a tissue injury or defect.

Abstract: A topical wound treatment composition comprises a hydrogen peroxide generator; alkaline powder; not more than 5 percent by weight of water; additional topical active agent if desired, and emollient (preferably hygroscopic emollient) to balance. When topically applied to a wound and water from the surrounding environment diffuses into the composition, the hydrogen peroxide generator and/or the alkaline compound diffuse into one another, causing a chemical reaction that generates treatment-effective amounts of oxygen to occur. The oxygen can then diffuse out of the composition and aid in wound treatment or healing.

Abstract: A keratin hydrogel matrix serves as an effective acellular scaffold for axonal regeneration and facilitates functional nerve recovery.

Abstract: Surgical staplers include: (a) a stapler head having opposed first and second elongate jaws with opposing proximal and distal end portions; (b) a staple cartridge held in at least one of the first and second jaws, the stapler cartridge configured to concurrently deliver a plurality of parallel rows of staples; and (c) a tissue protection segment held in a proximal portion of at least one of the first and second jaws. The jaws are configured to close against target tissue and, at stapler firing, staples are delivered to a subset of tissue held inside the jaws so that tissue held by the tissue protection segment adjacent the proximal end portion of the stapler is not stapled.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and compositions for obtaining uniform sized muscle fiber fragments for transplantation. These muscle fiber fragments are able to reconstitute into long fibers that are oriented along native muscle. The implanted muscle cells integrate with native vascular and neural network, as confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry. This invention is particularly advantageous because autologous muscle can be harvested from a donor site, processed and injected into target sites in the operating room. The fragmented muscle fibers can be readily integrated within the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for mimicking an in vivo environment for culturing cells in vitro. The in vivo mimicking environment is based on the generation of a tissue-specific extracellular matrix wherein the matrix provides a substrate for which the cultured cell originated from. The tissue-specific extracellular matrix can further comprise a component of a whole tissue-specific homogenate.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein relate to compositions, methods, delivery devices and kits for repairing or augmenting a tissue in a subject. The compositions described herein are injectable such that they can be placed in a tissue to be treated with a minimally-invasive procedure (e.g., by injection) and/or be molded flexibly into a tissue void of any shape and/or size. In some embodiments, the composition described herein comprises a plurality of silk fibroin particles, which can retain their original volume within the tissue for a period of time. The compositions can be used as a filler to replace a tissue void, e.g., for tissue repair and/or augmentation, or as a scaffold to support tissue regeneration and/or reconstruction. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein can be used for soft tissue repair or augmentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating a myopathy. In certain embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for treating, improving muscle function, and prolonging survival in a subject with X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM). The present invention provides a method comprising systemic administration of a composition that induces the increased expression of myotubularin in the muscle of a subject. The invention provides sustained regional and global increases in muscle function.

Abstract: Differentiation and stability of neural stem cells can be enhanced by in vitro or in vivo culturing with one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions, such as collagen I, IV, laminin and/or a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In one aspect of the invention, adult mammalian enteric neuronal progenitor cells can be induced to differentiate on various substrates derived from components or combinations of neural ECM compositions. Collagen I and IV supported neuronal differentiation and extensive glial differentiation individually and in combination. Addition of laminin or heparan sulfate to collagen substrates unexpectedly improved neuronal differentiation, increasing neuron number, branching of neuronal processes, and initiation of neuronal network formation. In another aspect, neuronal subtype differentiation was affected by varying ECM compositions in hydrogels overlaid on intestinal smooth muscle sheets.

Abstract: A targeting peptide that specifically binds to an IL13 receptor (e.g., wherein said targeting peptide is not an IL13 fragment) is described. The targeting peptide is optionally conjugated to at least one effector molecule. In some embodiments, the peptide specifically binds to the IL13R?2 protein.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions and methods for the selective expression of a target gene in a subset of cells. In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a construct comprising a first nucleic acid sequence comprising an episomal maintenance element and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a target gene wherein the expression of the episomal maintenance element is regulated by a constitutive promoter and the expression of the target gene is regulated by a non-constitutive promoter. The construct is able to maintain episomal state, no matter whether the target gene is expressed in the cell.

Abstract: Provided herein is an antibody (e.g., an isolated antibody) that specifically binds an epitope (e.g., linear epitope) within amino acids spanning the extracellular portion of human IL-13RA2. In some embodiments, the amino acids spanning the extracellular portion of human IL-13RA2 have at least 90% identity with the corresponding canine sequence of IL-13RA2. In some embodiments, the antibody specifically binds both human and canine IL-13RA2. In some embodiments, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody is a recombinant antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody is humanized. In some embodiments, the antibody is the monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma 1E10B9 or a recombinant form thereof.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer programs, circuits and workstations are configured to generate at least one two-dimensional weighted CBF territory map of color-coded source artery locations using an automated vascular segmentation process to identify source locations using mutual connectivity in both image and label space.

Abstract: Differentiation and stability of neural stem cells can be enhanced by in vitro or in vivo culturing with one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions, such as collagen I, IV, laminin and/or a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In one aspect of the invention, adult mammalian enteric neuronal progenitor cells can be induced to differentiate on various substrates derived from components or combinations of neural ECM compositions. Collagen I and IV supported neuronal differentiation and extensive glial differentiation individually and in combination. Addition of laminin or heparan sulfate to collagen substrates unexpectedly improved neuronal differentiation, increasing neuron number, branching of neuronal processes, and initiation of neuronal network formation. In another aspect, neuronal subtype differentiation was affected by varying ECM compositions in hydrogels overlaid on intestinal smooth muscle sheets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide needle guides that facilitate direct penile injection of drug therapies.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating a myopathy. In certain embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for treating, improving muscle function, and prolonging survival in a subject with X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM). The present invention provides a method comprising systemic administration of a composition that induces the increased expression of myotubularin in the muscle of a subject. The invention provides sustained regional and global increases in muscle function.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for detecting a genetic predisposition to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or hypertensive end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or both in a human subject, e.g., by detecting the presence of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in an APOL1 gene, such as the C-terminal exon of an APOL1 gene. In a further embodiment, methods are disclosed for detecting resistance of a subject to a disease associated with Trypanosoma infection, e.g., by detecting at least one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in an APOL1 gene, such as the C-terminal exon of an APOL1 gene. Also disclosed are methods for treating a subject infected with T. brucei. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an APOL1 protein including a S342G substitution, an I384M substitution, and/or a deletion of N388 and Y389 to the subject.

Abstract: Rear tip extenders having a tether attached to a collar for penile implants that can be mounted onto a respective cylinder forward of a fluid line (that communicates with a scrotal pump) to prevent full separation or detachment from the cylinder during a revision procedure can be fabricated by molding. The fabrication methods include: providing a mold with a mold cavity configured to define three attached members of defined shapes, including a rear tip extender, a collar and a tether attaching the rear tip extender and collar; and flowably introducing moldable material into the mold cavity to form the collar, rear tip extender and attached tether as a molded assembly.