Abstract: A microfluidic device for more accurately modeling the in vitro environment in which cancer occurs is disclosed. The microfluidic device includes a surface defining one or more microfluidic channels, a first three dimensional scaffold comprising one or more cancer cells that is spatially separated from the one or more microfluidic channels, a second three dimensional scaffold, at least a portion of which is contacting and in fluid communication with the first three dimensional scaffold, and that is spatially separated from the one or more microfluidic channels, and a third three dimensional scaffold, at least a portion of which is contacting and in fluid communication with the one or more microfluidic channels and the second three dimensional scaffold. The device can be used to assay anti-cancer agents, or as a system for modeling the growth, behavior, or metastasis and tumor formation of cancer cells.

Abstract: Complexes suitable for targeting and killing a human target cell comprising a first polypeptide with a binding structure for binding the complex to the cellular surface receptor CD89 (e.g. with an anti CD89 antibody) presented on the cell surface of the human target cell and a second polypeptide comprising a toxic effector domain, preferably Pseudomonas exotoxin A); to nucleic acid molecules encoding said complexes, vectors, host cells containing the nucleic acids and methods for preparation and producing such complexes; compositions and methods for using said complexes for the treatment of diseases, in particular of cancer diseases like leukemia.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a class of engineered polypeptides having a binding affinity for interleukin-6, and provides an IL-6 binding polypeptide comprising the sequence EEX3X4AWX7EIH X11 LPNLX16X17X18QX20 X21AFIX25X26LX28X29. The present disclosure also relates to the use of such an IL-6 binding polypeptide as a therapeutic, prognostic and/or diagnostic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for targeting CCR10 and/or the CCR10/ligand axis to modulate the immune response in a subject.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for characterizing responses of a ligand-functionalized surface, which rely on dispensing a segmented liquid flow including liquid sequences, each including: an analyte segment including biomolecules of analyte; a spacer segment; and a wash segment including a washing liquid, whereby spacer segments separate wash segments from analyte segments in the dispensed segmented liquid flow. A measurement cycle is performed for each of the liquid sequences of the segmented liquid flow being dispensed. A measurement cycle includes: ejecting an analyte segment of each liquid sequence toward the ligand-functionalized surface and extracting, from each liquid sequence, a spacer segment succeeding the analyte segment as the latter is being ejected; ejecting a wash segment succeeding the extracted spacer segment in each liquid sequence to flush unbound and/or weakly bound biomolecules of analytes from the surface; and reading out a signal of bound biomolecules of analytes on the surface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to the field of immunological-based diagnostic assays including an assay to measure cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness. The present disclosure teaches diagnosis of a subject's exposure to an antigen based on cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness with enhanced sensitivity which is achieved by adding a non-reducing sugar during incubation of the sample with the antigen.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for effective lysosomal targeting mediated by PCSK9. In particular, the compositions and methods provided by the invention may be used to treat lysosomal storage diseases such as Pompe Disease and Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B, and they may be used for targeting lysosomal enzymes to the various muscles of the human body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide, peptide, or analog corresponding to one or more of SEQ ID NO(s) 1, 2, 3 or 4, and or more of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The polypeptide therapeutic of the present invention may be formulated for administration to a subject in need of treatment as an oral formulation, a parenteral formulation, a topical formulation, an aqueous formulation, a solid formulation, a lyophilized formulation, or a trans-dermal formulation. Also disclosed is a method for treating at least one of diabetes, and/or hyperglycemia, and/or hypercholesterolemia, and/or hypertension in a subject, comprising: administering to the subject a polypeptide of the invention or formulation of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention, relates to the use of TFF3 in the diagnosis and detection of Barrett's Oesophagus using non-invasive, non-endoscopic methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the optical measurement of at least the stability and the aggregation of particles in a liquid sample which is located in a sample container, wherein the method comprises the following steps: irradiating the sample with light of at least one first wavelength in order to fluorescently excite the particles, irradiating the sample with light of at least one second wavelength in order to examine the scattering of the particles, measuring the fluorescence light which is emitted by the sample; and measuring the extinction light at the second wavelength, wherein the irradiated light of the second wavelength runs through the sample container, is reflected back, runs again through the sample container in the opposite direction and exits as extinction light, wherein the stability is determined based on the measured fluorescence light and the aggregation is measured based on the measured extinction light. The invention further relates to a corresponding apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to biomarkers associated with preterm delivery. More specifically, the invention provides methods of measuring biomarkers including but not limited to cytokines, cytokine receptors, cytokine receptor antagonists, chemokines, chemokine receptors, and/or chemokine receptor antagonists found in women that are at risk for preterm delivery. The diagnostic methods may be performed on whole blood.

