Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: A novel approach to the early detection of colorectal cancer (“CRC”), using a molecular diagnostic test to evaluate grossly normal-appearing colonic tissue for the early detection of colorectal cancer is disclosed. Such grossly normal-appearing colonic mucosal cells may be collected from non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures. The use of novel biomarker panels for drug screening also is disclosed. Such biomaker panels may be used wholly or in part as surrogate endpoints for monitoring effectiveness of a prospective drug in the intervention of pathologies, such as cancers, for example CRC, lung, prostate, and breast, and neurodegenerative diseases, for example Alzheimer's and ALS.

Abstract: A panel of biomarkers has been identified for analysis of colorectal cancer. The panel, originally identified using a mouse colon cancer model, has been used to assess changes in human tissue from surgical and biopsy samples against a normal human control panel of biomarkers. The panel may be used for providing a cost effective, rapid, noninvasive procedure for risk assessment, early diagnosis, establishing prognosis, monitoring patient treatment, detecting relapse, and for the discovery of therapeutic intervention of colorectal cancer.

Abstract: Novel peptides of the invention are dynorphin analogues and have similar activity to endogenous dynorphin, but are des-Tyr or des-Tyr-Gly with respect to endogenous dynorphin and have at least seven amino acid residues. The novel peptides have therapeutic uses, such as administration to a host tolerant to a narcotic analgesic in order to potentiate activity of the narcotic analgesic and/or to block withdrawal symptoms.

Abstract: A method of treatment for patients suffering from cerebral ischemia is provided by administering an opioid peptide. Particulary preferred is the administration of dynorphin, or dynorphin-related peptides, in the acid or amidated form. Practice of the invention is useful in prolonging survival.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating high blood pressure and disturbances of cardiac function by administering a therapeutically effective dosage of dynorphin-related opioid peptides, such as dynorphin(1-13) and dynorphin(1-10) amide, having at least ten amino acids linked sequentially by peptide bonds and with the five amino acids from the N-terminal end being the same as, or mimicking, Leu-enkephalin. Administration may be over a period of time, as for individuals with chronic high blood pressure, and may be by dispensing the medicament in aerosol form.

Abstract: Dynorphin(1-13) has been previously reported to antagonize the analgesia induced by narcotics in naive hosts. Novel compounds are provided which differ from dynorphin(1-13) by neither potentiating nor antagonizing narcotics, such as morphine, in naive animals. In tolerant hosts the new compounds potentiate narcotic or peptide induced analgesia, and in addition are less susceptible to degradation than dynorphin(1-13).Particularly preferred of the new compounds are polypeptides having ten amino acids with nitrogen containing moieties at both termini.

Abstract: A therapeutic method of using dynorphin comprises administering dynorphin to a host tolerant to narcotic analgesics. Practice of the therapeutic method provides that lower doses of a narcotic analgesic may be used, such as for patients requiring chronic treatment with narcotics to ease pain, and for treatment of narcotics addicts.