Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit the activity of human GDF15 are disclosed. The antibodies can be used to treat body weight loss, including cachexia, associated with the over-expression of human GDF15.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an MRS 1D or 2D method and system for obtaining spectral data of the brain of a subject and using neurochemical markers to enable whether a subject is experiencing acute pain, and providing the capacity to monitor response to therapy on an individual basis. The markers can be an increase of Fuc II, III, IV, VII and lactate.

Abstract: The invention provides apheresis devices and their use for removal of substantially all types of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in patients' blood, including nucleosome-bound cfDNA, exosome-bound cfDNA and unbound cfDNA (including double stranded DNA (dsDNA), single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and oligonucleotides), to limit the negative effects of the circulating cfDNA and to treat various diseases.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the methods and compositions provided herein relate to the detection of biomarkers for Kawasaki disease (KD), the diagnosis of KD in a subject, and/or the amelioration or treatment of KD in a subject. In some embodiments, a biomarker can include a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA). In some embodiments, the biomarker can be present in an exosome-enriched serum sample from a subject.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R1—SO3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C1-C30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N+—R2R3R4R5 or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides nucleic acid expression cassettes, vectors, compositions and methods for the treatment of ATPase-mediated diseases in a subject.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurate and efficient identification and quantification of proteins. In an aspect, disclosed herein is a method for identifying a protein in a sample of unknown proteins, comprising receiving information of a plurality of empirical measurements performed on the unknown proteins; comparing the information of empirical measurements against a database comprising a plurality of protein sequences, each protein sequence corresponding to a candidate protein among a plurality of candidate proteins; and for each of one or more of the plurality of candidate proteins, generating a probability that the candidate protein generates the information of empirical measurements, a probability that the plurality of empirical measurements is not observed given that the candidate protein is present in the sample, or a probability that the candidate protein is present in the sample; based on the comparison of the information of empirical measurements against the database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stemness-suppressing composition comprising an OCT4 function-inhibiting peptide and, more particularly, to a composition comprising a peptide as an effective ingredient for suppressing the stemness of various stem cells such as general stem cells, cancer stem cells, and the like, wherein the peptide inhibits the function of OCT4 by inducing the phosphorylation of OCT4. OCT4 function-inhibiting peptides of the present invention are expected to find applications in various fields through the suppressive activity thereof against stemness of stem cells.

Abstract: Computer based methods, systems, and computer readable media for intelligently accessing various types of pharmaceutical information in a content repository and ranking drugs at the variant level, gene level, and pathway level. In some cases, drugs that target the same gene, gene variant, or biological pathway may be ranked based upon in vitro, pre-clinical, clinical, or post-clinical evidence. To determine ranking of a plurality of drugs, information pertaining to drug administration is analyzed for the drugs. For a plurality of drugs, attributes corresponding to the drug are determined, wherein the attributes include a variant or a gene targeted by the drug, and a biological pathway comprising the targeted variant or gene. The plurality of drugs are ranked according to a drug effectiveness score based on one or more of a determined efficacy, potency, or toxicity.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biological samples is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a fluid sample into a cartridge device, which comprises: a fluidic chamber; at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber; and a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber; and inserting the cartridge device into a reader device to perform measurements, wherein the cartridge device is positioned in a vertical or tilted position such that at least a portion of the fluid sample inside the fluidic chamber is pulled by gravity in a direction away from the venting port or towards the bottom of the fluidic chamber.

Abstract: A system for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface comprising: a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical detector for optically detecting deformation of the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting CD200L in a female subject from a secretory phase biological sample. Increased levels of CD200L have been determined to be associated with endometriosis. CD200L is therefore a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of endometriosis and a useful target for therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel heteroaryl sulfone-based conjugation handles of the formula: (wherein R1, R2, Het, D, E, X, Y, Z, m, n, p, q, r, s and t are as defined herein), methods for their preparation, their use in synthesizing antibody drug conjugates, and the resulting antibody drug conjugates made with components having heteroaryl sulfone-based conjugation handles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substituted saccharides or glycosides and their use in drilling fluid compositions. The substituted saccharide or glycoside bears a substituent A, a substituent B and a substituent C, wherein the substituent A comprises in its structure a group the substituent B comprises in its structure a group and the substituent C comprises in its structure a unit —NH—R7—. The definition of each group is described in the description. The drilling fluid composition can show good temperature resistance, filtration loss reducing reduction property, pollution resistance, inhibition property, lubricating property or reservoir protection property, and has no biotoxicity.

