Abstract: The invention relates to aptamer-regulated, ligand-responsive nucleic acids, or “ampliSwitches,” and uses thereof. Particular embodiments include a ligand-responsive nucleic acid that comprises a primer sequence domain and an aptamer domain that is responsive to a ligand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the in vitro detection and/or differentiation and/or progress observation of pathophysiological conditions with the aid of sample nucleic acids, including determination of gene activities by means of a plurality of polynucleotides, determination of gene activities of at least one internal reference gene, and formation of an index value from the single determined normalized gene activities of a multigene biomarker indicating the pathophysiological condition.

Abstract: A method of double crossover homologous recombination in a host cell comprising: a first homologous recombination event between a donor DNA molecule comprising a first element of a selectable allele and an acceptor DNA molecule comprising a second element of the selectable allele in the host cell, thereby to form a product of the first homologous recombination event in the host cell; and a second homologous recombination event within the product of the first homologous recombination event, thereby to form a product of the second homologous recombination event in the host cell which confers a selectable phenotype on the host cell, wherein the selectable phenotype arises following and in dependency on the formation of a selectable allele from the first and second elements of the selectable allele.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and compositions effective in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human hematopoietic cancers. In particular, the disclosure provides tumor-associated genes that encode for cytokine receptors that are differentially expressed in hematopoietic tumor cells of myeloid origin compared with other cells, e.g., normal stem cells.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of generating conditionally active biologic proteins from wild type proteins, in particular therapeutic proteins, which are reversibly or irreversibly inactivated at the wild type normal physiological conditions. For example, evolved proteins are virtually inactive at body temperature, but are active at lower temperatures.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and compositions effective in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human hematopoietic cancers. In particular, the disclosure provides tumor-associated genes that encode for cytokine receptors that are differentially expressed in hematopoietic tumor cells of myeloid origin compared with other cells, e.g., normal stem cells.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a subject are provided, such methods including detecting the levels of expression of multiple polypeptide biomarkers in a biological sample obtained from the subject and comparing the levels of expression with predetermined threshold levels. Levels of expression of at least two of the polypeptide markers that are above the predetermined threshold levels are indicative of the presence of prostate cancer in the subject. Determination of the expression levels of specific combinations of biomarkers can also be used to determine the type and/or stage of prostate cancer.

Abstract: A non-invasive blood pressure system is disclosed herein. The non-invasive blood pressure system includes a pressure transducer configured to obtain pressure data comprising a transient baseline effects component. The non-invasive blood pressure system also includes a processor adapted to receive the pressure data from the pressure transducer. The processor is configured to generate a transient baseline effects model, and to implement the transient baseline effects model to at least partially remove the transient baseline effects component of the pressure data. The removal of the transient baseline effects component from the pressure data eliminates a potential source of error and thereby enables a more accurate blood pressure estimate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of screening an enhancer and/or a promoter, includes culturing a host cell into which an amplifiable vector is introduced, extracting the vector from the host cell and obtaining the DNA fragment from the extracted vector, wherein the vector includes a DNA fragment to be determined, a gene that is functionally linked downstream of the DNA fragment and encodes a protein to initiate self-replication, and a gene that encodes a replication origin sequence.

Abstract: Bacteriophages in general and lambda phage in particular are powerful, flexible reagents who have yet to be exploited to their full potential. As discussed herein, the lambda phage head and/or genome comprises an easy to use and highly efficient delivery vehicle for delivering the expression products of a gene of interest systemically or to a particular tissue.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a subject are provided, such methods including detecting the levels of expression of multiple polypeptide biomarkers in a biological sample obtained from the subject and comparing the levels of expression with predetermined threshold levels. Levels of expression of at least two of the polypeptide markers that are above the predetermined threshold levels are indicative of the presence of prostate cancer in the subject. Determination of the expression levels of specific combinations of biomarkers can also be used to determine the type and/or stage of prostate cancer.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a subject are provided, such methods including detecting the levels of expression of multiple polypeptide biomarkers in a biological sample obtained from the subject and comparing the levels of expression with predetermined threshold levels. Levels of expression of at least two of the polypeptide markers that are above the predetermined threshold levels are indicative of the presence of prostate cancer in the subject. Determination of the expression levels of specific combinations of biomarkers can also be used to determine the type and/or stage of prostate cancer.

Abstract: Signatures indicative of cancer grades are based on over- and under-expression of 214 genes that characterize expression patterns in CD133+ cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides screening kits, compositions, and diagnostic methods for determining whether a subject has a predisposition to, or likelihood of having, a substance use disorder by determining a nucleic acid methylation profile from a biological sample from the subject, wherein a given profile indicates that the subject has a predisposition to a substance use disorder.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring, and determining the efficacy of, a treatment for prostate cancer in a subject are provided, such methods including detecting the levels of expression of multiple polypeptide biomarkers in biological samples obtained from the subject prior to, and during, a course of treatment. Specific patterns of changes in the expression of the polypeptide biomarkers are indicative of the effectiveness of the treatment in the subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing erythrocytes from hematopoietic cells, particularly hematopoietic cells from placental perfusate in combination with hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood, wherein the method results in accelerated expansion and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells to more efficiently produce administrable erythrocytes. Further provided herein is a bioreactor in which hematopoietic cell expansion and differentiation takes place.

Abstract: This invention relates to biomimetic implants containing mammalian cells which are induced by their environment to produce gradients of diffusible factors. This may be useful in eliciting a physiological pro-angiogenic response which stimulates angiogenesis and revascularisation in tissue adjacent the implant, for example in therapeutic applications in which increased angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis is required. This may also be useful in providing biomimetic mammalian cell niches for cell culture and differentiation.

Abstract: An in vitro or ex vivo method of producing a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage, including the steps of providing a population of haematopoietic progenitor cells; and culturing the haematopoietic progenitor cells in an animal cell culture medium including one or more cytokines that differentiate the haematopoietic progenitor cells into lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor and/or mature haematopoietic cells, under static conditions until the cells are at a cell density at which oxygen transfer via the surface of the culture medium is insufficient for growth of the progenitor cells and progeny thereof under static conditions, and then agitating the culture medium to produce a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new, non-invasive method for detecting chromosomal aneuploidy by analyzing a sample from a pregnant woman. The detection is based on the ratio between the amount of a fetal methylation marker located on a chromosome relevant to the aneuploidy and the amount of a fetal genetic marker located on a reference chromosome, offering improved accuracy.

Abstract: A multifunctional invasive cardiovascular diagnostic measurement host is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc, and provides a multi-mode graphical user interface providing a plurality of displays in accordance with the various types of sensors and measurements rendered by the sensors.