The present invention relates to a method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating a pathologic status in a subject’s bone marrow including at least the step of determining the presence of aberrant erythroblasts in a subject’s bodily fluid sample. Also envisaged is the use of aberrant erythroblasts as a marker for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating a pathologic status in a subject’s bone marrow, as well as a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating a pathologic status in a subject’s bone marrow, including means for the determination of the presence of (i) CD71 and/or GPA, (ii) CD45, (iii) nucleic acids of rare circulating cells and at least one of (iv) or (v): (iv) EpCam and (v) vimentin, in a subject’s sample.

The present invention relates to biomarkers associated with the clinical response to an FGF-18 compound before or during treatment of a cartilage disorder. It relates more particularly to specific proteins present in the blood, serum, synovial fluid or in the urine, which can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis, pre-treatment of patients and during therapy of cartilage disorders. The invention can be used in predicting the response to an FGF-18 compound treatment, before starting the treatment or during the treatment. It could be used for selecting/identifying subjects to be treated according to specific doses and/or dosing regimens by intra-articular administration of an FGF-18 compound. The use of these biomarkers in diagnostics could result in increased benefit and reduced risk-benefit ratio in subjects.

A recombination expression vector can be used for screening cartilage disease treatment agents. A cell line is transformed using the expression vector. A method using the foregoing screen drugs that are effective in treating cartilage diseases, and since all constituent factors are composed of human-derived genetic factors, new drugs selected through this system are considered to be more effective in treating human cartilage diseases. Furthermore, using additional transformation, it can be evaluated whether genes having unknown functions can be used to treat cartilage diseases. This establishes the ability to not only compare the cartilage disease treatment functions of various drugs, but also to evaluate the optimal treatment concentration and indirect cytotoxicity. Moreover, 2-anthraquinonecarboxylic acid, which is a novel substance having cartilage regeneration efficacy discovered through the screening system, is utilizable in the treatment of various cartilage disease.

The present disclosure provides methods for quantitating the degree of lameness in pigs based on serum biomarker levels. Also provided are methods for treating lameness in pigs induced by fast body weight gain, wherein the methods comprise administering at least one organic mineral. The present disclosure also provides methods for detecting lameness in pigs based upon the levels of saliva biomarkers.

A method for predicting the return to functional autonomy in a subject suffering from an acute event, including the steps of i) determining neopterin level in a biological sample obtained from the subject; ii) comparing the level with its predetermined reference neopterin level and iii) predicting that the subject will have a long time to return to functional autonomy when the level of neopterin is higher than its predetermined reference neopterin level or predicting that the subject will have a short time to return to functional autonomy when the level of neopterin is lower than its predetermined reference neopterin level.

The invention provides methods, kits and reagents for diagnosing fibromyalgia (FM) in an individual by determining whether the levels of one or more cytokines in the individual are altered, as compared to control levels. The altered level(s) or patterns of expression of the cytokines measured in the affected individual compared to the level from the control is predictive/indicative of FM in the individual.

Test kits and methods for diagnosing and monitoring relative risk of joint injury are provided. The apparatus and methods beneficially permit intervention to reduce the risk of joint injury and/or reduce the damage resulting from joint injury. Methods for monitoring recovery from a joint injury are also provided.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to antibodies that specifically bind proMyostatin and/or latent Myostatin and uses thereof.

Provided is a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of aging or amyotrophy. Provided are a method for determining the state of aging or amyotrophy, a method for determining the efficacy of therapeutic or preventive effects on aging or amyotrophy, and a method of screening for a therapeutic or preventive agent for aging or amyotrophy. The biomarker is a free MuSK protein or an mRNA for a secreted MuSK.

The invention provides a method for determining the efficacy of compositions used to treat articular joint conditions in mammals. The method includes measuring the change in levels of one or more cartilage degradation biomarkers in a mammal from before exercise and after exercise, then administering a composition used to treat articular joint conditions to the mammal, and measuring the change in levels of one or more cartilage degradation biomarkers in the mammal from before exercise and after exercise.