Abstract: A method for measuring the presence of calprotectin (S100A8/A) heterodimer in a biological sample using a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) based on monoclonal antibodies. The method can be adapted on automated standard analyzers and provides a reliable clinical measurement of calprotectin in faecal samples and extracts. The method is comparable to commerical two-site sandwich ELISA. The disclosed method counters spontaneous agglutination caused by calcium ions and low-molecular weight calcium-binding S100 proteins as observed with conventional PETIAs. The method can be used for measuring the presence of human calprotectin in stool, urine, serum, plasma, synovial liquid and other body liquids. Metrological traceability and high commutability with conventional immunoassays (ELISA) has been shown despite of different measurement principles used.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of precancerous colorectal cancerous lesions and early stage colorectal cancer are described. The methods and systems include examination of a rectal cell sample for the presence of mast cells in a field effect detection regime. The methods can incorporate swab-based cell collection, optionally storage and transportation of a cell sample, and/or computer-aided diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods and compositions for purifying antibodies from cellular cultures using one or more thiol containing additives during a purification process, for example in a chromatographic purification process.

Abstract: Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe) utilizing a template heteropolymer adsorbed onto and templated by a nanoparticle surface to recognize a specific target analyte can be used for macromolecular analytes, including proteins.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques, devices and apparatuses for detecting cancer. A handheld device which performs an automated analysis from a droplet of whole blood for other bodily fluid. The device is inexpensive, non-invasive, easy to use, and easily transportable, enabling better screening for a wider range of diseases, enabling the detection of metastases at an earlier stage, when interventions are more effective, enabling regular monitoring of patients receiving therapy or those in remission, and enabling a major contribution to the growing body of scientific evidence on how to treat certain cancers based on information gathered about the genomic profile of a tumor. In short, the present invention saves more lives, with fewer resources, and causing minimal harm than prior art techniques.

Abstract: An affinity reagent, having: (a) a retaining component such as a structured nucleic acid particle; and (b) one or both of (i) one or more label components attached to the retaining component, and (ii) one or more binding components attached to the retaining component.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and products for the identification of a clinically significant immune response in subjects treated with a therapeutic protein. Aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for identifying a clinically significant immune response in patients treated with therapeutic amounts of a VLA4 binding antibody (e.g., natalizumab).

Abstract: The present description relates to a sample collection device comprising a receptacle and a closure member configured to seal the receptacle. Within the closure member is provided a reservoir configured to contain a stabilization fluid capable of preserving and stabilizing a collected sample. The reservoir includes an outlet which is sealed by a sealing member. The sealing member may be openable to allow communication, or mixture, between the contents of the reservoir and the contents of the receptacle. The closure member may also include a peel foil on the end of the closure member having the outlet to ensure sterility of and to avoid tampering with the outlet and the reservoir. The method includes collecting a sample from the user using the sample collection device, mixing the sample with the stabilization fluid, and analyzing the sample thus collected.

Abstract: An electric field stirring apparatus, in which a droplet as a liquid disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to face each other is vibrated and stirred by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode having a groove formed along a first direction on an electrode surface facing the first electrode, includes a movement mechanism that reciprocally moves the first electrode relative to the second electrode in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other during a period in which the electric field is generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting or diagnosing a risk of bioprosthetic valve degeneration. Further, the invention relates to a medical device, in particular a bioprosthetic valve coated with EPCR less prone to degeneration and/or calcification once implanted.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel streptavidin muteins. In one embodiment such a the mutein (a) contains at least two cysteine residues in the region of the amino acid positions 44 to 53 with reference to the amino acid sequence of wild type streptavidin as set forth at SEQ ID NO: 212 and (b) has a higher binding affinity than (i) a streptavidin mutein “1” (SEQ ID NO: 112) that comprises the amino acid sequence Val44-Thr45-Ala46-Arg47 (SEQ ID NO: 98), or (ii) wild type-streptavidin of which amino acid residues 14 to 139 are shown as SEQ ID NO: 212 for peptide ligands comprising the amino acid sequence Trp-Ser-His-Pro-Gln-Phe-Glu-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 100).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electrical potentials of a liquid sample includes at least one field effect transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, a substrate, and at least two intersecting nanowires of semiconductive material arranged on the substrate, each having a source and drain contact as a field effect transistor and a voltage applicator configured to apply a voltage between the respective source and drain contact. The cross section of the two nanowires has a shape of a triangle or a trapezium. A voltage applicator configured to apply a voltage to the substrate are arranged on the substrate. The nanowires are electrically insulated at least against the sample by a dielectric layer along their surface having a layer thickness between 5 and 40 nm, and at least one impurity is arranged in the dielectric layer as a bearing point which is capable of capturing charge carriers.

