Abstract: The present invention provides devices, kits, and methods for determining the zinc level in a fluid sample of a subject. Such determination is useful in screening for the presence of or the increased risk of having prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining if an individual is at risk for prostate cancer. The methods measures and compares free and/or bound zinc levels in a semen sample or prostatic fluid, including post massage expressed prostatic fluid, in the potential at risk individual with normal levels. A decrease in zinc level is indicative of a risk for prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining if an individual is at risk for prostate cancer. The methods measures and compares free and/or bound zinc levels in a semen sample or prostatic fluid, including post massage expressed prostatic fluid, in the potential at risk individual with normal levels. A decrease in zinc level is indicative of a risk for prostate cancer.

Abstract: Concentrations of free (or unbound, exchangeable, etc.) zinc in liquids can be rapidly measured by a metering device. The meter comprises an enclosure and frame, a receptacle that will hold cuvettes or other liquid sample holders, a light source with an activating (excitatory) wavelength, a photodetector to detect fluorescent emissions at a different wavelength, and circuitry for creating signals based on photodetector measurements. The measurements use any of several fluorophore reagents that generate increased fluorescence intensity when bound to available zinc in a liquid. Each fluorophore has its own zinc response traits. This requires a different response curve to be determined and used for each fluorophore, to allow fluorescent measurements using a specific fluorophore to be correlated with zinc concentrations. Stand-alone operations, interactions with computers, calibration cuvettes, and disposable supplies are described.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for in vivo mapping of concentration of a target metal ion in at least one tissue using a contrast agent selectively sensitive for the amount of target metal ion where the contrast agent itself contains a non-hydrogen imaging nucleus. Also provided a method of diagnosing a disease state and of monitoring the efficacy of a therapeutic regimen to treat the disease state using the magnetic resonance imaging methods.

Abstract: Provided herein are zintrodes to measure intracranial free zinc levels in an individual or free zinc levels in solution. The zintrodes and multitrodes comprise a zinc chelator and a fluorophore or may comprise only a zinc-chelating fluorophore, an optical fiber having an optical tip, and a means of entrapping the zinc chelator and the fluorophore or the zinc-chelating fluorophore proximate to the optical tip within the zintrode. The zintrode may comprise a multitrode. Also provided are methods of real-time buffering of zinc ion levels in vivo in brain tissue to treat an excitotoxic neural injury using the zintrodes and multitrodes described herein. Additionally, provided herein are a system and method to measure pZn in solution.