Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for practicing Relational Fitness abilities. A relational fitness development and fundraising tool includes a server having a processor and a memory, a storage system in communication with the processor and storing challenge activity information, and a collaboration, reporting, and payment application stored in the memory and including a graphical user interface (GUI) module and a rule module. The processor executes the GUI and rule modules to selectively operate the application in a daily challenge mode, a training mode, a tournament mode, and a fundraising mode, where all of the operational modes involve user athletes completing relational fitness challenge activities in exchange for points and/or for fundraising dollars on behalf of a beneficiary. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a seat assembly cooperates with an isolation member to isolate a well first portion from a well second portion and comprises one of a recess or a chamber to receive an explosive charge. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery may also be received into the same or other recess(es) or chamber(s) to trigger detonation, or a tool may be run into the well to engage and detonate the explosive charge. The seat assembly is secured in the well casing by at least one deployable gripping component and it resists deformation under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the seat and an isolation member sealably engaged therewith. Detonation of the explosive charge disables the at least one gripping component, thereby enabling retrieval of a body of the seat assembly to the surface using a tool coupled to a wireline or a coiled tubing string.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting the sample concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and the sample concentration of soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) to determine if a subject has or is at risk for developing cardiovascular disease or a complication of previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a needle, a pusher, a distal anchor having a distal end, a proximal end, a plurality of radially expandable members between the distal end and the proximal end, and a central bore, and an artificial chordae having a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating in a stopper. The pusher is disposed within a bore of the needle for movement between a delivery position and a deployed position. The distal anchor is disposed within the bore of the needle in a delivery configuration and movable between a delivery position and a deployed position. The artificial chordae is disposed within the bore of the distal anchor with the stopper distal to a distal end of the stopper and the proximal portion proximal to the proximal end of the distal anchor. The distal anchor is reconfigurable from the delivery configuration to a deployed configuration.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The anchor points of the artificial chordae can be offset from the apex of the heart to achieve a targeted force vector on the annulus. In addition, some embodiments include distal anchors implanted in the posterior leaflet in addition to those at the posterior annulus. This allows differential tensioning to be applied to provide for greater flexibility in treating various configurations of mitral valves to improve coaptation.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a handle, an actuator, a pusher device, and a puncture member. A distal anchor is disposed at a distal end portion of an artificial chorda, or suture, and is in a delivery configuration. The artificial chorda, or suture, is coupled to the actuator and extends through a lumen of the puncture member. The actuator can be actuated to move the puncture member distally a preset distance, and to move the pusher device distally such that at least a portion of the distal anchor is moved distal to the distal end of the puncture member and the distal anchor is moved from its delivery configuration to a deployed configuration.

Abstract: An embodiment of an isolation member cooperates with an isolation member seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The isolation member material may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the isolation member is resistant to deformation within the isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the isolation member to prevent the isolation member from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: An embodiment of an assembly includes an isolation member and an isolation member seat to together isolate a first portion of a well casing from a second portion of the well casing. The isolation member comprises an exterior surface including at least one of a ceramic material, metallic glass, a reactive metal or a PGA material, and the isolation member includes an interior chamber to receive an explosive device. The explosive device may be surrounded by a non-compressible fluid, and may include a pressure sensor, a processor, a battery and an explosive charge. The ceramic, metallic glass and reactive metal and may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, Bulk metallic Glass, silicon nitride, tungsten carbide, reactive metal alloy or PGA salt. The isolation member is resistant to deformation within an isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat.

Abstract: An embodiment of an isolation member cooperates with an isolation member seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The isolation member material may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the isolation member is resistant to deformation within the isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the isolation member to prevent the isolation member from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: An embodiment of a ceramic isolation ball is provided to cooperate with a ball seat to isolate a first portion of a well drilled into the earth's crust from a second portion of the well. Embodiments of the ball of the present invention are comprised of a ceramic material with excellent resistance to deformation when received into a ball seat and subjected to very high pressure differentials tending to force the ball into the ball seat to isolate a portion of a borehole below or beyond the ball and ball seat from a portion of the borehole above or before the ball and ball seat. Embodiments of the ball of the present invention include a hollow interior and a hole that receives a plug to close the hollow interior to prevent fluid intrusion therein. The ball is used to isolate a portion of a well during high-pressure fracturing operations.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fracking ball cooperates with a ball seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The ball material, may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the ball is resistant to deformation within the ball seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the ball and ball seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the ball to prevent the ball from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: This invention relates to the area of cardiovascular disorders and specifically relates to methods of diagnostic tests using a combination of markers to predict an individual's risk for developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and related diseases, such as angina pectoris and peripheral vascular disease and, more particularly, to determine an individual's risk of myocardial infarction, death, and stroke. Exemplary biomarkers include C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrin degradation products (FDPs), Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70), and/or anti-CMV antibody.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.