Abstract: This invention pertains to protein-drug conjugates that may be used in the treatment of cancers and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The protein-drug conjugate has the following formula (I), wherein: L is a cysteine-containing protein residue linked through one or more of the cysteine groups of the protein, R1 is selected from the group consisting of arylene, arylene-heteroarylene, heteroarylene-arylene and heteroarylene, n is an integer from 0 to 5, p and q are independently 0 or 1, R2, R3 and Z are spacers, u is 0 or 1 and T is a cleavable unit sensitive to hydrolases, k is 1 or 2 and D is a cytotoxic drug residue selected from dolastatin residues, which may be identical to or different from each other when k is 2, m is the mean payload-to-protein ratio (PPR) of the conjugate, which ranges from 0.1 to 16.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Abstract: Methods of sorting T lymphocytes in a microfluidic device are provided. The methods can include flowing a fluid sample comprising T lymphocytes through a region of a microfluidic device that contains an array of posts. The array of posts can be configured to have a critical size (Dc) that separates activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an array of posts configured to separate activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes, compositions enriched for T lymphocytes, particularly activated T lymphocytes that are known to be reactive to an antigen of interest, and methods of treating subjects suffering from a pathogenic disorder or cancer by administering such compositions.

Abstract: A method for assessing an effect of hypoxia on a tissue includes providing a sample of the tissue in a hermetically sealed container, determining a first amount of a reaction substrate (e.g., protocatechuic acid) to be introduced into the sealed container and determining a second amount of a reaction enzyme (e.g., protocatechuate dioxygenase) to be introduced into the sealed container. The method further includes introducing the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme into the sealed container. At least one of the first amount of the reaction substrate and the second amount of the reaction enzyme is selected to induce at least one of a predetermined amount of hypoxia less than anoxia and a predetermined rate of hypoxia in the tissue during a reaction between the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme. Values of properties of the tissue can be measured before and after the reaction to assess effects of hypoxia.

Abstract: Described herein are immune binding proteins and method for obtaining immune binding proteins from genomic or other sources. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding the immune binding proteins in which the natural multimeric association of chains is maintained in the nucleic acids and the immune binding proteins made therefrom. For example, nucleic acids encoding antibodies that are amplified from a B-cell using the methods described herein maintain the natural pairing of heavy and light chains from the B-cell. This maintenance of pairing (or multimerization) produces libraries and/or repertoires of immune binding proteins that are enriched for useful binding molecules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for diagnosing Parkinson's disease in which the method includes measuring the expression level of Parkinson's disease-related genes from a subject's nasal mucus sample, a composition for diagnosing Parkinson's disease, and a kit including the same.

Abstract: A method for aligning sequences of droplets in streams of an emulsion comprising target droplets and tag droplets, a tag droplet comprising first and second tags. A target droplet is split into first and second target droplets and a tag droplet is split into first and second tag droplets. Each of the first and second tag droplets comprise the first and second tags. The first target droplet and first tag droplet are in a first stream of droplets, and the second target droplet and second tag droplet are in a second stream of droplets. The method detects the first tag droplets and first target droplets in the first stream and the second tag droplets and second target droplets in the second stream, determines a first sequence of droplets in the first stream and a second sequence of droplets in the second stream, and compares these to align the sequences.

