Abstract: Methods for prognosis and diagnosis of pancreatic cysts are disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to the use of biomarkers from pancreatic cyst fluid to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of pancreatic cysts. More specifically, differential expression of certain metabolites, including glucose and kynurenine, and the protein, amphiregulin, is used to distinguish benign, pre-malignant, and malignant pancreatic cysts.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating pain and for reducing the excitability of nociceptors, comprising administering a TGF-? antagonist. In some embodiments, a TGF-? antagonist is a monoclonal TGF-? neutralizing antibody or a fusion product comprising a monoclonal TGF-? neutralizing antibody, a soluble receptor, an antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), a ribozymes, a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), Smad 6, Smad7, or a small molecule that blocks TGF-? signaling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to the treatment of gastroparesis by administering sepiapterin.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for treatment of metabolic and/or gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders and, more particularly, to surgical methods and devices for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and Barrett's Esophagus. Even more particularly, the present disclosure pertains to methods and devices for disrupting or removing cells from the GI tract, and methods and devices for harvesting cells from one section of the GI tract and implanting those cells in another section of the GI tract.

Abstract: Instruments, systems, implants, and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, and a mucosal resection device. A submucosal implant device for diagnosing and treating disorders of the body may be implanted. A passive submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery depot in which a therapeutic agent within the depot elutes from the depot according to a predetermined elution profile. An active submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery device that incorporates a self-contained diagnostic system to determine the appropriate delivery time and dosage of a therapeutic agent to be administered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing electrical stimulation to a liver of a subject which includes providing one or more stimulatory electrodes to the liver of the subject and providing electrical stimulation to the liver of the subject. The invention further relates to methods of reducing risk factors of metabolic syndrome, treating diabetes, treating a subject having eating disorders and reducing glucose levels of a subject using methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating pain and for reducing the excitability of nociceptors, comprising administering a TGF-? antagonist. In some embodiments, a TGF-? antagonist is a monoclonal TGF-? neutralizing antibody or a fusion product comprising a monoclonal TGF-? neutralizing antibody, a soluble receptor, an antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), a ribozymes, a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), Smad 6, Smad7, or a small molecule that blocks TGF-? signaling.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of treating an individual having irritable bowel syndrome or a related disorder, comprising the step of administering to said individual a pharmacologically effective dose of a luminally active anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive compound with minimal or no systemic side effects. Further provided is a method of inhibiting the onset of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or a related disorder in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the step of administering to the individual a prophylactically effective dose of a luminally active anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive compound with minimal or no systemic side effects.

Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.

Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.

Abstract: One of the major disabling symptoms of gastroparesis is nausea and vomiting which can be difficult to control with currently available treatments. It is postulated that signaling of gastrointestinal causes of nausea starts with activation of vagal afferent nerves that trigger the central emetic pathway. Most vagal afferent nerves are unmyelinated C-fibers, many of which express the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 and respond to capsaicin. Resiniferatoxin is a very potent capsaicin analogue that has a much more favorable ratio of desensitization to excitation than capsaicin leading to more effective desensitization without irritation. The present invention describes methods of alleviating acute or chronic nausea, vomiting by the administration of resiniferatoxin.

Abstract: Instruments, systems, implants, and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, and a mucosal resection device. A submucosal implant device for diagnosing and treating disorders of the body may be implanted. A passive submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery depot in which a therapeutic agent within the depot elutes from the depot according to a predetermined elution profile. An active submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery device that incorporates a self-contained diagnostic system to determine the appropriate delivery time and dosage of a therapeutic agent to be administered.

Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.

Abstract: Instruments, systems, implants, and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, and a mucosal resection device. A submucosal implant device for diagnosing and treating disorders of the body may be implanted. A passive submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery depot in which a therapeutic agent within the depot elutes from the depot according to a predetermined elution profile. An active submucosal implant device may take the form of a drug delivery device that incorporates a self-contained diagnostic system to determine the appropriate delivery time and dosage of a therapeutic agent to be administered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of lie detection utilizing electrogastrography to monitor changes in the gastric electric rhythm of a subject. Also provided are methods of discriminating between the stress of deception induced in a subject during a lie detection examination and the stress of the examination itself.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing electrical stimulation to a liver of a subject which includes providing one or more stimulatory electrodes to the liver of the subject and providing electrical stimulation to the liver of the subject. The invention further relates to methods of reducing risk factors of metabolic syndrome, treating diabetes, treating a subject having eating disorders and reducing glucose levels of a subject using methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses that diabetic rats showed a reduction in nitrergic relaxation of the gastric, impaired nNOS dimerization, decreased BH4 and GTPCH1 levels and thus, are more susceptible to develop diabetic gastroparesis. The use of tetrahydrobiopterin and its derivatives and sex steroid hormones as disclosed herein provides a novel strategy for therapeutic intervention of diabetic gastroparesis and any other gut-related diseases. Additionally, the present invention also discloses methods to determine risk of developing gastroparesis in an individual that are drawn to detecting variations in the activity and levels of GCH gene and in gene encoding sex steroid hormone receptor.

Abstract: A method of providing electrical stimulation to a liver of a subject includes providing one or more stimulatory electrodes to the liver of the subject and providing electrical stimulation to the liver of the subject. The method further relates to methods of reducing risk factors of metabolic syndrome, treating diabetes, treating a subject having eating disorders and reducing glucose levels of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of treating diabetic gastroparesis by administering tetrahydrobiopterin or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the treatment of chronic pain that occurs in chronic disease such as chronic pancreatitis by the application, of the drug, resiniferatoxin, to a visceral organ, such as the stomach, which then reduces the pain present in a second visceral organ, such as the pancreas. The reduction of said pain associated with the chronic disease occurs through the drug-induced desensitization of primary pain-sensing neurons that are shared between the two visceral organs. Additionally, application of the drug resiniferatoxin into the first organ, reduces the inflammation that occurs in the second diseased organ. This modulation of shared nerve activity by application of resiniferatoxin, may also be directed to modulate the pain and inflammation in any two visceral organs that share a common spinal or vagal nerve. Finally, application of the drug resiniferatoxin to either the stomach or the jejunum may be used to treat disease and disorders that involve gastroparesis.