Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising classifying the subject into functional group FG1, FG2 or FG3, wherein i) when the subject is classified into the FG1 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is increased; (B) the subject is not treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B); and ii) when the subject is classified into the FG2 or FG3 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is decreased; (B) the subject is treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).

Abstract: A power control device for use in an AC power grid for regulating an electrical power a load that is supplied by the AC power grid consumes. The power control device has a frequency sensing functional block for detecting a deviation of the grid frequency from a nominal grid frequency and a logic functional block for performing a load adjustment process during which the power the load consumption is reduced. The load adjustment process is based at least in part on the variation of the frequency of the AC power grid. The load adjustment process is design such that for a plurality of power control devices the individual response produce a grid-wide effect that compensates imbalance between power generation and load in fashion that may reduce unwanted distortion in the AC power grid, such as flicker.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an electrical water heater as per a load shedding request signal are disclosed. A temperature sensor is positioned so as to measure a water temperature in a lower area of a tank of the water heater to be controlled. A controller continuously determines a salubrity index of the water heater as a function of the temperature measured by the sensor and a time measurement, and decides to interrupt an electrical power supply of the water heater through a switch so as to interrupt or not interrupt an operation of the water heater upon the load shedding request signal and only if the salubrity index meets a preestablished criterion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising classifying the subject into functional group FG1, FG2 or FG3, wherein i) when the subject is classified into the FG1 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is increased; (B) the subject is not treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B); and ii) when the subject is classified into the FG2 or FG3 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is decreased; (B) the subject is treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing a predisposition to developing a scoliosis (e.g., adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)) and identifying compounds for treating scoliosis based on the modulation of Gi protein-coupled receptor activity are described. Specific embodiments of the methods involve measuring a change in impedance signals of cells expressing a receptor coupled to a Gi protein with a ligand. To identify compounds useful in treatment, the cell is contacted with a test compound and a ligand. A higher impedance in the presence relative to the absence of said test compound is indicative that the test compound is useful for treating scoliosis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel molecular markers associated with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Accordingly, the present invention concerns novel methods of identifying subjects at risk of developing IS or suffering from IS and of genotyping and classifying IS subjects into genetic and functional groups. Also provided are compositions, DNA chips and kits for applying the methods.

Abstract: A power control device for use in an AC power grid for regulating an electrical power a load that is supplied by the AC power grid consumes. The power control device has a frequency sensing functional block for detecting a deviation of the grid frequency from a nominal grid frequency and a logic functional block for performing a load adjustment process during which the power the load consumption is reduced. The load adjustment process is based at least in part on the variation of the frequency of the AC power grid. The load adjustment process is design such that for a plurality of power control devices the individual response produce a grid-wide effect that compensates imbalance between power generation and load in fashion that may reduce unwanted distortion in the AC power grid, such as flicker.

Abstract: A method of predicting the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) comprising: (a) measuring the nuclear cellular level of prohibitin (PHB-1) in nucleated cells present in a blood sample from a subject having or suspected of having OA; and (b) comparing said nuclear cellular level to that corresponding to a control sample; and (c) identifying the subject as being at risk of developing OA when the nuclear cellular level of said PHB-1 in said blood sample is higher than in the control sample; and a composition for determining the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA), said composition comprising: a cell sample from a subject; and a non-naturally occurring molecule for detecting nuclear accumulation of PHB1.

Abstract: A method of classifying a subject having idiopathic scoliosis (IS) or at risk of developing IS comprising: determining the cellular response to Gi stimulation in a cell sample from the subject in the presence of OPN; determining the cellular response to Gi stimulation in a cell sample from the subject in the absence of OPN; and comparing the cellular response obtained in the presence of OPN with the cellular response obtained in the absence of OPN, whereby the comparing step enables the classification of the subject into one IS functional group. Also provided is the use of the foregoing method to classify borderline subjects and kits for applying the methods.

Abstract: A method of classifying a subject having idiopathic scoliosis (IS) or at risk of developing IS comprising: determining the cellular response to Gi stimulation in a cell sample from the subject in the presence of OPN; determining the cellular response to Gi stimulation in a cell sample from the subject in the absence of OPN; and comparing the cellular response obtained in the presence of OPN with the cellular response obtained in the absence of OPN, whereby the comparing step enables the classification of the subject into one IS functional group. Also provided is the use of the foregoing method to classify borderline subjects and kits for applying the methods.

