The present disclosure relates to: a composition for diagnosing aortic valve calcification diseases, comprising a preparation, which measures the protein level of inactivated IGF-1, wherein the composition is capable of diagnosing aortic valve calcification diseases involving calcification of aortic valves; a kit for diagnosing aortic valve calcification diseases, comprising the composition; a method for detecting inactivated IGF-1 so as to provide information necessary in the diagnosis of aortic valve calcification diseases; and a method for detecting inactivated IGF-1 so as to provide information necessary in the diagnosis of the progression level of aortic valve calcification diseases. According to the present disclosure, when using the composition or the kit for diagnosing aortic valve calcification diseases, it is possible to determine whether aortic valve calcification diseases, which involve the calcification of aortic valves, have occurred, and to determine the progression level of aortic valve calcification diseases which have already occurred, and thus the composition or the kit of the present disclosure can be used for more effectively diagnosing and treating aortic valve calcification diseases.

The present invention refers to an In vitro method for screening for subjects at risk of developing thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) or a disease causing TAA comprising: (a) measuring the expression pattern or level of at least A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs 1 (ADAMTS1) obtained from an isolated biological sample of the subjects to be screened; and (b) comparing said expression pattern or level of at least ADAMTS1 of the subjects to be screened with an already established expression pattern or level, wherein reduced expression of at least ADAMTS1 is indicative of a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).

The present disclosure provides a whole blood, protein-based diagnostic test for presence of unruptured aneurysms and allow for tracking progression of unruptured, ruptured, and previously treated aneurysms to guide clinical decision making. Further, the present disclosure relates to methods of treating aneurysms.

The present invention makes use of immunoassays, such as sandwich ELISAs, to profile the circulating concentration of elastic fiber and microfibril fragments in samples from individuals with diseases associated with elastic fiber and/or microfibril degradation. Examples of such diseases include, Marfan's syndrome, aortic aneurysm, and scleroderma. Profiling the concentration of such fragments can be used to diagnose disease and monitor disease progression.

The invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to medin. The antibodies have the capacity to bind to monomeric, misfolded, aggregated, fibril or deposited forms of medin. The antibodies can be used for treating or effecting prophylaxis of diseases associated with medin, medin accumulation or accumulation of medin deposits (e.g., medin amyloidosis). The antibodies can also be used for diagnosing medin amyloidosis and inhibiting or reducing aggregation of medin, among other applications.

The present invention provides compositions and methods based on genetic polymorphisms that are associated with coronary heart disease (particularly myocardial infarction), aneurysm/dissection, and/or response to drug treatment, particularly statin treatment. For example, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, variant proteins encoded by these nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and variant proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid molecules and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.

A method for detecting thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) or predisposition to TAA in a subject comprises measuring the amount of tetrahydrobiopterin (H.sub.4B) present in the test sample; and comparing a measured amount of HUB to a standard amount of H.sub.4B. A decreased amount of H.sub.4B present in the test sample compared to the standard is indicative of TAA or predisposition to TAA. The method can further comprise identifying a candidate for further testing or monitoring for TAA, such as by ultrasound or by repeated testing for H.sub.4B after one or more designated intervals. The method can also further comprise prescribing treatment for TAA to the subject, such as with folic acid therapy, and/or DHFR therapy, including gene therapy, and other therapies effective for recoupling eNOS and/or therapies targeting uncoupled eNOS. Methods are also described for monitoring the efficacy of treatment of TAA, and for evaluating the severity of TAA or risk of TAA.

The present disclosure provides a whole blood, protein-based diagnostic test for presence and evaluation of aneurysm status. Further, the present disclosure relates to methods of treating aneurysms.

The present disclosure provides a whole blood, protein-based diagnostic test for presence and evaluation of aneurysm status. Further, the present disclosure relates to methods of treating aneurysms.

The present disclosure provides a whole blood, protein-based diagnostic test for presence and evaluation of aneurysm status. Further, the present disclosure relates to methods of treating aneurysms.