Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for assessing and/or treating mammals (e.g., humans) having arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis). For example, the presence of distinct metabolite signatures in a sample obtained from a mammal (e.g., a human) having arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) can be used to determine the disease activity status of the arthritis. Also provided are materials and methods for treating mammals (e.g., a human) having arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).

Abstract: Metagenome data can be obtained for a stool sample of the individual. An indication of presence of a microbial species in the stool sample of the individual can be determined based on the metagenome data for each microbial species of a pre-defined set of microbial species. Based on the indications of presence of the microbial species from the pre-defined set of microbial species, a relative presence of microbial species can be determined from a first pre-defined subset of the pre-defined set of microbial species to microbial species from a second pre-defined subset of the pre-defined set of microbial species. An assessment of the gut health of the individual can be provided based on the relative presence of microbial species in the stool sample from the first pre-defined subset to microbial species from the second pre-defined subset.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to identify various types of brain cancer tissue by comparing gene expression transcriptomes in tissue samples. A sequential method to discriminate among six different types of brain cancer is described. The invention relates to the field of markers for various types of brain cancer. More particularly, it relies on a sequential system for sorting individual cancer types.