Abstract: A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

Abstract: Lack of safety and efficacy are the two major unwanted biological responses that play as critical bottlenecks for the success of drug candidates in drug discovery and development. Conventional systems and methods involve ineffective exploration and use of chemical information space and thereby, may fail to address safety and efficacy issues. Embodiments of the present disclosure provides an effective solution to the above bottle-necks with the effective exploration/search of chemical information space using effective statistical techniques that yield meaningful chemical information comprising relevant descriptors, fingerprints, fragments, optimized set of structural images, and the like. Further, it provides robust predictive models for the biological response, example renal toxicity using the selected chemical information in an automated manner for a given experimental data and alerts/rules that can be successfully employed to address failures of drug candidates during discovery and development.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method by which a peptide having a specific binding capability that can be used for purification of a target molecule can be produced at a low cost, and specifically relates to a peptide fusion protein including one or more peptides having specific binding capability and a scaffold protein, the peptide being inserted into the amino acid sequence of the scaffold protein directly or via a peptide linker, and/or being linked to the N-terminal and/or C-terminal of the scaffold protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for in situ temperature-induced antigen retrieval of samples wherein all steps are performed under a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure on a sample immobilized on a sample support which can be further subjected to staining and imaging on the same sample support, optionally by cycle multiplexing that enables imaging of various molecular targets through multi-molecular read-outs on the same sample in a rapid, highly sensitive and reliable manner.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods using mass spectrometry to analyze a sample are provided. For example, a method includes: acquiring a precursor ion spectrum; analyzing the precursor ion spectrum to identify precursor ions that preliminarily match one or more peptides that each belong to at least one protein of interest for the analysis; selecting each of the identified precursor ions in an order according to a ranking protocol for maximizing the number of proteins that are identified in the sample; for each selected precursor ion: acquiring a corresponding product ion spectrum, determining whether the acquired product ion spectrum matches one of the peptides that belong to the set of proteins of interest, and identifying a matched peptide as being present in the sample; and identifying proteins of interest that are present in the sample based on the peptides that are identified as being present in the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of treating cancer by immune checkpoint blockade, or selecting patients for treatment with immune checkpoint blockers, by detecting tumors with high levels of T-lymphocytes with low levels of activation and proliferation. In various embodiments the tissue sample may be from a conventional biopsy. In various embodiments the cancer may be non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract: A diagnostically useful carrier includes a peptide including the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or a variant thereof. A kit, a composition, a detection method, use for detecting a neurological disease, a human autoantibody specifically binding to Drebrin and a therapeutic compound or combination for use in the treatment of a neurological use are also useful.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for enabling an individual having a cat allergy to have a cat as a pet. Such a method can include quantitatively determining a threshold in the individual for an environmental level of an allergen produced by the cat and selecting a cat or a breed of cat that creates an environmental level of the allergen that is less than the threshold. Additionally, such a method can include lowering the allergens disseminated by the cat by treating the environment inhabited by the cat during a time period where the cat expresses elevated allergens.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an organ-on-chip microfluidic device (10) comprising a first element (11), a second element (16), and a hydrogel layer (14) which is interposed between the first element and the second element. The shapes and dimensions of the first element, the second element, and the hydrogel layer are determined to enable the hydrogel layer to expand and retract in a given direction in the conditions of use disclosed herein, in particular to mimic organ functions in vitro. The present invention further relates to method of producing the microfluidic device and to application of said microfluidic device in biomedical field, especially for mimicking the architecture and function of organs.

Abstract: Provided is a novel use of alarin derived from a splice variant of galanin-like peptide (GALP) RNA and thus having an amino acid sequence similar to that of galanin, with a therapeutic agent of uremia, and the therapeutic agents of uremia according to the presently claimed subject matter include alarin as the main ingredient.

Abstract: Bead-based analytical assays suitable for detecting changes in the abundance of target analytes in biological samples are disclosed. In an embodiment, an assay involves incubating a sample with one or several beads that are capable of binding several distinct analytes in an amount sufficient for detection by mass spectrometry from a single bead.

Abstract: A sample collection system can include a sample collection vessel having a sample collection chamber with an opening configured to receive a sample into the sample collection chamber. The sample collection system can additionally include a selectively movable sleeve valve configured to associate with the opening of the sample collection chamber. The sample collection system can include a sealing cap that is configured to associate with the selectively movable sleeve valve and with the sample collection vessel. The sealing cap can include a reagent chamber having reagent(s) stored therein, and when the sealing cap is associated with the sample collection vessel, the selectively movable sleeve valve opens, dispensing the reagent(s) into the sample collection chamber. When the selectively moveable sleeve associates with the sample collection chamber, an outer sleeve slides relative to an inner vessel, opening the sleeve and dispensing reagent into the sample collection chamber.

Abstract: An adhesive for joining metals and resins is disclosed. The adhesive comprises 0.0001˜3 wt. % of amino silane, 0.0001˜1 wt. % of a crosslinker and 0.0001˜3 wt. % of an organometallic compound. In particular, the adhesive forms an adhesive layer that has a metal atomic ratio less than 50%.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process that includes a displacer infusion process. In one embodiment, a method for determining a displacer compound may include constructing a plurality of target protein quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, one for each of the plurality of binding sites, analyzing a set of candidate compounds using the plurality of QSAR models to determine a set of at least one potential compound with an affinity for binding to each of the plurality of binding sites, and selecting at least one displacer compound from the set of at least one potential compound. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of immunotherapy, more particularly to the manufacture of cells for adoptive cell therapy. Provided herein are methods to prevent and/or reduce fratricide during manufacturing of such cells, particularly of cells expressing a chimeric NKG2D receptor. Also provided are cells and compositions comprising cells in which fratricide is prevented and/or reduced.

Abstract: Integrated devices that include a sample preparation component integrated with a detection component are disclosed. The sample preparation component may be a digital microfluidics module or a surface acoustic wave module which modules are used for combing a sample droplet with a reagent droplet and for performing additional sample preparation step leading to a droplet that contains beads/particles/labels that indicate presence or absence of an analyte of interest in the sample. The beads/particles/labels may be detected by moving the droplet to the detection component of the device, which detection component includes an array of wells.