Abstract: Methods for improving the specificity of assays for botulinum neurotoxins are described. Reporting constructs are provided that include cleavable linker sequence with genetically modified recognition and/or cleavage sites. These linker sequences act as a substrate for a botulinum neurotoxin, with cleavage of the reporting construct providing a detectable signal. When first and second neurotoxins have activity with the same substrate protein, mutation and/or deletion of a recognition and/or cleavage site associated with the second neurotoxin improves the specificity of the detectable signal for the first neurotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect Chitinase-3-like protein 1 as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker assays in renal injuries.

Abstract: Disclosed is an analysis component and associated systems and methods. The analysis component can be used with an electronic device equipped with a detector for detecting light. The component comprises: a sample holder for holding the sample; a detector site at which a detector, or a detector portion of the electronic device, is to be positioned to detect light reflecting off the sample; and a structural component spacing the sample holder from the detector site by a predetermined distance; wherein the lysis component is configured to allow light from a light source to illuminate the sample such that light reflected by the sample can be received by the detector for analyzing the sample. An associated system comprises the analysis component and a detector for detecting light reflected off the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, systems, and devices for polynucleotide processing. Such polynucleotide processing may be useful for a variety of applications, including polynucleotide sequencing.

Abstract: A method of measuring efficacy of treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in an animal in a vivarium is described. Animal activity data is collected at multiple times during the night. Sequential time regions of the night are identified as high-activity, activity-drop, or low-activity regions. Embodiments are described to quantify a drop, during the night, of an animal's activity level. These quantified activity-drop scalars for consecutive nights are accumulated in an animal health dataset. This dataset is compared to healthy animals or a standard of care to determine efficacy. One embodiment quantifies an activity-drop by fitting straight-line curves through the data in the three nightly regions. Another embodiment uses a Fourier transform on a circle and a linear combination. Another embodiment compares areas under data curves in the regions. Animals may be housed in cages with other animals.

Abstract: Herein is reported a method for selecting or deselecting an antibody comprising a) determining for each Asp and Asn residue in an antibody Fv region the conformational flexibility of the C?-atom using a homology model ensemble, b) determining for each Asp and Asn residue in an antibody Fv region the size of the amino acid residue C-terminal to the Asp or Asn residue, and c) selecting an antibody in which the C?-atom is conformationally inflexible and/or the Asp or Asn has a big C-terminal amino acid residue, or deselecting an antibody in which the C?-atom has a moderate to high conformational flexibility and/or the Asp or Asn has a small C-terminal amino acid residue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for screening a regulator of mitochondrial fission using a cell treated to a protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenoside compound, a composition therefor, and a kit comprising the composition. As the use of the method for screening the regulator of mitochondrial fission of the present invention enables effective discovery of a formulation capable of preventing, improving, or treating a mitochondria-related disease, the method will be widely used for the development of a therapeutic agent for the mitochondria-related disease.

Abstract: One or more cells are labeled with minor stable isotopes, characterized, and preserved for subsequent use as a bio-specimen reference standard. The one or more cells are grown in culture media supplied with minor stable isotopes in concentrations substantially different from normally occurring concentrations, thereby supplanting major stable isotopes that would normally be incorporated into the proteins of the cells. The proteins of the cells are thus labeled by the minor stable isotopes and can be used in protcomic characterization of the cells. The cells are preserved by fixation as a reference standard. Cells of the reference standard are mixed with the sample and subject to mass spectrometry evaluation, whereby the labeled proteins of the reference standard can be used in determining the proteome of the sample.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, devices, compositions, and kits for monitoring neuromodulation efficacy based on changes in the level or activity of one or more target biomarkers.

