Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to biomarkers of musculoskeletal disease and, in particular, to methods of diagnosing musculoskeletal disease, and/or predicting disease progression, by assaying for such biomarkers. The invention further relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to biomarkers of musculoskeletal disease and, in particular, to methods of as diagnosing musculoskeletal disease, and/or predicting disease progression, by assaying for such biomarkers. The invention further relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: A method for delivering a drug depot of a compound of interest to a selected region in a subject. The method comprises administering a composition directly to said region of interest, the composition comprising the compound of interest to be delivered (such as an antiinflammatory agent or a chemotherapeutic agent) and a polymer (such as an elastin-like peptide or ELP) that undergoes an inverse temperature phase transition, so that a sustained release of the compound of interest at the selected region is provided. Compositions useful for carrying out the invention are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining, in a sample, the proportion of a total amount of a molecule that is derived from catabolism due to the presence of age-related molecular alterations on the molecule, comprising: a) determining the total amount of the molecule in the sample; b) determining the amount of the molecule in the sample that contains D-aspartate; and c) calculating the proportion of the amount of the molecule of step (b) relative to the total amount of the molecule as determined in step (a), thereby determining the proportion of the total amount of the molecule that is derived from catabolism due to the presence of age-related molecular alterations in the molecule.