Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of stem cell biology, and in particular relates to a method for producing an isolated bona fide population of mammalian stem cells, and uses of the stem cells thus produced. Human glioblastomas (hGBMs) have now been shown to contain a minor subset of cells bearing the defining features of somatic stem cells (SCs) and the ability to establish, expand and perpetuate these tumors. They are defined stem-like tumor propagating cells (TPCs). This has caused a paradigmatic shift in the way we interpret hGBM physiology, for it identifies TPCs as a major culprit to be tackled for the development of novel therapeutics. It also suggests that studying the regulatory mechanisms of normal neurogenesis may point to specific inhibitors of TPCs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the therapeutic and diagnostic use in the treatment of diseases and disorders which are caused by or associated with neurofibrillary tangles. In particular, the invention relates to antibodies, which specifically recognize and bind to phosphorylated pathological protein tau-conformers and to methods and compositions involving said antibodies for the therapeutic and diagnostic use in the treatment of tauopathies including Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for treating or reducing the likelihood of the development of epilepsy in an individual. The method comprises administering to the central nervous system of an individual in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an agent capable of increasing the expression and/or activity of miR-128.

Abstract: The present invention is based in part methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. Specifically, the present invention disclose methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders suing neural stem cells (NSCs) and/or pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derived neurons or neuron precursor cells. The present invention also discloses methods to induce endogenous dopaminergic neurons to release dopamine and increase the levels of dopamine in a subject.

Abstract: A method for differentiating a human differentiated cell-derived pluripotent stem cell into a neural stem cell is provided, which includes the steps of: making an embryoid body from the human differentiated cell-derived pluripotent stem cell; and culturing the embryoid body in a medium containing LIF to differentiate into a neural stem cell, so that, when the neural stem cell is allowed to differentiate in vitro after multiple subculturing of the neural stem cell, it differentiate mainly into neurons but substantially not into glial cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of screening, diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) disorders such as Niemann-Pick disease. In particular, the methods encompass techniques for improved diagnosis and/or treatment of an ASM disorder, for example using enzyme replacement therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of angiogenin, or a fragment or variant thereof, to treat diseases or conditions characterized by neuronal injury or death, or axonal degeneration, especially neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The invention also describes a plurality of mutations of the human angiogenin gene which are associated with a neurodegenerative disease phenotype, and particularly a ALS phenotype. Also described is a method of assessing whether an individual is afflicted with, or generically predisposed to develop, a disease or condition characterized by neuronal injury or death, or axonal degeneration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide probes and antibodies for detecting Lrp4/Corin dopaminergic neuron progenitor cell markers, which enable the efficient separation of dopaminergic neuron progenitor cells; and methods for selecting the progenitor cells by the use thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing an engineered tissue scaffold for neural repair is described. The method includes tethering a hydrogel matrix seeded with tension-generating cells to a frame, and allowing the tension-generating cells to generate tension within the matrix, such that the cells self-align. The matrix may then be at least partially dehydrated to form a sheet. The tension-generating cells are stem cells capable of differentiating into cells having Schwann-cell-like properties, or are derived from such stem cells. In preferred embodiments, the cells are neural stem cells, for example conditionally immortalized neural stem cells of fetal cortex origin.

Abstract: The application relates to markers for seizures and epilepsy. Polypeptide expression panels or arrays are provided, comprising one or more probes capable of binding specific polypeptides in blood plasma or blood serum of a mammalian subject. Also provided are methods for detecting seizure, methods for predicting seizure, use of sICAM-5 in the treatment of seizure, methods for assessing the effectiveness of a treatment of seizure, and diagnostic kits.

Abstract: Neural outgrowth in the central nervous system is achieved by administering chondroitinase AC and/or chondroitinase B to degrade chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that inhibit or contribute to the inhibition of nervous tissue regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for isolating human neural stem cells from amniotic fluid of a patient whose fetus has been diagnosed to have a neural tube defect. Use of the isolated human neural stem cells in the treatment of neurological disorders is also provided.