Abstract: Biomarkers and driver mutations for diagnosis and prognosis of Pin 1-associated diseases are disclosed. In one embodiment, the methods for diagnosis of Pin 1-associated diseases may include detecting the level of Pin1 to stage abnormal cell growth, such as breast or prostate cancer. In another embodiment, the methods include evaluating the efficacy of a treatment of abnormal cell growth, such as cancer, by monitoring the levels of Pin1. In another embodiment, the methods include using driver mutations to determine the pharmacogenetics of abnormal cell growth, such as cancer. In the present disclosure, elevated active monomeric Pin1 levels may be detected by Pin1 biomarkers, which may include Pin1 Q33K or E100D driver mutations, Pin1 protein or transcript overexpression, dephosphorylation of Pin1 on Ser71, dephosphorylation of S16, phosphorylation of S65, phosphorylation of S138, deacetylation of Pin1 on K13 and deacetylation of K46, and/or desumoylation of Pin1 on K6 and desumolation of K63, among others.

Abstract: Provided are peptides, fusion proteins which include the peptide sequences, compositions comprising such peptides and fusion proteins, and methods for making and using the compositions. The peptides are characterized as being able to selectively bind to components of the endothelial compartment that are exposed during the period between 1 and 7 days after androgen deprivation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting whether an individual having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is likely to respond to vedolizumab treatment. Also provided are methods for predicting whether an individual with IBD such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis will develop autoantibodies against vedolizumab. The present invention also provides a treatment regimen for an IBD patient which includes measuring the level of one or more predictive markers of response to vedolizumab prior to administering the anti-?4?7 integrin drug.

Abstract: Methods for identifying subjects as candidates for embryo implantation are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include providing a sample of endometrium isolated from a subject during the second half of the subject's menstrual cycle and determining whether the subject is a candidate based on the expression of BCL6 in the sample. Also provided are methods for identifying an increased risk for implantation failure subsequent to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and/or frozen embryo transfer (FET), methods for detecting endometrial receptivity, methods for facilitating diagnoses of infertility, methods for increasing the likelihood of embryo implantation, methods for detecting the presence of endometriosis, and methods for managing treatment of subjects with potential endometriosis, subfertility, or both.

Abstract: Controlled-release formulations of carboxy-terminal C5a analogs (such as sustained-release formulations of the analogs), and their use in methods for treating and preventing an infection or a disease such as cancer, for directly killing microorganisms, for vaccine preparation, for inducing an immune response and for targeting antigen-presenting cells and other cells bearing a C5a receptor, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro model for studying and subsequently treating cancer dormancy. The model is specifically useful in studying breast cancer and may be used for drug discovery because it maintains the breast cancer cells in a dormant state, unlike conventional two-dimensional (2-D) tissue culture plastic (TCP). Tumor-forming breast cancers cells were seeded on the 3-D model scaffolds and remained viable without proliferation. They also express stem cell markers typical for dormant cells. Dormant breast cancer cells also maintain their phenotype when seeded on the 3-D model unlike conventional 2-D models. The 3-D model includes a fibrous polycaprolactone with 30 wt. % hydroxyapatite. The 3-D model mimics the structure of bone tissue.

Abstract: Patterned hydrogel arrays and methods of preparing patterned hydrogel arrays are disclosed. Advantageously, the methods used to prepare the patterned hydrogel arrays allow for controlling individual hydrogel spot conditions such as hydrogel spot modulus, hydrogel spot ligand identity and hydrogel spot ligand density, which allows for preparing a wide range of hydrogel spots in a single array format. Patterned hydrogel arrays can also be formed to include hydrogel-free pools surrounded by hydrogel. Additionally, the patterned hydrogel arrays of the present disclosure support the culture of a range of cell types. The patterned hydrogel arrays offer the ability to rapidly screen substrate components for influencing cell attachment, spreading, proliferation, migration, and differentiation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting a target moiety in a sample of biological specimens by: a) providing at least one conjugate with the general formula (I) Xn—P—Ym, with X is an detection moiety, P an enzymatically degradable spacer and Y an antigen recognizing moiety and n, m are integers between 1 and 100 and wherein X and Y are covalently bound to P; b) contacting the sample of biological specimens with at least one conjugate, thereby labeling the target moiety recognized by the antigen recognizing moiety Y; c) detecting the target moiety labeled with the conjugate with the detecting moiety X; and d) enzymatically degrading spacer P, thereby cleaving the detection moiety X from the conjugate. The method is useful to identify target moieties on the biological specimens. The biological specimens detected by the conjugate can be subsequently removed from the sample.

