Described herein are methods, compositions, kits, and systems for detecting free and bound PlGF, and using detection of such species to distinguish between pregnant women with or without preeclampsia or related conditions.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides antibodies that bind to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and methods of using the same.

The present invention provides an antibody facilitating programmed necrosis of cells. The antibody can cause programmed necrosis of cells in the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Therefore, an inhibitor for the antibody can be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Further, the present invention provides the application of the antibody facilitating programmed necrosis of cells in the inflammatory disease prognosis.

The application of PDCD4 as a drug treatment target for anti-depression and/or anti-anxiety disorders has been proved by experimental research that the increase of PDCD4 is an important factor leading to depression in the process of stress; PDCD4 as a target to inhibit its expression or function can play a good antidepressant role, and has no effect on normal physiological state. Therefore, PDCD4 can be used as a target in the preparation and screening of antidepressant and/or anxiolytic drugs, which has a broad application prospect.

The invention relates to a method of predicting therapeutic responses to TNF blockers before anti-TNF therapy comprising analyzing immune parameters to selected stimuli in patients before therapy and its use for anti-TNF therapy. The invention relates also to a method of determining a predictive biomarker of response to anti-TNF therapy and to the use of the predictive biomarker obtained by the method.

A method of determining the potency of an immune cell is described. The method includes the steps of contacting an immune cell with an effective amount of an stimulating agent (for example, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)) and detecting the amount of a cytokine produced by the immune cell. Kits for assaying immune cell potency are also described. Potency assays are important for satisfying the FDA requirements for new biological agents, such as immunotherapeutic cells. Methods of using potent immune cells as an immunotherapeutic treatment are described.

A method of determining the potency of an immune cell is described. The method includes the steps of contacting an immune cell with an effective amount of a cell exosome and detecting the amount of a cytokine produced by the immune cell. Kits for assaying immune cell potency are also described. Potency assays are important for satisfying the FDA requirements for new biological agents, such as immunotherapeutic cells. Methods of using potent immune cells as an immunotherapeutic treatment are described.

Provided is a nanosensor having a high dynamic range and sensitivity for detecting the presence, and/or quantifying the amount, of an analyte in a sample of interest. Also provided is a cartridge incorporating the nanosensor, and a method and system for detecting the presence, and/or quantifying the amount, of the analyte in the sample of interest.

The present disclosure relates to the field of laboratory diagnostics. Specifically, means and methods are disclosed for determining a patient's risk of suffering from acute kidney injury after a surgical procedure based on the detection of GDF-15, troponin T and/or a natriuretic peptide.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions that find use in identifying presence of an advanced stage autoimmune liver disease (ALD) is a subject diagnosed as having ALD. Also provided here are methods and compositions that find use in monitoring effectiveness of treatment of an ALD patient receiving a treatment for the ALD. Also provided here are methods and compositions that find use in identifying subjects suffering from a relapse of ALD. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure also find use in facilitating treatment decisions for a subject having ALD.