The present invention relates to in vitro methods for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), wherein the expression of the marker gene DMBT1 is determined. In particular, the invention relates to an in vitro diagnostic method of assessing the susceptibility of a subject to develop progressive COPD involving the appearance of irreversible lung damage, wherein the expression of the marker gene DMBT1 and optionally one or more further marker genes selected from KIAA1199, TMSB15A, DPP6, SLC51B, NUDT11, ELF5, AZGP1, PRRX1, AQP3, SFN, GPR110, GDF15, RASGRF2, RND1, PLA1A, FGG, CEACAM5, HYAL2, AHRR, CXCL3, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP1A2, CST6, NTRK2, COMP, ITGA10, CTHRC1, TAL1, FIBIN, BEX5, BEX1, ESM1 and GHRL is determined. The invention also relates to an in vitro method of diagnosing stable COPD or assessing the susceptibility of a subject to develop stable COPD, wherein the expression of DMBT1 and optionally one or more further marker genes selected from KIAA1199, TMSB15A, DPP6, SLC51B, NUDT11, ELF5, AZGP1, PRRX1, AQP3, SFN, GPR110, GDF15, RASGRF2, RND1, PLA1A, FGG, CEACAM5, HYAL2, AHRR, CXCL3, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP1A2, CST6, NTRK2, COMP, ITGA10, CTHRC1, TAL1, FIBIN, BEX5, BEX1, ESM1 and GHRL is determined. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of primers for transcripts of the aforementioned marker genes, the use of nucleic acid probes to transcripts of these marker genes, the use of microarrays comprising nucleic acid probes to transcripts of these marker genes, and the use of antibodies against the proteins expressed from these marker genes in corresponding in vitro methods. In vitro methods of monitoring the progression of COPD are also provided, in which the expression of marker genes according to the invention is determined.

A method of immunoassay for detecting in a biological sample a fragment of collagen type VII alpha 1 comprising an N- or C-terminal neo-epitope, the method comprising contacting the biological sample comprising the fragment of collagen type VII alpha 1 comprising the N- or C-terminal neo-epitope with an antibody of the invention, and determining the amount of binding of the antibody

The present invention relates to allergy field. Several independent groups have recently investigated the implication of PCSK9 on inflammation and sepsis but none of them have determine its impact on allergies and/or asthma which is a global health burden. Inventors have obtained preliminary data on wild-type (PCSK9+/+) or PCSK9-deficient mice (PCSK9 −/−) and shown that, under basal condition and in the absence of a particular stimulus, PCSK9 deficiency significantly increases the percentage of regulatory T cells in the spleen, the mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. Moreover, inventors have shown the effect of allergic challenge Non primary human bronchial epithelial cells on PCSK9 expression and secretion. Very interestingly, their first results obtained by Q-PCR showed that HDM and LPS increase PCSK9 mRNA levels. Accordingly, the present invention relates to inhibitors of PCSK9 for use in the treatment of asthma and/or allergic disease, such as food allergy.

The present invention is directed to methods for using a plurality of particles comprising surfaces each independently comprising a capture moiety to isolate and characterize biomarkers (e.g., for obstructive sleep apnea).

Described herein are methods and compositions for treating asthma or an allergic disease. Aspects of the invention relate to administering to a subject an agent that targets Notch4. In one embodiment, the agent is an anti-Notch4 antibody.

Provided is a compound of the general formula (I):

##STR00001##

The compound of formula (I) is suitable for treating pulmonary fibrosis, such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a mammal. Also provided is a method for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a human subject having a galectin-3 level indicative of pulmonary fibrosis or exacerbation of symptoms as well as a method for making said compound.

The present invention relates to a method of reducing the rate of decline in lung function in a human patient with COPD, wherein the human patient having COPD has a blood eosinophil count of ≥150 cells/μL, and further wherein the method comprises administering to the patient an inhaled pharmaceutical product comprising fluticasone furoate.

Materials and manufacturing techniques to produce test strips in high volume at low-cost for the measurement of gas in various industries and environments are disclosed. The test strip is generally comprised of a substrate, at least one electrical connection, at least one sensing chemistry and at least one additional layer. The test strip may provide a quantitative author a qualitative read out. A method for collecting and analyzing data to monitor and manage patients with chronic respiratory disease is disclosed. Implementations include software applications, connected medical devices, web servers and electronic catalogs. A method for identifying treatment trends from a population combining medical, biological and environmental data is disclosed. A method for proactively alerting and patients, caregivers and medical providers to trends in health by using the implementations of the invention are disclosed.

Provided herein relates to systems and methods for producing and using a body having a central channel separated by one or more membranes. The membrane(s) are configured to divide the central channel into at least one mesochannel and at least one microchannel. The height of the mesochannel is substantially greater than the height of the microchannel. A gaseous fluid can be applied through the mesochannel while a liquid fluid flowing through the microchannel. The systems and methods described herein can be used for various applications, including, e.g., growth and differentiation of primary cells such as human lung cells, as well as any other cells requiring low shear and/also stratified structures, or simulation of a microenvironment in living tissues and/or organs (to model physiology or disease states, and/or to identify therapeutic agents and/or vaccines). The systems and methods can also permit co-culture with one or more different cell types.

Provided are a refractory asthma prophylactic/therapeutic agent screening method, and a refractory asthma prophylactic/therapeutic agent. This refractory asthma prophylactic/therapeutic agent screening method uses at least one indicator selected from the group consisting of: inhibited activity of the CXCL2 protein or the CXCR2 protein; suppressed expression of the CXCL2 gene or the CXCR2 gene; and suppressed expression of the CXCL2 protein or the CXCR2 protein.