In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for excluding a subject from the need for diagnostic testing for Parkinson's disease (PD). In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for excluding a subject from recruitment into a clinical study for an investigational PD medication. In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for screening a subject to determine whether the subject is ruled out as having PD, wherein the subjects who cannot be ruled out are administered a diagnostic test for PD, a treatment for PD, or a combination thereof.

EphA2 T-cell epitope are provided herein. The epitopes include peptides corresponding to specific fragments of human EphA2 protein containing one or more T-cell epitopes, and conservative derivatives thereof. The EphA2 T-cell epitopes are useful in an assay, such as an ELISPOT assay, that may be used to determine and/or quantify a patient's immune responsiveness to EphA2. The epitopes also are useful in methods of modulating a patient's immune reactivity to EphA2, which has substantial utility as a treatment for cancers that overexpress EphA2, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The EphA2 epitopes also can be used to vaccinate a patient against EphA2, by in vivo or ex vivo methods.

The invention provides methods, kits and reagents for diagnosing fibromyalgia (FM) in an individual by determining whether the levels of one or more cytokines in the individual are altered, as compared to control levels. The altered level(s) or patterns of expression of the cytokines measured in the affected individual compared to the level from the control is predictive/indicative of FM in the individual.

EphA2 T-cell epitope are provided herein. The epitopes include peptides corresponding to specific fragments of human EphA2 protein containing one or more T-cell epitopes, and conservative derivatives thereof. The EphA2 T-cell epitopes are useful in an assay, such as an ELISPOT assay, that may be used to determine and/or quantify a patient's immune responsiveness to EphA2. The epitopes also are useful in methods of modulating a patient's immune reactivity to EphA2, which has substantial utility as a treatment for cancers that overexpress EphA2, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The EphA2 epitopes also can be used to vaccinate a patient against EphA2, by in vivo or ex vivo methods.

An encryption device for performing virtual and real operations and a method of operating the encryption device. The method includes performing a virtual operation; when a real operation request signal is received, determining whether the virtual operation being performed is completed; and in response to the virtual operation being completed, performing a real operation in response to the real operation request signal.

Provided is a new therapeutic composition. A composition for treating a solid malignant tumor, the composition being used so as to be administered, in combination with at least one type selected from the group consisting of immature dendritic cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes induced by dendritic cells, to a subject having a malignant tumor cell that produces at least one type of inflammatory cytokine selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23, and the composition containing at least one type of antibody that inhibits action of the inflammatory cytokine.

The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing over active bladder disorder (OAB), the method comprising: measuring the concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), acetylcholine (ACh), nitrite, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin 5 (IL-5) in a sample obtained from a subject; normalising the concentrations to the concentration of creatinine (Cr) in the sample; range standardising the normalised concentrations and subject's age to the following values: Age to 120 years old; ATP/Cr to 0.000001 mole/mgdl.sup.1; ACh/Cr to 0.1 mole/mgdl.sup.1; Nitrite to 200 nM/mgdl.sup.1; MCP-1/Cr to 100 pgml.sup.1/mgdl.sup.1; IL-5/Cr 100 pgml-mgdl.sup.1; applying the normalised and range standardised concentrations to the following formula: Logit (p)=1.7381.4044.9852.914subject's age+3315.9595435.254[ATP]/[Cr]+(25204.19420268.337)[ACh]/[Cr]+26.79932.967[nitrite]/[Cr]+6.75525.132 [MCP-1]/[Cr]+(61.838148.740) [IL-5]/[Cr] and calculating Logit; wherein a Logit value above a predetermined threshold indicates that the subject has OAB. Methods for monitoring the progression of OAB using the method, kits for use in the method and computer systems and programs configured to execute the method are also provided.

This document provided methods and materials involved in treating medical conditions. For example, methods and materials for using anti-Interleukin 4, anti-Interleukin 5, and/or anti-Interleukin 13 antibodies to treat asthma in a mammal identified as having a Th2 immune response using a whole blood cell-based cytokine whole blood cell-based cytokine assay are provided.

Methods and kits for characterizing liver damage in an individual are provided. The methods employ the use of immune analytes as biomarkers for detecting liver damage and predicting the likelihood that an individual suffering from liver damage will experience life-threatening liver failure. Concentration values for serum albumin and other identified immune analytes are obtained or determined from a blood sample taken from the individual. The obtained concentration values are then compared to corresponding concentrations from individuals having a healthy liver. By comparing the concentrations, an individual's likelihood of developing life-threatening liver failure and needing a liver transplant within a given time period (e.g., 6 months) can be identified.

The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting T helper cell or CTL subpopulations in a subject affected by disease or disorder having an immune component. The methods are also useful for determining efficacy of a treatment of the disease or disorder by detecting skewing of the T helper cells and CTLs in a therapeutic or adverse direction.