Abstract: Non-invasive method for diagnosing or prognosing Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, or other dementia involving isolating astrocyte-derived exosomes (ADEs) and neuron-derived exosomes (NDEs) from a human biological sample (i.e., plasma, serum, urine or cerebrospinal fluid), analyzing cargo extracts of the ADEs and NDEs to detect at least one specified protein or microRNA biomarker, comparing the levels and activities of detected biomarker(s) to those in control samples to identify a statistically significant difference between the detected biomarker(s) and corresponding biomarker(s) in the control sample to determine presence of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, or other dementia; and testing effects of drugs on levels and activities of each biomarker, as well as effects of drugs administered to test subjects on levels and activities of each biomarker in ADEs and NDEs from subsequently obtained biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention identifies biomarkers that are diagnostic of nerve cell injury and/or neuronal disorders. Detection of different biomarkers of the invention are also diagnostic of the degree of severity of nerve injury, the cell(s) involved in the injury, and the subcellular localization of the injury.

Abstract: Methods for preconditioning and/or providing neuroprotection to the animal central nervous system against the effects of stoke, including associated cognitive, behavioral and physical impairments. Initially, a patient at risk for stroke is identified. Effective amounts of therapeutic agents are administered to the upper third of the at-risk patient's nasal cavity to bypass the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system directly to avoid unwanted and potentially lethal side effects. Therapeutic agents include those substances that interact with iron and/or copper such as iron chelators, copper chelators, and antioxidants. A particular example of a therapeutic agent is the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomarkers. More specifically, the present invention relates to biomarkers useful in diagnosing brain injuries. Brain injury can include overt or traumatic brain injury, as well as subclinical brain injury (SCI). In one embodiment, a method for diagnosing SCI in a patient comprises (a) collecting a sample from the patient; (b) measuring the levels of a panel of biomarkers in the sample collected from the patient, wherein the panel of biomarkers comprises ASTN1, BAI3, CNDP1, ERMIN, GFAP, GRM3, KLH32, MAGE2, NRG3, NRGN, OMG, SLC39A12, RTN1, and MT3; and (c) comparing the levels of the panel of biomarkers with predefined levels of the same panel of biomarkers that correlate to a patient having SCI and predefined levels of the same panel of biomarkers that correlate to a patient not having SCI, wherein a correlation to one of the predefined levels provides the diagnosis.

Abstract: Methods for preconditioning and/or providing neuroprotection to the animal central nervous system against the effects of cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therapeutic agents are administered to the upper third of the nasal cavity to bypass the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system directly to avoid unwanted and potentially lethal side effects. Therapeutic agents include those substances that interact with iron and/or copper such as iron chelators, copper chelators, and antioxidants. A particular example of such therapeutic agents is the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO). An effective amount of DFO may be administered to the upper third of the nasal cavity of a patient at risk for, or diagnosed with, cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The effective amount of DFO is delivered directly to the patient's central nervous system for preconditioning, preventing and/or treating the cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract: The invention relates to anti-Factor D antibodies, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, the cells and vectors that harbor these antibodies and their production and their use in the preparation of compositions and medicaments for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with excessive or uncontrolled complement activation. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating and/or reducing the severity of multiple sclerosis in a human, by administering autologous mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural precursors. Also described is an in vitro method for differentiating mesenchymal stem-cell derived neural precursor oligodengroglial and neuronal cell types.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a medical condition, disease, or disorder mediated by a misfolded form of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a subject in need of treatment. The method optionally comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an agent selected from (1) an exogenous antibody or fragment thereof that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (2) an immunogen that elicits production of an endogenous antibody that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (3) a nucleic acid sequence encoding (1) or (2). In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using amyotrophic disease-specific epitopes, and compositions including these epitopes. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to monomeric or misfolded SOD1, and not on the molecular surface of native homodimeric SOD1.