Abstract: A biosensor for detecting trinitrotoluene (TNT) is disclosed. The biosensor has cells, such as olfactory sensory neurons (or cilia derived therefrom), that preferentially express a TNT-responsive odorant receptor protein.

Abstract: A method for detection or monitoring status of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or spinal cord injury (SCI) in a subject is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting a specimen of bodily fluid obtained from the subject with reagents for assaying for a marker of TBI selected from aldolase C (ALDOC) and brain lipid binding protein (BLBP/FABP7), or a trauma-specific break down product (BDP) of ALDOC or BLBP/FABP7. The method further comprises measuring the amount of marker present in the specimen as compared to a control sample, and determining the presence of TBI or SCI when an elevated amount of marker is present in the specimen compared to the control sample. Optionally, the method further comprises measuring the amount of glutamine synthetase (GS), astrocytic phosphoprotein PEA-15 (PEA15), ?B-crystallin (CRYAB/HSP27), a trauma-specific proteolytic cleavage product of ALDOC, GS, PEA15, or CRYAB, or any combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides method, uses and agents for preventing or reducing cognitive decline in a patient following a planned inflammatory trigger. Such planned inflammatory trigger can be a surgical procedure or chemotherapy. The invention further provides methods, uses and agents for reducing cognitive decline in a patient with a cognitive disorder, wherein said patient has been exposed to an inflammatory trigger. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel therapeutic agent for mental illness. The therapeutic agent for mental illness comprises an IL-6 inhibitor as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of treating alcohol abuse disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides nucleic acids, including cDNA, comprising alterations that encode aspartic acid at a position corresponding to position 533 of the human G protein-coupled receptor 156 protein (GPR156). The disclosure also provides isolated and recombinant human GPR156 protein variants that comprise an aspartic acid at a position corresponding to position 533. The change to aspartic acid, and the gene encoding this change, associate with unipolar depression. The disclosure also provides methods for determining whether a subject has or has a risk of developing unipolar depression, based on the identification of such alterations in the gene (DNA or RNA) encoding GPR156.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and kits useful in the diagnosis, prognosis and/or assessment of brain injuries and risk for brain injuries, such as hemorrhage, are based upon detection of certain biomarkers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of a human subject that has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head, such as mild or moderate, severe, or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), using cTnI. Also disclosed are methods for determining whether to perform a head computerized tomography on a subject by detecting levels of cTnI. Finally, also disclosed are methods of outcome in subjects suffering from a mild TBI.

Abstract: The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof for preventing or ameliorating disorders of the nervous system. More specifically, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions, including phosphopeptides that when administered disrupt the physical interaction of TrkB with its signaling effector, phospholipase C?1 (PLC?1). The invention further provides method of treatment comprising administering phosphopeptides that uncouple TrkB from PLC?1 in order to prevent and/or ameliorate nervous system disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, and seizures.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for diagnosing Parkinson's Disease PAD) with miRNA markers. Towards the identification of biomarkers for diagnosis of PD, a comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression patterns was obtained. Significantly deregulated miRNAs were identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides that specifically bind to maternal autoantibodies that are generated in the mother or potential mother against one or more endogenous polypeptide antigens selected from lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH A), lactate dehydrogenase B (LDH B), stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), guanine deaminase (GDA), Y Box Binding Protein 1 (YBX1), collapsin response mediator protein 1 (CRMP1), and collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). The peptides described herein are useful for determining a risk of an offspring for developing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by detecting the presence of maternal autoantibodies in a biological sample of the mother or potential mother. The peptides or mimotopes thereof can also be administered to the mother or potential mother to block the binding between maternal autoantibodies and their antigens, thereby neutralizing the maternal autoantibodies.

Abstract: Primary skin fibroblasts obtained from individuals diagnosed with late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), were compared to healthy age-matched controls. Fibroblasts from PD subjects had higher growth rates, and appeared distinctly different in terms of morphology and spatial organization in culture, compared to control cells. The PD fibroblasts also exhibited significantly compromised mitochondrial structure and function when assessed via morphological and oxidative phosphorylation assays. Additionally, an increase in baseline macroautophagy levels was seen in cells from PD subjects. Exposure of the skin fibroblasts to physiologically relevant stress, specifically ultraviolet irradiation (UVA), further exaggerated the autophagic dysfunction in the PD cells. Moreover, the PD fibroblasts accumulated higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) coupled with lower cell viability upon UVA treatment.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the use of cyclic Prolyl Glycine (“cyclic PG” or “cPG”) and analogues and mimetics thereof, as neuroprotective agents for the treatment and or prevention of cognitive impairment and neurological disorders including but not limited to cerebral ischemic or cerebral infarction, status epilepticus, perinatal asphyxia, anoxia, and cerebral trauma, as well as to the treatment and prevention of chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, and as anticonvulsants. The present invention also generally provides manufacturing methods to prepare of dosage forms. The present invention further generally relates to the use of cyclic Prolyl Glycine and analogues and mimetics thereof, as neuroprotective and neuro-regenerating agents for the treatment and or prevention of depression and other psychological disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of determining if a subject is at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the presence of soluble, misfolded ?-synuclein protein in a biological sample. The method comprises contacting the biological sample with a pre-incubation mixture, the pre-incubation mixture comprising: a monomeric ?-synuclein protein; a buffer composition; a salt; and an indicator, to form an incubation mixture. An incubation cycle is conducted on the incubation mixture in the presence of either a silicon nitride bead or a borosilicate glass bead having a diameter of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. The method further comprises determining if a detectable amount of misfolded ?-synuclein aggregate is present in the biological sample.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, systems, and methods for diagnosing and treatment of subjects suffering from anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or a pathological condition with one or more of the symptoms of ASD.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of circulating astrocytes (cAstr) and the Major Facilitator Superfamily Domain containing Protein 2a (Mfsd2a) as biomarkers, and their combined use with other related circulating markers (cBMEC and EPC) in early detection and diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) or central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

Abstract: Biomarkers and methods for screening expression levels of the biomarkers for predicting and tracking suicidality, as well as for monitoring response to a treatment for suicidal risk and for determining suicidal risk as a side-effect of an antidepressant are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or a cognitive disorder similar to said disease, an in vitro method for designing a personalized therapy in a subject suffering from mild cognitive impairment and an in vitro method for selecting a patient susceptible to be treated with a therapy for the prevention and/or treatment of Alzheimer's or a cognitive disorder similar to said disease based on determining, in a sample from the subject, the level of phosphorylation in threonine residues in E2F4 protein or in a functionally equivalent variant. The invention also relates to the use of E2F4 or a functionally equivalent variant thereof, wherein the E2F4 or variant is phosphorylated in threonine as a marker of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or a cognitive disorder similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing or monitoring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a subject are provided. Particularly, provided is a specific antibody reactivity profile useful in diagnosing or monitoring SLE in a subject.