Methods and materials are disclosed for evaluating head brain injuries that do not involve blood loss or skull fractures, such as possible concussions. These methods and materials involve bioreagents (such as monoclonal antibodies, single-stranded DNA or RNA, etc.) affixed to computer-readable devices handled by electronic readers that can interact with portable computers (such as laptops, pads or tablets, smart phones, etc.). The bioreagents will detect the presence and concentration of at least two metabolites that are released by mitochondria in response to cellular damage. Additional bioreagents may be included, for detecting and quantifying other damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP's). When used along with cognitive, reasoning, and/or response tests, this type of analysis can help non-physicians assess the severity of, and proper responses to, head traumas that otherwise are difficult or impossible to reliably evaluate.

The present invention relates in general to cellular analysis tools and more particularly to methods and systems for detecting or determining cyclic nucleotide concentrations and related pathway activation in samples. Samples containing cyclic nucleotides may be contacted with a cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase (e.g., cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases) and a detection system that includes a substrate capable of being phosphorylated by the cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase. The activity of cyclic nucleotide related cell signaling pathways may be measured based on detecting the activity of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase.

An antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment there, binding human ENO1 (GenBank: AAH506421.1) is provided. Methods for treating an ENO1 protein-related disease or disorder, inhibiting cancer invasion and diagnosis of cancer are also provided.

Novel complexes of peptides from human collagen type II and types of MHC class II associated with rheumatoid arthritis are provided. There is also provided novel therapies and methods for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

A pharmaceutical composition comprises (a) a peptide of between 8 and 20 amino acids comprising at least 8 consecutive amino acids residues with a sequence present in SEQ ID NO 22 or a complex of said peptide and a human recombinant MHC class II protein and (b) an immunologic adjuvant.

The present invention relates to a method to detect the interaction between a target ligand and a moiety of interest using an adenylate cyclase enzyme (AC) and calmodulin (CaM) as interacting partners, said method comprising: i) expressing in a suitable host cell: (a) a low number of molecules of a first chimeric polypeptide containing AC, and (b) a low number of molecules of a second chimeric polypeptide containing CaM, wherein said AC in said first chimeric polypeptide and/or said CaM in said second chimeric polypeptide has decreased affinity for its interacting partner, wherein said AC in said first chimeric polypeptide is fused to a moiety of interest and said CaM in said second chimeric polypeptide is fused to a target ligand, or conversely, and wherein, when said moiety of interest and said target ligand interact, said AC is activated, and ii) detecting the activation of said AC. The present inventors herein show that only one AC/CaM complex per cell is sufficient to confer a selectable trait to the host cell. Unexpectedly, even less than one AC/CaM complex per cell can be sufficient to confer a selectable trait to the host cell. This surprising result confers a very high sensitivity, that is helpful for screening high affinity interactions, such as antigen-antibody interactions. Moreover, the low expression of the chimeric proteins that is achieved in the present invention allows to characterize toxic moieties, what was not possible before.

Enolase levels are predictive of the probability that a cancer patient will respond favorably to cancer therapy involving administration of hypoxia-activated achiral phosphoramide mustards.

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a ligand that binds to the active site of carbonic anhydrase, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid, amide, ureido, or polyethylene glycol derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for making and using the compounds, methods incorporating the compounds, and kits incorporating the compounds.

The invention is directed to a method of inhibiting prostate cancer cell proliferation using a substance that inhibits the activity of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) protein. The invention also is directed to methods of diagnosing and prognosticating prostate cancer in a subject by evaluating sAC gene expression or sAC protein production in the subject.

The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, risk stratification, monitoring, therapy guidance and/or therapy control of an infectious disease in a subject, wherein said method comprises providing a sample of said subject; determining a level of matrix metalloprotease-8 (MMP-8) or fragment(s) thereof in a sample of said subject, wherein said level of MMP-8 or fragment(s) thereof distinguishes between the presence and absence of an infectious disease in a patient with symptoms of a systemic inflammatory condition. In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to the determination of procalcitonin (PCT) and MMP-8 and their combined use to distinguish between the presence and absence of infectious disease in patients with symptoms of systemic inflammatory condition. The invention also relates to a computer-implemented method and a kit for conducting the method of the invention.