An antibody specifically reactive with an N-terminus neo-epitope of collagen type X alpha 1 comprised in the amino acid sequence H.sub.2N-GIATKGLNGP, and its use in an immunoassay for evaluating a disease associated with collagen type X alpha 1, such as osteoarthritis.

An antibody specifically reactive with an epitope of collagen type X alpha 1 comprised in the NC1 domain C-terminal amino acid sequence SFSGFLVAPM-COOH (SEQ ID NO: 1), and a method of immunoassay for detecting in a biological sample an epitope in the NC1 domain C-terminal amino acid sequence SFSGFLVAPM-COOH (SEQ ID NO: 1) of collagen type X alpha 1, by contacting the biological sample with the antibody, and determining the amount of binding of the antibody.

The invention relates to methods of diagnosis, control and prophylaxis of inflammation and mitigation of inflammatory conditions, particularly arthritis and joint pain, in canines, comprising measuring inflammatory biomarkers wherein elevated levels of the biomarkers in blood correlates to reduced inflammation and reduced levels in blood correlates to increase level in the tissues. The invention further provides a method to treat or control inflammation comprising administering a diet comprising increased levels of one or more of DHA, EPA, vitamin C, vitamin E, and/or L-carnitine.

The present invention provides a method for evaluating effectiveness of a cell therapeutic agent. When using TGF- and/or TSP-1 expression level(s) in: (a) a first population of transformed mammalian cells with TGF-; and (b) a second population of untransformed mammalian cells with the same gene, respectively, as a criterion for determining effectiveness of a cell therapeutic agent, and whether or not expression thereof, it is possible to definitely determine the therapeutic efficacy of each cell therapeutic agent prior to initiation of the treatment. In addition, since use of a cell therapeutic agent without therapeutic effects is avoided, undesired procedures and side effects may not be entailed.

The invention relates to systems and methods for the diagnosis, amelioration, and treatment of ischemic tissues in patients caused by and/or resulting from diminished microvascular blood flow. Patients suffering from ischemic tissue conditions can be categorized into specific subsets that are deemed to have a potential to respond to therapy. In particular, the invention includes various therapies involving stimulation of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, arteriogenesis and/or neovascularization so as to increase perfusion of various tissues.

Antibodies against citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) have shown their relevance for the diagnosis and possibly pathogenesis in arthritis. Described are means and methods for determining antibodies against homocitrulline-containing proteins or carbamylated proteins/peptides (anti-CarP) for the classification of individuals suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, arthritis.

The present invention provides an antibody which comprises a variable heavy (VH) chain comprising CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, and/or a variable light (VL) chain comprising CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, wherein the CDRs have the same amino acid sequence as those from a complete antibody isolated from a synovial tissue sample of rheumatoid arthritis patients, as listed in Tables 1 and 2 or Tables 1 A and 2 A.

The present invention provides new protease resistant polypeptides, as well as compositions and methods for treating, ameliorating or preventing conditions related to joint damage, including acute joint injury and arthritis.

An in silico screening method generated compounds that are against laminin receptor 37LR and their anti-cancer functions in prostate cancer cell lines are disclosed herein. A group of derivatives based on the hit compound from the in silico screening are synthesized and tested with improved IC.sub.50 value that can have relevant clinical use for prostate cancer or osteoarthritis.

The invention relates to methods of diagnosis, control and prophylaxis of inflammation and mitigation of inflammatory conditions, particularly arthritis and joint pain, in canines, comprising measuring inflammatory biomarkers wherein elevated levels of the biomarkers in blood correlates to reduced inflammation and reduced levels in blood correlates to increase level in the tissues. The invention further provides a method to treat or control inflammation comprising administering a diet comprising increased levels of one or more of DHA, EPA, vitamin C, vitamin E, and/or L-carnitine.