Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for identifying and/or treating a mammal (e.g., a human) having, or at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure). For example, methods and materials for identifying a mammal (e.g., a human) having, or at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure) by detecting the presence of a mutation in both copies of a KCNJ11 gene present in the mammal (e.g., a human) are provided. Methods and materials for treating a mammal (e.g., a human) identified as having, or as being at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure) also are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk for experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCT) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: A composition for delivering a biologic to a subject generally includes a particulate substrate and an mRNA encapsulated by the particulate substrate. In some cases, the mRNA bay be indirectly attached to the particulate substrate. The mRNA encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide. The composition may be delivered to a tissue of a subject to provide a therapeutic benefit to the tissue.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for making and using cardiopoetic stem cells. For example, methods and materials for delivering one or more nucleic acids (e.g., one or more RNAs) encoding one or more early mesodermal transcription factors to a stem cell to generate a cardiopoetic stem cell are provided.

Abstract: A platform for introducing a heterologous polynucleotide into a cell so that the cell can express the transcription product of the heterologous polynucleotide includes compositions and methods. The compositions generally include an encapsulating agent and a polynucleotide encapsulated with the encapsulating agent. The encapsulating agent can include a metallic nanoparticle. The polynucleotide includes at least one modification to inhibit degradation of the polynucleotide in cytosol of a cell. In various embodiments, the polynucleotide encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide or at least one therapeutic RNA. The method includes contacting a composition with a cell and allowing the cell to take up the composition.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk for experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and materials for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCT) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to generating human cells capable of producing insulin in response to glucose or GLP-1. For example, methods and materials for introducing nucleic acid vectors into human stem cells (e.g., human induced pluripotent stem cells) at particular stages of differentiation to create human cells having the ability to produce and secrete human insulin in response to glucose, GLP-1, or both glucose and GLP-1 as measured by a sensitive perifusion assay are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: A method of delivering exosomes and other micro vesicles to a biological target includes the steps of 1) providing blood, (2) separating plasma from the provided blood, and (3) separating the solution with the exosomes therefrom, (4) encapsulating the exosomes, and (5) delivering the exosomes. The step of encapsulation may be accomplished by water bead process, alginate bead process, spray drying bead formation, or plating. The biological target may be a human or animal heart, bone/joint, wound or skin. A method of encapsulating an exosome, a method of using an encapsulated exosome, compositions including encapsulated exosomes, and an encapsulated exosome per se are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embolic protection devices can be used to enhance the treatment of heart conditions such as, but not limited to, heart failure and aortic valve stenosis. For example, this document describes percutaneously-deployable intravascular embolic protection devices and methods for their use. The embolic protection devices can be used to capture and remove embolic materials that could otherwise cause adverse patient effects.

Abstract: A composition for delivering a biologic to a subject generally includes a particulate substrate and an mRNA encapsulated by the particulate substrate. In some cases, the mRNA bay be indirectly attached to the particulate substrate. The mRNA encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide. The composition may be delivered to a tissue of a subject to provide a therapeutic benefit to the tissue.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to induced pluripotent stem cells. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells, compositions containing induced pluripotent stem cells, methods for obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells, and methods for using induced pluripotent stem cells are provided. In addition, methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to repair tissue (e.g., cardiovascular tissue) in vivo as well as methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to assess their therapeutic potential in appropriate animal models are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to induced pluripotent stem cells. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells, compositions containing induced pluripotent stem cells, methods for obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells, and methods for using induced pluripotent stem cells are provided. In addition, methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to repair tissue (e.g., cardiovascular tissue) in vivo as well as methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to assess their therapeutic potential in appropriate animal models are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to differentiating iPS cells into glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny. For example, methods and material for using indolactam V (ILV) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to produce glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny from iPS cells are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved obtaining induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. For example, methods and materials for increasing the efficiency for making iPS cells as well as methods and materials for selecting iPS cells are provided.

Abstract: This document relates to compositions containing cardiogenic factors, to methods to obtain cells by culturing initial cells in the presence of such factors; and methods of administering the obtained cells to heart tissue.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to differentiating iPS cells into glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny. For example, methods and material for using indolactam V (ILV) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to produce glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny from iPS cells are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) are provided.