Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.

The present disclosure provides variants of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), pharmaceutical compositions comprising CNP variants, and methods of making CNP variants. The CNP variants are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases responsive to CNP, including but not limited to bone-related disorders, such as skeletal dysplasias (e.g., achondroplasia), and vascular smooth muscle disorders (e.g., restenosis and arteriosclerosis).

Systems and methods for performing quantitative histopathology analysis for determining tissue potency are disclosed. According to some embodiments, a method training a tissue classifier is provided. According to the method, training the tissue classifier includes generating feature fingerprints of detected nuclei within slide images in a control library and clustering the slide images based on their corresponding feature fingerprints. According to some embodiments, a method for utilizing the trained tissue classifier is provided. According to the method, the trained tissue classifier determines whether tissue in an unknown slide image corresponds to slide images clustered during the training of the tissue classifier.

The present invention relates to a non-invasive, specific and rapid diagnostic method of Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in a subject said method comprising the step of measuring the level of cytokine (IL-18 or IL-1 beta) secreted by immune primary cells (or cell death level of these cells) obtained from said subject, which have been beforehand treated with a Protein Kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, and optionally beforehand treated with a NF-kB activator such as LPS. Inventors show based on the extensive study of the inflammasome process of the monocytes, that PKC superfamily inhibitors trigger inflammasome activation in monocytes from FMF patients while they are not sufficient to do so in monocytes from healthy donors (HD) or from patient having hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HID S). Using cytokine release quantification or determination of real time cell death kinetics, inventors demonstrate that PKC superfamily inhibitors can discriminate FMF patients from HD or from patients with systemic inflammation from other aetiologies. These results thus set-up the basis for the development of a rapid functional specific diagnostic test for FMF. Methods of treatment are disclosed.

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.

The present invention relates to methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing rare cells that are present in the blood, e.g. fetal cells. The invention further features methods of analyzing rare cell(s) to determine the presence of an abnormality, disease or condition in a subject, e.g. a fetus by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.

The invention provides a method and composition for ameliorating or reducing the symptoms, signs, and markers and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or gastritis in a mammal in need thereof, said method comprising administering effective amounts of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition containing at least one probiotic microorganism strain comprising Pediococcus for a time sufficient to ameliorate, reduce or treat at least one symptom, sign, or marker of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or gastritis.

Methods and devices for isolating or enriching target molecules from a sample are provided herein. In some embodiments, methods and devices further involve detection, analysis and/or sequencing of a target molecule.

A galactose rapid detection system has a galactose composition including a galactose, a buffer solution and an 0-99% antioxidant, which enters a human body after metabolism and produces a biological sample; a test strip or a filter paper, comprising an enzyme, the enzyme would react with the biological sample producing a electrochemical information ;a meter including a power supply unit for providing a signal; a connector for receiving the signal provided by the power supply unit, transmitting the signal to the test strip or the filter paper, wherein the signal reacting with the electrochemical information produce a corresponding response signal, and the connector transmit the corresponding response signal to the meter; a calculation unit for calculating the corresponding response signal; an A/D convertor for receiving the corresponding response signal from the calculation unit, transforming the corresponding response signal into a digital reaction signal calculated by the calculation unit; and a processor for processing the digital reaction signal a display for displaying the digital reaction signal; and a digital terminal for receiving the digital reaction signal.

Methods and devices for enriching and analyzing target molecules from a sample are provided herein. In some embodiments, methods and devices involve enrichment of target molecules (e.g., using SCODA) and subsequent detection and analysis using sequencing.