Method for detecting a urinary tract infection (UTI) in a subject comprising determining levels of one or more biomarkers selected from MMP8, HNE, Cystatin C, MMP9, HSA, IL-8, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), fibrinogen, RBP4, active MMP9 and MMP2, NGAL, Desmosine, MPO and CRP in a urine sample obtained from the subject. The determined levels may then be compared with a threshold level, wherein increased levels of at least one of the biomarkers in the urine sample relative to the threshold level is indicative of the presence of a urinary tract infection. Methods for monitoring a UTI and monitoring treatment of a UTI are also provided as are companion systems or test kits.

Provided is a technique that uses an established hepatocyte cell line in a method for evaluating an effect of a cytokine on a metabolic activity of a cytochrome P450 and in a method for evaluating a drug which interacts with a cytokine. The method for evaluating an effect of a cytokine on a metabolic activity of a cytochrome P450 includes: culturing an established hepatocyte cell line by using a culture chamber (10) including culture rooms (11), to thereby form spheroids (9); and evaluating the presence or absence of induction or attenuation of the cytochrome P450 after bringing a spheroid-shaped established hepatocyte cell line into contact with a test solution containing the cytokine in the culture chamber for one hour or more and less than 96 hours.

Embodiments of the methods, compositions, and systems provided herein relate to enzymatic enhancement of immunoassays using photonic sensor arrays.

The present invention includes methods and compositions for ameliorating symptoms or treating one or more adverse reactions triggered by infectious diseases or disease conditions that trigger a widespread release of cytokines in a subject comprising the steps of: identifying the subject in need of amelioration of symptoms or treatment of the infectious diseases or disease conditions that trigger a widespread release of cytokines; and administering one or more pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a curcumin extract, curcuminoids or synthetic curcumin (S-curcumin) and derivatives thereof, or empty liposomes, dissolved or dispersed in a suitable aqueous or non-aqueous medium sufficient to reduce the level of cytokines in the host.

Described is an assay for diagnosing an infection such as peritonitis in a subject. The assay includes a binding molecule, such as an antibody that specifically binds to an inflammatory marker in a sample from the subject, and a second binding molecule that binds to a marker indicative of a pathogen in the sample. For diagnosing peritonitis in a subject, the pathogen will be at least one bacterium and/or fungus. Typically, the assay will be incorporated into a lateral flow device and may include a binding molecule that specifically binds to an antigen indicative of the presence of a specific pathogen species. The described assay(s) may further include filter(s), enriching antigen(s), and buffer(s). Also described are methods of diagnosing and treating peritonitis in a subject who is a peritoneal dialysis patient that include utilizing the herein described assay(s) or assay kit(s) to analyze the subject's peritoneal dialysis effluent.

Methods and kits for screening, diagnosing, detecting or predicting a patient outcome/risk variable for a lung transplant recipient after transplant or an EVLP outcome by measuring biomarker levels of one or more biomarkers selected from IL-6, IL-8, sTNFR1 and sTREM-1 in EVLP perfusate are described. The methods involve for example, i. obtaining one or more test EVLP perfusate samples of a donor lung; ii. determining in one or more test EVLP perfusate sample of a donor lung, a polypeptide level of one or more biomarkers selected from IL-8, IL-6, sTNFR1 and sTREM-1; and iii. a) comparing the polypeptide level of the one or more biomarkers in the perfusate sample with a control or cut-off level, wherein the differential level is indicative of outcome/risk of after transplant or of an EVLP outcome; or b) using the polypeptide level of one or several of the one or more biomarkers in combination, as part of an algebraic calculation of outcome/risk.

The invention provides diagnostic markers of immunosenescence and methods of identifying individuals with impaired immune function based on the expression level of a combination of such markers in a biological sample obtained from said individual. Such combination of markers is useful for determining the susceptibility to nosocomial infections of an individual. Such combination of markers is also useful for predicting whether an individual will respond to active vaccination and become protected against recurring diseases.

The present description relates to a method for identifying a patient who is eligible for an intensification of heart failure therapy. Furthermore, the description relates to a method for optimizing B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)-type peptide guided heart failure therapy. The methods are based on the measurement of the level of at least one marker in a sample from a patient who has heart failure and who receives B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)-type peptide guided heart failure therapy. Further described are kits and devices adapted to carry out the described method.

Provided is a technique that uses an established hepatocyte cell line in a method for evaluating an effect of a cytokine on a metabolic activity of a cytochrome P450 and in a method for evaluating a drug which interacts with a cytokine. The method for evaluating an effect of a cytokine on a metabolic activity of a cytochrome P450 includes: culturing an established hepatocyte cell line by using a culture chamber (10) including culture rooms (11), to thereby form spheroids (9); and evaluating the presence or absence of induction or attenuation of the cytochrome P450 after bringing a spheroid-shaped established hepatocyte cell line into contact with a test solution containing the cytokine in the culture chamber for one hour or more and less than 96 hours.

The present disclosure relates to a class of engineered polypeptides having a binding affinity for interleukin-6, and provides an IL-6 binding polypeptide comprising the sequence EEX.sub.3X.sub.4AWX.sub.7EIH X.sub.11 LPNLX.sub.16X.sub.17X.sub.18QX.sub.20 X.sub.21AFIX.sub.25X.sub.26LX.sub.28X.sub.29. The present disclosure also relates to the use of such an IL-6 binding polypeptide as a therapeutic, prognostic and/or diagnostic agent.