Abstract: Methods for treating pediatric patients with systemic mastocytosis are described by administering midostaurin.

Abstract: An implantable or injectable scaffold comprising immunostimulatory compounds and a suppressor of regulatory T cell induction is provided for use in immunotherapy treatments, including the treatment of cancers and other tumors, in particular solid tumors including inoperable tumors, as well as for other applications of immune enhancement and/or suppression.

Abstract: An implantable or injectable scaffold comprising immunostimulatory compounds and a suppressor of regulatory T cell induction is provided for use in immunotherapy treatments, including the treatment of cancers and other tumors, in particular solid tumors including inoperable tumors, as well as for other applications of immune enhancement and/or suppression.

Abstract: A microparticle is described comprising an antigen and a costimulatory component derived from an antigen presenting cell. The microparticle may be used for stimulating T cells ex vivo, followed by administration to a subject, e.g., as part of a personalized, customized therapeutic treatment of cancer or a tumor, an autoimmune disease or an allergic reaction, hypersensitivity reaction, an infection or infectious disease, an injury or other damage, a transplant or other surgical site, or a blood clot. It may also be used for the controlled release of a cytokine for the regulation of immunity in general and for other therapeutic uses. Methods of treating a disease or medical condition in a subject by exposing leukocytes from the subject to the microparticle, then reinfusing the leukocytes into the subject are provided. Methods of preparing an activated cytotoxic T cell population specific for an antigen are also provided.

Abstract: Synthetic liposomal nanoparticles comprising a cell-free transcription and translation machinery, a plasmid encoding a cytokine, and a regulatable caged ATP molecule, as well as microparticles encasing the synthetic liposomal nanoparticles and methods of making and using the synthetic liposomal nanoparticles, are described herein. These liposomal nanoparticles may be used for the controlled release o a cytokine within a localized environment of, for example a tumor, as part of a therapeutic treatment of cancer, or for localized treatment at a focus of interest of an autoimmune disease, an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity reaction, a localized site of an infection or infectious disease, a localized site of an injury or other damage, a transplant or other surgical site, or a blood clot. Further, microparticles produced by encapsulating hundreds of liposomal nanoparticles, and their therapeutic uses, are also described.

Abstract: Methods are described for treating systemic fungal and mycobacterial infections by treatment to enhances a Th1 response, reduces a Th2 response, or the combination thereof. Agents that antagonize the IL-4, the IL-13 receptor, or the combination thereof achieve the desired results.

Abstract: Methods for treating pediatric patients with systemic mastocytosis are described by administering midostaurin.

Abstract: A method of testing for specificity and strength of an allergic reaction is performed by penetrating the skin of an individual with the microneedle array comprising a plurality of epitopes and determining the response of the skin to the allergens. The response can be measured with a thermal imaging device. Analysis, and optionally treatment, can be provided to the individual.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: A method of testing for specificity and strength of an allergic reaction is performed by penetrating the skin of an individual with the microneedle array comprising a plurality of epitopes and determining the response of the skin to the allergens. The response can be measured with a thermal imaging device. Analysis, and optionally treatment, can be provided to the individual.

Abstract: A high-bandwidth AFM probe having a diffraction grating characterized by a diffraction characteristic that monotonically changes along the length of the diffraction grating is disclosed. AFM probes in accordance with the present invention are capable of high-sensitivity performance over a broad range of operating conditions, such as operating wavelength and measurement media. A method for estimating at least one physical property of a surface based on high-frequency signal components in the output signal from a high-bandwidth AFM probe is also disclosed. The method enables determination of tip-surface interaction forces based on the relationship between a first motion of the base of the AFM probe and a second motion of the tip of the AFM probe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: A microfluidic detection device is provided that includes a planar waveguide, or an ion-exchange planar waveguide, a microfluidic channel disposed on the planar waveguide, a light source, such as a laser, LED or incandescent light, directed through the planar waveguide, a labeled cell disposed in the microfluidic channel, where the labeled cell lies in an evanescent field extending from the planar waveguide, and a light detector disposed to receive light from the light source through the planar waveguide. The evanescent field interacts with the labeled cell, where the light through the planar waveguide is altered according to a presence of the labeled cell in the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: Techniques for atomic force microscope manipulation of living cells include functionalizing a nanoscale tip of a microscale cantilever with a first ligand for a first receptor associated with a surface of a first type of cell. The method further comprises controlling the cantilever to cause the first ligand on the nanoscale tip to contact the first receptor on a surface of a living cell of the first type in a particular temporal pattern to induce a target response by the living cell. Other techniques for controlling an atomic force microscope comprising a nanoscale tip include controlling the cantilever to cause the nanoscale tip to contact a living cardiomyocyte at a predetermined pressure. The cantilever is also controlled to turn off vertical deflection feedback after contacting the cardiomyocyte and collecting deflection data that indicates a time series of nanoscale vertical deflections of the microscale cantilever caused by the living cardiomyocyte.

Abstract: Techniques for atomic force microscope manipulation of living cells include functionalizing a nanoscale tip of a microscale cantilever with a first ligand for a first receptor associated with a surface of a first type of cell. The method further comprises, controlling the cantilever to cause the first ligand on the nanoscale tip to contact the first receptor on a surface of a living cell of the first type in a particular temporal pattern to induce a target response by the living cell. Other techniques for controlling an atomic force microscope comprising a nanoscale tip include controlling the cantilever to cause the nanoscale tip to contact a living cardiomyocyte at a predetermined pressure. The cantilever is also controlled to turn off vertical deflection feedback after contacting the cardiomyocyte and collecting deflection data that indicates a time series of nanoscale vertical deflections of the microscale cantilever caused by the living cardiomyocyte.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Abstract: Disclosed are an assay to identify modulators of the PD-1:PD-L pathway and PD-1:PD-L pathway modulators, e.g., compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods for treating diseases influenced by modulation of the PD-1:PD-L pathway such as, for example, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, allergies, transplant rejection, cancer, immune deficiency, and other immune system-related disorders, are also disclosed.