A method of measuring risk assessment in a patient with appendicitis is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) measuring the TRAIL protein level in a blood sample of the patient; and (b) providing a risk assessment based on the TRAIL protein level.

A method of determining a management course for treating a subject showing symptoms of a disease is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the TRAIL protein level in a blood sample of the subject, wherein when the TRAIL level is below a predetermined amount, the subject is treated as a high-risk patient.

It has been demonstrated that certain compounds bind to TNF and stabilise a conformation of trimeric TNF that binds to the TNF receptor. Accordingly, these compounds can be used as modulators of TNF. A new assay for identifying compounds with this mechanism of action is also disclosed.

Provided herein, are matrices and methods for the stabilization of proteins and nucleic acids. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be in a sample taken from a subject and can be subsequently stabilized and stored on the matrix. An analyte of interest can be concentrated and eluted for analysis from this sample. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be components of a sample preparation reagent, and the reagent is stored on the matrix and hydration of the matrix with a sample can result in a reaction occurring.

The present invention relates to gastrointestinal diseases, such as non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases, including the immune mechanism of non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases in children, and the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors and/or antiplatelet drugs in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases.

Nucleic acid aptamers that bind to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such anti-TNF aptamers and methods for the using the same for therapeutic and diagnostic applications, for example, alleviating liver injury and monitoring presence of TNF in vivo or in vitro.

The invention is directed to a method of detecting a biological substance in the nasal secretion and diagnosing a disease following the detection of the biological substance wherein the biological substance is not related to a respiratory disease. The invention also provides treatment of the diseases following the detection of the biological substance and/or diagnosis of the disease. In some embodiments, the diseases are cancer, hepatitis, smell loss, taste loss, diabetes, and leprosy. The invention also provides a kit for diagnosing a disease. The present invention includes methods of analyzing samples from the nose for the detection of biological substances. In particular, nasal secretion or nasal mucus is collected and analyzed for biological substances. The results of this analysis are then suitable for use in diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of suitability of therapeutic interventions.

Methods of determining infection type are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises measuring the amount of TRAIL and/or IP10 no more than two days from symptom onset.

A method of determining a management course for treating a subject showing symptoms of a disease is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the TRAIL protein level in a blood sample of the subject, wherein when the TRAIL level is below a predetermined amount, the subject is treated as a high-risk patient.

Presented herein are systems and methods for developing classifiers useful for predicting response to particular treatments. For example, in some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of treating subjects suffering from an autoimmune disorder, the method comprising a step of: administering an anti-TNF therapy to subjects who have been determined to be responsive via a classifier established to distinguish between responsive and non-responsive prior subjects in a cohort who have received the anti-TNF therapy.