Abstract: Methods of testing HIV viral load are described. The methods comprise detecting HIV viral RNA in a sample of leukocyte-depleted blood. Such methods can be carried out on low-volume samples obtained without the need for venipuncture or a centrifuge. The methods are particularly suited for HIV viral load testing in resource-limited settings. Methods for monitoring HIV infection are also described, as well as kits for carrying out the methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcapsule comprising a shell and a core. The core comprises at least one active ingredient and at least one surface-modified disintegrant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pluripotent stem cells, particularly to pluripotent embryonic-like stem cells. The invention further relates to methods of purifying pluripotent embryonic-like stem cells and to compositions, cultures and clones thereof. The present invention also relates to a method of transplanting the pluripotent stem cells of the present invention in a mammalian host, such as human, comprising introducing the stem cells, into the host. The invention further relates to methods of in vivo administration of a protein or gene of interest comprising transfecting a pluripotent stem cell with a construct comprising DNA which encodes a protein of interest and then introducing the stem cell into the host where the protein or gene of interest is expressed. The present also relates to methods of producing mesodermal, endodermal or ectodermal lineage-committed cells by culturing or transplantation of the pluripotent stem cells of the present invention.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed, among other things, to imaging systems, methods, and apparatuses for automatically identifying fields of view (FOVs) for regions in an image encompassing tumor are disclosed. In embodiments and in further aspects of the present invention, a computer-implemented method is disclosed for a tumor region based immune score computation. The method, in accordance with the present invention, involves identifying regions, for example, tumor areas or regions around a tumor area, partitioning a whole slide image or portion of a whole slide image into multiple regions related to the tumor, selecting FOVs within each identified region, and computing a number of cells present in each FOV. An immune score and/or immune-related score may be generated based on the cells counted in each FOV.

Abstract: A method comprises obtaining results of metagenomics sequencing performed on biological samples from respective sample sources, generating hit abundance score vectors for respective ones of the samples based at least in part on the metagenomics sequencing results, obtaining epidemiological data relating to at least one of a disease, infection or contamination characterized by one or more of the hit abundance score vectors, and generating patient comparative indexes based at least in part on the epidemiological data. The method further comprises obtaining one or more Big Data profiles relating to one or more of the hit abundance score vectors and one or more of the comparative indexes, and providing surveillance functionality utilizing a combination of the hit abundance score vectors and the patient comparative indexes based at least in part on information derived from the one or more Big Data profiles.

Abstract: Methods for detecting nonactivated basophils in a whole blood sample obtained from a normal healthy subject, methods for determining a subject's susceptibility to an allergic reaction to an allergen, where the subject has no known allergy to the allergen, methods for measuring a response to challenge with a potential allergen in a whole blood sample obtained from a subject with known allergic reactivity to allergens other than the potential allergen; and an in vitro system for reliable detection or quantification of a specific white blood cell population in a whole blood sample are described.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a system for the isolation of picoliter droplets from a continuous stream of carrier fluid in a microfluidic system. In particular the disclosure relates to a system that comprises a sorter, a detector and a collector. The sorter serves for a selection of picoliter droplets with a desired content based upon an optical signal obtained from the picoliter droplets. The selected picoliter droplets are guided towards the detector that comprises a detection channel that is arranged perpendicular to a light beam. By means of a photodetector that is aligned with the optical axis of the light beam the passage of the picoliter droplets can be detected. The collector comprises multiple wells and the detection of the passage of the picoliter droplets results in a relative movement of the detector and a collector such that the picoliter droplet is isolated by depositing it into one of said wells.