Abstract: Kits for stratifying a subject having or at risk for developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) into diagnostically or clinically useful subclasses are provided. The stratification is based on the subject's Gi? protein serine phosphorylation profile and/or the degree of imbalance in G-protein coupled receptor responses to Gi? and Gs? protein stimulation. In some embodiments, the methods involve detecting or determining the level of serine phosphorylated Gi?1 and/or Gi?3 proteins in the cell sample, and/or determining a ratio between the response to Gi? protein stimulation and the response to Gs? protein stimulation from a biological sample from the subject. Kits for predicting the risk of an AIS subject for developing a severe scoliosis, for predicting the subject's responsiveness to bracing treatment, and for identifying therapeutically useful compounds are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the prevention or treatment of scoliosis in a human subject comprising: (a)(i) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from the subject over time; or (ii) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from the subject and comparing the OPN protein expression to an OPN protein expression in a control biological fluid sample; (b) identifying the subject as being at risk of developing scoliosis when OPN protein expression increases in the subject sample over time; or when OPN protein expression is higher in the subject sample than that in the control sample; and (c) reducing OPN protein levels in the subject identified as being at risk of developing a scoliosis, thereby aiding in the prevention or treatment of scoliosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising classifying the subject into functional group FG1, FG2 or FG3, wherein i) when the subject is classified into the FG1 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is increased; (B) the subject is not treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B); and ii) when the subject is classified into the FG2 or FG3 functional group, (A) the level of OPN or the activity of OPN in said subject is decreased; (B) the subject is treated with a brace; or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of determining the risk of developing a scoliosis based on the presence of at least one copy of a CD44 risk allele; methods of stratifying a subject having a scoliosis; methods of treating subjects having a scoliosis and compositions and kits for performing these methods.

Abstract: Methods of stratifying a subject having or at risk for developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) into diagnostically or clinically useful subclasses are provided. The stratification is based on the subject's PTP? expression and/or activity and/or PIPK1? expression and/or activity. Also provided are methods of predicting the risk of developing a scoliosis also based on the subject's PTP? expression and/or activity and/or PIPK1? expression and/or activity; and methods of increasing GiPCR signaling in cells of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject's cells an effective amount of an inhibitor of PIPK1? tyrosine phosphorylation; an activator of PIPK1Y tyrosine dephosphorylation; and/or an inhibitor of PIPK1? expression and/or activity.

Abstract: There is provided a method of increasing GIPCR signalization in the cells of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor of integrin alpha5beta1 expression and/or activity, whereby GiPCR signalization is increased in the cells of the subject. An inhibitor of integrin alph5beta1 may be, for example, an agent that inhibits the interaction between f osteopontin (OPN) and integrin alpha5beta1. Also provided are methods of determining the risk of developing a scoliosis and based on the presence of at least one copy of a CD44 risk allele and methods of stratifying a subject having a scoliosis and kits for performing these methods. In particular, the method of determining risk identifies SNP rs1467558; an isoleucine to threonine mutation at position 230 of CD44.

Abstract: A method of predicting the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) comprising: (a) measuring the nuclear cellular level of prohibitin (PHB-1) in nucleated cells present in a blood sample from a subject having or suspected of having OA; and (b) comparing said nuclear cellular level to that corresponding to a control sample; and (c) identifying the subject as being at risk of developing OA when the nuclear cellular level of said PHB-1 in said blood sample is higher than in the control sample; and a composition for determining the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA), said composition comprising: a cell sample from a subject; and a non-naturally occurring molecule for detecting nuclear accumulation of PHB1.

Abstract: Methods of stratifying a subject having or at risk for developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) into diagnostically or clinically useful subclasses are provided. The stratification is based on the subject's PTP? expression and/or activity and/or PIPK1? expression and/or activity. Also provided are methods of predicting the risk of developing a scoliosis also based on the subject's PTP? expression and/or activity and/or PIPK1? expression and/or activity; and methods of increasing GiPCR signaling in cells of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject's cells an effective amount of an inhibitor of PIPK1? tyrosine phosphorylation; an activator of PIPK1Y tyrosine dephosphorylation; and/or an inhibitor of PIPK1? expression and/or activity.

Abstract: A composition for classifying a human pediatric subject having adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), comprising (a) a cell sample of the subject; and (b) a known melatonin-signaling pathway agonist, wherein said melatonin signaling pathway in said cell sample has been artificially induced by said melatonin-signaling pathway agonist, wherein the cell sample is selected from the group consisting of blood cell sample, osteoblast cell sample, osteoclast cell sample and myoblast cell sample, and whereby the composition enables the detection of the presence or absence of at least one impairment in the melatonin-signaling pathway in cells from said cell sample and thereby enables the classification of subject.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a subject is at risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA), said method comprising: determining the cellular localization of a Prohibitin-1 (PHB1) polypeptide and/or Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) polypeptide and/or UBC9, in a cell sample from said subject; and determining whether said subject is at risk of developing OA based on the cellular localization of a PHB1 polypeptide and/or SUMO and/or UBC9 polypeptide, is described.