The present application relates to a non-human mammal model of a human neurodegenerative disorder, methods of producing the non-human mammal model, and methods of using the non-human mammal model to identify agents suitable for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The present application also relates to methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders and restoring normal brain interstitial potassium levels.

The disclosure provides a method of predicting the onset of clinical manifestations of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a human, the method comprising (a) measuring phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH) and/or neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in a subject, and (b) predicting the onset of ALS, wherein increased levels of pNfH and/or NfL signal the onset of clinical manifestations of ALS.

A method and system for diagnosing concussions, TBI, CTE and other central nervous system disorders is provided. A diagnostic kit includes a tube containing a predefined amount of lyophilized biomarker-specific antibody conjugated to a conjugate with a color functionality, a fluid for mixing with the lyophilized biomarker-specific antibody conjugated to the conjugate within the tube, so as to reconstitute the lyophilized biomarker-specific antibody conjugated to the conjugate, resulting in a reconstituted mixture, and a swab comprising an absorbent hydrophobic material, the swab configured for absorbing cerebrospinal fluid when swabbed on a patient, wherein when the swab that has absorbed cerebrospinal fluid is placed in the tube containing the reconstituted mixture, the swab is configured to change color.

The invention relates to methods of assessing a patient's risk of developing Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

A nanoagent includes at least one nanocomposite. The nanocomposite includes at least one gold nanorod, a silver layer coated on an outer surface of the gold nanorod, a Raman reporter molecule layer coated on the silver layer, a pegylated layer coated on the Raman reporter molecule layer, an active layer conjugated to the pegylated layer. the active layer includes at least one of a targeting molecule configured to bind to a target of interest, and a functional molecule configured to interact with the target of interest. The silver layer has silver nanoparticles. The Raman reporter molecule layer has Raman reporter molecules that are detectable by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The pegylated layer has at least one of thiolated polyethylene glycol (HS-PEG), thiolated polyethylene glycol acid (HS-PEG-COOH) and HS-PEG-NHx.

A robust, quantitative, and reproducible process and assay for diagnosis of a neurological condition in a subject is provided. With measurement of one or more autoantibodies to biomarkers in a biological fluid such as CSF or serum, the extent of neurological damage in a subject with an abnormal neurological condition is determined and subtypes thereof or tissue types subjected to damage are discerned.

The present invention provides a panel of at least five clinical analyses or tests (using serum samples) to determine the risk of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and/or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) in an individual. These include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure antibody titers against neuronal antigens present in the brain; the neuronal antigens include lysoganglioside, tubulin, dopamine receptor D1, dopamine receptor D2, serotonin receptor 5HT2A, and serotonin receptor 5HT2C. Antibody titers against at least four of these neuronal antigens are required in the present methods; preferably antibody tiers against all of these neuronal antigens are measured. A final assay is used to quantify calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity using a neuronal cell line. The results of these analyses or tests are then combined using an algorithm to determine whether a PANS or PANDAS diagnosis is appropriate for the individual. Depending on the diagnosis, an appropriate treatment can be determined.

The present invention describes the use of the Chinese medicinal compounds ginsenoside RB1, dihydromyricetin and salvianohc acid B, for use in diagnosing, monitoring and treating synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease, in patients.

The present invention provides a highly sensitive in vitro method for diagnosing injury to the central nervous system (CNS), such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. The method involves contacting a sample of blood from a subject suspected of suffering a CNS injury event with at least one antibody capable of detecting a proteolytic fragment of the biomarker Protein Kinase C, gamma isoform (PKCg or PKCγ), which fragment corresponds to a proteolytic fragment of PKCg formed in the excitotoxic environment resulting from neuronal damage. Also disclosed are novel anti-PKCg antibodies useful in the diagnostic methods of the invention to provide diagnosis of CNS injury with essentially 100% accuracy.

Provided herein are processes for detecting oligosaccharides in a biological sample. In specific instances, the biological sample is provided from an individual suffering from a disorder associated with abnormal glycosaminoglycan accumulation.