Abstract: Methods and kits for identifying abnormal urinary system cells in a sample, by contacting the cells or the sample containing same with a combination of an extract from a Ficus plant, or one or more components thereof, an acidic dye and a basic dye.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of HIT (Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) in a patient's serum or plasma sample and a system comprising kits for performing the method are provided, where the method involves incubating a patient's sample with and without heparin and normal control sample with and without heparin with a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) of an individual not having a platelet disorder and then incubating an aliquot of each sample with a first label for both heparin activated and non-heparin activated platelets and a second label for platelets activated by the heparin-immune complex formed in the patient sample. HIT is diagnosed when the difference between the amount of activated platelets from the patient's sample with and without heparin is substantially larger than the difference between the normal control sample with and without heparin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro use of a number of IL-4 and/or IL-13 secreting T-cells as a biomarker for diagnosing and/or monitoring an IgE-dependent allergic disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligonucleotide constructs, sets of such oligonucleotide constructs, and methods of using such oligonucleotide constructs to provide validated sequences or sets of validated sequences corresponding to desired ROIs. Such validated ROIs and constructs containing these have a wide variety of uses, including in synthetic biology, quantitative nucleic acid analysis, polymorphism and/or mutation screening, and the like.

Abstract: Isotopically-labelled glycans and their synthesis and use as internal standards in the analysis by mass spectrometry of glycan mixtures is described. The methods of synthesis described herein may be used conveniently to prepare libraries of heavy glycans for use in the qualitative and quantitative identification of glycans in natural samples.

Abstract: Substantially homogenous cells populations which co-express CD49c, CD90 and telomerase are made. In one embodiment, humans suffering from a degenerative, traumatic, acute injury, cardiac or neurological condition are treated with the substantially homogenous cells populations which co-express CD49c, CD90 and telomerase. In another embodiment, committed progenitor cells are made are made by selecting from a cultured source of a cell population which co-express CD49c and CD90 and modifying the cell population. The committed progenitor cells can be employed to treat a human suffering from a degenerative, traumatic, acute injury, cardiac or neurological condition and formulate pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Airway stem cells have been implicated in the pathology and progression of chronic airway diseases and yet also hold the promise of physiological and ultimately therapeutic repair of damage wrought by these conditions. The present invention is based on the observation that certain p63-expressing stem cells in the bronchiolar epithelium undergo rapid proliferation after infection and radiate to interbronchiolar regions of alveolar ablation. Once there, these cells assemble into discrete, Krt5+ pods and initiate expression of markers typical of alveoli. The dynamics of this p63-expressing stem cell in lung regeneration mirrors parallel findings that defined pedigrees of human distal airway stem cells assemble alveoli-like structures in vitro and provides new therapeutic avenues to acute and chronic airway disease as well as identifying agents which can promote repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods to separate and concentrate target protein species at a microliter scale and to generate reagents to those variants with exquisite selectivity for specific protein isoforms using only picograms of target material.

Abstract: Methods for preparation of cells for analysis of biomarkers are disclosed. In one aspect, the method for preparation of cells for analysis of biomarkers includes contacting a sample that contains a population of cells with at least one modulating substance at a first temperature, thereby producing a modulated cell population; contacting the modulated cell population with at least one antibody that is directed to a cell surface biomarker at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, thereby producing an extracellularly stained cell population; and contacting the extracellularly stained cell population with one or more reagents that fixes and permeabilizes the cells, thereby producing a fixed and permeabilized cell population.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: Methods for metabolic oligosaccharide engineering that incorporates derivatized alkyne-bearing sugar analogs as “tags” into cellular glycoconjugates are disclosed. Alkynyl derivatized Fuc and alkynyl derivatized ManNAc sugars are incorporated into cellular glycoconjugates. Chemical probes comprising an azide group and a visual or fluorogenic probe and used to label alkyne-derivatized sugar-tagged glycoconjugates are disclosed. Chemical probes bind covalently to the alkynyl group by Cu(I)-catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition and are visualized at the cell surface, intracellularly, or in a cellular extract. The labeled glycoconjugate is capable of detection by flow cytometry, SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, confocal microscopy, and mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Administration of an antibody that specifically binds IL-1? is useful for treating cachexia and increasing the lifespan of a subject suffering from cachexia.

Abstract: A method for treating a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with bone marrow stem cells and a G-CSF receptor agonist.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of measuring and/or quantifying the presence and/or amount of Her-3 and/or Her-3 in a complex and the presence and/or amount of p95 in a sample. The invention also provides antibodies specific for Her-3.