Abstract: A coating system is applied to a ceramic evaporator boat to extend the life of the boat. The coating system includes a ceramic layer is applied over the surface of an evaporator boat reservoir. Optionally, a refractory metal layer is applied as an intermediate layer between the surface of the evaporator boat reservoir and the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is form of a ceramic material selected from metal borides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal oxides, and combinations thereof, and wherein the metal component of the ceramic material is selected from zirconium, aluminum, titanium, silicon, tantalum, vanadium, and combinations thereof. The resulting coating system reduces corrosion and/or erosion that occur primarily in the reservoir region of the evaporator boat. One method of applying or depositing the ceramic layer or the optional refractory metal layer includes sputtering.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for angiotyping individual patients to predict the likelihood of whether a given individual will develop good vs. poor collaterals naturally. Accordingly, this can involve obtaining and providing a list of genes involved in collateral development. In particular, angiotyping individual patients can be used to predict the likelihood of whether a given individual will develop good vs. poor collaterals in response to specific angiogenesis therapy. From an array of genes that have been determined through experimental studies as being differentially expressed in tissues in which collaterals are developing in response to arterial occlusion, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or other epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation patterns, can be identified. SNPs and DNA methylation patterns are detected using microchips or similar technology assaying for all, or most, of the genes determined to play a role in collateral development.

Abstract: The invention relates to predicting which individuals are at risk of developing atherosclerotic vascular disease, and once having disease, which individuals are at risk of experiencing plaque rupture which, depending on the site of the plaque, could produce myocardial infarction, stroke, critical limb ischemia, or other vascular event. The invention further relates to methods of diagnosing and aiding in the diagnosis of vascular conditions such as atherosclerosis, premature coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease, by detecting a resistin gene product in an individual. The invention further relates to methods of predicting, and aiding in predicting, the likelihood that an individual will experience a vascular event, such as but not limited to, a myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or critical limb ischemia.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are compositions and methods for therapy and/or prevention of restenosis and/or atherosclerosis. The compositions can include an agent for inhibiting VEGF and an agent for including vessel maturation; for instance, the soluble VEGF receptor and ang-1. Embodiments can include kits.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition is provided that comprises a cell-free conditioned medium containing mixed secretion products of isolated angiogenic progenitor cells obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or adipose tissue. The composition may additionally contain angiogenesis-promoting proteins obtained by transfecting the progenitors cells in culture with an angiogenesis promoting transgene. The composition is useful to promote angiogenesis when introduced into or adjacent to an ischemic site in a patient, such as in myocardium or peripheral limb. Methods are also provided for utilizing such cell-free conditioned medium to deliver angiogenesis-promoting proteins to a patient. The cell-free conditioned medium can also be injected into the blood stream for delivery to the ischemic tissue. The cells can derive from either an autologous or allogenic source and can be lyophilized or frozen for storage.

Abstract: Methods are provided for promoting formation of collateral blood supply at an ischemic site in tissue by culturing early attaching cells derived from growth of bone marrow aspirate in vitro, collecting early attaching cells produced by the bone marrow culture and injecting conditioned medium produced by culture of the early attaching cells into an ischemic site in heart or limb. The preferred early attaching cells for use in the invention methods are marrow-derived stromal cells. Any donor's bone marrow can be used in preparation of the conditioned medium. Optionally, the early attaching cells can be transfected with an angiogenesis promoting transgene encoding hypoxia inducing factor 1 alpha, a fibroblast growth factor and/or a nitric oxide synthase. Conditioned media containing angiogenic cytokines produced such cells are also provided for injection into tissue, such as heart or peripheral limb muscle, requiring formation of collateral blood supply.

Abstract: Methods are provided for assessing the risk of developing restenosis in an individual, by detecting the presence of biologically important polymorphisms in genes involved in the formation of the elastin fiber network. In particular, detection of polymorphorphisms in the elastin, fibrillin, fibrillin-1, fibrillin-2, lysyl oxidase, microfibril-associated glycoprotein, biglycan, osteopontin, and/or decorin genes allows the rapid and objective prediction of the risk of developing restenosis. Methods for treating restenosis and for reducing its recurrence also are provided.