Abstract: The invention is based on the surprising discovery that as few as one episode of blast exposure increases the risk of CTE. Blast exposure is associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, impaired neuronal function, and persistent cognitive deficits in blast-exposed military veterans and experimental animals. Early diagnosis and assessment of risk permits physicians to prescribe treatment to reduce or slow progression of impairment before the onset of overt symptoms that become apparent decades after an initial insult or trauma to brain tissue. The invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosis and prognosis of individuals at risk of long term complications related to blast injury or concussive injury.

Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing tumors in mammals using a reagent that bind to LEDGF/p75 or to a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75. For example, the tumor may be located in the CNS, the prostate, the skin, the bone marrow, or the gut of the mammal. Also provided are methods for diagnosing brain tumors such as medulloblastomas, meningiomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas multiforme, and ependymomas by examining LEDGF/p75 or a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75 localization. The invention also involves methods for diagnosing cancers involving cancerous epithelial cells such as colon cancer. The instant invention also provides methods for isolating stem cells from a heterogeneous population of cells, as well as methods for identifying neuroepithelial stem cells, newly differentiated neurons, and astrocytes in a subject.

Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.

Abstract: A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring a mammalian amyloidogenic disorder or a predisposition thereto by detecting a protein or polypeptide aggregate in the cortical and/or supranuclear regions of an ocular lens of the mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing tumors in mammals using a reagent that bind to LEDGF/p75 or to a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75. For example, the tumor may be located in the CNS, the prostate, the skin, the bone marrow, or the gut of the mammal. Also provided are methods for diagnosing brain tumors such as medulloblastomas, meningiomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas multiforme, and ependymomas by examining LEDGF/p75 or a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75 localization. The invention also involves methods for diagnosing cancers involving cancerous epithelial cells such as colon cancer. The instant invention also provides methods for isolating stem cells from a heterogeneous population of cells, as well as methods for identifying neuroepithelial stem cells, newly differentiated neurons, and astrocytes in a subject.

Abstract: The invention provides ophthalmic formulations of Amyloid-? contrast agents. Also provided are methods of using such formulations in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or a predisposition thereto as well as methods for the prognosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The invention features a method of diagnosing or providing a prognosis regarding the state of Alzheimer's Disease in a mammal by contacting an ocular tissue with a detectably-labeled compound, which binds to an amyloid protein. An increase in binding of the compound to the ocular tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: Described are methods for the identification of agents useful in the treatment or prevention of cataracts. Also described are methods for the identification of agents that may inadvertently promote or accelerate the formation of cataracts, and methods of treating or preventing injuries to or diseases of the ocular lens, retina and/or macula. More specifically, the invention describes methods for the identification of pharmacological agents useful in treating cataracts by inhibiting the cross-linking of eye lens proteins.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring a mammalian amyloidogenic disorder or a predisposition thereto by detecting a protein or polypeptide aggregate in the cortical and/or supranuclear regions of an ocular lens of the mammal.

Abstract: The invention features a method of diagnosing or providing a prognosis regarding the state of Alzheimer's Disease in a mammal by contacting an ocular tissue with a detectably-labeled compound, which binds to an amyloid protein. An increase in binding of the compound to the ocular tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The invention features a method of diagnosing or providing a prognosis regarding the state of Alzheimer's Disease in a mammal by contacting an ocular tissue with a detectably-labeled compound, which binds to an amyloid protein. An increase in binding of the compound to the ocular tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The invention features a method of diagnosing or providing a prognosis regarding the state of Alzheimer's Disease in a mammal by contacting an ocular tissue with a detectably-labeled compound, which binds to an amyloid protein. An increase in binding of the compound to the ocular tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring a mammalian amyloidogenic disorder or a predisposition thereto by detecting a protein or polypeptide aggregate in the cortical and/or supranuclear regions of an ocular lens of the mammal.